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Manchester City close in on Milner & Balotelli signings
Milner and Balotelli will be on international duty this week
Manchester City say they hope to complete the signings of Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli by Thursday.
On Friday, Villa manager Martin O'Neill admitted Milner was on the verge of a big-money move to Manchester City.
Villa rejected a £20m bid from City for Milner in May and put a £30m price tag on the England midfielder.
"We are close with both players but now they are going with their national teams," said City boss Roberto Mancini.
Milner is set to link up with the England squad ahead of Wednesday's friendly with Hungary while Balotelli has Italian national commitments as well, although Mancini is hoping to tie up both deals very swiftly once those midweek fixtures are over.
"We hope that we can have these players by next Thursday," added Mancini.
"For now we have two days off and we are not going to talk about the market. Next week we will see. These deals could happen but we need to wait."
Should both deals go through it would take City's summer spending beyond £125m and confirm their status as the richest club in the world.
If Milner does complete his move to City it will bring to an end their summer-long pursuit of the 24-year-old, something O'Neill thinks would be good for both clubs.
"I think for everyone's benefit it is probably time to try and get something done," said O'Neill on Friday.
Mancini also revealed he will shortly meet with forward Robinho to discuss his City future.
Robinho, who cost a British transfer record £32.4m when he arrived from Real Madrid in 2008, has just completed a six-month loan spell in his native Brazil with Santos.
Despite Robinho suggesting that he is keen to remain in Brazil, it is unlikely that Santos could afford to sign the 26-year-old on a permanent deal.
Mancini has admitted he is anxious to speak with the striker, who shone at this summer's World Cup, after he returns to the UK from New Jersey where Brazil take on the United States in a friendly on Wednesday.
The Italian, though, played down suggestions that Robinho could be used as a makeweight in City's attempts to capture Balotelli.
It is believed Balotelli, who was frozen out in the latter part of last season by former Inter boss Jose Mourinho in the club's historic march to a treble of Italian league, cup and Champions League triumphs, would cost City in the region of £24m.

Kop to pip Arsenal to another midfielder
Liverpool are winning their battle with Arsenal for Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The England winger has been told he can leave Manchester City for about £7million. But Arsenal are unwilling to pay him more than the £65,000 a week he earns at City.
That has opened the door for Roy Hodgson to beat Arsene Wenger again after the Liverpool boss persuaded Joe Cole to move to Anfield ahead of the Emirates.
Wright-Phillips turned down City’s offer of a £10,000-a-week wage hike at the end of last season.
Roberto Mancini preferred Adam Johnson and Craig Bellamy on the flanks late last season and will add Aston Villa’s James Milner to his squad this week after also signing David Silva from Valencia.

Nedum Onuoha on way out of Manchester City as Roberto Mancini wields the axe
Nedum Onuoha will follow Stephen Ireland out of the Manchester City door this week as Roberto Mancini reconciles bringing in new players while picking a 25-man squad under new Premier League rules.
Onuoha's likely destination is Sunderland, while Ireland will be a makeweight in James Milner's switch from Aston Villa.
That deal, which values Milner at £26million, is expected to be completed in the next 48 hours and, after that, City will concentrate on tying up £21m Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli.
Some big names are at risk because of the rules that restrict each team to 25 senior players, eight of which have to come through the ranks at an English club.
It leaves boss Mancini with difficult decisions. Ireland and Onuoha would miss out if they stayed while others like Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz are at risk if City make a late move for another striker or want to include 20-year-old winger Vladimir Weiss.

Felipe Caceido, Brazil striker Jo and midfielder Michael Johnson are also unlikely to make Mancini's cut.

MANCHESTER City new boy Alex Kolarov is more than happy to become a bad boy if it helps the Eastlands club overtake Manchester United as the biggest side in town.
The former Lazio defender, 24, has a reputation for dishing it out when he has to.
He is likely to get plenty of opportunities in the super-­physical world of the Premier League and he cannot wait to get stuck in.
And he has warned Sir Alex Ferguson’s side that he has one eye on ­overtaking their success.
Kolarov said: “City is a club that is going places. I hope that City will become better than United and will become better known than United are now.
“The Premier League is probably more aggressive than Serie A but I am ready for the challenge.
“I had opportunities to go to other clubs but I decided to come here because I could see that it is a club that is growing. I’m happy to be here.
“The squad is very strong and over the next few years we want to win the league and the ­Champions League and that is the focus. I will give 100 per cent to try to win the fans over.”

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson wants to bring Tottenham striker Peter Crouch back to Anfield, two years after he was shown the door by the club. Mail on Sunday

Werder Bremen's star midfielder Mesut Ozil was watched by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on Saturday as he looks for a long-term successor to Paul Scholes. Sunday Mirror

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton wants to sign Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa ahead of the new season. Sunday Mirror

Arsenal are planning a Serie A raid to help ease their defensive frailties and have earmarked a move for Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini and Bologna keeper Emiliano Viviano. caughtoffside.com

Portsmouth's Kevin Prince Boateng could snub interest from West Ham and Stoke to join Italian side Genoa. "I'm relaxed, just waiting for the right team," said the Ghana international. (News of the World)

OTHER BOLLOX
LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena says David Beckham is ahead of schedule on his comeback from an Achilles injury and he expects him to play for the club for years to come. News of the World

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett would prefer to sell the club to Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi as opposed to Kenny Huang. Sunday Mirror

But the British tax payer could end up being the majority shareholder in the club if a deal cannot be sorted out in the next two months and the club ends up in the hands of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Observer

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is thinking about extending his contract with the club and if he does will almost certainly end his managerial career at the Emirates Stadium. The Observer

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says he is not concerned by players' off-the-field behaviour as long as they do their jobs properly. 'We are not interested in what happens outside of our training ground," he said. Mail on Sunday

Former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, says there is "no doubt" that he wants to manage in England again one day, but will not be pursuing his interest in signing Chelsea's Ashley Cole - "when a coach says no, it's no, and we have to accept that." (Sunday Times)

Football Association chiefs expect Wednesday's friendly with Hungary to attract the smallest crowd for an England game since Wembley was rebuilt, as fans vent their disappointment at the team's World Cup failure. Sunday Express

Former Liverpool legends Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish could return to the Anfield boardroom as the club attempts to revive the spirit of their glory years of the 1970s and 80s. (Sunday Telegraph)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says he may consider going into the property market when he retires from football. The Observer


more bollox later

Tabloid football journalists complete inability to understand this 25 player squad and homegrown players quota doesn't cease to amaze me. Just for example, how does Weiss' inclusion or exclusion affect anyone since he is under 21. And why would we ship off Nedum, Ireland AND Shaun as that would make us struggle to meet the homegrown players needed?

Also, isn't it funny how we are always looking to sell our better fringe players and are eager to keep some of the dross that will not make the squad anyway?

You know part of me still wants Landon Donovan on the team. Since this season is going to be our best, what's wrong with having a Yank along for the ride??

BTW, Everton have spent fuck all (one million) in the transfer window (Jermaine Beckford and Jan Mucha were free.) God knows what Martin O'Neill has gotten from Villa..... Am I alone in feeling a little bad for the smaller clubs??

CitizenYank wrote:You know part of me still wants Landon Donovan on the team. Since this season is going to be our best, what's wrong with having a Yank along for the ride??

BTW, Everton have spent fuck all (one million) in the transfer window (Jermaine Beckford and Jan Mucha were free.) God knows what Martin O'Neill has gotten from Villa..... Am I alone in feeling a little bad for the smaller clubs??

The PL transfer market is waiting for us to open it.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Tabloid football journalists complete inability to understand this 25 player squad and homegrown players quota doesn't cease to amaze me. Just for example, how does Weiss' inclusion or exclusion affect anyone since he is under 21. And why would we ship off Nedum, Ireland AND Shaun as that would make us struggle to meet the homegrown players needed?

Also, isn't it funny how we are always looking to sell our better fringe players and are eager to keep some of the dross that will not make the squad anyway?

The papers are using these grey areas(which arent that grey if people just study the rules) to pump more bilge into the shit machine of "news", or "bollox" as we love to call it. I get it at work "youve got all these players" like City will get barred from competing if they dont offload fifteen players by midnight.

Ted Hughes wrote:

CitizenYank wrote:You know part of me still wants Landon Donovan on the team. Since this season is going to be our best, what's wrong with having a Yank along for the ride??

BTW, Everton have spent fuck all (one million) in the transfer window (Jermaine Beckford and Jan Mucha were free.) God knows what Martin O'Neill has gotten from Villa..... Am I alone in feeling a little bad for the smaller clubs??

The PL transfer market is waiting for us to open it.

to quote a good friend of mine on the topic..."Fuck the UK."

somehow i think we want to make them all wait. Insane really how everything in this transfer window has hinged upon us, and Barca to some extent. Just unbelievable when you step back and think about it.

i feel no pity btw. None.

cheers

Wilkins expects City challenge
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins believes Manchester City can compete for the Premier League title if Roberto Mancini integrates the new players into his team quickly.
Mancini has bolstered his squad significantly this summer with the signings of international stars such as David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng.
Others are expected to join before the transfer deadline and City have been tipped to mount a strong challenge for top spot along with the likes of Manchester United and defending champions Chelsea.
Wilkins feels the main problem for Mancini will be that many of those at his disposal have never played together before and it could take time to settle.
However, he expects Mancini to shape a consistent team and be much closer to the leading pack.
"It is a lot of money (they have spent) but they have very wealthy backers and I would imagine before we kick off next week there will be a few more players going in there as well," Wilkins said.
"But it is never easy when so many new players come together. It is very nice and pleasant to have new players come in but you have to mould a team.
"The game is a team game and it is not easy for Mancini to put those guys together all at once.
"It is a juggling job and Roberto has been in that situation with Inter Milan before, so he'll understand that situation and I'm sure he'll handle it very well.
"Manchester United will be genuine contenders, but I think there are two or three others who will have a little dabble at us - like Manchester City, if they can form that group. They have very good individuals and could challenge us."

UTTER BOLLOX from Caughtoffside
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp may be interested in making a move for Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor as he looks to strengthen his side for the coming season. Roberto Mancini has insisted that the Togolese international is very much part of his first team plans but the former Arsenal man has already stated his interest in a proposed move to Juventus fuelling speculation that he isn’t entirely happy at Eastlands.
The 26 year old had a decent, if not spectacular, first season at the club and with all the recent arrivals and the likely return of Robinho to the club from his loan spell, the powerfully built forward may be worried he could lose his starting spot for the forthcoming season. This may be what led to his comments relating to a potential move to Serie A.
A similar occurrence angered Arsene Wenger when Adebayor attempted to engineer a move to AC Milan and within a year the player had to be offloaded to Man City. In his first season at the club the former Monaco man managed 14 goals whilst Carlos Tevez powered on to register 29 goals and collect an array of Player of the Year awards.
Harry Redknapp is thought to be looking to bring in new strikers and has been linked with moves for the likes of Klaas Jan Huntelaar and is reportedly considering offloading Peter Crouch whilst White Hart Lane forwards Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko are also by no means first team certainties.
A move for Emmanuel Adebayor would probably run at around £22m and a bid could well fall on deaf ears but nonetheless is appears to be a move Redknapp is considering.
Adebayor quotes relating to potential City exit: “I will be sorry to leave the Premier League, but in Europe there are other top leagues. Juventus are a great club in which I would like to play for.”

Shaun Wright-Phillips Charity Bike Ride
England and Manchester City footballer ShaunWright-Phillips announces the launch of his annual Education for the Children Foundation celebrity charity motorbike ride, which takes place on Sunday 8th August.
The bike ride, aims to raise awareness and funds for the Education for the Children charity. The charity builds schools and safe houses and works to improve living conditions for underprivileged children in Guatemala .
Shaun’s 2010 celebrity motorcycle charity ride departs central London to arrive at Ace Cafe London at around 11am, departing from the Ace at about Noon to continue the ride.
Participants on the ride include Premiership footballers Wayne Bridge( Manchester City ), Craig Bellamy ( Manchester City ), Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa) and Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa) and actor Tamer Hassan. The footballers will be riding their custom-made three wheeled bikes, as insurance requirements prevent them from riding two-wheelers.
Celebritiestaking part this year have set up a Just Giving Page to encourage donations to the worthwhile charity. With each passing year the bike ride attracts more media attention, and since its launch over £50,000 has been raised in aid of Education for the Children Foundation.
Shaun Wright-Phillips said: “The Education for the Children charity is a cause very close to my heart, and as an ambassador for the charity I will continue to do all that I can to raise as much money as possible. The money we’ve raised previously has helped tremendously and I hope we can continue to help in future years.”
“It’s vitally important that money is raised for the charity to ensure under privileged children have access to education and safe houses. Whenever I vis it the children in Guatemala I’m reminded how essential the funding is and it drives to me to bring more awareness to the charity andits work.”
Donations can be made through Shaun’s Just Giving page : http://www.justgiving.com/Shaun-Wright-Phillips