Frustrated City switch transfer focus

Stuart Brennan

July 31, 2009

Sebastien Bassong

CITY are set to abandon their pursuit of Joleon Lescott - and have already eyed up two new targets.

The Blues are preparing bids for Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong and Chelsea's Alex after Everton firmly rejected an improved £18m bid for England defender Lescott.

Now the frustrated Blues are ready to switch their attention elsewhere, with boss Mark Hughes making it plain the club will not be held to ransom for players.

"We have already walked away from situations where we feel our worth and the value we place on players has been exceeded," he said. "The value we place on players may be greater because the value we place on getting quality in means our valuations are higher than other clubs'.

"It's about getting quality through the door and that is what we have been able to do."

News of the Blues' interest in Bassong will be unwelcome at Arsenal, who have been lining him up as a replacement for Kolo Toure - who City unveiled as their latest signing on Thursday.

The 23-year-old French-born Cameroon international has also been cited as a Tottenham target. City also fancy Chelsea's 27-year-old Brazilian ace Alex, having failed to lure his captain John Terry from Stamford Bridge over the summer.

Would you like to see Bassong or Alex at City? Have your say.

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Ted Edmondson (31/07/2009 at 08:56)

Either of these would be a good shout. I'm slightly in favour of Bassong really; he's young, left-footed and was one of the few who emerged from last season at the bar codes with any credit.

Good call on moving on from Lescott though.

Neil Allen (31/07/2009 at 08:58)

Alex, or Ricardo Carvalho a definate YES for me, but Badsong, please leave well alone, if we are going to try and take any Newcastle defender (and I don't think we should be looking at that club) then please make it Steven Taylor.

Rick Jenks, Bury (31/07/2009 at 09:00)

The club and Mark Hughes are right to stand firm and not offer more money for Lescott. He is unlikely to ask for a move as he would lose his severance or loyalty money and the Everton fans would turn on him.

The Neville accusations that City are not doing things correctly should be challenged as I suggest it was not City who leaked the story about Lescott and if they were not the club they are City could have stopped Jo going back to Everton on loan by playing silly games. So Mr Neville perhaps you can apologise for your statement and also advise us all what you said to Man U when you were at Man U and Rooney was taken from Everton?

The two players mentioned Alex and Bassong are better than the Everton defender and would make sensible targets given their clubs are willing to sell. Probably will acquire for lesser fees also.

OrigamiNinja, Inverness (31/07/2009 at 09:01)

I dont really see Bassong as an improvement on Onouha to be fair! As for Alex he seems decent but I would suggest its pretty simple to look good in a defence that does not have to do much defending, TBH came from Chelsea remember!!!

Pablo 1, SW14 (31/07/2009 at 09:03)

Alex, yes please? 18 mill should do it.

Mad 4 It, Harrogate (31/07/2009 at 09:03)

What's wrong with Haagaland?????????????????????????????????????

stand up if you love city!!!!!!!!!!!, warrington (31/07/2009 at 09:05)

stick with lescott if were going buy another defender bassong ooohhh no!!!!

Jordie, Manchester (31/07/2009 at 09:06)

I think they are both very good players especially Bassong and i think he should be quite easy to get from Newcastle. I remember SWP had a very difficult time against him last season.
I also think this is a way of twisting Lescott's arm, he must be desperate to join us and double his wages and have a chance of winning things.

fac51, WHITIW0RTH ST (31/07/2009 at 09:08)

Anything more than a £1 is too much for Alex. He;s certainly not better than Richards, Dunne or Onuoha.

Blue Benny (31/07/2009 at 09:09)

Are either of these two any better than we already have.

Bob, 977886 (31/07/2009 at 09:13)

Good decision. Many clubs are playing hardball as they think taht we will keep going up and up until deadline day. Everton don't want to let Lescott go but equally need the £19m. Thye called our bluff and failed - we move on.

As for Phillip Neville criticising our transfer methods well we have never announced who we are after, the other clubs have! And that is rich coming from an ex Rag. I read that Everton land at Manchester Airport (Via Heathrow) later today. What would Fergie do? Think Berbatov. That's right he would be at the Airport in his Bentley and would wisk Lescott to Carrington. That, Mr Neville, is shady transfer business, not just sending over a fax with £19m for Lescott written on it.

Stick to what you know best, whatever tht may be.

Rick, Glos (31/07/2009 at 09:13)

I'd rather have Hangaland or Upson myself or why not go all out to get Puyol?

Bobcat44, Withington M20 (31/07/2009 at 09:15)

I rate Alex very highly and he does show leadership qualities.

Has Bassong proved himself in the premiership? I remember listening to a Newcastle stalwart on the radio recently who claimed he couldn't play football!!!

Why we don't go for Hangeland mystifies me somewhat....

Just to clarify a point for all you spursmad doubters, he posted weeks ago that Elano was history (his words not mine).

The Kippax Kid, Irlam (Now London) (31/07/2009 at 09:16)

Well done City. As stated on a post yesterday, the ball is firmly in Lescotts court. Never really paid much attention to the above named players so cant really comment on them!

sportcity kid, eastlands (31/07/2009 at 09:19)

yep, lets have a young en for under £10mil
If Bent is worth £15m, then we was trying to rip Everton off

Manc Midd Casual, Rhodes Middleton (31/07/2009 at 09:19)

Alex will score us one or two goals maybe if we are lucky not really a first choice deffender in my opinion as for Bassong well personally i think he is garbage........

Singing the blues, Manchester (31/07/2009 at 09:23)

Neither...Carvalho please. Sheer class. Must still have a couple of good years in him, we've get Ned and Micah coming through so i don't think his age is a problem. And we'll get him at a much better price.
And he wants to leave. And we really don't need two defenders leaving for the Africans nations at a crucial part of the season.

Co. Kildare Blue (31/07/2009 at 09:26)

Yes, once again excellent rhetoric coming from our management team, sod em. Everton will never get an offer of £18m again for Lescott. He's worth 12 at best.

Bassong please and scuppering Wengers plans is worth an extra 2-3m as they're the ones we need to dislodge from the top 4. Another young player who can have 10 years at the club is what we need to mix it with the experience of Toure.

Bishop, with his arms out wide (31/07/2009 at 09:28)

Perhaps this will focus Everton's mind and make them realise that we will not be held to ransom. Well done sparky. Now go get these other defenders.

CTID and beyond.

Stagman Blue, Didcot (31/07/2009 at 09:29)

Alex - yes especially as he knows Robbie so well from his days at Santos ( Would liked to have said Elano as well, but that boat has sailed)

Bassong - NO, NO, NO - as he was part of a defence that was poor at best last year. I am not convinced on his quality. Can we not get Upton of Van Buyden (put him in charge of penalty duties against Swamp). Schweinstiger would be a superbuy at sometime and would be like having an extra defender in midfield, with the ability to take the ball forward and penetrate defences.

PJS, Oz (31/07/2009 at 09:30)

Well done Sparky, even if its just to call Moyes' bluff.

Message to Kenwright, Moyes and especially Lescott who has been so passive in this whole situation: good luck to you all, you'll need it.

Bob, 977886 (31/07/2009 at 09:32)

What we should do is have a slush fund where we transfer Richards and Dunne to whoever we are playing that week and keep this going all season. We would be guaranteed a couple of goals a game at least.

Scott Free's Alibi, Broadway, Moston (31/07/2009 at 09:34)

Alex is a top class defender and is better than what we've got already. Has a lot of experience as well.

Really know very little about Bassong. If anyone out there is prepared to do a little report on him, ie what he's about, i'd be happy to listen.

eternal optimist, san pedro,, spain (31/07/2009 at 09:35)

If any i'd have Alex but why not go for Alves and Upson as well, far better than bassong, oh and get RIB of Haim and benjani, they're both ruining the squad lost on the official site, to an embarassing level.

CTID

WTFAMU, Blue Heaven (31/07/2009 at 09:36)

It has to be Hangeland now, he had a good season at Fulham last year and will get better. I also agree with Carvalho or Alex, either would be a good buy. Bassong is too clumsy and has no positional sense, ie: he is all over the place.

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