Craig Bellamy out, Angel di Maria
and Ashley Young in: Manchester City plan summer spending spree
Manchester City are ready to splash the cash this
summer with money-spinning bids for Argentine sensation Angel di Maria
and Aston Villa winger Ashley Young as doubts linger
over the future of troublesome striker Craig Bellamy at Eastlands.
The
Wales international has reportedly fallen out with Italian boss Roberto
Mancini and a move for the left-sided attacking Benfica star would
appear to signal his exit.
Young is also highly-fancied by the
mega rich club who may offload the likes of Bellamy, Shaun
Wright-Phillips and Martin Petrov at the end of the season, the latter
two both playing hard-ball over new contracts much to the club's
chagrin.
City slicker: Manchester City are reportedly
keen to land Villa's Ashley Young (R)
Young's Villa team-mate James Milner is also well regarded by City's
football administrator Brian Marwood but he could cost upwards of
£24million.
The mega rich club remain in strong contention to finish fourth and
qualify for the Champions League next season, hopeful that their place
in Europe's elite competition will help them attract a host of exciting
big-name stars this summer.
And there is an increasing interest in
Di Maria, 22, and his Benfica team-mate Oscar Cardozo after City's
technical director Mike Rigg revealed the club are keen on the pair.
'Di
Maria and Cardozo are two excellent players, very strong in their
respective positions, and highly-rated in the international market,'
said Rigg.
In and out: Angel di Maria could replace
Craig Bellamy at Eastlands this summer
'It is logical that a club like Manchester City have to be attentive
to
players with such potential. Di Maria and Cardozo are two fantastic
players.'
With Benfica desperate to keep hold of the in-demand duo, City would
have to bid around £35million for Carlos Tevez's international pal Di
Maria, who recently penned a new deal with the Portuguese outfit
including a costly escape clause in the five-year contract which expires
in 2015.
Paraguay forward Cardozo would cost around £10million
and could replace compatriot Roque Santa Cruz who has struggled to
settle since he signed for City from Barclays Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers last summer.
