calculated
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 26 Jul 2009
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- 221
Re: Islands bust up with rob
enoughs enough, off you go
enoughs enough, off you go
Stephen Ireland's future at Manchester City is in serious doubt after he was told he may not make Roberto Mancini's final 25-man squad for next season and should consider severing his ties with Eastlands.
The 23-year-old suffered a sharp dip in form under the Italian last season and has seen City add two midfielders to their squad this summer in David Silva and Yaya Touré, while continuing their pursuit of Aston Villa's James Milner. Ireland, who captained City in their 2-1 defeat by New York Red Bulls last night but was substituted at half-time, is among several high-profile names that may be surplus to requirements next season as the club looks to overhaul the squad before August.
The midfielder, valued at £8m has been advised by the City management to listen to any offers for his services, with Galatasaray the latest club to show an interest. Ireland has insisted he has no desire to leave a club he joined as a 15-year-old from Cobh Ramblers and may wait until January to consider his position under Mancini.
Ireland, who also failed to impress in City's other defeat in New York, against Sporting Lisbon, said: "I decided in the summer that I was going to get my head down and do what I can to show the manager that I am worth a place on his team. It didn't go that well for me last season, when there were a lot of changes at the club, but it is only a season ago that I was Player of the Year at the club and my view is that I haven't become a bad player overnight. The manager hopefully doesn't think that either."
Mancini, however, is under pressure to reduce squad numbers before his final list is submitted to the Premier League at the end of August, although Ireland would account for one of the eight "home-grown" players required under the new ruling.
The City midfielder added: "I have read in the papers about supposed interest from Sunderland and Fulham and maybe even Aston Villa but I haven't heard anything directly. Ideally, I would like to stay and build a future here. I am not going to rush in to anything, anyway. I think it's best if I see what happens during the first half of the season and perhaps give the situation until Christmas. If things aren't right at this stage then we can look at it again. I have worked hard during my years at City and I love the club."