Ireland set to leave Man City

Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland is set to leave Eastlands, with Roberto Mancini determined to splash out on a new attacking midfielder this summer. It leaves the tantalising question of whether City will allow the 23-year-old to join Manchetser United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson is a huge admirer. Liverpool and Tottenham would also be interested in the Irishman. Mancini failed in a bid to sign £7 million Parma midfielder McDonald Mariga on transfer deadline day because of work permit problems, but he is now lining up Real Madrid and Argentina playmaker Fernando Gago.