'Big names will sign'

July 08, 2007

MANCHESTER City deal-maker Jerome Anderson is convinced Sven-Goran Eriksson's presence will attract a better class of player to the Blues.

Anderson was a key figure in Eriksson's arrival as City manager on a three-year contract; the former England boss ending his exile from the game to take on his first managerial job since the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.

Eriksson has already set his mind to bringing in fresh faces, with a host of strikers linked with a move to Eastlands.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Nicolas Anelka are believed to be two possible targets, along with Eriksson's number one England striker Michael Owen.

The arrival of Owen would certainly send out a signal of intent, although it is doubtful whether the Newcastle player would quit St James' Park for another club who have no European campaign to look forward to this season.

However, even if Owen was not lured back to the north west, Anderson feels City fans have plenty to look forward to with Eriksson at the helm.

"Sven can attract some of the biggest players in the world to City," he said.

"Players like and respect him. He has always had a magnificent element of trust from people who have worked with him. He will bring that to Manchester City.

"Sven knows the players from every league in Europe and Africa, and having the kind of resources he has available, there will be a different type of player coming to this club now. It is definitely a very exciting time to be here."

Just as Eriksson did 24 hours ago, Anderson acknowledged the way takeover talks dragged on over the last few weeks have hampered the search for new blood.

However, now former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has gained a 75% stake in the Premiership outfit, Eriksson has been given the green light to spend some of the £50million cash-pot it is believed has been made available to him.

"You can't put a timescale on these things but there is no question there will be some significant additions to the squad," he said.

"It would have been easier if the timing had been earlier but you don't get anything easy in life.

"We will just have to work a bit harder, although we do have until the end of August to bring players in and everyone is chomping at the bit to get started."

Although the majority of City fans have backed Eriksson's arrival, there have still been some dissenting voices.

However, in a man who led Lazio to the Serie A title immediately before taking on the challenge of coaching England, Anderson insists the Blues have got a manager of impeccable pedigree.

"Sven brings a wealth of experience that he has gained in football all over the world.

"Analyse his record. It is up there with the best in the game. When we first spoke to Sven about this job, it was clear he wanted it. Now the excitement can begin."

Who would you like to see sign for City? Have your say.

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30 years of pain, Lowestoft (08/07/2007 at 16:06)

Saviola - Free
Requime - (don't know)push the boat out whatever it costs
Utaka - straight swap for Samaras from Rennes.
Heinze from swamp
Barstuke Hertha Berlin - free
Makelele - Chelsea
Dudek - free
Yakubu

why us, uk (08/07/2007 at 16:38)

30 years of pain,
How can anybody take you seriously with suggesting city would want heinze, he's a rag and not as good as jordan! requleme is about the only sensible name on your list

RatherBeDeadThanRed, Manchester (08/07/2007 at 16:52)

saviola,riquelme, huntelaar

Galway Blue, Urmston (08/07/2007 at 17:00)

No, No, No, No, No, No to Owen

An expensive ageing injury

Manc Through and Through, Withington (08/07/2007 at 17:53)

Things could work out well here, everytime a new manager comes in he brings in the players he likes and sidelines the ones he doesn't that's why we have ended up in the past with so many on the books. At least Sven only has to recruit people so hopefully the likes of Riquelme and Santa Cruz will come in given SVG's reputation and I quite expect a couple of names from the England squad in there too.

bluefield, chesterfield (08/07/2007 at 18:10)

Mmmmmm, will be able to attract a better quality player to the club. Not if the Sunday papers are anything to go by. Kieran Richardson, Alan Smith, Paul Konchesky, Zoltan Gera. Come on city, we can do better than this lot. Oh yeah I forgot Phil Neville, PMSL.

Burtnick, Nelson, South Wales (08/07/2007 at 19:15)

How strange, Sven is being linked strongly with 2 players Stuart Pearce wasn't allowed to buy, because at two million each they were too expensive, but would have given us the attacking creativity that was missing last season, Wlllhelmson and Pienaar. I will support every City manager, but if Sven does well having spent 50 million, many fans will hail him as the Messiah, but many managers (SP especially) would create a decent team with that money!!!!

Sandysen Carpanen (08/07/2007 at 19:28)

BUFON,CESINIHO,PUYOL,TERRY,COLE,MESSI,XABI,VIERA,RONALDINIHO,IBRAHIMOVICH,ETO
Common we have money and sven who can convine all players as if he is god as it is statad by deal maker anderson

stuart malcolm (08/07/2007 at 19:35)

Sven- If you want the MCFC Supporters to go BALLISTIC - just try palming them off with a raft of "has beens" and "never will bees" They are NOT daft and know the score. Get them some real glory and your enduring sainthood is assured! AND I personally promise I will never call Ikea nasty words again. - or ABBA!

Blue John, London (08/07/2007 at 19:36)

I'm not bothered if we sign big name players or not. All that matters is that they be good players. In fact I'd rather we went for the young and the hungry, rather than overpriced mercenaries like Anelka and Yakubu. By all means get players like Anelka and Yakubu, but only if the price reflects the commitment they have shown in the past

Bluearmy76, Manchester (08/07/2007 at 19:37)

Get rid of the dead wood, Mills (both of them), Dabo, Hamman, Dickov, Samaras, Vassell, Corradi. That should get us another 6/7 mil to spend on new players... Get Dudek in on a free, to cover for Isaksson
We'd then need a left back, Bridge/Baines/Shorey/Grosso. Then a Centre half Davies/???
A couple of cetral midfielders Sissoko/Poulson/Benayoun.
And 3 wingers SWP/Pedersen/Bentley/
Wilhelmsson/Quaresma.....
We'd then need 2 strikers, to complement Mpenza & Sturridge...., Owen, Yakubu, Lita, Elmander, Nugent.....

Dont go anywhere near Neville, Smith, Richardson, Konchesky, or anyone over 28/29

30 years of pain, Lowestoft (08/07/2007 at 19:42)

why us, uk

Only my opinion, feel free to express the players you would want in the club. In my opinion Heinze is a quality left back and he is available nothing else matters. No one got upset when we signed Dennis Law!!!!

alexp (08/07/2007 at 19:54)

City to play Valencia at COMS on 4 August. Part of the deal to sign David Villa???

ALFIE (08/07/2007 at 20:04)

Sven approaches eveton for phil neville evertons captain and phil snubs sven .
PMSL
Well done phil once a red always a red,as he says it would be like playing for the ememy.
LOL
Citeh huntleer and co no chance.
Even owen has turned citeh down.
PMSL.

why us, uk (08/07/2007 at 20:18)

bluefield, I hope the papers are full of thier usual rubbish because I for one wil not pay to see cast off rags like richardson and alan (kiss the leeds badge) smith. I wouldnt want any players currently in the england team thats not already at our club aside from steven gerrard and thats never gonna happen, the rest of them are overrated and vastly over priced. requelme and saviola would be a start, then a top class winger like swp. Id be happy if we signed a few germans.

Steve - Chorley (08/07/2007 at 20:20)

I would ignore th Sunday papers, when do they ever get it right. I think useful targets would be Up Front Yakubu, Lita and Gudgonson, Midfield Bentley, Nolan and Hleb and a center back. If available I would also try to get Makelele. Wouldn't touch Smith or Richardson, but Oshea could do a job.

Harry Skinters (08/07/2007 at 20:45)

Bluefield - I think you'll find that is a better class of player. Anyway they're just to bolster the squad before the big guns join.

Sam Haggar (08/07/2007 at 21:00)

Whats the point of getting Owen He will keep getting injured and says City Have been lmked with Yakubu its said we are going to put £14m for no no no

Bring in Defoe Kamas SWP Stellios Nolan Mcarrthyy Carson

COME CITY EURPE HERE WE COME

Coach, Dugout (08/07/2007 at 21:08)

I got the name wrong. Hans Backe will be the new number 2.

The Horse, Cheadle (08/07/2007 at 21:41)

Sven you are new here so to be loved by the fans there is one rule...NO SCOUSERS OR MAN U REJECTS.

Phil, Sacramento, CA U.S.A. (08/07/2007 at 22:27)

30 years of pain, Lowestoft:
Riquelme would be amazing, but he's a bit of a risk after last season's meltdown
at Villareal. Aimar is older, but would cost much less and might be a safer bet. Saviola is a talent, but is typically fat and lazy, which is why he's always on the move. Classic
waster-type looking for a fat payday. Utaka would require Sammy the Slug AND 4-6 million pounds. He would be a great choice, though. I like his strength and versatility - he is effective as a wide forward as well as a central striker.
I agree also that Heinze is class at left-back. I don't see much to choose between him and Evra, frankly, and am not sure why SAF is willing to let him go. Rumors have him headed to Spain, though. I would expect Sven to sign Michael
Ball, as he once liked him enough to give him his first England cap.

Phil, Sacramento, CA U.S.A. (08/07/2007 at 22:29)

We will be able to attract a higher class of player to MCFC if Frank is willing to raise or dispense with the club's stated 40K per week wage limit. If so, a player like Christian Chivu could be a target to replace Distin.

Abou Ben Adhem, Tottington (08/07/2007 at 22:50)

Let's go for Gudjohnson from Barcelona-imagine him with Mpenza/Yakubu, with Samaras, Sturridge, Evans to back up.

tommybates, Manchester (08/07/2007 at 22:53)

I've never believed players sign for the manager,why should they?managers come and go frequently.Players sign for clubs ompeting on a regular basis at the top level that is the only way they can enhance their careers and maximise their earnings.I hope I'm wrong but I get the feeling that Jerome and Sven underestimate how hard it will be to bring in YOUNG "big name" players. the new T.V deal has inflated the transfer market le, Bellamy 28 misses 10 to 13 games a season through injury or suspension not a prolific scorer and big trouble on and off the field, transfer fee a stagering £8.5 mill and wages reported to be £75,000 per week,I we will get desperate and bring in the usual foriegn chancers who rarely adjust and settle
as we have seen in the past.

M.Vuoso, Mexico (franks secret lovechild) (09/07/2007 at 00:18)

please let there be some truth in us wanting riquelme please oh please oh please - two words WORLD CLASS!!!!!!!!!!! p.s. wouldnt mind saviola to go with him!! now thats the sort of signings im talking about!

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