Retail therapy for shattered City

Manchester City will try to make up for their shattering Carling Cup semi–final disappointment by going shopping.

Within an hour of their last-minute defeat to their arch rivals, it emerged City had tabled a big–money offer for Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson.

The highly–rated England Under–21 star is out of contract in the summer a deal now makes sense for Johnson and his club given the amount of cash City have to spend.

There is even talk Johnson might be allowed to remain at the Riverside until the end of the season, although that might depend on whether Robinho does eventually secure a return to Brazil.

The £32.5million South American asked to be left out of the squad for last night’s game at Old Trafford for fear of scuppering any deal.

But, while Robinho seems to know exactly where he is going, manager Roberto Mancini is not so sure.

“It is possible that he will go to play for Santos or another team, so we preferred not to risk him. But that is the only reason he was not involved. If he is still here at the end of the transfer window, he can play for us.”