Manchester City have become used to spending money in the transfer window, but it seems they might have to start the summer season fighting to hold on to one of their stars rather than adding to their squad.
Micah Richards is wanted by Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who is looking for a right-back who can cover several positions.
According to the Daily Mail, the England international is known to be admired by the Portuguese chief, who previously tried to sign him during his time at Chelsea.
Although a host of other top European clubs - such as Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea and Arsenal - are known to be keeping an eye on Richards, it seems Real will be the first to make a move.
The City star might find it tough to turn down a move to the Bernabeu, with Real still in contention to win La Liga and the Champions League this season, whereas City look likely to end up trophy-less.
Richards, 23, only signed a new four-year deal at the Etihad Stadium last year, but Mourinho will prey on the possibility that he has become disillusioned with City boss Roberto Mancini's squad rotation policy in north-west England.
ROBERTO MANCINI’s title frustration boiled over when he claimed the “rules are not the same for every team”.
Manchester City boss Mancini accused referees of double standards after rivals Manchester United received favourable decisions in recent games.
He could not disguise his suspicion at recent events which he says have made it “very difficult” for City to win their first championship since 1968.
“Everyone can have an opinion but when I watch some games there are some strange situations that I don’t like,” said Mancini.
“The rules should be the same for everyone, not for us or for United or for West Bromwich. They can’t change from one pitch to another or some other situation. This is not good.”
United have built a five-point lead over City, helped by controversial decisions in their last three home games.
When asked if he agreed with Sir Alex Ferguson’s belief that good and bad decisions balance out over a season, Mancini said: “No, this is impossible because there are some moments in the season when the mistake is more important.
“There are other moments that are not so much [important]. Everyone can make a mistake but not like this.
“When I was in Italy I always believed that the best referees were in England. My idea has changed.
“I don’t want to talk about United because they’re a top team, a fantastic team. They can score three or four goals every game.
“But every team should play with 11 players. The man on the pitch in a black shirt doesn’t have a blue shirt or a red shirt or a white shirt. He is there to decide everything.
“After some time, he could make a mistake, that’s normal. We know about this.”
As City prepared for their trip to Wolves tomorrow, Mancini pointed to the caution Carlos Tevez received for an alleged dive at Norwich last Saturday, when replays showed he had been tripped, 24 hours before Ashley Young won a controversial penalty for United against Aston Villa.
Mancini said sarcastically: “The referee made a mistake – for me it was a red card and a five-game ban for Tevez.
“After some of the situations I have seen in the last three or four weeks, it is really difficult for us.”
When asked if he was referring to refereeing decisions involving City or United, Mancini said: “Both.”
We don't need both Dzeko and Balotelli!
Mancini pushes misfiring City strikers towards exit door
Manchester City are unlikely to keep both Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli beyond the end of this season after manager Roberto Mancini admitted his two strikers cannot play together.
While the Argentine duo of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero have scored eight goals between them in two games since Tevez returned from a six-month absence, Dzeko and Balotelli – signed for a combined £50million – are too similar to make a good partnership in Mancini's opinion.
The City boss said: 'Carlos can play with Mario, Sergio and Dzeko. The only players who can't play together are Mario and Dzeko because they are the same type of players.
'Technically they are different but they're the same player. For this, the two players can't play together. Only Mario and Dzeko can't play together because they have some problems.
'Dzeko didn't play very well against Arsenal but we made a big mistake when we conceded a goal three minutes from the end.
'If we'd drawn against Arsenal it was another point. But we can't do anything about it now.'
Balotelli and Dzeko have both been linked with a move away from City this summer. Tevez is expected to go as well, although the possibility of him staying has not been ruled out.
Asked if the season would have turned out differently were it not for his dispute with the Argentina striker, Mancini said: 'It's normal that if you have another player like Carlos you can score more goals.
'The difference is clear but we did everything in November and December to try to keep Carlos here.
'We have good players and Carlos is one of them. In the end we'll decide.'
Manchester City bid for entertainment licence to bring more concerts to Etihad stadium
Manchester City are bidding to join the showbiz premier league – by expanding the number of special events held at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues have applied for a permanent licence that would allow them to hold events including boxing and wrestling, live music concerts, film and theatre.
The ground has already held one superfight, when City fan Ricky Hatton successfully defended his world light-welterweight title against Juan Lazcano in May 2008.
But until now, the Blues have applied for temporary licences to host out-of-season concerts such as Take That’s sell-out eight night run last year.
If granted, the new permanent licence will give City the chance to hold a dozen events a year for up to 63,000 people, with a cut off time of 11pm.
Etihad bosses have already held met people living nearby to share their views on the proposals. But the club said it did not want to go into further details of their plans until the application – which covers the stadium and the land directly outside – had been approved.
City’s operations director Steve Sayer said: “As a club, we are proud to call east Manchester home and recognise that the area has all the necessary ingredients to attract further substantial investment and regeneration.
A permanent premise licence will only help support and build on our and east Manchester’s reputation for hosting world class sport and entertainment events.”
Blues bosses banned concerts at the Etihad in 2008 after a Bon Jovi concert damaged the turf and forced City to play a Uefa Cup home tie at Barnsley.
The pitch was relaid in 2010, so that future events would take less of a toll on the grass. Take That were the first band to play on the new turf last year.
American band the Red Hot Chili Peppers, supported by soul legend, James Brown, played the first concert at the stadium in 2004. U2 and City’s highest-profile fans, Oasis, each played gigs the following year while rock legend Rod Stewart has also performed there.
In 2008, the Foo Fighters played the ground supported by The Manic Street Preachers.
Coldplay and rock legend Bruce Springsteen are both due to play gigs at the ground this summer.
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham are trying to persuade Croatian midfield playmaker Luka Modric to sign a new contract - and keep him out of the clutches of Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City. the Sun
German side Hamburg have targeted Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt, 31, as a summer signing after it emerged the Dutch forward can leave for £1m at the end of the season. Metro
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has given striker Robin van Persie a 72-hour deadline to resolve his future and sign a new deal with the Gunners. Daily Mirror
Serie A league leaders Juventus have set their sights on capturing Van Persie to spearhead their attack next season. But the Bianconeri are also keeping tabs on Chelsea's Fernando Torres and Athletic Bilbao's Iker Muniain. Goal.com
Fulham boss Martin Jol fears he could lose 22-goal forward Clint Dempsey in the summer if the American rejects a new deal at Craven Cottage. the Sun
Arsenal are on the trail of one of the hottest prospects in Italian football who has been called the 'new Gareth Bale'. Moroccan full-back Acharaf Laazar, 20, plays for Serie B side Verase and is apparently on Arsene Wenger's radar. talkSHIT
Leicester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel, 25, is a summer target for Tottenham, who want a younger goalkeeper to provide competition for 40-year-old veteran Brad Friedel. the Sun
Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale will choose to stay at the club despite interest from Barcelona, says Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. the Daily Telegraph
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that the club have provisionally reached agreement on a new contract with midfielder Paul Pogba, but the Scot is unsure whether the 19-year-old will put pen to paper. Inside Futbol
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has put off talks over a new deal until after Euro 2012, alerting Arsenal to the Dutch striker's possible availability. Caught offside
FA bill for Harry Redknapp 'could hit £10m'
The Football Association faces a complex legal and financial battle to extract Harry Redknapp from his Tottenham Hotspur contract if they want him to be the next England manager. Times
Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean has rejected talk of a player revolt at Ewood Park, following internet rumours he clashed with goalkeeper Paul Robinson and midfielder Steven Nzonzi at the training ground. Daily Mirror
Former Arsenal boss George Graham has questioned the club's medical staff after the Gunners' England midfielder Jack Wilshere was ruled out of Euro 2012. talkSHIT
Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing admits he was too scared to speak to Reds skipper Steven Gerrard when he first joined he first-team squad. Daily Mirror
West Brom boss Roy Hodgson expects a lukewarm reception when he returns to Liverpool on Sunday for the first time since he was sacked by the Reds in January 2011. Express and Star
Blackburn defender Gael Givet, who manager Steve Kean claimed was not in the right frame of mind to play in the club's last match, is expected to return to the starting line-up against Norwich City following talks. Lancashire Telegraph
Newcastle defender Mike Williamson has revealed the reason behind the Premier League surprise package's tasty form on the pitch - the players have been hosting Come Dine With Me-style evenings for each other. Daily Mirror
MORE BOLLOX SOON
