Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to try and snatch Manchester City's Carlos Tevez from under the noses of AC Milan.
A report in Italian newspaper La Repubblica claims that Ciy's Arab owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, have opened talks with fellow Sheikhs, the Qatar Investment Authority, who own Paris SG, to thrash out a 30 million euros deal for the 27-year-old Argentinian striker.
That news will be a huge blow to Milan, who confirmed earlier in the week that they had made an offer to take Tevez to the San Siro on loan in January with a view to a 23 million euros permanent move next summer.
City boss Roberto Mancini confirmed on Thursday that the club would not loan out Tevez as they wanted a sale as soon as possible which would be a viable option for the French giants.
Tevez would also have his City wages matched if he went to Paris, while Milan were said to be offering a package which would see him take a 50 per cent pay-cut.
Despite being aware of Paris' interest in Tevez, Milan's vice president Adriano Galliani is still hopeful of luring the player to Italy.
"Yes it's true, PSG are also in the running although I haven't heard from (their sporting director) Leonardo," Galliani told Sky Italia.
"We know City's desire is to the sell the player, our proposal is to loan him and hope City say yes.
"I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I can certainly say the player would prefer to be at Milan but you have to convince City to send him out on loan and that's not easy."
Balotelli turns out for Stoke reserves
Stoke City have handed Mario Balotelli's younger brother Enoch a trial at the Britannia Stadium in the hope he can make a similar impact to his sibling in the Premier League.
While Mario has been making waves at Manchester City, Enoch has been training with the Stoke youth team, but made his debut this week for the Potters' reserves in a 0-0 draw at Burton Albion, where he showed some neat touches and the family penchant for showboating.
The 19-year-old forward, who was born in Ghana before moving to Italy with Mario where the duo were adopted, played 82 minutes of the match before coming off with cramp.
Stoke academy coach Dave Kevan told the Stoke Sentinel: "He's been with training with us for a while and it was good to give him a run out. He's a good boy but a little bit raw at the moment. We will just have to see how things go."
If Enoch does sign for Stoke, the Balotelli's will join Gary and Phil Neville, Rio and Anton Ferdinand, plus Fabio and Rafael da Silva as brothers playing in the Premier League.
Note the obvious brotherly exclusion in that article ....
I have not got a problem with Kolo Toure, says Stefan Savic
Stefan Savic says he has no problem with Kolo Toure after his fellow defender appeared to criticise him in a magazine interview.
The young Montenegro defender was the subject of what seemed to be a dismissive comment from former City captain Kolo in a French football magazine.
Toure was interviewed before his recent recalls to the first team and, as well as saying the Blues had dropped him for going to the last African Nations Cup, he said of 20-year-old Savic: “I know my qualities and I have got nothing to prove here in England. They know me here. When you look at the performance of Savic against QPR, excuse me, but I am relaxed.”
Kolo moved quickly to deny making the comments, but So Foot magazine has stood by its article and says it has the interview recorded.
The City man approached Roberto Mancini on Monday to plead his innocence, and has also approached Savic to say he has been misquoted.
Savic said: “He said to me that he didn’t say anything.
“Straight away after that came out in the newspaper he spoke with me and said he didn’t tell them anything and I can only believe him. I don’t think he should say something like that.”
Savic, right, had a tough time in the Blues’ 3-2 win at QPR but Kolo, who has just returned from a six-month drugs ban, also looked rusty against Norwich.
Mancini gave Savic a vote of confidence by playing him at right back against Bayern Munich, with Micah Richards injured and Pablo Zabaleta still not 100 per cent after a knee problem.
And the 20-year-old, in his first season after a £6m move from Partizan Belgrade, says he is still adjusting to life in the Premier League.
“I have a lot of experience playing international football and I also played in the Champions League last year with my last club,” he said.
“I have experience with my 20 years and when I am training with these good players I can only improve and do better.
“Of course I am learning from training and from match to match.
“QPR was my first game in the Premier League from the start but I am getting used to this.
“I came from the Serbian League and I needed a little time but now I think everything is better and the time is in front of me.
“It was a physical game with a lot of long balls.
“They are a good team at home,” he added. “But the most important thing is that we won that away game and got the points.”
Chelsea and Manchester City are thought to be monitoring Ajax full-back Gregory van der Wiel, who says he will not sign a new contract at the club. The 23-year-old is also wanted by Valencia. The Sun
TWEETS OF THE WEEK
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/fea ... weets-week
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]THE BOLLOX
Shut it, Fergie! Platini hits out at United boss for calling the Europa League a 'penalty'
Michel Platini has blasted Sir Alex Ferguson for suggesting Manchester United were being penalised by dropping into the Europa League.
After his side were dumped out of the Champions League against Basle on Wednesday night, Ferguson was left facing up to a run in Europe's second competition.
However, he has now sparked a row with UEFA president Platini, who has accused the United manager of showing a lack of respect.
Ferguson's comments after United's 2-1 defeat to Basle on Wednesday - 'Now we are in a competition I have never been in with Manchester United. It does mean Sundays right through and Thursday-Sunday matches. That has to be dealt with. That is our penalty for not qualifying' - have clearly riled Platini.
'The world does not revolve around England, I like England a lot, it's football is fantastic, it's supporters are wonderful but you shouldn't criticise the Europa League just because you've played in three Champions League finals,' he said Platini in reference to their recent finals from 2008, 2009 and 2011. United have actually contested four finals under Ferguson's rule, with their other appearance coming in their 1999 triumph.
'The Europa League is a brilliant competition, it's amazing. I know Mr Ferguson would have preferred to be in the Champions League but so would many clubs who don't have that possibility.'
United's players were left shellshocked after United's humiliating descent from Europe's premier club competition.
Patrice Evra admitted that the stunned players were 'embarrassed' to be destined for the second-tier tournament.
It was no consolation that United's fierce local rivals, Manchester City, were also consigned to Thursday night football on Channel 5 - a fact that Bayern Munich fans were quick to remind City fans of during taunts in their match at the Etighad Stadium this week.
'It's embarrassing to be in the Europa League,' said defender Evra. 'I'm not ready for it and the way I feel now it's Champions League or nothing. It feels like a dream.
'I feel I'll wake up and we will have qualified. But it's not a dream, it's the reality and we should have woken up earlier. We haven't been professional from the beginning of this competition.'
Rio Ferdinand echoed Evra's pain, saying: 'Nights at Old Trafford, under the lights, the Champions League music... that’s what you live for. We’ve gone out early this year and we’re disappointed. But we can’t blame anyone else but ourselves.
'The lads are all devastated to have gone out at this stage of the tournament. But that’s the reality. That’s what’s happened.
'We have to look back at the games at Old Trafford. We’ve not done enough to win those games. The manager’s always said that if you don’t win your home games you don’t deserve to go through. That’s the case this season.'
Aston Villa are pondering a move for Newcastle midfielder Danny Guthrie after losing Jermaine Jenas to a season-ending injury. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are planning to snatch Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen from under the noses of north London rivals Arsenal. Metro
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is keen to sign Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, who worked with him at Bolton. The Sun
Spurs and Arsenal are both reportedly interested in Chelsea's out-of-favour defender Alex. Daily Star
Blackburn midfielder Steven Nzonzi is wanted by Spartak Moscow, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa also thought to be interested in the £7m-rated Frenchman. The Sun
Bundesliga side Schalke are keen to hijack Arsenal's interest in Germany international striker Lukas Podolski, 26. Schalke want to sign Podolski as a replacement for former Real Madrid man Raul, 34, who is contracted to the club until next summer. talkSHIT
Everton skipper Phil Neville says the club are unlikely to sign United States international striker Landon Donovan on loan in January. Liverpool Echo
QPR midfielder Alejandro Faurlin is believed to be attracting interest from Napoli and two other Premier League clubs. Daily Mail
Meanwhile, Neil Warnock's side have joined Stoke, Newcastle and West Brom in the chase for Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell. Daily Mirror
Premier League sides West Brom and Wigan are both lining up moves for Nottingham Forest defender Luke Chambers, who is out of contract at the City Ground in the summer. Daily Mail
Defender Nemanja Vidic's agent has claimed that the Manchester United captain suffered a serious knee injury during the defeat by Basel. Silvano Martina said: "Unfortunately he has suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament." In response to a follow-up question asking if the player would be out for several months, the agent said: "Unfortunately so, yes." Calcio Mercato
England coach Fabio Capello told the Uefa disciplinary panel he was to blame for Wayne Rooney's red card, for selecting the striker so soon after the arrest of his father and uncle. (various)
Defender Jody Craddock has backed Wolves captain Roger Johnson to become a "top calibre player" again. Express & Star
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has backed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to replace Fabio Capello as England manager. "Arsene Wenger wouldn't be a bad thing for England. He proves it every year. He and Sir Alex Ferguson are the best managers in the league and, if the boss at Arsenal wanted the job with England, I'd be delighted with that," Wilshere said.Metro
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has blasted the critics who slammed him for leaving Arsenal and insisted: "I had to go". the Sun
New Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill hopes midfielder Craig Gardner's Sunderland career will finally take off after a difficult start for the midfielder on Wearside. Newcastle Chronicle
Liverpool forward Andy Carroll's troubles in front of goal have been well documented this season, but one lucky gamer witnessed the frontman score twice in a second after a Fifa 12 glitch saw the big Geordie indulge in a passionate embrace with Arsenal goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski. Metro
