Neil Leigh
Media Watch: City keen on Benfica centre back?
The transfer feeding frenzy continues apace in Wednesday’s media round-up with City linked with yet another potential new defensive target ahead of this summer's window.
There are also some fascinating insights from Ilkay Gundogan over why he chose to join City back in 2016 and life working under Pep Guardiola.
We also carry some inspirational words from Stephen Darby about his and Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir's fight against Motor Neurone Disease and interim City women’s boss Alan Mahon looks ahead to tonight’s crucial FA Women’s Super League encounter with Bristol City.
Transfer gossip
90min.com – City keen on Benfica centre back?
Adam Aladay: "Premier League trio Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are all keen on signing highly-rated Benfica centre-back Ruben Dias.
"The 22-year-old has played the full 90 minutes in each of Benfica's opening 20 Primeira Liga matches this season, helping his side keep a hugely impressive 13 clean sheets in the process.
"The in-demand defender agreed a contract extension until 2024 back in November of last year, with the new deal including a a release clause of €100m. However, this has not deterred his admirers, with the Express reporting that Tottenham, City and Liverpool are all still 'interested' in Dias.
"City have been keen on Dias for a while, with a source telling 90min back in the summer that they were considering making a January bid to sign the player. As for runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, with Dejan Lovren likely to leave the club in the summer if another side is able to meet their valuation of around £10m, Dias could be seen as a suitable replacement."
From the players
Manchester Evening News – Gundogan – why I chose City over Liverpool
Marcus Banks: IIkay Gundogan has revealed why he rejected the chance to reunite with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool to join Manchester City in the summer of 2016.
"The German midfielder joined Klopp at Borussia Dortmund in May 2011 and enjoyed some of the best years of his career.
"Under the now Liverpool manager's leadership, Gundogan lifted the Bundesliga title and German cup as well as helping his side reach the final of the Champions League.
"Following Klopp's move to Anfield to replace Brendan Rodgers, he was eager to link up with Gundogan again and attempted to bring him to Merseyside. However, Gundogan moved to City instead, becoming the first signing of the Pep Guardiola era.
"I believe in challenges in life and I always try to challenge myself first of all," Gundogan said during an interview with FantasyPL.
"I feel like if I don't challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone, I'm not going to change anything and won't improve.
"So I had a great four years with Jurgen and I love him as a person and a manager but I felt it was time for something else.
He added: "Obviously, on the other side there was Pep Guardiola who I loved watching when he was at Barcelona - the way he made his team play.
"When he was with Bayern Munich, I played against him and you felt on the pitch how strong his sides were and it was always a dream to call him my manager one day.
"Even though the start was not so easy, I think I've made the right decision and I'm very happy here."
Daily Telegraph - Darby, Weir, Burrow united in fight against MND
There is no single test that can detect MND. Instead, patients have to go through a laborious process of elimination.
In Stephen Darby’s case, that took two years, during which he continued his career as a professional footballer. Rob Burrow’s took a matter of weeks. The timing of the diagnosis was excruciatingly awful in each circumstance.
For Doddie Weir and Burrow, theirs came just before Christmas in 2016 and 2019 respectively. Darby’s came three months after his marriage to Steph Houghton, the England and Manchester City footballer, in 2018.
“Once you are diagnosed, you can accept the diagnosis, but not necessarily the prognosis," Darby, 31, says.
“It would be easy to just think ‘why us?’ and feel very sorry for ourselves. That’s just a waste of time. I tried to realise how lucky I am that I have got an amazing wife, family and friends, and tried to do something positive. You can try to make a difference."
Wensdi Gossip
posted on 12/2/20
Part 2
News
skysports.com – Continuity key for Mahon
Interim Manchester City Women's boss Alan Mahon says his focus is firmly trained on the here and now in the wake of stepping into Nick Cushing's shoes.
"We're on top of the league. If you start trying to be too clever, things can change. We're in a good place at the moment, so it's ultimately about just continuing what we've done," he said.
"I've shadowed Nick for the last five years so working with Nick has been brilliant for me as a learning curve. I don't want to change too many things."
"I've not looked at it and again, I'm not trying to be clever," said Mahon when asked if he thinks his interim stint in charge can put him in the frame for the job permanently.
"I've just looked at it as doing the job and getting the team to a period until whenever.
Wednesday's visit of Bristol City will bring back memories of their two leagues meetings last term, where both matches ended in draws.
Mahon added: "We've got to make sure that we adapt and approach each game correctly and we don't put our guard down for anyone. This season's been really tough."
That's all for this morning's Media Watch - but stay with us throughout the day as we bring you all the latest City news.