Manchester City have given top summer transfer target Edin Hazard a tour of the property market in the north-west as they look to keep him out of the clutches of neighbours United.
The Barclays Premier League leaders have identified the 21-year-old Lille playmaker as one of the men they want to add to their attacking options ahead of next summer and have been on his trail for the last two months.
Now staff from City have given the young Belgian a tour of the Cheshire commuter belt as they try to get one over on rivals United, who are also in the race - along with Spurs - for Hazard’s signature.
Hazard was at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night as City beat United 1-0 to go top of the Premier League and it is understood that he spent the night in Manchester before he was taken to the swanky enclaves of Alderley Edge and Prestbury to look at houses.
The player has not yet indicated whether he will join City. Rated in the £30million bracket, Hazard’s wage demands are currently causing a problem with City and United both unwilling to put a player of relatively little experience on their very top salary level.
Interest: Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini would like Hazard at their clubs
Hazard is also understood to have spoken with Tottenham and is not ruling the London club out as he feels he may get more regular football at White Hart Lane.
If Hazard does eventually sign for City, his arrival may spell the end of Adam Johnson’s time at the club. The England winger has not managed to make the alterations to his lifestyle demanded by City manager Mancini and the club will now listen to offers in the summer.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew announces team to face Manchester City a day before game
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has thrown down the gauntlet to Manchester City by announcing his team selection early.
ALAN Pardew has thrown down the gauntlet to Manchester City by naming his team 24 hours before tomorrow’s game.
Pardew has taken the unusual step of revealing his starting XI for Newcastle United’s final home game of the season.
United’s manager will name an unchanged side for the visit of Roberto Mancini’s Premier League leaders, with midfielder Cheik Tiote fit to play after suffering a head wound in the 2-0 midweek win over Chelsea, decided by two stunning Papiss Demba Cisse goals.
“It’ll be the same team that plays Man City,” Pardew, pictured, said.
“I’m not hiding that from Man City – they can know our team – and they’ve got to beat us.”
The stakes could hardly be higher, with City needing a win to stay ahead of their rivals Manchester United, in second.
Fifth-placed Newcastle, meanwhile, need a result to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive going into the final fixture of the season at Everton a week tomorrow.
“It isn’t a season-defining 90 minutes, as our season’s been magnificent, but what it will be is a real test for us in terms of playing a team going for the title,” added Pardew,
“We’re going for fourth place and that Chelsea game was about setting up this game. We couldn’t have done any better – it was a great performance.
“Forget about Papiss’s two goals, which were special, it was a brilliant performance.
“Even without the goals, we’d have got a 0-0. We tied them up. We did that part of the job and I’m immensely proud of the players.
United were beaten 3-1 at the Ethiad Stadium earlier this season and Pardew is predicting a tighter contest this time around.
“We really put in a great effort, but I thought we were a little distance away from them,” said Pardew.
“I think it’ll be a lot closer this time.”
Sir Alex Ferguson and his players, who face Swansea City at Old Trafford later in the day, will be watching the game.
“When you go first, it doesn’t matter,” said Pardew. “When you go second, it does.
“All the Man United players and staff will be watching intently hoping we get something.
“For Man City, they don’t have that to worry about – they just play the game.”
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Steven Gerrard played a key role in Liverpool's memorable FA Cup win in 2006 and he is hoping to help his side to more cup glory against Chelsea on Saturday. Liverpool Echo
Didier Drogba has admitted he feels "like a kid" every time he scores a winning goal at Wembley. The Chelsea striker has scored in all seven of his competitive appearances there. London Evening Standard
German outfit Hoffenheim plan to raid Championship side Crystal Palace for highly-rated youngster Wilfried Zaha. They hope the £4m-rated 19-year-old winger might be tempted by a move to the Bundesliga big time.
Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace could be bound for the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim. the Sun
Hoffenheim have already succeeded in luring FC Basel's left-sided attacker Valentin Stocker, 23, to Germany, despite serious interest from Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. talkSHIT
Fulham boss Martin Jol has shrugged off Liverpool interest in his 29-year-old American striker Clint Dempsey. "I'm not bothered about it," he declared. Times
Everton are not prepared to let any of their stars leave Goodison Park at the end of the campaign, despite interest from Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines. Daily Mail
Newcastle and Tottenham are interested in the services of German international defender Serdar Tasci, 25, but they face stiff competition from rival suitors Roma and Juventus. Footy Latest
Southampton have added West Bromwich Albion striker Simon Cox, 25, to their list of potential targets after securing their return to the Premier League. Daily Mail
John Terry has rubbished rumours he could call time on his international career, saying: "I will never turn my back on England." London Evening Standard
Bolton's Fabrice Muamba refers to himself as a "living miracle". After recovering from a cardiac arrest at White Hart Lane, the midfielder says: "I have been given a chance to live again. It still blows my mind." Times
Chelsea directors spoke with a member of the Qatari ruling family on Friday about investing in the club's future. Daily Mail
Jose Mourinho is set to snub Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and sign a new Real Madrid deal — worth a staggering £10million a year after tax. The Sun
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admits that he still has not been offered a new contract, despite having only one year of his deal remaining. Meanwhile, Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers and Wigan's Roberto Martinez are being linked with the role. Daily Mirror
On-loan Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson admits it will feel odd if he has to return to Germany in the summer. "It's difficult to say if I miss [Hoffenheim]. I have friends there but I wasn't playing, was hardly ever really happy. I just want to play football, but I was training, sitting on the bench, training again. Every week." Daily Mail
The managing director of Club England, Adrian Bevington, says new boss Roy Hodgson has remained unaffected by the negative coverage surrounding his appointment. "We want to stand by our man," declared Bevington. talkSHIT
Arsenal striker and captain Robin van Persie has revealed he will open talks over a new deal with the Gunners in the summer. "We haven't set a date but I will have a meeting with the boss like we did before now. We will be having a meeting about my future, and lots of other things," he said. Metro
