A number of our players have been recognised for their impressive number of assists so far this season, transfer gossip and our academy starlets all feature in today’s media round-up.
Firstly, the Daily Express have created a gallery of the top 11 players with the most assists in the Premier League so far this season and four of City’s players have made the list – more than any other club.
The newspaper stated on their website: “Most assists so far this season – no surprise who is first!”
Out of the top 11, Kyle Walker ranked in 10th place with four assists, Leroy Sane in sixth position with five, while our assist kings Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva topped the charts with six and seven each!
It’s no surprise that we have a number of players in the rankings as we currently sit at the summit of the Premier League table – a staggering eight points clear of second place United.
City have also featured in a number of transfer gossip articles, as the Daily Star have claimed that the Blues and fellow Premier League club Arsenal are eyeing a swoop for Seville midfielder: Steven N’Zonzi.
The newspaper wrote on their website: “The ex-Blackburn ace has a buy-out clause and has continued to be linked with leading top-flight clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
“N’Zonzi has been a smash hit in Spain since moving from Stoke in 2015 in a £7m deal on a four-year contract.
“Leicester had a £30m bid turned down for the 28-year-old in the summer of 2016.
“The former Stoke ace made his France debut against Wales last Friday.
“And he would not rule out swapping La Liga for the Premier League once again.”
On to our City starlets now who have made headlines today.
Firstly, on-loan goalkeeper Angus Gunn has been called-up to the England squad for the first time and his Dad – ex-Norwich City ‘keeper Bryan Gunn – has spoken to the Eastern Daily Press about his son’s achievement.
“I’m as proud as anyone could be,” Angus’ father told the EDP. “The only thing that can probably better it is if he can make his proper debut for them - that’s the only thing.
“Angus’ girlfriend, Phoebe, broke down in tears, his mum (Susan) was welling up and Melissa (Angus’ sister) was the same - he has made a lot of people very proud.
“I rang my mum to tell her the news and she was over the moon.
“I would think the calmest person was probably Angus – he takes everything in his stride and he is never overwhelmed by things. It’s just the next step for him and it’s reward for all the hard work that he has put in.”
Good luck to our on-loan stopper!
Next, the Daily Mail has reported that Gunn’s fellow academy star Phil Foden could be called-up to the England Under 21 squad.
The newspaper spoke to U21 coach Andy Boothroyd, who stated that he would be reviewing the situation in the coming months.
The Daily Mail wrote: “When England stage the return fixture against Ukraine next March, though, there is a strong possibility Foden will be elevated into the Under-21 squad; England will also play a friendly in the next international break.
“Plans will be formalised in early 2018 after all the coaches of the age group teams, plus senior head coach Gareth Southgate and Technical Director Dan Ashworth, meet at St George’s Park to work out the best path for talents such as Foden going forward.”
“We will audit our players in January,” Boothroyd told the newspaper. “All the coaches sit down and go through all the players in all the age groups and we decide who needs to be moved up and who needs to be moved down.
“It might well be a couple from the U17s have earned the right to come with us and they do move up.
“The good things is there are players in every single age group who feel they have got half a chance of jumping to the next level.
“I like Phil a lot. I think he is a very special player. But I can say that about a number of players in our teams. They are all at different stages and the main thing is we sit down and discuss each properly so we can give them a proper pathway, not just flick a coin.”
