Cordoba officially 'in' but Nunez enters the frame as a possible 'out'

06/14/2024 09:43 AM

Are City becoming the go-to club if you're looking for a bargain? For example…

• Christos Tzolis to Fortuna Dusseldorf for a reputed €3.5m.

• Milot Rashica to Besiktas for a reputed €5M 

• Max Aarons to Bournemouth for £7M

How many others have gone under the radar? For example, there was a rumoured offer for Ben Gibson last summer from an un-named Championship Club only for it to be turned down. He eventually walked away this summer on a free.

Then there’s Celtic letting everyone know that they’re interested in signing Adam Idah – Chris Sutton and other ex-Celtic players have predicted big things for him in Glasgow – but then the club goes and makes a derisory £3M offer.  

The big problem appears to be that Celtic will not splash the cash. Jota is their record signing at €16.5m, which for a club their size and with billionaire owners is quite low.

So will City buckle and reduce the price for Idah? Or will they risk having an unhappy player on their hands who won't want to be here? The third option is we will see a player trying to prove to Rodgers and co that he’s worth that extra couple of million that will likely secure him a permanent deal.

One to watch.

Marcelino Nunez is another who has popped up on the radar of those looking for a bargain.

There were reports last summer in the Brighton Argus of the Seagulls making City an offer of £20m plus add-ons for the Chilean international, but it was declined and then followed by a drop off in form from the player.

But fast-forward to this summer's transfer window and Nunez is being mentioned in dispatches once again, this time in the dark reaches of the Black Sea resort of Trabzon.

Several outlets in the Turkish press are reporting that Trabzonspor have put in a bid of around €​3.5 million – only a smidgen over what City paid for the player in the first place.

On the face of it, clubs in the Turkish Super Lig seem to be trying to build a league on cheap imports and by taking advantage of players whose clubs need to get them off their books for one reason or another.

As mentioned above, Rashica went there for next to nothing last summer and City made a big loss, just as they did with Tzolis.

But back to the Nunez situation – will the powers that be, including Thorup, decide a little profit is better than no profit, and would the sale of Nunez help the club to keep one of Gabriel Sara, Jonny Rowe or Josh Sargent?

And would losing Nunez give one of Abu Kamara, Jacob Sorensen or Liam Gibbs a prolonged run in the team that may enable them to establish themselves? The big question, I guess, is do we currently have anyone with a similar skill-set to Nunez?

Also, will we soon see JHT starting to get players who suit and know his style of play; the type who can show their new teammates what it is that their new head coach demands? We know, from experience, that new coaches like to have a familiar player or two in the squad, so let’s wait and see.

In the here and now, the club has confirmed that Jose Cordoba has officially signed. He has also been named in the Panama squad for this summer's Copa America.

That makes a possible trio of City players in that tournament – Nunez, Cordoba, and Sargent – although Sargent's inclusion will only happen if he can prove to the USA coaching staff that he has overcome that troublesome ankle injury.

There could be a fourth if academy keeper Vicente Reyes gets selected for Chile, who he has represented at Under-17, Under-20, and Under-23 level, despite being born in the US.

Anyway, as I’ve said above, the transfer window is open so from hereon in the speculation will only grow and grow regarding the ins and outs at Colney. City have no option but to sit tight and hope that no offers come in for our better players.

Also, will any of those sold recently be re-sold this summer and earn City a much-needed influx of unexpected cash?

Now that would be nice.

Which brings us back to Tzolis. Has Fortuna hit a problem? According to Bild, when he signed for them it was agreed that he would be traded directly to a Bundesliga club but since then it has all gone quiet.

So far, there have been no takers at the price Fortuna wants and the player doesn’t want another season in 2.Bundesliga. Have they, therefore, loaded money against a sale that might not happen now?

Transfer windows, as City supporters well know, can be traumatic and with no guarantee of success. Are Fortuna now seeing the downside of them not doing due diligence on the possible incoming offers and of forcing a buy-on clause they couldn’t afford?

Anyway, all of the above are only my opinions. Constructive, well-informed criticism and funny replies are all very welcome.