Pellegrini eyes return for ex-Manchester City stars
Ex-Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is keen on reuniting with his former stars at new club China Hebei Fortune.
The Chilean coach was replaced as Manchester City boss by Pep Guardiola earlier this summer.
Now at cash-rich Asian giants China Hebei Fortune, Pellegrini is keen on bringing some of his former stars to the Chinese Super League.
Pellegrini will have a £100 million war-chest once the Asian transfer window reopens in 2017 and City is to be his first port of call.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 08: Nacho Monreal of Arsenal challenges Wilfred Bony of Man Cty during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on May 8, 2016 in Manchester, England (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony was keen on a lucrative January switch to China, before the forward’s loan move to Stoke City. Despite that, the £27 million flop is still a target for Pellegrini.
It was the Chilean coach who sanctioned the signing of the then Swansea City forward in 2015.
Pellegrini is also eyeing a move for Bony’s Ivory Coast teammate Yaya Toure.
The veteran midfielder is out of contract next summer and clearly has no future at the Etihad. The 33-year-old was left “humiliated” after his omission from Guardiola’s Champions League squad. One final big payday in China is likely to interest Toure.
Meanwhile, another of City’s soon to be out-of-contract midfielders is also in line for a China move. Brazilian Fernando, whose current deal expires next summer, is another target for China Hebei Fortune.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 30: Fernando of Manchester City and Carles Gil of Aston Villa during the Emirates FA Cup match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park on January 30, 2016 in Birmingham, England.(Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
The defensive midfielder will find first team opportunities hard to come by this season following the acquisition of Ilkay Gundogan. A new contract offer is unlikely to be forthcoming.
One target of Pellegrini’s unlikely to leave the Blues, however, is Fernandinho. The Brazilian midfielder is out-of-contract next summer and Pellegrini is a keen admirer. However, still a key player for the club, City are likely to offer a new deal soon.
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 04: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid competes for the ball with Fernandinho of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 4, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Victor Carretero/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Manuel Pellegrini spent three years at Manchester City. During his tenure, the coach won the Premier League and two English League Cups.
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