MANCHESTER CITY are determined to take a tough line over their strategy in the summer transfer market, refusing to pay over the odds to strengthen their squad or sell any player for less than their valuation.
With the demands of Uefa’s financial fair play regulations City know they may have to sell before operating towards the higher end of the market, with up to 11 of Roberto Mancini’s squad potentially available and Eden Hazard, the Lille attacking midfielder, among their prime targets.
The club believe that Milan’s failure to prise Carlos Tevez away in January for less than the €31 million asking price, despite the striker’s dispute with Mancini, provided a watershed decision that underlined their refusal to let players leave on the cheap.
The chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, said yesterday there would be “no major changes”, as Mancini is generally content with a squad who have delivered a first league championship in 44 years. Mubarak also stated that the club’s long-term vision is to focus on the development of homegrown talent.
Mubarak told the club’s website: “Let’s start from this point – this team we have is a championship team, it’s won the Premier League so we’re not starting from the same point of any other pre-season over the last four years.
“We had to improve in a very dramatic manner. Today we have a very strong nucleus, a nucleus that has won the FA Cup and Premier League and that has improved as a team together.
“It’s important to harness that nucleus and improve in a tactical way because we always want to improve and get better at all levels. You are not going to see any major changes. I think there’s going to be improvement but in a very manageable way.”
Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, believes Manchester City’s first title since 1968 is the start of “big things” for the club. He has also urged Mario Balotelli, who created the last-gasp, championship-clinching winner against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, and Edin Dzeko, the scorer of the equaliser, to stay at City.
“It’s all about City now, not United,” said the Argentina international. “What we’ve done there is manage to pull it out of the fire and win it at the very last minute and hopefully it’s the start of big things for City in the future. It was almost lost but we managed to save ourselves in the last minutes.
“I’m really, really happy – obviously, given that it’s a massive thing winning the Premier League. It’s a fantastic moment.”
To have lost the title on the final day does not bear thinking about. “It would have been a real body blow but the main thing is to concentrate on the fact that we did win it,” he said, “and the effect is opposite; the total opposite. It’s going to be a real boost, a real positive effect on the side going into the future.”
Aguero is optimistic this will be the first of many titles: “Let’s hope so. That’s the aim. I came here to win trophies. I think City have become a great side. I think you can say we are up there with the big boys with that victory and a league title. Let’s hope it is the start of a run of trophies.”
While Balotelli’s on and off-field issues and Dzeko’s sluggish play on occasions mean their City futures may be in the balance, Aguero said: “In terms of what their personal decisions are, it’s nothing to do with me. I hope they stay because both of them as individuals are great players and have brought a lot to the side during the season. Let’s hope they do stay because it would be a good thing for City [with] the quality they bring to the club.”
Aguero believes, however, that City would benefit from making further additions to their squad. “The main thing is that we carry on along the same lines we have so far,” the Argentinian said. “It’s always great when you’re strengthening. But obviously we’ve got a good squad here. Let’s see how many people we can keep from the current squad and, if we can improve on it, great.”
Aguero’s injury-time goal ended City’s 44-year title drought and he described it as the most important of his life. “In my career so far it’s the most important goal. You score the goal in the last minute to win the title. You’re not sure if that’s ever going to happen in your career again. I wish I could tell you how I did it but I can’t. I thought for all the world that Mario was going to have a go himself but he just moved it on one more and it fell at my feet and I just thought: ‘Hit the target, hit it as hard as you can and hit the target.’ And it went in.”
He added: “Until Edin’s goal went in we were almost running out of ideas towards the end and it was almost: ‘I think that’s it, guys.’ But we got a real huge amount of enthusiasm with the goal from Edin and we thought: ‘Let’s go for it. One last effort, two or three last efforts and we can maybe get something.’
“The dressingroom was very, very happy – everybody was celebrating in there. With the manager [Roberto Mancini], it’s not about words when you’ve won a title like this. It’s more hugs, everyone embracing each other. The manager greeted us all personally when we came off, said ‘thank you’.”
Aguero added the match ball had gone missing and that Diego Maradona, his father-in-law, had been in touch to offer congratulations: “I try and keep the ball where I can but not this time. I don’t know where it ended up in the end but I’ve got my boots – I’ll be keeping them and my shirt obviously. But I don’t know where the ball is.
“I’ve not had a chance to look [on my phone] yet. I’ve got 33 messages so I’m sure one’s from him [Maradona].”
Guardian Service
WHO'S NEXT? Five possible targets for Manchester City next season . . . . .
Robin van Persie
(Arsenal, €32m)
Has refused to commit his future to Arsenal, and City would be interested if he were to leave. Mancini is likely to sign a striker this summer, with up to three set to depart .
Eden Hazard
(Lille, €44m)
The 21-year-old Belgian, just named France’s Player of the Year, is an attacking midfielder who frightens defenders with his pace and dribbling ability.
Thomas Vermaelen
(Arsenal, €32m)
With Kolo Touré ageing and Stefan Savic not old enough, there is a lack of depth in central defence. Vermaelen is a classy option, with the required Premier League experience.
Cheick Tiote
(Newcastle Utd, €32m)
With Owen Hargreaves on his way out, Mancini may seek a new defensive midfielder. The impressive Tiot has been integral to Newcastle United’s excellent season
Adriano
(Barcelona, €19m)
Would offer good cover at full-back as he can operate on either flank, has international experience and, as an occasional starter at the Camp Nou, would be inexpensive.
