Saturday's B*l**x (updated)

Dzeko coy over City future
Enlarge Edin Dzeko has raised questions over his future by insisting he has done enough in his time at Manchester City to warrant a regular first-team place.
Dzeko was in and out of the Manchester City side as they won the Premier League title this season, but did grab 14 league goals, including the crucial equaliser against QPR on the final day of the campaign.
Although he has been linked with a move to Serie A champions Juventus, Dzeko has hinted he would be happy to stay and fight for his place at the Etihad Stadium.
He told Sky Sports: "[The competition for places is] not worrying me because I think I've shown that I can play at Man City and that I deserve to play. I've scored some very important goals. I'm still at Manchester City. For Man City I'm not thinking about my future. I'm just thinking about the games against Ireland and Mexico [for Bosnia].
"The coach decides who plays and I respect that. I always tried to do my best all season, even when I didn't play. At the end I scored a goal, maybe one of the most important goals in City's history, and I'm so proud of that." ESPN
Duo ready for Radu battle
Gunners & City eye Romanian stopper
Sky Sports understands Arsenal and Manchester City are set to do battle over Lazio skipper Stefan Radu.
Radu is one of the most highly-rated defenders in Italy, and has been labelled the new Cristian Chivu since an early age - as he can also play at left-back and centre-half.
The Romanian international signed a new long-term deal last summer, but Lazio could find it hard to resist a big-money offer which they now look set to receive from England.
The 25-year-old has now moved to the top of the radar of both Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini, who are clearly tempted by his ability to play in more than one position.
Both Arsenal and City lacked defensive numbers at various points during the season, and it is little surprise they have turned their attention towards a high-profile performer such as Radu.
Having been with Lazio since 2008, Sky Sports understands that Radu would welcome the chance to make his mark in England.
Eden Hazard Has Decided to Sign for Man United According to French Sources
Old Trafford side lead chase to sign Lille youngster.
Well respected French source Le10sport.com claims that much sought after Lille talent Eden Hazard will opt to join Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens next month.
The 21 year old Belgian international has already publicly stated his intention to leave his Ligue 1 side and that he has had discussions with a number of prospective suitors but this source states that the Old Trafford side are in pole position in the race to sign the young playmaker.
Hazard is now one of the most highly rated players in Europe following two stand out seasons at the Stade Metropole, during which time he has helped Lille to their first domestic title in over 50 years and then followed up that achievement by cementing Rudi Garcia’s sides place in the Champions League with a third place finish in the current campaign.
The attacking midfielder has notched up 34 goals and 26 assists over the last two seasons and has racked up a total of almost 200 appearances for Lille despite having only turned 21 earlier this year.
Sir Alex Ferguson could well do with adding more creativity to his midfield as his current central midfield options; Anderson, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley do not offer a great deal in the way of goals or assists. Hazard can play either in a wide role or in an advanced central position but given the number of wingers already at Man United it would appear that the Lille man would be of more use in a central, or floating, role.
Meanwhile Talkshit are also recomending that City should not be his destination ...
Eden Hazard may have started out playing in more of a wide position, but in his last season at Lille he excelled in a central role and he wants to keep playing in this 'No.10' position. City already have David Silva playing between the lines, drifting in from a nominal wide position, while Samir Nasri likes to do the same. Aguero and Tevez both excel playing 'in the hole', leaving Hazard with stiff competition for a starting place. Meanwhile, Milner and Adam Johnson are in the reckoning, too

ROBERTO MANCINI is ready to show his ruthless streak at Manchester City — by axing his 19-year-old son.
Andrea is on the list of free transfers sent to the Premier League by the champions.
He has only featured for City’s first team in pre-season since his release by Bologna in November 2010.
He was sent on loan to Oldham last November but played only one game.
Meanwhile, Mancini Snr has dismissed suggestions he could sign AC Milan defender Thiago Silva after meeting the club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani.
Mancini said: “I went and was congratulated for winning the title.”
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, 31, is keen on a summer move to big-spending French side Paris Saint-Germain. the Sun
But United have failed in a bid of around £12.8m for Borussia Dortmund's Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 23. the Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to move for £4m-rated Crewe talent Nick Powell, 18, after the Alex's League Two play-off final against Cheltenham. Daily Mail
Newly promoted West Ham have made a £7m offer for Heerenveen striker Bas Dost, 22, who has scored 32 goals in 34 league games for his club this season. the Sun
Everton have opened talks with Norwegian club Lillestrom to sign Icelandic striker Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson, 21, in a deal worth up to £3m. Liverpool Echo
Tony Pulis wants to sign Matt Jarvis, 26, although the Stoke boss rates the player at only half the £10m Wolves want for the winger. Daily Mirror
Clint Dempsey, 29, has cast doubt over his Fulham future by telling American magazine Sports Illustrated he wants to play in the Champions League. London Evening Standard
Huddersfield have warned clubs chasing prolific striker Jordan Rhodes, 22, including Fulham, Everton and Aston Villa, that he will only be allowed to leave for £8m. Daily Mail
DC United are weighing up whether to sign Tottenham defender Ryan Nelsen, 34, for a second time. Nelsen joined Blackburn after playing for the Major League Soccer club. talkShit
Newcastle are in a battle with Porto to sign £3m-rated FC Twente right-back Roberto Rosales, 23, according to the Venezuela international's agent. Newcastle Chronicle
Leicester are closing in on a swap deal for Celtic's English centre half Kelvin Wilson, 26, - with Matt Mills, 25, going the other way. Daily Mirror
Wigan will sound Steve Bruce out about returning to the DW Stadium for a third spell as manager if Roberto Martinez leaves this summer. Daily Mirror
England manager Roy Hodgson is prepared to gamble on the fitness of Danny Welbeck by taking him to the European Championship finals even if he is not 100% fit. The Manchester United striker will miss the friendly with Norway with an ankle injury and is not expected to be ready to train with his team-mates before next Tuesday, when Hodgson must submit his final 23-man squad for the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Jordan Rhodes has represented Scotland at both under-21 and senior levels the Times
Jack Butland, 19, will not freeze if he is called upon to play for England at Euro 2012, according his Birmingham manager Chris Hughton. Butland spent the last three months of the season on loan at Cheltenham. Daily Telegraph
Sir Alex Ferguson's old friend Dave Whelan, the Wigan owner, has claimed the Manchester United manager, 70, will retire at the end of next season. Daily Mail
Serbian striker Nikola Zigic, 31, has put Birmingham's play-off disappointment behind him to declare he has no intentions of leaving St Andrew's. Birmingham Mail
Wolves have admitted some seats in the new £18m Stan Cullis Stand will be taken off sale because half the Molineux pitch cannot be seen from them. "It's happened because we haven't gone ahead with the Steve Bull Stand redevelopment, otherwise the roof would have continued round," said club spokesman Matt Grayson. Express & Star
MORE BOLLOX LATER
Enlarge Edin Dzeko has raised questions over his future by insisting he has done enough in his time at Manchester City to warrant a regular first-team place.
Dzeko was in and out of the Manchester City side as they won the Premier League title this season, but did grab 14 league goals, including the crucial equaliser against QPR on the final day of the campaign.
Although he has been linked with a move to Serie A champions Juventus, Dzeko has hinted he would be happy to stay and fight for his place at the Etihad Stadium.
He told Sky Sports: "[The competition for places is] not worrying me because I think I've shown that I can play at Man City and that I deserve to play. I've scored some very important goals. I'm still at Manchester City. For Man City I'm not thinking about my future. I'm just thinking about the games against Ireland and Mexico [for Bosnia].
"The coach decides who plays and I respect that. I always tried to do my best all season, even when I didn't play. At the end I scored a goal, maybe one of the most important goals in City's history, and I'm so proud of that." ESPN
Duo ready for Radu battle
Gunners & City eye Romanian stopper
Sky Sports understands Arsenal and Manchester City are set to do battle over Lazio skipper Stefan Radu.
Radu is one of the most highly-rated defenders in Italy, and has been labelled the new Cristian Chivu since an early age - as he can also play at left-back and centre-half.
The Romanian international signed a new long-term deal last summer, but Lazio could find it hard to resist a big-money offer which they now look set to receive from England.
The 25-year-old has now moved to the top of the radar of both Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini, who are clearly tempted by his ability to play in more than one position.
Both Arsenal and City lacked defensive numbers at various points during the season, and it is little surprise they have turned their attention towards a high-profile performer such as Radu.
Having been with Lazio since 2008, Sky Sports understands that Radu would welcome the chance to make his mark in England.
Eden Hazard Has Decided to Sign for Man United According to French Sources
Old Trafford side lead chase to sign Lille youngster.
Well respected French source Le10sport.com claims that much sought after Lille talent Eden Hazard will opt to join Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens next month.
The 21 year old Belgian international has already publicly stated his intention to leave his Ligue 1 side and that he has had discussions with a number of prospective suitors but this source states that the Old Trafford side are in pole position in the race to sign the young playmaker.
Hazard is now one of the most highly rated players in Europe following two stand out seasons at the Stade Metropole, during which time he has helped Lille to their first domestic title in over 50 years and then followed up that achievement by cementing Rudi Garcia’s sides place in the Champions League with a third place finish in the current campaign.
The attacking midfielder has notched up 34 goals and 26 assists over the last two seasons and has racked up a total of almost 200 appearances for Lille despite having only turned 21 earlier this year.
Sir Alex Ferguson could well do with adding more creativity to his midfield as his current central midfield options; Anderson, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley do not offer a great deal in the way of goals or assists. Hazard can play either in a wide role or in an advanced central position but given the number of wingers already at Man United it would appear that the Lille man would be of more use in a central, or floating, role.
Meanwhile Talkshit are also recomending that City should not be his destination ...
Eden Hazard may have started out playing in more of a wide position, but in his last season at Lille he excelled in a central role and he wants to keep playing in this 'No.10' position. City already have David Silva playing between the lines, drifting in from a nominal wide position, while Samir Nasri likes to do the same. Aguero and Tevez both excel playing 'in the hole', leaving Hazard with stiff competition for a starting place. Meanwhile, Milner and Adam Johnson are in the reckoning, too

ROBERTO MANCINI is ready to show his ruthless streak at Manchester City — by axing his 19-year-old son.
Andrea is on the list of free transfers sent to the Premier League by the champions.
He has only featured for City’s first team in pre-season since his release by Bologna in November 2010.
He was sent on loan to Oldham last November but played only one game.
Meanwhile, Mancini Snr has dismissed suggestions he could sign AC Milan defender Thiago Silva after meeting the club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani.
Mancini said: “I went and was congratulated for winning the title.”
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, 31, is keen on a summer move to big-spending French side Paris Saint-Germain. the Sun
But United have failed in a bid of around £12.8m for Borussia Dortmund's Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 23. the Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to move for £4m-rated Crewe talent Nick Powell, 18, after the Alex's League Two play-off final against Cheltenham. Daily Mail
Newly promoted West Ham have made a £7m offer for Heerenveen striker Bas Dost, 22, who has scored 32 goals in 34 league games for his club this season. the Sun
Everton have opened talks with Norwegian club Lillestrom to sign Icelandic striker Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson, 21, in a deal worth up to £3m. Liverpool Echo
Tony Pulis wants to sign Matt Jarvis, 26, although the Stoke boss rates the player at only half the £10m Wolves want for the winger. Daily Mirror
Clint Dempsey, 29, has cast doubt over his Fulham future by telling American magazine Sports Illustrated he wants to play in the Champions League. London Evening Standard
Huddersfield have warned clubs chasing prolific striker Jordan Rhodes, 22, including Fulham, Everton and Aston Villa, that he will only be allowed to leave for £8m. Daily Mail
DC United are weighing up whether to sign Tottenham defender Ryan Nelsen, 34, for a second time. Nelsen joined Blackburn after playing for the Major League Soccer club. talkShit
Newcastle are in a battle with Porto to sign £3m-rated FC Twente right-back Roberto Rosales, 23, according to the Venezuela international's agent. Newcastle Chronicle
Leicester are closing in on a swap deal for Celtic's English centre half Kelvin Wilson, 26, - with Matt Mills, 25, going the other way. Daily Mirror
Wigan will sound Steve Bruce out about returning to the DW Stadium for a third spell as manager if Roberto Martinez leaves this summer. Daily Mirror
England manager Roy Hodgson is prepared to gamble on the fitness of Danny Welbeck by taking him to the European Championship finals even if he is not 100% fit. The Manchester United striker will miss the friendly with Norway with an ankle injury and is not expected to be ready to train with his team-mates before next Tuesday, when Hodgson must submit his final 23-man squad for the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Jordan Rhodes has represented Scotland at both under-21 and senior levels the Times
Jack Butland, 19, will not freeze if he is called upon to play for England at Euro 2012, according his Birmingham manager Chris Hughton. Butland spent the last three months of the season on loan at Cheltenham. Daily Telegraph
Sir Alex Ferguson's old friend Dave Whelan, the Wigan owner, has claimed the Manchester United manager, 70, will retire at the end of next season. Daily Mail
Serbian striker Nikola Zigic, 31, has put Birmingham's play-off disappointment behind him to declare he has no intentions of leaving St Andrew's. Birmingham Mail
Wolves have admitted some seats in the new £18m Stan Cullis Stand will be taken off sale because half the Molineux pitch cannot be seen from them. "It's happened because we haven't gone ahead with the Steve Bull Stand redevelopment, otherwise the roof would have continued round," said club spokesman Matt Grayson. Express & Star
MORE BOLLOX LATER