Kjaer tops City wish list

Mike Whalley

December 23, 2009

Simon Kjaer

ROBERTO Mancini is weighing up a New Year bid for Palermo centre-back Simon Kjaer as his defensive crisis deepens.

City's new boss has only been at the club for four days but is already facing his first major selection headache after Nedum Onuoha suffered a calf strain.

Onuoha faces four weeks on the sidelines after picking up the injury during Saturday's win over Sunderland.

Mancini is already without Joleon Lescott, who could be missing until early February after undergoing an operation to remove a piece of floating bone from his knee.

And with Kolo Toure scheduled to depart for the Ivory Coast's African Cup of Nations campaign following the Boxing Day game with Stoke, the City boss is fast running out of centre-backs.

Vincent Kompany and Micah Richards can both play in that role, and may well be the pairing for the trip to Wolves next Monday.

But Mancini is keen to sort out the defence as soon as possible, and will consult with chief executive Garry Cook and football administrator Brian Marwood over targets.

The Italian stated at his debut press conference on Monday that he was happy to share the transfer burden with Cook and Marwood.

Kjaer

Kjaer, though, is one player on former Inter Milan boss Mancini's radar, having made a big impression in Serie A with Palermo.

The 20-year-old Denmark international is understood to have a buyout clause in his contract worth £11m.

Kjaer, who has admitted to being a big Liverpool fan, has been linked with a move to Anfield, as well as United.

He made his name in his homeland with FC Midtjylland and moved to Palermo in the summer of 2008.

Juventus' no-nonsense centre-back Giorgio Chiellini is also on City's radar. The 25-year-old is understood to be unhappy at Juve following their exit from the Champions League.

However, Sampdoria managing director Beppe Marotta last night rubbished reports that Antonio Cassano is on the verge of a move to City.

West Ham's £10m-rated centre-back Matthew Upson, however, does remain a target for the Blues.

Mancini has plenty of injury concerns to deal with ahead of the Stoke clash, with Shaun Wright-Phillips struggling after aggravating an ankle injury during the win over Sunderland.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who was left on the bench last Saturday, also has an ankle knock. Those who are fit saw yesterday's training session at Carrington cut short due to heavy snow.

Midfielder Michael Johnson, meanwhile, is ready to start his rehabilitation after undergoing an operation on his ruptured cruciate knee ligament on Monday.

Who should City buy? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (135) |

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Bring back Bradbury (23/12/2009 at 10:51)

Just dont pick toure and our defensive crisis is over

Dangermouse3, Heywood (23/12/2009 at 10:53)

Michael Johnson - get well soon! we need you.

Portsmouth Blue (23/12/2009 at 10:55)

oh no please not upson the guy is pants

glad to be blue, halifax (23/12/2009 at 10:55)

we need two centre backs and a left back,and poss one midfielder.we will end up with quite a big squad as we will not be able to shift the other defenders because of the high wages they have been put on

dougie75, North Manchester (23/12/2009 at 10:57)

If Bellamy goes, recall the Boj from his loan.

Never Boo a Blue (formerly The Grimreaper), Sale (23/12/2009 at 10:59)

In our current situation we need to bring in proven premiership defenders as soon as the window opens, rather than young foreign players who may take time to adjust. Upson and Cahill would fit the bill, even if they are not the answer long term. Looks like Micah will have to rediscover his centre half abilities pretty sharpish for the semis.

Nick The Voice of Reason,, Surrey Hills,( Blackley Born and Bred.) (23/12/2009 at 11:03)

Upson would be a massive step backwards....

Ave It! (23/12/2009 at 11:03)

I'm not standing for this, buying young international players for modest money with a high risidual value in 10 years.Lets stick with our previous policy of buying over rated,over paid and over valued proven Premier League Players whilst lining the pockets of our rivals!
Mancini Out!

Edwardo'(Gerry Craney's love child), Sale (23/12/2009 at 11:18)

Just read in the Times that David Villa has said he's now open to a move to the EPL now,as most of his Spanish options have faded.Don't know of a better striker in the world at the moment,go get him Mani and Cookie the guys a goal machine and has quite a robust style that would adapt to the Premiership no problem!!!

ps. . Oh an see if you can offer them Robinho as some kind of part exchange sweetner.

powers 40yd free kick (23/12/2009 at 11:18)

does it matter who we have in defence its been pants for a while...lets try robino at cback,,lol

Dukinfield Bluey, Manchester (23/12/2009 at 11:18)

we will not be able to shift the other defenders because of the high wages they have been put on
glad to be blue, halifax
23/12/2009 at 10:55

Not a problem, we will just subsidise the wages at the new club.

Edwardo'(Gerry Craney's love child), Sale (23/12/2009 at 11:29)

Just dont pick toure and our defensive crisis is over

Bring back Bradbury,
23/12/2009 at 10:51

I couldn't agree more he's a complete liabilty,never attacks crossed balls into the box and barely gets off the ground e.g. 1st goal against Sunderland and not for the first time this season.

Looks like it will have to be Richards and Kompany combo,think young Vidal could be worth a punt at either full back berth as well,as feel Zab is too slow and gives away far too many free kicks.

black and blue, manchester, where else? (23/12/2009 at 11:31)

I would not be unhappy if we spent 40-50M on 3 or 4 defenders. upson and cahill have premiership experience and are likely to be achievable targets. maybe a couple of overseas defenders too. ok, we may end up with loads of defenders but there will be pressure on the likes of toure, lescott, bridge et al to perform if they want to play for city again. this winter may be only a stop gap measure but we should have enough to make a good defence. Not too concernced about midfield or attack as we can score enough goals to win matches if we start to keep clean sheets.

glad to be blue, halifax (23/12/2009 at 11:42)

dukinfield bluey....that's a good idea,we will just go for a man city 11 on loan,we have already a good start hart,jo,boj,caicado,logan,etuhi

BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (23/12/2009 at 11:42)

Martin O'Neill and Arry whinging about the sacking of Hughes. No wonder it's those two. When City improve under Mancini they are the ones with most to lose.

BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (23/12/2009 at 11:50)

I see that Mr Cook ("we are a business whose core competency is football") has been justifying himself again. Remember Captain Cook the old adage "when in hole stop digging". Get back to your office and work on developing "our player acquisition strategy".

mr bump, badlands (23/12/2009 at 11:52)

i guess we have to trust the owners and mancini, i dont have to trust marwood or cook.

Aidan, Chorlton (23/12/2009 at 12:04)

Agree with Edwardo. David Villa is unquestionably the world's best striker. Better than Torres and Drogba and Ibrahimovic and much better than our costly purchases. But defence has to be the priority.

Bristol Blue, Bristol (23/12/2009 at 12:06)

Quite right Bring back Bradbury!

True Blue,Galway.Ireland, Galway (23/12/2009 at 12:08)

I'm looking forward to Mancini's Kick Ass time for some lazy underachieving City player's.Also to see if he put's a stop to the swanning around of some so called City superstars who seemed to have special treatment and privilidges while Mark Hughes was Boss.It's time that all and not some of City's player's took pride in the jersey, club and loyal supporters that they are part of and paid/overpaid to perform for.It's an ideal time to perform or be replaced with the transfer window so close.Let's hope for a change that everyone pulls together at City for the good of this great club.Happy Christmas to City and All City supporters.

the original blue nun , warrington (23/12/2009 at 12:13)

Lets not get sucked into this "premiership experience" delusion. Lescott has plenty but is utterly woeful. Chiellini would be great. I know he isnt a central defender but i would love to see gattuso come to city too. I think mancini really needs to look at the spine of the team, Given is fine but beyond that, not too good. Toure not strong enough to have a defence centred around him, he should be playing second fiddle to the other centre back.

The Original Blue John, London (23/12/2009 at 12:14)

Voice of treason - Instead of moaning about who you don't want, why not tell us who you do want for once? Or might that prevent you from further moaning at a later date, when your chosen signing comes up short? Anyone know much about Kjaer by the way? Tall? Short? Quick? Slow? Aggressive?

PhilB65, City Forever (23/12/2009 at 12:16)

I don't trust the bumbling Cook, and I am very suspicious of Marwood.

I don't like what the owners did with Hughes or how they did it. They have at least got a replacement with some pedigree - hopefully he will adapt to English football quickly.

City Slipper, Manchester (23/12/2009 at 12:18)

Perhaps Richard Dunne would be available. We could buy him back for 10 mill.

Went to Wembley in '56, USA (23/12/2009 at 12:18)

Cook and Marwood should not be anywhere near deciding who to buy. If Mancini needs advice on that he should send Mike Summerbee and Jim Cassell off around the country/continent to spot talent. And anyone who can mangle the English language like Cook ("a business whose core competency is football") doesn't deserve a job at all.

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