By Chris Burton Last updated: 3rd July 2008
Hughes: Trimmed his squad
Manchester City have revealed the names of 10 players who will not be retained for the coming season.
Paul Dickov, Geovanni, Emile Mpenza and Sun Jihai are the senior players preparing to be released, while Irish duo Garry Breen and Michael Daly, Filippo Mancini - son of former Internazionale boss Roberto - striker Ashley Grimes, Faroe Islands U21 international Christian Mouritsen and Italian keeper Andrea Giombetti have also been shown the door.
Sun Jihai has already penned a two-year deal at Championship side Sheffield United, while Geovanni is said to be interesting Premier League new boys Hull.
Dickov could earn a permanent switch to Blackpool after impressing on loan last season and Mpenza has drawn admiring glances from a host of clubs in the top flight and second tier.
Grimes has agreed to join former City coach Kenny Jackett at Millwall and Breen has signed a one-year deal at League One side Hereford.
Having wielded the axe, new boss Mark Hughes is now expected to begin the search for new additions.
Brazilian striker Jo completed his move from CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, while Thaksin Shinawatra's chequebook is expected to see plenty of activity over the coming weeks.
"One of the reasons that prompted me to leave my last position was I wanted to have the chance to attract the best players in the world and work with them," Hughes said.
"I now have that support and financial backing. It is up to me to make sure we make the right acquisitions.
"The key is to get the players that will enhance the squad and make us stronger going into a long hard Premier League season.
"If we get the right players and right mix then we will have a good season, I am sure."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Arsenal vs Newcastle |
| Sunday 31st August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Chelsea vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Man City |
| 16:00 | Aston Villa vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Man City vs Chelsea |
| Sunday 14th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Stoke vs Everton |
| Monday 15th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Tottenham vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Sunderland vs Middlesbrough |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Newcastle |
| 17:30 | Bolton vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 21st September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | West Brom vs Aston Villa |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 0 - 3 Portsmouth | |
| Hull 0 - 5 Wigan | |
| West Ham 4 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Monday 25th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 24th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 3 - 0 West Ham | |
| Wigan 0 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Newcastle 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Liverpool 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Stoke 3 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| West Brom 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Tottenham 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunday 17th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Aston Villa 4 - 2 Man City | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Bolton 3 - 1 Stoke | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | West Ham United | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 2 | 4 |
Come this way for James Dall's pointers as week three of Sky Sports' Fantasy Football arrives.
Spurs and Liverpool have had contrasting starts to the season, but Merse says both will lose on Sunday.
Join the Sky Sports debate on the situation at Upton Park as West Ham prepare to sell two more stars.
Portsmouth picked up their first win of the season against Everton, while Hull were crushed 5-0 by Wigan.
Tottenham have confirmed they have agreed a deal with Spartak Moscow to sign Roman Pavlyuchenko.
An 85th minute goal from Tuncay Sanli handed Middlesbrough a 2-1 victory over 10-man Stoke City.
West Ham cruised to a 4-1 Premier League win over Blackburn at Upton Park on Saturday.
West Brom earned their first point of the season after a battling goalless draw at Bolton.