Transfer Tickertape Getting in Full Swing

A couple of weeks ago I put out a tongue in cheek article to see who we thought we'd sign in the New Year against the background that a reliable source told me it would be bigger than major.

The same names are still getting bandied about and I suppose it is interesting that having lost to Everton, missing chance after chance, Edin Dzeko's price is going up faster than petrol.

I would still prefer to see City get him. He knows where the net is and appears to be quite robust. He will also introduce a bit of pressure for the self-styled champion of the world Mario Balotelli, who himself is no stranger to the back of the net, although we would love to see him hit it a little bit more.

Alves is still on the horizon, for that matter one-in, one-out (isn't that Jo's name too?) and then we have a variety of individuals from Portugal, La Liga and one or two ther places.

Do we need Alves? He won't come cheap and I'm uncertain of his defensive qualities. When you play for Barcelone you don't have to defend all that often, maybe towards the semis and finals of the Champions League and perhaps once against Real Madrid. I have a fear of an expensive Richards alternative there.

I don't really do people playing in the Portuguese league, although according to one journalist Nani has excelled since Ronaldo went to Real. When did that happen? It's just that now he gets a game because Ronaldo has gone and Valencia is injured. Amazing how they get a few games, score once or twice and then they are in pole position to tell the world that City has no chance of winning the league.

Then we get linked with Pepe, stalwart (!) of the Real defence. Why would we need him? If you see how well Onuoha has done at Sunderland, under the watchful eye of a quality, albeit ex-red, former defender, we had a very capable defender in our hands, and still have. He couldn't have any worse that Kolo Toure on Monday night.

West Ham still seem to be fishing for Bridge. I can't see him being part of anything at City except the adornments for the treatment centre and Mancini would rather play Zabaleta there if Kolarove isn't available.

Nothing seems to be happening with Given or Adebayor yet, although Santa Cruz is getting mentioned on a few pages, heading for Fulham, West Ham, Hamburg, Wolfsburg. Even Jo is getting mentioned in conunction with Hamburg.

The big wheels keep rolling and we are just over a week away from the real fun. I'm sure Becki has got her stack of contracts at the ready along with the Premier League and FA notifications. It'll be intersting to see what names she fills in on them.

Have a great festive season, one and all.

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