Tuesday Gossip

by David Clayton@dclayton_MCFC

Gossip: Felix race hots up?

Transfer snippets, parade coverage and Pep’s belief that Vincent Kompany will one day return to City sum up the best of this morning’s back pages.

As the majority of City players and management head off on their well-earned summer holidays, the transfer rumour mill will no doubt crank up a notch or two.
Inside Futbol begin today’s round-up, believing City are set to battle United for one of Europe’s most coveted teenagers.

They report: “Super agent Jorge Mendes is already preparing for Manchester United and Manchester City target Joao Felix to leave Benfica this summer, despite the Portuguese club’s intention to hold on to him for one more season.
“The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has just finished his first season of senior football at Benfica and already has the top clubs of Europe queuing up for him.
“He has a €120m release clause and Benfica are in no mood to negotiate, hoping that the figure will dissuade his suitors from making a move for him this summer.
“But Felix’s entourage have different plans and, according to Portuguese daily Correio da Manha, Mendes is already pushing forward with plans to move the midfielder on.
“The Portuguese super-agent and Felix's family have come to the conclusion that the teenager is ready for his big move this summer and are trying to engineer a transfer away from Benfica.
“Mendes has already been in talks with interested clubs, which include Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus."
Next up, Sky Sports’ summary of yesterday’s celebrations in Manchester city centre as the Blues paraded the four domestic trophies won this season.
It reads: “It wasn't just a parade involving one bus either, there were three, as the celebrations were led by City's women's team, showing off their own domestic double and taking the silverware stash to six; surely the biggest parade of pots ever seen on these shores.

“Manchester underwent a blue rinse as their heroes wended their way from the town hall to the cathedral via Peter Street and Deansgate, windows and rooftops were filled, lampposts and street furniture grabbed as Sergio Aguero helped himself to a League Cup filled with beer.
“This was a full-English from the self-proclaimed 'Fourmidables', cheered through streets festooned with flags and inflatable bananas.
“The scenes even prompted Kevin De Bruyne to turn interviewer to John Stones, both soaked by beer and bubbles.
“It took around an hour for the cavalcade to arrive on the banks of the Irwell, with City fans primed and ready, heroes of the past and present introduced to them as anticipation soared.
“Even those on stage couldn't help but wonder where we'd all have been if 1999 Legend Paul Dickov hadn't scored that goal against Gillingham almost two decades ago."
Finally, Pep Guardiola’s speech at the parade has been widely quoted this morning.

His suggestion that Vincent Kompany will one day return to the Club has, of course, been highlighted – as well as warmly received by our fans.
Goal write: “City will struggle to replace Kompany's experience and influence, but Guardiola is confident the defender will return one day.
‘I think we're going to miss him [Kompany] a lot,’ Guardiola said during City's trophy parade on Monday.
‘I'm going to miss him, but he is going to see us in the future because he is coming back sooner or later.
‘It's the best way to say goodbye after an incredible season together. He was a real captain, he helped us a lot.
‘Now it's time to have good food, good wine and enjoy this incredible season together. In a few weeks we are going to think about [the future]. Now we are going to enjoy what we have done.’
That’s all for today. Back tomorrow with more gossip, opinion and rumours.