Beattie,O’Neil,Best,Barnett: City transfer algebra

Another day of transfer rumours fill the air as the clock ticks relentlessly towards the closure of the window at the end of the month.

As so often happens at this time of year, the phoney war will only begin to get serious at the very last minute, as the ABC of transfer algebra begins to be worked out in earnest.

For the Sky Blues the formula currently involves James Beattie, Gary O’Neil, Leon Best and Leon Barnett.

Wolves want Beattie, who has fallen out of favour with Stoke City manager Tony Pulis.

Pulis will re-invest any fee in Middlesbrough midfielder O’Neil according to the papers, giving Gordon Strachan the leverage to meet City’s valuation of Best.

Having banked a suitable fee for the soon-to-be free agent striker, Chris Coleman can then look to secure Leon Barnett on a permanent deal, hopefully having some spare change to add Gary Madine and another forward to his squad.

But with a dozen days still to go, the players involved can change at any time, meaning plenty more rumours before the window closes.