Sunday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Toon make Wright move in January
NEWCASTLE UNITED want to bring Shaun Wright-Phillips on loan to St James’ Park in the January transfer ­window.
New Geordies boss Alan Pardew will have no money to spend and is looking for a ­couple of loan deals, including the Manchester City winger, with Ben Arfa over a month a way from a return after ­breaking his leg in October.
West Ham and Liverpool are also keen on the England ­winger even though his £70,000-a-week wages will have to be met in full, with Manchester City not willing to do a 50-50 deal which is ­commonplace these days.
There is some good news for Pardew with Steven Taylor moving closer to signing a new contract at St James’ Park.
People Sport revealed last Sunday that Pardew had spoken to his defender and that the Newcastle boss was confident a deal would be done.
City boss Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, faces a fight to sign Espanyol striker Pablo Osvaldo, with Everton and Liverpool watching the situation.
Hotline revealed last week that Eastlands scouts were keeping close tabs on Argentinian hitman Osvaldo – and team-mate Victor Ruiz.
Now Mersey bosses Roy Hodgson at Liverpool and Everton’s David Moyes have been alerted to Osvaldo’s talents.
The 25-year-old attacker, born in Buenos Aires but of Italian descent, would cost close to £10million.
Osvaldo has scored six goals so far this campaign, including one against Barcelona in Espanyol’s 5-1 derby defeat.
Meanwhile, City misfit Roque Santa Cruz has emerged as a Lazio target after they failed to land Hugo Almeida.
Lazio have already contacted Santa Cruz’s agent and hope to speak to City executives this week to discuss a deal.
The Italians want an initial loan deal with an option to make it permanent

Incredible Hulk price tag turns Manchester City towards Benfica's £15m hot shot Oscar Cardozo
Manchester City have been warned off Porto striker Hulk but told that Benfica are open to offers for his Benfica rival Oscar Cardozo.
City are looking at attacking options ahead of a clearout that could see Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Jo all leave in January. Felipe Caicedo is also expected to turn his loan move to Levante into a permanent deal.
Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko is Roberto Mancini's No 1 target, but Wolfsburg have set a prohibitively high price tag of £38million - despite his desire to join the ambitious Barclays Premier League side.
City could turn to Fernando Torres as an alternative, but it would take a huge bid for Liverpool's new owners to anger fans by selling the Spain striker to a team that are such close rivals.
The net has been cast far and wide, with City technical director Mike Rigg confirming an interest in Porto's Brazil international Hulk.
'We are obviously watching him, but he is not a player we can sign right now, that's for sure,' Rigg told Portuguese reporters.
Porto insist they will not do a deal in January for under Hulk's £85m price tag - and the forward is certainly not worth breaking the world record for.
Up for grabs? Benfica's Paraguayan striker Cardozo
Rigg added: 'He is a player with a huge impact and a profile which perfectly fits the football played in the Premier League.
'I have no doubts his future can be here [in England] and I admit it would be hard to play against him.
'No one will be able to sign him now, so the news that came out (in England) makes no sense. We know it is impossible and, as such, we will not even make any approach.
'In the summer? I think it's hard, because we are not looking for strikers right now.
'The squad is filled with options for that position, but I do not want to sound definitive, because several things can change in the meantime.'
For all Porto's defiance, the Portuguese league leaders don't hold all the power. Agent Juan Figer, who played a role in Robinho's move from Real Madrid to City in September 2008, is reported to own almost 50 per cent of the player's economic rights.
In any case, Portuguese intermediaries are encouraging City to return to the option of Benfica striker Cardozo.
The Eastlands billionaires looked at the Paraguay striker earlier this year but his side fought hard to keep him and instead raised funds by selling Angel di Maria to Real Madrid and Ramires to Chelsea.
The situation has changed and Benfica are now said to be receptive to a deal as they try to compensate for the shortfall of going out of the Champions League. City would rather sign their Brazil defender David Luiz, while Manchester United and AC Milan are keen on defender Fabio Coentrao.
But the Portuguese champions would rather sell Cardozo for bids above £15m and are also sounding out Tottenham about taking midfielder Carlos Martins.
However, the 27-year-old is willing to fight for his future in Lisbon. Under contract till 2014, he said he would be mad to leave, adding: 'My wish for 2011 is to do a good job at Benfica, the club where I feel very well and where I don't think about leaving until I finish my contract.'
Cardozo has also been linked to Everton and Blackburn in the past, but neither could afford to sign him this winter.



OTHER BOLLOX
Didier Deschamps is top of the list to replace under pressure Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson. News of the World

Liverpool have offered Utrecht £8.5m for striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has hit 11 goals in 17 games for the Dutch side. Talksport.co.uk

Reds boss Roy Hodgson has offered Dutch duo Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt in exchange for Inter Milan's Italy international right-back Davide Santon. IM Scouting

Liverpool are seeking to put together a deal to sign Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko which could include a part-exchange deal with Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger. The Reds face competition from Manchester City to recruit the Bosnia striker who has a £34m release clause in his contract with the German club. Sunday Telegraph

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says he will only look to bolster his squad if someone "a bit special" becomes available in the January transfer window. Sky Sports

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean says he would be interested in signing Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham in the January transfer window as the MLS season comes to an end. Talksport.co.uk

But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out a move for the former England captain because the Frenchman does not have room for the 35-year-old in his squad. Sun

Manchester United are eyeing a move for Real Madrid's France international midfielder Lassana Diarra. Caughtoffside.com

Manchester United have joined the race to sign Belgium international winger Eden Hazard for a fee of about £20m from Lille. (Star Sunday)

Stoke City are ready to make a £5m bid for out of favour Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland. (Star Sunday)

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will not be allowed to add to his squad in the January transfer window. Mail on Sunday

Former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton says he feels no bitterness towards the club or owner Mike Ashley following his sacking earlier this month. Mirror

Steve McClaren has been advised that he is unlikely to remain in charge of Bundesliga club Wolfsburg beyond the end of the season. Sunday Times

Former Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is wanted by Qatar to nurture their young players as the oil and gas-rich country begins its preparations for the 2022 World Cup. People

Everton's players have been banned from wearing snoods by order of the team's kitman. People

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has laid down a colourfully expressed challenge to his players: do they have the cojones, the "balls", to win a 19th championship for the Old Trafford club. Sunday Times

[mr_nool]

Liverpool have offered Utrecht £8.5m for striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has hit 11 goals in 17 games for the Dutch side. Talksport.co.uk

Utrecht should snap Liverpool's hands off if that bollox is true. Ricky is an OK goal getter, but I seriously doubt that he's good enough for the premier league. He's also the kind of striker who doesn't contribute at all to the team apart from scoring the odd goal.

[Im_Spartacus]

Liverpool have offered Utrecht £8.5m for striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has hit 11 goals in 17 games for the Dutch side. Talksport.co.uk

Utrecht should snap Liverpool's hands off if that bollox is true. Ricky is an OK goal getter, but I seriously doubt that he's good enough for the premier league. He's also the kind of striker who doesn't contribute at all to the team apart from scoring the odd goal.

Did he not get quite badly injured the other week?

Can't see this being at all true - Liverpool need proven quality at this stage, not more gambles and Woy has said as much himself. They are in the shit and need any players who come in to make an immediate positive impact

[mr_nool]

Liverpool have offered Utrecht £8.5m for striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has hit 11 goals in 17 games for the Dutch side. Talksport.co.uk

Utrecht should snap Liverpool's hands off if that bollox is true. Ricky is an OK goal getter, but I seriously doubt that he's good enough for the premier league. He's also the kind of striker who doesn't contribute at all to the team apart from scoring the odd goal.

Did he not get quite badly injured the other week?

Can't see this being at all true - Liverpool need proven quality at this stage, not more gambles and Woy has said as much himself. They are in the shit and need any players who come in to make an immediate positive impact

I agree, with you, it's probably major bollox. And you're right, he broke is collar bone in the last Europa League game against Liverpool. Will need a surgery, so will probably be out for at least a month.

[Ted Hughes]

Ricky Van fucking Wolfswinkel???!!!!

Torres to City, Van Wolfswinkel to Liverpool?

If they sign him, I'm going to become a regular at the local church.

[Im_Spartacus]

Liverpool have offered Utrecht £8.5m for striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has hit 11 goals in 17 games for the Dutch side. Talksport.co.uk

Utrecht should snap Liverpool's hands off if that bollox is true. Ricky is an OK goal getter, but I seriously doubt that he's good enough for the premier league. He's also the kind of striker who doesn't contribute at all to the team apart from scoring the odd goal.

Did he not get quite badly injured the other week?

Can't see this being at all true - Liverpool need proven quality at this stage, not more gambles and Woy has said as much himself. They are in the shit and need any players who come in to make an immediate positive impact

I agree, with you, it's probably major bollox. And you're right, he broke is collar bone in the last Europa League game against Liverpool. Will need a surgery, so will probably be out for at least a month.

If Liverpool have any sense they will be all over city like a rash this window - we have 4 or 5 players surplus to requirements who could do a job for them and improve them.