Monday's B*l**x

Manchester City primed to sign French starlet Niang from Caen
The Champions look set to beat Arsenal and Tottenham for the 17-year-old's signature after Brian Marwood invited him to the club for talks

Manchester City are ready to win the race for French sensation M’Baye Niang - and snatch him away from Arsenal and Tottenham.
City supremo Brian Marwood has personally approached Niang’s club Caen with a request for Niang to come for talks this week after the teenager spent a few days with the Gunners.
Attacking star Niang, who has made 30 appearances in the first team already, is set to decide on a move before the window shuts and has also had an invite to visit Tottenham.
However City’s direct move - and money - may yet win the chase for the £6million-rated prospect who wants to leave the French Second Division outfit.
Niang, a quick and tall striker, is in the French under-21 side years ahead of his age and rated the best player to emerge from his country in that role for some time.
Marwood is trying to improve the quality of the next generation of City players - with Roberto Mancini unhappy that there have not been many coming through.
City have spent heavily on teenagers who could emerge in time, but Niang is seen as a player who could even walk right into Mancini’s first-team squad
Real Madrid turn their attention to Man City for defensive reinforcements
Jose Mourinho’s desire to sign a quality defender has been well publicised by the Spanish media and now it seems that the Portuguese is looking at his favourite league to bring in some new recruits and solidify his current back line.
After last year’s La Liga triumph over Barcelona, the Santiago Bernabeu is abuzz with the potential that the future holds for the current team and Jose Mourinho wants to capitalise on this optimism by bringing in some big recruits. The name currently spiralling around in the boardroom is Manchester City’s Micah Richards according to Calcionews.
The English defender has been an integral part of the Citizen’s Premier League winning squad and it’s believed that the Spanish giants consider his strength and pace a vital asset to their style of football. A move to Real Madrid would make Richards one amongst a series of English players to don the white kit of the club. Michael Owen, David Beckham and Steve McManaman have all tried to bring their English grit and flair to the club but failed to make a serious impact in the memories of the club’s fans.
However, Richards isn’t a player being poached simply for his brand value but because he’s a rational choice to cull the club’s woes at the back.
Convincing Roberto Mancini to give up Richards for a sum of €10 million will be a difficult task for Mourinho but the Portuguese’s charm could lure the gritty defender to Spain.
The Mail's daily mission to link City with any player that nobody else has thus far continues unabated. Obviously nobody at the paper is willing to put their name to the bollox they continue to churn out .......
Man City consider Wanyama bid as they wait for Van Persie developments By Sportsmail Reporter
Manchester City are monitoring Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama while they continue to wait on separate developments with Robin van Persie.
The defending Premier League champions have concerns over their defensive midfield position with injured Gareth Barry struggling to make the start of the season and Nigel de Jong looking to leave.
They also want cover for Yaya Toure and see potential in powerful Kenyan Wanyama who has expressed a desire to leave Celtic. The 21-year-old has been watched by Liverpool, Newcastle and QPR.
Meanwhile, the club expect AC Milan and Juventus to firm up interest in Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko this week, something which will impact on Van Persie.
However, manager Roberto Mancini said: ‘Both Dzeko and Tevez will stay at City. We are a great team and we try to keep all our great players. It won’t be easy but they will stay here.
‘We still lack a couple of players to reach [the level of] Real Madrid and Barcelona. Also our mentality has to grow season by season.’
ON THIS DAY - OFFICIAL WEBSITE BOLLOX
Looking back through the history books for the events, signings and memorable matches that happened on this day in City’s history.
Brian Clough called Malcolm Allison "the Errol Flynn of football, who was too handsome for his own good" and this day in 1979, flamboyant manager returned to City for his second spell in charge, replacing Tony Book, the man he had mentored.
Allison was brought in by chairman Peter Swales and was handed a sizeable transfer war chest in a bid to recreate City’s glory days of the early 70s. With his trademark fedora in tow, Allison splashed the cash on Michael Robinson and Steve Daley.
Despite these considerable outlays, City finished a disappointing 17th in the 22-team Division One and Malcolm headed for the Maine Road exit door once more, taking up the reins for a short but successful spell at Sporting Lisbon.
Big Mal sadly passed away on 14 October 2010 after a lengthy illness and tributes poured in from across the globe, including from Mike Summerbee who said that Britain had lost one of its greatest ever managers.
"He gave us a football brain and if things weren't going right, we could change it ourselves because he made sure we had football brains. He had a wonderful character and that spread right through the side," said Mike.
OTHER BOLLOX
Newcastle have stepped up their bid to land Andy Carroll, 23, after having a bid to take the Liverpool striker back to Tyneside on a season-long loan rejected. Daily Mail
Real Madrid are close to a £30m deal for Luka Modric, 26, with just a final few elements of the deal with Tottenham to be ironed out. Daily Mail
Chelsea could be beaten to the signing of Inter Milan right-back Maicon, 30, by Spanish champions Real Madrid. Metro
Stoke's move for USA and Houston Dynamos midfielder Geoff Cameron, 27, could be scuppered by Major League Soccer authorities putting a £2.2m valuation on the player. Daily Mirror
Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda's wage demands are preventing a possible move to Brazilian side Santos. Daily Mirror
Everton, West Ham and QPR are all vying to sign 19-year-old Inter Milan striker Luc Castaignos. Inside Futbol
Manchester United midfielder Anderson wants to use next season to prove his doubters wrong and show why the Old Trafford club paid Porto £25m for him. Daily Mirror
Mick McCarthy could be given the Nottingham Forest manager's job on Monday after ending his Portugal holiday early.
Gary Neville has said the notion that England must always beat nations such as Italy is "arrogant" and "disrespectful" to such opposition and that a major dose of realism is required to dispel the expectation that the national team have to go close to winning every tournament they play in. Independent
Juan Mata has warned Spain that their favourites tag for the upcoming Olympics football competition does not guarantee success. Daily Mirror
Tottenham new boy Gylfi Sigurdsson has revealed the prospect of challenging for trophies lured him to the club. talkShit
Fans and athletes in Spain have been quick to express their horror at the outfits which will be worn by Spanish Olympians at the London 2012 Games after pictures were leaked. Metro
MORE BOLLOX SOON ...
The Champions look set to beat Arsenal and Tottenham for the 17-year-old's signature after Brian Marwood invited him to the club for talks
Manchester City are ready to win the race for French sensation M’Baye Niang - and snatch him away from Arsenal and Tottenham.
City supremo Brian Marwood has personally approached Niang’s club Caen with a request for Niang to come for talks this week after the teenager spent a few days with the Gunners.
Attacking star Niang, who has made 30 appearances in the first team already, is set to decide on a move before the window shuts and has also had an invite to visit Tottenham.
However City’s direct move - and money - may yet win the chase for the £6million-rated prospect who wants to leave the French Second Division outfit.
Niang, a quick and tall striker, is in the French under-21 side years ahead of his age and rated the best player to emerge from his country in that role for some time.
Marwood is trying to improve the quality of the next generation of City players - with Roberto Mancini unhappy that there have not been many coming through.
City have spent heavily on teenagers who could emerge in time, but Niang is seen as a player who could even walk right into Mancini’s first-team squad
Real Madrid turn their attention to Man City for defensive reinforcements
Jose Mourinho’s desire to sign a quality defender has been well publicised by the Spanish media and now it seems that the Portuguese is looking at his favourite league to bring in some new recruits and solidify his current back line.
After last year’s La Liga triumph over Barcelona, the Santiago Bernabeu is abuzz with the potential that the future holds for the current team and Jose Mourinho wants to capitalise on this optimism by bringing in some big recruits. The name currently spiralling around in the boardroom is Manchester City’s Micah Richards according to Calcionews.
The English defender has been an integral part of the Citizen’s Premier League winning squad and it’s believed that the Spanish giants consider his strength and pace a vital asset to their style of football. A move to Real Madrid would make Richards one amongst a series of English players to don the white kit of the club. Michael Owen, David Beckham and Steve McManaman have all tried to bring their English grit and flair to the club but failed to make a serious impact in the memories of the club’s fans.
However, Richards isn’t a player being poached simply for his brand value but because he’s a rational choice to cull the club’s woes at the back.
Convincing Roberto Mancini to give up Richards for a sum of €10 million will be a difficult task for Mourinho but the Portuguese’s charm could lure the gritty defender to Spain.
The Mail's daily mission to link City with any player that nobody else has thus far continues unabated. Obviously nobody at the paper is willing to put their name to the bollox they continue to churn out .......
Man City consider Wanyama bid as they wait for Van Persie developments By Sportsmail Reporter
Manchester City are monitoring Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama while they continue to wait on separate developments with Robin van Persie.
The defending Premier League champions have concerns over their defensive midfield position with injured Gareth Barry struggling to make the start of the season and Nigel de Jong looking to leave.
They also want cover for Yaya Toure and see potential in powerful Kenyan Wanyama who has expressed a desire to leave Celtic. The 21-year-old has been watched by Liverpool, Newcastle and QPR.
Meanwhile, the club expect AC Milan and Juventus to firm up interest in Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko this week, something which will impact on Van Persie.
However, manager Roberto Mancini said: ‘Both Dzeko and Tevez will stay at City. We are a great team and we try to keep all our great players. It won’t be easy but they will stay here.
‘We still lack a couple of players to reach [the level of] Real Madrid and Barcelona. Also our mentality has to grow season by season.’
ON THIS DAY - OFFICIAL WEBSITE BOLLOX
Looking back through the history books for the events, signings and memorable matches that happened on this day in City’s history.
Brian Clough called Malcolm Allison "the Errol Flynn of football, who was too handsome for his own good" and this day in 1979, flamboyant manager returned to City for his second spell in charge, replacing Tony Book, the man he had mentored.
Allison was brought in by chairman Peter Swales and was handed a sizeable transfer war chest in a bid to recreate City’s glory days of the early 70s. With his trademark fedora in tow, Allison splashed the cash on Michael Robinson and Steve Daley.
Despite these considerable outlays, City finished a disappointing 17th in the 22-team Division One and Malcolm headed for the Maine Road exit door once more, taking up the reins for a short but successful spell at Sporting Lisbon.
Big Mal sadly passed away on 14 October 2010 after a lengthy illness and tributes poured in from across the globe, including from Mike Summerbee who said that Britain had lost one of its greatest ever managers.
"He gave us a football brain and if things weren't going right, we could change it ourselves because he made sure we had football brains. He had a wonderful character and that spread right through the side," said Mike.
OTHER BOLLOX
Newcastle have stepped up their bid to land Andy Carroll, 23, after having a bid to take the Liverpool striker back to Tyneside on a season-long loan rejected. Daily Mail
Real Madrid are close to a £30m deal for Luka Modric, 26, with just a final few elements of the deal with Tottenham to be ironed out. Daily Mail
Chelsea could be beaten to the signing of Inter Milan right-back Maicon, 30, by Spanish champions Real Madrid. Metro
Stoke's move for USA and Houston Dynamos midfielder Geoff Cameron, 27, could be scuppered by Major League Soccer authorities putting a £2.2m valuation on the player. Daily Mirror
Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda's wage demands are preventing a possible move to Brazilian side Santos. Daily Mirror
Everton, West Ham and QPR are all vying to sign 19-year-old Inter Milan striker Luc Castaignos. Inside Futbol
Manchester United midfielder Anderson wants to use next season to prove his doubters wrong and show why the Old Trafford club paid Porto £25m for him. Daily Mirror
Mick McCarthy could be given the Nottingham Forest manager's job on Monday after ending his Portugal holiday early.
Gary Neville has said the notion that England must always beat nations such as Italy is "arrogant" and "disrespectful" to such opposition and that a major dose of realism is required to dispel the expectation that the national team have to go close to winning every tournament they play in. Independent
Juan Mata has warned Spain that their favourites tag for the upcoming Olympics football competition does not guarantee success. Daily Mirror
Tottenham new boy Gylfi Sigurdsson has revealed the prospect of challenging for trophies lured him to the club. talkShit
Fans and athletes in Spain have been quick to express their horror at the outfits which will be worn by Spanish Olympians at the London 2012 Games after pictures were leaked. Metro
MORE BOLLOX SOON ...