Departures, ctd.

Despite what I just wrote about the departures of Hamann, Ball, Mills and Vassell, it is not his exit that is the most newsworthy this week - but that of Danny Sturridge to Chelsea.

This is more upsetting than it is surprising. The chaos in which MCFC was convulsed for most of 2008 up until the ADUG takeover meant that Sturridge was not offered the new contract he otherwise would have been, and when serious negotiations did start under Mark Hughes it was Sturridge and his representatives who were in a position of strength. And this position was used to present a series of ludicrous wage demands, which, coupled perhaps with a frustration to become a regular in the first team, pushed Sturridge towards his eventual separation from City.

It's obviously a huge disappointment. Sturridge is arguably the most talented youngster to come out of the Academy since Shaun Wright-Phillips (I think that Michael Johnson is the most gifted of them, ahead of even Stephen Ireland, not that it matters.) We've only seen glimpses of Sturridge's talent, but it's certainly there, and so the realisation that we will never see his flowering in a City shirt is difficult to take.

The strange thing about Sturridge's departure is just how anomalous it is. The last ten months have been the most positive and optimistic time to be a City fan in my lifetime. We've played rubbish for most of it (though that's nothing new), but the mood of the club is one of an inexorable journey to success. This bad news, then, runs counter to the good news that has been coming out of City since last September; an unlikely dark cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky.

But that is why we should be able to move on quickly from this. Imagine just how traumatic this would have been under Wardle's ownership, or even under Thaksin's. And then remember that we're now owned by neither, but by the richest men to ever invest in football. And think of how much better Santa Cruz and Tévez are going to be than any frontline that includes Danny Sturridge.

Sturridge gone?

This has just popped up on MailOnline, and has been mentioned on Sky Sports News: that Danny Sturridge has agreed to join Chelsea, subject to compensation being agreed by a tribunal.

Chelsea hoped to reach an agreement but their £3m offer has been rejected.

Sturridge stunned City by demanding £55,000 a week to sign a new contract at Eastlands, leaving Chelsea and Aston Villa to fight for his signature.

He made 16 Premier League appearances last season and scored four goals but Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen has been after him for three years.

City are expected to make a claim for a down-payment in excess of £5m and propose that the remainder of the money comes in performance-related instalments.

It's not a surprise, but we should find out some more details later this evening or in tomorrow's newspapers.

UPDATE: SkySports.com now 'understands' that Chelsea have 'won the race' to sign Sturridge, which suggests that an arrangement is in place even if we'll have to wait a while to see him on TV holding up that atrocious new adidas home shirt Chelsea have. Come to think of it, it ought to happen on July 1, the day when a certain Argentine forward is allegedly set to join us. Which would make the departure of Sturridge feel like a non-event.

Sunday's rumours

The perfect way to spend a Saturday evening; chewing over the next day's News of the World's many City-related rumours:

• First up: Liverpool are set to bid £5m for Micah Richards, providing that we get Glen Johnson. Arsenal are also interested in Richards, apparently. I'm still not convinced that Johnson's a serious target, but even if he isn't Richards ought not to be first choice next season.

• Next - Danny Sturridge may go to West Ham rather than Chelsea. This would suggest that his demands for first team football are as important as his wages. The only problem is that we're demanding a £10m 'development fee', which of course West Ham can't afford.

• Another move for Roque Santa Cruz is suggested - with a cut-price of £15million in recognition of his recent knee problems. RSC 'hopes to wrap up' the move 'this week.'

• A more glamarous striker linked with a move to City is Samuel Eto'o, who would apparently demand €1million/month from us - or £200,000/week.

• And finally - Chelsea are said to be interested in hijacking our move for Carlos Tévez, and are willing to pay the £30m fee and the £120k/week wages.
  

Sturridge to Chelsea?

Matt Lawton and Simon Cass sound very confident about this one:

England Under 20 striker Sturridge has become the first signing of the new [Ancelotti] regime on a free after City refused to meet his £55,000-aweek wage demands. He made 16 Premier League appearances last season and scored four goals but Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen has been after him for three years.

His most likely destination depends on why exactly you think he failed to sign his contract. I imagine Chelsea are more likely to meet his wage demands than we are, although we're not exactly austere in our wage structure. But if we take Sturridge at his word that he wants first team football then this is a surprise. To be fair to him he is better than Franco di Santo. But first team football in a side with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and whoever else they buy this summer? Good luck with that Danny.

Hughes says Sturridge set to leave

Bad news in the Mail:

Hughes said: 'We put in another offer but that was declined so we won't be going back. We've not got much headroom to negotiate and I'm disappointed.'

This is a real shame. There is part of me that thinks that there's no point in being the richest club in the world if you can't afford to keep your best young players. But then you read the figures he's allegedly asking for, and you think of how many goals he's ever scored for us, and it does turn you off a bit. I'm just worried he's going to turn into a top quality footballer for another club.

Hughes downbeat on Sturridge

The Telegraph's Mark Ogden has an article on Saturday based on things that Hughes said in Friday's press briefing, but his main topic - Jô - was less interesting than what he said about another mercurial striker with an uncertain future - Danny Sturridge.

He didn't sound too confident about a positive resolution to his contract saga:

Hughes said: "I've spoken to Daniel and he knows my feelings with regard to his future, but I still don't think there are any developments. We are trying to move it forward but nothing seems to be happening.

"He is in a position of strength and obviously his negotiators will negotiate hard. They have put a value on Daniel and so have we.

"We are still trying to make it happen, but it has gone on for a long time and there will come a time when we have to make a decision one way or another."

Naturally, the closer we get to summer with the contract unsigned the less likely it is that he'll be at City for 2009/10 and beyond. Which would be a terrible shame.

Injured players returning

Mark Hughes is positive:

"Daniel [Sturridge] and Benjani are at about the same level and they are just ahead of Martin and Michael," Hughes told Key 103.

"They are all coming back at the right time for us. They will introduce an energy and enthusiasm to the squad.

"We have a number of players coming back now who are itching to get into the side and that can only be a good thing for us."

Taken alongside the news that Sturridge played and scored for the England U20s last night, he must surely be in contention for the Arsenal game. And given Bozhinov's ineligibility, Hamburg away in eight days time.

Sturridge scores for U20s

According to TheFA.com, Sturridge played for the England U20s against Italy at Loftus Road last night:

Ten minutes later and England added a second, when Kieran Gibbs delivered a fine cross from the left. Sears allowed it to run past him for his strike-partner and as soon as Sturridge killed the ball with his first touch, he gave goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio no chance with his second as he curled home a left-footer into the top corner.

And U20 manager Noel Blake was impressed with his performance:

“The second goal is what Daniel is all about and we’ve seen him do that for Manchester City’s first team. He’s an out and out goalscorer, but he also has plenty of ability."

City Academy players Javan Vidal, Ben Mee and Adam Clayton also played a part.

Sturridge talks continue

This is the third of MCFC's key projects for the next few months (the others being the rehabilitation of Johnson and Bozhinov), and probably the most important: the tying of Danny Sturridge to the club on the sort of 2013-expiring contract that Zabaleta, Richards, Hart, Johnson, Given and Bellamy are now on.

There have been rumours of meetings for month, and today Hughes told mcfc.co.uk that he is hopeful a deal can be done:

"We want Daniel to stay, that’s a given. The situation is that he has six months left, his advisors are in an understanding where they are in a position of strength, and we want to do a deal that shows our intent with regard to Daniel.

"We’re not quite there yet, but we are hopeful. I think there are meetings planned for this week, we hope something can come from that and Daniel can put it all to bed.

"He’s made three league starts so is still learning his trade, but what he has done when he’s come on is make an impression. That’s what you have to do as a young player, but we see him day-in, day-out and we know his qualities. We want to keep him, but there has to be an understanding from his advisors that there is a level for everybody, I am sure there is a compromise to be made and we’ll get there very soon."

This is so important.

City move to secure Hart and Sturridge deals

From today's MEN:

Both players will be offered fresh contracts that will reflect their status as important members of the first-team squad.

"We are in the early stages of negotiation with both players and their representatives," confirmed the club.

Exactly the news we wanted to hear.

Having finalised Michael Johnson's five year deal, Hart and Sturridge must be next to be offered long term contracts. Hart's terms do not reflect the progress he has made in the last twelve months, and Sturridge could theoretically leave on a Bosman at the end of the season.

We have heard in the press recently of potential new deals for Hart and Sturridge, and today's piece further confirms this.

Should Hart sign the five year deal rumoured, he will join Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and Pablo Zabaleta as contracted until summer 2013.

These are the players around whom you build a dynasty.

New Hart deal?

The News of the World says today that Hart is "expected to sign a new five-year deal with Manchester City within the next couple of weeks".

This new contract would increase his earnings from £8,000/week to £30,000/week.

When Richard Dunne re-signed almost three months ago, Hughes said that talks with Hart were ongoing. Which just goes to show how lengthy a process this has been.

Two weeks ago, NotW claimed that a new deal had been offered to Danny Sturridge. The securing of Hart and Sturridge on long term deals must be the club's immeadiate priority - even before preparing bids for Benzema and Aguero.

Sturridge expresses desire to stay at City

Having secured Michael Johnson on a new long term contract, the next priorities must surely be Joe Hart and Danny Sturridge.

There is good news today regarding the latter, as he discussed his future in an exclusive interview with mcfctv.com. He discussed how he came to City and his friendship with Johnson, Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards. When asked whether he was happy at City, he replied:

Yeah very happy indeed. I never want to leave Manchester City Football Club. I'm very happy here and hopefully I'll be here for many more years to come.

I know that all footballers say that when asked, but it is nevertheless nice to hear it. And given last week's tabloid rumours that a new £25,000/week contract has been offered, it seems that a deal could be reached to secure the future of another of Jim Cassell's stars.

Sturridge offered new deal?

Today's News of the World reports that City have offered Danny Sturridge £1.2million/year on a new deal.

This is an increase from £8,000 to £25,000 per week, and fends of interest from Chelsea.

In a sense this is good news: Sturridge is a great prospect who we need to keep at the club. On the other hand, this news comes two weeks after learning that Johnson was just about to sign a five year deal, and months after hearing from Hughes that a deal for Hart was close.

The club have very pressing matters while the due diligence is ongoing. But once this is finished it would be a great relief to have Hart, Johnson and Sturridge finally tied down on long term deals.