Toure close to Man City switch

July 29, 2009

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is reported to have passed a medical on Wednesday ahead of his proposed transfer to Manchester City.

The 28-year-old Ivory Coast international left Arsenal’s training camp in Austria earlier this week after City obtained permission to talk to him about a 15 million pounds move.

Reports in England claim Toure has now completed a medical at Eastlands and he is expected to seal his move once financial details have been agreed with Arsenal.

City manager Mark Hughes turned to Toure after Chelsea captain John Terry rejected a move to Eastlands and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who signed Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax in June, decided to accept the bid.

If Toure’s move goes through he will earn around 100,000 pounds a week and become City’s sixth signing of the close-season, joining former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry and goalkeeper Stuart Taylor.

Toure struggled to find his best form last season after returning from the African Nations Cup and found himself played at right-back before being briefly dropped.

The Ivorian, who arrived at Arsenal in 2002, was a member of the ‘Invincibles’ team that went through the entire 38-game Premier League campaign in 2003-04 without losing a match.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, Austria, boss arsene wenger, captain john, captain John Terry, carlos tevez, CHELSEA, CITY, Eastlands, emmanuel adebayor, England, financial details, Gareth Barry, gunners, ivorian, Ivory Coast, john terry, league campaign, man city, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, Mark Hughes, premier league, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, stuart taylor, team mate, Thomas Vermaelen, Toure

Tevez watches as Man City sunk by Pirates

July 18, 2009

New signing Carlos Tevez watched from the sideline as Manchester City lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates Saturday in the opening Vodacom Challenge tournament match.

City manager Mark Hughes said was “too dangerous” to field Argentine Tevez and another close-season striking purchase Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz in this northern city as they lacked match fitness.

Former Manchester United striker Hughes, under pressure to break into the English Premiership “big four” after a close season spending spree that also netted England midfielder Gareth Barry, offered no excuses for the loss.

“It was a good workout against a Pirates team that played very well. I was pleased with the day, but not the result,” he admitted after a goal in each half gave the “Buccaneers” a deserved victory before 20,000 spectators.

“We are in the conditioning phase of pre-season preparations and today you could see that the players are at different levels. A few more games and they will all be up to speed.

“Carlos (Tevez) and Roque (Santa Cruz) were not considered for this match as it would have been too dangerous given their level of pre-season fitness,” stressed Hughes.

Pirates coach and former Netherlands World Cup star Ruud Krol had sympathy for City: “They have just travelled from Dubai and this does not make it easy. Believe me, City are a good team.”

The English Premiership outfit lacked at least half its likely first choice line-up and were under pressure from the kick-off with goalkeeper Stuart Taylor forced into a low save just 14 seconds after the kick-off.

Lucas Thwala put Pirates ahead on 36 minutes from the penalty spot after Ben Mee was guilty of shirt tugging and City had Craig Bellamy and Martin Petrov booked during an opening half in which they wasted several scoring chances.

Botswana midfielder Phenyo Mongala added a second goal on 56 minutes as his cross flew over Taylor into the far corner of the net and although City made a number of substitutions they never threatened to wrest the initiative.

City face Kaizer Chiefs Tuesday in the Indian Ocean city of Durban before meeting the winners of a play-off between the South African clubs in the Pretoria final next Saturday.

POLOKWANE, South Africa (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, Ben Mee, Botswana, Carlos, carlos tevez, challenge tournament, choice line, craig bellamy, deserved victory, Dubai, Durban, England, English Premier League, english premiership, far corner, Gareth Barry, Indian Ocean, Lucas Thwala, man city, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark Hughes, martin petrov, midfielder, Orlando, orlando pirates, pre season fitness, pretoria, roque santa cruz, ruud krol, santa cruz, season preparations, sideline, South Africa, spending spree, stuart taylor

City´s Hart in Birmingham loan move

June 24, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Promoted Birmingham City have signed goalkeeper Joe Hart on a season loan from Manchester City, a report said Wednesday.

Hart, 22, has one England cap to his name earned a year ago against Trinidad and Tobago but lost his place at City after making some 50 English Premiership appearances after Irish standout Shay Given arrived from Newcastle United midway through last season.

City boss Mark Hughes allowed Hart to move on after signing Aston Villa keeper Stuart Taylor as cover for Given despite last season describing Hart as “one of the most promising keepers in the country”.

Hughes told City’s official website: “I have always said that Joe is a really good young keeper, and his talent was obvious to our goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock and I from the outset.

“His contribution to the team prior to Shay Given’s arrival was fantastic, but by loaning him to Birmingham, he will add invaluable experience to that already gained here at City.

“I know he will relish the prospect of regular Premier League action, which is vital at this stage in his career.”

City are meanwhile said to be preparing a 15 million pound (22 million dollars) bid for England defender Joleon Lescott of Everton.