Manchester City hatch £15m swoop for Sunderland's Jordan Henderson
Manchester City are preparing a sensational £15million bid for Sunderland’s brilliant England U-21 midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Moneybags City are plotting to raid Steve Bruce’s club during the next transfer window, but face competition from both Chelsea and Manchester United.
Henderson, 20, has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in England, possessing the passing and attacking ability that Roberto Mancini’s side lack.
City are desperate to boost their push for honours this season and think they can land the playmaker with a blockbusting January bid that the cash-conscious Black Cats might find hard to refuse.
City have already made an inquiry for the player and are likely to agree a transfer fee close to Sunderland’s £16m valuation for their homegrown star.
Henderson has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last year, mixing it with the best in the Premier League.
He has been the key player for the England U21s, ironically keeping out Sunderland team-mate Lee Cattermole.
Henderson has also been tipped for a surprise call-up by Three Lions boss Fabio Capello for the Wembley friendly with France next month.
Bruce will be desperate to keep hold of Henderson, but City’s mega-money offer may prove tough to turn down.
Henderson would also be offered a huge pay rise, but the main issue would be whether he is in Mancini’s first-team.
The Italian boss has discovered his team struggle to break opponents down and he has a vacancy for a creative player.
City have plenty of midfield grafters and tacklers, but they lack someone with Henderson’s imaginative flair.
Mancini is happy to leave out big names to get it right – and his bosses are willing to buy English at the drop of a hat.
Man City outcast Shay Given ready to jump through Hoops for loan move to Celtic
MANCHESTER CITY keeper Shay Given is ready to say ‘yes’ to a romantic loan proposal from boyhood heroes Celtic.
The Eastlands outcast was stopped from joining the Glasgow giants during the last transfer window, but the Republic of Ireland No.1 has now been told he can leave.
Celtic desperately need a fresh keeper capture, with Newcastle loanee Fraser Forster due back on Tyneside in the New Year.
Given, 34, could fill his gloves at the start of January, if Celtic are willing to pay a chunk of his £90,000-a-week wages.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon wanted to take Given at the start of the season, but City’s money men blocked the move because they could not find a suitable replacement.
But that situation has now changed and Given would fulfil a lifetime dream by joining Celtic on loan, ahead of a reunion with his ex-City boss Mark Hughes at Fulham.
Given was released by Celtic as a kid, his wife is from Glasgow and he is a close friend of Parkhead coach Alan Thompson.
Celtic took Robbie Keane from Tottenham last season and Irish backer Dermot Desmond would put his hand in his pocket again to land fellow countryman Given.
Forster, 22, has done well for Lennon, but with Magpies No.1 Steve Harper injured, he is likely to be recalled by Newcastle
Mancini tells Man City youngsters: Forget booze and focus on birds
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants his young players to shun alcohol.
Mancini admitted that he fears for the futures of England stars Joe Hart and Adam Johnson if they become part of the drinking culture that blights the Premier League.
Hart was pictured on a bender in Porto Banus last week, while Mancini clamped down on Johnson by leaving him out of the City team after discovering the winger and team-mate Micah Richards had each paid £12,000 at a charity auction to party with Katie Price.
Mancini insisted: “For a young player it is important that they have good behaviour – always.
“I can understand that sometimes when you are on holiday things can happen, but I have spoken to my players in private.
“I told them it is much better than they go with a woman than drink beer. It is better for them.
“Johnson and Hart are young. They are playing in the national team and they must change.”
Asked how he used to unwind when he was a young player in Italy with Sampdoria, the City boss replied: “Go with a woman.” And he added:
“Yes, it is very frustrating for me because I don’t understand it.
“I don’t understand why a player has to drink after a game.
“OK, maybe one drink is fine, but drinking three, four or five until they are drunk is not good.”
Nigel de Jong blame game is down to Dutch FA, says Manchester City pal Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry has jumped to the defence of Manchester City team-mate Nigel de Jong, blaming the Dutch FA for the media furore whipped up over the challenge which broke Hatem Ben Arfa's left leg.
'Obviously the Dutch FA dropping Nigel from their squad has blown the whole thing up,' said the England midfielder.
'But you see tackles like that throughout the Premier League all season and it's just unfortunate Nigel caught him in the wrong place and broke his leg. But I think it's been blown out of all proportion.
Unfortunate: Gareth Barry has defended Nigel de Jong (right) for his challenge on Hatem Ben Arfa (centre)
'I think the players at our club are very surprised by all the criticism of Nigel. What happened in the World Cup final against Spain with his high challenge on (Xabi) Alonso is obviously on people's minds. I think, with the type of player he is, some of his tackles in previous games have finally caught up with him, but this whole thing started when he was left out of the Dutch squad.'
Newcastle attacker Ben Arfa could be out for the rest of his season-long loan from Marseille after breaking both his tibia and fibula.
The French club have indicated they intend to sue De Jong and City for compensation.
The Holland star is expected to be in the City line-up for this afternoon's visit to Blackpool and Barry expects a tough match.
'Their players will be looking forward to this one,' he added. 'Blackpool started well and have surprised a few teams. From what I've seen of them, they try to attack teams so it's set up for a good game.
'I think we're getting stronger. We showed great form to beat Chelsea and though we didn't play well against Newcastle, we dug in and got three points.'
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is targeting a January transfer window move for West Brom winger Chris Brunt, who is valued at about £9m. caughtoffside.com
Hodgson is also reportedly looking to sign highly-rated Belgium international Steven Defour from Standard Liege. caughtoffside.com
Arsenal want to snap up Charlton's England youth midfielder Diego Poyet - son of former Tottenham and Chelsea star Gus, the Brighton manager. the People
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will resist any bids to send goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey out on loan, having been impressed with the Wales stopper's application since he lost his starting place last season. Sunday Mirror
Tottenham hope to take Bolton's England international central defender Gary Cahill to White Hart Lane in January but Spurs will have to part with £15m to get their man. Sunday Mirror
Alternatively, Spurs could make a move for Blackburn's £10m-rated defender Phil Jones. the People
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is to step up his interest in Tottenham midfielders Luka Modric and Tom Huddlestone and is willing to offer the likes of Michael Carrick and Anderson in part exchange. caughtoffside.com
Roy Hodgson says it would be "a sad day for Liverpool" if the club's new owners abandoned the Anfield tradition of loyalty to managers and dismissed him after the team's worst start to a season for 57 years. the Observer
OTHER BOLLOX
Striker Wayne Rooney will sensationally quit Manchester United in January after a series of rows with manager Sir Alex Ferguson has left their relationship beyond repair. Sunday Mirror
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas will make his comeback from a month-long absence with a hamstring problem when the Gunners take on Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League on Tuesday. Sunday Mirror
Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is willing to offer former Gunners and current Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira a coaching role at the Emirates Stadium if he opts to retire from playing at the end of the season. the People
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he would consider succeeding his fellow Italian Fabio Capello as the next England boss when Capello steps down after Euro 2012. Sunday Mirror
However, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says he would be reluctant to accept the job as England manager because of the attention he would subsequently receive from the press.
(News of the World)
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has revealed Ancelotti convinced him not to join former manager Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid last summer, and to instead remain at Stamford Bridge. Mail On Sunday
Bolton are ready to offer striker Johan Elmander a new contract but want the Swede to take a pay cut. the People
Former Middlesbrough favourite Tony Mowbray is being lined up to replace Gordon Strachan as Boro boss following the club's poor start to the season.
(News of the World)
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