MARIO BALOTELLI'S move to Manchester City could collapse because of his ‘ludicrous’ pay demands.
The 19-year-old Inter Milan striker is believed to be demanding a staggering £180,000 a week from the Eastlands club.
In addition, his agents are asking for a lucrative image rights deal, plus other add-ons.
City are now baulking at the deal, which is further being hampered by Inter president Massimo Morati holding out for £30m for the marksman.
City are prepared to go no higher than £25m, with an insider saying: “The fee is too high and his wage demands are just ludicrous.”
Talks have now hit the buffers with both clubs digging their heels in over the fee for the time being at least.
But even if they eventually come to an agreement, Balotelli, who will be 20 later this month, will have to lower his personal demands.
The City source said: “Players know this club has money, but we will not be taken for a ride with pay demands like this.”
One possible solution could be to off-load Robinho in a part exchange deal with Inter.
Robinho’s six-month loan deal with Santos ended last night and Inter are believed to be one of the clubs interested in signing him. He still has two years of his contract at City remaining and Santos don’t have enough transfer funds to buy him.
City are desperate to offload the Brazilian flop who has rarely shown any kind of form since his £32.5m move from Real Madrid two years ago. City know they are unlikely to recoup the money they shelled out for him and will let him go in a cut-price deal.
Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is unlikely to succeed in a bid to prise goalkeeper Joe Hart away from City on loan.
Bruce wants the England international after losing first-choice keeper Craig Gordon for at least the first six weeks of the new campaign with a broken arm.
Bruce said: “We’ve asked the question of City and we have to wait and see what they say. The timetable is not up to us on when we get an answer.
“It’s up to them. With these new 25-man squad rules, clubs don’t have to confirm their squads until the end of August.
“So, if they wanted to, City could delay any decisions on their squad until then.”
Bruce knows Hart has said he wants to leave on loan if he is not holding down a regular first-team berth at Eastlands.
But a source said: “He’s not going anywhere right now. Manager Roberto Mancini hasn’t even said who is going to be No.1 yet for the new season.”
It’s a straight fight between Hart and Shay Given with the latter thought to be favourite to start the season. But, until the situation becomes clearer, any attempt to take Hart on loan will be turned down.
Both keepers played for a half in last night’s 3-1 friendly defeat against Borussia Dortmund, with Hart saving a first half penalty.
Uruguay World Cup star Diego Forlan has reportedly emerged as a target for Manchester City .
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Atletico Madrid forward is on Roberto Mancini's wish list, with the Manchester City boss having failed thus far to tie up a deal for Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli.
Forlan, the winner of the Golden Ball player of the tournament award in South Africa, had been linked with Tottenham, Juventus, Inter, Milan and Manchester United .
He has insisted he is staying at Atletico, but Mancini is hoping the mega-rich Eastlands outfit can lure the 31-year-old South American away from La Liga.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a significant offer to bring Manchester City reserve keeper Joe Hart to the Emirates. As the likes of Sunderland reportedly look to capture the England international on loan the Gunners manager is hoping that an offer to sign the £8m rated on a permanent basis may succeed as Roberto Mancini looks to trim his ever expanding Eastlands squad.
With Shay Given set to be handed the starting spot at the club the 23 year old will be concerned about having to sit out the season on the bench, something he managed to avoid last term by being farmed out for a very successful stint at St Andrews’ where his efforts at Birmingham City were well noted.
Mark Hughes looks set to repel the north London club’s advances for veteran keeper Mark Schwarzer and Wenger is reportedly desperate to bring in a new custodian rather than trust the likes of blunder prone pair Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski.
Hart would surely jump at such a move and whilst Mancini may well rate the former Shrewsbury goalie he also won’t want to keep hold of a disillusioned player. Ideally the City boss may want to send the talented youngster out on another loan spell but may settle for allowing him to leave.
Man City already have the likes of Stuart Taylor and Colombian international David Gonzalez in his squad so could probably afford to consider such a sale if the price was right.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is ready to have a City tattoo done if he can steer the club to the title this season. Mancini already has a Sampdoria tattoo to commemorate winning Serie A with the Italian club. (Daily Mirror)
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed he is close to making Juventus' Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen his first big-money transfer capture of the summer. His arrival will pave the way for midfielder Javier Mascherano to leave the club. Daily Mirror
Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini - currently with AC Milan - is also on Liverpool's list of possible replacements for Mascherano. Daily Mirror
Arsene Wenger is preparing a move for Everton playmaker Mikel Arteta in case he fails to prevent Cesc Fabregas from moving back to Barcelona in the summer. caughtoffside.com
Alternatively, Wenger is lining up a bid for Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti. footylatest.com
Montpellier president Loulou Nicollin has slapped a 28m euro (£23m) price-tag on Bosnian defender Emir Spahic amidst reported interest from Arsenal. imscouting.com
Stoke boss Tony Pulis hopes to beat both Liverpool and West Ham to the signing of Nice striker Loic Remy for £10m. Daily Mirror
Pulis has also lined up a £4m bid for Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. The Sun
West Ham boss Avram Grant is considering lining up a move for Hapoel Tel Aviv playmaker Gil Vermuth. caughtoffside.com
The Hammers have revived their loan bid for Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani and hope to conclude a deal within days. Daily Mirror
Real Madrid will test Chelsea's resolve to keep Ashley Cole by bidding for the left-back in the next two weeks. footylatest.com
Zenit St Petersburg are considering a £21m bid to take Chelsea defender Yury Zhirkov back to Russia. Daily Mail
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has targeted Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dario Srna to complete his summer spending. Daily Mail
Manchester United will move for Hamburg's German attacking midfielder Piotr Trochowski if they fail to lure his international team-mate Mesut Ozil to Old Trafford from Werder Bremen. caughtoffside.com
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is lining up a shock move for Juventus midfielder Mauro Camoranesi. Daily Mirror
AZ Alkmaar's Belgian striker Moussa Dembele has admitted that Birmingham are keen to sign him. The Sun
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is set to make a £1.5m move for Stoke striker James Beattie. The Sun
New Fulham boss Mark Hughes is willing to sanction the signing of defender Luke Young from Aston Villa but has snubbed the chance to sign his team-mate, midfielder Steve Sidwell. Daily Mirror
Daniel Cousin is set to join the Hull exodus by completing a permanent move to Greek side Larissa. Meanwhile, Tottenham midfielder John Bostock is poised to agree a 12-month loan deal with the Tigers. Daily Mirror
Bristol City have been told by Manchester United they can have Michael Owen on loan after an approach for Danny Welbeck is rebuffed. Daily Mail
West Ham are poised to complete the £5m signing of highly rated New Zealand World Cup star Winston Reid. The 22-year-old defender is the mystery signing the Hammers have promised fans on their website. Daily Mirror
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will decide where to send midfielder Tom Cleverley on loan by the end of the week - with Sunderland confident of beating Bolton to the chase.
Full story: talkSPORT
Alternatively, Cleverley will spend the season on loan at Wigan after Latics manager Roberto Martinez won the race for his signature. Daily Mail
Malaga have approached Liverpool in a bid to lure under-19 international striker Dani Pacheco back to La Liga. ClickLiverpool
OTHER BOLLOX
Goalkeeper David James will be the first casualty of England's World Cup debacle when coach Fabio Capello leaves him out of next week's friendly with Hungary. Daily Mirror
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is in line for a surprise call-up to Capello's England squad for the friendly with Hungary. The Sun
The Premier League has rejected Capello's request for a winter break in the season to assist the national squad. Capello blamed extreme tiredness for the failure of so many of his top players to perform in the World Cup in South Africa. Daily Star
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will today tell Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas to end his summer flirtation with Barcelona and commit his future to the north London club. Daily Mirror
Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott is convinced that team-mate Fabregas will remain at the Emirates for the coming season. The Sun
Manager Roy Hodgson is relieved Fernando Torres has pledged his future to Liverpool but admitted the club would not be able to turn down a massive bid for the Spain striker. Daily Mail
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted some of his Chelsea players will not be fit for the start of the season on 14 August. "The 10 players that only came back to us on July 26 need to have another two weeks of work," said Ancelotti. "After just eight days of training it is impossible to be fit." The Sun
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has grown a moustache in an attempt to help build team spirit at St James Park for the coming season. Daily Mirror . . . WTF?
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