Chelsea favourites to sign Falcao after Man City pull out of the chase
The champions stance may change if they can offload Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window
Chelsea's hopes of landing Rademel Falcao have been boosted after Manchester City turned down the chance to bid for the Colombian striker.
Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that Atletico Madrid General Manager Migel Angel Gil Marin and Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes met with City’s new sporting director Txiki Begiristan after the champions’ 2-1 win over Spurs last week.
Both men arrived at the Etihad without receiving an invitation from City and were told that Roberto Mancini’s interest in Falcao would not be firmed up with an offer.
Cash-strapped Atletico were hoping that a bidding war between City and Chelsea would force up the price of a player who has a £28million release clause in his contract.
City’s stance may alter if they can find a buyer for Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window.
Milan giants – Inter and AC – have shown interest but City’s current position means Chelsea have no competition for a player who scored a hat-trick against them in August’s European Super Cup.
Falcao, 26, scored 36 goals last season after being recruited to replace Sergio Aguero in a £35m deal.
Mancini feels his team lacks firepower despite the presence of Aguero, Balotelli, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko in his squad.
But Chelsea have an even greater need for a striker, with Fernando Torres still struggling.
Meanwhile, Mancini has been told there will be no new cash for players – even if he can produce a Champions League miracle this week.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini pleased with improvement
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini felt his side showed glimpses of their best form as they thumped Aston Villa 5-0 to move top of the Premier League.
City also beat Tottenham last week and Mancini thinks they are improving on their early-season performances.
Mancini said: "We can do better but I hope we are starting to find the form of last season.
"In the last two games I think we changed something. In our mind we found a good spirit, like last year."
The victory took Mancini's side - the only remaining unbeaten team in the top flight - above neighbours United, who went on to lose at Norwich in the later kick-off.
Champions City have conceded only 10 goals in 12 league matches and have the best defensive record in the division, as well as the best goal difference.
Scoring goals has been more problematic of late and Mancini was pleased to see Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez grab two apiece against Villa, after Aguero and Edin Dzeko both netted against Spurs.
"For us it is very important we start to play well and in the last two games we have scored six goals with our strikers," Mancini added. "I think we have been missing their goals."
Villa boss Paul Lambert felt his side were in the game at the Etihad Stadium until City were awarded a controversial penalty for their second goal after 54 minutes.
Linesman Adrian Holmes flagged for a handball by Andreas Weimann as he leapt to meet a corner and referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot.
Lambert said: "That's never a handball. What the linesman saw there I do not know.
"You have got to be 100% sure to give that and he saw something I think 50,000 other people never saw.
"I haven't a clue what he saw. We were well in the game - we had a foothold in it, and that is a big thing coming here. But the penalty was a really shocking decision."
GOAL BOLLOX: Paris Saint-Germain prepare big-money Balotelli bid to tempt Manchester City
The striker has fallen out of favour at the Etihad Stadium in recent weeks, and although Roberto Mancini is keen to keep his compatriot, the Italian may be open to sell in January
Paris Saint-Germain are preparing a sensational January bid for Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.
The 22-year-old has fallen out of favour at City in recent weeks, and has not started for the Etihad Stadium outfit since their disappointing 0-0 draw with West Ham at the start of November.
The striker was not part of City's squad that hammered Aston Villa 5-0 on Saturday due to injury, and he hit the headlines last week after being left out of the squad for his side's victory over Tottenham for having a poor attitude in training.
"I told him this was the reason - because he didn't work well for three days," said Mancini on Friday.
"I think Mario needs to work harder. If any player doesn't work hard it is difficult that he can play at this level. What you do in training you do in the game, and every player needs to work hard to improve his performance in the training sessions. After that he can play well in the game."
Goal.com understands that City manager Roberto Mancini is eager to keep his forward at the Etihad Stadium having consistently backed the controversial 22-year-old since his £22 million move to the club from Inter in 2010.
However, the French club’s billionaire Qatari owners are prepared to test the resolve of the Premier League champions as they look to bolster their strikeforce with a marquee signing in the New Year.
Despite wanting to keep Balotelli, Mancini is himself keen on bolstering his striking options in January, with Stevan Jovetic and Radamel Falcao having been targeted by the Italian. But, he has been told he must sell players before he can bring in more big names, with reports in Italy suggesting the forward wants to return to his homeland to be with his pregnant partner.
PSG, who are also tracking Falcao, made an enquiry for Balotelli after Euro 2012 but withdrew their interest after being quoted a staggering £40m for the Italian.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti is closely monitoring Balotelli’s situation as he looks to bring in support for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who completed a big-money move to the French capital from AC Milan during the summer.
Milan and city rivals Inter have also targeted Balotelli in recent months, but PSG’s owners, the Qatar Investment Authority, have the funds to outbid both clubs if City decide to sell the striker
Chelsea are favourites to sign Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, 26, ahead of Manchester City although the Premier League champions may renew their interest in the Colombian if they can offload Mario Balotelli in January. Sunday Mirror
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Manchester United are preparing a huge bid for Crystal Palace and England winger Wilfried Zaha, 20, who is also wanted by Arsenal and Tottenham. The People
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 70, says the prospect of re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo is remote, describing the 27-year-old former United player as "unbuyable". Sunday Telegraph
The Old Trafford side also want to spend £50m on Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender, both 23. Sunday Mirror
Stoke plan to refuse any loan offers for out of favour strikers Cameron Jerome, 26, and Kenwyne Jones, 28. Leeds and Huddersfield were among several Championship clubs interested in signing the pair. Stoke Sentinel
Liverpool are ready to make an £8m bid for Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, 23, in January. The Ivory Coast international currently tops the Dutch scoring charts with 12 strikes for the season. Sunday Express
Juventus are convinced they can tempt Liverpool to sell Luis Suarez, 25, with a big offer for the Uruguayan. This is despite Reds boss Brendan Rodgers insisting that the striker is not for sale. Sunday Mirror
However Chelsea also want Suarez and think they could capture him, if they install former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, 41, as manager. The People
Meanwhile, Juventus are also not ruling out making a loan move for former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 34, currently with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. SkySports.com
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is prepared to fund some New Year purchases but no detailed plan of action will be drawn up by the club until their fate in the Europa League is known. At present, the Ligue 1 trio of Lille right-back Mathieu Debuchy, 27, Marseille striker Loic Remy, 25, and Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, 23, are under consideration. The Journal
QPR owner Tony Fernandes will decide the future of manager Mark Hughes, 49, this week, with representatives of Harry Redknapp, 65, and Rafa Benitez, 52, said to be indicating their interest in the post. Sunday Telegraph
Peter Reid, 56, has revealed he twice tried to sign Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 31, when he was manager of Sunderland a decade ago. Daily Star Sunday
American businessman Preston Haskell has bettered a long-standing Bahraini bid to buy Leeds United, and has also promised a £10 million transfer budget if chairman Ken Bates, 80, accepts his offer. Sunday Times
Liverpool's Raheem Sterling, 17, says he will be praying for Ben Watson following their freak collision which resulted in the 27-year-old Wigan midfielder breaking a leg at Anfield. SSSC
Arsenal's Theo Walcott, 23, says he wants to play more as an out-and-out striker following his ninth goal of the season in Arsenal's derby defeat of Spurs. talkSHIT
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, 33, says it is vital for the club's future that manager David Moyes signs a new contract. The 49-year-old's current deal expires in the summer. Liverpool Echo
Majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov insists Hearts "don't have any financial problems", despite receiving a winding-up order over a tax bill and the club's public appeal for fans to invest in shares and buy up tickets to raise funds. SSSC
Sol Campbell could not hide his disappointment at Spurs' heavy defeat by Arsenal. Campbell, who left White Hart Lane for Highbury in 2002, was pictured looking glum-faced while sitting with a smiling Thierry Henry at Emirates Stadium. Metro
Popular hip hop artist and actor Snoop Dogg wants to buy a share in Celtic after watching them beat Barcelona earlier this month. The rapper has discussed his plan with David Beckham and claims he'll get the former England captain into a Celtic jersey. SSSC[/i]
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