The transfer window clock is ticking... Who's making the headlines today?
Well, the Daily Star are reporting that Norwegian midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim has signed for Olympiakos.
Writes David Woods: "The Norway Under-21 midfielder has taken a 75 per cent pay cut to get his career back on track.
"He has opted for a three-and-a-half year deal in Greece on £5,000 a week.
"The 22-year-old was talked up as being in the mould of Patrick Vieira, but failed to establish himself in the star-studded City side.
"He helped Stromsgodset to win the league in Norway.
"But with City saying they did not intend to renew his contract, which is up in the summer, Ibrahim plans to start afresh in Athens.
"Olympiakos - who face Manchester United in the Champions League next month - are understood to be planning to send him out on loan again, in order for him to be ready for next season."
Elsewhere, Ben Burrows of the Mirror believes that Edin Dzeko could return to his former club, Wolfsburg.
Scribes Burrows: "With Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo banging goals in for fun, Edin Dzeko has had to settle for life on the fringes.
"Despite seeing more playing time with the Argentine's injury layoff, the Bosnian has been consistently linked with a move away from the Etihad.
"Former club Wolfsburg are the latest to hit the gossip columns.
"Fresh from laying out £16m on Chelsea's Kevin De Bruyne, German newspaper Die Welt believe they could now go in for their former man.
"They already bankrolled a move for Luis Gustavo in the summer and, backed by car giant Volkswagen, appear to be making a concerted push to get back in the Bundesliga title reckoning.
"Dzeko would no doubt help them move towards that goal with his albeit unlikely arrival potentially the biggest coup of all."
And finally, Sports Direct News are claiming that City and Arsenal are set to battle for the signature of Angel Di Maria.
They report: "It has been suggested that the Argentine star is currently unsettled at the Bernabeu after what he sees as his being targeted by the Spanish media, leading to rumours that he could be tempted to move abroad."
Pellegrini relishing first Wembley trip
West Ham 0 Manchester City 3 (City win 9-0 on aggregate)
Manuel Pellegrini is looking forward to his first trip to Wembley as a manager after Manchester City completed their Capital One Cup semi-final rout of West Ham.
A 3-0 second-leg win, with two goals from Alvaro Negredo and one from strike partner Sergio Aguero, completed a 9-0 success on aggregate.
Pellegrini said: “It is very important, the final of the cup is at Wembley and it is an important cup.
“It was important the way we reached the final, winning the game, and I hope in the final we can win.”
Either rivals Manchester United or Sunderland await, with the Black Cats taking a 2-1 lead into tonight’s second-leg of their semi-final at Old Trafford.
Pellegrini is unconcerned by the outcome and said: “It is the same for me, both teams would be difficult. We will see tomorrow.”
Negredo was in some discomfort after tackling Hammers defender James Tomkins late on and Pellegrini said: “He has some problem with his shoulder.
“We will see tomorrow if it is serious. For now it is just pain, we don’t know what type of pain.”
WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen, Taylor, Johnson, Tomkins, Rat, Diarra, Morrison, Diame (Collison 89), Nolan, Joe Cole (Downing 47), Carroll (Carlton Cole 46).
MAN CITY: Pantilimon, Boyata, Lescott, Nastasic, Clichy, Jesus Navas (Kolarov 79), Javi Garcia (Rodwell 63), Fernandinho, Lopes, Negredo, Aguero (Jovetic 65).
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Manchester City will let Joleon Lescott go if replacement is found
• West Ham United and Fulham competing for defender
• Manuel Pellegrini linked to Porto pair and Bayern's Dante
Joleon Lescott will be allowed to leave Manchester City before the end of the transfer window if Manuel Pellegrini can secure a replacement, with West Ham United and Fulham vying to sign the central defender.
A £90,000-a-week offer from West Ham to Lescott that would pay him £70,000 per week, even if the club is relegated, remains on the table and, although it is unclear if Fulham will match those terms, the 31-year-old's future depends on City bringing in a defender.
It is thought City retain an interest in Porto's Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolás Otamendi, plus Bayern Munich's Dante, who is also interesting Manchester United.
Chelsea Should Look To Sign Edin Dzeko - Here's Why
He finished at Manchester City's top Premier League scorer last season with 14 goals despite managing just nine full games all term. He single handedly dragged his nation Bosnia to their first World Cup in their history which will take place in the summer. He has also scored 16 goals this season, six of which have been in the league this time round, though he is probably City's third choice striker. Edin Dzeko is of course the man I refer to, and I am about to suggest why Jose Mourinho should be picking up the phone and trying to get him down to Chelsea.
Dzeko has never been one to complain, though he has had every right to over the past few seasons. He has never been fancied as one of the main men at the Etihad, nor has he been popular with the fans, but no one can argue with his goal tally.
Chelsea, in my opinion, are in need of a centre-forward with a physical presence but one who score a hatful of goals on top. Demba Ba has the former, but certainly hasn't suggested that the latter is coming any time soon.
Dzeko can play with his back to goal, can spin in behind defenders and can also create when stuck up top on his own, and he creates space when playing with a partner. He has proven that he can bounce off the nimble players at City, the likes of Samir Nasri and David Silva, so he would surely have no problem fitting in with Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar down in the capital.
City fans may not rate him, but I certainly do.http http://www.astamfordbridgetoofar.com
Manchester City youngster quits Etihad Stadium for Olympiakos
ABDISALAM IBRAHIM has ended his Manchester City frustrations by signing for Olympiakos.
Ibrahim would have been free to leave City in the summer, but has opted to leave six months earlier for Athens [GETTY]
And the Norway Under-21 midfielder has taken a 75 per cent pay cut to get his career back on track.
He has opted for a three-and-a-half year deal in Greece on £5,000 a week.
The 22-year-old was talked up as being in the mould of Patrick Vieira, but failed to establish himself in the star-studded City side.
He helped Stromgodset to win the league in Norway.
But with City saying they did not intend to renew his contract, which is up in the summer, Ibrahim plans to start afresh in Athens.
Olympiakos - who face Manchester United in the Champions League next month - are understood to be planning to send him out on loan again, in order for him to be ready for next season.
City were asking for around £300,000 in training costs for the Somalia-born star.
Man City to rival Arsenal for winger
Manchester City could be set to make a move for Real Madrid winger and Arsenal target Angel Di Maria, SportsDirect News understands.
It has been suggested that the Argentine star is currently unsettled at the Bernabeu after what he sees as his being targeted by the Spanish media, leading to rumours that he could be tempted to move abroad.
Arsenal were linked with Di Maria in the summer and could move for him again, though they may now be joined by rivals City as Manuel Pellegrini eyes cover for the injured Samir Nasri.
The Chilean tactician is a fan of Di Maria as he knows him well from his time in La Liga, and he raided his old league to good effect this summer with the signings of Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas.
Although Nasri is only expected to be out of action for eight weeks, City would ideally like more options in that position as their squad faces the challenge of fighting for four competitions this season.
Roberto Mancini: Manchester United need to 'refresh the team'
Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini says Manchester United need to restructure their squad if they are to continue to compete at the top of the Premier League.
Mancini feels United have failed to match his former club Manchester City and Chelsea in the transfer market.
"Chelsea changed and bought some new players, City bought four or five new players," he told BBC World Service.
"After many years, it's the time [for United] to refresh the team."
Mancini, 49, also argued that City's status as the Premier League's highest scorers this season was down to players he signed before he was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini during the summer.
The former Lazio and Inter Milan boss, who managed City to the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League title a year later. has sympathy for United manager David Moyes after the Red Devils' disappointing start to the season.
Mancini at Manchester City
•Premier League: 133 games, 82 wins, 27 draws, 24 losses. Win percentage: 61.7%
•FA Cup: 19 games, 13 wins, three draws, three losses. Win percentage: 68%
•League Cup: Nine games, four wins, one draw, four losses. Win percentage: 44.4%
•Champions League: 12 games, three wins, four draws, five losses. Win percentage: 25%
•Europa League: 16 games, 10 wins, three draws, three losses. Win percentage: 62.5%
•Community Shield: Two games, one win, one loss. Win percentage: 50%
•Overall: 191 games, 113 wins, 38 draws, 40 losses. Win percentage: 59.2%
Moyes's side lie seventh in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal with 16 matches remaining, but Mancini believes the former Everton manager has the ability to turn things around at Old Trafford.
"I think there is a good chance for him - he worked for 10 years at Everton and he did a really good job," said Mancini.
"He is a good manager and I don't think he needs my advice."
Since taking the United job in May 2013, Moyes has made just one major buy, the £27.5m signing of Marouane Fellaini from Everton on transfer deadline day in September.
But the Premier League title holders have been linked with moves for Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata, Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal in the January transfer window.
Mancini acknowledges that Moyes's job is complicated by having to succeed Alex Ferguson, the most successful club manager in English football.
Ferguson, 72, won 38 trophies during his 26-year tenure at Old Trafford including 13 league titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
Moyes failed to win any silverware during an 11-year spell at Everton, although he was named the League Managers Association's manager of the year three times during his time at Goodison Park.
"Alex was at the top but for every manager it is difficult [to come] after him," said Mancini.
"It's totally different to manage a team that should win every game, that every year [should] win a title or the Champions League."
Mancini said he held no bitterness towards City over his sacking last summer, just days after his side were beaten by Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Many City supporters were outraged at the decision to get rid of the man of who led the club to their first league title in 44 years in 2012, but Mancini suggests that the players needed a fresh manager after his three-and-a-half years at Etihad Stadium.
"When you work, you know you can have some problem with the players, but this is normal because the manager wants the players to work hard and play well and the players should understand this." he said.
"When you bring in a new manager, it is better maybe, because you change the way they work."
City have scored more than 100 goals in all competitions this season under Pellegrini, and are on course for an unprecedented quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup.
But Mancini said that City's push for glory this season - they lie second in the Premier League, a point behind leaders Arsenal - is at least partly down to the players he brought to the club.
"The players scoring the goals are players that I bought - Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and David Silva," he added.
"I think Pellegrini is doing a good job but what is happening now at Manchester City, we did three years ago."
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[/spoiler]Real Madrid plan to make a £25m move for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 28, in the summer when he enters the final year of his contract. Daily Telegraph
England international Rooney will not sign a new deal with United even if they bolster their squad with the acquisition of Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata, 25. Sun
Manchester United are ready to break their transfer record with a £37m bid for Spanish midfielder Mata, but Chelsea are thought to want £40m for the player they bought from Valencia for £23.5m in 2011. Times
Atletico Madrid hope to hijack United's attempts to sign Mata by offering David Moyes first option on striker Diego Costa, 25, and Brazilian full-back Filipe Luis, 28, if they drop their interest in the Chelsea midfielder. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal hope to sign Benfica striker Rodrigo, 22, from Benfica but face competition from Valencia and Zenit St Petersburg. Daily Express
Lille have had a bid rejected for Sochaux full-back Sebastien Corchia, who is also wanted by Arsenal. The 23-year-old is under contract until 2015 but has hinted at a move to a bigger club in Europe. Sky Sports talkSHIT
Republic of Ireland midfielder Wes Hoolahan, 31, says he wants to leave Norwich City, despite the club rejecting his transfer request. Eastern Daily Press
The Canaries are thought to be weighing up a move for Lazio's France international defender Michael Ciani, 29. Sky Sports talkSHIT
Bayern Munich defender Dante, 30, says Manchester United have shown an interest in signing him in the January transfer window. Manchester Evening News
However, the Brazilian's agent, denies that a deal has been agreed with United and that Dante's first option is to agree a new contract with Bayern. Sky Sports Understands
Stoke City are closing in on the £5m signing of Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole, 25. Stoke Sentinel
The Potters are reportedly considering recalling Cameron Jerome, 31, from his loan at Crystal Palace if they fail to attract another striker before the end of the transfer window. Stoke Sentinel
Newcastle are hopeful of clinching a loan deal for Borussia Monchengladbach's Netherlands international forward Luuk de Jong, 23. Newcastle Journal
That move may be more likely after Dutch giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven pulled out of a move for De Jong. Newcastle Chronicle
Atletico Madrid manager boss Diego Simeone says he is willing to pay whatever it costs to keep Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 21, when his loan spell runs out at the end of the season. Daily Express
Liverpool are considering a loan bid for AC Milan midfielder Nigel de Jong, 29, as a replacement for the injured Lucas Leiva, 27 Independent
Sporting Lisbon and Juventus are interested in signing Manchester United winger Nani. Daily Mirror
Brighton have targeted Northern Ireland international Chris Baird, 31, as a potential replacement for Adam El-Abd, who joined Bristol City last week. Argus
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is likely to leave the club at the end of the season regardless of whether they are relegated. Daily Mirror
Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen is confident midfielder Steve Sidwell, 31, will end speculation about his future by signing a new deal at Craven Cottage. DSSC
West Brom fear striker Nicolas Anelka, 34, may quit football if he receives a lengthy Football Association ban for his controversial 'quenelle' gesture. Daily Star
Arsenal are set to offer Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky, 33, a new deal to ward off interest from Bayern Munich. Daily Mirror
QPR boss Harry Redknapp has urged Tottenham to decide the future of 21-year-old midfielder Tom Carroll, who is on loan at Loftus Road. GetWestLondon
Former Manchester United midfielder Sammy McIlroy believes David Moyes can build his team around Juan Mata, if they can persuade the Chelsea man to move to Old Trafford. Manchester Evening News
Cardiff City midfielder Gary Medel, 26, knew just what to do after missing the team bus home from the 4-2 Premier League defeat at Manchester City - he jumped on the train with the fans. Metro
more bollox later
