City end Malbranque chase

August 05, 2005

STEED MALBRANQUE: Staying with Fulham

MANCHESTER City have ended their interest in Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque, after having two bids for the midfielder turned down.

The Blues have had a £4million offer for the Frenchman rejected by the Cottagers this week and returned with a £5million bid.

But the second bid for the 25-year-old Frenchman was this evening knocked back by the Cottagers.

A statement on the Fulham website read: "We can now announce that a second increased bid from Manchester City for French midfielder Steed Malbranque has been turned down."

The statement continued: “After conversations with manager Chris Coleman, the player had also decided that he would prefer to remain with the club.

“We are delighted with the player’s commitment to the new campaign.”

City spokesperson Rosie Bass confirmed: “The player has indicated that he wishes to stay with Fulham and our interest in him has now ended.”

Earlier, City boss Stuart Pearce had said the club’s second offer would be the last.

He said: “The offer we have put on the table is quite substantial, and if I was them, I’d take it!”

What is your reaction to the news? Have your say.

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Cookie, Droylsden (05/08/2005 at 18:16)

His loss, let's move on!CTID

mad mike, ashton (05/08/2005 at 18:19)

just shows his ambition,never mind we will get him cheaper at the end of the season when fulham get relegated . right lets not mess about lets get that guy from lens and then get castelan and maybe graverson, ( live the dream)

luvpump, Redditch (05/08/2005 at 18:22)

If a player doesnt want to join another club, all the money in the world is no use, look elsewhere..

Andy B, Saundersfoot,Pembrokeshire (05/08/2005 at 18:25)

Bit gutted, time to move on, lets hope SP has got a plan B cos we need a creative midfielder. Times running out! Steeds loss i hope he has a shocking season! (not bitter though)

vicar78, hertford. (05/08/2005 at 18:25)

Well-well-well. What now? Any ideas??

ted knott, droylsden (05/08/2005 at 18:43)

"the player would prefer to stay at the club" this was a comment from Chris Coleman. I ask does any decent player want to play for city these days? it appears not.SP doesn't have the pulling power thats obvious now and my theory is the remaining B#6m of his transfer fund wont be used and in a couple of months from now the alarm bells will be ringing very loud.As a blues fan i hope I'm wrong but the indications,the vibes and various other issues tell the more realistic city fans something isn't quite right in the football club.Where do we go from here? heaven knows but as I have previously posted unless we get a playmaker in before the window shuts without panic buying winning games will be few and far apart and it will be a sruggle to stay above the bottom three.Sadly in essence we are no longer a BIG CLUB simply because we cannot attract the better class performer,WORSESO when a player decides to stay at such a club as low in profile,status,and ability rather than come to City it does not exactly generate optimism.On a final note Malbranque decided after Fulham turned down City's improved offer of B#5m to stay at Craven cottage but if he really wanted to come to Eastlands he could have stuck it out for a move and in the end Fulham would have released him,as it is City made his choice easy because they dont even THINK BIG anymore but thats just my opinion.

Keith 'Bluemoon' Davis, Anston, South Yorks (05/08/2005 at 18:43)

Shame, he's a cracking player of the ilk we'd like to see at the COMS. It is satisfying to know however that SP won't throw away huge sums on prospective duffers as has been the case in the past. I feel he'll bring in someone who fits the bill soon,

fred the red, visiting gods land in Salford (05/08/2005 at 18:47)

I knew City wouldn't sign a quality player however they could try and get John Steed to AVENGE the ridicule ha ha ha what charisma city have got these days THEY ARE GOING DOWN. ha ha ha

gerry, brentford (05/08/2005 at 18:50)

if the mighty reds came in for Steed tommorow he would crawl all the way down the M6 to THE THEATRE OF DREAMS he clearly didn't want to join City like a lot of other players dont either Kanoute immediately springs to mind.

Doomer, Manchester (05/08/2005 at 18:59)

pathetic! We need a creative midfielder and a B#5m+ striker - Hurray up SP!

russ, south (05/08/2005 at 19:02)

Gutted.

GJ, N Yks (05/08/2005 at 19:22)

Never nind- next year he'll sign for free.

Owen, Manchester (05/08/2005 at 19:30)

If the player does not want to go, the players does not want to go, simple as that. Maybe we could ask Ian Wright to have a word with him? It worked in getting SWP to change his mind and go to chelsea. Good player, and wasted at Fulham (a team going no where). Just are luck.

Dave Bear, Home (05/08/2005 at 19:52)

Here lies aproblem 21 million for SWP everyone thinks we can afford 7 8 million for Malbranque - Fulham are just trying it on and may well get burned later

Ben, Bolton (05/08/2005 at 20:08)

The SWP transfer has many repercussions it seems... quality players don't want to come to a club without ambition (Mr Wardle hardly compares with Lyon's boss and his Essien dealings in this respect). Also, wouldn't Owen have considered a seasons loan playing with SWP in a pre world cup year? I hope everyone has factored in all these extra 'costs' when considering this situation. Finally, whilst SP wouldn't have been my first choice, partly because a rookie manager will find it harder to attract top players, I wish him luck in his search for a playmaker (I have been encouraged by his choices so far, and his work last year).

Sharp, Manchester (05/08/2005 at 20:20)

GUTTED he would have fitted into this club superbly well i dont reckon city should offer anymore than the 5mill offered lets turn our attentions to GRAVESEN 2mill but he is on B#80.000 a week at Madrid might have a problem agreeing wages CTID come on SP we are all with u

PJ, Burton- On Trent (05/08/2005 at 20:27)

Let him rot in a 2nd rate club like Fullham who have been nowhere and are going nowhere, now to Thomer, THATS IT

lenny loveking, gorton (05/08/2005 at 20:33)

now we can look forward to a relegation battle

john, london (05/08/2005 at 20:46)

What a surprise. Not. Makes you wonder how committed we were. In this world of dodgy deals and tappings up, I cannot believe we didn't bother to establish (via the player's agent) whether he was even interested in leaving Fulham. Amateurs

Paul, Manchester (05/08/2005 at 20:55)

a great shame really, not worth more than B#5m in my opinion though.Why hasnt Hussain been snapped up too if hes on a free, even as a squad player he'll be useful, ive heard were after big tonys old Lens teamate Thomert, anyone got any ideas on them.
Who would you like to see us sign.New Site--->www.citylife.tk

malc, oldham (05/08/2005 at 21:04)

Absolutely right Fulham to tell City that they are not prepared to sell their best players and congratulations to the player for his loyalty.What a pity the City directors and Shaun didnt respond in a similar way instead of betraying the supporters.

Blue Tiger, Virginia (05/08/2005 at 21:40)

I guess Steed Malbranque wants to stay with a club on the way for relegation, Fulham.
They looked rubbish against USA teams they got beat twice.
The writing is on the wall .
Stuart Pearce must find someone else that wants to play for a great club CITY.

BlueFan, Virginia (05/08/2005 at 23:23)

Okay...the lad is happy at Fulham. We now move on and SP goes to his second choice. It would have been a great addition to the squad. City will do just find. Come on City! Just how much Fulham wanted, anyway?

Ollie, Guernsey (05/08/2005 at 23:47)

I'd guess that the last bid was going to be accepted hence Fulham speaking to their player. Anyway, if he didn't want to come we don't want him. SP has to move quickly on to the next one. I've said all along that we can't judge SP's player picking ability or JW's willingness to spend until the transfer window is shut and that is only three weeks away. In my mind we need another three signings with perhaps a centre back on loan.

Greenie, Wythenshawe (05/08/2005 at 23:57)

Gutted. Finally a signing we all agree on, and we end up not getting him. Surely we could have upped the stakes a bit more. Its been said Fulham want B#5.5m. What difference will B#500k make really? Watch us now sign nobody at all.

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