City’s £20m Drogba raid
MANCHESTER CITY are lining up a £20million bid for Didier Drogba.
City boss Roberto Mancini is a long-term admirer of the Chelsea striker.
The Ivory Coast star, 32, has not ruled out a move and a source said: "Chelsea will have to decide whether they want him to stay. City's offer will be tempting considering Didier's age."
Drogba would earn over £18m in three years if he chose to move to Eastlands.
The striker won the Golden Boot with 29 Premier League goals last term as Chelsea stormed to the title and FA Cup.
Drogba still has two years to run on his Stamford Bridge deal.
But if he was to leave the champions, Chelsea would be sure to make a move for Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres.
City have already lashed out £60m this summer on David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure.
Boss Mancini also wants Lazio full-back Aleksander Kolarov - though the Serb may prove too expensive.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito said: "In my opinion, he is worth as much as Mauro Zarate, who we paid around £18.7m for."
Villa eye Man City stars as part of Milner deal
Aston Villa have told Man City they will accept a player in part-exchange for James Milner.
City are set to return with a formal second offer for Villa's England midfielder later this month.
But the two clubs are struggling to agree a fee after City's first bid of £18million plus £2m in add-ons was rejected.
Villa are holding out for between £25-28m for the versatile midfielder, who has 11 caps.
But they have told City that Villa boss Martin O'Neill does fancy several fringe members of the Eastlands' club's squad.
Now it is increasingly likely Villa may take cash plus one of City's out-of-favour stars like Stephen Ireland, 23, or Nedum Onuoha, 23, in part-exchange.
O'Neill will need another attacking central midfielder to replace Milner, which makes Ireland attractive.
And Villa are also expected to buy a new right-back this summer with Luke Young heading for the exit.
Manchester City reject £16.7m offer for outcast Robinho from Besiktas
Manchester City have turned down an offer of £16.7m from Besiktas for their British record transfer signing Robinho.
The Brazilian spent the second half of last season on loan at Santos but has increased his market value with some impressive performances at the World Cup.
City do not expect Robinho to play for them again but want to recoup more of the £32.5m they paid Real Madrid for him in 2008.
The player himself is also believed to be reluctant to move to Turkey.
MANCHESTER CITY are eyeing a shock swoop for forgotten keeper Richard Wright.
The former England and Arsenal stopper is without a club after being released by Ipswich.
But Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini is considering signing Wright, 32, as goalkeeping back-up.
The Italian has still not decided whether Shay Given or Joe Hart will be his first choice next season. But he knows whoever is left out will almost certainly want to quit the club, either on a season loan or permanent transfer.
Given was No 1 last term while Hart went on loan to Birmingham.
City signed Sunderland's Marton Fulop on emergency loan after Given dislocated his shoulder in April but do not want to pay £1m to make the move permanent
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea are set to open the bidding for Liverpool's Fernando Torres with a cut-price £30m offer for the Spain striker. Daily Star
Inter Milan's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder says he will turn down a £29m move to Manchester United to remain with the European champions. Daily Mail
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may now turn his attentions to Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil who is valued at around £25m by his club Werder Bremen. Daily Express
Barcelona have admitted they will need to sell striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in order to fund a move for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Daily Star
Chelsea are in danger of missing out on Holland defender Gregory van der Wiel with Bayern Munich set to land the £14m-rated Ajax star. the Sun
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant could be on his way to Italian side Napoli from Real Zaragoza. Daily Mirror
Stoke midfielder Amdy Faye could be on his way to Leicester, while Blackpool are eyeing a move for goalkeeper Andy Lonergan from former Championship rivals Preston. Daily Mail
West Ham have had an improved £5.5m offer for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans turned down. Daily Mail
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is set to renew his interest in Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. the Sun
OTHER BOLLOX
Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants the club to finalise his new contract after his assistant Roy Aitken quit to join David O'Leary in Dubai. Daily Mirror
Meanwhile, Birmingham are in talks to bring Sunderland's chief scout Ricky Sbragia to St Andrew's as joint assistant manager and first-team coach. the Guardian
Swansea are set to offer former Fulham and Coventry boss Chris Coleman the chance to replace Paulo Sousa, who joined Leicester on Wednesday.Daily Mail
West Ham face an anxious wait to find out whether Mexico winger Pablo Barrera, a £3.5m signing from Pumas, will be granted a work permit. Daily Mirror
And West Ham boss Avram Grant has made it a priority to keep 31-year-old defender Matthew Upson at Upton Park. Daily Mail
More bollox throughout the day ...
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