Here are you Manchester City headlines for the evening of Sunday, July 9, 2023.
Gomez slams Cole Palmer for final antics
Sergio Gomez was 'surprised' by Cole Palmer's celebrations during the under-21 European Championship final, saying his Manchester City teammates' attitude was 'not good' on Sunday.
Gomez was on the losing side as Spain were beaten by England in dramatic fashion in Georgia, with Palmer playing the pivotal role in the final's only goal - it was his free kick that deflected off the back of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones to fly into the bottom corner.
Palmer led the celebrations, believing the goal was his, and led his teammates to the benches, much to the anger of the Spain camp. The following brawl led to England coach Ashley Cole and Spanish fitness coach Carlos Rivera both being sent off, while Morgan Gibbs-White and Spain's Antonio Blanco were both dismissed in second-half injury time after Blues goalkeeper James Trafford made an incredible match-winning double penalty save.
Yaya Toure warns of 'downfall'
Yaya Toure believes it would be natural for Manchester City to slump a little after the high of winning the treble last season - although if any side can keep up the winning momentum, he has backed the Blues to do it.
Toure was part of the Barcelona side who won the treble in 2009, but they could only follow it up with the league title in 2010 as they failed to reach the heights of the previous year.
Assessing City's chances next season, Toure believes defending a treble is naturally harder than winning it for the first time - something Pep Guardiola has warned of in relation to Premier League titles each year he has been at the Etihad.
Lavia return rumours are reminder of transfer policy strength
Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia could return to Manchester City just one year after leaving and the club have first refusal on the Belgian. While making 29 Premier League appearances, the Belgian, 19, attracted attention from across the league’s top clubs with Chelsea seeing a bid rejected last summer just two months after the youngster had signed for Southampton.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all reported to be vying for the Belgium international, who impressed in a poor Southampton side that was eventually relegated. Even if Lavia doesn't return to City this summer, the Blues will profit to the tune of 20 per cent of the selling fee as part of the transfer they negotiated with Southampton a year ago.
A fee of up to £50m will be required to take the midfielder away from the south coast meaning City will make another £10m from an academy graduate they sold for £14m. That deal would be similar to the one that saw the club profit £11m from Pedro Porro’s move to Tottenham Hotspur in January.
