EPL

Manchester City have sacked Roberto Mancini - a year to the day he led them to the Premier League title. 

Manuel Pellegrini is set to replace Mancini as boss at The Etihad.

Pellegrini is set to be confirmed as City’s new manager to replace Roberto Mancini and he will not be the only arrival from Malaga.

Abu Dhabi sources have excitedly claimed that Spanish attacking midfielder Isco will join his boss Pellegrini at City and that a deal for Cavani is close to completion. The total cost of the double deal could total a staggering £79million.

Isco’s Malaga release fee is £27m, while Napoli have always insisted they will not accept less than the £52m buy-out clause in striker Cavani’s contract.

With David Silva's injury problems this season contributing to his stuttering form, it’s time some of the playmaking burden was taken off him. Isco is an ideal solution to the creative side of City’s game, and the bonus is that Pellegrini knows the 20-year-old inside out from his time at Malaga.

There were the usual rumours surrounding Wayne Rooney, when it was suggested that he wanted away from Manchester United, especially as Sir Alex Ferguson actually admitted that he had asked for a transfer only two weeks before announcing his retirement from the club. There was an immediate glut of rumours from Manchester City, to Chelsea and then beyond into Europe.

As regards Europe, we now know that both Real Madrid and Barcelona were sounded out about Rooney during the earlier part of this year, but both clubs made it clear that he was not the sort of player they were looking for. We then heard that it was Bayern Munich, but just this week, their president has stated that they have no interest in Rooney.

That now leaves Manchester City and Chelsea, but with both having a change of manager at the end of this season, there is little interest in Rooney from either of their camps. However, there has been an astounding revelation today from an unlikely source; the SportsDirect website.

For those who do now know, SportsDirect is the company owned by Mike Ashley, who also happens to be the owner of Newcastle United. On their website, it clearly states:-

What a difference a year makes.

Exactly a year to the day after winning their first Premier League title in 44 years, Manchester City sacked Manager Roberto Mancini following a season of disappointment culminating in their embarrassing 1-0 defeat at the hands of relegated Wigan Athletic in Saturday's F.A Cup final. The writing appears to have been on the wall for some time, given Mancini's disillusioned demeanor during Interviews and there have been strong rumours circulating for some time now that Manchester City have actively been looking for a replacement behind the back of the current Manager. Hardly the best way to do business, but this is the exact same situation Mancini himself walked into when he agreed terms on a contract when then Manager Mark Hughes was still at the helm.

So, where did it all go wrong?

As predicted, Roberto Mancini has been sacked by Manchester City tonight. Despite the success he has brought to the Etihad, the powers that be have decided to pull the trigger. Mancini has a win rate only bettered by Sir Alec Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester City had not won a trophy for nearly 35 years until Mancini arrived, winning the FA Cup and then the Premier League title in successive seasons. However, that was not deemed good enough by the ridiculous Arab owners, who spend their country`s wealth whilst their countrymen starve in poverty.

It is hard to understand the logic of their decision when they had not won a thing until Mancini arrived. The new manager is expected to be Manuel Pellegrini, whose CV includes a spell at Real Madrid. It is hard to see what Pellegrini offers that Mancini did not, especially as Pellegrini has not won anything of note recently.

Today is just symptomatic of the disease that pervades the Premiership with arrant billionaire owners acting like feudal lords hiring and firing at will, whilst their fans are left surprised and confused about their position. No doubt all will be revealed next season!

In keeping with the other tell-tale signs, today, I was on my way to the drive-through parade which starts at Old Trafford and ends in Albert Square, Manchester, when I immediately noticed that the huge banner that has been on the front of the building at Old Trafford has been removed.

What is the significance of that you may ask? Well, the player who is at the forefront of the banner is none other than Wayne Rooney. I have it on good authority from my United insiders, that the banner has been removed at the express request of Sir Alex Himself! There cannot be any clearer indication that Rooney`s days are numbered at Old Trafford.

In a straw poll in the Sun newspaper today, Manchester United fans were asked whether Rooney should stay or be sold. The answer was emphatic, with 73% saying that he should go! United fans are an especially loyal bunch, but they will only take so much. Rooney`s form this season has been appalling with below par performances, looking unfit and overweight all the time. Manchester United has won the title despite Rooney, not because of him.