THE BOLLOX
Sampdoria open the door for Man City to snatch Spanish starlet
Manchester City have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Pedro Obiang after Sampdoria revealed they would be willing to cash in on the Spanish starlet.
Obiang, who has been capped at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, joined the Serie A club from Atletico Madrid’s youth set-up in 2008, and he has become a key player for the Italian side since making his first-team debut in 2010.
City boss Roberto Mancini, who enjoyed a 15-year spell at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris during his playing days, is reportedly keen to raid his former club for Obiang, and their sporting director Pasquale Sensibile says the 20-year-old can leave if a large offer comes his way.
"Obiang is a mature guy and highly educated, in addition to his quality on the field," Sensibile is quoted as saying in Italian newspaper Tuttosport.
"I am calm and not worried by this news. He will only leave Sampdoria for a large offer or when his contract ends [in June 2015]."
Manchester City have ramped up their efforts to land Stevan Jovetic and are set to make their move in January.
City chief Patrick Vieira spied on Jovetic on Sunday during Fiorentina's 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan and, although the forward failed to shine, his talent is undoubted and City are long-term admirers.
Roberto Mancini tried to sign the 22-year-old in the summer but Fiorentina ignored his overtures and the Serie A side are eager to build their team around Jovetic, who can play as a second striker or wide.
But City remain keen and Jovetic will be a wanted man in January when Mancini is expected to make a fresh bid.
The Montenegro international has a contract until 2016 which strengthens Fiorentina's hand when it comes to discussing potential transfer fees and the Serie A giants will not listen to anything below £25m for their star man.
Manchester City are keeping tabs on Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who is valued at around £4million. Mirror
Mancini hails 'best keeper' Hart
Roberto Mancini has lavished praise on Joe Hart, who was described by Wayne Rooney following his heroics in Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund as the best keeper in the world.
Hart saved City from a Champions League hammering, with his display impressing Rooney who took to Twitter to lavish praise on his England colleague.
Rooney wrote: "Have to say Joe Hart has been incredible. For me best keeper in the world."
Time and again Hart pulled off brilliant saves to deny Dortmund and the impressive nature of the display was not lost on his manager.
"Joe Hart saved us from an incredible defeat," said the City boss. "He saved everything, so I should say thank you to him.
"He gave a fantastic performance. I don't know if it is the best performance in football history, but he did very well."
Hart's display aside, Mancini felt City were well short of their best. He said: "We didn't play well and we conceded a lot of chances again. I am really disappointed in our performance.
"We didn't play well. We didn't deserve to take this point, but in the end it could be important. It's my problem, it's my job to sort this."
Colombian forward and Chelsea target Radamel Falcao, 26, admits he is unsure whether he has a future at Atletico Madrid because of the deepening economic crisis in Spain. Metro
Liverpool seem to have successfully warded off interest from Manchester City in their centre-back Daniel Agger - the 27-year-old is to agree a new four-year deal to remain at Anfield. Daily Mirror
Everton will strive to keep hold of all of their talented players in January, according to 33-year-old goalkeeper Tim Howard, as they push for a Champions League place come the end of the season. Sky Sports News
Everton are lining up a fresh bid for Bruges and Belgium midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Fifa having refused to ratify a deal in August. Sun
Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman admits his 19-year-old winger Wilfried Zaha could be bound for the top flight - alerting potential suitors Tottenham and Liverpool. talkShit
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been told by Blackpool boss Ian Holloway that winger Tom Ince, 20, will not be sold on the cheap. Sun
Pep Guardiola is being targeted by AC Milan, who want to stop the former Barcelona coach taking his next job in the Premier League. Daily Mirror
Burnley have issued a 'hands off' warning after manager Eddie Howe was linked with a return to his old club, AFC Bournemouth. Lancashire Evening Telegraph
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew denies suggestions from his 26-year-old midfielder Yohann Cabaye that Tottenham tried to sign the France international in the summer. Sun
England manager Roy Hodgson has taken a calculated risk and decided to let Stuart Pearce select a number of up-and-coming talents for the Under-21 squad, including 19-year-old deputy goalkeeper Jack Butland, 20-year-old Tottenham defender Steven Caulker and Liverpool's 17-year-old winger Raheem Sterling. Guardian
Meanwhile, West Ham are to seek assurances that Hodgson will treat 23-year-old striker Andy Carroll with care if he is selected for England's World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland in October - Carroll is only just returning to action from a hamstring injury.
And it appears that veteran defender Rio Ferdinand's career as an England centre-half is at an end after Hodgson confided to commuters of a London Underground journey: "It is over for him and England. It has got to be the end of the road. He is pushing 34 and hasn't played for England for a long, long time." Daily Mirror
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway insists his winger, 20-year-old Tom Ince, is as good if not better than Arsenal's England international pair Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott. Daily Star
Celtic's Essex-born striker Gary Hooper, 24, is world class and should be considered for a place in Thursday's England squad announcement, according to manager Neil Lennon. Daily Telegraph
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers backs Italian striker Fabio Borini, 21, to hit goalscoring form in the near future. "Over time he will come good," promised Rodgers. Times
Roy Keane, 41, has delayed a decision about an offer to manage Turkish outfit Kasimpasa after being made aware of a potential interest in him from Blackburn Rovers.
But Keane's former Manchester United team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 39, has emerged as a surprise candidate to become the next Blackburn manager if they fail in an attempt to appoint Tim Sherwood. Times
Olympic gold medallist and BBC Sport athletics pundit Michael Johnson was at Arsenal's training ground on Tuesday. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger revealed the club collaborate with the American by sending younger players to Johnson's base in Dallas to boost their speed. Sun
Former England general manager Franco Baldini has rejected an approach from Tottenham Hotspur to become the club's new technical director and is set to stay with Roma.
However, the 51-year-old could yet be without a club as his position at the Serie A side is under threat. Evening Standard
Centre-back Joleon Lescott is set to remain on the Manchester City bench for Wednesday's Champions League match at home to Borussia Dortmund. The 30-year-old was left out of the recent game against Real Madrid and Saturday's 2-1 win at Fulham. Times
Aston Villa record signing Darren Bent, 28, has demanded talks with manager Paul Lambert, 43, after being dropped to the substitutes' bench for Sunday's game against West Bromwich Albion. Daily Star
QPR striker Bobby Zamora, 31, has claimed that a number of Fulham's squad do not see eye to eye with his former manager Martin Jol and that there are a lot of unhappy players at Craven Cottage. Daily Telegraph
Mark Hughes, 48, has been assured by owner Tony Fernandes that he retains the full support of the Queens Park Rangers board and there will be no knee-jerk reaction to the club's position at the bottom of the Premier League. Guardian
Defender James Tomkins, 23, admits he wasted his time by going to the London Olympics and losing his West Ham place. Daily Star
Rodgers has recruited former Swansea head of sports science Ryland Morgans to his coaching team at Liverpool.
Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley is expected to make his return from injury in a friendly match on Thursday. The 27-year-old has not played this season because of an ankle injury. Daily Express
Steven Gerrard has belatedly joined Twitter and already has over 56,500 followers, but he assures the powers that be at Anfield that @SGF08 "won't be anything too ambitious or controversial".
MORE BOLLOX SOON ....
The mancityfans.net football forum
The BEST FORUM in all the land and all the world
