Frustrated: Shay Given has spent the opening weeks
of the season on the bench
Shay Given will end his Manchester City frustration by joining
up with former manager Mark Hughes at Fulham, which will allow
their No 1 Mark Schwarzer to sign for Arsenal.
City are reluctantly prepared to let the Republic of Ireland
goalkeeper leave before deadline day on Tuesday even though they
have made it clear they would like him to stay and provide
competition for Joe Hart.
Given, disappointed to lose the jersey to Hart, has made it
clear he wants regular first-team football.
Hughes said after Fulham’s 2-2 draw against Blackpool: ‘Mark
Schwarzer has made it clear that he would like to go to Arsenal so
we are trying to look at other options. I’m
always interested in quality players and Shay Given is a quality
player. Make of that what you will.
‘But I have said that if we can’t get anyone else in, Schwarzer
will have to stay.’
Given’s arrival at Craven Cottage will also delight Wenger, who
regards Schwarzer as a solution to his long standing goalkeeping
problem.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini does not want to keep
unhappy players at the club and has already let Craig Bellamy,
Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha leave. City will also listen to
authentic offers for Roque Santa Cruz and Robinho.
First choice: Joe Hart seems to be above Shay Given
in the pecking order
Emmanuel Adebayor will also go if a club match the £25million
which City spent to bring him from Arsenal.
If all the departures happen, Mancini will struggle to find
enough senior players to fill his 25-man squad for the Premier
League and there could be reprisals for outcasts Jo and Felipe
Caceido.
City play Sunderland on Sunday but £24m striker Mario Balotelli
is unlikely to have recovered from a knee injury in time to make
his Premier League debut.
David Stockdale, who played in goal for Fulham at Blackpool, is
set to be called into the England squad by Fabio Capello.
