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Mancini closes in on City targets

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Manchester City (9/2 to win the Premier League) boss Roberto Mancini believes the club are closing in on their big transfer targets ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

City have been strongly linked with Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner during the off-season.

The Eastlands club have already added to a squad which looks like one of the strongest in the Premier League on paper.

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng and David Silva are three of the big signings that have joined the club this summer.

Mancini is also hoping that the former Real Madrid playmaker Robinho, who left City on loan last season, will return to the club for the Premier League campaign.

He said: “The situation is that Robinho will finish his contract with Santos. After that he will stay in Brazil for another week, play for the national team and after that he will return to Manchester City.”

The Blues boss has stated that whether or not Robinho stays at the club is up to the player, but the manager will hope the player returns after the 26-year-old performed well at this summer’s World Cup.

City have been trying to bring in former Leeds and Newcastle star James Milner to the club after the midfielder had a strong campaign with Aston Villa (7/1 to finish in the top four) last season.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill has stated that the two clubs are at a stalemate over the valuation of last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, but he does not know whether their key man will be at Villa Park at the start of the season.

O’Neill said: “The latest stage of play seems to be Man City feel as if they have gone as far as they want to, but we will wait with baited breath on that one.

“I think obviously the overriding opinion of all Villa fans is that they would love James to stay at the football club. But as I speak here now at this minute, my honest opinion, I cannot guarantee that but we will see.”

Speculation has suggested that Milner would welcome a move to the Premier League’s big spenders as they push for a top four finish in the league.

City will begin their campaign against Tottenham as they look for revenge against the London side, who beat them to the final Champions League place last season.

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Mancini closes on left-back

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Manchester City’s bid to sign Lazio left-back Aleksandar Kolarov is still on track, according to the Serbia international’s Italian club (City 13/10 to win Premier League without Chelsea and Manchester United).

Blues boss Roberto Mancini is adding to his squad for a tilt at the Premier League title having joined City midway through last season when Mark Hughes was sacked (City 4/1 – Premier League 2010/11 Outright).

Mancini has so far drafted in David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng, and the arrival of 24-year-old Kolarov is imminent.

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare told Sky Italia: “Kolarov to Manchester City – there are no problems.

“Lazio has already done what it had to do. We are waiting for developments in the coming days.

“It is not important if the figure is £20million or not, what counts is the willingness of both parties to close the deal.”

Kolarov’s arrival at Eastlands raises question marks over the future of former England left-back Wayne Bridge who is being linked with Liverpool.

The Reds released Fabio Aurelio at the end of last season while Emiliano Insua is poised to join Fiorentina any day now.

New Anfield manager Roy Hodgson has already snapped up Joe Cole on a free transfer and has also persuaded captain Steven Gerrard that his future lies on Merseyside (Reds 7/4 – Top 4 Finish).

Those factors will work in Hodgson’s favour if he decides to make a concrete move for Bridge – while the former Fulham chief is now hoping to persuade striker Fernando Torres and midfielder Javier Mascherano to follow Gerrard’s lead.

Hodgson told Sky Sports: “(Managing director) Christian Purslow has been talking to Fernando Torres for the last two days so I think there has probably been lots of words from Fernando Torres but I haven’t actually spoken to him.

“Mascherano is on holiday. He’s not due back until August 5 so when he returns to the club I’ll be speaking to him, not before then.

“Steven wanted time to consider a possible option that he had but I was always optimistic that he would stay with Liverpool because he’s the heart and soul of Liverpool and it would have been a major blow to lose him.”

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Rafa closes in on Inter post

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Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez appears to have wasted little time in moving on following his departure from Liverpool (10/1 2010/11 Premier League champions) last week by reportedly agreeing a deal to take over as the new manager of European champions Inter Milan.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has dropped a big hint that the Spanish coach will be installed as Jose Mourinho’s replacement at the San Siro and he is expected to be officially confirmed as their new boss in the next 48 hours.

Moratti told reporters in Italy: “The next few hours could be decisive. But we must ask (technical director Marco) Branca.”

Benitez will also reportedly take his Anfield assistant Mauricio Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and fitness coach Paco de Miguel with him to Italy, leaving Liverpool with plenty of holes to fill in their coaching staff when they do move to make an appointment.

It is believed Benitez has agreed a three-year deal with Inter, worth five million euros per season, as he looks to keep the Italian treble winners at the pinnacle of club and European football next season.

Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 during his six-year tenure on Merseyside, was linked with a move to Serie A towards the end of last season but it was Juventus who were courting the former Valencia chief, but a deal failed to materialise and he has instead opted for Milan.

Meanwhile, Liverpool continue their search for a new boss with plenty of candidates said to be keen on taking the hot-seat despite the ongoing uncertainty over the club’s ownership.

American pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett continue to look for new investment but the lack of financial clout in the transfer market could affect who is eventually named new manager as there may not be much money to spend on new players.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson seems to be the top choice for the Reds and is totesport’s 6/4 favourite, but Kenny Dalglish (5/1), Martin O’Neill (3/1), Harry Redknapp (11/1) and Sven Goran Eriksson (10/1) are the other names in the frame at the minute.

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