Manchester City shed five English players despite Uefa's squad restriction

Part of their punishment for failing FFP rules has seen a reduction in the number of foreigners they can use in next season's Champions League

Ian Herbert
Saturday 17 May 2014 18:44 EDT
Comments
Liverpool bound? Micah Richards is one English player who may leave City
Liverpool bound? Micah Richards is one English player who may leave City (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Manchester City still intend to shed five English or home-grown players this summer despite Friday's Uefa Financial Fair Play punishment reducing the number of foreigners they can use in next season's Champions League.

City – who have had a £49 million net cap imposed on their summer's spending and will be permitted to use four fewer foreigners in next season's Champions League squad – will press ahead regardless and move on Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell, Gareth Barry, Scott Sinclair and Joleon Lescott.

The club decided several months ago that Richards would be released, with Liverpool a possible destination amid doubts that the Anfield club will agree a new, more incentivised wage deal with right-back Glen Johnson.

The club feel Rodwell needs more football and will either send him out on loan or sell him, with his previous club Everton ready to seize that opportunity. Arsenal's interest in Barry may prevent Everton keeping the 33-year-old loanee, whose City contract expires next month. Sinclair remains one of the former manager Roberto Mancini's most baffling signings, while Lescott has known for weeks that he is surplus to requirements.

It is possible that the reduction in City's Champions League squad could mean a pro-rata reduction in the number of home-grown players they must use next season. But a lack of Englishmen severely restricts their options. The clear-out would leave only Joe Hart, James Milner, Gaël Clichy (home-grown at Arsenal) and reserve keeper Richard Wright for Europe, with the defender Dedryk Boyata an option for the substitute's bench with a surprise new contract in the offing. City are bullish about the squad limitations imposed on them.

They feel frustrated by the way they have been characterised as bad for the development of English players. They argue that Richards' failure to emerge as a top English talent is a result of his frequent injuries, rather than a reluctance to pick him. City are among many clubs who also argue that the new Under-21 Premier League, won last week by Chelsea, is simply not of a sufficiently high standard to allow players to step straight up to the first team.

Meanwhile, managerless Manchester United have agreed a deal with FK Vojvodina to sign Serbia youth goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic. The 17-year-old will stay with the Serbian side next season before moving to Old Trafford.

Milinkovic's transfer is the first by United since they sacked manager David Moyes. The Dutchman Louis van Gaal is widely expected to be announced as the new manager in the next few days.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in