by Chinners » Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:34 am
Manchester City back in for £50 million Fernando Torres
Manchester City will make a stunning 50 million pounds move for Liverpool's Fernando Torres but want an answer from him fast.
And if they cannot persuade the Spanish superstar to join Roberto Mancini's Eastlands revolution they will try to snare Diego Forlan with a 20 million pounds swoop. Megabucks City know they face an uphill task trying to take Torres to a club that is not playing Champions League football next season.
So they will move on quickly if their bid for Torres fails, confident they can do a deal with Atletico Madrid for Forlan at around 20 million pounds.
City want two new front men, with Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli the other target, to give them a formidable strikeforce and the chance of a title chase.
Torres is their No.1 choice and they know Liverpool will take their money.
But although the Anfield star is looking to move despite boss Roy Hodgson's claims he will have to be convinced to join City.
Chelsea are waiting to make an offer for Torres but want to avoid an auction.
Both clubs are also wary Manchester United could also come in and beat them to the Spaniard.
Because of those fears City have sounded out the Forlan camp and the ex-United hero is willing to come back to England.
While Tottenham could not afford his wages, personal terms are no problem to City.
Liverpool also see Forlan as a potential replacement for Torres.
Citys move covers them against the possibility of losing Carlos Tevez who is a 40 million pounds target for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. People
Manchester City offer trial to ex-Barcelona wonderkid Gai Assulin
MANCHESTER CITY will take a look at former Barcelona starlet Gai Assulin this week in one of their surprise transfer swoops of the summer.
The Israeli teenager – who is in the same mould as Argentine magician Lionel Messi – quit the Nou Camp last month because he was struggling to get a game.
City have invited Assulin, 19, and his French agent to Eastlands for talks and hope to sign the youngster if he has fully recovered from a knee injury that slowed down his promising career.
The attacking midfielder forced his way into the Barca side at 16, before missing a whole year with a knee ligament problem.
But he has been left frustrated in the Catalan club's reserves, despite being fit for the past season.
Gifted Assulin was recently a target for Blackburn Rovers, but failed to show up for a training spell at Ewood Park as he wants to sign for a bigger club.
City have a massive squad and are looking to shed many of their senior pros, yet they are also still hunting for the next generation of stars.
Assulin has already been capped by Israel, but does not need a work permit as he has a Spanish passport after spending so long living in his adopted country.People
MANCHESTER CITY will step up their pursuit of James Milner this week.
They plan to approach Aston Villa with a new set of proposals, despite refusing to meet Martin O'Neill's £30million asking price.
Their current bid stands at £20m plus add-ons which could take it up to £24m, but they are now willing to go as high as £25m with extras.
City are prepared to start negotiations all over again if Villa are interested in a part-exchange deal involving a number of their disenchanted players, including Stephen Ireland, Nedum Onuoha, Wayne Bridge and Micah Richards.
Milner, 24, earns a comparatively modest £35,000-a-week at the Midlands club but City's wage offer of £80,000-a-week is not that much more than what Villa are willing to pay him if he decides to sign a new contract.
Roberto Mancini's side are prepared to walk away from the deal if a compromise cannot be reached, which could potentially leave the door open for Tottenham to try their luck. NOTW
Agent of Manchester City striker Robinho in talks with Inter Milan
While Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli appears to be heading to Manchester City , Brazilian forward Robinho could well be going in the opposite direction.
According to Tuttosport, Robinho 's agent, Juan Figer, was in Milan yesterday trying to hammer out an agreement with the Serie A side.
The paper said that Manchester City would be willing to offer Robinho out on loan to the Treble winners in a bid to get him off their wage bill and increase his value with a view to a possible future sale.
It comes despite Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini saying last week that he would be to prepared to welcome back the Brazilian for this coming season.
The 26-year-old arrived at Manchester City from Real Madrid for €42.5million two summers ago to much fanfare. He has since proved to be an expensive luxury and spent the latter half of last season at Santos.
Roque Santa Cruz is a loan target for French champions Marseille. The injury-prone Manchester City striker cost £17.5m just 12 months ago but boss Roberto Mancini is now desperate to sell him. Sunday Mirror
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has been told he can leave Manchester City - with Juventus ready to pounce.
The ex-Arsenal striker arrived at Eastlands just 12 months ago but City are willing to let him go if a permanent deal can be done with Serie A giants Juve or AC Milan.
Adebayor has agents seeking out potential destinations but his £130,000-a-week wages are making loan deals the most viable option.
He has been told that if he stays at City he is likely to play next season, but boss Roberto Mancini desperately needs to trim his 38-man squad to comply with new Premier League rules that allow a maximum of 25 players.
Adebayor, 26, cost £25million last summer and so far the only firm offer has been a loan bid from Marseille, who have no chance of covering even half his wages.
There has been no interest from any English clubs in the player who scored just 14 goals in his first season at Manchester City.
The Eastlands club are expected to announce the £25m signing of Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan this week once they have settled some agents' fees.
The Italians will receive a total fee of £30m dependent on the player's success, while City want to pay him £70,000 a week plus bonuses. One minor sticking point could be Inter's request for a first-refusal buy-back option in the event Balotelli fails to settle in England. NOTW
Redknapp says Manchester City's Stephen Ireland out of Tottenham's price range
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said that although he would be interested in signing Stephen Ireland , the Manchester City midfielder is out of Spurs' price range.
Ireland is clearly disgruntled at his limited opportunities under Roberto Mancini, but insists that he has never asked to leave Manchester City and is prepared to fight for his place.
He is quoted in the Sunday Mirror saying, “I have never once said I wanted to leave or kicked up a fuss,
“The way it stands at the moment I am working my socks off in training and trying to prove to the gaffer that I am good enough to stay."
However, with Mancini required to name a 25-man squad by the end of the month, he will have to offload players, with the out of favour Ireland rumoured to be one of the most likely to be sold.
Tottenham have been linked with Ireland for some time. White Hart Lane boss Harry Redknapp has now admitted that although he is interested in signing the Irish international, Ireland is probably unaffordable for Tottenham.
Redknapp told the Sunday Mirror, “I like him, but he is expensive.
“Maybe he’ll be £11m or 12. We wouldn’t be in a position to spend that much on him if that’s what they’re wanting.”
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool could make an £8m bid to bring West Ham midfielder Scott Parker to Anfield. Sunday Mirror
Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is considering a £5m move for Wigan's left-back Maynor Figueroa. Sunday Mirror
Ashley Cole has told Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti that he wants to quit the Premier League champions and join up with former manager Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. News of the World
Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce says Turkish side Galatasaray have not made an approach for his midfielder Vince Grella. Sunday Mirror
Arsenal are looking at Montpellier's 29-year-old Bosnia international centre-back Emir Spahic. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is thought to prefer Germany star Per Mertesacker but is looking at alternatives if a deal cannot be struck with Werder Bremen to sign the 25-year-old. News of the World
The Potters are also ready to smash their transfer record for French striker Loic Remy, who is attracting interest from Liverpool and West Ham. The Nice striker is rated at £13m. Stoke are also interested in Liverpool's David N'gog and are ready to offer £3m. The People
Everton boss David Moyes has ruled out a move to bring LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan to Goodison Park. News of the World
Fulham midfielder Simon Davies has urged manager Mark Hughes to bring Manchester City's Craig Bellamy to Craven Cottage. Mail on Sunday
The Cottagers are also set to test West Ham with a bid for their England goalkeeper Robert Green. The People
Bayern Munich's 22-year-old striker Deniz Yilmaz says he wants to play in the Premier League and believes he will fit in. The Turkey international has been linked with five English clubs. goal.com
OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp may preserve defender Ledley King for the club's Champions League campaign this season. Mail on Sunday
Carlos Tevez has admitted he is struggling to motivate himself for the new Premier League season following Argentina's failed World Cup campaign. News of the World
A mystery Syrian businessman has emerged as a surprise contender to buy Liverpool. Former Syrian international footballer Yahya Kirdi, who claims to be fronting a consortium of Arab investors, is in talks with Reds owner George Gillett. (Sunday Times, business section)
