Vieira joins Bergkamp on list to replace Brady in youth role at Arsenal
Patrick Vieira is in line for a sensational return to Arsenal after Arsene Wenger sounded him out about the job of replacing Liam Brady as head of youth development.
Former Arsenal skipper Vieira, who won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups under Wenger, has joined fellow Gunners legend Dennis Bergkamp on a shortlist of potential candidates for the post of nurturing the next generation of stars.
Vieira is Manchester City's football development executive, a post he has held since 2011.
However, the 36-year-old is understood to be tempted by a reunion with Wenger and the chance to return to work on the training pitch rather than continue with the largely ambassadorial role he performs at City.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have abandoned their pursuit of Barcelona's David Villa after their approaches were rebuffed in the January transfer window, and are set to make £25million-rated Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic the club's No 1 summer target.
Wenger is convinced Jovetic can become his next Robin van Persie and is prepared to smash the club's transfer record - the £15m paid to sign Andrey Arshavin - to land the Montenegro striker.
Manchester City linked with Bojan Krkic swoop
Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic has been linked with a €14m (£11.9m) move to Manchester City.
The 22-year-old is currently on loan at AC Milan following an unsuccessful spell at Roma last season.
The Rossoneri have a €14m option to buy him from Blaugrana at the end of the season, but seem unlikely to trigger the clause.
Bojan has struggled to live up to his potential since emerging from Barca's youth setup in 2007, but Football Italia have reported that the Citizens will offer him a chance to resurrect his career.
The Spanish international has started in ten of his 22 appearances for Milan this season, scoring three goals.
United distractions give Man City hope of ambush
Manchester City hope to capitalise on Manchester United's UEFA Champions League distractions by re-launching the defence of their Premier League title, starting with Saturday's trip to Southampton.
City's 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool last weekend enabled United to stretch their advantage at the top of the table to nine points, with only 13 games of the season remaining.
However, while United will have half an eye on Wednesday's trip to Real Madrid when they host Everton on Sunday, City's own failure in the Champions League means their agenda is free of European commitments.
Aside from a home game against second-tier Leeds United in the FA Cup on 17 February, City can therefore channel all their resources into the pursuit of United.
Côte d'Ivoire's quarter-final exit at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations means that City manager Roberto Mancini will have both Yaya and Kolo Toure at his disposal for Saturday's visit to the English south coast.
Yaya Toure played a key role in last season's drive to the title, when City came from eight points behind to pip United on the final day, and he says the experience of the 2011/12 campaign proves it is too early to abandon hope.
"We are further behind than we'd like, of course, but all we need to do is think about last season to know what is possible," the midfielder told the club's official website.
"Anything can happen. We have a full squad of fantastic players and I think the most important thing is we are all back together.
"United have a strong squad and on paper, they have an easier run-in than we do, but the title race is a long way from finished."
Everton's last visit to Old Trafford, in April last year, saw them come back from 4-2 down to force a 4-4 draw that played a pivotal role in tilting the momentum of the title race in City's favour.
As well as a two-legged tie with Madrid in the Champions League last 16, United are also scheduled to face Reading in the FA Cup, but manager Alex Ferguson is happy with the depth in his squad.
He told Inside United magazine: "We've got players back from injury, which is important, and I usually find that during the second half of the season when the big games come along, everyone is fit!"
Neymar Will Not Move to Manchester City Before 2014
Brazilian starlet and Santos forward, Neymar, will not be sold to Manchester City or anyone, come the end of the season says Santos president Luis Álvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro. The comments come after Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo reported that Manchester City were ready to offer a blank cheque in order to secure the services of the Brazilian international.
According to Goal.com, Ribeiro denied that any deal had been struck between Santos and any other club. He further went on to claim that it wasn't because of money that nothing had been agreed upon saying:
I anticipate my answer to any bids that might come: the answer is no. Neymar will stay at Santos until 2014, and I hope that he'll continue here for even longer.
I have a very clear basis for Neymar staying here, resisting offers from the Spanish clubs [Barcelona and Real Madrid, in 2011], for one basic reason: he's happy.
He costs us a relatively modest amount of money, given his talent. His presence translates into intangible gains, like our fan base growing 20% in the last two years.
All indications suggest that Santos most definitely have the progression of the 21-year-old's career as the priority behind any move. Far too often nowadays clubs are far too eager to cash in on their up-and-coming stars. As such, many careers have been ruined by being released too early or to a club not suited to their ability.
Seeing as though Santos have kept Neymar in Brazil despite much overseas interest over the last few years would conclude that they are indeed intent on him seeing out his contract. Personally, I wouldn't mind waiting a couple of years to see Neymar play in Europe, especially if a delayed arrival would allow him to fully reach his playing potential.
Neymar started for Brazil in their recent international friendly against England. The Selecao went down 2-1 to the hosts and it is fair to say that Neymar never really found his rhythm during the match. Although I'm hesitant to jump to conclusions, I would say that it is such stutters that could justify Ribeiro's desire for him to remain in Brazil a little longer.
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[/spoiler]Premier League agrees new financial regulations
The Premier League says its clubs will be punished with a points deduction if they breach new spending controls.
Each team will not be allowed to make a total loss of more than £105m over the next three seasons and must limit their player wage bills from next season.
"If people break the £105m we will look for the top-end ultimate sanction range - a points deduction," said Premier League boss Richard Scudamore.
The rules are designed to improve the financial sustainability of clubs.
Investment in areas such as stadia and academies will be exempt.
The aim is a 'break even' model similar to the Financial Fair Play regulations introduced by Uefa for sides in European competitions. The FFP allows only a £38m (45m euros) loss - significantly less than the Premier League's new limit of £105m between 2013 and 2016.
Agreeing to cost controls marks a major change for Premier League clubs - they made cumulative losses of £361m in the 2010-11 season - and Scudamore is adamant the system will be enforced.
"As with all things in our rulebook, you will be subject to a disciplinary commission," the Premier League chief executive warned clubs.
"Normally we stay silent on sanctions as the commission has a free range but clearly if there is a material breach of that rule we will be asking the commission to consider top-end sanctions."
Scudamore confirmed there would be an "absolute prohibition" on teams reporting losses of more than £105m over the next three years, with the first sanctions possible in 2016.
Of the 20 top-flight sides, only Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have reported losses of more than £105m over the last three years, according to the most up-to-date published accounts.
It emerged that the vote for the financial regulations could hardly have been closer with only 13 of the 20 clubs voted in favour, with six against and Reading abstaining.
The 'yes' vote only narrowly achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of the 19 votes cast.
It is understood that Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Swansea City and Southampton all voted against. Chelsea, who had initially been viewed as opponents of financial fair play regulations, voted in favour.
"A new owner can still invest a decent amount of money to improve their club but they are not going to be throwing hundreds and hundreds of millions [of pounds] in a very short period of time," said Scudamore.
"While it has worked for a couple of clubs in the last 10 years, if that's going to be done in the future it's going to have to be over a slightly longer term without the huge losses being made.
"I think at £105m you can still build a very decent club with substantial owner funding but you have to do it over time, not in a season."
Chelsea won the Premier League two years after Roman Abramovich acquired the Stamford Bridge outfit, and Manchester City's title success came three years after Sheikh Mansour's takeover.
Any club making a loss of above £5m a year will have to guarantee those losses against the owner's assets, which should help prevent the situations that afflicted Leeds and Portsmouth.
"In some ways that's the most significant part, this is a three-year rolling system of secure funding - it's one year at the moment," Scudamore added.
Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52m will only be allowed to increase their salaries by an accumulative £4m per season for each of the next three years (2013-14: £4m, 2014-15: £8m, 2015-16: £12m).
However, that only applies to revenue centrally distributed by the Premier League - essentially TV income - and does not cover extra money coming in from increases in commercial or matchday income.
The 'short-term cost control' measure applies solely to clubs with a player wage bill in excess of £52m in 2013-14, £56m in 2014-15 and £60m in 2015-16.
West Ham's co-owner David Gold said that the proposals for controls had received backing of the majority of chairmen.
"We have all voted and it was overwhelmingly supported, not by all the clubs - some are a little concerned - but the vast majority of the clubs voted in favour," he explained.
"It's not a salary cap, it's a restraint on over-spending. If clubs increase their revenues then they can increase their spending.
"We have got restraint, that's the important thing. What's driving the whole thing is we've got to avoid another Portsmouth."
Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson commented: "I am pleased that Premier League clubs have agreed further financial regulations that will help ensure they are run on a more sustainable basis.
"The Government has been clear that we want clubs to be on a secure financial footing for the long-term health of the game. This is a welcome and positive move."
Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic, 23, has replaced 31-year-old David Villa of Barcelona as the striker at the top of Arsenal's summer target-list. Daily Mirror
Contrary to previous reports Frank Lampard, 34, has not been approached by Chelsea about a new deal and no negotiations have been scheduled. Sun
Lampard has offers from around the world for when his deal expires this summer, and the midfielder currently favours a switch to Premier League leaders Manchester United. Daily Star
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that Spurs must qualify for the Champions League in order to keep winger Gareth Bale, 23, from the clutches of other clubs, with Real Madrid preparing an offer for the player in the summer. Guardian
West Brom are expecting several bids to be made for striker Peter Odemwingie, 31, and out-of-favour winger Jerome Thomas, 29, by Football League clubs now the loan transfer window has opened. Birmingham Mail
Aston Villa top scorer Christian Benteke, 22, plans to leave the relegation-threatened club at the end of the season. Arsenal are believed to be favourites to buy him, although Chelsea and Manchester City are also interested. Daily Star
Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, 19, may go out on loan for all of next season after the club said it would take an enormous offer to convince them to sell current keeper Asmir Begovic. Both Manchester United and Manchester City have been linked with the 25-year-old Bosnian international. Daily Mirror
Fulham want to turn 29-year-old full-back Sascha Riether's loan spell at the club from Cologne into a permanent deal. Daily Express
Patrick Vieira, 36, is in line for a surprise return to Arsenal after manager Arsene Wenger spoke to him out about the job of replacing Liam Brady as head of youth development. DSSC
Nottingham Forest chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi says that his decision to name Billy Davies, 48, as the club's fourth manager in seven months does not mean he is an interfering owner. The Times
Newcastle intend to continue concentrating on foreign markets to buy footballers as they insist British players are too overpriced. Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Roy Hodgson has closed the door on a return to the England team for 34-year-old Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, in spite of the continuing problems the side are experiencing in central defence, including Gary Cahill's error against Brazil. The Independent
Chelsea striker Demba Ba, 27, returned to training on Thursday wearing a face mask to protect the broken nose he suffered against former club Newcastle United last weekend. DSSC
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 21, has taken a swipe at former England manager Fabio Capello, claiming the atmosphere has improved under Roy Hodgson and the national team are now reaping the benefits. The Independent
Mario Balotelli, 22, has appeared to make peace with AC Milan's Paolo Berlusconi after the vice-president of his new team was accused of making racist remarks about the former Manchester City striker. Gazzetta dello Sport
Tottenham have confirmed they will help former player Paul Gascoigne, 45, in his latest bid to seek rehabilitation for his problems. London Evening Standard
Liverpool's 35-year-old defender Jamie Carragher, who has announced he is retiring at the end of the season, is weighing up several offers from television companies keen to see the knowledgeable player perform a similar role to that played by former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville at Sky. Daily Mirror
Former Everton winger Andy van der Meyde, 33, warned fellow Dutchman Royston Drenthe, 25, not to move to the club in 2011 as there are too many temptations for footballers on Merseyside in his opinion. Liverpool Echo
more later ....
