CITY READY TO PULL OUT OF MOVE FOR FRED

MANCHESTER CITY are prepared to pull the plug on a summer deal for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred. The Brazilian (below) was expected to move to the Manchester club even though a January transfer could not be completed. But that prospect is now in serious doubt, with club sources confirming a deal is unlikely. That is despite the 25-year-old talking up the chances of joining Pep Guardiola. Fred said: ‘It still exists. It did not happen because of the Champions League, since I could not play for another team.’ A delegation from Shakhtar has been over to see City at least once since December. Guardiola is still keen on signing a midfielder this summer, and his scouts have watched Julian Weigl at Borussia Dortmund.