Sven will 'resist' Besiktas bids

July 19, 2007

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Darius Vassell

SVEN-GORAN Eriksson's determination to hold onto Darius Vassell may be tested to the full should Besiktas come back with an increased offer.

The former Villa man, who has played 73 times and scored just 15 times for the Blues since his £1.5m move, is attracting interest as Eriksson re-shapes his squad.

"We would resist another approach from Besiktas, for now at least," said Eriksson on Wednesday night. "We are in the business of buying players not selling. Only when the search is finished will I decide who goes or who stays.

"All the players will have their chance over the weeks before the season starts, that is something that I have promised them. I will try and give them all a chance in the next game in Sweden and then the three friendlies after that.

"I need to know more about them before I make decisions."

City have been linked with a number of transfer moves in today's papers, with a £10m move for Olympiacos striker Nery Castillo and a swoop for Romanian forward Ciprian Marica mentioned.

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Eric, Dutch, 32 years and still here (19/07/2007 at 11:27)

A definite 'yes' to Castillo, even for 10 million. He really impressed me during three games at the Copa Amercia in the Mexican national team. Don't know anything about Marica other than some common information on the internet.

g2thesmith (19/07/2007 at 11:33)

castillo looks class dont know the other guy. its believed wilhelmsson is going to bolton well if thats the case think we are missing out on a really good player and evrton are allso buying a class player. im nowhere near satisfied till we buy wingers atleast!

uzirugby (19/07/2007 at 11:33)

Get Castillo!!

Class!

proudtobeblue (19/07/2007 at 11:43)

Would rather see Sven spend the money on Castillo than the Romanian out of those 2, although I would still like to see Gudjhonsen,Van der Vaart,Petrov and Sissoko as priorities as ell as Chivu at the back (although realistically I know he is probably out of our reach for now, he will be looking at the likes of Madrid,Barca and Milan, but its good to dream, this kid is one of the best oyung defenders in Europe and left footed as a bonus) more realistic target is Davies from West Brom, although we have been linked with Chiellini from Juventus who is a left footed left back/centre back.

blue biker, manchester (19/07/2007 at 12:17)

rumours in newspapers - pinch of salt, so far all rumours in the press have come to nothing and the signings made have not appeared anywhere until deals done and dusted. I think the media are just looking at all available players around the world and linking them with a football team drawn out of a hat, a bit like a kind of sweepstake game between all the journos. it goes something like this - "Oh look Ronaldinho was spotted not smiling yesterday, he must be unhappy, lets draw a team out...and the winner is Chelsea. Santa Cruz was seen at a travel agents on monday, and the team for him...is.... man city. Right Joe get that typed up and released in the morning edition, that'll get everyone talking"

madMental, Macclesfield (19/07/2007 at 12:20)

Sven's not going to move anyone out until he's sure that the new arrivals are up to speed. My guess is that there will be a clear out in January.
Corradi, Samaras, Miller & Dickov should consider themselves on notice.

Edski Vega, Nottingham (19/07/2007 at 12:48)

I think its a wise decision to keep hold of Vassell until we get new players in. If a club wants him that badly they will be happy to wait a couple of weeks.

Don't be fooled by Corradi's two goals aagainst abysmal opposition, he scored last pre season and we were all lead to believe his heading ability would devistate teh premiership last season.... he hasn't got the ability to score in the premiership.

Steve - Chorley (19/07/2007 at 13:25)

Everything is speculation at the moment, if you look from the end of last season w have actually spent about 3 million. If Pearce had done the same signings - i.e. players we had not heard of we would all be saying relegation is on the cards. We still need at least five players, until some real quality comes in I believe people are getting a bit to carried away. If Sven was 100% positive of getting more quality strikers in Vassel would probably be gone so nothing is certain.

Andrew (19/07/2007 at 13:48)

With such a small squad, Sven has no option but to hang on to players until he has got new faces in. He still needs to replace JB and SD as well as get in wingers, maybe another creative midfielder and then maybe a forward. Mourhino reckons he needs 24 players so he can cover every position. We are well short of that at the moment and we also know that if Sven signs some world class signings, if they are injured or suspended their replacements from the squad will not be in the same league. When he has bought everyone he wants is when hee may release some players and that may well be January.

KIPPAX-DDU-110, WOLVES (19/07/2007 at 14:30)

Steve in chorley........Pearce could have only have signed 1 out of the 3 so far signed coz the other 2 wouldnt have signed for him......The point is that the 3 players so far signed have more quality than all of sps signings & at long lost we finally have a manager who will get quality players for EVERY position & in my opinion svens best signing yet is the new n0 2............I think us blues have every right to be very excited for the future and though i dont EXPECT us to win anything you just know that svens city will COMPETE in every game...........Surely you keep all your players untill you have more than u need its not rocket science..................ctid

Phil, Sheffield (19/07/2007 at 15:22)

Keep Vassell. If anyone should go it should be Corradi.

Wigan Blue, Wigan (19/07/2007 at 20:50)

Phil

You're right. I think Corradi is only putting in the effort now to put himself in the shop window. Why wasn't he doing that all season?

Keith McRae's Ginger Nuts, Stockport (20/07/2007 at 10:16)

Makes a change for a club to be sent away with it's tail between in it's legs to consider upping their. Sorry fellas... right now we still need the player, and (lovin' this next bit!) we don't need yer cash! Come back and see us in the January Sales, maybe?

Phil, Sheffield (20/07/2007 at 10:23)

Wigan Blue, as I'm sure you know, because he's a mercenary! Corradi has ability even if he has no pace but he let us down badly last season.

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