Sporting tie-up to be announced?

A story The Guardian had up this morning, and one that hasn't been widely reported (that I have come across anyway):

City have moved in after learning that United's arrangement with Sporting had expired and that relations between Old Trafford and the Estádio José Alvalade have never been fully repaired since the clubs fell out two years ago over the Portugal international Miguel Veloso.

Luís Vicente, a Portuguese lawyer who represents Figo, has been working on a deal which should be announced in the next few weeks and will see the world's most financially endowed club moving ahead of the Premier League champions when it comes to cherry-picking some of Portuguese football's brightest young players.

Sporting have a reputation for developing outstanding young footballers, Ronaldo being the most obvious example but the list goes much further than that and includes the former world player of the year's fellow Portugal internationals Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Miguel Veloso and João Moutinho. City have already put in place a deal to take Tobias Figueredo, a 15-year-old midfielder rated as one of Sporting's more promising players, as part of the chief executive Garry Cook's pledge to bring elite youngsters into the club academy and develop them as Champions League players of the future.

The report appears to be fairly conclusive (although it states an official announcement won't be forthcoming for a couple of weeks or so) and if true, would be a coup. There is no official word as to why United's deal may end, but the fact is that Sporting have consistently produced quality players over the past decade - something that United of course profited from due to their tie-up.

Although we have had tie-up's in recent times with a number of clubs around the world, none have been with a club of the stature and size of Sporting and is perhaps testament to the work that the club is doing in building its standing in the game.

Caicedo joins Malaga

As anticipated a week or so ago, Caicedo has moved to La Liga side Malaga for the remainder of the 2009/10 season:

Málaga have reached an agreement with Manchester City to take the Ecuador striker Felipe Caicedo on loan for the remainder of the season, the Primera División club announced today.

The 21-year-old Caicedo, who has already passed his medical with Málaga, had been on loan from City at the Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon since the start of this season.

Málaga are currently third from bottom in the Primera División standings and two points adrift of safety ahead of tomorrow's home match with Athletic Bilbao.

Caicedo linked with Spanish move

Felipe Caicedo's less than successful time in Portugal may be nearing an end:

Spanish side Malaga have confirmed that a loan deal for Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo is close to completion.

The 21-year-old Ecuadorian international is currently on loan at Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, however, having rejected the opportunity to make the move permanent and they will send him back to Eastlands.

Expected to be surplus to requirements under new City boss Roberto Mancini, Caicedo has already aroused the interests of Hull City boss Phil Brown but appears likely to push for another stint on the continent.

My presumption is the move is likely to be made this January, which would mean cutting short his initial agreement with Sporting Lisbon - something that would not be a surprise given his poor return so far during 2009/10.

If anyone can shed anything further, feel free to leave a comment.

Young duo linked

A pair of young prospects were linked over the weekend with imminent moves to the club. Firstly, Slovenian midfielder Rene Krhin - currently at Inter, who The People suggest is all but a done deal:

Krhin should join Hughes's revolution in the New Year, with City keen to do business now before he costs even more - and possibly appears in the World Cup finals for his country next summer.

Sickening Boss Jose Mourinho has tried to keep Krhin sweet at Inter with a couple of first-team appearances in Serie A and the Champions League, but pals of the star say that City are offering him a huge deal and the chance to develop with them.

Hughes has a lot of quality in his midfield already, but he does not have someone with Krhin's physique on the books and sees the 19-year-old as a first-team squad man immediately and a starter soon after.

Krhin will cost big money because Inter have him under contract for another 18 months but City think they will be successful as they carry on their push to dominate the transfer market.

Whilst The Mail reports Hughes is set to move for Sporting Lisbon centre-half Daniel Carrico:

And Hughes wants to spend heavily again to bring Carrico to the Barclays Premier League.

Carrico's current contract does not expire until July 2013 - but the right-footed defender does have an £18.4m release clause.

Spanish side Atletico Madrid are also keen on Carrico, who has played 13 games for Sporting this season.

It is difficult to know quite how accurate either story really is, and they certainly haven't been widely reported.

However, and despite the money lavished on the squad so far during 2009, I don't think Hughes is ready to stand still with the squad so although there may not be a number of high profile arrivals, there could be one or two for the future added in January.

Caicedo to Sporting

Confirmation of what had been widely predicted:

FELIPE Caicedo is set for a move to Sporting Lisbon.

The Ecuadorian striker has fallen down the pecking order at Eastlands since the arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz in the summer transfer window.

Caicedo himself said of the move:

"My objective is to play and to demonstrate that I can triumph in Europe," Caicedo told skysports.com.

"City have many forwards who have arrived this summer and they have complicated my presence.

"But to be with a club like Sporting Lisbon is a personal challenge to me.

"I am very happy to be able to play in the Champions League. Portugal is a good championship and I do not believe there will be any problems for me adapting my style."

As I wrote the past day or so, it is a good move for all concerned. Whilst the Portuguese league may not be of the highest quality, he will be tested and it should improve him as a player far more than the reserves here at City will.

He also has the advantage of a potential Champions League campaign (should Sporting overcome Twente in the qualifiers).

I slowly warmed to Caicedo over the course of last season. I still think Sven vastly overpayed for him, and at times he resembles a bull in a china shop (or even a headless bull in a china shop), but there is definitely something there with him.

Whether he now gets the opportunity to ever show that with us is another question, but a loan deal rather than a permanent one suggests Mark Hughes may think he could turn into a useful player further down the line.