Here are your Manchester City headlines for the evening of Thursday, June 29, 2023.
City have a new transfer priority
So Declan Rice won't be a Manchester City player next season, as he closes in on a record-breaking move to Arsenal.
City bid for Rice, but refused to match Arsenal's next offer which took the deal over £100m. City have a firm stance not to pay over the odds for any player, or to be dragged into bidding wars, and have walked away from huge deals in the past. Their approach to the Rice transfer suggests they will do it again, too.
When they have walked away, City have left key positions light on numbers - like when they wouldn't pay £80m for Harry Maguire, or £150m for Harry Kane, or £60m on Marc Cucurella. If they go into next season with their current midfield options, they will do. And they wouldn't even be worse off having brought in Mateo Kovacic for the outgoing Ilkay Gundogan.
City linked with €40m midfielder
Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga along with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola's side have already snapped up Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, while pulling out of a move for West Ham United star Declan Rice - who looks set for Arsenal. Despite the addition of Kovacic, though, Guardiola is claimed to be keen on signing the versatile Veiga.
The player, who is able to operate as both a number six and eight, is said to have a €40m (£34.6m) release clause in his contract with the Spanish side. In the most recent campaign, Veiga scored 11 goals and assisted four in his 36 La Liga appearances. Celta Vigo has been the only club of his career to date.
City fans to hold Community Shield screening
Manchester City fan groups are keeping up the pressure on the FA and broadcasters by arranging a screening of the Community Shield at an iconic city centre venue.
The 1894 fan group have encouraged supporters to consider boycotting the Community Shield clash with Arsenal on Sunday August 6 after growing increasingly frustrated at key games being scheduled at inconvenient times - particularly for showpiece fixtures at Wembley.
The Community Shield was originally scheduled for 5.30pm on the Sunday, but a backlash from City fans over understandable travel concerns - there would be a considerable lack of public transport options to return on the day - saw the FA backtrack and change the kick-off time to 4pm.
