Mancini - Ajax defeat was my fault

Roberto Mancini shouldered the blame after watching his Manchester City side slump to a 3-1 defeat to Ajax, insisting it was his fault that they lost.

 City's Champions League campaign is in major trouble after defeat in Amsterdam left them with one point from three matches.

 Goals from Siem de Jong, Nicklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen overturned Samir Nasri's opener.

 Mancini, either through honesty or an attempt to protect his players, turned all the blame on himself, claiming he did not prepare properly for the match.

 When pressed on the issue, the Italian explained that he sent his men out with the wrong tactics to beat Ajax. "They played better than us," Mancini told us.

 "It's my fault, I didn't prepare the players properly for this game. It's my fault. I prepared them one way but it was different. When you prepare them one way and think it will be like this, instead it is a different game."

 Mancini attempted to change his side's fortunes in the second half by switching from a back four to a back three, but he insists that alteration did not cost City the match.

 "We changed for five minutes but there were always 11 players [on the pitch]," he said. "Before [the change], we conceded two goals, so if someone wants to take this as an excuse, okay, but this is not the problem.

 "We have to be strong. It is very difficult [to qualify now]. One team (Dortmund) has seven points, one (Real Madrid) has six. We need a miracle like last year."

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Premier League preview: Manchester City v Arsenal

Lukas Podolski will hope he can continue his bright start with Arsenal when they travel to reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.

 The English Premier League clash pits one of the best attacking sides in the competition (Manchester City) against the best defensive outfit (Arsenal) but it is up the other end where the game could be decided.

 Podolski, who has scored three goals in as many games, could be key for the visitors.

 The 27-year-old German forward scored Arsenal's first league goal of the season in their 2-0 triumph over Liverpool before getting involved in the 6-1 thrashing of Southampton and starting the London club's comeback in their 2-1 Champions League victory against Montpellier on Tuesday.

 Podolski has arguably been Arsenal's buy of the European transfer window and will hope to take advantage of Manchester City's porous defence at Etihad Stadium.

 The reigning champions have already let in six goals in four league games this season and conceded three times in 17 minutes to lose 3-2 to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

 Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini reportedly chased central defenders Daniel Agger (Liverpool) and Victor Ruiz (Espanyol) during the latest transfer window in a quest to find a decent partner for captain Vincent Kompany and that failure looks to have cost the club so far.

 Neither Joleon Lescott nor Matija Nastasic seem consistent enough, while Mancini does not appear interested in playing Kolo Toure again.

 With Arsenal having scored 10 goals in their past three games, Arsene Wenger's side are surely excited at the prospect of taking on Manchester City's misfiring defence.

 Wenger must still do without Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski, Marouane Chamakh, Bakari Sagna, Thomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshire and Emmanuel Frimpong against City, as all seven are injured, but Arsenal's manager must be thrilled with how his team is playing.

 Arsenal's new assistant coach Steve Bould has done a great job as defensive coordinator, while Abou Diaby, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla have quickly come together as a formidable midfield trio.

 Mancini will be sweating on the fitness of French midfielder Samir Nasri, who injured his hamstring in Madrid, while full-back Micah Richards remains on City's injury list.

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Mancini denies Balotelli bust-up

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has rebuffed reports he has had a falling out with striker Mario Balotelli.

 The 21-year-old was omitted for the dramatic 3-2 Champions League defeat against Real Madrid at Bernabeu on Tuesday night, sparking rumours of another bust-up with the manager.

 But Mancini denied those suggestions, claiming it was simply a case of rotation and that the Italy international will be fit to play against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

 "This story is totally false," Mancini told reporters on Friday.

 "Mario went in the stand only because we started to play with Carlos Tevez in attack and we couldn't have three strikers on the bench. "There has been no argument, and no row. Absolutely not."

 Meanwhile, the 47-year-old confirmed that Samir Nasri is a major doubt to face his former club, after the France midfielder was taken off during Tuesday's game with a hamstring problem.

 The France international's injury isn't as serious as first feared, but the Blues' boss admits a comeback on Sunday is very unlikely.

 "I do not think he will be ready for Sunday," Mancini said. "We will try but it is difficult. "I hope he will be OK for next week."

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Emmanuel Adebayor completes £5m move to Tottenham

Emmanuel Adebayor has completed a £5m move to Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester City.

 The Togo striker impressed during a loan spell with Spurs last season, scoring 17 Premier League goals. Adebayor will be among the top-earners at White Hart Lane, but City will subsidise the 28-year-old's wage, having paid him £175,000 per week.

 The former Arsenal man revealed the news on Twitter: "Tottenham here I come! I'm hungry for goals. Get ready."

 Adebayor had two years to run on his City contract, having been sent out on loan for most of the previous two seasons to Real Madrid and then Spurs.

 "I am pleased to be signing for Spurs on a permanent basis after finally agreeing my departure with Manchester City," Adebayor added.

 "It may have taken longer than expected but I am delighted to be back at Tottenham Hotspur.

 I really enjoyed my time here last season and I am hoping we can achieve great things together again." It is understood Spurs refused to break their strict wage structure to accommodate Adebayor.

 But with the player refusing to accept a big pay-cut, the Premier League champions were forced to accept having to continue to pay the player the difference between his new wage of around £80,000 and his earnings at City in order to complete the deal.

 The development completes a protracted saga, which has dragged on throughout the summer after a disagreement over Adebayor's right to a loyalty bonus pay-off from City.

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Inter closing in on Man city star

Nigel de Jong is one step closer to leaving Manchester City for Inter as Roberto Mancini has given the Netherlands international the green light to move on.

 The Nerazzurri already secured the services of Gaby Mudingayi from Bologna earlier this summer to add some steel to their midfield, but Andrea Stramaccioni is not impressed with the Belgian.

 The Inter coach has therefore demanded the arrival of another holding midfielder, and the 2010 Champions League winners see De Jong as the perfect addition to their squad.

 De Jong joined City from Hamburg in January 2009 and quickly became an important first-team member at the Premier League side.

 However, he is no longer a certain starter under Mancini, and the Citizens are ready to cash in on the 27-year-old.

 The Dutchman's contract with the Premier League champions is due to expire in the summer of 2013, and an offer in the region of €9 million could be enough to lure him away from City.

 Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder recently stated that De Jong would be a great signing for the Serie A giants, and the attacking midfielder has already been in touch with his compatriot to convince him that a move to Italy would be the right step.

 The Nerazzurri face stiff competition in the race for De Jong's services, though, as AC Milan are closely monitoring his situation as well.

 Even though Inter remain confident of getting their man, they have lined up Napoli's Walter Gargano as a possible alternative for De Jong, in case they miss out on the combative midfielder.

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Man City close to €30m Jovetic swoop

The Premier League champions made a move for the Montenegro forward after missing out on Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United after a long pursuit.

 City have indicated to the Serie A club that they are willing to meet their €30 million (£23.6m) valuation of the 22-year-old forward.

 Sources have us that negotiations between the clubs are progressing well and City are increasingly confident of capturing Jovetic before the end of the window.

 The Premier League champions made their move at the end of last week after being beaten to the signature of Robin van Persie by rivals Manchester United.

 But manager Roberto Mancini has made it clear to the City hierarchy that the club require another forward, even though they already have Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dezko, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and John Guidetti on their books.

 Jovetic, who joined Fiorentina from Partizan in 2008, was the subject of strong interest from Juventus earlier this summer but the Serie A champions were unwilling to pay more than €20m (£15.7m) for the player, who prefers to operate in the No.10 role behind the main striker.

 The Montenegrin has told Fiorentina that he wants to leave the club following a summer in which a considerable turnover of players has led him to doubt their prospects this season.

 New manager Vincenzo Montella has recruited a trio of playmakers in former Liverpool man Alberto Aquilani, Matias Fernandez from Sporting Lisbon and Borja Valero from Villarreal. "Jovetic is not happy with the situation at Fiorentina," a source told Goal.com.

 "He is the star of the team but wants to be part of a team of stars." Dzeko is expected to be the City first-teamer who makes way for Jovetic, with Juventus and Milan among the clubs closely monitoring his situation.

 City are also confident that they will sell Adebayor to Tottenham for €6m (£4m) by the end of the window and are in negotiations to offload Santa Cruz as well.

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Everton, City agree Rodwell fee

Jack Rodwell appears on the verge of joining Manchester City after Everton agreed a fee with the English Premier League champions.

 Everton confirmed in a statement released on their website they had reached an agreement with City over the transfer of the midfielder. Rodwell will undergo a medical with City on Sunday.

 The 21-year-old came through the youth ranks at Everton and has made over 100 first-team appearances under manager David Moyes.

 His career has stalled somewhat due to regular injury problems and he was restricted to just 14 league games last season.

 Rodwell had been widely expected to make Stuart Pearce's Great Britain squad for the London 2012 Olympics, but was forced to withdraw after suffering yet another injury blow prior to the tournament.

 Rodwell handed his first full England cap by Fabio Capello in November 2011, making a substitute appearance during a 1-0 friendly victory over Spain.

 The former Under-21 international is set to become Roberto Mancini's first purchase of the close season should the move be confirmed.

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City claim Community Shield : edge ten-man Blues

After the joy and wonder of an Olympic fortnight that will never be forgotten, English football delivered a fiesty opening to the new season as Manchester City came from behind to beat 10-man Chelsea at Villa Park.

 Second-half goals from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri gave the Premier League champions their first Shield triumph since 1972.

 Amid a succession of niggly tackles, eight yellow cards and a straight red for Branislav Ivanovic Chelsea lost out, despite Fernando Torres and Ryan Bertrand scoring the first and last goals. Referee Kevin Friend struggled to keep control almost from the first whistle.

 Stefan Savic was booked after 10 minutes, which set the scene for a niggly opening period in which both sides were guilty of going too far at times. Ivanovic was the worst offender.

 Forced to challenge for a stray John Terry pass, the Serbian slid straight into countryman Aleksandar Kolarov, studs raised.

 It was not two-footed, but it was dangerous. And though Chelsea protested, Friend was justified in dismissing Ivanovic, who must now miss next week's trip to Wigan, plus home encounters with Reading and Newcastle.

 Earlier, David Luiz had been cautioned followed by Frank Lampard, and in the immediate aftermath of Ivanovic's exit, John Obi Mikel.

 In addition, Savic raised an eyebrow when he flattened Torres in an incident Friend chose to see as a free-kick in favour of the Montenegro defender when it was not inconceivable the decision would go the other way, with dire consequences.

 It amounted to some introduction into English football for one-time City target Eden Hazard. There are immediate comparisons to be made between Hazard and former Blues favourite Joe Cole in both appearance and running style.

 The Belgian evidently has plenty of guts too. Targeted by the City faithful over his summer snub, Hazard had the character to respond when he attempted a back-heel at full speed and met only with a comical fall headlong into the turf, having got his manoeuvre badly wrong. Hazard was a bystander when Chelsea got their opener.

 Ramires created it, nipping past Pablo Zabaleta before surging into the box and flicking an astute pass past Hazard to Torres on his right.

 The £50 million man showed signs last season of starting to find his old form and, with Didier Drogba embarking on his new life in China, manager Roberto di Matteo needs Torres to justify that massive price tag.

 Today's contribution was clinical, beating the advancing Costel Pantilimon with the predatory instinct of old. Pantilimon had been given a rare start due to Joe Hart's back injury and having been the least busy of the two keepers, probably felt hard done by.

 Carlos Tevez, Samir Nasri and skipper Vincent Kompany had all gone close for the Premier League champions. As so often on showpiece occasions, though, Toure was the man who did the damage.

 Seizing on John Terry's poor clearance, the midfielder drilled a fierce shot straight back through a crowd of bodies, giving Petr Cech no chance of keeping it out. Now City had the momentum with them and made their extra man tell.

 Six minutes later, neither Luiz nor Terry were able to check Tevez's darting run along the edge of the penalty area. From a central position, Tevez belted a superb shot into the top corner to put the champions ahead.

 Six minutes after that, City scored again as Kolarov streaked past makeshift right-back Ramires and curled a cross to the near post which Nasri touched home. If Ramires had not managed to steer James Milner's cross over the bar, an unmarked Tevez would have had a tap-in as a rampant City poured forward.

 Yet it was Chelsea who scored 10 minutes from time, through substitute Bertrand, who promptly became involved in a spat with Pantilimon as he tried to wrestle the ball away to restart the game.

 City came closer to grabbing a fourth than Chelsea an equaliser though, as Sergio Aguero somehow managed to turn Milner's cross wide in the final minute when it seemed easier to score. The five goals did amount to decent entertainment.

 As Ramires got away with a cynical bodycheck on David Silva that should have brought a second yellow, it reminded that the behaviour just reinforced old stereotypes football needs to shed.

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Kompany: City must look forward

Vincent Kompany has urged Manchester City to put last season's dramatic title triumph behind them and focus on the future.

 City became champions for the first time in 44 years when Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored injury-time goals against QPR on the final day of the 2011-12 campaign.

 But club captain Kompany, who recently signed a six-year contract, said: "One of the main things for me is to not keep looking back at this game for too long.

 I just want to move on." The Belgium centre-back became City's first title-winning captain since Tony Book in 1968 and also told the club's website: "The last game was a game that will remain a very strong part of our history. I think there will be people speaking about this game for 50, 100 years to come.

 "But in the same way I have enjoyed it, I am looking forward already. But this is over now. It is about what lies ahead."

 After a 35-year wait for silverware, City have won two trophies in as many seasons. They were FA Cup winners in 2011 before lifting the league title in May.

 "You lay down the foundation and if you do it right then you can be successful for a long time," Kompany said.

 "That is the aim. But it is not for me to just keep saying it or keep thinking about it. I think there is so much more great stuff ahead of us and that is what interests me."

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City want 25 million for Dzeko

Manchester City want 25 million pounds for Edin Dzeko after rejecting a loan deal from AC Milan.

 City have told the Italian club that they will not entertain any offer to take the Bosnian on a temporary basis with a view to a permanent switch next summer.

 However, Roberto Mancini is willing to listen to offers for Dzeko as he looks to raise funds and create room in the squad for other players.

 Milan wanted to take Dzeko on loan and pay his 170,000 pounds-a-week wages in full - but City rejected their approach, just as they did when the Italian giants made a similar bid for Carlos Tevez in January.

 The Premier League champions are also well aware that Milan received 50m pounds following the double sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain last month.

 Dzeko, who cost 27m pounds and has three years remaining on his contract, has complained about a lack of first-team opportunities after finding himself out of the side for much of last season - but still managed to score 14 Premier League goals.

 And he hinted at the possibility of a summer transfer at the weekend, speaking after City's 2-0 friendly win over Wolfsburg.

 "I always follow the Italian league and one day I would like to play in it. I also know that Milan has sold two of its best players," Dzeko said.

 "For now I am a City player, but to be sure I will stay here I will have to wait until the end of the month. I'll see what happens, and if someone else comes in."

 However, Mancini insisted on Sunday that he does not expect Dzeko to leave City this summer. "It’s pretty unlikely he will leave," the Italian told reporters.

 "He is right to say it’s no fun being on the bench but when you join a big club then competition is normal."

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United in the box seat for Van Persie after City boss Mancini concedes defeat in striker race

Roberto Mancini has admitted defeat in his pursuit of Arsenal's Robin van Persie.

 The Italian has been desperate to bring the striker to the Etihad but have faced stiff competition from Manchester United and Serie A giants Juventus.

 And after it emerged that Sir Alex Ferguson had stayed in Britain while his team were in Norway in a bid to force through a £20million deal for the Dutchman, Mancini has revealed his club are no longer in the race.

 When asked about the Gunners star, the City boss said: 'Van Persie? No, I don't think he will come here.'

 United now expect to get the coveted signature of last season's Premier League top goalscorer by the time the new campaign kicks off on August 19.

 The club also expect to add young Brazilian Lucas Moura to their ranks in the coming days. Meanwhile, after the failed attempt to lure Van Persie to the Premier League champions, Mancini expects Edin Dzeko to remain.

 The Bosnian has failed to live up to the £27million City paid Woflsburg for him 18 months ago, and is wanted by several top clubs around Europe.

 However, responding to speculation about Juve and AC Milan's interest in the forward, Mancini added on Italian television: 'I'm pleased, as this means we have good players, but it’s pretty unlikely he will leave.'

 Speaking to German media this week, Dzeko hit out at his lack of playing time - he started just 16 league games last season - and suggested he would be ready to leave for the right club.

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Dzeko: I am too good for the Manchester City bench

The 26-year-old former Wolfsburg striker joined the Premier League champions for £27 million in January of last year.

 However the Bosnian started just 16 Premier League games last season, despite scoring an impressive 14 goals, including the injury time equaliser against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of last season which set up City's fairytale title triumph.

 He told reporters: “In the second half of last season, I suddenly got to start far fewer games — and I’ve got no idea why. “I lost my rhythm. I joined City in order to play in matches.

 “I never imagined that things would turn out the way they have. “I am too good for the bench. If I continue to sit matches out, then anything is possible.”

 Dzeko began the season as one of Mancini's preferred strikers but soon fell behind Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and later Carlos Tevez in the pecking order.

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Adebayor threatens to pull plug on Tottenham move

Emmanuel Adebayor has threatened to pull the plug on his move to Tottenham unless he is directly handed the £4 million transfer fee that has been agreed with Manchester City.

 Sources have said that the Togo international has been offered a package that matches his current £170,000 City deal after the Premier League champions agreed to subsidise his basic Spurs salary on top of a £5m signing-on fee.

 It can be revealed that the transfer fee negotiated by the two clubs to take Adebayor to White Hart Lane has now been lowered from £5m to £4m.

 But the 28-year-old has told City he wants to be directly handed the entire £4m fee and effectively leave the club on a free transfer. “He wants to punish Manchester City for how he thinks they have treated him,” a source said.

 “He wants a free transfer and has told them that if he doesn’t get it he will stay at Manchester City for two more years.”

 The latest twist in the saga comes 48 hours after Tottenham and City thought the deal was on the brink of completion following Adebayor’s season-long loan at White Hart Lane.

 Andre Villas-Boas, the Tottenham manager, has been pushing club bosses to clinch the deal as he looks to improve his strike force by signing two forwards this summer, with Jermain Defoe the only senior striker currently in the Spurs squad.

 Phil Smith, the agent who took Adebayor from Arsenal to City in a £25m deal in 2009, predicted in a radio interview earlier this week that the Spurs deal could still hit the buffers.

 “I was involved in Adebayor going to Manchester City from Arsenal and he is quite ruthless when it comes to getting what he wants,” Smith said. “He got a very good deal and quite clearly he wants his pound of flesh, not only on the way in but on the way out.

 “And I think it's a deal that will die on its backside. Who is it that is going to come and give moneybags Adebayor the money that he wants other than moneybags QPR and I don't think they'd even be interested in him.”

 Adebayor returned to training at City’s Carrington training ground earlier this month to train with the youth team before taking a break as he waited for his move to Spurs.

 Adebayor played a key role for Spurs on loan last season under Harry Redknapp, scoring 17 Premier League goals and providing 11 assists in 33 appearances.

 The forward has been frozen out at City since lining up against Red Bull Salzburg in a Europa League tie in December 2010.

 He has made just 45 appearances for the club in all competitions and spent the second half of the 2010-11 season on loan at Real Madrid before his year at Spurs.

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Manchester City Enter Race For £35m Chelsea Target Hulk

Manchester City are preparing to challenge Chelsea for the signature of Brazilian striker Hulk, it has emerged.

 The west London club have been tracking the Porto forward for some time but are yet to agree a deal for the 26-year-old, with City now ready to pounce.

 The Premier League Champions want to sign Arsenal’s Robin van Persie but boss Roberto Mancini is growing increasingly concerned that the Dutchman favours either a move to either Juventus or Manchester United.

 Mancini has told the club’s hierarchy that if they miss out on van Persie, he wants Hulk to lead the line next season.

 It is understood that Porto will demand in excess of £40 million for the forward, who has a buy-out clause believed to be in the region of £80 million.

 Hulk is currently in the UK with the Brazilian Olympic squad and any deal is unlikely to be completed until the conclusion of the Games.

 Mancini is determined to land a new striker this summer after becoming concerned about the efficiency of Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli.

 Hulk has scored 52 goals in 96 appearances for Porto in the Primiera Liga.

 City, meanwhile, must ship out Tottenham target Emmanuel Adebayor before they can bring in a new face but are struggling to shift the Togo forward, who is demanding a £4 million pay-off to leave Eastlands.

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Wenger hits out at reckless spending

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger fears big spending from clubs such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain this summer will cause football to suffer.

 Wenger is reportedly on the verge of signing Santi Cazorla from Malaga for £16 million, which would take the Gunners' summer spending to £39 million.

 However, with Europe's "mega-rich" clubs spending more than double that amount during harsh economic times, Wenger insists clubs must begin to act responsibly.

 "We consider ourselves in a privileged position because we have a massive income," Wenger told the Sun. "But overall we are not mega-rich because we do not [have] unlimited resources.

 "A club can buy players like PSG has done or Manchester City or Chelsea, with unlimited resources, but overall football suffers. Look at the activity on the transfer market since the start of the summer. "PSG are ambitious and they have resources and that's it.

 We talk always about the same things. I don't think anything is new in that domain. "Europe at the moment is like the Titanic but we live in football like nothing matters.

 More than ever we have to run our club in a strict way because it looks like everybody suffers in Europe. "I would be surprised if football is not touched by it at some stage.

 If you look at debt in football across Europe at the moment it is quite massive and we have to be responsible. "We have to be ambitious but also make sure we are not getting in trouble financially.

 It is difficult for us because the wages in some other clubs are very high. But of course our players quite rightly compare themselves to the players of the other clubs." Despite their investment over the summer, Wenger does not feel Chelsea's recent achievements will change the game in England.

 Wenger also believes the Blues' Champions League triumph last season demonstrates how competitive the Premier League is. "I don't see what it could change. Maybe it will wake up the appetite of [Roman] Abramovich again. I'm proud when any Premier League club wins the Champions League.

 "It shows how competitive the Premier League is because Chelsea finished fifth in the Premier League and that is the real quality of a team.

 More than the Champions League it is about where your finish in the league. That just shows how good the Premier League is," said Wenger.

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Man City ease to Malaysia XI victory

Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero starred in Manchester City's 3-1 win over a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur, showing Roberto Mancini there is little reason to fear missing out on signing Robin van Persie this summer.

 Mancini has expressed concern that the Arsenal striker could opt to join Juventus or Manchester United - which prompted Tevez and Aguero to give a reminder of their talents.

 Aguero scored one and assisted two, with Tevez and Adam Johnson also on the score sheet.

 Aguero fired a warning shot when he hit the bar inside the first ten minutes - although he should have done better, as he somehow failed to convert an open goal after Tevez rounded the goalkeeper and laid the ball into his path.

 Argentina international Aguero made up for that miss a few minutes later when he produced a superb opening goal, drifting past a handful of defenders in the penalty box before dinking the ball over goalkeeper Farizal Marlias with the outside of his right foot.

 City were able to get into dangerous areas with ease, often finding space in behind the home defence, and Tevez rifled a left-footed half-volley just wide from inside the penalty area, having been slotted in by a lofted through ball from Aguero.

 Much of the hosts' defending was verging on desperate as City flooded forward, safe in the knowledge their backline had little to deal with. But Mancini's side, for all their dominance of the contest and tenacious attacking, only led by one at the interval.

 They did find a second shortly after the break: Aguero, dropping into midfield, turned and slotted a pass through for Tevez, who hit a left-footed shot across the goalkeeper and into the corner.

 Aguero also made City's third, setting up England international Johnson to volley home, with the goalkeeper static.

 The former Atletico Madrid striker was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining, having taken the game under his spell from the early stages.

 His exit was the cue for City to take their foot off the gas, and Malaysia XI pulled one back on 86 minutes through Azamuddin Akil. City now have three friendlies left before the Community Shield against Chelsea on August 12.

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Mancini: Manchester City are talking to some players

The Premier League champions are yet to make a signing this summer, in stark contrast to their lavish spending over the last two years which has seen them lift the FA Cup and their long wait for a top flight league title.

 Arsenal's contract rebel Robin van Persie has been continually linked with a move from the Emirates to Eastlands over the summer, following in the footsteps of former Gunners Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor.

 Mancini refuses to be drawn on names but the Italian has revealed he is working on bringing some new faces to the club and expects business to be done over the next couple of weeks.

 "We did well last year. This year will be harder because when you win, the problem is to win again. "For this reason I think that we need to improve our team with maybe some new players, "I'm sure that maybe in the next two weeks we can do something about new players.

 "We are talking to some players, but the market is not easy. It's difficult, and for this reason we need more time." The 47-year-old is only expected to add one or two players to his squad which already boasts a wealth of talent in almost every position.

 Mancini added: "I don't know at this moment. But we have a lot of players and I don't think that we need 10 new players."

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Kompany commits to City : sign's long term deal

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has signed a new six-year contract with the Premier League champions.


 It is the longest deal handed out in the club's recent history and shows their faith in Kompany, who last season led City to their first top-flight crown since 1968.


 Kompany, 26, was delighted to sign the new contract and said it was his intent to deliver more trophies to Eastlands as the 'Man City project' continues.


 "Hopefully in the future I will have a bigger impact than I already have," the 26-year-old Belgium international said.


 "There are so many more trophies to win at this club that is why it makes it so special.


 He told City's official website: "For me if you are good somewhere then there is no reason to look elsewhere.


 Man City as a project is not just a project of the owners or the people employed by the club; it is also my project.


 "I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out. I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too.


 It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years. It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me."


 Kompany was signed by Mark Hughes from Hamburg in August 2008 and has helped transform City into one of the most high-profile clubs in Europe.


 And the City skipper believes the FA Cup and Premier League triumphs of the last two years are just the beginning of success at City.


 "Our title win was amazing and one of the best feelings ever for us and the fans," he declared.


 "That last game against QPR will be a very special part of City's history for the next 50 or 100 years but now is the time to look forward. "We have laid the foundations and now we want to win more.


 If we do that then we can be one of the most successful clubs for a long time to come and that is the aim.


 I can't wait to get started again. I am really excited about the season ahead."

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Liverpool & Manchester City target Ramirez set for Premier League move

Bologna winger Gaston Ramirez is likely to move to the Premier League amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester City, according to his agent.

 The Uruguayan is currently in England with his country for the Olympic Games and his representative has indicated that he could stay there amid interest from the champions .

As revealed in May that City were leading the chase for the Uruguay international and his representative, Pablo Betancur, has revealed he is in talks with an English top-flight club.

 Speaking to calciomercato.com about Ramirez’s future, Betancur said: "I think it's always been more likely that Gaston says goodbye to Italy.

 So much so that now I'm in London to talk with a Premier League club.

 "I think Ramirez will leave. He is one of the best players and so there are many offers and, again, I think it's unlikely he will remain in Italy."

 The winger scored eight goals for Bologna in Serie A last season to help them to a ninth-placed finish and had attracted interest from the likes of Inter and Wolfsburg but Betancur admits Bologna’s asking price is too high for them.

 He added: "Inter like the player but we are very far off from what Bologna are asking for him - nearly €25 million (£19.5m).

 "The Wolfsburg interest? They were the first to move on Ramirez, but some of the figures are impossible for them too.”

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Silva set for lucrative deal

The Spain international currently earns a reported £130,000-a-week with the Premier League champions and will be rewarded for his perfomances last season with a rise to over £190,000-a-week, putting him in the same pay bracket as the likes of Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero.

 Club representatives met Silva's agents in Barcelona to discuss the deal last month and have held further dialogue since to thrash out the terms of the contract, which is expected to be either four or five years in length.

 The Spain international currently earns a reported £130,000-a-week with the Premier League champions and will be rewarded for his perfomances last season with a rise to over £190,000-a-week, putting him in the same pay bracket as the likes of Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero.

 Club representatives met Silva's agents in Barcelona to discuss the deal last month and have held further dialogue since to thrash out the terms of the contract, which is expected to be either four or five years in length.

 Securing the signature of the former Valencia man has been one of the club's top priorities this summer, with City officials keen to keep hold of their top talent as they look to both defend their domestic title next season, as well as make a serious assault on the Champions League.

 The Spain star was voted Player's Player of the Season last term, after proving crucial to City's title win, with six goals and 18 assists in the league alone.

 Silva's new contract will follow that of Mancini, who penned a new five-year deal at City a fortnight ago after talks with owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in Abu Dhabi following the club's dramatic title victory on the final day of the season.

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