Mancini won´t write off Robinho despite latest flop

January 17, 2010

Roberto Mancini is adamant Robinho still has a future at Manchester City despite hauling off the Brazil star soon after sending him on as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Everton.

Mancini has only started Robinho once in his five matches since replacing Mark Hughes as City manager and is clearly struggling to find a way to motivate the under-performing former Real Madrid forward.

Robinho, who cost City a club record 32 million pounds, was at his lacklustre worst after coming on as a first half replacement for Roque Santa Cruz at Goodison Park on Saturday and Mancini showed his disgust by taking him off soon after the interval.

Mancini’s hardline stance failed to spark City into life and they lost for the first time under the former Inter Milan coach, dropping out of the Premier League’s top four in the process.

But Mancini won’t write off Robinho for good and insisted the attacking options at his disposal mean he would always be willing to rotate the team at the expense of even his biggest stars.

“I had (Craig) Bellamy, Benjani (Mwaruwari), (Carlos) Tevez, Robinho – all strikers – so I decided to take one off,” Mancini said. “I needed a different kind of player.

“Is it the end of the line for Robinho? No. He is a good player. Like everyone in the squad he needs to work hard and play well.”

First half goals from South African midfielder Steven Pienaar and French striker Louis Saha, who converted a penalty, gave Everton a deserved victory and dented City’s hopes of clinching a Champions League place.

Mancini admits City need time to adapt to his tactics but he may make a move in the transfer market before the window shuts on February 1.

“I am not a magician. I am a manager and I do not think I can change the situation in a month,” he said. “But I believe we can improve game after game. That is possible. It is a long season.”

Pienaar made the breakthrough in the 36th minute with a free-kick from 20 yards that evaded Shay Given at the goalkeeper’s near post.

Everton stepped up the pace and Saha extended their lead in first-half stoppage time with his 13th goal of a productive season.

He coolly slotted home a penalty after having his shirt tugged outside and inside the box by Micah Richards.

Everton manager David Moyes could not hide his delight at securing the three points after accusing City in his programme notes of “breaking the rules” and having “no class” in their pursuit of Joleon Lescott.

The England defender moved to Eastlands in August following a protracted transfer but sat out the match because of a knee injury.

Moyes said: “I think you enjoy wins when you feel you have not been treated right. I will do that but it has all gone now and I will try and move on.

“I think this performance has been coming. It is getting back to the standard we want to see.

“We have started getting one or two players back. There is a bit more confidence now and a bit of competition for places.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: benjani mwaruwari, brazil, Carlos, carlos tevez, CITY, Craig, craig bellamy, David Moyes, disgust, England, free kick, Goalkeeper, Goodison Park, hardline, inter milan, Liverpool, louis saha, MADRID, manchester city, Mark Hughes, midfielder, Milan, Moyes, premier league, roberto mancini, Robinho, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, shay, Shay Given, steven pienaar, striker louis saha, strikers

Man City must aim higher still

January 13, 2010

This time last year, I wrote a piece arguing that Manchester City were setting their sights in the transfer market pathetically low.

For a club with almost limiteless funds, putting Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong at the top of the transfer wish list was a bit like a Lottery winner hunting through the racks of last year’s suits at TK Maxx.

Since then, their dealings in the transfer market, with the exception of moves for Carlos Tevez and possibly Emmanuel Adebayor, have shown a similar lack of ambition.

As well as Tevez and Adebayor, City have signed Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and now Patrick Vieira, who is returning to the Premier League at the age of 33. Most of them are decent players. None of them are from the top drawer.

It may seem perverse to criticise City when they have just won their fourth successive league game, a Tevez-inspired 4-1 success over Blackburn Rovers, to climb to fourth place under an ambitious new coach in Roberto Mancini.

Yet now, with the Champions League a realistic target and no one in the Premier League looking beyond their reach, this is precisely the time they must set their sights much, much higher than the rollcall of mediocrity they’ve spent the last couple of years assembling.

What is Roberto Mancini’s coaching philosophy? What sets them apart from the other clubs, like Aston Villa, with their noses pressed up against the Big Four glass?

How many non-City fans could tell me what their first choice midfield is? Who is the player pulling the strings? What are the team’s defining characteristics? Are they ruthless counter-attackers led by the bustling Bellamy, reformed Rusholme Ruffians inspired by Robinho (or Stephen Ireland) or do they have aspirations to pass teams into submission?

You can see why City might be reluctant to shop at the high end of the market after two high-profile failures — first Robinho, who has not done much to suggest Real Madrid were unwise to let him go, and then the 100 million pound rebuff from Kaka – but they should not let that discourage them.

I’m not saying City need to make a “galactico” signing in the 100 million pounds range. They should, however, be shopping for elite internationals at the peak of their careers, the sort of players who can really stamp an identity on the side. Patrick Vieira? Five or six years ago, maybe.

Once City have established an identity, they should find it easier to attract more top players who find the prospect of playing for them appealing from a football point of view.

Tevez was a good start. Next on the list should be David Villa, Franck Ribery, Kun Aguero, Andres Iniesta, Karim Benzema, and if they want to be really cheeky, Nemanja Vidic and Cesc Fabregas.

How much debt was it that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote off? £300 million should get you a lot more than the current hotch-potch of styles and players, and fourth place in the league.

PHOTO: Manchester City’s new signing Patrick Vieira (L) poses with manager Roberto Mancini during a photocall at the club’s Carrington training complex in Manchester, January 8, 2010. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Source

Tags: Al Nahyan, Andres Iniesta, carlos tevez, CITY, city fans, craig bellamy, DAVID VILLA, decent players, Emmanuel, Gareth Barry, Karim Benzema, kolo toure, league game, lottery winner, MADRID, man city, Manchester, manchester city, nigel de jong, Patrick, patrick vieira, Phil Noble Source, premier league, profile failures, pulling the strings, real madrid, roberto mancini, Robinho, rollcall, roque santa cruz, ruffians, santa cruz, Stephen Ireland, target, top drawer

Benjani hopes to extend his stay at City

January 12, 2010

Although the competition up front is fierce, Benjani doesn’t want to leave Manchester City.

The striker had a part in the first three goals of the Citizens against Blackburn Rovers and thinks he has proven that he can be part of City’s future plans.

The 31-year-old African is in his third season at the Eastlands and was a starter for the first time this season on Monday night, when City defeated Blackburn.

It were his first Premier League minutes of the season but Benjani immediately proved his worth by setting up the first three goals in City’s 4-1 win.

With Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez on the squad, the chances to become a regular starter are not that big butl Benjani insists he wants to stay at City.

“I’m very happy because I’ve started two games in a row and it’s been a long time since that happened,” Benjani saidon City’s official website.

“I’ve always wanted to see out my career at City. I have six months left on my current deal and it would be nice if I could get another year or so. The only thing that is important to me is to fight hard for the right to play.

“I love the role I’ve had in recent weeks. I think it suits my game because I love a physical battle but the good thing is that when one player goes out, another comes in and does just as well – those are the ingredients of a very good team.”

Tags: benjani, carlos tevez, craig bellamy, emmanuel adebayor, game, long time, manchester city, monday night, premier league, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, six months, striker, third season, two games

Hughes on brink at City despite thrilling win

December 19, 2009

Roque Santa Cruz settled a seven-goal thriller as Manchester City beat Sunderland 4-3 at Eastlands here on Saturday, but the victory might not be enough to keep Mark Hughes in a job.

Hughes’s future as City manager has been the subject of intense debate since Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat at Tottenham, which meant that the club had won only once in 10 Premier League matches.

And even during Saturday’s amazing game the speculation continued, with reports coming out of Italy that the former Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is close to a deal to replace the Welshman.

During the match, City announced that they would be calling a news conference for 1930GMT on Saturday.

Hughes took the City job in June 2008 and last week said he was targeting Liverpool’s place in the top four.

But despite only seeing his side lose twice on the Premier League stage this season, it appears time is running out for him.

Hughes, who left out Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho from his line up, has been here before.

After being held 1-1 by Hull City three weeks ago, City’s seventh successive draw in the league, there was widespread speculation about his future.

Yet back-to-back victories over Arsenal in the League Cup and Chelsea appeared to silence the doubters before the tame surrender at Tottenham turned the visit of Sunderland into a must-win match for the manager.

And for the first 15 minutes events appeared to be going well for Hughes as his side raced into a 2-0 lead.

The hosts went ahead in the fourth minute, Santa Cruz netting his first league goal in a City shirt following a sweeping move involving Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy.

Hughes, who spent the entire game standing in his technical area, expressed no emotion whatsoever and he again had a blank look when Tevez doubled the lead from the penalty spot nine minutes later after Nyron Nosworthy clipped Bellamy just inside the area.

Tevez had pleaded with the club’s owners before the game to keep faith with Hughes, the Argentina international insisting he is “100 percent” behind the manager.

And, after a short delay, the striker did his bit by keeping his composure to beat keeper Marlon Fulop, Tevez’s ninth goal for the club.

Seemingly cruising towards three points, City saw goalkeeper Shay Given fishing the ball out of his net after John Mensah’s header went unchallenged following a 16th minute cross by Andy Reid.

Suddenly, the confidence seeped from City and Sunderland drew level in the 24th minute.

Once again City only had themselves to blame after a mistake by Kolo Toure allowed Jordan Henderson to rifle in an equaliser.

Hughes was furious and even Bellamy’s sixth goal for his club this season, which made it 3-2 in the 35th minute, failed to change his mood.

Bellamy, one of Hughes’s most loyal lieutenants, restored the lead with a crisp shot after a low cross by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

City piled forward in an attempt to kill the game but another chaotic piece of defending allowed Sunderland to make it 3-3 in the 62nd minute.

Substitute Kenwyne Jones was allowed to ghost in and head past Given from close range from Henderson’s cross.

Fortunately for the hosts Sunderland’s defence was as porous as City’s and in a crazy game, played amid falling snow, Santa Cruz stabbed home after good work by substitute Pablo Zabaleta and Gareth Barry.

Sunderland finished with 10 men after Michael Turner was shown a straight red card for elbowing Barry in stoppage time.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: andy reid, Argentina, carlos tevez, city job, craig bellamy, Eastlands, emmanuel adebayor, Gareth Barry, goal thriller, hull city, intense debate, inter milan, john mensah, jordan, league goal, league stage, Liverpool, manchester city, manchester england, Mark Hughes, Marlon Fulop, Michael Turner, nosworthy, Pablo Zabaleta, premier league, roberto mancini, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Sunderland, welshman

Santa Cruz helps City into League Cup last eight

October 29, 2009

Roque Santa Cruz helped Manchester City storm into the League Cup quarter-finals as the Paraguay striker scored his first goal for the club in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Scunthorpe.

Santa Cruz, who has been sidelined for much of the campaign with injury, was making his first City start following his 17 million pounds move from Blackburn in the close-season.

He made up for lost time with City’s second goal after Scunthorpe’s Jonathan Forte had cancelled out Stephen Ireland’s early opener at Eastlands.

Joleon Lescott, Carlos Tevez and Michael Johnson scored after half-time to ensure Mark Hughes’ side keep their bid for a Wembley appearance on course.

Hughes had made six changes from the side that squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Fulham on Saturday, with Craig Bellamy on the bench and Emmanuel Adebayor rested.

Championship side Scunthorpe, playing in the fourth round for the first time, almost took the lead within two minutes when Paul Hayes forced Shay Given to make a fine low stop.

That early threat drew a devastating response from City, who went straight up the other end to take the lead in the third minute.

Shaun Wright-Phillips found Ireland to his left and the midfielder advanced towards the penalty area without any Scunthorpe player closing him down.

Ireland took full advantage of the space afforded him as he stroked a perfectly placed shot past Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy from the edge of the penalty area.

Wright-Phillips twice went close to increasing City’s lead with powerful efforts as the hosts went for the kill.

But Scunthorpe were level after 26 minutes. City midfielder Nigel de Jong surrendered possession carelessly and Marcus Williams’s cross found Jonathan Forte, who produced a cool close-range finish.

Scunthorpe were moving the ball about well and it took a superb stop from Given to keep out Hayes’ header.

City gradually regained their composure and Wright-Phillips’ shot was blocked by Murphy’s legs.

Santa Cruz put Hughes’s team back in front in the 38th minute.

Pablo Zabaleta’s cross arrowed towards Santa Cruz, who buried a powerful header back into the far corner.

Santa Cruz was proving a handful for Scunthorpe and he tested Murphy from Ireland’s pass after half-time.

From the resulting 56th minute corner, Wright-Phillips swung over a delivery that Lescott met with bullet header to increase City’s lead.

City then sent on 19-year-old midfielder Vladimir Weiss for his full debut in place of Ireland.

Tevez got his just reward for a typically energetic display when he took advantage of poor Scunthorpe marking to convert a simple chance in the 71st minute.

Johnson, on for only his second appearance of the season in place of Gareth Barry, capped City’s supershow when he drove in a long-range effort in the final stages.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: carlos tevez, city storm, close range, composure, craig bellamy, emmanuel adebayor, fulham, joe murphy, joleon lescott, manchester city, marcus williams, Mark Hughes, michael johnson, midfielder, nigel de jong, paul hayes, quarter finals, roque santa cruz, shay

United get chance to put City in their place

September 19, 2009

Manchester United have made a habit of putting would-be challengers in their place over the years but it will be with particular relish that they seek to to cut their neighbours down to size this weekend.

Manchester City’s flaunting of their newly-acquired wealth appears to have got under the skin of everyone at Old Trafford from Sir Alex Ferguson down, providing an intriguing backdrop to the most eagerly awaited derby clash in years.

In their public statements, Ferguson’s players have savoured the prospect of pricking City’s bubble of self-confidence.

“They want to show people they are the kings of the city but they are not there yet,” said Patrice Evra, United’s French defender. “We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

It would be surprising however if there was not a bit of trepidation in there as well, particularly in the wake of City’s impressive 4-2 win over Arsenal last weekend, which extended their perfect start to the season to four matches.

The derby may have been billed as an important benchmark for the potential of Mark Hughes’s side to break into English football’s Champions League elite, but it will also serve as a reference point for assessing the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure on United’s ability to win the kind of matches that define seasons.

City’s prospects have not been helped by the fact they could be without over 100 million pounds of striking talent at Old Trafford with Emmanuel Adebayor suspended following his stamp on Robin van Persie last weekend, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz injured and Carlos Tevez struggling to recover from a knee injury in time to face his former team-mates.

United’s main concern is over the availability of the increasingly injury-prone Rio Ferdinand.

The lunchtime encounter at Old Trafford is one of two pivotal derby encounters on Sunday with league leaders Chelsea entertaining Tottenham later in the day.

Tottenham’s own aspirations of breaking into the top four were put into perspective by the ease with which United overturned an early deficit to win 3-1 at White Hart Lane last weekend, but manager Harry Redknapp does not anticipate morale collapsing in the wake of that setback.

“We played well, got the early goal, but like all champions they came back strongly,” he said. “It’s not a case of sharpening up (for Chelsea). For an hour we played as well as we have all season.”

Chelsea will have Didier Drogba firing on all cylinders after the Ivory Coast striker sat out the midweek win over FC Porto because of a European ban.

After defeats by both Manchester clubs, Arsenal will seek to put their domestic campaign back on track by building on a stirring Champions League fightback in Liege in midweek.

Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie, who both missed the 3-2 win in Belgium, are in line for comebacks when Wigan visit the Emirates on Saturday.

Liverpool travel to West Ham on Saturday evening with star striker Fernando Torres having recognised that the Reds have very little room for error after losing two of their opening three league matches.

“We are recovering the confidence now after winning three games in a row,” the Spain forward said.

“We have to keep on like this, but also improve. If we lose points in the coming weeks it will be very difficult to stay at the top come January and February.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Portsmouth travel to Aston Villa still looking for their first point of the season, Bolton entertain Stoke, Sunderland are at Burnley and Hull host Birmingham in what, even at this early stage of the campaign, looks like an important relegation battle.

Australia defender Lucas Neill, signed by Everton this week, may be involved against one of his former clubs, Blackburn, on Sunday, which also sees Wolves entertain Fulham.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Arsenal v Wigan, Aston Villa v Portsmouth, Bolton v Stoke, Burnley v Sunderland (1145 GMT), Hull City v Birmingham, West Ham v Liverpool (1630 GMT)

Sunday

Chelsea v Tottenham (1500 GMT), Everton v Blackburn, Manchester Utd v Manchester City (1230 GMT), Wolves v Fulham (1300 GMT)

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, carlos tevez, challengers, cristiano ronaldo, emmanuel adebayor, former team, knee injury, league leaders, manchester city, Mark Hughes, old trafford, public statements, reference point, rio ferdinand, Robinho, roque santa cruz, self confidence, sir alex ferguson, team mates

Fabregas rips into banned Adebayor

September 18, 2009

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has hit out at former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor’s violent conduct which led to a three-match ban for the Manchester City striker on Thursday.

Adebayor was handed the ban by the Football Association for stamping on the face of Arsenal’s Robin van Persie during a stormy Premier League match which City won 4-2 last week.

Fabregas said he, too, fell victim to Adebayor and along with teammate Emmanuel Eboue said he was “very disappointed” in the striker’s attitude.

“I think this is a red card here,” said Fabregas, reportedly gesturing to his leg and claiming the injury was suffered in an Adebayor challenge.

“I was lucky my foot was in the air when it happened.”

Fabregas added: “All I tried to do when he (Adebayor) was at Arsenal was to create opportunities for him to score – so I think I didn’t do too bad for him.”

“I have no idea why he acted like this,” said Eboue.

“We always respected him.

“He didn’t do well because you have a lot of young people who watch the game and they see that, and it’s no good for football.

“But I am very, very happy because the FA have given him a three-game ban (for the Van Persie stamp).

“What he did was no good for football. I am very disappointed about it, very disappointed.”

Adebayor could face a further suspension as a result of a charge of improper conduct which was made after he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate his goal in the match in front of Arsenal’s supporters.

That charge will be considered at a later date with City having been given until September 30 to respond to the charge.

Adebayor’s ban could hardly have come at a worse time for City boss Mark Hughes with Carlos Tevez doubtful for the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United his weekend and both Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz unavailable.

Adebayor has made a superb start to his City career, scoring in each of the club’s league games since his 25-million-pound move from Arsenal.

After Saturday’s match, he publicly apologised for his conduct and claimed he had been overcome by emotion after receiving sustained abuse from the Arsenal fans, many of whom had turned against the striker in his final year at the Emirates.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: carlos tevez, cesc fabregas, CITY, city boss, cond, emirates, emmanuel adebayor, emmanuel eboue, football association, former team, game ban, improper conduct, league games, london, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark Hughes, old trafford, premier league, robin van persie, Robinho, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, striker, team mate, violent conduct

Santa Cruz eyes return in time for United clash

August 20, 2009

Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz is on course to make his debut for his new club in next month’s derby against arch-rivals Manchester United.

Santa Cruz joined City in a 17 million pounds (24 million euros) transfer from Blackburn during the close-season, but the Paraguay star has been unable to play after undergoing knee surgery in April.

The 27-year-old has been making good progress recently however and City boss Mark Hughes expects the former Bayern Munich player to be back in time for his team’s trip to Old Trafford on September 20.

“We are talking about two or three weeks,” Hughes told City’s website.

“I don’t like to put games as a target because it is difficult to predict but the specialist is really pleased with his progress.

“I imagine he will be available around the time of the United game, or the West Ham match immediately afterwards.”

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: arch rivals, Bayern, bayern munich, blackburn, debut, game, games, knee surgery, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark Hughes, old trafford, paraguay, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, striker, target, west ham

Hughes relishes City´s spell in spotlight

August 15, 2009

Mark Hughes can hardly wait for the Premier League season to start as Manchester City prepare for their eagerly anticipated opening game at Blackburn on Saturday.

Hughes has spent almost 100 million pounds on a galaxy of star names during the close season and the City manager knows his revamped team will be under intense scrutiny when they travel to his former club.

Of the major new signings, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez could all make their debuts at Ewood Park.

And while Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz is ruled out until the end of the month with a knee problem, Emmanuel Adebayor will also be in line for a first appearance if he overcomes a groin problem sustained on international duty with Togo.

City, who are still chasing Everton defender Joleon Lescott, are the talk of the Premier League and have been hotly-tipped to launch a sustained challenge for the top four, although Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson maintains City are not yet a title threat.

Hughes knows he can do nothing about the increasing expectation at Eastlands but feels his squad will improve significantly on last season’s 10th position.

Key to that will be bettering away form that brought City just two wins on their travels in the Premier League last season. But after all the talk, Hughes is just desperate for the season to start.

“All the pre-season games and preparation have been geared towards just one thing and that is the opening contest at Ewood Park,” he said.

“We are chomping at the bit to get going. There is a tangible feeling of anticipation both within in the club and amongst the fans.

“We want to put on a great show for our fans. We needed to address our away form from last season and we have the opportunity on Saturday to start on the front foot. We can make a statement.

“Last season in terms of the total number of Premier League games played by our players we had an inexperienced side. We have addressed that now.”

City’s England U21 defender Nedum Onuoha has echoed those sentiments and admits he will be just as fascinated to see how Hughes’ new-look team actually get on.

He said: “We just want to get started. I’m really excited, all the squad are because there has not been a time recently where there has been so much attention on Manchester City.”

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is hoping that captain Ryan Nelsen will overcome a knee problem to feature in the opening match.

The New Zealander picked up the injury in last Saturday’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Dundee United.

But at least Allardyce can call on Australian midfielder Vince Grella and defender Chris Samba.

New signing Nikola Kalinic is still waiting for a work permit and so South African striker Benni McCarthy looks set to start in attack.

Nelsen feels that Rovers will benefit from last season’s brush with relegation.

He said: “While it was an extremely difficult year it was also a very rewarding one.

“We have gone through a lot of adversity, have been in deep, deep trouble but we have got out of it.

“We know we can look at our team mates and know if there is ever a battle in the future you have guys who are going to fight.

“If you look at the games under Sam Allardyce and the results we had and the injuries we had, then we still produced close to European form.

“Now, if we keep certain bodies fit, and if we can keep a good strong squad then hopefully it will be a pretty exciting year.”

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, captain Ryan Nelsen, carlos tevez, chomping at the bit, Chris Samba, CITY, Eastlands, emmanuel adebayor, England, england u21, Ewood Park, first appearance, Gareth Barry, groin problem, intense scrutiny, knee problem, Manchester, manchester city, Mark Hughes, nedum onuoha, new signings, Nikola Kalinic, pre season games, premier league, premier league games, roque santa cruz, Sam, santa cruz, sir alex ferguson, star names, Togo, Toure, vince grella

English clubs mostly in frugal mood as new season starts

August 13, 2009

Ahead of the new Premier League season and amid Britain’s deep recession, most top clubs in England are holding back from spending vast sums on new players without first offloading some of their own.

Only Manchester City are proving the exception, freely splashing the cash on some of their Premier League rivals’ biggest stars as they prepare for the start of the 2009-10 campaign on Saturday.

Bankrolled by wealthy Gulf-based owners, City have so far spent a combined 95 million pounds (110 million euros, 157 million dollars) on transfer fees for five big names.

It includes 25 million pounds for Argentina forward Carlos Tevez from last season’s title winners and local rivals Manchester United.

The Eastlands outfit have also spent 40 million pounds to land Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure from Arsenal, 18 million pounds on Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz and 12 million pounds on Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

City boss Mark Hughes would like to spend even more and is reported to have had a 20 million pounds bid for Everton defender Joleon Lescott turned down.

United, looking to win their fourth successive Premier League title, were involved in the biggest transfer of the close-season, selling Cristiano Ronaldo for a world-record fee of 80 million pounds to Real Madrid.

But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spent only 17 million pounds, on Wigan winger Antonio Valencia, as he tries to cover for Ronaldo’s departure.

“The net spend of Premier League clubs is looking like being significantly lower than in previous years,” Alan Switzer, an analyst at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, told AFP.

England’s leading clubs are increasingly struggling to cope with huge debts built up prior to the current economic downturn and credit crunch.

Manchester United’s parent company, Red Football Joint Venture, suffered a pre-tax loss of 44.8 million pounds during the 2007-08 season, largely owing to interest payments on its debt.

According to latest accounts, Red Football’s debt stands at just under 650 million pounds after US tycoon Malcolm Glazer borrowed heavily to buy Manchester United in 2005.

Liverpool, another club saddled with massive debt and who finished second in the Premier League last season, have spent 37 million pounds to acquire England defender Glen Johnson and Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

However to help finance the deals, the Reds had to sell Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso to football’s biggest pre-season spenders Real Madrid for 30 million euros (43 million dollars).

Chelsea, who last season finished third in the Premier League, and their London rivals Arsenal, who clinched the last Champions League spot by claiming fourth spot, have also shown reticence over purchasing new players.

Despite pocketing 40 million pounds for Adebayor and Toure, the Gunners’ only major acquisition has been Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax for 10 million pounds.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s new manager Carlo Ancelotti has had to content himself with buying Russian international winger Yuri Zhirkov for 18 million pounds.

LONDON (AFP)