The mancityfans.net football forum

Inter Milan poised to renew interest in Tevez
Manchester City's hopes of keeping Carlos Tevez at the club have been hit by the news that that Inter Milan's new boss is set to be a fellow Argentinean.
Marcelo Bielsa is in line to take over at the San Siro, replacing Brazilian Leonardo who is on the verge of joining PSG, and he has encouraged Inter president Massimo Moratti to sign the City captain.
The former Manchester United striker's desire to leave City is one of the worst kept secrets in football and the Argentina international could now have his dream realised with a move to Italy.
City are believed to be holding out for £40million for the forward and The Nerazzurri would have no problems in raising the funds, especially if they sell Samuel Eto'o who is wanted by a range of clubs across Europe and has expressed a desire to move TalkSHITE

Modric fight! City plan £30m raid to see off Chelsea in race for Spurs ace
Manchester City are preparing to table a bid for Tottenham’s Luka Modric after Harry Redknapp branded Chelsea’s £22million offer 'ridiculous'.
Spurs manager Redknapp echoed his chairman Daniel Levy by insisting his much-admired Croatia midfielder is not for sale. But Sportsmail understands that high-level discussions have taken place between City and Tottenham, and a bid of nearer £30m is expected to arrive from Eastlands.
That may still not be enough, as a counter bid from Chelsea and an offer from Manchester United are expected to follow. It could take nearer £35m to prise the 25-year-old from north London.
Sources close to Modric believe City, with their vast wealth, will do everything in their power to prevent him joining one of their Barclays Premier League rivals.
But Redknapp said: ‘Luka is not for sale. If there has been a bid of £22m that is ridiculous. There are people being sold for £20m who are not fit to lace Luka’s boots.’
With the inexperienced Jordan Henderson moving from Sunderland to Liverpool for £16m last week, Redknapp appears to have a point. Modric put in a series of stunning displays last year in his best season at the club and Redknapp made it clear that he thinks Chelsea have seriously undervalued the player.
Despite scoring just four goals last season, Modric’s tireless running and brilliant vision played a big part in helping Spurs reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League. His efforts, and those of Gareth Bale, meant reports linking the pair with moves to some of the Continent’s biggest clubs was inevitable.
Redknapp’s failure to guide Tottenham back into the Champions League added further fuel to those rumours, but the 64-year-old and Tottenham chairman Levy have remained steadfast in their promise to keep the club’s best players.
Levy assured Spurs fans on the final day of last season that the club were not under pressure to sell despite the drop in revenue that will come next year after their failure to make it into the top four.
Earlier this month, Modric told a Croatian newspaper he was happy at White Hart Lane, but would be open to a move if the club altered their stance and chose to sell him.
‘If an offer comes which is good for Tottenham and for me also, then a transfer is possible,’ said Modric, who attempted to quash rumours linking him with Manchester United by signing a new contract last year. Mail's not so exclusive EXCLUSIVE ...

THE MODRIC MERRY-GO-ROUNDIf Chelsea do manage to land Luka Modric for around £30m, Man Utd are likely to turn their attention back to Inter Milan’s £25m midfield star WESLEY SNEIJDER ... while also pursuing their interest in Arsenal’s £12m SAMIR NASRI ... aware that Man City might also go in for SNEIJDER and have the money to outbid them ... But if Chelsea are unsuccessful in luring Modric across London then Roman Abramovich is likely to target Palermo’s 21-year-old Argentine JAVIER PASTORE - although that could cost £45m... Finally Harry Redknapp will have to fill the hole in his midfield by ensuring he lands West Ham’s £4m SCOTT

Dzeko could be Edin to Real
EDIN DZEKO last night emerged as a summer target for Real Madrid.
Real boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to sign the Manchester City striker, who has flopped since his £27million move from Wolfsburg in January.
But Mourinho is ready to bid £20m for the Bosnian, 25, and believes he can persuade City to sell.
Dzeko signed a 4½-year deal at Eastlands but was a target for Real last year and in January.
And while some of his City goals have been vital, there were only an unimpressive six of them.
Eastlands manager Mancini is set to embark on a spending spree, which is set to include bids for Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Brazilian ace and Real target, Neymar.
If more strikers arrive, then Dzeko would find himself completely frozen out at Eastlands. Sun (on the ball as ever ...)

West Brom tracking Ghana midfielder Boateng and City keeper Given
West Bromwich are interested in Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng and are exploring the possibility of signing Shay Given from Manchester City.
However, the deals would be difficult with Getafe wanting £7million for Boateng and City unwilling to subsidise any loan for Given, 35, who will cost around £3.5m to buy and has wages of around £80,000 per week.
High earner: City keeper Shay Given
Boateng, 28, is also a target for Villa, Sunderland and Stoke.

Meanwhile, Samuel Eto'o has put Manchester City on alert by admitting he is ready to end his top-flight career in England.
The Cameroon striker, 30, said: 'It's true I've had offers from England. I'm 30 years old and this will be my last big contract.'
Arsenal and Manchester City are considering a move for Inter Milan's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o after he revealed he would like to try his hand in the Premier League this coming season. "I have already shown that I have what it takes to play in Italy and I now have the idea of proving myself in England," Eto'o told Corriere dello Sport.



OTHER BOLLOX
Former Manchester City frontman reflects on cancer battle

Beating cancer was the biggest battle of his life - now Uwe Rosler is battling to get Brentford out of League One.
The 42-year-old was confirmed as the new Bees boss on a two-year deal last week, as exclusively revealed by the Chronicle.
Rosler turned to management when his playing days were ended prematurely after a tumour was discovered in his chest while he was with Norwegian club Lillestrom in 2003.
The former Manchester City frontman, who also played in England with West Brom and Southampton, was told he had only a small chance of survival, but defied the odds after undergoing an intensive course of treatment.
Eight years on, the German has pitched up in west London after successful spells in charge of Lillestrom, Viking and Molde.
And Rosler is ready for another fight in a bid to get Brentford into the Championship.
He said: "I had scored 11 goals in 10 games, then I got the news that I would have a very small chance to survive, which was a big shock to me.
"But I had good luck in a bad situation by discovering it early enough. It was a long battle, probably the hardest battle of my life. I was undergoing treatment from April until October in 2003.
"I’ve been declared 100 per cent recovered after five years and I no longer need to have check-ups, but I do once a year.
"When you go to hospitals there’s always something in your head that reminds you of the bad days.
"But I’ve been in management six years, and can cope with the demands of the job. I keep myself fit and am training three times a week minimum."
Rosler is only too aware of the tough task he faces to get the Bees promoted into the second tier of English football.
League One is arguably the toughest it’s ever been, with Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston expected to mount promotion pushes, while Huddersfield, Charlton and MK Dons will also be in the mix.
"The level in League One compared to when I was a player has increased dramatically," said Rosler.
"Now we’ve got Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston - top teams and it’s a very tough league to get out of.
"It’s not going to be easy, even when you’re at a club with financial backing, so you have to make the right decisions and have lady luck on your side. I achieved everything as a player through hard work, and I want my team to be the same.
"We have a budget which is solid, but not in the same league as the top clubs. But hopefully we can be better than last year, and that means in contention for the play-offs. That’s the big target for us."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is keeping tabs on Germany Under-17 striker Samed Yesil. The 17-year-old is yet to break into the first team at Bayer Leverkusen but has attracted the interest of a number of clubs across Europe after some dazzling form in the European U-17 Championship earlier this year. talkSHITE

The north London club could be on the verge of a double transfer coup after opening talks over signing Bolton defender Gary Cahill, and their former midfielder Sebastian Larsson, who is a free agent after leaving Birmingham. Metro

Wenger's side are also poised to complete the signing of Lille forward Gervinho for £10.6m in the next 48 hours. Daily Mirror

However, French club Lille are preparing to offer Gervinho a new contract in a last-ditch bid to ward off interest from the Gunners. talkSHITE

Liverpool are leading the chase to sign AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano, with sources close to the player suggesting he is keen on a move to England. talkSHITE

The Reds are also considering offering a contract to forward Jay Bothroyd, who is available on a free transfer after opting to leave Cardiff after his deal with them expired at the end of last season. Caught Offside

And the Anfield club are also due to unveil French midfielder Sylvan Marveaux, after signing the 28-year-old on a free transfer from Rennes. Marveaux has put pen to paper on a five-year deal worth £60,000 a week. the Sun

Chelsea will return to Tottenham this weekend with an increased bid of £28m for midfielder Luka Modric. Spurs rejected their London rivals' initial bid of £22m on Wednesday. Footy Bunker

Manchester United have made a £9.2m written offer for 18-year-old Lens defender Raphael Varane after the French club were relegated from Ligue 1 last season. the Independent

Real Madrid defender Jaime Navarro is set for a trial at Leyton Orient, after Cristiano Ronaldo told him to try his luck in England. The 19-year-old is available on a free transfer. talkSHITE

Stoke City have made a club record £12m bid for Birmingham centre back Scott Dann, with Liverpool and Tottenham also considering bids for the 24-year-old.Daily Mail

Aston Villa are set to infuriate Birmingham City fans even further following their pursuit of former Blues boss Alex McLeish by making a £10m offer for goalkeeper Ben Foster. the Sun

Wigan Athletic have told Newcastle United that midfielder Charles N'Zogbia will cost £10m despite the Frenchman having only 12 months left on his current deal. (the Times)

Swansea could pull off a coup by signing Spain's Euro 2008 winning midfielder Marcos Senna after the 34-year-old's contract expired with Villarreal. the Sun

The Swans are also battling it out with Everton and Norwich for Peterborough's £3m rated striker Craig Mackail-Smith after the his 25 goals last season earned Posh promotion to the Championship. the Sun

Norwich have tied up a season-long loan deal for 22-year-old Manchester United defender Richie De Laet. (the Daily Star)

Should England qualify for the Euro 2012 finals, they will go into the tournament not knowing who will replace current boss Fabio Capello. Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development, insists there are no plans to announce who will take on the job. the Sun

And Brooking has claimed that England need to produce 10 Jack Wilsheres if the country is to break the cycle of underachievement at international level. The Arsenal midfielder is one of the new generation of young players to break into Fabio Capello's side. Daily Mirror

Liverpool supporters have reacted angrily to the colour of the club's new third kit. The new white with blue trim strip has seen fans vent their anger on the official Liverpool website, with many saying they would not buy the shirt because it included the colour of their fierce local rivals Everton. Daily Mirror

BOLLOX BOLLOX
As has been highlighted by many on here, we must not fall for the diversive media tactics ...

How a Cristiano Ronaldo rumour divided Manchester City fans
The Sunday Mirror were cock-a-hoop with this week’s big exclusive. Cristiano Ronaldo was considering a move to Manchester City, if a number of demands were met.
These included being paid a mere £400,000 a week, the number 7 shirt, being guaranteed the captaincy and to always be the top paid player at City. Plus he wanted a private helipad at the City of Manchester stadium, Ryan Gigg’s SIM card, 200 swans in a moat at his house and a personal slave to follow him around the pitch fanning him on warm match days.
When I saw the article I was left shaking my head at the ludicrous nature of the claims. The idea that City had really sent him a picture of a Bentley covered in money was ridiculous, and as usual there were few quotes except from anonymous “sources”, and all offers to him were made from mysterious third parties. Whatever, it will surely never happen whatever the truth, especially with the new financial fair play rules coming in. City cannot pay a player £400,000 a week in the same way they cannot make a £150m purchase.
The response to the rumour from City fans was fairly predictable. The idea of the world’s 2nd best player (debatable, I know) coming to City seemed to appal many. There is the United connection of course, not that that has stopped City before (though the appointment of David Platt last season for example was met with a wave of opposition and anger), but it was his behaviour on the pitch and as a human being in general that seemed to put most off.
Personally I care little for whether he is the world’s nicest man or an odious arrogant, perma-tanned narcissist. He is without doubt one of a select band of players who would instantly take the team onto another level. Yes, City can be successful without him, but the fact is that with him success would be far more likely.
But for many, it would be a step too far. It would cross a line about who it is and isn’t acceptable to employ at the club. Don’t get me wrong, I am not totally apathetic to the character of new signings. There are certain players I would never want to see at this club, whatever their worth to the team. And there’s very little in the way that Ronaldo acts that endears me to him. Nor can I stand players who dive (he undoubtedly goes to ground very easily, as do a whole swathe of players nowadays), who whinge at referees, or who fancy themselves so much they burst into tears if a hair is misplaced after a crowded corner. But I could live with it. The fact is if Ronaldo had come through the ranks and was already a City player, every City fan would be defending his actions, just like United fans used to do. We are all hypocritical beasts, us football fans.
Either way, the discussion is redundant, apart from debating the hypotheticals of players you previously hated turning up at your club, as there is zero chance of Ronaldo moving to City, or anywhere else for that matter, this summer.
But what the whole story showed more than anything was how the media works – by Tuesday of this week The Sun’s EXCLUSIVE was how Ronaldo had snubbed City – yep, yet again a football club was snubbed by a player that they had probably never expressed any interest in. Only last week I personally snubbed Barcelona, and last year rejected a move to AC Milan. European football correspondent Antony Kastrinakis’s story about Cristiano Ronaldo turning down Manchester City’s offer was of course an EXCLUSIVE!
Kastrinakis got this exclusive by basically listening to an interview on Spanish radio. Though to be honest, he probably didn’t even do that.
Ideally of course I do want my club’s players to behave with decorum, respect and dignity at all times. I would love a team full of Vincent Kompanys and David Silvas. Players are repsentatives of the club, they affect its image, and the mentality of players like the two mentioned above are great for team spirit and for morale, as well as making the manager’s job a hundred times easier. But we are foolish to expect every player to be model professionals, as footballers have never been, and never will be good role models. I might not like him one bit, but if Cristiano Ronaldo had come to City he would never have been a club legend, but he would be welcome by me for what he would bring to the team. But the line any fan draws on who is and isn’t acceptable to buy is different for all, and it is understandable why many fans want nothing to do with him.

I actually cant handle your bollox today Chinners.


Soooooooooooooooooooo were selling BOTH our front line strikers and replacing them with?
Fuuucckkk me,im going for a lie down.

http://store.liverpoolfc.tv/products/fo ... t/thirdkit

I like it, its their best one for a long time

Excellent WAG, whoever she is.

Wonderwall wrote:http://store.liverpoolfc.tv/products/footballkit/thirdkit

I like it, its their best one for a long time

Bolton third kit.

Alioune DVToure wrote:Excellent WAG, whoever she is.

That would be the delicious Helen Svedin ... wife of Figo

If Inter and Real Madrid are wanting Tevez and Dzeko respectively, they'd better be prepared to get their hands in their pockets and come up with some serious money.....a miserable £40m for Tevez is an absolute joke.

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:If Inter and Real Madrid are wanting Tevez and Dzeko respectively, they'd better be prepared to get their hands in their pockets and come up with some serious money.....a miserable £40m for Tevez is an absolute joke.

Then again modric is worth 30 million while nasri is worth 12 and sneijder 25.

It's in the bollox and not the official confirmed transfers thread for a reason.

If tevez was to go anywere you can gaurantee we would be getting no less than 50 million, the club arent the idiots the papers and the rest of the fans in the league would love us to be.

Today's Rumour Mill

Where would the rumours industry be without its summer blockbusters? With the much-loved Cesc ♥ Barça franchise struggling at the box office ("last summer we offered €40m for Fábregas ... now he's worth less"), it's with a glad heart the Mill can report that a recent new release has caught the gossip-mongering public's imagination.

With his slender complexion, twinkling toes and long, shiny hair, Luka Modric is the starlet that everyone wants to be seen around town with. Even though the Sun carries an exclusive "hands off" warning from Spurs manager Harry Redknapp – with some quotes that look remarkably similar to the ones published by most other organs – Modric's agent, it appears, has been calling at all the major studios to listen to offers. Chelsea, whose eye was caught by Modric's supporting role in Tottenham's Big (Cup) Day Out, initially headed the queue but Manchester United are now willing to throw in moody bit-part player Dimitar Berbatov as well as £18m. Inevitably, Manchester City also want a piece of the lights! camera! action! and are lining up a £30m bid plus his own star on the Eastlands Walk of Fame.

City are also being linked to every major European footballer with an agent Samuel Eto'o, after the Inter striker filed a "come and get me" plea with the relevant authorities. "I have many offers and I now have a month to think about what I have to do," said Eto'o. "At 30, the next contract will be my last big one and so I have to decide if I want stay at Inter or not." Unusually, it's not all about the Benjamins for Samuel. "If it is about 200 or 300 thousand that will not make a difference to me," he said, generously offering to accept a figure somewhere in between. "Playing in England is an idea I have had in my head for some time and now what matters to me is finding a good team."

The fate of Udinese's Alexis Sánchez continues to set tongues a-wagging/eyelids a-drooping, with Chelsea joining the Manchesters City and United in the mud-wrestling pit. However, while that interesting threesome is caught up grappling in their smalls, one of Barcelona, Inter or Juventus is likely to run off with the £32m Chilean tucked under their arm.

Back in north London, and in defiance of the apparent one-way traffic sign, Tottenham and Arsenal are eyeing minor sops to appease the fans after Modric and Fábregas do one. Spurs want Chivas's 18-year-old Erick Torres, known to the Mill as the "Little Runner Bean", and having got a taste for Mexican would also like to bring in the exotically named Antonio Pedroza Whitham from Jaguares, via his mum's house in Chester, for £400,000. Arsenal plan to restock their nutrient-rich growth tank with 17-year-old "German whizkid" Samed Yesil, the Bayer Leverkusen striker who won the Golden Boot at this year's Euro Under-17 Championship – which, to be fair, is more than Arsenal have won recently. Arsène Wenger has also hatched a cunning plan to offload Denílson by offering him to Shakhtar Donetsk in part-exchange for Douglas Costa. Not that Shakhtar are falling for it.

Adel Taarabt is keen on a move, either to Arsenal or Chelsea, and doesn't mind a accepting a diminished workload in order to get it. "If one of these sides can guarantee me 20 games a season, then I would be very tempted to join them," he yawned.

Up on Merseyside, Liverpool are set to bring in Sylvain Marveaux from Rennes – a story which again seemed to test the Sun's understanding of the word "exclusive" – and then return to their task of snapping up vastly overpriced English players by punching as many random numbers into a calculator as it takes for Aston Villa to release Stewart Downing's registration. Everton, the inspiration behind Liverpool's new third kit, are meanwhile duking it out with Swansea and Norwich for Craig Mackail-Smith.

And in today's shorts: Demba Ba will be the best-selling name on the shirts of thrifty Geordies next season after rocking up at Newcastle for a similarly bargain zero pounds. West Brom want Getafe midfielder Derek Boateng and Shay Given on loan from Manchester City. Keiren Westwood is set to join Sunderland on a free; while Marcos Senna's agent is again flirting shamelessly with Swansea. Stoke want Birmingham's Scott Dann for £12m – we're assuming someone missed out a decimal point there – before Alex McLeish can smuggle him over the battlements to Aston Villa. And Bursaspor are chasing Rangers' Steven Whitaker.

Finally, the Spanish press have apparently labelled Tottenham and England U-21 right-back Kyle Walker the "new Roberto Carlos" – in this case, for one swerving free-kick in a meaningless tournament, read one swerving run in a meaningless, etc ...

its all about where they are with their contracts ashton - tevez, modric and dzeko have 3 to 4 years left on theirs, Nasri and sjneider have one

Obviously it will have an effect but modric worth 30 and nasri 12? Nasri is better than modric and a contract doesnt make a better player worth 18 million less. It's media bollocks.

They just make the numbers up and have no idea of the actual figures until a deal is done and the club decide if they will tell them the exact amount or wether they have to put 'estimated' in front of every article they write concerning the transfer.

I'm not doubting that modric will go for close to 30 though if the teams mentioned are actually making bids he is far from worth it though. Sneijder for 25 million would be a bargain for any team if they could pull it off. But nasri for 12 is complete bullshit.

ashton287 wrote:Obviously it will have an effect but modric worth 30 and nasri 12? Nasri is better than modric and a contract doesnt make a better player worth 18 million less.

Nowt to with worth. It's all about transfer value & the remaining years have a huge part in that, especially if it's the last one & the player can walk for free the next season.

BOLLOX UPDATES
Patrick Vieira still in talks with Manchester City
Patrick Vieira is still in talks about remaining at Manchester City, despite his name appearing on the Premier League’s free transfer list.
Both the Blues and Vieira’s camp have confirmed discussions are ongoing about offering the French star – who turns 35 next week – a role at the club.
That could even see him remain registered as a player, although M.E.N. Sport understands coaching and an ambassadorial role are also possible.
Vieira’s name appeared on the League’s free transfer list, published yesterday, but that’s simply because he wasn’t named on City’s retained list for next season.
Any players not on the retained list are automatically placed on the League’s free transfer list.
“The information is correct as of May 26, and a player’s status may have changed since then,” a Premier League spokesman said.
The appearance of Vieira’s name initially came as a surprise to his representatives, who confirmed there is an offer on the table for Vieira to remain at City.
“We have been in discussion with City for a while, with no conclusion,” said a spokesman for the player, who refused to reveal what kind of role the club has offered.
“We have talked about many things and Patrick has many options. He is at that time in his career when he has to decide what to do.”
Vieira also has other offers, from the Major League Soccer in the USA, and clubs in Europe in the Middle East.
But chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak and manager Roberto Mancini are both keen to keep him at City, conscious of the part he played in helping to steer City to third place and an FA Cup final victory last season.
Vieira was an important figure in the dressing room, and one of the players who gave an inspirational speech ahead of the FA Cup semi-final and final.
He also gave Mancini food for thought on the playing side with some commanding and influential appearances – especially as a substitute – in tight, vital games towards the end of the season.
But the manager is also aware that the player is another year older.
He said: “It is because of that kind of professionalism that I say we want to find another Patrick.
“He has won everything and is a good player, but it’s not easy for a player like him to play a lot because of his body.
“He is 34 now and the time goes for everyone. If we find a player like Patrick for our future it would be fantastic as he was one of the best midfielders in the world for a long time.
“Time passes for all players.”
City youngster Dedryck Boyata outlined how important Vieira had become, particularly for the younger players.
“He is such an important figure,” said Boyata. “He is the veteran in the dressing room, the one you can ask questions and tells you what to do when you don’t know.”
Vieira said recently the FA Cup triumph had brought him closer to the City fans, and that he would like to stay.
“I’ve felt a real connection with the fans, particularly over the last month,” he said. “They’ve really made me feel happy and at Bolton it was special because they were singing to me while I warmed up and I really enjoyed it, so I’d like to thank them.
“We are starting to talk about the future only now because the target we had was to qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup first. Now we have achieved that so I will sit down and discuss things with the club and a decision will be made very soon.”
“I really want to stay because I’ve loved my time with City and the fans have been fantastic.”

The name of Javier Garrido, who left City for Lazio as part of the Aleks Kolarov deal in August last year, was also published on the free transfer list due to an administrative error.

City working on Sanchez deal
Lombardo confirms interest in Udinese winger
Manchester City coach Attilio Lombardo has indicated that work is under way to try and bring in Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez.
The Chile international is attracting interest from other European heavyweights such as Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan and City's local rivals Manchester United.
Udinese say five offers have been lodged and Lombardo is aware of the amount of competition City would face to secure the services of the 22-year-old.
However, Lombardo, who joined Roberto Mancini's backroom staff a year ago, is hopeful of landing a player that he believes would have a huge impact at Eastlands.
"He is an excellent player for any big club in Europe," Lombardo told Il Friuli. "This season he has often proved to be one of the best in the Italian championship.
"He is a very fast player, a great champion, with a great personality and touch of the ball.
"I repeat, it would be a major boost for any team."
Lombardo accepts that Udinese will have the final say on Sanchez's future but has made it very clear that he ranks highly on City's transfer wish list for the summer.
He added: "For now he is a very valuable player for Udinese and we respect that.
"What I can say is that Manchester City are always aware of what's happening around great players and Alexis Sanchez fits the profile of football that our club is looking for.
"But in this period of the market it is also true that we talk a lot.
"Players like Sanchez are on the lists of the top teams and this is normal. As is normal in the list of City."
Lombardo could shed no light on reports that City had tabled a bid of €38million (£33.5m) for Sanchez.
He said: "It's not something I can comment on. The company is working hard on purchases, but I'm not authorised to give any details, let alone talk about figures.
"There are people in charge, working with the coaching staff. This is what I can say.
"The market is an important issue and we want a great team for next season, with great players."

MANCHESTER CITY PREPARE £35M BID FOR DANIELE DE ROSSI
MANCHESTER City are set steal Daniele De Rossi from under Manchester United's noses.
According to reports in Italy, Manchester City are attempting to steal Italian World Cup winner Daniele De Rossi. from under the noses of neighbors and bitter rivals Manchester United, who were said to have moved to pole position for his signing with a £35m offer.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had wanted De Rossi, 27, to plug the gap in Manchester United's midfield.
Fergie has long admired the Roma star, who has won 63 caps and figured in two World Cups for Italy.
He sent two of his senior scouts to watch De Rossi in Roma's Serie A clash with Napoli earlier in the season.
He reckons the Italian is a younger version of Paul Scholes and would bring experience and goals.
The Italian midfielder has become disillusioned with life at the Olympic Stadium.
This had given Fergie the green light to make his move and launch an £18m bid.
However, City are now the favorite to sign the player, especially United are said to have offered just £18 for his services,

Arsenal and Liverpool head Manchester City in race for Bolton Wanderers ace
According to reports Manchester City are in danger of missing out on Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.
The Bolton News claims City have slipped from odds-on favourites two weeks ago to third place in the race to land the England international
It now seems that Arsenal and Liverpool are willing to Wanderers’ £17 million asking price.
City boss Roberto Mancini is keen to move more players on before bringing others in, which has delayed any push for Cahill so handing the initiative to Arsenal and Liverpool who are both keen to sign Cahill after recently missing out on Blackburn Rovers youngster Phil Jones.

Wimbledon Bollox
Wimbledon will hog the back-page headlines and TV news this fortnight - but the tennis stars themselves will be keeping an eye on what's going on at their favourite football clubs.
The All England Club might be the centre of the sporting world, yet the fortunes of their respective teams might well rival the tennis gossip in the locker-room banter.
Top man Rafa Nadal will be looking to add to his 2008 and 2010 titles but the Majorca-born player will also be keeping in touch with what's going on transfer-wise back at the Bernabeu.
Nadal has a soft spot for hometown RCD Mallorca but is a Real Madrid fan, even though his uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal, played nearly 500 games for great rivals Barcelona.
He also won 62 caps for Spain, missing a penalty in the Euro 1996 shoot-out with England at Wembley.
Andy Murray, the great British hope to be our first men's champion since Stockport's Fred Perry, was a decent football prospect, turning down Rangers' school of excellence at 15, and supports Hibs.
The Glasgow-born British No.1 might have been influenced in his choice by the fact that his maternal grandfather, Roy Erskine, played for Hibs as well as Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath.
Swiss ace Roger Federer is a big fan of FC Basel - no surprises there - while Alicante-born David Ferrer, chasing his first Grand Slam title, follows the fortunes of Valencia.
French prospect Gael Monfils' father, Guadaloupe-born Rufin, played for Bordeaux, but there's only one Prem team for a Frenchman - yes, he's a Gooner. Apart from Arsenal, Gael also follows Paris Saint Germain.
Women's world No.9 Marion Bartoli is Geneva-based but a "huge supporter" of Olympique Marseille, while Kim Clijsters' late father Lei played 40 times for Belgium and won the 1988 European Cup-winners' Cup with Mechelen. Sadly Kim will sit it out this year after a foot injury ruled her out of the 2011 Wimbledon championships.
And Denmark's world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki MUST be a fan - her Polish footballer dad Piotr moved to Mannheim before finishing his playing career with Odense, while older brother Patrik is an attacking midfielder at Hvidovre

Wooders wrote:its all about where they are with their contracts ashton - tevez, modric and dzeko have 3 to 4 years left on theirs, Nasri and sjneider have one

You are "buying their contract" essentially, with some added percentage to prise the player away.

it's not just a fucking auction with no basis for valuation, even when we see crazy money get spent.

Nasri with one year left on a deal will absolutely be worth less than Modric, even if you rate Modric more highly.

I see, that explains why Andy carroll cost £35m

Cheers

Wonderwall wrote:I see, that explains why Andy carroll cost £35m

Cheers

20M for the Pony he's rockin all by itself. Add in the contract value and his "upside."

Joking aside, on the superficial optic of half a season he was a way better buy at 35M than Jayko was at 27M, right?

cheers

DoomMerchant wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:I see, that explains why Andy carroll cost £35m

Cheers

20M for the Pony he's rockin all by itself. Add in the contract value and his "upside."

Joking aside, on the superficial optic of half a season he was a way better buy at 35M than Jayko was at 27M, right?

cheers

Andy Carroll, came to Liverpool in January 2011. 8 appearances, 2 goals.
Edin Dzeko, came to City in January 2011. 21 appearances, 6 goals.

Or did you only mean our away game against Liverpool? In that case, you are of course right ...

EDIN DZEKO last night emerged as a summer target for Real Madrid.
Real boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to sign the Manchester City striker, who has flopped since his £27million move from Wolfsburg in January.
But Mourinho is ready to bid £20m for the Bosnian, 25, and believes he can persuade City to sell.

So Jose is so special he thinks he can convince us to take a £7 million loss after only 6 months??? Good math.

Just seen in the star we`re after Danielle de Rossi...Makes sense.