Santa brought the Sunday papers an early Christmas present when Carlos Tevez handed in a transfer request - it meant they could go to town on a big story with not much else around to whet the appetite.
Thinking caps on all week then lads, and they haven't let us down. Every paper has a Tevez story of some description, including Paul Wilson's argument in the Observer that he is "not as good as everyone makes out."
Rob Draper in the Mail on Sunday goes with the theory that Carlos will be out of football for good by the time he's 30, which means just four more years and one World Cup for the little Argentina striker.
Tevez has often reinforced that fear, of course, with his plaintive interviews back home, and now that his daughters are domiciled in Buenos Aires, it will look like an even more attractive option to the player.
Draper also points out that Tevez was just 13 years of age "when clubs and agents first squabbled over who owned him and how much money each was due." He changed his name from Martinez to Tevez and joined Boca, adds Rob.
But he won't be leaving the club next month, declare both the Express's John Richardson and the Star's Steve Millar, old Manchester hands who reckon the parting of the ways will come in the summer.
Sunday Mirror man Simon Mullock, intrepid as they come, made the trip out to Turin in midweek to pin down Pablo Zabaleta, who is certain that his fellow Argentine will do the right thing by City and stay at the club.
The News of the World aren't as sure as they were either. While reporting that Chelsea are considering a move for Carlos, they reveal that the player is moving into a plush Cheshire "mansion" with a £5,000 a week rent.
Elsewhere, most papers think that Kolo Toure will return to being Captain Braveheart in preference to Carlos following the striker's confidential meeting with Roberto Mancini, details of which remain strictly personal.
Tevez row reminds me of Lescott: Moyes, (Ha ha we must have a game against them soon)
Everton manager David Moyes said he is unsympathetic towards Manchester City over want-away Carlos Tevez. Everton manager David Moyes said he is unsympathetic towards Manchester City over want-away Carlos Tevez.
Moyes' side takes on the cashed-up club at Eastlands on Monday, weather permitting, but said losing Joleon Lescott to City last year meant he felt it was karma that goal ace Tevez wanted to leave mid-season.
"Carlos Tevez is a really good player. A player we would all be more than happy to have," Moyes said.
"It's a difficult one. It's a bit like when Joleon went to City. He didn't want to play for Everton. I played him and it backfired, so you never know what's right."
"Overall, it's not a great situation to be in. If a player says he's going and that's it, what can you do?"
"I can't really have sympathy with Manchester City as they will know how it feels now, because we had to go through all that for a couple of months before we lost Lescott."
Moyes said he was unsure whether the influx of cash would ensure success at Eastlands, after billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan took charge of the club in 2008.
"I'm not sure yet if it's going to help or if it's going to be something in the end where we look back in 20 years' time and say, 'How stupid were we that we allowed it to happen?'"
If Manchester City take all three points on Monday, they will go top of the English top flight for the first time in 81 years on Christmas Day.
Contract clause at centre of Tevez row with Man City
A clause in Carlos Tevez's Manchester City is believed to be at the heart of his row with Manchester City.
The Mail on Sunday says Tevez has a clause in his contract guaranteeing him parity with the highest earner at City, meaning he is level with Yaya Toure on £200,000 a week, and it seems unlikely that there is anyone left who could afford him — other than City, that is, for whom he remains, despite all the week’s travails, a talismanic player.
Agent Kia Joorabchian and City chief executive Garry Cook criticised each other last week but might yet have to do some bridge-building, and with both conceding they were in talks regarding his contract only this autumn, the two parties could yet be reconciled at the right price.
Stories diverge as to what was discussed.
City claim they never re-negotiate a player’s deal mid-season unless he is halfway through his current contact, which Tevez is not, and that discussions centred on image rights and sponsorships.
However, Tevez’s advisers claim City made the first offer to improve Tevez’s contract and that Joorabchian countered by asking for more money.
How much more is debatable: one source close to the negotiations says Joorabchian asked for £9m a year net for Tevez, which, if true, would have been a staggering amount, breaking the £300,000-a-week barrier for a player.
Tevez’s advisers, however, say they asked for only marginally more than City had offered.
It is said breaking point came when two specific clauses Tevez asked to be included in the contract, relating to his family and his future, were denied.
Manchester United have been approached with a sensational offer to buy their former striker Carlos Tevez back from rivals City.Mail on Sunday (see yesterdays thread)
Chelsea are also chasing Tevez and want Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko to form a new strikeforce at Stamford Bridge. News of the World
Manchester City will again try to prise Fernando Torres from Liverpool in January as a replacement for Tevez. News of the World
Manchester City have reportedly lined up a move for £10m-rated River Plate striker Rogelio Funes Mori, 19, as a possible replacement for the want-away Carlos Tevez. Rehashed B*ll*x.
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-a ... vez/12633/
Tevez will remain at Manchester City until the summer following a compromise agreement between the unsettled player and manager Roberto Mancini. Sunday Express
It's pantomime season: Premier League must bring in tighter regulations for agents
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 47,00.html
WAGVENT CALENDAR
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United have set their sights on 21-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Marco Reus. IM Scouting
Barcelona are planning an audacious £85m summer swoop for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. Sunday Mirror
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen to sign Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, 21, on loan with a view to a £5m transfer, in a bid to save the club's season and his own job. The People
Birmingham are willing to outbid Liverpool to sign 26-year-old Tottenham winger David Bentley. The People
Tottenham will test Newcastle's resolve to hang on to Andy Carroll in January with a £20m bid that will include Spurs strikers Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane as bait. Sunday Mirror
Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia will leave for Sunderland in a £6m deal this summer. News of the World
Everton boss David Moyes is seeking to boost his attacking options by dipping into the market when the January transfer window opens. Goal.com
Everton may be in the hunt with Celtic for Aston Villa's Stephen Ireland, after revealing he wants to leave Aston Villa. Birmingham Mail
The Football Association is ready to bring the 2014 World Cup finals to England, if Brazil cannot host the tournament. The People
The Qatar royal family is planning a £1.5bn takeover of Manchester United. Sunday Mirror
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce reveals that while he is happy at Sunderland, he would love to manage England one day. Mail on Sunday
Bruce has compared his goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, to Gordon Banks, claiming his stunning save against Bolton was one of the best ever. talkSPORT
The fate of Sam Allardyce as Blackburn manager was sealed when the new owners of the club threw a massive VIP party to watch the Manchester United clash on TV - and saw their prize possession humiliated 7-1. The People
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that he has not ruled out managing in the Premier League one day. Mail on Sunday
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has revealed the inspiration he takes into his matches - the music of Susan Boyle. Sunday Mirror
... and on a similar theme, Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has revealed that he plays the drums every day.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
