Mancini:Time to splash the cash

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has flexed his muscles in an internal battle about player recruitment.

The fiery Italian has never been afraid to vent his frustrations at what he views as unnecessary delays in bringing in new players.

And with his position bolstered by his new status as a Premier League champion and a five-year contract signed this summer, Mancini has let rip once more — and Blues’ football administrator Brian Marwood is in the firing line.

Marwood has remained in Manchester while City have embarked on their short Far East tour — they play Arsenal at 1pm today — and Mancini clearly is not happy with the work being done to strengthen his squad.

“It is important [to get players quickly] because, after what we did last year, we must continue to win,” Mancini said ahead of today’s high-profile friendly in Beijing.

“This year will be harder than last so we need to improve our team.

“We have a man who works for this and we hope he can do a good job.”

Mancini has previously expressed his admiration for Robin van Persie and it was confirmed last week City were among the clubs to have lodged bids for last season’s Premier League top scorer. The problem is that with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules now in force, City are unable to simply spend money — which they undoubtedly have — without some attempt to balance the books. But so far, the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor — surplus to requirements but on huge wages — have proved impossible to shift.

It has left Mancini kicking his heels when most of City’s rivals have strengthened to some extent, with Manchester United among those who feel they have a realistic chance of landing van Persie.

“Van Persie is an Arsenal player, not our player,” Mancini said.

“He is a fantastic player, but we have four strikers and with those strikers we won the title last year. Van Persie is a fantastic player, but he is an Arsenal player.”

The good news for City is skipper Vincent Kompany has committed his future to the club by signing a massive six-year contract which will net him £30 million (€38m) if estimates of a £200,000 (€255,000) weekly salary are accurate.

And it is clear Kompany has no desire to settle on past glories.

“We have laid the foundations and now we want to win more,” the Belgium defender said.

“If we do that then we can be one of the most successful clubs for a long time to come. That is the aim.”

Former boss Mark Hughes spent what is now viewed as a bargain £6m (€7.6m) for Kompany in August 2008, since when he has become one of Europe’s best defenders and scored a crucial goal against United in April that turned the championship battle City’s way.

City’s opponents today Arsenal will have to pay a hefty sum to prise playmaker Santi Cazorla away from Malaga, coach Manuel Pellegrini said yesterday.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the Spain international with media speculation suggesting a fee of €20m could close the deal.

However, Pellegrini believes the 27-year-old, who cost Malaga a reported club-record €20m when he joined on a five-year deal from Villarreal last summer, is worth more than that.

“Selling him for €20million is to gift him away, I don’t think the club is in a position to do that or has the intention to do it,” Pellegrini said.

Elsewhere, one player who could be on the move is Liverpool’s Andy Carroll. Reports last night claimed the England striker is being courted by Sam Allardyce’s Premier League new boys West Ham.

The reports claim the Hammers have submitted a bid to take Carroll on a season-long loan with a view to signing him for up to £15m (€19.1m) next summer.

Norwich have completed the signing of Leeds midfielder Robert Snodgrass on a three-year deal.

The 24-year-old, who joins the Canaries for an undisclosed fee, is manager Chris Hughton’s third summer signing following Jacob Butterfield and Steven Whittaker.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo believes new signing Oscar will thrive at Stamford Bridge after the Brazilian playmaker moved from Internacional yesterday in a deal worth £25m (€32m).

Oscar, part of Brazil’s Olympic squad, can play as a winger or attacking midfielder. Di Matteo is backing the 20-year-old to prove his worth.

“He is a fantastic player, one of the youngest to push through to the Brazil national team,” Di Matteo said.

Australian Tim Cahill last night completed his move to the New York Red Bulls from Everton, subject to international clearance.

Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor is the latest star to jump ship from Rangers as he last night agreed to join Turkish club Besiktas.

Meanwhile, Barcelona extended midfielder Javier Mascherano’s deal until 2016.