Bitter and Blue - 2017 January Transfer Window: Manchester City News and RumorsManchester City News, Opinion and Commentaryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47425/bitter-fave.png2017-02-01T10:45:17+00:00http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/rss/stream/139039152017-02-01T10:45:17+00:002017-02-01T10:45:17+00:00January Transfer Window Recap
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<img alt="Pep Guardiola Press Conference" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5Kh_jsO1oNpTMttF6B29xcDw9rE=/185x0:4891x3137/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53026299/545519204.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Barrington Coombs/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Lots of young players on the move, but the first team stays untouched</p> <p id="mGRtUI">Pep Guardiola kept telling everybody he was "so so happy" with the squad, and he didn't expect to make any changes in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">January transfer window</a>. But we don't want to believe and we want to read transfer rumors, so there were plenty of those during the last 31 days of market activity.</p>
<p id="1FpvDP">In the end, Pep was right, and <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> kept quiet during a very uneventful month of business.</p>
<p id="x1o4uL">A few young players were moved around either on loan (like <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14451214/deadline-day-manchester-city-angelino-loan-girona-mallorca">Angeliño</a> and <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14456712/deadline-day-manchester-city-david-faupala-loan-chesterfield-fc-transfer-news">Faupala</a>) or via permanent transfer (<a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/2/1/14463842/deadline-day-manchester-city-youth-prospect-jack-byrne-joins-wigan-permanent-transfer">good luck, Jack Byrne</a>). The club nearly <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14450970/deadline-day-manchester-city-to-sign-valencia-young-striker-transfer-news">signed a young Spanish striker</a> from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/valencia">Valencia</a>, but it looks like that will happen in the summer. <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/2/1/14462706/deadline-day-manchester-city-complete-transfer-yangel-herrera-venezuela">City signed South American youth prospect Yangel Herrera</a>, but he'll play in MLS or Australia with hopes of first team action in the future.</p>
<p id="hJFkRQ">There were a couple of first team players involved in rumors, however. <span>Fabian Delph</span> is finally free from injury and has been playing well since his return, but since he's not a key part of the midfield (yet), there was some speculation he could have been moved on loan in January. Two teams tried to sign him: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a> made an approach two weeks ago, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> called on Deadline Day <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14448606/deadline-day-manchester-city-fabian-delph-attracts-interest-stoke-city">and made a late attempt at signing the player</a>. City blocked both moves, and Delph is very happy to stay.</p>
<p id="nW7hYo">Another player heavily linked with a departure was Tosin Adarabioyo. The Academy product has just six months left in his current contract and the talks for a new deal have been very complicated. <span>Ronald Koeman</span> tried to take advantage of the opportunity and actively looked to bring the defender to <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>, <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14451132/manchester-city-young-defender-not-joining-everton-new-contract-report-transfer-deadline-day">but City rejected the offer</a> and remain confident the 19-year-old will sign a new deal with the club.</p>
<p id="Z4YZbp">In terms of possible signings, there were a lot of links, obviously, but there was only one actual attept to sign a player: in a moment of crisis on the defensive front with multiple injuries, Pep Guardiola tried to get <a href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/">Bayern Munich</a> defender <span>Holger Badstuber</span>, one of his best friends in the German club, on a six-month loan until the end of the season. For a while it seemd like the deal was going to happen, but the player decided to join <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/bundesliga/teams/schalke-04">Schalke 04</a> instead, and City probably dodged a bullet considering Badstuber's injury record.</p>
<p id="KjV8k9">And the biggest story line of the January transfer window came thanks to <a href="http://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14454290/fake-twitter-announces-major-manchester-city-transfer-everybody-goes-nuts-deadline-day-gaya-valencia">a fake Sky Sports account that went on Twitter</a> and claimed City were close to signing one of the best young full-backs in football, José Gayà from Valencia. A lot of people jumped on the news, and there were two hours of pandemonium among City fans so happy with the signing. Someone went and actually checked the fact, and it was revealed that there was no offer for Gayà.</p>
<p id="GcZ7eN">After a month of nothing happening, it looks clear that the much anticipated overhaul of an aging City squad with players who don't fit <span>Pep Guardiola's</span> squad is coming in the summer. He's now had a lot of time to evaluate which players he can count on, which can leave and who will be joining. Seven players run out of their contracts and it's almost certain they will all be leaving the club, and we should expect two very busy months in July and August.</p>
<p id="k0KG6M">The opposite of this January.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/2/1/14468378/january-transfer-window-recap-manchester-city-squad-overhaul-summerRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T19:18:11+00:002017-01-31T19:18:11+00:00Faupala joins Chesterfield on loan
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<img alt="Chelsea v Manchester City - The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pA8YSQ2k4zoeKEw2w79CU7ZqtJs=/0x0:4962x3308/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53011387/511555638.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another youngster on the move!</p> <p id="xdx49d">As Deadline Day comes close to an end, <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> continue to make business with the young players.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Faupala has joined <a href="https://twitter.com/ChesterfieldFC">@ChesterfieldFC</a> on loan until April 30. <br><br>Good luck, <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidFaupala9">@DavidFaupala9</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcfc?src=hash">#mcfc</a> <a href="https://t.co/j9cl7VbpVO">pic.twitter.com/j9cl7VbpVO</a></p>— Manchester City (@ManCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/826505336777539584">January 31, 2017</a>
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<p id="j17XT8">You may know David Faupala from THAT infamous <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> match last season, when <span>Manuel Pellegrini</span> was forced to field six Academy players to face <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> at Stamford Bridge because of a busy schedule with Champions League, League Cup and Premier League matches on the same week.</p>
<p id="DVhsxY">City lost the Round of 16 match 5-1, and Faupala scored City's goal that day. He made a few more first team appearances after that, but could never impress the coaching staff enough to earn promotion. <span>Pep Guardiola</span> came in and sent Faupala to the Netherlands on a six-month deal with NAC Breda. Now he's back in England, but will play for a League 1 side fighting against relegation to the fourth division.</p>
<p id="uZpHGo">This might be a good opportunity for Faupala to experience some pressure in English football. Who knows, maybe he saves the team from relegation and shows enough talent to come back next season.</p>
<p id="V1MKI0">Good luck, David!</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14456712/deadline-day-manchester-city-david-faupala-loan-chesterfield-fc-transfer-newsRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T18:16:40+00:002017-01-31T18:16:40+00:00Pep: No Deadline Day business
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<img alt="West Ham United v Manchester City - The Emirates FA Cup Third Round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QnFixxUEiWK-EzeYneHWXPm_Uok=/0x0:1620x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53009295/631094062.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Same squad until the end of the season</p> <p id="SSYslq">This has been a surprisingly quiet transfer Deadline Day for the big Premier League teams. We haven't seen any of them make big signings that shake things up, and the entire league has actually made a profit during the January window.</p>
<p id="HT1Hcm"><a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> followed the trend and made no signings or sales during the window, only moving a couple of young players on loan. The only real interest was for <a href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/">Bayern Munich</a> defender <span>Holger Badstuber</span>, but he went to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/bundesliga/teams/schalke-04">Schalke 04</a> and the deal with City was off.</p>
<p id="rwWMC3">So as the clock ticks down in the window, should we expect any signings before 11:59pm?</p>
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<p id="uzmNpw">“We said no. We have enough players. Good players. The window is important for the club, players. Every weekend I am so sad because I have to leave three players at home. While this happens why should we buy. If players leave, maybe.</p>
<p id="wBijzq">“I’m happy.”</p>
<p id="zBShJE"><span>Pep Guardiola</span>, Source: <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-city-eyeing-late-20million-9728697">Mirror</a></p>
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<p id="m6G3lC">So we'll stay frustrated with our defense and wait for new full-backs until the summer? Pep better know what he's doing.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14455408/manchester-city-not-signing-any-players-deadline-day-pep-guardiola-transfer-newsRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T17:07:04+00:002017-01-31T17:07:04+00:00Gayà to City is from fake Sky account
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<img alt="Valencia v Barcelona - Copa del Rey Semi Final, Second Leg" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yCl4-HLpaQryiklDhy-lw6yGzzM=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53007459/509446728.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It's not true, guys...</p> <p id="6NODL4">In a very quiet Transfer Deadline Day for <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>, something very fun happened.</p>
<p id="kCHf2i">Everybody knows that the biggest need in the City squad is at left-back. <span>Pep Guardiola</span> has said he won't be making any new signings and he's happy with the squad, but the need is still there. One of the names linked with a move to City is José Gayà from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/valencia">Valencia</a>, which would be a fantastic addition.</p>
<p id="WHffO5">So a fake Sky Sports account on Twitter said that City made a £20 million offer to try and sign Gayà on Deadline Day. Everyone immediately jumped to conclusion this was true, and a lot of websites — <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-city-eyeing-late-20million-9728697">including the Mirror</a> and a Spanish journalist that's verified on Twitter (!!!!!) — started to share the news as fact.</p>
<p id="sTLixp">Turns out it's not fact.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MCFC denying reports they have made a £20million bid for Valencia full-back Jose Luis Gaya. Club still saying no ins/outs today.</p>— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) <a href="https://twitter.com/hirstclass/status/826452639185502208">January 31, 2017</a>
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<p id="4Ffqr0">What a surprise! Fake news on Deadline Day! People believe it! It's 2017 journalism, y'all!</p>
<p id="YCTHgN">Moving along.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14454290/fake-twitter-announces-major-manchester-city-transfer-everybody-goes-nuts-deadline-day-gaya-valenciaRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T13:02:56+00:002017-01-31T13:02:56+00:00Angeliño loaned to Mallorca
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<img alt="Swansea City v Manchester City - EFL Cup Third Round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N76h2Wm-lOOopIHcm204shv4cMY=/0x139:2496x1803/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53002941/609580236.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Angelino stays in Spain!</p> <p id="5NWopp">It hasn't been a very busy deadline day for <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>, but some young players are on the move. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/angel_tasende69">@angel_tasende69</a> has joined <a href="https://twitter.com/RCD_Mallorca">@RCD_Mallorca</a> on loan until the end of the season<br><br>Track his progress in Loan Watch<br><br>Good luck, Angelino! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcfc?src=hash">#mcfc</a> <a href="https://t.co/j7UE0cOesF">pic.twitter.com/j7UE0cOesF</a></p>— Manchester City (@ManCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/826410961611390977">January 31, 2017</a>
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<p id="39H5nY">The 20-year-old fullback has his loan spell at Girona canceled after just one month. Angeliño didn't a single second of playing time and was out of the bench for almost every game since joining the second division side in Spain, unlike the other City loanee at the club, Pablo Maffeo, who's enjoying some starts and good minutes.</p>
<p id="Cfw3MZ">Angeliño will try his luck again in the second division, this time at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/mallorca">Mallorca</a>. Pep Guardiola has big plans for the young Spaniard and wants him to get regular minutes until the end of the season, so he can return to the club in the summer a more experienced player.</p>
<p id="O0Pw2Y">With three first team appearances this season (two in the League Cup, one in the Champions League), Angeliño is likely to have some good involvement in the team next season, since all the fullbacks are probably leaving the club and Guardiola will use both Angeliño and Maffeo as backups to the new players coming in to play the position in the summer.</p>
<p id="maKKR6">Good luck, Angeliño! Please play this time.</p>
<p id="epSy4p"><strong>UPDATE</strong>: Here's Angeliño with his new club's shirt. Hopefully he'll put it on and play. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Picture: Angeliño posing with a Real Mallorca shirt after joining them on loan. <a href="https://t.co/DzlrwPSTiT">pic.twitter.com/DzlrwPSTiT</a></p>— City Watch (@City_Watch) <a href="https://twitter.com/City_Watch/status/826432247439949824">January 31, 2017</a>
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https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14451214/deadline-day-manchester-city-angelino-loan-girona-mallorcaRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T12:30:48+00:002017-01-31T12:30:48+00:00Times: Adarabioyo not leaving for Everton
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<img alt="Arsenal v Manchester City: FA Youth Cup Semi-Final Second Leg" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3nEogyukXSvHO9KnpVfAO7MhJPU=/111x0:3324x2142/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53002777/519141762.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Adarabioyo stays!</p> <p id="2vZHlF">One of the biggest story lines involving <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> on transfer deadline day is the future of defender Tosin Adarabioyo. The young Englishman has been heavily linked with a move to <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>, and for a while it looked very likely that <span>Ronald Koeman</span> would steal the 19-year-old away from the Etihad.</p>
<p id="AIeGK6">But according to Paul Hirst from the Times, Adarabioyo is not leaving:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MCFC insistent that Tosin Adarabioyo won't leave. Club still confident he will sign new contract.</p>— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) <a href="https://twitter.com/hirstclass/status/826396749371682817">January 31, 2017</a>
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<p id="358WXp">Adarabioyo's current deal expires this summer, and the contract talks between the club and his agent have been very difficult. There are very high wage demands and City don't want to set a precedent for future young players negotating their new deals. </p>
<p id="Ynu0sI"><span>Pep Guardiola</span> is a fan of the youngster and plans to use him in the upcoming seasons, so a new deal would please the Catalan manager. We still have six months of contract talks, but the club remains confident. Adarabioyo is part of the future, so let's do all we can to keep him, shall we?</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14451132/manchester-city-young-defender-not-joining-everton-new-contract-report-transfer-deadline-dayRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T11:43:08+00:002017-01-31T11:43:08+00:00SD: City sign Valencia striker
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<img alt="Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DrYaGV7DoJ1fWX1V7VGzINXzKK0=/0x0:4955x3303/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53002557/632289994.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Not for the first team, though</p> <p id="LOEMBq">If you thought <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> wouldn't make any Deadline Day signings, you're wrong. Kind of.</p>
<p id="B2UR9S">Reports in Spain (<a href="http://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2017/01/31/valencia-vende-nabil-manchester-city/324269.html">from Super Deporte</a>, specifically) say that the club has signed <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/valencia">Valencia</a> youth product Nabil Touaizi. The Moroccan born striker is a U-16 Spain international and widely regarded as one of the best prospects in Spanish football. Nabil is on his way to Manchester to sign a deal with the club, according to the report. City will pay a £350,000 transfer fee, plus an additional £2 million if he makes a first team appearances in the future.</p>
<p id="D6ovmx">City Sporting Director Txiki Begiristain traveled to Spain and spent two days in Valencia earlier this month. Many thought he was trying to work out deals for fullbacks José Gayà and João Cancelo, but he was actually doing Nabil's deal and hoping to sign more Valencia youngsters to join the City Academy in the summer.</p>
<p id="CRTpia">There's a chance he discussed Gayà and Cancelo as well, but Txiki's trip had more to do with the youth system than the first team. It's almost certain that there will be no changes to the squad in January, and Pep Guardiola is waiting for the summer to overhaul the team.</p>
<p id="37uPep">The youth system is getting stronger, though.</p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14450970/deadline-day-manchester-city-to-sign-valencia-young-striker-transfer-newsRenatoGoncalves2017-01-31T11:18:56+00:002017-01-31T11:18:56+00:00Report: Stoke want Delph on loan
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<img alt="Manchester City v Steaua Bucharest - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CqqufWuKjSjPUxs8gKoJdKGf5Fw=/0x0:5370x3580/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53002443/594891050.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Not happening...</p> <p id="MDoCqw"><a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> midfielder <span>Fabian Delph</span> is <a href="http://stokeloudandproud.com/stoke-man-city-fabian-delph-bony/">reportedly</a> attracting the eyes of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a>, who wish to acquire him on loan this Deadline Day. </p>
<p id="sYyqQC">The Englishman arrived at the Etihad before the 2015/16 season for a highway robbery fee of £8 million. Since then, he has struggled with injuries but proven he is an electric player who injects energy into the midfield. </p>
<p id="f1UITN">Delph has been at the center of several rumors linking him with a move to other Premier League clubs such as <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a>, but Delph himself was quick to dismiss all transfer talk. </p>
<p id="uKZesK">“A couple of mates have said to me: ‘You’ve been linked with X, Y and Z’ but I’ve not given it any thought, Delph said. "I’m happy here. I feel like I can help my teammates and I’m obviously fit again so I can get more minutes and help the team push on.</p>
<p id="C5u3mo">“I love it here. I’m working with the best players in the world, great management, great staff around me and I’m very, very happy here.”</p>
<p id="pLNzpc">Delph will almost certainly be staying at Manchester City this <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>. It is evident that he does not favor a move at the moment and wants to bring his services to Pep Guardiola’s side. </p>
https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2017/1/31/14448606/deadline-day-manchester-city-fabian-delph-attracts-interest-stoke-cityMatt Chudy