Manuel Pellegrini's first official day as Manchester City manager ended in disappointment with Isco set to reject the chance to join his former Malaga coach and sign for Real Madrid, The Guardian reports.
City are relaxed about the midfielder's decision, which has yet to become official, after the 21-year-old said that Madrid "excite",
Pellegrini is also unconcerned that the prospect of landing Napoli's Edinson Cavani is receding. City have kept watch on the striker after he was identified as a target by Roberto Mancini but Pellegrini does not hold the Uruguayan in the same regard.
If Isco is signed by Madrid, Pellegrini is content with the resources at his disposal, which include Yaya Touré, David Silva, Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Samir Nasri and James Milner.
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Paolo Di Canio has put the ‘For Sale’ sign up at Sunderland as he looks to off-load star striker Stephane Sessegnon, the Mirror reports.
The Italian's ruthless shake up at the Stadium of Light will see Benin trickster Sessegnon shipped out if a £8million offer is received.
With Simon Mignolet completing an £11 million switch to Liverpool and £4 million rated skipper Lee Cettermole interesting Hull and Stoke, Di Canio is pruning deep into his talent to fund his own spending spree.
Owner Ellis Short has put his total trust in Di Canio’s dealings and getting rid of Sessegnon, who scored 17 goals in 83 starts, and Mignolet, the club’s top performer last season, is a big risk.
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Newcastle are chasing Wilfried Bony but face competition from Everton, Swansea and Anzhi Makhachkala for the highly-rated Vitesse Arnhem striker, TalkSport reports.
Alan Pardew is keen to add a top-quality forward to his squad and the Mapgies have stepped up their interest in Bony, tabling a £12million bid for the Ivorian.
However, talkSPORT understands Vitesse are holding out for £15 million for the 24-year-old, who scored 31 goals in the Dutch top-flight last season and is now keen to test himself in the Premier League.
That has opened the door for Russian side Anzhi, who have big money to spend and could easily meet Vitesse's valuation, while Everton and Swansea are also monitoring Bony's situation.