Cavani’s £54m buyout clause doesn’t phase Manchester City or PSG

A week hasn’t gone by since transfer deadline day, already managers and chairman are lining up transfer targets for the summer, with Manchester City and PSG setting down their markers for Napoli’s £40 million Edinson Cavani according to the Daily Mail.

Cavani, 25, has a buy out clause of £54 million in the five year contract he singed in 2011 and buyers have been warned they will have to pay up if they want the services of the Uruguayan international.

Roberto Mancini is reportedly looking to offload Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri in the summer as a result of the UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, and has made the striker his main target for the summer to replace January export Mario Balotelli.

Cavani has scored 18 goals in 20 appearances this season in Serie A, 26 in all competitions, but its not just this season in which he’s been exceptional. In the previous two seasons for Napoli, the Uruguayan recorded 26 and 23 goals in 35 league games each term, showing why he has such a high price on his head and attracting admirers with the capabilities of City and PSG.

The French giants have the financial power to meet the Italian’s price demand and the Star reported that PSG’s director of football Leonardo and Cavani’s representatives met in January and they are still showing interest in the striker as he tried arrange the beginnings of a summer transfer.

They are looking to strengthen their forward line which is currently dominated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 20 goals in Ligue 1; PSG’s next highest goal scorer is Kevin Gameiro with only five and so Cavani would give the Swede much needed support.

The 25 year old, who had been linked with a bid from Arsenal in January, has been quoted as saying: “If a club has a clear project and they want to focus on me, they can’t be frightened in front of this figure.”

Both clubs also  have their sights set on the same second choice striker, Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao, so be prepared for a high price shootout between two of football’s richest clubs.

Hummels would undeniably be £30m very well spent

Manchester City are weighing up a pursuit of  Borussia Dortmund star Mats Hummels according to reports in Spain.

The Premier League champions have rummaged through Europe’s elite looking for a partner for captain Vincent Kompany and the big German joins fellow Dortmund central defender Neven Subotic on their shopping list.

Both 24 years old, they  have played an integral part in the German side’s success in Europe and the Bundesliga, making Hummels one of the most sought after players in football.

If Hummels did join up with Belgian Kompany, they may just be one of the strongest central defensive pairs in world football. The German international possesses huge amounts of strength dominating in both boxes at 6’3″, but it’s not just a power game. He is a great reader of the ball for a relatively young defender and has decent vision going forward with his good passing capabilities.

With his sweeper like tendencies it would enable Kompany to go and meet the ball going up against the forward, with the confidence there is someone capable of cleaning up if he loses the battle.

There is a down side to signing Hummels over Subotic  for City, who are trying to get on top of the financial situation at the Etihad Stadium. The German signed a new contract with the Bundesliga champions in the summer that would keep him at the Signal Iduna Park until 2017, making the asking price a lot higher than it will be for Subotic, who is in the penultimate season of his contract. It is believed through reports in Spain that City are willing to pay up to £30 million for Hummels and the addition would excite Kompany.

There is uncertainty over Joleon Lescott’s future at the club with interest from his boyhood side Aston Villa, meaning Roberto Mancini will be looking to recruit a centre back. Summer signing Matija Nastasic has been a hit at the Etihad and has a bright future ahead of him, but Hummels is a more solid defender and will become one of the greats of his generation in that role.

If Manchester City want to sign the 24 year old they will have to see off great competition from rivals and favourites to sign the German international Manchester United, who will be more eager than anyone to sign him with their problems at the back.

Mancini looking for cover in the form of Paulinho

Manchester City are looking to find a way of making a deal with Corinthians midfielder Paulinho according to the Daily Mail.

Sporting director Txiki Begiristian flew to Brazil to explore if there are ways of making a bid for the 24 year old playmaker, with the huge possibility of being without Yaya Toure for the majority of January due to international commitments in the African Cup of Nations.

The Brazilian international, who recently picked up the club world cup against Chelsea, is valued at around £20 million, but with a possible get-out clause in his contract, City may only have to pay £11 million.

City boss Roberto Mancini is looking for a like for like replacement for Toure, and Paulihno has all the credentials to fill the boots of the Ivory Coast star. He is blessed with genuine power and is a hard runner, which is what the champions will be missing throughout January and Mancini will be hoping Begiristian can get the deal signed and sealed before Toure leaves for Africa.

This season in the Brazilian Serie A, Paulinho has scored seven goals with seven assists in 23 appearances for Corinthians, which is a real acomplishment from a central and defensive midfield role, displaying the credentials required to fit in at the Etihad Stadium. He’s also been a hit at the international level winning eight caps in a strong Brazilian midfield scoring a couple of goals, one of them coming against arch rivals Argentina.

There are other clubs showing interest in the midfielder, two of them being Chelsea and Inter Milan but Mancini has been tracking Paulinho for some time now and he is the Italian’s main transfer target in January.

If City don’t want to lose momentum and ground on rivals Manchester United and with Toure departing  for a month, the deal may just have to be a must.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/27/mancini-looking-for-cover-in-the-form-of-paulinho/

Feisty Paraguayan International On His Way To The Bridge, Or The Etihad?

Manchester City and Chelsea have been advised to have a close look at Paraguayan youngster Mauro Caballero.

The 18 year old has been a real revelation at youth and senior level in Paraguay and according to Talksport he is already gaining the attention of Portuguese sides Benfica and Porto.

Caballero currently applies his trade for Paraguayan club side Libertad and his father believes his destination is Europe. His father, also called Mauro Caballero,who represented Paraguay 14 times, is the second highest goalscorer in the Paraguayan league with 107 goals and it looks as though he has passed his traits on to his son.

Caballero Jnr. has scored a prolific number of goals at  junior international level. At 14 he found the back of the net 27 times in 24 appearances and this form continued to the under 17’s where he scored five goals in the South American Championships making him the second highest scorer in the tournament.

At just 1.75m tall he is reported to be strong in the air, as well as possessing intelligent movement, blistering pace and a sixth sense for goal, all attributes that a top class striker needs to be a real threat in the Premier League.

His father has stated that they have received one offer for a January move but nothing has been decided according to Talksport.

He told Radio Cardinal AM: “The future of Mauro points to Europe. There is one great option for January, but  we cannot confirm anything yet.”

Both Manchester City and Chelsea are reported to be looking for extra firepower, but the Stamford Bridge side are in more desperate need, with just Fernando Torres as a front line striker. If he has the movement and pace being reported, I would expect him to link up well with Juan Mata, Edin Hazard and Oscar; with his credentials he would look forward to mixing it with these styles of players.

On the other hand Roberto Mancini knows what a diminutive South American with those attributes can do at Eastlands with Sergio Aguero becoming a instant hit for the champions and is arguably one of the best strikers in the league.

Both teams would have to wonder if he is Premier League ready at such a tender age but he is certainly one for the future, be it this season or next. One thing for certain, one of the hottest prospects coming out of South America will be playing in Europe pretty soon.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/10/feisty-paraguayan-international-on-his-way-to-the-bridge-or-the-etihad/

Spalleti To Chelsea Story Simply Doesn’t Stack Up

The management revolving door at Stamford Bridge has taken another turn, with Luciano Spalleti’s name added to the shortlist according to reports in Spain, Talksport claim.

Spalleti is currently in charge of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg and is the latest name being banded around. He is thought to be considering his future with the Russian club after early elimination out of the Champions League, while stating he wants a move to the Premier League some time in the coming years.

Currently Rafa Benitez is in charge at Stamford Bridge after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked last month, but club owner Roman Abramovich is unlikely to give him the job permanently at the end of the season, especially with the current form of his team and the attitudes of the Chelsea fans towards their present manager; though the latter might not bother him quite so much.

It is widely believed that Abramovich has his eyes set on ex Barcalona manager Pep Guardiola when his year long sabbatical is over, whilst also keeping watch on the situation at Real Madrid, with Jose Mourinho dropping hints he is to leave the Spanish capital at the end of the season.

Both would be welcomed by the fans, but would they risk working for a owner like Abramovich?

A manager such as Spalleti might just do that. He has the success at domestic level that Abramovich looks for, winning back to back titles with Zenit, and was victorious in the Russian cup in 2010. Back in his home country the Italian has had experience in Europe with his four year stint with Roma, where he won the Coppa Italia two years running in 2007 and 2008, at the expense of Roberto Mancini’s Inter Milan.

Spalleti is being linked with a move back to Italy to take charge of Serie A giants AC Milan, but has ruled himself out of the running saying he is too old for the club

The 53 year old was rewarded for his success at Zenit  at the beginning of the year with a new contract to stay with the Russian club until 2015, meaning Chelsea would have to pay compensation to gain the services of the Italian. Would that make a difference in Abramovich’s decision? I don’t think so, but with Guardiola a free agent he may hold greater attraction.

The Russian billionaire may also see Guardiola as a bigger name more likely, in his view, to attract the stars of the world of football, but Spalleti has proven that he can turn around the fortunes of a club  like Chelsea with his work at Roma.

What ever happens the revolving door will more than likely take a few more turns before the season is up and Abramovich has to make a decision; if indeed the decision hasn’t already been made.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/08/spalleti-to-chelsea-story-simply-doesnt-stack-up/

London Calling For Pedro Obiang?

Manchester City are amongst a host of clubs across Europe taking a close look at Sampdoria’s Pedro Obiang according to the Daily Mail.

The 20 year old Spaniard has been attracting the attention of many on lookers from England, Italy and Spain with his bright displays for the Serie A side. Obiang joined Sampdoria in 2008 from Athletico Madrid and has made 12 appearances this season, speculation growing that he might be moving back to Spain in January, his agent last month stated that the midfielder is happy in Italy and is only interested in the Genoa club.

Jose Miquel Gonzalez said in November: “We know that several Italian, English and Spanish clubs are following him but Pedro is a mature guy and is only thinking about Sampdoria.”

Will that change when January comes and offers appear on the table from the likes of City, Chelsea, Tottenham and others on mainland Europe. There is one thing for certain the young defensive midfielder will have decisions to make.

Obiang isn’t like Spaniards that get the lime light, born in Madrid but of Equatoguinean decent he gets the best of both worlds. He is physically strong as Sampdoria’s enforcer, but he has got the seemly Spanish taught good touch and calmness on the ball, even though his  shooting could do with a with bit of work, failing to make it on the score sheet this season.

With Sampdoria sitting 13th in Serie A, the appeal of playing Premier League and Champions League football might be to great an opportunity to turn down. If the youngster is to come to England, Chelsea could be the place to stamp his mark on the league. He would fit right in at Stamford Bridge with his style of play and Rafa Benitez would be looking to Obiang to do the Claude Makelele role, behind a very creative midfield. You would have to think it’s a prospect that excites the Spaniard, apply his trade behind the likes of Edin Hazard Juan Mata and Oscar.

Stamford Bridge you would have to think would be a better choice than Roberto Mancini’s side. The champions have a few midfielders in the club with similar traits and the threat of not playing regular football must be a real turn off for a move to Manchester.

If the premier League is the appeal, London will be his calling and the destination, Stamford bridge.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/14/london-calling-for-pedro-obiang/