Balotelli deal to spark transfer merry-go-round involving Adebayor, Kuyt and Forlan
Published 09:02 27/07/10 By Martin Lipton
Mario Balotelli's imminent move to Manchester City will spark a transfer merry-go-round of moves.
Italy striker Balotelli’s arrival looks set to spell the end of Emmanuel Adebayor’s initial spell at Eastlands, with City understood to be ready to send the Togo frontman out on loan to Juventus.
City must release up to a dozen players to meet new Premier League rules restricting clubs to 25-man first-team squads, of whom eight must fit the “home grown” criteria of three years’ training in England before they turned 21.
Adebayor, who scored 14 goals last season following his £25million move from Arsenal, is expendable but City are reluctant to sell now and suffer a massive loss on the deal. Juve are ready to pay a £3m loan fee ahead of a possible £15m permanent deal.
But Balotelli’s sale, along with the departure to Real Madrid of Brazilian right-back Maicon, will allow a San Siro refit for new Inter boss Rafa Benitez.
He wants Javier Mascherano – and possibly Dirk Kuyt – from his former club while President Massimo Moratti is keen on landing Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan.
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is being tempted by a possible player plus cash exchange involving Juventus’ midfielder Christian Poulsen, while Juve are also keen on Daniel Agger.
