Wednesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Manchester City look to replace Craig Bellamy with Angel di Maria
Craig Bellamy's long-term future at Manchester City has been clouded by the club's growing interest in Benfica winger Angel di Maria.
Argentina international Di Maria and his Benfica team-mate, the Paraguay forward Oscar Cardozo, have emerged as targets at Eastlands with the Champions League hopefuls aiming to recruit rising stars alongside more established names as they attempt to evolve their transfer strategy this summer.
City are already close to finalising an £11 million deal for Hamburg’s Germany defender Jerome Boateng and, while no firm moves have yet been made to lure Di Maria and Cardozo from Benfica, City’s technical director, Mike Rigg, has admitted that the two players are under observation at Eastlands.
Rigg said: "Di Maria and Cardozo are two excellent players, very strong in their respective positions, and highly-rated in the international market.
"It is logical that a club like Manchester City have to be attentive to players with such potential. Di Maria and Cardozo are two fantastic players."
Di Maria recently signed a new contract until 2015 at Benfica, but the 22 year-old is understood to have an escape clause of £35 million at Estadio da Luz. Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the player.
A traditional left-winger, Di Maria would appear to pose a threat to Bellamy’s position at City should the club follow up their interest by making an attempt to sign him this summer.
Manager Roberto Mancini has shown little reluctance to overlook fans’ favourites in favour of emerging talent, with Shaun Wright-Phillips struggling to oust Adam Johnson from the City first-team, and Bellamy’s position would be under the microscope if Mancini captures a new left-sided player while strengthening his squad.
Midfielder Stephen Ireland and defender Micah Richards could also face difficult decisions over their future at City having failed to secure regular starting positions under Mancini.

Manchester City set to swoop for Villa's Ashley Young
Ashley Young is a target for Manchester City as Villa manager Martin O’Neill battles to hold on to his top stars.
City are ready to offload Craig Bellamy, Martin Petrov and Shaun Wright-Phillips in the summer and want to link Young on one wing with England hopeful Adam Johnson on the other.
Bellamy’s future has been thrown into doubt after high-profile rows at Eastlands.
The 24-year-old Young has been one of Villa’s most consistent performers this season.
But City know that a number of Villa players are concerned that the club are more likely to sell this summer than beef up a squad that reached the Carling Cup final and last four of the FA Cup.
O’Neill insisted yesterday that he has had no official contact from City and also bristled at suggestions that they may move for James Milner.
Villa plan to open new contract talks with Milner at the end of the season.
He has two years left on his £45,000-a-week contract at Villa Park after arriving from Newcastle in August 2008 in a club-record £12m deal.
Manchester United have also been linked with Milner, but O’Neill said of the speculation: “It is irksome at this stage of the season.
“It doesn’t do anyone any favours particularly because the player has had a fantastic time and is enjoying his football immensely here.
“he has had a really brilliant time, particularly since moving into the middle of midfield and I am delighted for him.
“James is still under contract with us and it’s a case of dampening fires that weren’t there in the first place.
“We want the best players to stay here at Aston Villa so we can keep the momentum going.”

TRANSFER BOLLOX
AC Milan are planning a £20m summer swoop for Manchester United's Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov. The Sun

Liverpool are preparing to ruffle the feathers of city rivals Everton with a move for the Toffees' midfielder Steven Pienaar.Daily Mail

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James will snub a summer move to West Brom in favour of playing what he described as "real football" in the Championship next season. On 10 April the Baggies sealed their promotion to the Premier League, while Pompey were relegated from the top flight. The Sun

Striker Eidur Gudjohnsen wants to stay at Tottenham next season. The Icelander is currently on loan from French side Monaco. The Sun

Bolton will place a £17m price-tag on defender Gary Cahill if he makes it into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for this summer's tournament in South Africa.The Sun

Birmingham and Blackburn are battling it out with Italian side Roma for Estudiantes striker Mauro Boselli. The Sun

West Brom, who recently sealed their promotion back to the Premier League, say they will resist any offers for highly-rated midfielder Graham Dorrans this summer. Daily Mail

Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega is set to snub a move to the Premier League's elite as he feels he has a better chance of playing by joining a team outside the top four. Daily Mirror

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is tracking Stockport's teenage defender Sam Barnes. Daily Mirror

OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Everton boss David Moyes is the man to succeed him at Old Trafford. Apparently, Ferguson is ready to step down as United manager after one more season. The Sun

Italian side Juventus are ready to give Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez until the end of the season to decide if he would like to take over as their new manager. They originally set a deadline for the end of this week. Daily Mirror

Celtic are considering a move to make Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies their next manager after the former Rangers player intimated he would be interested in returning to Scotland. The Times

Former England boss Steve McLaren looks set to reject an offer from West Ham to replace Gianfranco Zola as manager this summer. McLaren is currently managing FC Twente, who are just one win from this season's Dutch title, but has only one year left on his contract.Daily Mail

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has opened talks to extend the contract of manager Chris Hughton, who this season led the club to promotion back to the Premier League after a season in the Championship. Daily Mail

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard says the club need to buy four "quality" players if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season. Daily Mail

Portsmouth are expected to announce that their debts total £119m when their accounts for the last financial year are released later on Wednesday. The Times

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is unsure whether to risk exacerbating striker Didier Drogba's groin injury by playing him in this weekend's match against Stoke as the title chase nears its climax. The Blues hold a one-point lead over second placed Manchester United with three games to play. The Independent

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres rates England's starting side as the second best in the world and believes they could be ready to go all the way in the World Cup, which begins on 11 June in South Africa. (Press Association)

England goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton says keeper Ben Foster must leave champions Manchester United if he wants to save his international career. "Foster was on a par with [West Ham's Robert] Green a while back but he is not playing first-team football anymore and that is going to count against him," said Shilton. Daily Mail

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has given midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen, whose contract expires this summer, until the end of today to decide if he wants to sign a new deal at Ewood Park.Daily Mirror

Developers of the official 2010 World Cup video game seem to think England may struggle during the tournament proper, which begins on 11 June in South Africa. Having factored in the high altitude conditions at certain venues, players of the game will discover that the England side have been programmed to feel the energy-sapping effects sooner than some of their virtual opponents.The Independent

[craigmcfc]

Those poor Villa fans eh? One day it's Milner, the next Ashley Young. Would quite happily take either

[john68]

Those poor Villa fans eh? One day it's Milner, the next Ashley Young. Would quite happily take either

Or both???

[craigmcfc]

Those poor Villa fans eh? One day it's Milner, the next Ashley Young. Would quite happily take either

Or both???

Aye I think I'd be very happy with that option too

[Vhero]

Those poor Villa fans eh? One day it's Milner, the next Ashley Young. Would quite happily take either

Or both???

Aye I think I'd be very happy with that option too

Hahaha we took Barry then we took one of those?? That would just show we really are the new power around here I remember a time when the rags did that every year picked on the weak stealing there best players at one player a year to stay on top. Not only do you get better you weaken your opponents. It's win, win.. That's how the top 4 stayed top 4 for so long..

[Chinners]

FFS BOLLOX

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City will play at Red Bull Arena in July. (Getty Images)The New York Red Bulls will host English Premier League giants Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the inaugural New York Football Challenge this summer.
Portugal's Sporting Lisbon has also been named as a tentative participant in the tourney, which will take place at Red Bull Arena from July 22-25.
“The New York Football Challenge 2010 is an important one for us," Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini told his club's official Web site. "We have big ambitions for the Premier League next season, and this tournament will give us the perfect opportunity to prepare for our season with some highly competitive games, enthusiastic supporters and world-class facilities."
"It is also a great chance for us to show our ability as a team to our supporters in America.
Manchester City, who boast world-class talent such as Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor on their roster, are currently battling Spurs for a top-four finish in England's top flight.
Spurs, who are led by manager Harry Redknapp, were runners-up in this year's English League Cup. They also have an official partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes and will likely head out West during their visit to the United States.
The tournament will give Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe a chance to reacquaint himself with a former employer. Backe served as an assistant coach at Manchester City during the 2007 season when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge.

Jerome Boateng bound for Manchester City despite brother's nightmare at Spurs
The Boateng name is already well known in this country after Kevin-Prince's Wembley heroics for Portsmouth earlier this month, but it is about to become even more familiar as younger brother Jerome prepares to announce himself to English audiences.
The younger Boateng, who aims to wreck Fulham's Europa League dreams in Hamburg, will be a regular feature in the Barclays Premier League next season when he completes an £11million summer move to Manchester City.
Sibling rivalry: Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng and Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng
The switch will partially reunite the brothers, but before that there is the small matter of making some World Cup history.
There have been instances of siblings playing together at football's greatest showpiece, but never against each other. In that regard, the Boatengs will create a landmark moment in Johannesburg on June 23 when Kevin- Prince walks into Ghana's dressing room and Jerome into Germany's.
For the Boateng brothers, Berlin-born of a Ghanaian father, it could hardly be more momentous. 'I don't know how dad's going to work out who to support, but he is as excited as me and Kevin,' said Jerome.
'Ever since Germany and Ghana were drawn in the same group, Kevin and I have been sending each other messages. The texts have been flying. The handshake before kick-off is going to be a special moment, but after that he's just another opponent. Family will count for nothing, and if I have to kick him, I will without even thinking.
'We've faced each other once before, when he was on loan at Borussia Dortmund near the end of last season. I was on the losing side that day, but I have told him I will have my revenge in Johannesburg.'
They are tough words, but Jerome is said to have a somewhat calmer personality than his older brother, who sprung to attention when he ripped off his shirt and revealed an array of tattoos after helping Portsmouth reach the FA Cup final.
Capital gains: Kevin-Prince Boateng during his spell at Spurs
Jerome has four tattoos, including one that bears his middle name Agyenim, but there the similarities end. Agyenim evidently means The Great One in his father's native tongue of Asanti-Twi, and it is no idle boast.
Those who have seen him force his way into Germany's team describe him as a dedicated professional with an unflappable temperament - something his older brother could have used in the difficult months following his move to England from Hertha Berlin.
The 23-year-old revealed how his lifestyle spiralled out of control at Tottenham during Damien Comolli's brief stay as director of football.
Reflecting on his introduction to Martin Jol, he said: 'I will never forget that first meeting with the manager. He sat me down in his office and told me I had been signed by Tottenham, not by him. He said he was sure I was a good guy, but I wouldn't be playing in his team. It knocked me flat, and I suddenly felt very alone. I needed a release and I found it in London's night scene.
'I was out all the time, and parties and nightclubs soon became more important to me than the football. Every day, I would get back from training and start thinking about where I was going that evening. I got through an unbelievable amount of money.
'I was in another world. I can't say it was a happy one, and I even lost my driving licence for speeding at one stage. No-one tried to stop me, so I just carried on.
'It was no better during the day. I remember going out one day and buying a Lamborghini, a Hummer and a Cadillac, all in the space of a few hours. It was crazy, but I have finally changed my life. I'm now putting away an amount from my wages every week, so I will have some savings to fall back on, and the cars are going to have to go. I'm selling those, and I'm getting my career back on track, wherever it might take me.'