Turkish FA chiefs have put ex-Manchester City boss Hughes at the top of their shortlist of candidates to be their next national manager. It is understood that the Turkish FA have already made moves to sound out Hughes and would like to team him up with ex-Blackburn midfielder Tugay as a dream ticket. Former Turkey international Tugay was a member of Hughes’ coaching staff at Manchester City and is still regarded as a national hero.Tugay quit City after Hughes was sacked from his post at Eastlands last month to make way for new boss Roberto Mancini.Hughes is in line for a £3m pay-off from City and is now considering his next move in football management after the disappointment of his dismissal from Eastlands.Former Manchester United striker Hughes has seen his stock rise after receiving sympathy following his exit from City. Hughes was also scathing after his dismissal after claiming he was betrayed by the City board.
Turkish FA chiefs are determined to get a foreign boss to replace Fatih Terim who quit the job after failing to lead the country to next summer’s World Cup finals.But attempts to lure a big-name like Luiz Felipe Scolari, Giovanni Trapattoni and Guus Hiddink have failed.Hughes appeals because he has experience of the international stage from managing Wales and has the added appeal of having a national hero in Tugay in his camp.
Stoke demand £20million for defensive ace
Stoke have slapped a staggering £20million price tag on Ryan Shawcross in a bid to scare off the Premier League predators.
Shawcross has been recommended to new Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, while Liverpool and Spurs are also long-term admirers of the centre-half.
But Stoke are determined to keep the former Manchester United defender and will demand a substantial fee if they receive any bids this month.Shawcross, 22, cost Stoke just £1m from United two years ago and boss Tony Pulis believes he can still mount a late bid for England's World Cup squad.Pulis said: "We have made it quite clear that he is going nowhere and we were delighted when Ryan signed a new deal late last year.
"He is an exceptionally talented young lad who has an important part to play at this football club."I am confident he will be a major influence upon what we are trying to achieve here."Stoke will welcome back Shawcross for tonight's Premier League clash with Fulham after a one-match suspension.
Manchester City were in advanced discussions last night over a surprise move to bring Patrick Vieira back to the Premier League after Roberto Mancini identified the former Arsenal captain as his first signing for the club.
Although Mancini, City’s new manager, said yesterday that he would not talk about making additions until after the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Manchester United tomorrow, talks have taken place in the past 48 hours over a deal to take Vieira, 33, on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season.
It is possible that the move could be finalised in time for Vieira to make his City debut at home to Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
Mancini is well acquainted with Vieira, who won the first of his two Serie A titles while playing under him for Inter in 2006. The only apparent obstacle to a deal is the possibility of a late intervention from another club, with Arsène Wenger admitting last summer that he would be tempted to take the France midfield player back to Arsenal.
City are likely to offer Vieira the promise of a permanent contract next season if the arrangement works out for both parties.
Mancini has ruled out the possibility of signing Antonio Cassano, the Sampdoria forward, and has questioned the feasibility of persuading Juventus and Inter to sell Giorgio Chiellini and Mario Balotelli respectively. He did, however, acknowledge reports in Italy linking him with moves to sign Cristian Chivu and Iván Córdoba, another two of his mainstays at Inter.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to axe seven players for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final with bitter rivals Manchester City following his side's humiliating defeat by Leeds in the third round of the FA Cup. Striker Dimitar Berbatov and right-back Gary Neville head the list of those for the chop.The Sun
Birmingham City fans speak out on Joe Hart issue
Birmingham City's loan sensation Joe Hart returns to Manchester City after his loan spell ends in May, after the northern club said they want to keep him. But Hart is keen to secure regular first-team football and Alex McLeish has admitted that if Manchester won’t sell – he has been knocked back about a permanent January transfer – he will ask for a second season’s loan.
The young keeper stated yesterday that he would be happy to come back to Blues for another season on loan.
Birmingham City fans on our forums have been busy discussing his future, some fans even called for Blues to offer a big transfer fee to sway Man City.
Here's what they had to say:
Bluesky: To offer £3.5m is a derisery offer and was never going to be accepted.In today's inflated market prices his value must be £7m - £8m. Alex needs to be more realistic about transfer fees without breaking the bank. To make a real impact in the Premiership isnt cheap !!!
SpionKop: If we are going to get Joey Hart we are going to have to pay double figures for the kid. The market these days are well over-priced and Man City will want to hold onto a young, gifted and English keeper. The kids a brummie and we the fans, the staff at Blues and Hart himself know his future lies with Blues. If we stay in the top ten this season, I have no doubt Hart will ask for a transfer request to Blues. 10 million for Hart and everybody's happy. Big price tag on his shoulders, but at 23 a world cup international/winner/runnerup...? We may have to pay that kind of money for him.
ChrissyBoy1: Alex Ferguson said a top class goalie in your side is worth 9 points a season. £7mil is a snip for someone with the quality and further potential development of Joe Hart. Sign him up! KRO
Bluewatch: Unfortunatly it was never going to happen.When a club is open to spend enough money to buy a small country on the best players available, they are unlikely to give up one they already own.
But lets not be to down beat as we still have him for this season and possably next. The sad vile fans can look on with envy as he stops any shots their tinpot team manage to get past our world class defence. They were lucky to meet us early this season before our lads had time to gell.
Wont happen again when we visit their shed.We are only 3 points behind them at moment.By the time we humiliate them at their shed we will already be well above them....Kro
Standrews: I don't blame Man City. Why should they rush a decision? They've got a new manager, who wants to assess his squad, and they will have seen how Hart has improved. They also know that if he does go to S Africa, even if he doesn't get a game, his value will increase as a result of being in the squad. There is no pressure on them to sell him, so I am quite happy for Blues to hang on in there and see if things change in the meantime. If Blues finish in the top half and Hart gets picked for England, it is likely that he will want to leave Man City to join us, which would give us a good chance. If not, we can go out and buy another keeper - so no need to panic.
WAG OF THE DAY - Ilary Blasi
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... lary-blasi
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Real Madrid are ready to capitalise on the growing rift between Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and Nemanja Vidic by bidding for the defender. Vidic was a late withdrawal for Sunday's FA Cup match against Leeds, which United lost 1-0. The Times
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to bring Atletico Madrid's Argentine winger Maxi Rodriguez to Anfield this January, initially on a short-term loan deal.Daily Mirror
Liverpool are also looking to offload player's during the transfer window with Italian left-back Andrea Dossena set to sign for Napoli in a £5m switch. Goal.com
Birmingham will test Liverpool's desire to hold on to Ryan Babel by bidding £8m for the Dutch winger in January. Independent
Birmingham are also set to tie up a £2.5m deal for Sporting Gijon's Spanish midfielder Michel but they have pulled out of a proposed move for Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi.Daily Mirror
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini for £22m but Sampdoria will only let him leave if the 25-year-old is loaned back to them for the rest of the season.Daily Mirror
West Ham and Bolton are both chasing Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes, who is out of favour at Benfica and desperate for first-team football to boost his hopes of making his country's 2010 World Cup squad. Daily Mirror
Celtic are set to boost their Scottish Premier League title bid with a loan move for Stoke striker Dave Kitson.Scottish Sun
An unlikely figure has offered to help Michael Owen in the Manchester United striker's bid to claim a place in Fabio Capello's 2010 World Cup squad. Former England cricket captain and United fan Geoff Boycott has written to Owen suggesting he try the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui after the Test Match Special commentator utilised it during his recovery from cancer.
The Sun
[/center]
