Blues linked with Kenyan ace

January 30, 2010

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has been linked with a £7million swoop for Parma's Kenyan midfielder McDonald Mariga after a move for Real Madrid's Fernando Gago broke down.

According to reports, representatives from City and Mariga have had productive talks over the move, which could involve Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov heading in the opposite direction on a permanent basis.

Bojinov, who struggled with long-term injuries during his time at Eastlands, is already on loan at Parma.

Mariga, 22, is a 6ft 2ins combatitive midfielder and has also been linked with a move to Italian champions Inter Milan.

Meanwhile, City may face frustration in their bid to sign Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson. City's initial £5m bid was rejected last week and Boro have refused City permission to speak to the player.

One player heading out of Eastlands could be Benjani Mwaruwari, whose representatives have been talking to Sunderland and could seal a cut-price move before the English transfer window shuts at 5pm on Monday.

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bluemoon risin' (30/01/2010 at 16:21)

If you are reading this PJS, i'd be interested in your view on this player as i respect your judgement on players playing in european leagues. If Mancini signs him, then fair enough, but Mariga has a similar look and build to K K's signing christian negouai. I just hope he doesn't play like him!

Adam Johnson is out of contract in the summer so why not sign him then? As for Benji going to Slumberland, then why cut price? If they want him then they should pe the price that we value him, like we had to when signing [over priced] players like Lescott, and santa cruz.

blueloon, Northwich (30/01/2010 at 16:22)

good player ! ( never heard of him )

If you build it, they will come, Denton (30/01/2010 at 16:33)

Ref: Blue moon rising - What a stupid comparison to make!!! He looks like a previous flop......hope not.......PATHETIC

The Blue Tool, URMSTON (30/01/2010 at 16:33)

Give a rest............Links Links Links, get down to carrington and do some substance journalism.

Jam City, Yorkshire (30/01/2010 at 16:38)

Mariga, was rated at close to 0.8M euros way back in July last year saw his price tag gradually grow to the current figure fetched in just under a year after great performances in the Italian Serie A.

Sounds like he's not had one season at top level yet would be unsure this signing

Bert is my hero, Cheshire! (30/01/2010 at 16:43)

The story in the Daily Mail yesterday was that City had agreed a fee of £7m with Parma and that the deal might include Boj, valued at £4m - do you have any info on that story whoever wrote this article?

Pivo, Manchester (30/01/2010 at 16:51)

Never heard about this fella but Parma haven't won any of their last 5 games (although I'm not sure what that says about him). I would have thought upgrading the fullback positions would have been a priority, plus adding someone up top with Robinho and Benjani on their way and with RSC always on the treatment table. I wouldn't have thought Bellamy and SWP would be classed as forwards with the amount of effort they put in playing out wide. It would have been handy if the person writing this piece had provided some background on him.

Maynard Kitchener Lampwick, Hulme. (30/01/2010 at 16:56)

I Think they mean Peter Kenyon he wants out because of Terry...

Bristol Blue, Bristol (30/01/2010 at 17:22)

Another combative midfielder? How many do we need? We need a skilful attacking midfielder. I know lots of people will disagree but what a shame that we have lost our Brazilians - two of the most skilful players we had at the club. They didn't always put in a shift, of course. I really enjoyed watching Elano and Robbie. Deft touches, some cracking goals - where will they come from now?

jan connolly (30/01/2010 at 17:27)

Well done alex reid for winning this years CBB. At last an honest genuine celeb has nailed it!

Moonboots (30/01/2010 at 17:37)

I read this report on the BBC website this morning and, as I'm not feeling too well today, went back to bed...I dreamt that he signed for us and scored a hatrick on his debut. The game hadn't finished but my wife woke me up!
It will be a real shame to see Boj go as I think he could've done well given the chance but if this lad signs I might have a couple of quid on him scoring a few in his first game!

Esso Blue. Carlitos is officially a GOD, Blues Town (30/01/2010 at 17:44)

The united hierarchy have had their cake and it is almost eaten; there will be a few big burps when they run off with the profits and leave the fans with? well, nothing other than green and yellow scarfs to wipe the tears.

Stuart Booth (30/01/2010 at 17:59)

It seems that the Hughes style of spending is "on hold". Now we only get associated with loans or cheap buys for players that generally are not good enough to get in their current teams. Shouldn't our sights be set somewhat higher?

antony smith (30/01/2010 at 18:00)

Pretty dissapointing really, he does not sound any better than what we have already. We need an attacking midfielder like ribery if we are to beat teams like utd. names like mariga seem short term also rans a little like many rafa signings. not good especially after robinho leaving.

halmstad_swede, Sweden (30/01/2010 at 18:04)

Mariga played for Helsigborg a couple of years ago, with Henrik Larsson, before signing for Parma. He was good but not spectacular. He is only 22 so maybe he has improved and still talented enough to improve even further. Still a big surprise he is linked with City.

Kostas21, Athens (30/01/2010 at 18:10)

Oh Noooo!
We need Bon Jovi more than this guy and we need a LB more than a midfielder like him ...

Blue Exile, Dubai (30/01/2010 at 18:16)

Dunno what to make of this one. Have to defer to Don Mancini. On a different note I see that the CAF have banned Togo from the next 2 (yes 2!!) African Cups of Nations for pulling out after the armed attack on their coach and loss of life. I hope after this disgraceful decision that we will now take the ooportunity to ban the CAF from our Club and our players for the next 2 competitions.
Shame on you at the CAF.

FLEA, MANCHESTER (30/01/2010 at 18:17)

If we are gonna sign someone then for godsakes lets do it!!!!!

Tosh - Reddish, Reddish (30/01/2010 at 18:29)

Blue Exile, Dubai

Agree 100%. What a disgraceful, pathetic and cowardly decision to ban Togo. FIFA should do something about these clowns within CAF, but somehow I doubt it because they are just as spineless.

tim chorlton, chorlton (30/01/2010 at 18:47)

D2, Around the equator's archipelago
30/01/2010 at 15:05

Well said!!! Totally agree with your comments about the City fan that said;

""no winning mentality, nothing for 34 years and obviously no CLASS at all""

From Tim Chorlton;
The fact you define class purely in terms of winning things shows actually that it is you that have no class along with all your hangers on in bristol or wherever, and who support only a team that are winning and that will desert your sinking ship.

There are lots of teams run on a shoe string that haven't won trophies at all, have they and their fans no class?

( the sentence about agreeing was to get past the bufoon who vets city comments on this site)

Chelsea and United (for years) have spent obscene amounts of money and won(bought) trophies on a ridiculously uneven playing field, and suddenly the fact that you have won trophies suddenly gives you class?

Well one thing is inevitable, we will eventually win trophies by your own methods, either the FA cup this season or something soon because as you will know that when you spend big money, you get class players like Tevez,a player whom I believe you desperately wanted.

It is the height of hypocrisy for red fans to bleat on about City's spending and that in itself shows a lack of class.

What also shows a lack of class is the ungraciousness (to put it mildly) of accepting that a big fish is entering the arena. Never seen or heard such a venemous bial and vitriol ever from a red support against City since they became loaded.

P.S. posting this on our site because of the likelihood that this wont get past the bufoon veting City comments over on the dark side

g1lly blue (30/01/2010 at 18:50)

Looks like we have Lost out on Signing Victor Moses as we did Delph! Apparently hes going for 2.5 mil, which is a Snip considering the French and Paraquay sick men will cost us double that in wages before we see them in Action again this season! Who is Running the Clubs Transfer Policy? That Comedian Marwood? Fans Need cheering Up, the Squad still aint strong Enough. L and R full back, Creative and Defensive Mid and a Striker are still needed!! ..
On another topic, as anybody watched the Goodbye Robinho video on the clubs Website? Tells you all you need to know about modern players, couldnt give a toss about us fans! They should all be giving him the cold shoulder like Petrov and Bellamy appear to be doing! He should be here fighting for the Cause not Swanning off on a Busmans Holiday.

Paul Power's Tash, Haslingden (30/01/2010 at 18:52)

Heard that Togo have been banned from the African Nations for the next 6 years and fined $50,000 for their failure to participate in the competition.

If this is true then it is an absolutely vile reaction considering the circumstances.
To show such utter disrespect to the people who died on that bus and those players who had to endure the ordeal is dispicable.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the story.
Surely, the world or football has to shame the Confederation of African Football into reversing that decision.
I really an digusted in them!

BLUE BOY!! MANCHESTER NOT LONDON!!, Manchester (30/01/2010 at 18:52)

Well call me what you want for saying this but city cant attract the right players at the moment -

Bobby Manc is going in the right direction for exit door - Viera ? And now this -

Id sort of say - here you go Liverpool - in these sad troubled times of having no money how about £100 mill for Gerrard & Torres ..oh and I will give you Benjani for nout!!

Or how about, here you are Mr Glazier, theres 120 mill for Shrek and Vidic -

Im sure somebody will break !!

Full voice tomorrow fellow blues please -

COOK OUT!!

CITY FOR LIFE -

NUFF SAID!!

ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire (30/01/2010 at 18:57)

Crikey, we haven't signed him and he isn't good enough!

bluemark, oldham (30/01/2010 at 19:12)

i dont know alot about this guy,but im a little worried that we dont appear to be signing players we seem to be letting benjani go also robi off to brazil so if we get injuries to ade and tevez we are stuck as santa cruz seems to be out more than fit and bellers cant play twice a week because of his knees (im not having a go at bellers hes been fantastic) but you have to wonder why we arent bringing players in and will some one please explain how togo can be banned from the african cup when they pulled out due to fears over safety the buffoon who decided that should be banned from the game for life they say it was down to the goverment getting involved well they were only looking out for there people

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