Blues set for fresh Mido swoop

Mike Whalley

March 29, 2007

MIDO: City have already tried to sign Egyptian star

CITY are preparing to make another bid to sign Egyptian striker Mido from Tottenham in the summer.

But manager Stuart Pearce knows that any attempt to sign the forward may hang on the success of ongoing investment talks.

Pearce tried to sign Mido for £4m during the January transfer window, but the deal collapsed just 30 minutes before the deadline when Spurs boss Martin Jol pulled out of thd deal.

Mido made it clear over the weekend that he would still consider a move to Eastlands in the summer.

PSV Eindhoven are also reportedly interested in the 24-year-old former Ajax striker, who has been linked with a move to Spain to join Celta Vigo, where he had a loan spell in 2003.

Investors

With City's board still in talks with potential investors regarding a possible takeover, the club's summer transfer kitty may yet receive a significant boost.

And Pearce is hoping that extra money does become available to sign a top-quality striker in the transfer window.

Weakness

The manager openly admits that his team's major weakness has been in front of goal, with the Blues scoring just 22 times in 29 Premiership matches.

And he has refused to rule out another move for Mido.

"It's well documented that we attempted to sign him in the window, and that broke down on the stroke of midnight when the window shut," said Pearce.

"We've spent the time between January and the end of the season re-focusing on everybody that we feel might benefit the club.

"Now we're waiting to see if there is investment into the club and what funds that might throw up.

"At that stage, it will make it slightly easier for me to know exactly what targets we can and can't go for in respect of how much we've got to play with."

Meanwhile, Panathinaikos are the latest club to be linked with a move for Blues striker Bernardo Corradi.

Sources in Athens suggest that the Greek side are interested in bringing the Italian striker's unhappy spell at City to an end.

How would you like to see the squad re-shaped? Have your say.

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Staffe,kiruna, Kiruna, Sweden (29/03/2007 at 09:07)

After watching David Healy´s peformance against Sweden surely he must have something to offer us. His finishing was amazing.

Hinchcliffe - That's Five!, Manchester (29/03/2007 at 09:07)

Whoa, whoa, whoa!!!! Tried to sign him for £4m in Jan??? SP - should you be reading, get a grip lad. A straight swap with no cash involved for Corradi may represent a half decent deal. Preferably steer clear of this moody, porky liability and ship Corradi out as well. I'm 100% behind City to get us through to the end of the season safely, but please, Mido for £4m will just provide significantly more justification / ammunition for people wanting your head on a plate. As Grand Master Flash once famously said "DON'T DO IT!"

Colin, Always Blue, Hollingworth, Hyde (29/03/2007 at 09:09)

According to reports we will have approx £10M in the summer to spend - if so I don't think we should be spending 40% of that on a striker who's scoring record isn't much better than what we have in the squad already. We should be looking at central and wide midfield positions because even if we did get Mido we still haven't got the amunition in the wide areas to give him the chances - Etherington and Benayoun will probably be available and Kevin Lisbie from Charlton if they go down - these would be good additions to the squad and would probably cost the same as Mido all in. You could then spend the rest on Nugent and Healy. Keep the Faith. CTID

Hinchcliffe - That's Five!, Manchester (29/03/2007 at 09:10)

And while we are at it MUEN, these take over talks have been going on for 4 months and we are still none the wiser as to who it is. Do you employ journalists or not at this paper? Surely it shouldn't be too hard to find out who it is or to prove there isn't anyone should that be the case? Time to do your job.

john blue, levenshulme (29/03/2007 at 09:15)

SO MR PEARCE CONSIDERS MIDO A "TOP-QUALITY STRIKER, HE LOOKS LIKE CORRADI!S COUSIN.

stuart malcolm (29/03/2007 at 09:24)

Why do we always target flawed players? Why is Mido out of favour at WHL? He is an inconsistent and "moody" soul. What we want is a committed young buck with everything to prove and a wish to have the footbaling world at his feet.Nugent, like Ashton before him, would have been ideal but was judged not good enough. That's a joke when you see the calibre of the total balm pots Mr Pearce has brought in - Great vital players like Samaras, Corradi, Beasly etc.

Bertie Blue Nose, Eastlands, Stockport (29/03/2007 at 09:26)

How would I like to see the squad re-shaped? Not by adding Mido to it, that's for sure. It is to be hoped that this story is just speculation on the part of the MEN, not least because the quote from Pearce accompanying it appears to be a few weeks old.

Bluetooth, Manchester (29/03/2007 at 09:37)

There is nothing in that quote from SP that indicates he is trying to sign Mido. Which is good, because there are far better ways of spending £4 million.

In summer the first 2 targets must be a quality striker and midfield playmaker. Somebody who can get down the wing and cross a ball would be good to. As for the rest, no-one can say yet, because there are so many players out of contract who might stay or go.

tommybates, Manchester (29/03/2007 at 09:39)

I expect business as usual
on Saturday,our manager is so much in denial that he seems to think the Boro result makes us certs to stay up and will keep him in a job,well he could be in for a big shock.

Blau, Germany (29/03/2007 at 09:49)

If Mido or Pearce are within a 100 mile radius of Manchester come the start of the new season i will be very disappointed.

kanchelskis thats 5-0, manchester (29/03/2007 at 09:56)

another cast off on his way....

DJ, Chorlton (29/03/2007 at 10:10)

Even MUEN's photo of Mido clearly shows his belly bulging out of his shirt. He is far too bulky and overweight. The new Stan Collymore: loads of potential, off the rails, retired by 30.

If Pearce wants to buy Mido surely the board will not sanction this. Wardle watches a lot of football. He must be able to see Mido is a liability.

green (29/03/2007 at 10:18)

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NON! NEIN! NYET! NITSCH!

YakJensen (29/03/2007 at 10:33)

Would rather get in the excellent (born finisher) Billy Sharp for £2m and Chris Brunt (someone who can play left midfield!) for £2m. With the wages we will be saving from the departure of Reyna, Sinclair and Mills surely we can offer Sidwell a deal he can't refuse. Those 3 would make for an excellent summer of business.

Jonny81, poynton (29/03/2007 at 10:33)

Nugent Nugent Nugent!!!
At least he has somethin 2 prove at the highest level and I agree with an earlier post Healy is certainly worth a gamble at the price Leeds would want for him at least he knows where the back of the net is

bill,carlisle, carlisle (29/03/2007 at 10:44)

Not long ago the story was that Preston had slapped a £6m price tag on Nugent. That may increase now that he's played for England, but if we can still get him for this then it's got to be better business than £4m for Mido.
From what I've seen, Nugent can make his own goal chances. With our current squad that's what we need as precious few chances are coming from midfield and the flanks.
I would also echo the earlier posting re: David Healy. I'll bet we could get him for peanuts (and he's no monkey).

RJKS (29/03/2007 at 10:49)

Robbie Keane & Nugent should be on the shopping list & also see if you can get a left winger & central midfielder with a bit of class.

Stephen Woodland (29/03/2007 at 10:50)

Pearce you wont be here in the summer to spend any of our money and thats because of talk of fellows like this along with the ones you have already signed and fact you are utterly inept in all departments. My sources say Lawrie Sanchez may be on his way to Eastlands in the summer and if so maybe Healy will be aswell.

Goretown Blue , Sunny Gorton (29/03/2007 at 10:56)

Re shape the squad ? We need to get rid of the touchline jester first before he wastes any more money !!!!

Father Neil (29/03/2007 at 11:19)

Let's hope you're correct Mr Woodland.

Jack Thorley, Trafford (29/03/2007 at 11:24)

If this story is correct,then I am convinced that Stuart Pearce is a masochist ?4 million for this lazy bloke this has to be a joke.We need to get some new young blood into the team.We may have to sacrifice Richards to do this but if anyone is prepared to pay ?20 million we should snap their hand off.Richards could be replaced by Liam Rosenior of Fulham,we need a winger Charles N,Zogbia of Newcastle would do a job for us,and what about taking a chance on Luke Moore a young striker at Aston Villa.We should also try and get Alexadre Song on loan from Arsenal he has been a revelation during his loan spell at Charlton.

Jesper, Copenhagen (29/03/2007 at 11:28)

I will support the attempt to sign Mido if the price is right. The guy still has something to prove in the PL and will be up for it. However, the words Stuart Pearce and "transfer kitty" make me sick. Sorry to say. Wonder what the next non-story is gonna be about? Being "cute in the transfer market"? Id put my money on that.

True Blue,Galway.Ireland, Galway (29/03/2007 at 11:40)

Mike Whalley can surmise all he likes about comings and goings at City but he assumes this with SP still being the City manager for next season.Nobody can guarantee anything until this seasons games are complete.

blue emu, salford (29/03/2007 at 11:40)

spurs fans think of mido much the same as most of us think of corradi. please wardle, im begging you, do not allow stuart the wonder boss near the cash. Robbie Keane is overrated also. so dont go there either. I agree that we should be looking to younger, hungrier players who would give there all to make a name for themselves in the prem.

blue boy, bury (29/03/2007 at 12:02)

This is my first post since someone nicked my moniker bb. Whilst using that name I was against the SP appointment from the start; wanted to sign D Bent, Nugent and Dawson, was against the SWP sale; and was against most of the signings we have made (all this is checkable by anyone sad enough to look). My guiding principle is always buy people associated with success. Three of those I said we should sign were successful England juniors and doing well at their clubs. Which brings me to Daniel Sturridge - very successful at England youth level and looks dynamite playing for City Reserves... please pick him for the first team Stuart.

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