Rumour Has It....Mancini Chasing Coloccini Signature

Newcastle United skipper Fabricio Coloccini is rumoured (by the Daily Star) to be Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini's main defensive target this summer as the club head into the Champions League campaign. With Kolo Toure seemingly on his way out of the blue side of Manchester, Coloccini is seen as an ideal replacement after Ajax's Jan Vertonghen ruled out a move.

30 Year old, Argentinian, Coloccini has been an important part in the Newcastle team since his move from Deportive La Coruna in August 2008. He has stayed loyal to the club despite relegation into the Championship, seen them bounce back to the Premier League and skippered the side in a successful campaign ending in a European Place for next season.

Despite this link to Manchester, it was only this week that Coloccini was quoted saying he hopes that the side stay together over the summer.

He told The Journal;

"Of course I would like the team to stay together.

I think the most important thing is to keep the spine of this team together, then hopefully we will bring in some players to help us.

It is very important that we keep that backbone for Europe next season. And of course having some new players would be very welcome."

There is always speculation in the summer but it will be nice for it not to be about me this time.

It happens when the transfer window is open. Sometimes because there is no football to talk about, people just want to talk about transfers when there is nothing there.

It is football, it happens but I have always said I'm happy at Newcastle United.”