Algeria's Riyad Mahrez joins Man City for £60m

Man City have signed Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez for a club record £60m on a five year deal.

The departure of the 26 year old from the King Power Stadium to the Etihad Stadium marks the end of a transfer saga that dates back to the January transfer window, after a bid of £50m was rejected by Leicester City. It prompted the Algeria international to hand in a transfer request.

He leaves the 2016 Premier league champions after a stellar four and a half years, where he scored 48 goals in 179 appearances.

Speaking of his move he said;“I am so pleased to have joined City, a side playing great football under Pep Guardiola."

"Watching them from afar has been a pleasure,"

"Pep Guardiola is committed to playing attacking football, and City's performances last season were outstanding.

"I think we can be successful over the coming years and I believe my own game can develop under Pep's management."

He becomes Man City's first signing of the transfer window after they strolled to the Premier league title last season. They also broke their transfer record just six months after they paid £53m for French defender A. Laporte.

Man City makes new £60m bid for Alexis Sanchez

Manchester City have made a new and improved bid of £60m for Arsenal
striker Alexis Sanchez.

The new bid is an increase of £10m from the £50m that was rejected by
Arsenal on Tuesday.

However, there are reports that any move for the Chilean is dependent
on Arsenal finding a replacement.

The 28 year old has just one year left on his contract, and has
indicated that he would not be signing a new deal which means he can
leave for free next summer.

Arsene Wenger had said all summer that he would not be sold. But with
Man City's new bid it remains to be seen whether the club would accept
it with just few hours left of the transfer window.

The player in question is currently away in South America for a series
of World Cup Qualifiers for Chile.

Whether he would return as an Arsenal player, only time would tell.

Report: Arsenal rejects Man City's 50m pounds offer for Sanchez

The speculation about Alexis Sanchez's future has morphed into
different layers all day. It started with reports that Manchester City
have made a player (Raheem Sterling) and cash offer for him.

Now according to BBC's David Ornstein, Arsenal have rebuffed
Manchester City's approach for Alexis Sanchez and holds to their
stance that he would not be sold unless there is a huge offer.

David Ornstein
@ bbcsport_david

"Arsenal have rebuffed all approaches from Man City for Sanchez.
#AFCstance remains not for sale - unless huge money + player offered
#MCFC"

09:39 PM - 29 Aug 2017

With earlier reports that Sanchez has asked to leave the Chile camp
ahead of their World Cup qualifier to sort out his future, it remains
to be seen whether this latest report ends the uncertainty over his
future or it just Arsenal trying to extract the best possible deal
they can get from Pep Guardiola's side before the end of the transfer
window on Thursday.

Report: Man City offers cash and Sterling to sign Arsenal's Sanchez

According to the Daily Mirror, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have
offered Arsenl both cash and Raheem Sterling for Alexis Sanchez in a
last ditch attempt to sign him.

The 28 year old Chilean international has just under one year left on
his contract, and despite insistence from Arsene Wenger that he
wouldn't be sold. The speculation linking him to Manchester City have
only continue to grow. With this latest development it remains to be
seen how it plays out before Thursday's transfer deadline day.

There are also reports that Sanchez, who is currently in camp for
Chile ahead of a World Cup qualifier has asked to leave the camp to
sort out his future.

There were unconfirmed reports of a transfer request from him on
Thursday. Before this latest report emerge today.

The reported offer from Manchester City has come out completely from
the blue. Their interest have always been there. But this development
was unexpected, especially for a player who earned the club four
points in their last two league matches.

Another layer to the lastest report, is that Raheem Sterling shares
the same agent with so to be Chelsea player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. A
agent who was instrumental to his client's refusal to extend his stay
at Arsenal.

However, the wait to see how this ends shouldn't take long know as
there must be a closure by Thursday night.

Man City captures Nigeria's Super Eagles striker

Manchester City have signed Nigeria striker Kayode Olarenwanju.

The 24 year old was the highest goal scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga
last season while playing for Austria Vienna. He scored 17 goals in 33
league matches, and 24 goals in all competitions for the club.

He is expected to be immediately loaned out to new Spanish top flight
side Girona for the season.

The club gained promotion from the Spanish second division last season
and have strong links with Pere Guardiola the brother of Manchester
City manager Pep Guardiola, as a result several players from
Manchester City have been loaned to the club for the season.

Kayode made his international debut for Nigeria in March, when he
featured against Togo in a friendly match.

He was a member of the Nigeria's 2009 Under-17 and Under-2011 U20
World Cup squads.

It remains to be seen whether this is a good career move for him,
particularly after the way Kelechi Iheanacho was treated by the club
before his eventual move to Leicester City.

If anything, he is expected to spend most of his time on loan away
from the club. Whether he gets to formally get to play in the club's
colours like Iheanacho did, only time would tell. As Manchester City's
attacking riches was the reason Iheanacho was deem dispensable.

Man City team to face Brighton: Aguero & Jesus up front

Pep Guardiola has named Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus up front in
Manchester City's opening match of the season against Brighton.

There are debuts for Kyle Walker, Danilo and goalkeeper Ederson. But
Bernardo Silva starts from the bench.

Full teams: Ederson, Walker, Kompany (c), Otamendi, Stones, Danilo,
Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D Silva, G Jesus, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Bernardo, Sterling, Sane, Mangala, Foden, Yaya Toure

Kelechi Iheanacho set for £25m Leicester move after undergoing medicals

Kelechi Iheanacho 

Manchester City and Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is close to
completing his £25m move to Leicester City after he had his medicals
on Tuesday.

The 20 year old is expected to finalise his deal to the King Power
Stadium in the next 24 hours.

He has had a remarkable career in the Premier League since he joined
Manchester City after his stellar performance in the 2013 FIFA U17
World Cup. During his time at the Etihad he scored 21 goals with seven
assists to his name.
He was brought into the first team squad during Manuel Pellegrini's
stint as manager, and he initially enjoyed game time in the first
stanza of Pep Guardiola's time as manager. But following the arrival
of Gabriel Jesus in January, he struggled for game time. And he
seldom made the match day squad after that.

Guardiola confirmed during Man City's pre-season tour of the United
States that Iheanacho would be joining Leicester City.

Man City are reportedly confident that he would turn out good at the
King Power Stadium that they would be including a buy back clause in
his contract worth in the region of £50m.

His departure from Man City is good news for the long term fortunes of
the Super Eagles. Additional game time at the King Power stadium would
only improve him as a player. As he has the potential to go further in
his development. His goals to chance ratio is one of the best in the
Premier League despite his limited playing time at the Etihad Stadium.

More game time means Nigeria would be getting a player who is both
match fit, on form and sharp whenever he is called upon. Especially
with the double header World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon coming up
in September.

Furthermore with Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa already in the books of
Leicester City, settling down shouldn't be much of an issue, as he has
follow Super Eagles team mates who can put him under their wings,
which would only aid his adaptation at the home of the 2016 Premier
League champions.

Monaco's Mendy in £52m Man City move

Manchester City have agreed a fee of £52m for Monaco and France
international left back Benjamin Mendy.

The 22 year old was initially the subject of a £45m bid from the
Premier League outfit that was turned out. Following the decision of
the club's only first team left back Kolarov to return to Seria A with
Roma, the club decided to move quickly to secure this signing, as it
dearth of left backs saw midfielder Fernardinho featured in that
position during the recent Manchester derby in the United states.

His imminent signing is expected to take the club's spending to over
£200m this summer.

Mendy was ever present in the Monaco side that excited Europe with
their brand of attacking football that took them to the semi finals of
both the French Cup and the Champions League, the final of the French
league cup and a Ligue I title win.

Last season was his first and as it has turned out his only season in
Monaco following his signing from Marsielle.

After releasing three full backs in this summer in Bacary Sagna, Gael
Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta plus the decision of Kolarov to join Roma,
the club has now signed three full backs for a combined fee of £128m.

Manchester City are currently on a tour of the United States.

Man City confirms signing of Real Madrid's defender

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid and Brazil
defender, Danilo for a fee of £26.5m.

The 26 year old becomes the club's second signing at right back
following the arrival of Kyle Walker from Tottenham earlier this
month.

The former Porto defender can however operate as a left back and in
midfield besides his natural position at right back.

Speaking of his move to the Etihad Stadium, he said joining the club
and playing for Pep Guardiola was an opportunity he couldn't turn
down.

"There was interest from other clubs, but it has always been my
ambition to play for Pep Guardiola,"

During his time at Real Madrid, he won the two Champions League titles
and La liga during his two year stay at the club.

He becomes the club's fourth signing of the summer, following the
arrivals of Ederson, Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva as Pep Guardiola
continues to reshape his squad ahead of his second season.

They are currently on a tour of the United states.

Kyle Walker joins Man City from Spurs for £50m

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of England international
right back Kyle Walker for a fee of £45m with £5m as add-ons.

The 27 year old spent eight years at Tottenham Hotspur where he made
183 appearances. He was part of the Premier League team of the
2016-2017 season. A season where he made 31 league starts with five
assist.

He becomes Pep Guardiola's fourth signing of the summer, which takes
City's spending to £127.7m With a left back still expected to be
signed especially with Monaco's left back Benjamin Mendy being linked
with a £35m move, it could take their spending to close to the £200m
mark in the coming weeks.

Speaking on his move to the Etihad Stadium, Walker had this to say:

"Pep Guardiola is one of the most respected managers in the world and
I feel he can help me take my game to a new level."

He started being linked with a move to Manchester City towards the
dying months of last season. City were initially put back by the
player's valuation, but following Dani Alves' decision to sign for PSG
when he was poised to join City, the club moved quickly to secure the
services of a prime target within 24 hours having submitted a bid on
Friday.

He is now expected to be in the party that would travel to the United
States for a pre-season tour. Where they would play Manchester United
amongst other teams.

Video: EPL Highlights: Chelsea 2 Man City 1

Chelsea got their title challenge back on track after a hard fought win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Conte's side had suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend. A defeat that saw their lead cut to seven points in the race for the title. But they got an important victory in their quest to win the title. A brace from Eden Hazard was enough to secure all three points as it helped Chelsea to maintain their seven points lead over Tottenham. The North Londoners staged a late comeback to beat Swansea 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium after trailing for virtually the entire match.
The win keeps Chelsea within touching distance of winning the league again with just eight matches left, they are in pole position to claim it.

Video Highlights below:

                                                                     

Champions League Draws: Man City draws Real Madried, Atletico To Face Bayern Munich

English Premier League side Manchester City have been drawn against
Real Madrid in the semi finals of the UEFA Champions League. While
Atletico Madrid will face Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich in the other
semi finals.

The first leg of the ties with be between April 26th and 27th, and May
4th and 5th.

The draw raises the possibility of all an Spanish final between two of
Madrid's biggest clubs for the second time in two years. After they
played the 2014 finals in Lisbon.

Real Madrid would be facing Manchester City in the Champions League
for the second time. Both sides met in the group stages of the
competition three seasons ago when Real had the upper hand in the
ties.
For Manuel Pellegrini, it is another return to a club he managed for
one season between 2009 and 2010.
Both sides are better known for their attacking prowess than their
defensive qualities, which could make the tie an open one from an
attacking point of view.

Bayern Munich will face another defensive team after they overcame
Juventus and Benfica respectively. The Italian and Portuguese sides
relied on their counter attacking strengths, but it was not enough and
Atletico Madrid would likely rely on that to get something from the
tie.

The final of the this seasons' Champions League will take place in
Milan's San Siro stadium in May.

PICTURE: Man City v. Newcastle: The goal that never was

Cheik Tiote's goal that never stood against Man City when the match was just one nil.A decision that changed the course of the match. The latter picture shows the same pattern of goal he scored against Arsenal in 2010 to draw Newcastle level from a 4 goal deficit.

Aguero returns to training

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has returned to training following a calf injury. He has a chance of  returning to the playing field against Cardiff on 19 January.

The Argentine forward has 19 goals to his name this season.