Adebayor: I want to quit City for Juve
Emmanuel Adebayor wants to walk out on Manchester City to join Juventus.
City's £25million striker, who endured a tough first season at Eastlands following his move from Arsenal, says he is ready to turn his back on the Premier League in favour of Serie A.
Adebayor's remarks will shock City, who have handed the 26-year-old the No.9 shirt for the new season and insist they have no desire to push him out of the door.
But with City hopeful of signing Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli to play alongside Carlos Tevez in attack, Adebayor clearly feels he no longer features in the plans of boss Roberto Mancini.
"Juventus are a great club where I would like to play," said Adebayor.
"Until some time ago I would not have accepted offers from other teams. I wanted to wear the City shirt and have a better season than I did last year.
"But I have now realised there will not be many chances for me to play and so I am considering the many offers I have received.
"I am sorry to leave the Premier League, but in Europe there are other high-level leagues.
"The economic aspect is important, but when there is a chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world you also have to take other things into account."
With the Balotelli deal not yet confirmed, Robinho on his way and Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz also likely to be offloaded, City cannot afford to let Adebayor go because they do not have enough cover up front.
But it is clear Adebayor is far from happy at Eastlands, despite claiming just two weeks ago that he was relishing the chance to show City fans his best form this season, after scoring just 14 goals last season.Mirror
Meanwhile, City officials have denied Emmanuel Adebayor wants to leave the club. The Togo striker was quoted in Italy yesterday touting himself for a move to Serie A giants Juventus. He said: “Juventus are a great club in which I would like to play.
“Until some time ago I would not have accepted a transfer to other clubs.
“I wanted to wear the City shirt and have a better season compared to last year, but I know there will not be many chances for me and so I am considering the many offers I have received.’’
But City claim Adebayor did not in fact make the comments. Star
City have rejected Sunderland's request to take England goalkeeper Joe Hart on loan for the new season. Hart, who spent last season at Birmingham, said he would be willing to go on loan again if he was deemed second-choice at City behind Shay Given.
But City boss Mancini believes Hart has a big role to play at Eastlands this season and has told the 23-year-old he is going nowhere, dashing Steve Bruce's hopes of securing the player's services for the upcoming season. Mirror
Villa OK Milner move and go for McGready
Aston Villa have launched a move for Aiden McGeady as they are on the verge of finally selling James Milner to Man City.
Villa need to sell-to-buy and are in negotiations with City which will see them get around £20million plus midfielder Stephen Ireland.
Milner’s exit is expected to be rubber-stamped in the next 48 hours as Villa’s US owner Randy Lerner is flying into the UK.
And with a huge windfall due from Milner’s imminent sale, Villa are offering Celtic cash plus Nicky Shorey for their winger McGeady.
Republic of Ireland ace McGeady,24, returned on Wednesday night from talks with Spartak Moscow with a view to a £10m transfer.
McGeady had positive discussions with the Russian club after being offered a staggering £70,000-a-week net.
But news of Spartak’s tempting contract has prompted Villa into action as ex-Celtic boss Martin O’Neill wants to be re-united with his former protege.
McGeady prefers a move to the Premier League and is keen on Villa after Mirrorsport revealed O’Neill’s interest on June 25.
Villa are also willing to give Celtic boss Neil Lennon their back-up left-back Shorey, 29, as the SPL giants rate the former England defender.
McGeady is now mulling over his future after both clubs firmed up their interest with Villa prepared to pay him £50,000-a-week.
Milner, 24, trained yesterday at Villa before having a game of golf.
He is willing to play this evening in a friendly at home to Valencia to boost his fitness despite being braced for a negative reaction from fans.
But Milner, who did not play last weekend due to back spasms, is unlikely to be risked as a deal with City is very close.
Villa will use some of the other money from Milner’s sale to buy Robbie Keane from Tottenham.Mirror
Celtic ready to move for Craig Bellamy following another Champions League exit
The 4-2 aggregate defeat to the Portuguese condemned them to a second successive season without Champions League football for the first time in a decade.
It also guaranteed financially-challenged Rangers, their only serious rivals for the title, an extra £2 million of their share of the Champions League television revenue from Uefa, a windfall the champions also collected last year.
Rangers' economic meltdown has seen Celtic, for the first time in their history, become the richest club in Scotland but chronic mismanagement in the boardroom and the dressing room has combined to leave them unable to capitalise on that status.
On Wednesday they at least came back from conceding the first goal to record a 2-1 victory but there was little evidence to justify their position as the bookmakers' favourites to regain the Clydesdale Bank Premier League championship.
It is believed that the club will attempt to persuade Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy to return to Glasgow, possibly on loan, as their marquee signing.
The irascible Welshman, now 31, possesses more quality than the other front men at Lennon's disposal but that should not be the manager's priority at the moment.
Frank Lampard reckons Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini cannot live up to expectations.
FRANK LAMPARD has piled the pressure on Roberto Mancini by warning the Manchester City boss he is already on borrowed time.
City have splashed £77m this summer on new blood with the promise of more to come as they bid to buy their way into the Premier League title race.
But Lampard believes Mancini may not now be able to cope with the expectation level at City. The Chelsea star’s former Stamford Bridge boss Claudio Ranieri was sacked in 2004 despite finishing second in the league after spending more than £100m the previous summer.
And Lampard believes City’s owners are likely to be just as cut-throat if Mancini fails to win silverware instantly.
“Obviously they have got the money and they are stronger than ever,” said Lampard.
“But they will have to try and find the mix and make it work very quickly.
“I think Chelsea did it well. It probably took us about a season or a season-and-a-half to get to where we wanted to be.
“You feel that they are going to be a force eventually because of the money behind them – that is just the way it seems to be.
“But how quickly they can do it and how successful they can be remains to be seen.” Star
Sunderland fail with £6m bid for Manchester City's unsettled defender Nedum Onuoha
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has failed with a £6m bid for Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
Bruce wanted Onuoha as his starting right back this term and tabled a firm bid for the 23-year-old.
He is aware of the youngster’s frustration at his lack of chances under City boss Roberto Mancini and wanted to capitalise.
Onuoha signed a five-year deal at Eastlands in 2009 but is now eighth in the pecking order for a defensive spot at City following the arrival of Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov. But there was better news for Bruce as signed Lyon centre-back John Mensah on a permanent deal. Mail
Ryan Giggs: Manchester City not a threat to United's title hopes
Ryan Giggs insists champions Chelsea, not Manchester City, will be Manchester United’s major threat this season.
Manchester United's Ryan Giggs has already dismissed local rivals City for next season
City have splashed out around £80million this summer on Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov already.
But Giggs said: ‘Chelsea are the champions and they have been there and done it like us.
'They [City] have got the quality but it does not necessarily mean they are going to be in front.’
Brazilian striker Robinho has told parent club Manchester City he does not want to return to England and wants to remain in Brazil with Santos, with whom he spent last season on loan. The Sun
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is rumoured to be lining up a move to bring cut-price Manchester City pair Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge to Anfield. caughtoffside.com
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TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea will let unsettled defender Ashley Cole move to Real Madrid once the club wrap up a £16m deal for Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao. Daily Mirror
French striker Karim Benzema could be offered to Chelsea by Real Madrid as part of a deal to lure Cole away from Stamford Bridge. Daily Mail
AC Milan continue to covet the services of Tottenham midfielder Giovani Dos Santos according to reports in Italy, but Spurs are reluctant to let the player go after he impressed during the World Cup with Mexico. footylatest.com
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is lining up a fresh move for Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach after having a bid turned down by the Hornets in January. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are hoping to lure Roma's French defender Philippe Mexes to the Emirates. caughtoffside.com
Bolton want to take Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere - who is in line for a shock England call-up for Wednesday's friendly with Hungary - back on loan. Daily Star
Liverpool could move for Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici after being rebuffed in their bid to sign Middlesbrough keeper Brad Jones. Daily Mirror
Manchester United target Anders Lindegaard - a goalkeeper with Norwegian side Aalesund - is being monitored by at least two other unnamed Premier League clubs. Daily Mail
Stoke's bid for Nice's French striker Loic Remy is on the rocks - after a flying visit to the Potteries ended in a breakdown over the fee and terms. Daily Mirror
Alternatively, the signing of Remy will form one third of a £23m triple swoop by Stoke, which also includes Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones and Ipswich forward Jon Walters. Daily Star
Wigan have had a £3m-bid for Turkish striker Tuncay rejected by Stoke.Daily Mail
Former Burnley defender Stephen Jordan has rejected a contract offer at Portsmouth to join Championship rivals Sheffield United. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa are set to enter the race to sign AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who is also being monitored by the likes of Bayern Munich and Tottenham. footylatest.com
West Brom are set to take full-back Nicky Shorey from Aston Villa for £1.5m. Daily Star
Leeds, Hull and Crystal Palace are in a three-way tussle to sign Arsenal striker Jay Simpson. Daily Mirror
Lazio are lining up a bid for Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez despite the player stating that he wants to stay at St James Park for years to come. footylatest.com
Coventry boss Aidy Boothroyd has admitted he may sign striker Marlon King, who is available after being freed early from his 18 month prison sentence for actual bodily harm last week. Daily Mirror
Swansea have won the battle to sign Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair for £1.5m. Sinclair has turned down a loan move to Wigan in favour of a permanent deal. The Sun
OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has decided against a move to Barcelona this summer and will issue a formal statement to confirm it in the next 24 hours. Daily Telegraph
Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan says Egyptian striker Mido, who spent the end of last season on loan at West Ham, has no future at the Riverside. Daily Mirror
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has questioned why England are playing a friendly against Hungary next Wednesday, which he feels is an unwanted distraction just three days before the start of the Premier League season. The Sun
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe admits he is "apprehensive" about how the crowd will react to England's World Cup failures when they play Hungary at Wembley next week. Daily Mirror
Defoe also says that his club side Tottenham will do better in Europe this season than north London rivals Arsenal. Both teams are competing in the Champions League, with Spurs hoping to book their place in the tournament proper via a qualifying play-off. Daily Mirror
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce fears that a takeover of the Ewood Park club could see him lose his job. Indian businessman Ahsan Ali Syed is lining up a £300m deal for the club. The Sun
Striker Michael Owen has blamed the Wembley pitch for wrecking his debut season with Manchester United. Owen returns to Wembley with United on Sunday for the Community Shield against Chelsea, his first competitive game since injuring his hamstring on the ground in the Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa. Daily Mirror
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