Declan Rice

[youngbob]

To be honest, this is why I doubt it's as close as Di Marzo is claiming. He's the only one saying it's on. A couple of people have mentioned a prospective bid but nothing concrete has come from Sam Lee, David Ornstein, etc. If anything the news now coming out is that no bid by City has been made at all. Makes me think Sullivan is stirring the pot, getting a bit giddy, like somebody bidding £1 over the highest offer on an item they're trying to sell on eBay in a bid to drive the price up.

Yep. There we are. Wasn't that sold on the idea of him anyway. Could improve under Arteta, would have improved under Pep, but to the degree that's needed to be good enough for us over the next 5 years? Ehhhh.

 

[Superace]

Find it absolutely baffling we have publicly pursued two players who had no interest in joining us. Suspect it will be Kovacic and Gvardiol and that will be your lot unless Bernardo decides he fancies Saudi.

Publicly really how do you get to that conclusion, we've not heard a peep from city or any journalists who has credible links to city

 

[BringBackSwales]

Find it absolutely baffling we have publicly pursued two players who had no interest in joining us. Suspect it will be Kovacic and Gvardiol and that will be your lot unless Bernardo decides he fancies Saudi.

Well it is nearly the end of June

 

[youngbob]

Publicly really how do you get to that conclusion, we've not heard a peep from city or any journalists who has credible links to city

Yep. It's Sullivan making Arsenal panic.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

If rice is afraid he won't get games here then shows a lack of confidence in himself. Easier option to go to Arsenal and be the main man. And finish 2nd

 

[Xhavenjoe]

u know full well the / means "or"

I do.
You have 13 players and 12 positions

 

[1Basti]

Really, who cares about a narrative? Come on. We literally do not need to say anything.

txiki,berrada,khaldoon (narratives about net spending, squad size etc)...& khaldoon will care about Peps image...the headlines will say "pep/city got snubbed", not txiki

 

[kun]

I do.
You have 13 players and 12 positions

oh shit haha my bad

 

[monty silva]

Surely Bayern or Barca would be tempted to sell Kimmich or FDJ if we slapped £100m on the table. Both are far superior players to Rice and suit our style better in my opinion.

 

[geek24601]

If rice is afraid he won't get games here then shows a lack of confidence in himself. Easier option to go to Arsenal and be the main man. And finish 2nd

Absolutely. We don’t need weak minded players who can’t back themselves!

 

[razman]

If phillips thinks he can play his way into the team he may have already been given some encouragement by Pep. However I remember reading earlier this week that he plans to talk to Pep when he gets back from holiday. I wonder if he’ll get encouragement or the Joe Hart speech.

Difference with Joe and Phillips is that Phillips was bought in by Pep- so pep and the team would have done the research.

I obviously would like him to succeed, so hope to see him do well next season! Especially if we miss out on Rice

 

[Benzino]

I bet they would. That's £200m for no outlay.

Do you think we’re trying to make the Pedri deal? Obviously I’m sure we would love it but I’d it realistically possible

 

[robbieh]

Surely Bayern or Barca would be tempted to sell Kimmich or FDJ if we slapped £100m on the table. Both are far superior players to Rice and suit our style better in my opinion.

This all day long. Barca certainly need the money. And exactly who are there midfield 3 going to be?
Gundo, Pedri, Gavi, de Jong, are there more?

 

[geek24601]

Difference with Joe and Phillips is that Phillips was bought in by Pep- so pep and the team would have done the research.

I obviously would like him to succeed, so hope to see him do well next season! Especially if we miss out on Rice

I really doubt Phillips will make it here. Players who had poor 1st seasons under Pep at least showed flashes but Phillips has shown nothing so far. Seems like a great guy so hope I’m wrong!

 

[Matt.D]

Why is everyone so salty about Rice? Players are allowed to choose where they want to play. When we signed Aguero, David Silva and Yaya we weren’t the best team in the country but we sold the club to them. As City haven’t properly moved for Rice until this week maybe he’s already seen himself at Arsenal for months, knowing how he fits into the team and it means he can stay in London.

If anything it’s piss poor from City to have waited for Gundo to make a decision and not have someone lined up that we know will definitely come. Problem is that players of the status of Rice won’t have been happy to be told our move for them was dependent on a 32 year old leaving. & Kovacic is not a replacement for Gundo, if he was we wouldn’t have been in for Rice.

I’m not convinced Rice was the right profile of player to replace Gundo anyway, but then I don’t see many great attacking number 8s around either. Pep will find a way to make sure we are bang in the mix for every trophy regardless as he always does.

 

[Bluemanc100]

I really doubt Phillips will make it here. Players who had poor 1st seasons under Pep at least showed flashes but Phillips has shown nothing so far. Seems like a great guy so hope I’m wrong!

He’s not shown much but to be fair to him he’s hardly had a chance has he so far.. I’d stick with him for one more season.. See if he can do a Zinny, Delph, Mahrez, Grealish

 

[Haaland94]

If we sign Dominik Szoboszlai instead of Rice, I would be delighted.

 

[manimanc]

Hold up the fee? Can’t imagine we need to persuade Rice to join.

It might be that's he's on holiday and nothing will be sorted til he gets back? I think he wants to come, maybe see some more news this time next week.

 

[eyalluvitt]

If we sign Dominik Szoboszlai instead of Rice, I would be delighted.

Goulash over Rice? Hungary for success.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

I bet they would. That's £200m for no outlay.

They couldn’t afford the wages though…