Thursday Gossip

David Clayton@dclayton_MCFC

90 mins: 'City would fight Reds for Kane'

The main thread in this morning's media round-up suggests City would battle United if Harry Kane were to leave Spurs.
The England skipper would have a queue of potential suitors if he became available with both Manchester clubs potential destinations - according to 90 minutes.
There's also reports of interest in a highly-rated Inter Milan youngster and defiant words from Aymeric Laporte and Liam Delap.

Transfer gossip
90 minutes: City would battle Reds for Kane
It reads: "It was reported in February that the Premier League champions were considering a move for Erling Haaland - who has burst on to the European stage this season with his exploits for RB Salzburg and Dortmund - over the next couple of years, as they search for the long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero. Kane would be an alternative - albeit older and more expensive.
"Aguero is the highest-scoring foreign player in Premier League history, and City are eager to reward his years of service by granting him complete freedom over his future - meaning he will choose to leave when the time is right for him. Another long-serving player, David Silva, is due to leave at the end of this season, and Aguero is unlikely to be too far behind.
"The Argentine's departure would leave a huge void, and one City will need to replace with quality. While it does only remain as interest in Kane at this stage, he would be one of the considerations to City to potentially fill Aguero's boots."
Sport Witness: Inter defender interests City
They report: "The Italian press continues to report Manchester City’s interest in Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.
"It had first been Calcio Mercato who claimed that Pep Guardiola’s side had been scouting the 20-year-old lately.
"Now it’s Tuttosport who brings a story on it, claiming that he’s been showing ‘enormous potential’ at the Serie A side and ended up receiving attention from Manchester City’s transfer team.
"But just like Calcio Mercato, Tuttosport are also very confident that Bastoni will end up staying at Inter Milan. They say he’s set to sign a new contract at the end of the season and commit himself to the club until 2024."

From the players
Express: Laporte focus on Champions League and FA Cup
The report reads: "Manchester City star Aymeric Laporte has issued a defiant message to fans about winning the Champions League and the FA Cup, while admitting that Liverpool are probably too far ahead of Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League to catch up.
"But, Liverpool are currently 25 points ahead of City in the Premier League; albeit having played a game more.
"Laporte admitted that it’s “impossible" for the club to win the league title for a third successive season, as Jurgen Klopp’s side have a significant advantage.
"But, City will be doing everything they can to win this season’s Champions League and FA Cup, he said.
"The Citizens face Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg next week, while they also face Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-finals later this month

'We have to look positively,' Laporte told Sky Sports.
'If we look at the Premier League, we know it’s difficult or impossible to get it.
'But we have two other competitions to fight for, and we will fight until the end to try and win these trophies.
'You think about [Liverpool’s lead] but we have to focus on ourselves, and what we do and try to do the best we can.
'Personally, I got injured for a long time this season which was a bad thing for me and the club as well.
'Now we have to be focused on the next steps and we will see what happens.'
Stoke Sentinel: Delap junior starting to shine
It reads: "Delap Jr led the line intelligently and aggressively against Stoke City, bagging the decisive second goal that sparked a ruthless 14-minute rout in which he set up two more.
"The England youth international, who turned 17 last month, joined Man City from Derby County last summer and has already played for the club's under-23 team.
"And he's been scoring and making goals all season.
"He is a mixture of pace and power, skill and intelligence and that is a pretty fierce combination. And he's aggressive too.
'It's always been a part of my game. I need it in my game,' he said in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.
'When I'm on that edge it's when I'm at my best, it's just not tipping over that edge and everyone has told me that they'd never want to take it out of me, it's just controlling that final tipping point of what is acceptable and what's not.
'You can't really teach it, it's just something I have and I'm so grateful that I've got it but it's just now working a mechanism that I can control it to keep myself on the pitch.
'I've got a lot better. I was a lot worse when I was younger so I think it's just maturing and understanding what's right.'