FAIR PLAY TO THE GEORDIES BOLLOX
Newcastle continue with their ban on The Mail and the Mail on Sunday
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100527 ... 37_2060552
Meanwhile the Geordies put cheeky bid in for Ned ...
Newcastle set for Onuoha swoop
Newcastle’s hopes of ending Nedum Onuoha’s 13-year stay at Manchester City have hit a stumbling block.
Toon boss Chris Hughton is ready to offer £3.5m for the centre-back, but the Blues will not even consider selling at that price.
Nigeria-born, Harpurhey-raised Onuoha – who has been at City since the age of 10 – signalled his days at the club were numbered when he gave an interview that was heavily critical of boss Roberto Mancini two weeks ago.
Onuoha has been frustrated by his lack of opportunities under the Italian, for whom he has made just five starts.
The 23-year-old played through the entire second half of the 2008/09 season alongside Richard Dunne at centre-back, but found his chances limited following the arrivals of Kolo Toure from Arsenal and Joleon Lescott from Everton.
Sunderland and Aston Villa have also been tracking the former England Under-21 defender, who is the Blues’ longest-serving first-teamer, having made his debut in October 2004.
Manchester City representatives were placing their bets with Barcelona yesterday.
They met with Txiki Begiristain and Raul Sanllehí.
An initial bid of €20 million was made for the Ivorian. Unfortunately the player’s agent, Dmitri Selçuk seems to feel this is anywhere up to €15 million shy of the desired asking price. Other obstacles include City’s inability to boast Champions League football. Oh yes and Chelsea said to be looming.
The bid for Ibra hasn’t fared much better. Ibra apparently does not like the British weather bless him and believes it would be a step back while waiting for an offer from Milan. There is even speculation in certain parts of Europe that Massimo Moratti would have asked him repatriated for Inter.
The bid for Alves was a total no go and it seems €45 million doesn’t even get you tea and sandwiches with great man. He simply ain’t for sale
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent exhausted with constant Barcelona to Manchester City transfer talkIbra will not leave Spanish giants...
Zlatan Ibrahomovic's agent Mino Raiola insists the towering striker will not be leaving Barcelona this summer, despite persistent rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City.
The Sweden international has been continually linked with moves away from Camp Nou, with the Citizens, Juventus and Milan believed to be weighing-up a move for the clinical sharpshooter.
However, Raiola has quashed the speculation, killing off all chances of Ibra leaving Spain in favour of a Serie A return.
"I am fed up of repeating that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not for sale. I cannot waste time always saying the same things," he told Calciomercato.it.
"Joan Laporta confirmed that Zlatan is not for sale.
"We are speaking about a great player, and it's normal for clubs to be interested in him, but he is not for sale."
Everton and Man City again on good terms, discussing transfers
The Guardian says City maintain interest in Everton's Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta.
With Stephen Ireland wanting to leave Eastlands, this explains why City are looking at Arteta's potential availability.
City chief Garry Cook recently had lunch with the Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, in part to try to repair the damage caused to the relationship between the clubs during the Joleon Lescott transfer saga last summer.
The relations are now described as cordial and there is interest from Goodison Park in some of City's fringe players, most notably Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.
Robinho future in the balance
Robinho has called on Roberto Mancini to give him the chance to make a new start away from City. And the Blues hierarchy must now decide whether to cut their losses on the Brazilian playmaker.
Robinho has indicated that he wants to stay in his native country with Santos, who he joined on loan from City at the end of January.
The problem is there is no way the Brazilian club could afford his transfer fee or match his salary at City.
AC Milan have not made any contact with the Blues regarding the 26-year-old, despite reports indicating their interest in signing him.
Robinho still has three years to run on his contract at Eastlands, and Mancini has indicated in the past he expects the Brazilian to return to Manchester after the World Cup.
But the playmaker himself has other ideas, stating he wants to extend the loan, which is due to expire in early August.
He said: “I want to return to Santos after the World Cup as a champion and then extend the loan to 2011.
“I want to win titles with Santos and my agents are organising talks with City.
“Everything is up to them, but if it was up to me then I would stay with Santos. I’m happy there, enjoying my football and I’m going to the World Cup in good form and feeling relaxed.”
It is understood that City would listen to offers of around £25m for Robinho, who smashed the British transfer record when he arrived at Eastlands from Real Madrid in September 2008.
The £32.5m signing was brought in on a £160,000-a-week deal, and got his Blues career off to a great start by scoring on his debut against Chelsea.
He finished as City’s top scorer during his first season, netting 15 goals in all competitions.
But his inconsistent displays were a source of frustration to City’s then-manager Mark Hughes – and murmurings about his long-term future did not take long to surface.
And while Mancini has refused to rule out a Robinho return, it looks increasingly likely that his future lies away from England
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