Thursday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Sheikh Mansour happy with Man City performance

PLANNING AHEAD: Sheikh Mansour congratulated Man City officials on their performance this season despite missing out on a Champions League place.Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City Football Club, has given his backing to under pressure coach Roberto Mancini despite the club missing out on a Champions League spot.
Sheikh Mansour, also UAE deputy prime minister, met on Wednesday with the Manchester City manager, CEO Garry Cook, chairman Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak and Brian Marwood, the club's chief football administration officer.
According to news agency WAM, he congratulated the chairman and the management team "on their contributions and achievements to date".
The praise will be welcome relief for Mancini after UK media reports suggested his job might not be safe if Man City did not qualify for the lucrative Champions League next season.
City's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur meant the richest club in English football would have to settle for a place in next season's Europa League despite spending in excess of £200m on players since the Abu Dhabi United Group took control in September 2008.
At the meeting, Sheikh Mansour gave his views on the plans for the 2010-2011 season, including the team's pre-season tour to the United States in July.

Everton plan stunning swoop for Bellamy - Exclusive
Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Manchester City star Craig Bellamy in a sensational swoop.
Moyes plans to take on Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham in the chase for the Welsh star who could be on the move this summer as Roberto Mancini brings in his own men.
The Goodison chief plans to sell players to raise money for Bellamy, who would cost around £7million, but would give his team a new dimension.
Bellamy has turned Everton down before and it will take a huge effort to land him this time - and the striker would also have to come within their wage budget.
Spurs also want Bellamy and Redknapp plans to bid, but will probably have to find a permanent home for Robbie Keane before making his move. He would also have to persuade supremo Daniel Levy to pay so much for a player of his age.
Bellamy was a regular in the City side that came close to the top four but he does not always see yey to eye with Mancini. Daily Mirror

Manchester City will attempt an audacious raid on Villa Park as they look to sign England pair Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.caughtoffside.com

WAG OF THE DAY
http://italy.theoffside.com/wags/wag-of ... nalis.html

TRANSFER BOLLOX
The Toffees are set to sign Jermaine Beckford with Leeds chairman Ken Bates resigned to losing the striker on a free transfer. Daily Mail

But midfielder Mikel Arteta could be on his way out of Goodison Park after contract talks hit an impasse, alerting Manchester United and Arsenal. Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United are reportedly considering a shock move for AC Milan's £17m-rated forward Marco Borriello. Full story: caughtoffside.com

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is hoping to take advantage of the managerial uncertainty at West Ham by lodging a £5m bid for Mark Noble. Daily Mail

OTHER BOLLOX
Didier Drogba has urged Chelsea to secure a dream team strike partnership of him and Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Daily Mirror

Stephen Hunt has criticised some of his Hull City team-mates who he felt he felt did not give enough for the cause as the Tigers battled to avoid relegation. Daily Mail

FINAL BOLLOX
Lord Horatio Nelson has been enlisted to lend his support to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

The 18ft-high statue of one of British history's most famous figures which stands on top of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square is currently sporting a specially-made Back the Bid scarf.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, chair of the London United 2018 bid team, said: "There could be no better an advocate than Lord Nelson, atop his iconic column.
"With the entire nation heeding his call and flying the flag for England's bid, we have a superb chance of reaching our goal."

[Slim]

Everton plan stunning swoop for Bellamy - Exclusive
Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Manchester City star Craig Bellamy in a sensational swoop.
Moyes plans to take on Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham in the chase for the Welsh star who could be on the move this summer as Roberto Mancini brings in his own men.
The Goodison chief plans to sell players to raise money for Bellamy, who would cost around £7million, but would give his team a new dimension.
Bellamy has turned Everton down before and it will take a huge effort to land him this time - and the striker would also have to come within their wage budget.
Spurs also want Bellamy and Redknapp plans to bid, but will probably have to find a permanent home for Robbie Keane before making his move. He would also have to persuade supremo Daniel Levy to pay so much for a player of his age.
Bellamy was a regular in the City side that came close to the top four but he does not always see yey to eye with Mancini. Daily Mirror

Oh yeah, this is gonna happen. He WOULD cost about £7M, but for Everton I am sure he WILL cost about £24M.

[Vhero]

Didier Drogba has urged Chelsea to secure a dream team strike partnership of him and Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Daily Mirror

If I was Anelka I would drive over Drogs house if he seriously said that and punch him in the face lol.

[btajim]

David Blaine?

[Beeks]

Everton plan stunning swoop for Bellamy - Exclusive
Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Manchester City star Craig Bellamy in a sensational swoop.
Moyes plans to take on Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham in the chase for the Welsh star who could be on the move this summer as Roberto Mancini brings in his own men.
The Goodison chief plans to sell players to raise money for Bellamy, who would cost around £7million, but would give his team a new dimension.
Bellamy has turned Everton down before and it will take a huge effort to land him this time - and the striker would also have to come within their wage budget.
Spurs also want Bellamy and Redknapp plans to bid, but will probably have to find a permanent home for Robbie Keane before making his move. He would also have to persuade supremo Daniel Levy to pay so much for a player of his age.
Bellamy was a regular in the City side that came close to the top four but he does not always see yey to eye with Mancini. Daily Mirror

Oh yeah, this is gonna happen. He WOULD cost about £7M, but for Everton I am sure he WILL cost about £24M.

Couldn't agree more...after Gollums antics regarding us we slap at least 10 million on any player her wants

[Ted Hughes]

Everton plan stunning swoop for Bellamy - Exclusive
Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Manchester City star Craig Bellamy in a sensational swoop.
Moyes plans to take on Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham in the chase for the Welsh star who could be on the move this summer as Roberto Mancini brings in his own men.
The Goodison chief plans to sell players to raise money for Bellamy, who would cost around £7million, but would give his team a new dimension.
Bellamy has turned Everton down before and it will take a huge effort to land him this time - and the striker would also have to come within their wage budget.
Spurs also want Bellamy and Redknapp plans to bid, but will probably have to find a permanent home for Robbie Keane before making his move. He would also have to persuade supremo Daniel Levy to pay so much for a player of his age.
Bellamy was a regular in the City side that came close to the top four but he does not always see yey to eye with Mancini. Daily Mirror

Oh yeah, this is gonna happen. He WOULD cost about £7M, but for Everton I am sure he WILL cost about £24M.

Couldn't agree more...after Gollums antics regarding us we slap at least 10 million on any player her wants

I agree & I think it's even less likely he'll go to Spurs. Unless of course, they have players we want but I can't see many players anywhere who are guaranteed to produce the kind of performances Bellamy does. Therefore, to let Bellamy go under almost any circumstances would weaken our squad imo & shouldn't be allowed to happen. If we then sell him to a top half Premier league team A) we have to play against him twice B) we're strengthening them.

If they sell Bellamy to rivals & they finish above us, everyone involved should be sacked imo. We don't need to do it so we shouldn't.

[Bluez]

Everton plan stunning swoop for Bellamy - Exclusive
Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Manchester City star Craig Bellamy in a sensational swoop.
Moyes plans to take on Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham in the chase for the Welsh star who could be on the move this summer as Roberto Mancini brings in his own men.
The Goodison chief plans to sell players to raise money for Bellamy, who would cost around £7million, but would give his team a new dimension.
Bellamy has turned Everton down before and it will take a huge effort to land him this time - and the striker would also have to come within their wage budget.
Spurs also want Bellamy and Redknapp plans to bid, but will probably have to find a permanent home for Robbie Keane before making his move. He would also have to persuade supremo Daniel Levy to pay so much for a player of his age.
Bellamy was a regular in the City side that came close to the top four but he does not always see yey to eye with Mancini. Daily Mirror

Oh yeah, this is gonna happen. He WOULD cost about £7M, but for Everton I am sure he WILL cost about £24M.

If the deal would involve someone like Arteta going the other way, I am sure we could arrange something.
I would actually be sorry to see Bellamy go but I am not sure how much longer his knees would last, even he has said he only has a year or two left.

[Chinners]

TRANSFER BOLLOX UPDATE
Inter Milan Jose Mourinho says he will coach Real Madrid - he's just not sure when he will move to the Bernabeu.

"Sooner or later I will coach Real Madrid. I coached a big team in England, I am coaching a big team in Italy, and then I will coach a big team in Spain," Mourinho told Panorama magazine.

Wolves are biding their time before launching any bid for Anderlecht utility player Jelle van Damme. The 26-year-old, who can play in midfield or defence, was in the stands for Wolves' 2-1 final-day win over Sunderland at Molineux.Sky Sports
Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure is "90% certain" to leave the Nou Camp this summer according to his agent. Dimitri Seljuk said Arsenal were interested in his client and that he was confident a deal could be done. Sport (in Spanish)

Galatasaray are weighing up a bid for out-of-favour Tottenham striker Giovani dos Santos who has spent the second half of the season on loan at the Turkish side. IMScouting

Tottenham are preparing a bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger after the player expressed his desire to leave German football and play in the Premier League.Footy Latest

Liverpool are poised to sign Valencia midfielder Ever Banega for £8.5m. Goal.com

Barcelona have offered Manchester City and Chelsea the chance to sign striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for about £40m.
Daily Mail

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has told friends and family that he hopes to rejoin boyhood club Barcelona before this summer's World Cup. IMScouting.com

Liverpool could snap up striker Roman Pavlyuchenko from Tottenham with an offer of midfielder Yossi Benayoun and £2m. Daily Mail

Everton are set to sign Jermaine Beckford, with Leeds chairman Ken Bates resigned to losing the striker on a free transfer.
Daily Mail

However, midfielder Mikel Arteta could be on his way out of Goodison Park after contract talks hit an impasse, alerting Manchester United and Arsenal.Daily Mirror

Liverpool are tracking CSKA Moscow winger Caner Erkin but will face competition for his signature from Spanish side Espanyol. IMScouting.com

Arsenal's William Gallas looks set to leave the Emirates after chairman Peter Hill-Wood described the defender's £80,000-per-week wage demands as "extravagant".Daily Star

Striker Aruna Dindane, who is on loan at Portsmouth from Lens, will turn down the chance to stay in England with Wolves or Blackburn and choose Champions League football with Greek club Panathinaikos. Daily Mail

Birmingham will tempt Wigan with a bid for midfielder Charles N'Zogbia. the Sun

Blackpool may stump up more than £2m to turn hat-trick hero DJ Campbell's loan spell from Leicester into a permanent deal - if they and the striker secure promotion to the Premier League. Daily Express

Celtic could keep on-loan striker Diomansy Kamara for a cut-price fee of £2.5m as Fulham look to make changes to their attack in the summer. (Daily Record)

Brighton manager Gus Poyet could take over at Portsmouth if current Pompey boss Avram Grant moves to West Ham.the Independent

England manager Fabio Capello has told his players they will not be allowed to get into transfer and contract negotiations during this summer's World Cup as the Italian fears such things could be a distraction. (the Times)

Alberto Aquilani's agent has said the midfielder will remain at Liverpool, despite an underwhelming first season at Anfield. The former Roma star had been linked with a move back to Italy. (the Times)

Midfielder Boudewijn Zenden is in negotiations with Sunderland over a season-long contract extension, although the 33-year-old wants guarantees over the amount of matches he will play before he signs. (the Times)

Debt-laden Portsmouth have received a small financial boost ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea because designer Jeff Banks has offered to provide their outfits for the day for free. (the Guardian)

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will spend the summer coaching football to children in Florida after turning down the chance to return to the England fold. the Guardian

Tottenham and Chelsea staged a specially arranged friendly to attempt to attract buyers for some of their fringe players. The behind-closed-doors match, attended by managers and scouts from Premier League, Championship and League One sides, featured Ben Gordon at left-back for Chelsea and John Bostock in midfield for Tottenham.Daily Mail