Manchester City: Manchester City

Manchester City have completed the signing of Dutch midfielder Paul Bosvelt, who has signed a two-year deal with the Barclaycard Premiership club.

City boss Kevin Keegan told the club's official website, www.mcfc.co.uk: "The terms have been agreed and he has passed his medical.

"I am so excited and pleased for everyone. He will be a big asset to this club and I am as thrilled about this signing as any I have made."

Keegan continued: "The biggest asset which he brings to Manchester City is his experience.

"He is a Dutch international who at thirty-three is excited about playing in the Premiership and in the new stadium.

"He is the type of player who you want in your squad. He is excited about the move - he is not here for a final pay day.

"Don't underestimate the power of the City of Manchester stadium in attracting players now to the club."

Former England coach Keegan added: "We heard a fortnight ago that he would be available and I could not believe my luck.

"We got on with securing the deal quietly - and I am now delighted it is all complete."

Eyal Berkovic could be on his way out of Manchester City, a week after his midfield partner Ali Benarbia quit the club.

City confirmed on Monday that they had received a written transfer request from the 31-year-old Israeli international after he spoke to manager Kevin Keegan.

Berkovic has suffered from injury problems since arriving at the club from Celtic two years ago and picked up a knock in the victory against Feyenoord last Friday.



Berkovic's agent Pini Zahavi claimed a move to newly-promoted Portsmouth was on the cards.

"Eyal is not happy at the club and his relationship with Kevin Keegan is not good," he told Teletext.

"Portsmouth are interested in him as he has an excellent relationship with Harry Redknapp and would be happy to move if the clubs agree a fee."

Reading have completed the �500,000 signing of Shaun Goater from Manchester City.

The 33-year-old signed a three-year contract with the First Division club after passing a medical.

Trevor Sinclair's brilliant volley sparked a five-star Manchester City performance as the Blues returned to Europe in style.

The England winger became the first player to score a competitive goal at City's new Eastlands home and marked the moment in style after 14 minutes, lashing home a first-time effort from the edge of the area after Welsh minnows TNS had failed to clear an Eyal Berkovic corner.

Second-half strikes from the persistent Shaun Wright-Phillips, defensive duo Sun Jihai and David Sommeil as well as record signing Nicolas Anelka ensured City will travel to the Millennium Stadium in a fortnight with few fears of an early exit and dreams of emulating their 1970 Cup Winners' Cup triumph.

Sinclair was the pick of the City pack, creating two as the hosts added four second-half goals to his 14th-minute effort.

Malaga have made a bid for Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope after missing out on former Real Madrid star Tote.

The Southern club are desperate for a striker after losing Julio Dely Valdes to Uruguayan side Club Nacional and Dario Silva to Sevilla over the summer.

"We are expecting a reply from Manchester City," said club president Serafin Roldan told El Mundo Deportivo after submitting an offer thought to be about 3.5million euros (�2.3million) for the Costa Rica hitman.

"However, we realise that we will have to be patient."

Manchester City stand at the top of the Premiership table for the first time in their history after Nicolas Anelka's late strike clinched a five-goal thriller at Blackburn littered with goalkeeping errors.

Brad Friedel and David Seaman may be among the best in the land but both were culpable on two occasions as a scrappy tussle ended in a fascinating trial of strength and guile before City finally shaded the contest.

City full-back Michael Tarnat began the scoring, and in sensational style with a blistering 40-yard free-kick, although many onloookers suspected Friedel could have dealt with it considerbaly better. A bad error from Seaman resulted in a Trevor Sinclair own-goal which saw Blackburn go level just before half-time.

Joey Barton grabbed the lead for the visitors again only for Lorenzo Amoruso to put Rovers on level terms, again from a corner Seaman should have dealt with.

The points were clinched when Anelka struck by nutmegging the American Friedel from the tightest of angles with three minutes to go.

On the news front.....

Manchester City make a �6million enquiry about Spurs defender Stephen Carr, to possibly pip Newcastle.

Late goals in each half from Christian Negouai and Darren Huckerby saw Manchester City scramble to a 2-0 victory in a drab second leg of their UEFA Cup qualifier with TNS at the Millennium Stadium.

Kevin Keegan's under-strength side did all that was required to record their win but the manager will have been unimpressed at the performance of most of his team, who were made to work hard before advancing.

With City having won the first leg 5-0 Keegan made 10 changes, and for long periods the former England boss was forced to look on as his team struggled to impose themselves.

Steve McManaman will link up with old mate Robbie Fowler at Manchester City after his Real Madrid dream finally came to an end.

Blues boss Kevin Keegan has taken a plunge on the 31-year-old former England international, whose position at Real became untenable after new coach Carlos Queiroz told McManaman he had no chance of getting any first team action during the final season of his four-year contract.

Sunderland midfielder Claudio Reyna has completed his �2.5million move to Manchester City.

The 30-year-old USA international captain passed a medical and has signed a three-year deal with Kevin Keegan's team.

City fought off interest from Fulham and Everton to get the midfielder, although he is unlikely to figure in Sunday's home clash with Arsenal.


Reyna appeared set to join Fulham earlier this week when both clubs agreed a fee of �2.5million for the player.

But City matched the bid and the move has now gone through to.

Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan has called on his carefully crafted squad to end 27 years of trophy hell.

After watching local rivals Liverpool and hated neighbours Manchester United each enjoy a decade of domestic dominance since their own side last lifted any silverware, Blues' fans have turned patience into an art form.

However, with the move to Eastlands acting as a catalyst, there are clear signs that under Keegan, a giant is stirring and a return to the Cup-winning days of Bell, Summerbee and Lee may not be too far away.

The 3-2 win over Blackburn last month briefly took the Blues top of the Premiership for the first time, and they currently occupy fourth spot in the table.

In addition, a UEFA Cup first-round tie with Belgian minnows Lokeren looks winnable and good runs in the FA Cup and the League Cup, the last trophy City won back in 1976, are also anticipated.

Kevin Keegan has called on Steve McManaman to force his way back into the England squad - even though the player fears his international career is over.

As a man who capped McManaman eight times during his own stint as England coach, Keegan stands opposed to Sven-Goran Eriksson, who turned his back on McManaman after a dismal 15-minute display in the 2-2 draw with Greece in 2001, made famous by David Beckham's last-gasp leveller.

Amid accusations of an attitude problem, Eriksson has apparently dumped the 31-year-old from his plans altogether, even though Manchester City's newest signing often performs best in the left-sided midfield role the Swede has had such difficulty filling.

Keegan still struggles to comprehend the omission and still believes McManaman to be a world-class talent.

And, having now given him the opportunity to display his talents in front of the England boss on a weekly basis again, Keegan is confident the former Liverpool winger can force his way back.

Kevin Keegan is set to lose Nicky Weaver to injury for a year and has told his chairman he needs to sign fresh goalkeeping cover for David Seaman.

Keegan has confirmed Weaver faces surgery because of the recurrence of a long-term knee injury, leaving the Manchester City boss in a rush to complete either a permanent or loan signing once the January transfer window opens.

West Brom and Norwich will fight it out for the signature of Manchester City striker Darren Huckerby.

Division One's top two clubs have both had bids, believed to be for around �750,000, accepted by Manchester City for the striker, who has spent the last three months on loan at Carrow Road.

Albion are looking to add to their strikeforce as they look to secure an instant return to the Barclaycard Premiership and also had a bid for Wigan frontman Geoff Horsfield accepted on Monday.

Norwich know all about Huckerby's abilities in the First Division, with the Canaries rising to second in the table on the back of the 27-year-old's five goals in 16 games.

Huckerby is still a good player he is only 27 and i remember him scoring some great goals against Man United a few years back,Oh yeah BTW you can add West Ham to the list looks like they are going to make a bid for him aswell.

Why don't they recall him? Huckerby is playing really well and the way the strikers are performing at Man C right now he would do well.I guess Keegan just don't want him..

It looks like he is in talks with a unnamed club right now,so we will find out soon where he is going..

Manchester City have agreed a fee with West Ham for keeper David James as David Seaman announced his retirement

Kevin Keegan has been searching for another goalkeeper, because former England number one David Seaman has been troubled by injuries and Nicky Weaver is on the long-term casualty list.

Seaman needed to retire he was getting too old for it,as for James,West Ham basically resurrected his career and got him his England no1 spot..To all Man City fans hang on to your seats as James will give you plenty of scares and do the dumbest things,he didn't get the nickname 'Calamity' for nothing.

Man City v Spurs today in the FA cup,2nd half have just started and Man C are 1-0 up from a goal from Anelka,he nearly scored again early in the 2nd half.

GOAL!!!! Man City 1 Spurs 1

Tottenham won a corner it was swung in by Postiga and Docherty with a free header sticks it in the back of the goal.