Manchester City Forced to Sell at Least 12 Players

In the past two years Manchester City have purchased Robinho, Gareth Berry, Roque Santa Cruz, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Joleon Lescott, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure, David Silva, and Aleksandar Kolarev as well as a few more players. The players have definitely helped, they are now fifth place in the Premier League and also into the UEFA Europa League.

Despite this, no team can avoid the rules forever and the club is now going to have to sell at least thirteen players by the beginning of September. This is despite the fact that that manager Roberto Mancini has stated he intends to spend 100 million pounds by the end of the transfer record. Originally ESPNSoccernet reported that it would be twelve players; however, there are reports that there is an agreement between Inter Milan and Manchester City for Italian player Mario Balotelli.

According to the new Premier League rules, each club can only have twenty five men on their roster which must be submitted by September 1st. At the moment Manchester city have a total of thirty seven men which means that they must sell twelve. Each club must have eight players who have played in England or Wales for at least three years before turning 21. The list can also be supplemented with any number of players under the age of 21.

Mancini said, "I know that we must sell some players because in 20 days we must have a list with 25 players. I am disappointed because some players must change teams now. It is difficult for them to play for us. When you play in four competitions you must have a large squad because if not you have difficulties. For this it's important we have 25 players."

So far only one player has been consistently linked with a move from the club; Robinho has said he would love to stay in Brazil with Santos. Any other names are only speculation for the time being.

If they do not sell enough players, those not listed on the roster must either go out on loan or wait for the winter transfer market to open. The number may even go as high as fourteen players as City still want to buy James Milner from Aston Villa. For several weeks now there has been speculation that he may be moving to the club. Mancini has also said that he wants Fernando Torres from Liverpool and is willing to pay 70 million pounds for him. Mancini has also said he would like to purchase Landon Donovan from Galaxy in Los Angeles, but so far there are no reports that he is moving.