Kiss from a Rose: Man City turn to Spurs left back for summer swoop?

Manchester City, 11/2 chances in Coral’s Premier League outright betting without champions-elect Chelsea, are eyeing a summer swoop for Tottenham and England left back Danny Rose, according to the tabloid rumour mill.

Rose, 24, has faced a fight for his place at White Hart Lane this season because of the signing of Wales counterpart Ben Davies, but has largely retained a Spurs first-team spot.

Only an untimely injury prevented Leeds United academy product Rose from making his senior Three Lions bow in the international break back in March. He also qualifies for Jamaica through his grandfather.

City could cull both Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov from their squad this summer, leaving the recruitment of at least one left back as top priority. Previously linked with West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell, the Etihad outfit are keen to increase the number of homegrown players in their squad to ensure they meet Premier League and European quotas.

Rose possesses more top-flight experience than Cresswell, who is in his maiden campaign after a £4m move to the Hammers from Ipswich Town last summer. Tottenham’s attacking outlet spent the 2012/13 campaign on loan Sunderland where he impressed, and has been first-choice in north London when fit since.

Serbia wing back Kolarov, 29, is once again heavily linked with a return to Serie A with Inter Milan and Roma, who have tried several options in his position this tern, the reported main contenders for his signature. He is out of favour under Manuel Pellegrini, and that has only fuelled speculation that the Chilean coach’s predecessor at City, Roberto Mancini, wants to bring Kolarov to the San Siro.

Clichy, meanwhile, has hardly fared well in recent weeks, featuring in four defeats in the last five across all competitions. Rumoured replacement Rose is reportedly rated at £10m by Spurs, so that valuation is a far cry from previous extravagant Etihad spending and would show that they have taken on board a more responsible fiscal approach after Financial Fair Play sanctions.

There is a real danger if City cannot address their present side with this current crop of players that they could finish outside the top four, missing out on Champions League football. This eventuality is a 6/1 shot.