Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz could be set for a loan move back to former club Blackburn Rovers.
according to the Daily Mirror, Rovers manager Steve Kean has contacted City about a loan move for the striker who left Ewood Park for the City of Manchester Stadium in 2009.
Santa Cruz has struggled to cement a first team place at City following the £17 million switch and a move away from the club looks certain either during the transfer window or at the end of the season.
The only stumbling block could be the strikers £80,000-a-week wages but City are believed to be prepared to let him leave if a club can cover the majority of his salary.
The striker recently turned down a move to Serie A side Lazio but a move back to Rovers would be much more attractive to him and his family.
Man City tell Real Madrid they must wait for Adebayor
Real Madrid are ready to take Emmanuel Adebayor off Manchester City hands.
The Daily Mail says Real are keen to sign Adebayor on-loan for the remainder of the season.
But the move will go ahead only when City have completed a deal for Edin Dzeko.
City remain confident of signing the 24-yearold Bosnia striker from German club Wolfsburg but have yet to finalise terms, and while that hangs in the balance Adebayor will remain at Eastlands.
The Togo striker is also wanted by Premier League clubs but Real will pay his £140,000-aweek pay in full — though City would still prefer a permanent deal.
Fletcher gobs off again
DARREN Fletcher believes Manchester United are better equipped than rivals City to win the Premier League title race.
The two Manchester clubs are neck and neck at the top of the table at the halfway point of the season for the first time since 1971-72.
But in that campaign neither club went on to win the title. Joe Mercer’s City slipped to fourth behind champions Derby, while Frank O’Farrell’s United finished a disappointing eighth after a disastrous second half to the season.
This time, both clubs look certain to go the distance but, while Fletcher acknowledges the quality of Roberto Mancini’s City squad, he believes United’s title know-how and their greater team spirit will count.
Fletcher, a three-time title winner with United, said: “City are winning games and looking solid defensively.
“But they have signed a lot of players in a short space of time – they’ll still be getting to know each other and won’t have created the sort of team spirit we have.
“Experience is important. We’ve been there and experienced what it takes in a title run-in. It takes last-minute goals, grinding out results. It’s something City haven’t dealt with yet.”
Wenger wants title bid nailed against City
LONDON - ARSENE Wenger believes his Arsenal side can prove once and for all they are up for the fight in the English Premier League title race by beating new pretenders Manchester City.
Wenger, the Gunners manager, said after the victory over an out-of-form Chelsea over Christmas that his side have toughened up and are in the running to end their five-season wait for a trophy.
And a win over second-placed City will not only lift Arsenal above Roberto Mancini's men in the Premier League table, but, according to Wenger, show that his claims have substance.
Wenger, who had a mixed festive period with wins over Birmingham and Chelsea and a draw at Wigan, said: 'After the Chelsea game the team was on a high because we got that burden out of the way.
'But after we were quickly down again because we dropped two points against Wigan. But I am pleased we were quickly back up again. This team could see the positive effect of the Chelsea win. It was there for all to see on Saturday (against Birmingham).'
'You can see we have the belief in our game now. That is what will make the title race really interesting,' the Frenchman added. 'We started the season with more personality and authority. We panic less.' -- AFP
Newcastle are keen on securing a loan deal for Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge as well as taking on Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. Daily Mail
WAG OF THE DAY - Alena Seredova
A model since she was 15 and a contestant in the 1998 Miss World competition, this 32-year-old Czech native is living with legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, with whom she has two kids.

OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham are targeting Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, with his club Ajax believed to be looking for a fee of £17m. the Independent
Blackburn have now claimed they did make a £6.2m bid for AC Milan striker Ronaldinho - 24 hours after rubbishing reports they had tried to land the 30-year-old Brazilian. the Sun
Liverpool have identified Hamburg's Dutch international winger Eljero Elia as the man to spark a Reds revival - with Ivory Coast forward Lacina Traore, Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge and Ajax forward Luis Suarez also targets. Daily Mirror
Chelsea have been told that over £20m will be needed to tempt Bolton to offload their centre-back Gary Cahill. Daily Telegraph
Everton will bid to bring Manchester United striker Michael Owen to Goodison Park. caughtoffside.com
Chelsea are to make a move for Borussia Dortmund's Serbian international defender Neven Subotic in an attempt to shore up their leaky defence. caughtoffside.com
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is set to hold a transfer summit with his new club's bosses on Tuesday, with Tottenham winger David Bentley on his wanted list. Daily Mirror
Everton have joined West Ham in expressing an interest in a loan deal for Monaco striker Dieumerci Mbokani, who moved to France from Standard Liege for £7m. Daily Mail
Hull are likely to double their offer for Swindon hotshot Charlie Austin to £1.2m. the Sun
Wolves are to make a £500,000 bid to sign Barnsley winger Adam Hammill. Daily Mirror
Juventus have stepped up their attempt to sign Liverpool's Danish defender Daniel Agger. IMscouting.com
Liverpool fear they will lose out to Napoli in the battle for Utrecht striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. talkSport
Bolton have joined a number of clubs in attempting to land Danish international midfielder Michael Silberbauer, with Arsenal's Carlos Vela another target.talkSport
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is stunned his team are top of the Premier League. United have drawn seven of their nine away games and captain Vidic said: "If someone had predicted we would lose this many points I'd have said we would not win the league." the Sun
Liverpool's under-fire manager Roy Hodgson has pleaded with the club's American owners for more time to turn things around at Anfield and has asked for cash in the January transfer window. "I am hoping that one day I will get a chance to stamp a little more of my authority and philosophy on the team by choosing some more of the players," Hodgson said. Daily Telegraph
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is to be handed extra money by owner Roman Abramovich for new players in January but not before lengthy discussions about the recent run of poor form. Daily Express
Fulham have targeted Steve Morison but Millwall manager Kenny Jackett insists his striker is "not for sale". Daily Mirror
Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott believes Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is the best man to take the west London club forward. talkSport
Arsenal's Manuel Almunia has played his last game for the Gunners after an ankle injury ruled him out for the next two to three weeks. The goalkeeper may return to Spain after Malaga and Atletico Madrid registered an interest. Daily Telegraph
Former Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp has officially been named Ajax youth team manager after the previous incumbent Frank de Boer was promoted to the senior team hot seat. Daily Mail
Southampton have offered midfielder Adam Lallana a bumper new three-year deal to fend off interest from Newcastle and Wolves. Daily Mail
Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp has denied being approached by Liverpool to replace Roy Hodgson. the Guardian
Tottenham winger Gareth Bale credits cross-country training for turning him into an iron man. Daily Mirror