Monday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Tottenham Look to Secure £12m Defender: Redknapp Keen On Micah Richards
Tottenham are looking to snap up Manchester City’s England international Micah Richards this summer. Harry Redknapp has long been an admirer of the adaptable defender and is encouraged by noises coming from Eastlands that suggest that Roberto Mancini’s side may listen to offers for the 21 year old.
The two clubs are however appear to have differing views on how much the Birmingham born youngster is worth. Manchester City rate him in the £15m bracket whilst the White Hart Lane valuation is nearer half that amount. Richards’ career has stuttered over the past 18 months or so and he is by no means a regular at the club and the signs are that he may look for a move in order to find himself a regular starting spot that may help push him back into the England reckoning.
When Micah first burst onto the scene he was thought of as one of the hottest young defenders in the Premier League but has in many ways found it hard to live up to that early flourish. Harry Redknapp will be keen on signing a player who can play equally comfortably as a centre back and right back and Richards in turn will look more kindly to such a move if the north London side secures a Champions League spot next term.

Manchester City making progress with wanted list
Manchester City are lining up bids to sign Mesut Özil, the Werder Bremen attacking midfield player, and Mirko Vucinic, the Roma forward, as they prepare a series of raids on the Bundesliga and Serie A at the end of the season.
City have been linked with a succession of superstars — most recently Cesc Fàbregas, the Arsenal captain, and Fernando Torres, the Liverpool forward — but their immediate priority, with their prospects of Champions League qualification still in the balance, is to intensify their pursuit of players such as Özil, Vucinic and two defenders, Jérôme Boateng, of Hamburg, and Leonardo Bonucci, of Bari.
Despite continuing speculation about his future, Roberto Mancini, the City manager, has been fully involved in the identification process, but it is being overseen by a “player acquisition group” on which the Italian sits with Brian Marwood, the club’s football administrator, and Mike Rigg, the technical director. In addition to the expected bids for established world-class stars, City believe that they need to find younger players who can strengthen their squad and compete for first-team places, particularly if they succeed in qualifying or the Champions League.
The most progress has been made with City’s interest in Boateng, 21, who is attracting interest from at least one other Barclays Premier League club, but serious discussions have also taken place about a possible bid to sign Özil. The 21-year-old, who can play on the left wing or in a central playmaking role, is valued at £20 million by Werder, but he may be available for a lower fee because he is about to enter the final year of his contract with the German club.
A lower-profile target is Benedikt Höwedes, the 22-year-old Schalke 04 central defender, who has been identified as an alternative in case deals for Boateng and Bonucci do not materialise.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has missed the chance to sign goalkeeping target Fernando Muslera from Lazio after the highly rated 23-year-old Uruguayan signed a five-year deal with the Rome club. Caughtoffside.com

West Ham have joined the race to sign Jermaine Beckford from Leeds and hope to sign the 26-year-old striker on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer. Caughtoffside.com

Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon are set to sign Manchester United's Brazilian teenage defender Fabio on loan. Daily Mail

Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario is set to reject an offer from Sporting Lisbon as the veteran goalkeeper wants to stay at Stamford Bridge. imscouting.com

Middlesbrough are weighing up a summer move for Oldham's 19-year-old left-back Paul Black. Daily Mirror

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is hopeful of pulling of a summer deal for Hull defender Steven Mouyokolo but he could face competition from ­Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, who have all had the Frenchman watched this season. Daily Mirror

Birmingham want to keep Ecuadorian Christian Benitez on loan from Mexican club Santos Laguna for another season following an impressive first campaign for the striker in England. Daily Mirror

OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will make a dramatic return following five months out with an ankle injury in Wednesday's north London derby at Tottenham. Daily Mail

Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will finally announce plans to officially put the Reds up for sale this week. But fans who object to the duo's regime at the club and are desperate to see them leave could still be in for a long wait as the American's will also reveal details of a new refinancing package that effectively ends the need for a fire sale. (Various)

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has conceded that his side's hopes of securing a top-four Premier League finish this season appear to be over after they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Fulham on Sunday. They now trail fourth-placed Manchester City by six points. Daily Mirror

Benitez has hinted Liverpool may need to spend as much as £60m in the summer if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season. The Sun

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has admitted that the side's Champions League quarter-final defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich last week has had a huge impact. The Red Devils could only draw 0-0 at Blackburn on Sunday, handing the title-initiative to Chelsea, who now lead United by a point with a game in hand. The Sun

Hull boss Iain Dowie and his staff were called to a crisis meeting with Tigers chairman Adam Pearson following the 4-1 home defeat by fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni says he would relish the chance to play under his old boss Neil Warnock at London rivals Queens Park Rangers. Daily Mail

Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna believes Arsenal need to tone down their pretty football as they try to keep their Premier League title bid alive. "Sometimes I think we play too much," said the 27-year-old Frenchman. The Sun

[mr_nool]

Seems like Hamburg is our new feeder club. Boateng has been good when I've seen him in the Europa League this season, and if he'd adapt to the English game as fast and easily as Vince and NDJ, he'd definitely be a good buy.

[john@staustell]

Ah, the old ´Micah to Spuds` bollox again!