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by **Chinners** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:13 am

Newcastle plotting audacious double raid on Eastlands
Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton is hoping to boost the Magpies’ chances of staying in the Premier League this season by signing Manchester City pair Roque Santa Cruz and youngster Dedryk Boyata on loan.
Roberto Mancini is endeavouring to trim his squad in order to fall in line with the new 25-man squad ruling, and the aforementioned pair are deemed surplus to requirements for this season at least. Santa Cruz has been strongly linked with a move to Serie A however the 29-year-old is believed to favour an extended stay in the Premier League and has been coveted by Fulham and Aston Villa. Boyata on the other hand is highly rated by Mancini’s coaching staff having broken into the first team last season, but the 19-year-old is likely to playa peripheral role and City believe a stint elsewhere would be good for his development.
According to the Daily Mail, Hughton is looking to bring both them to St James’ Park before the end of the week, and is hopeful the lure of first team football will persuade the duo to swap Eastlands for Newcastle United.
Hughton yesterday confirmed that Steven Taylor had been transfer listed after the club refused to bow to the defender’s pay demands, and should the former England Under-21 star been sold then Newcastle will attempt to bring Boyata to the club as his replacement.

Milner shrugs off Ireland talk
New Manchester City midfielder James Milner will not be drawn into a debate with Stephen Ireland.
The pair moved in opposite directions this month, with Aston Villa signing Ireland suggesting that Milner was in for shock if thought the grass was greener on the other side.
Milner could afford a wry smile in response, especially as his debut on Monday ended in a 3-0 victory against Liverpool, and he said: "I have not seen the story but heard it second and third hand. Hopefully he can do well at Aston Villa and be a great signing for them. Likewise hopefully I can have success here."
He added: "The set up is very good at City. The professionalism and attention to detail, down to the recovery and preparation for games, is right up there.
"So we are geared up to doing very well. It is down to us to go out on the pitch and see who far we can go. We will take it one game at a time.
"I knew it would be a good opportunity. Aston Villa are a very good club and we came close to winning something last year.
"Manchester City are also a very good club and moving in the right direction. They have a lot of fantastic players."
Sheikh Mansour took in a match for the first time since the Abu Dhabi Group took control of the club.
Then he had a chat after the victory against Liverpool with manager Roberto Mancini, who said: "He was happy with the victory and the performance. He was happy for the supporters.
"I think it was a fantastic night for him. I hope he comes more often because it is important for us."

Roberto Mancini vows to give Brazilian misfit Jo one last shot at Manchester City
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has decided to give discredited Brazil striker Jo one final chance to prove himself in English football.
The 23-year-old has been an unmitigated disaster in the Barclays Premier League, but as Mancini looks to launch an assault on the title and the Europa League, he has decided to keep hold of the forward at least until the January transfer window.
While Mancini has been trying to move on Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz - and has already sent Craig Bellamy on loan to Cardiff - he has told his coaching staff that Jo can expect to play in Europe and feature from the bench in the Premier League.
Mancini said: ‘I have seen Jo in these two months and I think he’s a good player. He has a chance. I saw him when he played for CSKA Moscow, I played against him with Inter and he’s a good striker.’
Mancini rarely criticises his players in public and it remains to be seen if Jo can impress him over the coming weeks.
It is a surprise, though, to learn that he is being offered a shot at rehabilitation, even though he came off the bench towards the end of Monday’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Not only has Jo scored a mere three times for the club he joined for £18million from CSKA in 2008, he has also tested City’s patience with his behaviour off the field.
In his first season at City, Jo was fined by manager Mark Hughes after going to a nightclub when he had missed training with an illness. Then, during a brief loan spell at Everton, he enraged manager David Moyes by refusing to return from Brazil after a Christmas break.
In another loan period, at Turkish club Galatasaray last season, he attracted negative publicity for partying and it remains to be seen how he gets on in Manchester this winter without his fellow Brazilians to keep him
company.
With Elano and Glauber Berti now history at City and Robinho expected to move on imminently, Jo is likely to be the only Brazilian left at the club.
Mancini said: ‘We must wait what happens with Robinho. There are six more days. Robinho has two or three options and he must choose. I think he wants to go back to Spain.’

City take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s game against the Romanian side Timisoara and will once again be without new striker Mario Balotelli, who has a knee injury.
Mancini will field a changed side as he looks to protect players ahead of Sunday’s league visit to Sunderland. He is expected to give Shay Given a first start of the season, with the Irishman still weighing up his future after Joe Hart was given the nod ahead of him in the Premier League.
Were Given to be left out on Thursday night, he would almost certainly ask to leave the club. City sources said Given would play even if Mancini suggested he was still considering the matter.
Mancini said: ‘I always said that it would be important for me for Shay to stay. I think we need two good goalkeepers but Shay must decide.
‘I can understand if he wants to leave but I hope he can stay. I must decide but first I will speak with him. It’s different for goalkeepers. I want to speak with him and I’ll decide after I speak with him.’

WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.wsn.com/blog/2010/05/07/wag- ... na-bernal/

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Inter Milan have made an official £20m bid for Liverpool's Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, 26, who is also a target for Barcelona. the Sun

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has accused his predecessor Rafael Benitez of reneging on a written promise that he would not try to lure players away from Anfield to his new club Inter Milan - with the Spaniard tracking the Merseyside club's Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt. Daily Mail

Chelsea have revived their interest in 18-year-old Brazilian Neymar a week after the teenager signed a five-year deal with Santos. Daily Telegraph

Bayern Munich's Argentine utility player Martin Demichelis has turned down a £10m move to Chelsea, saying he wants to join Spanish side Sevilla. Daily Mail

Fulham are close to agreeing a £2.5m deal for Mexico defender Carlos Salcido, 30, from PSV Eindhoven - with Liverpool set to step up interest in the Cottagers' left-back Paul Konchesky. Daily Mail

Bolton manager Owen Coyle wants to bring Manchester United's England Under-21 midfielder Tom Cleverley to the Reebok. Daily Mail

West Ham are one of a number of clubs interested in bringing Juventus striker David Trezaguet to the Premier League, with Liverpool, West Brom and Aston Villa all interested in the 32-year-old Frenchman. Daily Mirror

West Ham are expected to complete the signing of Inter Milan winger Victory Obinna, 23, on a free transfer on Thursday. the Sun

Blackburn are chasing £2m-rated Sweden Under-21 striker Denni Avdic, 21, who plays for Elfsborg. Daily Mirror

Stoke are set to sign Portsmouth captain Marc Wilson for £3m, plus striker Dave Kitson, 30, after edging out West Bromwich Albion for the 23-year-old defender's signature. Daily Mail

Wolves will re-sign Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne, 22, on a season-long loan deal for the third time. (Daily Star)

Birmingham have made final bids of about £9m for Wigan's left-sided Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia, 24, and £2m for Crystal Palace right-back Nathaniel Clyne, 19. Daily Mirror

Newcastle are close to signing Guinea centre-back Kamil Zayatte, 25, from Hull for £1.6m. the Sun

Blackpool are ready to improve their £500,000 bid for Sheffield Wednesday striker Marcus Tudgay, 27. Daily Mirror

OTHER BOLLOX
However, England manager Fabio Capello says he will not try to tempt the likes of midfielder Scholes, Manchester United defender Wes Brown, Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher out of international retirement. the Independent

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is interested in becoming the next Ukraine manager as the country prepares to co-host the 2012 European Championship with Poland. Daily Mail

Former Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric could return to Fratton Park once he completes the sale of his current club Leicester. (Daily Star)

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has defended beleaguered England manager Fabio Capello, with the national side's captain saying people are "jumping too far and too quick" on the Italian's back. Daily Telegraph