Manchester City - The Blue Revolution

Rablador: It's certainly the first I've seen!

zaans: Cheers mate I'll try!

Brilliant start Ben, fantastic signing with Mo!

The Madridista: Cheers Jason

Manchester City have completed their first big signing under Dickov, signing England international Leighton Baines, from Everton. He becomes Dickov’s fourth signing as City boss, as City have signed a couple more youth team players since the signing of Mohammed Elleithy from Al-Ahly.

Many football pundits didn’t expect Dickov to splash the cash too much, after he inherited one of the strongest squads in the world, although it seems he has decided to improve one of the weak links in the City side. Another of the big problems in the City squad last season, with neither Gael Clichy nor Aleksandar Kolarov able to prove their quality to the City fans consistently, was the left-back position. Kolarov is thought of as one of City’s less effective players, given he is only able to attack to any effect, and often doesn’t even produce anything going forwards either. Clichy, who signed from Arsenal at the start of City’s title-winning campaign, and played a big part in that league title, was much less effective this season in which United regained the league, and has led to City fans calling for a replacement left-back.

As you would imagine, Baines has been well received by the City faithful, which is due in part to their lack of support for Clichy and Kolarov, but also because Baines is a player of very high pedigree. The Liverpool-born defender started his career with Wigan Athletic, who were in the nPower League One at the time. He went on to make 145 league appearances between 2002 and 2007, before making a £6m move to hometown club Everton, for whom he has made 161 league appearances for in the last five years, becoming an essential part of the Toffees side.

The destination that Leighton Baines has chosen has come as a shock to some journalists in football, as he was tipped to follow his former Everton boss David Moyes to Old Trafford this summer. Moyes moved to Old Trafford from Goodison Park to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired at the end of last season, having been in the job since 1986. Baines has been a very important part of David Moyes’ Everton side, and was expected to try and force a move to the Red Devils in order to say with the Scottish manager. However, Manchester City have come in for the left-back ahead of their city rivals, and reaped the rewards.

Much like with City’s other five signings so far this summer, the contract details have been left undisclosed in order to protect Baines’ privacy, but our sources close to the club believe he has signed a five-year deal on around £120k per week, and has been given the number 15 shirt by the Manchester club.

2013-06-09 19:45#110375 Blue : after he inherited one of the strongest squads in the world.

Arvind: It clearly is though, don't be stupid

Understand having no faith in Kolarov, but Clichy too? It's a hard life

Okikos: I like him, but not consistent enough for me

How much was Baines?

Okikos: £26m, I think I said it in the update

Manchester City look to have completed their transfer business for the summer, after signing center-back Dede from Cruzeiro in Brazil for £26m, which is believed to be his release clause to foreign clubs. City had been on the lookout for a replacement for Kolo Toure (brother of influential City midfielder Yaya) who left on a free transfer at the end of last season, and is now with Liverpool.

Dede is a pretty unknown name in England, having only played in Brazil so far in his career, most notably for Vasco de Gama for whom he made nearly 100 league appearances for between 2009 and 2012, before making his switch to Cruzeiro at the start of the Brazilian season. He made 27 appearances for Cruzeiro since then, scoring four goals, and this has obviously been enough to convince Paul Dickov and Manchester City to trigger his release clause and bring him to England.

However, this isn't the first time Dede has been linked with a move to the Premier League. Before he joined Cruzeiro, he had the chance to join Liverpool, who made him an offer alongside the one from Cruzeiro. Liverpool are a massive club, and very hard to turn down, but Dede decided that the best move for his career was to stay in Brazil for a while longer, and became Cruzeiro's most expensive player. He has since stated that he never wanted to leave Vasco in the first place, but the club was experiencing serious financial difficulties, and Dede knew that if he left, it would solve the financial difficulties and help the club hugely.

After turning down the chance to join Liverpool a few months ago, he has now leapt at the chance to join Manchester City, one of the teams expected to challenge for the title this season. He is expected to challenge Serbian youngster Matija Nastasic for the first-choice defenders space, next to captain Vincent Kompany.

Under Dickov, contracts have been undisclosed for all his signings, and Dede has been no different. However, the source who told us the estimated details for Baines' contract has been able to give us some figures for this one too. Dede is believed to have signed a four-year deal, on £82k per week. He will wear the number 26 shirt for Manchester City whilst playing for them.

That was rather expensive i think you should have gone for zouma he may have been the cheaper option

Wow you did a lot of updates today. Also Louis isn't the only one to remember Paul Dickov. The dirty bastard kicked Cech in the stomach after he saved Dickov's penalty.

patrick1: Dede was an essential part of the City side I had that went 70 games unbeaten on FM12; I had to have him again.

The Special One: He's still a legend

You're definitely splashing the cash! Great start to this story