Manchester City insiders have explained why they're always at the forefront of transfer rumours.

The club were linked with around 70 players last summer but completed deals for just seven.

"The problem we have is that agents ring our directors all the time," said a City source to the News of the World.

"And because we are nice people we will say thanks for the call and ask them to stay in touch, even though we are probably not interested in the player. From there, word spreads that we have been in talks with a player when that's not actually the case at all."