City wait for Santa

Chris Bailey

July 22, 2008

INJURY BLOW: Benjani

CITY boss Mark Hughes may be forced to rethink his top transfer targets after Benjani suffered a bad thigh injury in training.

The 29-year-old Zimbabwe international is believed to have ruptured a muscle and seems certain to miss the start of the season.

With record signing Jo already out of Premier League action until September as he competes for Brazil in the Beijing Olympics, it leaves Hughes in a difficult position.

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And he may well tell executive chairman Garry Cook and owner Thaksin Shinawatra that he needs to buy another top class hitman.

That could lead Hughes back to Ewood Park and a bid for Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz, though the Blues will find the £15m fee all they can handle, or head to Spain for Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito.

City could even make a shock move for Eidur Gudjohnsen, the former Chelsea and Bolton striker who could be surplus to requirements at Barcelona.

Hughes faces stiff competition for Santa Cruz from the likes of Arsenal and Spurs.

He may, however, feel he is in the box seat after giving Santa Cruz his big break in the Premier League when paying Bayern Munich £3.5m for his services last summer.

It proved one of the signings of the season as Santa Cruz scored 19 times in 36 starts.

Zaragoza are willing to part company with 29-year-old Milito for around £7m. He has 14 caps for Argentina and only two seasons ago was La Liga's second top scorer.

Benjani's enforced absence and that of Jo following the sale of Georgios Samaras and the release of Emile Mpenza and Paul Dickov means that Hughes has suddenly gone from being overrun with hitmen to possibly being short-handed for the big kick-off.

He still has Italians Bernardo Corradi and Rolando Bianchi on the books but neither are certain to still be at the club when the season starts.

If they go City would be left with only Darius Vassell and youngsters Felipe Caicedo, Ched Evans, Daniel Sturridge up front. Valeri Bojinov has yet to prove his fitness having suffered a setback before the UEFA Cup clash against EB Streymur.

Should City buy another striker? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (192) |

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Drew_Peacock, stockport (22/07/2008 at 09:02)

Save the cash...keep Bianchi and give Sturridge and Evans a go.
Then give me 10% of the money saved to me for the suggestion. ta!

Jeannie (22/07/2008 at 09:03)

Only Vass Sturrage and Evans?? Where the donald has Boj gone????

Bluereed (22/07/2008 at 09:05)

Forget Santa Cruz,lets go for either Milito or Gudjohnson the latter because he's proven.

Eric (Dutch) 32 years and still there (22/07/2008 at 09:05)

Bojinov??? We DO have so many strikers on board ...
Missing a few strikers for the first 2 or 3 games hardly explains why we need an inbetween 7 and 15 million replacement.
We are being linked (again) with Zabaleta. Now if THAT was supposed to be serious I would indeed be a very happy chappy.

steve cowley (22/07/2008 at 09:08)

MUEN

Bojinov is still at the club, come on get with the programme, is this paper saying we only have 15 million to spend as you state that if we bought SC that would be it.

Spike,, Whitefield (22/07/2008 at 09:08)

Errrrm.... Bojinov MUEN Bojinov.... A chap we puchased last year. Might have been out since we played the team you only love to write about but now back fit and ready....... BOJINOV.... He's Bulgarian by the way....Oh Caciedo there's another one.... Do I need to go on.......Muppets....Try doing some propper Jurnolism...

Deaf COMS 1 (22/07/2008 at 09:10)

I think we undervalue Benjani so this is a blow, but a chance for young 'uns and before gloom-mongers crank up to speed remember this time last year we still hadn't signed Petrov, Bojinov, Corluka, Garrido or Elano....Johnson still hadn't signed a new contract....and Corradi still hadn't gone out on loan....

kevin cairns, morecambe (22/07/2008 at 09:12)

City have Sturridge Etuhu Evans Bojinov and Vassell
City must bring in certain players in midfield and defence.Then maybe i would consider another centre forward

albatross, bury (22/07/2008 at 09:13)

Bojinov?

Lambadonna (22/07/2008 at 09:15)

a "no news day" methinks

Jack (22/07/2008 at 09:15)

Haven't you forgotten about Bojinov & Caicedo. MUEN or what!

The Iceman Cometh, Norway (22/07/2008 at 09:18)

Santa and lennon please Sparky

voodooman, Salford (22/07/2008 at 09:19)

I do believe we have no money.Hope i`m proved wrong.

Big Dave (22/07/2008 at 09:19)

What about bon jovi and caceido.

Goofy's Dietician (22/07/2008 at 09:19)

Come on "short handed" in what world ? There's still another eight to choose from unless he shifts Bianchi and Corradi. Didnt the MEN also report that he was after Dindane so that kinda suggests he was in the market for a striker anyway. Do you guys not read your own stories ?

Steve - Chorley (22/07/2008 at 09:19)

Would like it but i don't see santa coming, not seen much of milito.

Looked at Chelsea sites yesterday - they can't believe someone would pay 5mill for Ben

What about Bojinov?

Whats the latest on Hart and Johnson, it looks like anything will happen late in the day.

Eastbourne Blue, Eastbourne (22/07/2008 at 09:19)

Forgotten someone? We only spent £5m on Caicedo!!!

gerry gow, singapore (22/07/2008 at 09:19)

what about Bojinov and Caicedo? We had paid almost 12mil for the both of them and they should be given their chance.

Chance at the far post.... Hinchcliffe, Manchester (22/07/2008 at 09:23)

GIVE EVANS A GO. And help him by buying a decent right winger who can create chances - SWP?

True Blue,Galway.Ireland, Galway (22/07/2008 at 09:25)

If City had so much cash to buy Ronaldinho why are you saying City would be pushed to have £15 million for Santa Cruz.

Bluephill, Rochdale (22/07/2008 at 09:26)

We would also have bojinov up front. Keep bianchi to play up front for at least the start of the season and spend the money on a right winger

jerseyblue, jersey (22/07/2008 at 09:27)

Why isn't Caicedo mentioned? Elano just behind him?

Bluetonium, Manchester (22/07/2008 at 09:27)

I would not be too upset about going into the season with that 5 to choose from. We'll be playing a different way to last season so it really is a clean slate for everyone. If MH plays 2 up front I think we might see a different Bianchi, although I have been know to be wrong on these things! But they way he grabbed that first goal away against West ham last year proves he has some ability.

Am sure the club are very busy behind the scenes negotiating possible deals and I personally think another striker is coming in anyway.

But why no mention of Caicedo? I think he has a lot to offer us. Powerful, tricky, he could be a good asset. And also Bojinov? Still injured?

petenico, manchester (22/07/2008 at 09:29)

i dont think this will affect his summer spending. If he was going to sign another forward, he will anyway. I doubt very much that benjani being out for a few weeks would spur him into spending £15m!!!

I think its much more likely that he will just try and keep bianchi and that he and Boj could have a bigger role than previously planned

loveclough blue, Rossendale (22/07/2008 at 09:30)

Have I missed something over the last few weeks, but don't we still have Bojinov, who must be fit and ready to play by now? To be honest, even if Benjani was fit, I would like Hughes to buy at least one more striker. Santa Cruz would be good if we can afford him, but I do think Gudjohnssen may be the perfect foil for Jo.

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