Manchester City secured three points in their Premier League clash with Wolves at the weekend
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer named Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland in his Premier League Team of the Week after the Blues’ victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Alan Shearer pictured during Premier League punditry (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
City struggled initially to break down a stubborn Wolves defence but they eventually managed to secure the breakthrough when De Bruyne’s cross was met by the head of Haaland, five minutes before the break. Soon after the restart, the Norwegian had the chance to make it two from the penalty spot.
Ruben Neves was adjudged to have tripped Ilkay Gundogan in the area and Haaland made no mistake from 12 yards. The game was over four minutes later when a misplaced pass by Jose Sa was intercepted by Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian coolly squared the ball for Haaland to complete his hat-trick and surpass the number of goals Tottenham’s Son Heung-min scored last season to win the Golden Boot (23). Discussing his decision to name both men in his Team of the Week, Shearer told the Premier League: “[De Bruyne was] At the heart of everything good Man City did and racked up his 11th assist of the season.
“[Haaland] Answered those who dared to question him with a fourth hat-trick of the season – just one off my season record.” City have a break from the Premier League this weekend when they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on Friday in the FA Cup fourth round.
Should the match end in a draw, a replay will need to be arranged between the two sides at the Emirates in February. The Blues’ next match in the league will be away at Tottenham on Sunday, February 5.
Shearer’s Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-3): Pope (Newcastle); Richards (Crystal Palace), Silva (Chelsea), Aguerd (West Ham), Zinchenko (Arsenal); De Bruyne (Man City), Saka (Arsenal), Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion); Bowen (West Ham), Haaland (Man City), Nketiah (Arsenal). Manager – Arteta (Arsenal)
Club “interested” in five Manchester City players – All said to be “disgruntled” with Guardiola
Manchester City are preparing a “major exit operation” this summer as five first-team players eye up departures from the Etihad.
That’s according to journalist Jose Alvarez, who says Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Aymeric Laporte could leave the club and Barcelona are “interested”.
Manchester City find themselves at something of a turning point in Pep Guardiola’s reign, with several players who have been key for the Spaniard in recent years now either coming to the end of their contracts or past their peaks.
Guardiola has proven to be testy in recent interviews, criticising both his squad and even City’s fans as they struggle to keep up with Arsenal in the title race.
There are also questions about the current squad and whether they are set up correctly, particularly now that Erling Haaland is leading the line.
It means a big summer is expected and Alvarez insists that is very much the case, telling El Chiringuito that “a major exit operation because there is a lot of wear and tear among the heavyweights in the dressing room.”
According to his information, “there are there are several players who are disgruntled and can’t stand the situation” at the club and they are Cancelo, Walker, Gundogan, Silva and Laporte.
He goes on to explain the situation around each, explaining that Cancelo’s relationship with Guardiola and his backroom team “is not the best” and as a result he wants to depart.
Gundogan, meanwhile, is out of contract at Manchester City in the summer and while City “have been trying to renew him for the last two years” he is not interested in signing and is instead “quite advanced” on a deal to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
Silva, meanwhile, “keeps rejecting” contract renewal offers from Manchester City because he wants to leave in the summer and “PSG is there” ready to move for him.
Laporte’s situation is similar to the Portuguese international. His contract expires in 2025 and City “want to talk about extending him but he is thinking more about a departure in June.”
He is likely to return to Spain, despite interest from PSG, and there is a big Spanish team who are ready to close talks in June.
All of this has been noted by Barcelona, who are keeping an eye on the situation of every player and would be “interested” in them if deals can be done.
That will depend on numerous factors, of course, but the one certainty is that the five players will be “be put on the market for an attrition that they tell me is almost irreconcilable.”
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk; sportwitness.co.uk
