ARSENE WENGER is ready to rescue Shaun Wright-Phillips from his misery at Manchester City.
The tricky winger has failed to land a regular starting place under Roberto Mancini at Eastlands.
Now Mancini is ready to let him leave and Arsenal boss Wenger wants to snap him up in a cut-price £5million deal.
Wright-Phillips returned to City for his second spell with the club in an £8.5m deal from Chelsea in August 2008. He signed a four-year deal worth £60,000 a week but that was before the big money started being spent by new owner Sheikh Mansour.
Wright-Phillips has since been at odds with manager Mancini on the training ground and publicly complained about the club not offering him better terms on his contract.
He has started just seven games since Mancini took charge in December and has been substituted in six of those. SUN
Roberto Mancini lays down City law with warning to Carlos Tevez
Tevez keen to stay despite being told to work harder
Roberto Mancini has received a categorical assurance from Carlos Tevez that he wants to remain at Manchester City next season after summoning the club's player of the year for a clear-the-air meeting specifically aimed at addressing his complaints about the Italian's training methods.
Mancini's relationship with his leading scorer has been fractious since Tevez gave an unauthorised interview last month in which he said the club should not have sacked Mark Hughes and the players were "not happy" with being asked to take part in double practice sessions. Manager and player spoke yesterday – the second time Mancini has summoned him to his office in two weeks – and Tevez was told directly that he needed to set a better example and actually work harder.
Tevez responded favourably but Mancini, still determined to sign Fernando Torres despite City's failure to qualify for the Champions League, was happy not only to reveal what was said but also to announce there will be an even tougher training regime next season, regardless of the Argentinian's complaints.
"In the summer I will be changing every thing," Mancini said. "It will be difficult for the players and I've told them: 'Recover well in the summer because next year we will be working harder.' I am serious about this. Next season we will be playing Thursday and Sunday, and if we want to improve we have to work harder. We will have to train two times some days."
Mancini organises a double training session every Tuesday if there is no midweek match but that regime has also seen him clash with Craig Bellamy. The former Internazionale manager said he would speak to a number of other players before Sunday's game at West Ham.
Tevez ended last Tuesday's one-off session early, complaining he was tired, and his attitude has become a concern even though he has scored 29 goals this season and been the club's outstanding player.
"I wanted to speak to Carlos because I wanted to know if he was happy to play here and happy to train two times a day," Mancini said. "If he wants to improve and work hard he can be the best player in the world. But he will have to work harder. It's not a joke. Carlos knows this and he said he is happy to stay here next year. He said: 'I want to win with Manchester City.' That is important because Carlos is a top player and when you are a top player you must also be an example to the other players and the supporters."
Mancini's relationship with Bellamy, despite public pronouncements to the contrary from both sides, is so fraught the chief executive, Garry Cook, visited the player at his house recently to try to heal what has been described as "an uneasy truce".
Mancini was asked whether he was surprised that Premier League players were so willing to challenge a manager's authority. "I think they have a different culture from Italian players. But all players are the same really. They all want to play, they all want to win – and they don't want to work hard! I played for 20 years and I was the same. When I was young I didn't like to work either but afterwards I realised you can win more if you work hard."
Asked whether he had demonstrated he was in charge, he replied: "I think so. At first, I think it was difficult for the players because I did change training. But I didn't change everything. It's summer I will change everything."
By then, he will have a better idea of whether Torres is willing to leave Liverpool, but he accepted City's chances have drastically receded after failing to finish in the top four. "I don't know what chance we have. Torres is a fantastic player but it doesn't depend on us, it depends on him. We will try, but I don't know what he thinks."
The club's chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, strengthened Mancini's position with a public vote of confidence after the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday. "If the club had decided to sack me, it's normal," Mancini said. "We are all human and we all make mistakes. Every day you make mistakes and I have often made them. But when I do make mistakes I try to improve." GUARDIAN
Tevez has insisted that he is happy at Eastlands and prepared to accept his manager's demanding training regime. TELEGRAPH
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... -City.html
CARLOS TEVEZ has sent an end-of-season thank you to Manchester City's staff by buying them ALL 42-inch plasma TVs.
The Argentine striker made his amazing gesture after his first season at the club because he feels he has been treated so well.
Generous Tevez even bought the TVs for the tea lady, canteen workers and laundry workers.
Tevez, who earns £120,000 a week, says he is happy after clear-the-air talks with boss Roberto Mancini.
The Argentine, who has hit 29 goals, fell out with the manager over his tough training regime.
"He's a very important player and he told me he was happy. If he wants to work hard he can be the best player in the world."
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Real Madrid are planning another record-breaking transfer deal this summer with a £120m offer for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. Daily Mirror
Manager Harry Redknapp wants to make one marquee signing this summer as Tottenham prepare for their first Champions League campaign. Daily Mirror
Manchester United could make a shock summer move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka if the 31-year-old's contract negotiations stall. The Sun
Arsenal are also keen to sign Bolton defender Gary Cahill in the summer with the fee set to be about £15m. caughtoffside.com
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is wanted by Stoke City, with manager Tony Pulis ready with an offer of £5m plus players.Daily Mirror
Wolves are ready to offer £3m for Hull's Stephen Hunt after the winger was told he could leave for a cut-price figure. Daily Mail
Liverpool are reportedly keen on using midfielder Alberto Aquilani as part of a deal that would bring Juventus forward Vincenzo Iaquinta to Anfield. caughtoffside.com
Manchester United want £6m!!! for unsettled goalkeeper Ben Foster after Birmingham stepped up their interest. Daily Mail
Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson has emerged as a transfer target for rivals Newcastle. Goal.com
Rangers' teenage defender Danny Wilson will seal a transfer to Liverpool next week. Scottish Sun
Neil Lennon will pull out all the stops to keep Robbie Keane at Celtic if he lands the manager's job permanently.Daily Record
Hearts want Burnley forward Robbie Blake to lead their attack next season, with the 34-year-old heading for the Turf Moor exit. (Sun)
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher is poised to make a sensational return to international football by answering a desperate World Cup plea from England manager Fabio Capello.
Full story: Daily Mail
Owen Hargreaves is also being tipped for a place in the squad after Gareth Barry's participation was put in doubt by an ankle injury. Daily Mirror
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson faces an anxious wait ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final against Atletico Madrid with striker Bobby Zamora and winger Damien Duff both injury doubts. Daily Telegraph
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has shouldered the blame for the club's disappointing season, the Hammers having flirted with relegation for much of the campaign. Daily Mirror
Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown has urged the club's administrators to do everything they can to persuade manager Avram Grant to stay on for next season.
Daily Mirror
FINAL BOLLOX
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has been named manager of the season by Premier League sponsors Barclays after securing a Champions League place. the Sun
However, Sandra Redknapp will not be going on Spurs' European trips, Harry's wife having been banned by her husband.the Sun
Chelsea's French winger Florent Malouda admits it would be "the worst blow" of his career if Chelsea fail to win this season's Premier League title.Daily Mirror
The Bollox will be back on track next week after a somewhat intermittant service. Sadly trying to run the country has taken a priority the last few weeks and now it's been sorted (ha!) usual service will resume. Thank you.
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