An article on TalkSport titled ‘Manchester City outcast a shock target for Leeds’ has caused a fair bit of hysteria amongst Whites supporters across the social networks today. 

A lot of this hysteria has been caused in no small part by TalkSport’s uncanny ability to read between the lines and spin a quote into something it most certainly was not.

Roque Santa Cruz’s Dad and Agent (Aproniano) spoke of the striker’s unrest at City and how they’d like to send him elsewhere. He adds that there are clubs interested in his services, but concedes that he may have to settle for Championship football because of all the injury problems he’s had.

He then goes on to cite Leeds United as an example of a big club in the Championship Roque could consider;

“The second division is very competitive in England, with powerful teams who were in the top division and have huge stadiums, like Leeds United, but the future will be decided by Manchester City.”

That’s all we have here. Leeds United being used as an example of a big club outside the Premier League. No interest expressed from Leeds United, no cloak and dagger deals being done behind closed doors, just an agent telling the press his son is willing to drop a level in search of regular first team football – something he won’t get at City based on their performance this weekend.

Take the quote away from the highly misleading title TalkSport added and there isn’t even a rumour here.

You also have to consider the monumental wages Santa Cruz will be on. I can’t see him taking a 90% pay-cut to join Leeds United. It’s much more likely that he’ll join Leicester City, where the rest of our summer targets are currently raking in the big bucks.