Jerome Boateng is convinced Manchester City will be signing a star performer if they can lure Edin Dzeko to Eastlands.
The Bosnian forward is expected to become the biggest transfer of the January window, having indicated his intention to quit Wolfsburg.
Dzeko's time in the Bundesliga leaves Boateng well placed to assess the giant forward's talents.
And from his own meetings with the giant striker, the German international acknowledges what a threat he can be.
"Dzeko is a very good striker," Boateng told the Manchester Evening News.
"Of course, we would love to see him at City because he is a quality player.
"He played against Hamburg a few times whilst I was there - and he scored.
"I have marked him a few times and it is always a good, physical challenge. He holds the ball up well and knows how to use his body.
"He is not so quick but is very good in front of goal and would work well with our other strikers."
Although it has been claimed a fee has been agreed between the two clubs, City have vowed not to overpay, either in transfer fees or wages, mindful of the new UEFA Financial Fair Play rules that come into effect at the end of next season.
And a deal is unlikely to be concluded until after Wednesday's crucial top-of-the-table encounter with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
City already have a fitness doubt over key-man David Silva, who suffered a knee injury during Saturday's win over Blackpool, while Mario Balotelli is unlikely to be fit after missing the weekend triumph with a similar problem.
Real Madrid courting former Arsenal strikerEx-Gunner could be set for Bernabeu switch
Not keen on a bidding war over striker Edin Dzeko, Real Madrid have turned their attentions to Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/01/03/ ... ons/34973/
or ...
Manchester City striker could be in line for a sensational move to Real Madrid in the January window.
Adebayor has found himself on the periphery at Eastlands with Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli preferred ahead of him. With the club in advanced negotiations over the transfer of Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko, Adebayor's chances of first team football look meagre at best in Manchester despite having found the back of the net five times this season.
However, he could be about to be offered the dream escape route with Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have lost Gonzalo Higuain to injury and the Argentina international needs surgery to his back that could rule him out for the rest of the campaign. While France international Karim Benzema is at the club and starting to show the kind of form that prompted Real to spend £30m on him, manager Jose Mourinho is keen to add another striker to the fold in their bid for domestic and European glory.
According to Spanish newspapers Sport and Marca, the former Arsenal hitman is at the top of their wishlist. One sticking point could be the transfer fee with City trying to recoup as much of the £25m that they paid for him but Real have a range of bargaining chips that they can use.
They will state that a cheap fee is necessary due to the Togolese's exorbitant wage demands which the English club could well adhere to while there is also the option of a loan deal under the same circumstances. A last ditch attempt could be made by which City are given an option to purchase long-term target Kaka though whether the player himself would go for that is a different story.
Manchester City are improving all the time, says Blackpool's Hollowayhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/03/manchester-city-blackpool-premier-league
Manchester City bring in Brazil youth keeper Luis Guilherme to link up with old Arsenal mates Toure and Adebayor
Manchester City have invited Brazil youth international goalkeeper Luis Guilherme to train with them.
The 18-year-old made a similar move to Arsenal when he was just 15 but returned home to sign a professional contract until 2015 with Botafogo.
Guilherme will work with City’s youth team and insists his focus is on improving rather than attracting a transfer bid, but there is no date set for his recall.
‘I want to make the most of it,’ he said. ‘If there is the possibility of a transfer, I’ll be happy. I want this to be a new chance to gain experience at another football school and experience a different culture.’
The 6ft 1in keeper, who has represented Brazil up to Under-17 level, believes he will have no problems fitting in at Carrington after his experience with the Gunners.
He will be helped by Corinthians striker Jo and hopes to again meet two players who looked after him in London: Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.
‘There is a lot of integration between the youth teams and first team (in England),’ he said. ‘That was the case at Arsenal where I was with Adebayor and Toure a lot. Now I will find them again.’
Carlos Tevez scored 26 Premier League goals in 2010, more than any other player. He failed to get this year off to a good start, however – including his miss from the penalty spot, he had nine attempts on goal in the game against Blackpool, failing to get on the scoresheet. That's a joint record number of shots without scoring in a game this season, along with Didier Drogba against Birmingham and Clint Dempsey versus Sunderland.
ARSENAL SMELL THE FEAR.
Ha ha ha, totally deluded piece that comes up with the incorrect answers to its own questions, possibly the most risible piece written so far this year.
Arsenal’s Antithesis – The Problem With Manchester City
On Wednesday we entertain the Mancunian lottery winners in a second-v-third clash which could play a major part in deciding the destiny of the title.
It should also have everyone who loves football praying for an Arsenal win.
Simply put, Manchester City represent everything that’s wrong with the game in England.
They were acquired like a shiny bauble by a rich Sheikh from the United Arab Emirates who had no connection with English football, with Manchester or with the club itself.
Since then they have, in Arsène Wenger’s memorable phrase, indulged in ‘financial doping’ on an obscene scale and in a manner which few sports would allow.
Sheikh Mansour has already sunk more than £500m into the club and that’s before taking into account this year’s operating loss of £121m.
This kind of spending, dished out almost at random (Mansour could as easily have bought Leeds or Sheffield Wednesday or Everton) is a perversion of natural justice in football.
Sure, some clubs have always been richer than others (Manchester United and Arsenal being two obvious examples) but that’s because of the support they have managed to generate. Their wealth has grown organically over decades, not been imposed from above in a moment.
And what have City done with all that newly-acquired money? Have they tried to start a world class academy of football? Have they set up talent-spotting and hot-housing bases in Africa and South America? Have they created state-of-the-art training facilities to bring through the best youth in the country? Have they hell.
Instant money demands instant results, so the once charmingly unfashionable Citizens have gone all out to buy whatever talent they can for whatever money was demanded, skewing the transfer market in the process.
Now they have the most expensive squad in the EPL with the highest wage bill. If they were a normal business they would be bust a hundred times over.
What’s worse, their once-lovable supporters, whose sang-froid in the face of all manner of adversity made them among the most loyal and entertaining in the English top flight, have also been corrupted by the Sheikh’s billions.
They have taken to booing their own team despite having on-field success the like of which they haven’t seen for decades; whenever they play Arsenal they come on our blog sites and spout the sort of vile, jealous, acrimonious garbage you normally only hear from Spud saddoes; in short, they have gone from reaching for the moon to demanding the earth. From enfeeblement to entitlement in the space of a few, short, oil-rich months.
The club is being wrenched away from its own proud roots and history, but the supporters are jumping on for the ride. Don’t they realise that when the the train hits the buffers – when the Sheikh gets bored and decides to move into Formula 1 or the NFL – they’ll be in a far worse position than they were before the Arabs arrived?
Then there’s the squad. A rag-tag band of mercenaries whose attitude is best epitomised by a certain Emmanuel Adebayor – a man who spent most of his Arsenal career in the offside position and who, since his departure, has displayed as much class as a drug-addled hooker trying to score the next fix.
The gracelessness of the recent comments by Mario Balotelli on receiving the Golden Boy award sums up the arrogance of the entire club. On being asked about the runner-up in the awards (for Europe’s best young player) he said he had never heard of Jack Wilshere but next time he played against Arsenal he would show Jack his award to remind him who was the better player.
I would bet £1,000 right now that Balotelli’s career will be one of stop-starts, bust-ups with managers, irregular international appearances for Italy and multiple club changes, while Wilshere will go on to captain England and Arsenal and will remain a one club man for his entire career.
In summary, Citeh have followed the disgusting, money-is-the-answer-to-everything approach pioneered by Abramovich at Chelsea and taken it to a new level.
Much as I loathe ManUre and the Spuds, at least they have real history and they have developed (more or less) organically with rich owners who have also been fans (the Glazers aside).
Citeh’s template is no way to run our national sport. The new financial fair play rules being brought in by UEFA will attempt to address this but, to me at least, they seem so full of loopholes that nothing will really change.
On Wednesday we have the chance to give Manchester City a second helping of what money can’t buy: teamwork, integrity and strength, leading to a convincing Arsenal win.
When we put them to the sword, as I believe we will, it will be a victory for the best values of English football against the worst evils of the modern game.
WAG OF THE DAY - Anara Atanes
This lovely brunette was dating former Gunner Freddie Ljungberg, but apparently she cheated on him with fellow player Keiran Richardson?
Who knows who she's with now, but chances are excellent he wears cleats for a living.
OTHER BOLLOX
Ronaldinho's brother and agent says the AC Milan star is close to securing a move back to homeland Brazil with clubs Flamengo, Gremio and Palmeiras keen on the 30-year-old. Roberto Assis said: "We don't know what's going to happen yet, but we want him playing in Brazil again." (Associated Press)
It appears Sampdoria have won the race to secure a loan deal for Manchester United's Federico Macheda. The agent of the Italian striker, who moved to United from Lazio three years ago, told Sky Sport 24: "I hope to finish everything by tonight so the player will be available for Sunday. The only thing missing is the formalities." (Press Association)
West Brom want Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on a loan deal. Baggies head coach Roberto Di Matteo said: "He is someone we looked at at the start of last season. We are after a striker and we have to look at whether Manchester United will let him join us." (Press Association)
While Italian sources report that the 19-year-old United striker has opted for a temporary move to Sampdoria. IMScouting.com
Blackburn have dismissed stories regarding a move for AC Milan's Ronaldinho. The director of Venky's, Rovers new owners, told the Lancashire Telegraph: "There is no interest at all, they are just rumours." (Press Association)
Blackburn Rovers are ready to offer Ronaldinho a stunning £130,000 a week to lure the Brazilian forward from AC Milan. Daily Mirror
Tottenham want to sign Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham in time to face his former club Manchester United on 16 January. The 35-year-old is available for a two-month loan period ahead of the start of the Major League Soccer season. Daily Mirror
Brazilian and Real Madrid midfielder Kaka could be heading to Manchester United in a loan deal with a permanent £50m move on the cards. Daily Star
Barcelona are busy preparing a £45m bid to take Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas to the Nou Camp in the summer. caughtoffside.com
Arsenal striker Carlos Vela is wanted on loan by Bolton, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger keen on the Mexican star getting some Premier League games under his belt. Daily Mail
Everton manager David Moyes, keen to boost the club's goalscoring statistics, wants to sign Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on loan. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa and Newcastle are in the running to sign Paris St Germain winger Stephane Sessegnon. Daily Mail
Tottenham will let striker Robbie Keane, midfielder Niko Kranjcar and winger David Bentley leave the club but only if the trio fetch £29m in the transfer market. Daily Mirror
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti looks set for a busy transfer deadline day following his team's poor run of form but he is not giving many clues about his targets. "I don't want to speak about which names but we do need some new players," said the man whose team are now six points behind the top two teams in the Premier League, Manchester United and Manchester City. the Sun
Italian club Juventus have made further moves to sign Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. The Dane has only just returned to action after being out with an injury since September. IM Scouting.com
Former England captain David Beckham's potential temporary move across the pond is not going down well at LA Galaxy. Fans have vented their anger on the club's forum, while an insider at the United States outfit said: "Head coach Bruce Arena is of the opinion it is neither good for the club nor for David." the Sun
Wherever Beckham ends up, it seems he could have a big role with the British team at the London Olympics. When asked who the squad could involve, 2012 chief Lord Sebastian Coe said: "That could be Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard, towards the end of their career, or David Beckham - or even Beckham as a coach, though I've gone way beyond my brief saying that." Daily Express
The speculation on Roy Hodgson's future as Liverpool manager rumbles on, with the American owners "actively examining suitable candidates". Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish and Marseille boss Didier Deschamps are both being suggested as likely replacements. Daily Mail
Former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is in the running to replace sacked George Burley at Crystal Palace. Daily Mail
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed some of the crazy demands he has received from agents while at Old Trafford. He says that one agent asked for the club to buy a block of flats for a player as a condition of him joining United. the Guardian
more bollox later ...
[/center]