Fridays B*l**x
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:54 am
Hold the Back Page – United sign Mata, City buy a club
Gossip! Rumour! Conjecture! Step right this way…
Well, it’s Day 24 of the January transfer window and there’s still not too much to tell you…
There’s a quick hit in the Daily Star on a familiar theme, with City being linked once again with Real Madrid defender, Pepe.
According to this morning’s newspaper, we’ve had a £25m bid rejected for the Portuguese defender.
That’s all it says.
Meanwhile, What the Media Says regular Eliaquim Mangala has reportedly turned down a move to City – preferring to leave Porto in the summer, according to French publication Le Sport 10.
“Manchester City have reportedly made a £38m January bid to sign Porto centre-back Eliaquim Mangala but reports in France claim that the player has already turned down an offer as he wants to wait until the summer to move away,” the story reads.
“The 22-year-old French international has garnered a reputation as one of the most talented centre-backs around Europe and a number of big European clubs have shown interest in his services – including Chelsea, Manchester United, Monaco, Barcelona and Manchester City, who according to reports are leading the race for his sign in.
“However, Pellegrini's side are tempted to increase their offer to convince the youngster of a move, as reports suggest Porto are now open to negotiations despite telling City to forget about signing the defender just last summer.”
Elsewhere in more “haven’t-I-written-these-words-before” news, the Daily Mirror report that Joleon Lescott is being lined up for a move to Aston Villa.
Apparently the City defender is being chased by Paul Lambert on a six-month loan – that’s according to James Nursey.
“The England defender can leave the title-chasing Blues this month, as his contract is up in the summer,” Nursey asserts.
“Paul Lambert's Villa are keen to take the 31-year-old on loan and are ready to compete with West Ham and Fulham for his signature.
“Brummie Lescott grew up supporting Villa and could commute from his north west home.”
Man City reach deal to sign Chidiebere Nwakali, a youngster dubbed 'the Nigerian Neymar'
MANCHESTER City have moved to swoop on bright young talent as Chidiebere Nwakali's agent reveals the 17-year-old will make the switch to the Etihad.
Nwakali, dubbed the Nigerian Neymar, has signed for Man City [GETTY]
Nwakali is highly thought-of in his native Nigeria and he featured in the national team which recently won 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in UAE for a record fourth time.
Such is the hope for the youngster than he has been dubbed the Nigerian Neymar and City will certainly be hoping he has some of the Brizilian's star quality in years to come.
Nwakali has signed a four-year-deal and passed a medical at the free-scoring Premier League club.
Babawo Mohammed, the player's agent, broke the news.
Mohammed said: “Nwakali has passed Manchester City medical and he has signed a four-year contract with them.
"It is a good move for him and I am sure in no distant time, he will blossom with the club.”
Lopes has eyes on regular action after inspiring West Ham win
Man City starlet targeting first-team role after cup heroics
Manchester City youngster Marcos Lopes is hopeful that his excellent display in his side’s Capital One Cup win over West Ham earlier this week may lead to more opportunities at the club.
The Portuguese midfielder was handed a starting berth by Manuel Pellegrini at Upton Park – as the Chilean rotated his squad – and produced a Man of the Match-winning showing.
His display has already prompted talk of an increased role between now and the end of the season, with the Sky Blues likely to be fighting on all fronts deep into the campaign.
Lopes says that he will continue to work hard for the team, and that he is hopeful that he’ll get more opportunities in the not too distant future:
“It is very good to play the game against West Ham,” he is quoted by The Express.
“I feel very confident. I don’t know if I can play more Premier League games but I will just do my job and hope to get more opportunities.
“But it is a dream to every player to play at Wembley and I hope that I can be there to help the team. It is not up to me it is up to the manager. I am just going to do my work.”
Lopes is highly-rated at City and has been handed the nickname ‘Ronaldo’ by his team-mates, who see him as a young version of his compatriot who plays for Real Madrid.
Richards happy to keep making City sacrifices
Manchester City fullback Micah Richards has already sacrificed his personal well-being in the interests of his team this season - and he is happy to do it again.
Micah Richards has already sacrificed his personal well-being in the interests of his team this season - and he is happy to do it again.
And, even though the popular right back now faces the tough task of dislodging the consistent Pablo Zabaleta from the team, he is not about to start hammering on the manager's door to demand more games, or a move.
Richards' career for the last 18 months has been an unlucky litany of injuries, dating back to an ankle problem he picked up while representing Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.
His latest problem has been a hamstring problem picked up as he chased back to snuff out a Bayern Munich attack at the Allianz Arena, as the Blues trailed 2-0 in an opening blitz by the powerful German side.
What should have been a minor injury was aggravated by the sprint, and he ended up being out for a month – although it contributed to a remarkable comeback win for the Blues which has had a notable impact on their winning psyche.
Richards is due back in action in tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie against Watford at the Etihad Stadium, after missing the last two games after feeling tightness in the hamstring during the FA Cup win over Blackburn.
But he also knows that when the Blues travel to Tottenham next Wednesday night, and then host Chelsea in two crucial Premier League games, the most he can hope for is a place on the bench.
Last season Richards became increasingly frustrated, feeling he was not wanted by Roberto Mancini – and was unhappy that the Italian publicly suggested he was fragile in terms of injuries, by likening him to Swarovski crystal.
Since then, his only frustrations can be with his bad luck.
But he wants to stay to help the Blues as they head for more glory, even if that means having to bide his time in his friendly tussle with Zabaleta.
“Every player has ambitions to win things, and the players here know this club is only going in one direction, and that's up,” said Richards.
“If you stay here for the next five years, I wouldn't say you are guaranteed to win a trophy, but you stand a very good chance of doing that and the players who are here don't want to miss out on that opportunity.
“From a selfish point of view, it's hard because there is so much quality in the squad and everyone wants to be playing week in week out.
“That is the hard thing to take for myself with Zabaleta. In the 15 months I have been out with injuries and he has come in and done an outstanding job for the team.
“Sometimes you have to hold up your hands and say that he was quality. That can be hard because you want to be playing, but as long as you are part and parcel of the team, and the team is doing well, that is all I am bothered about.”
That team ethic was in evidence in Munich last month, as Richards pulled up sharply after racing back into defence despite feeling a twinge in his hamstring.
“I don't regret it because we won the game, and if I hadn't run back and given it back to the keeper, we might have lost that game,” he said.
“It was a big statement, going to Bayern and winning, but if I was being selfish I probably wouldn't have run for it, because it made the injury miles worse.
“It would have probably been a week to ten days injury at the start, but ended up being four weeks, so it was a bit disappointing. But I am back now and hopefully can get some more playing time in future.”
Matt Le Tissier Column - Manchester City To Batter Their Way To Double
Matt talks this week about how he believes that Manchester City can batter their way to the double with their goalden goals Manchester City are favourites to win the Premier League and I wouldn’t bet against them. I tipped Chelsea at the start of the season and I am still in with a shout. But the way things are at the minute you would be foolish to back against City with the amount of goals they are scoring. With their squad anything is possible and my money would now be on them claiming a League and Cup double. They’ve netted an incredible 106 goals in all competitions this season with 63 scored in the Premier League. Yaya Torre has got 14 goals this season from midfield and he’s their fourth top scorer! It’s phenomenal-absolutely incredible. If he did that at 99 per cent of the other clubs I’m guessing he would be their top goalscorer. But at City they’ve got Alvaro Negredo on 23 goals and Sergio Aguero on 22 each with Edin Dzeko on 16. They have just thumped West Ham 9-0 on aggregate in the Capital One Cup to set-up a Wembley showdown with Sunderland. And it’s all down to the mentality of manager Manuel Pellegrini and the quality of the players he’s got at his disposal. It’s the coach’s philosophy-he just wants to keep going forward and not sit on a one or two-goal lead as Jose Mourinho might do at Chelsea. Pellegrini wants to batter teams and he’s got the players to do it and that’s a pretty potent combination. They must be a nightmare to defend against at the Ethiad Stadium and I just feel for some teams that have to go there. City are just so difficult to stop. They have got so many difficult angles they can attack you from-so many quality players who can damage you. And they have been doing this without Aguero, who has only just come back from injury. They were playing for a few weeks without their most potent striker and they have still been incredible in front of goal. Fair play to Arsenal, though, for chipping away at getting results. They are still in the lead and haven’t yet been caught. The Gunners are certainly digging in and it’s going to be a fantastic end to the season. Chelsea have got an abundance of ability in their squad, too, and it was good to see Samuel E’to’o get his hat-trick against Manchester United. Liverpool are dangerous with their SAS strike force in Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who have netted 18 goals between them in nine league games. They are only eight points off the top but they’ve got three big teams Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea in front of them who won’t slip up many times. So for me the Premier League title is probably reduced to a three-horse race with free-scoring City in the driving seat.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Liverpool could turn to Spartak Moscow's Brazilian midfielder Romulo, 23, who has also been scouted by Arsenal and Chelsea, after learning that Lucas Leiva could miss up to two months with a knee injury. Daily Express
Stoke City striker Peter Crouch could be re-united with former manager Harry Redknapp who hopes to take the 32-year-old to Queens Park Rangers. Daily Mirror
West Ham are closing in on a double swoop that would see Italy internationals Antonio Nocerino, 28, and Marco Borriello, 31, arrive at Upton Park on loan. Daily Express
Cardiff City's proposed loan move for winger Wilfried Zaha, 21, means they will have to sign Manchester United's Fabio da Silva, 23, on a permanent basis because a team cannot sign two loan players from the same Premier League club. Daily Mirror
Monaco striker Lacina Traore, 23, could still be allowed to move to Everton despite a serious injury to his team-mate Radamel Falcao. Liverpool Echo
Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse, 28, has rejected the chance to join Borussia Moenchengladbach on loan, which could scupper Alan Pardew's attempt to sign the German club's 23-year-old striker Luuk De Jong. DSSC
Chelsea captain John Terry, 33, is resigned to leaving the club at the end of the season. Daily Mirror
Wayne Rooney's agent will hold talks with Manchester United over a new contract for the 28-year-old England striker. DSSC
Meanwhile, Manchester United may continue to spend after the transfer of Juan Mata from Chelsea, with midfield cover for the injured Michael Carrick needed. Times
The Old Trafford club's unusual use of intermediaries to conclude the deal for Mata may stem from their strained relations with Chelsea over last summer's dispute over Wayne Rooney. Independent
Striker Javier Hernandez wants to quit Manchester United because the 25-year-old Mexican fears a lack of first-team action could end his World Cup hopes. Sun
Juan Mata's £37m move to Man Utd has cast a doubt over the future of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 24. Manchester Evening News
The president of Trabzonspor says a deal to take Demba Ba, 28, to the Turkish club has been halted since his Chelsea team-mate Fernando Torres suffered injury.Daily Star
Real Madrid's club-record signing, Gareth Bale, 24, says more British players should follow in his footsteps and move overseas. Sun
Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston wants talks with sacked manager Paul Ince about the future of son Tom, 18, who has been linked with a move to Monaco. DSSC
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson may be forced to miss the World Cup finals in Brazil this summer after Brendan Rodgers admitted the 29-year-old will be out for "an indefinite period of time" with a groin problem. Times
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is ready to end his interest in Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan, 31, after having a £1m bid rejected. Daily Telegraph
Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel, 42, denies that goalkeepers are eccentric and lack tactical perception as he takes the first steps into management by signing up for his coaching badges. London Evening Standard
GOLDEN BOLLOX 24-1-2010
Man City line up £100m bid for Fernando Torres
Manchester City are preparing to stun the football world this summer with a staggering £100million bid for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
In a move that will eclipse Manchester United's £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid last summer, City will flex their financial muscles and smash the transfer record for a player regarded as the best forward in the game.
And if 25-year-old Torres moves to Eastlands he'll become the first star to earn a £200,000-a-week salary in a deal that could net him £50m over five years.
Those are the astonishing figures being assembled by City chiefs who are determined to land the stellar signing who will form the figurehead of their drive to join the world's elite clubs.
Chief executive Garry Cook failed to entice former AC Milan star Kaka to Manchester exactly a year ago in a deal that would have been worth £100m.
Now though, City believe their increased profile and their intended aim of becoming a major power in the game is being taken seriously - and the time is right to turn that ambition into reality.
Blockbuster New boss Roberto Mancini has impressed City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak so much, he has already been told that if City clinch a Champions League place the club will back him with a blockbuster signing.
The word around Eastlands is that player will be Torres - with Mancini knowing a world class striker is the key to City becoming a major force in Europe once they have qualified for the Champions League.
City's interest in Torres will be a damning blow for Liverpool who have encountered major problems on and off the pitch this season.
Kop boss Rafa Benitez will fight hard to keep Torres at Anfield and may even make a stand by saying he'll walk if the Spain international is sold.
But even Benitez will recognise it would be hard for Liverpool's warring owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to refuse a bid approaching £100m - especially with the club desperate for a fresh injection of cash.
Benitez still insists Liverpool's experience and pedigree means they can fight off competition from City, Aston Villa and Spurs and clinch fourth place this season.
But if they don't finish fourth Liverpool will be more vulnerable than ever to a huge City bid for Torres.
ALEX FERGUSON has ignited a new Carlos Tevez storm by insisting the Manchester City star should be BANNED from Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final showdown at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United manager is adamant Tevez should have been sent off in City's 2-1 first leg triumph over their bitter rivals at Eastlands and can't stop himself from talking about City at every opportunity, even after yesterdays 4-0 demolision of Hull.
Referee Mike Dean did not even caution the Argentine match-winner for an X-rated lunge on United defender Wes Brown.
But Fergie fumed: "Tevez should have been sent off, really. Have you seen that tackle? He went right over the ball. But he didn't even get booked."
A red card would have meant an automatic three-match ban for the former United striker, who has been at the centre of controversy ever since the two sides were drawn to play each other in the semi-final.
First United skipper Gary Neville accused Tevez of not being worth £25million and insisted Fergie was right to let him join City in the summer.
Tevez hit back by taunting both Fergie and Neville on the pitch after his two goals clinched City's win and then branded the defender "stupid" and "a bootlicker."
Fergie's outburst comes just days after the FA reminded both sides of their responsibilities on the pitch in a bid to prevent crowd trouble in the return leg.
But Fergie blasted the FA for sticking their nose in, adding: "Is that the FA's domain? It is the League Cup. Bloody hell, what next?
"Tevez should have been sent off, really. Other than that, nothing happened in the game.
"It was competitive but there were no confrontations on the pitch, nothing."
However, United are beefing up security ahead of Wednesday's clash. Police fear trouble will erupt between the two sets of supporters and have cancelled all leave for their officers on the day.
City are taking 9,000 fans to Old Trafford as they close in on their first Wembley final since the 1986 Full Members Cup.
Greater Manchester Police plan to use sniffer dogs to stop any supporters trying to smuggle flares into Old Trafford.
There are fears City fans have bought tickets in the United end after the Reds put them on general sale.
Police are also planning to keep City fans locked in at Old Trafford immediately after the final whistle to prevent any trouble outside the stadium.
But Fergie tried to play down the importance of the game, insisting: "I won't be relishing this more than any other game this season.
"At the outset the object was to qualify for the final and we can still do that.
"I always said the game was going to be decided at Old Trafford and that's the case."
Manchester City are set for further talks with Real Madrid this evening over the signing of Argentinean defensive midfielder Fernando Gago .
Spanish newspaper AS reports that Gago is determined to leave the Bernabeu after struggling for first team appearances this season.
Gago’s agent, Marcelo Lambilla arrived in Madrid yesterday and is expected for talks with Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano and president Florentino Perez today.
Manchester City have bid 15 million euros for Gago but Real Madrid are seeking around 25 million.
Further negotiations are expected between the two clubs after the match between Real Madrid and Malaga this evening.
Fernando Gago has made just seven appearances for Real Madrid this season, he joined from Boca Juniors in 2007 for 20.5 million euros.
If Gago signs in the coming days, it would be Roberto Mancini's second signing for Manchester City since becoming the new boss at Eastlands at the end of December.
more bollox soon