City confirm Stelios bid

August 13, 2005

IN DEMAND: Stelios

MANCHESTER City have made a £1million for Bolton midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos.

City spokesman Paur Tyrell said: "We contacted Bolton today and made a substantial offer for the player and are awaiting a response."

City's bid is not likely to be greeted with any enthusiasm by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, who is desperately trying to get the Greece international to sign a contract extension amid rumoured interest from Liverpool.

Stelios was in the Bolton squad which headed to the midlands last night and is expected to play against Villa.

However, City boss Stuart Pearce has identified the 31-year-old former Olympiacos player as a potential replacement for now-departed England international Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Pearce's attempts to lure Fulham's Steed Malbranque to Eastlands have faltered, so the arrival of Stelios would represent a major coup for the new Blues manager, who has already brought in striking duo Darius Vassell and Andy Cole during the close season.

While City cannot offer Stelios the European action he would get at Bolton this season, with average attendances double that of their north-west neighbours they clearly believe they can offer more hope for the future.

And, with the majority of Wright-Phillips' £21million transfer fee not spent yet, they have the funds available to significantly increase Stelios' wages.

Would you like to see Stelios at City? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (20) |

Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All

Blue Tiger, Virginia (13/08/2005 at 14:31)

If Bolton do not accept he will walk at the end of this season, unless he signs a new contract.
This could be another shrewd signing if it happens by Stuart Pearce.

Martin, London (13/08/2005 at 14:45)

Instead of this bloke we should be going for the one Allardyce is after: Nakata. Nakata is an imperious playmaker and I think he would adapt to the English game. He would even pay for himself with the extra shirts we would sell in Japan.

gerry, brentford (13/08/2005 at 14:47)

Dont hold your breaths after all its obvious any half decent player doesn't want to play for City. Whilw Iam on the BITTER site can I remind you UNITED are off to a flying start in the Premiership winning 2-0 at Everton Oh yes Oh yes our season is interesting unlike yours having such a boring time scraping fot mid table mediocrity,finally lets see how you lot do today against CAPTAIN MARVELS team WBA. COME ON YOU REDS!!!!!!

Kezza, Didsbury (13/08/2005 at 15:27)

Says it all really doesn't it? Gerry from BRENTFORD the home grown Salford Red Sox fan. Not.
What a moron.
Regarding Stelios, I was sort of in two minds when I heard this but overall I think it would be good business at that price, as despite his age I think he has a lot to offer. Chipped in with a fair few goals from midfield last term; his crossing is good; he's reasonably pacy and he has that knack of drifting quietly into the box just at the right time.
Age would stop me from bidding too much more but overall if this goes through then definitely another few brownie points to Pearcey for another shrewd piece of business, also once again conducted quietly, efficiently and with NO FUSS. Are you listening Keegan??!! CTID

kiwi, new zealand (13/08/2005 at 15:47)

Typical rag...cant spell! Probably from London anyway.

daniel, coalisland (13/08/2005 at 15:48)

Another OLD MAN to join Fowler,Cole and USELESS Mills.Another lack lustre performance against WBA and Utd won again SP as someone quite rightly pointed out is building a team on QUICKSAND.Its no fun supporting City and how glad Iam that I never renewed my season ticket and will save at least 1K not coming over every other week from NIreland.

Ewan, Edinburgh (13/08/2005 at 15:52)

It would have to be suicidal for Bolton to sell Stelios. We have the smallest squad in the Premiership so selling him less than three weeks before the close of the transfer window would be an act of madness. Even letting his contract run out makes more sense in the current situation - I wonder if the Wanderers board see it that way?

Andrew Cowell, USA (13/08/2005 at 16:02)

Whatever happened to www.mcfctv.com? Anyone know where I can find the real audio link to the live game action?

1 Pen Lee, don't know whether to laugh or cry! (13/08/2005 at 16:31)

I'm sorry but why in the name of Lee Bradbury would Stelios want to join City? This story is surely comic relief?

Andy Moore, Manc (13/08/2005 at 17:01)

GERRY, BRENTFORD: you do know they have a Utd part to this website,dont you? not a real shock that you are a Man Utd fan and yet you live in Brentford. Are the local team not good enough for you then? Guess you are what they call a glory hunter!!!!! Get a life mate and stop leaving petty messages to the TRUE fans of the only club in MANCHESTER.

Blue Blood, M40 (13/08/2005 at 17:40)

1 Lee Pen, shouldn't that be Lee 1 Pen? Anyway to answer your question, bigger club, bigger ground, bigger crowds, more prestige. Don't get too excited mate, you're still just Bolton.

Manc through and through, Withington (13/08/2005 at 17:50)

Brentford is that near Birmingham?

Edski Vega, Nottingham (13/08/2005 at 18:35)

The table doesnt lie and Bolton are a better team than us - we cant deny it - but we are a bigger club with a better set up and true fans with a higher wage bill and more potential than the hot pot eaters. Stelios although old and experienced is not the player we need. We canmnot build the foundations of this team on old shoulders - Cole, Mills, James, Stelios etc etc.... Next season when all the money has gone and all the oldies have retired we will have no money to attract replacements so why havent we started to build the backbone of the team now?! SP has had a very lazy summer - other than a long holiday in Asia where he watched his team injure each other in bar brawls, i'm not sure how much more he has done to get the team ready? Vassell and Cole and Musampa on a year long loan are not going to have any impact on the team - it is basically swapping young exciting players for old players that have shown once upon a time that they could do a job - SWP, Anelka, Macken for Cole and Vassell. Where is the midfielders we needed? the quality attackers? We had a bare bones squad at the end of last season which we had to contuinually suppliment with youths - the fans expected depth - we needed at least 6 new players in all departments during the summer and it hasnt happened. I am worried about what the season will bring considering all of our injury worries and certain injuries in the future and SP at 16/1 for first manager to go looks a nice bet. I hope it doesnt happen - he should have had a director of football on hand to advise him as i doubt many players find SP as good an incentive to join a club as they found KK. Tim Flowers for next manager ....haha

Eastie, Longsight (14/08/2005 at 00:59)

Get him signed!...He was playing really well at the end of last season-and has the honour of being in my Fantasy Football team.
We have young plyers coming through the ranks,but we also need experience.Think he`ll do a good job for a couple of seasons.

Alan, Middleton, Manchester (14/08/2005 at 01:44)

Gerry from BRENTFORD. Tell me something...why dont you support a southern team? maybe even BRENTFORD. They have played 2 games & won 2 games. YOU BULGE!!!

Blackley lad., N.Y. (14/08/2005 at 02:05)

For Christ sake, could we not be linked with somebody worth getting excited about? I have & will continue to back Peirce, but I do wish he & the board were willing to lash some serious wedge on at least 1 quality player with the ability to raise pulses, rather than an ordinary bargain basement signing like Stellios. One of the main reasons nobody mithers with bolton is because they're so effin DULL to watch. Flair and ambition need'nt be mutually exclusive, and going by the reports of todays game we are in dire need of something decent to watch as we will soon be getting the kind of gate's associated with the reebock. Come on City,its time to give something back to the the fans, and IMO, Stellios aint IT.

bubba, c'thorpes (14/08/2005 at 15:34)

not that sure on 'stelios' - surely we can do better ? nmely castelan ? pity that we missed out on nakarta, shrewd and astute purchase from big sam (sp needs to note) strachan also got a snip with his japanese midfielder.. we certainly need some impetus in midfield, someone who can make 'that pass/killer ball' - dont hang abt stu..pip..pip..

joe ziemniak, Saddleworth (15/08/2005 at 03:24)

It just doesnt make sense that Stelios would want to leave a club playing in Europe this season. I wonder if City are naive and are being used by the player's agent in order to bump-up his contract at Bolton.

paul hamer, bury manchester (16/08/2005 at 15:15)

why pay 1 million for 31 year old player lets break the bank and go back for melbrong

Andy P, newcastle (16/08/2005 at 15:34)

any player would rather play for city than the united nations of bolton. they're soulless, without any real heritage and play rubbish football. stelios is ok and he's better than what we have at the minute. stop having a go at sp - we haven't got a lot of money and i'd rather see us get some decent players trying their heart out than splash out massively on a 'flair' player that turns up one in 3. top six, i tell thee.

()

Report

Manchester City