Here are your Manchester City evening headlines on Tuesday, July 27.
City sign Kovacic
Txiki Begiristain said it was a simple decision to sign Mateo Kovacic as Manchester City completed their first signing of the summer.
The midfielder arrives from Chelsea for £25m with the potential for another £5m in add-ons as Pep Guardiola looks to freshen up the squad after winning the Treble. Kovacic isn't seen as a direct replacement for the outgoing Ilkay Gundogan, but there are some similarities.
That includes the ability to play in multiple positions in the middle, with sporting director Begiristain citing two different roles he is able to play. Add in the experience the Croatian midfielder has for club and country and City are delighted with the 'great signing' they have made.
“He can play as a 6 or an 8, has plenty of experience at top-level clubs and he understands the Premier League. It was a very simple decision to bring him to City because he has the tactical and technical qualities we are looking for in a midfielder,” said Begiristain.
Read more on the Kovacic deal here.
City submit Rice bid
Manchester City have tested Arsenal with a £90m bid for West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Pep Guardiola has been keen on Rice for some time but the club only formalised their interest on Monday evening following two rejected bids from Arsenal. While that bid is understood to have been rejected after falling short of the £100m valuation that West Ham have placed on their star midfielder, it steps up City's threat to Arsenal hopes of landing the player.
Arsenal have been trying to sign Rice but have seen two bids knocked back after they also failed to meet West Ham's asking price. Attention will turn back to North London to see if they will make a third bid that is expected from them, and to Manchester to see if the Blues want to increase their offer.
West Ham can feel more confident that their valuation will be met now that Premier League champions City have joined runners-up Arsenal in the race to sign the England international. Rice would be seen by City as more of a replacement for the outgoing Ilkay Gundogan than Mateo Kovacic, the Chelsea midfielder who is due to complete his move to the Etihad this week.
