Valencia's Juan Mata could still make a summer move to Manchester with either United or City, despite the striker's agent denying any talks have taken place.
Mata, who is valued at around £25million, has been linked with City ever since his former team-mate David Silva moved to Eastlands.
And although recent comments to the media appeared to put to rest all talk of them rekindling their fluent partnership in England, Mata is still thought to be on the radar of City - as well as their bitter local rivals United.
Mata's agent has denied speculation he is already in talks with City representatives over the possibility of a deal at the end of the season, saying the rumours were 'not true'.
And Valencia president Manuel Llorente, who sold Silva and David Villa last year, has said he will not be swayed again when it comes to money this summer.
'The kid is not negotiable because he is a key man in our project,' he told Spanish publication Provincias.
City are expected to bring in at least one more striker when the transfer window reopens, especially as rumours rumble on that captain Carlos Tevez could return to his native South America soon because he is homesick.
United, too, are expected to be active in the market, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson thought to have a £100million warchest at his disposal.
Hordes of Man City fans may miss Wembley semi-final after ticket theft
Nine hundred Manchester City fans face missing the FA Cup semi-final against rivals United at Wembley a week on Saturday after match tickets were stolen from a Royal Mail delivery van on Friday.
The FA has cancelled the entire batch of tickets that were snatched in Manchester and are now in talks with City and the police over whether to re-allocate them or leave empty seats.
The decision removes the security threat of United fans buying seats on the black market and ending up in the City section of the stadium. Any supporter with a stolen ticket will be refused entry.
City’s allocation of 33,000 tickets is set to sell out, but they are now going to hold back 900 to give to the fans affected if the FA does not reissue the stolen tickets — which could mean less being available for those lower down the waiting list.
A club statement read: ‘All supporters impacted by the theft will be contacted by the club in the coming days. Supporters are strongly advised not to purchase tickets from unofficial sources. Only tickets purchased direct from the club will be valid for the game.'
MCF.NET THREAD: http://www.mancityfans.net/mcfnet/viewt ... 19&t=37983
Sunderland match highlights: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball ... p?a=237719
Goalkeeper gets loan move
Exeter have announced the signing of Manchester City youngster James Wood on loan until the end of the season.
The Grecians wrapped up the deal to sign the goalkeeper on loan deadline day two weeks ago.
And, with Ben Hamer's temporary stay from Reading set to expire, they have moved to confirm the deal.
Wood signed a professional deal with City in 2009 and has since been a regular in their Academy.
Adam Johnson says Manchester City chairman inspired Sunderland win
'It was a really motivational message for us all to push on'• Winger believes City have 'a great chance' of winning a trophy
A rousing speech from Khaldoon al-Mubarak has been cited as the inspiration behind Manchester City's push for Champions League qualification.
Roberto Mancini's players thrashed Steve Bruce's Sunderland side 5-0 at Eastlands on Sunday mere hours after being addressed by their chairman, who had flown in from Abu Dhabi to remind them of certain key priorities. These involve finishing in the top four and endeavouring to win the FA Cup.
"The chairman Khaldoon spoke to us on Sunday morning," said Adam Johnson, scorer of the game's opening goal on a day when City leapfrogged Chelsea, rising to third place in the Premier League. "He outlined what getting into the Champions League would mean to this club and, I think, spurred everyone on for the victory against Sunderland.
" He said he was fully backing us and that everyone was behind us to get that Champions League place.
"To get into the Champions League would be massive for this club but he also said how important it was to win a trophy because we hadn't won one for over 30 years."
Securing some silverware for City this spring will necessitate overcoming Manchester United in an impending FA Cup semi-final before beating either Bolton or Stoke in the final but Johnson and company seem inspired by their chairman's intervention.
"It was a really motivational message for us all to push on," said the former Middlesbrough winger, newly returned from injury. "Khaldoon has a good relationship with the players, he gets involved a lot and it was a good message which spurred us on a lot."
Having been so involved in spending upwards of £350m of the City owner Sheikh Mansour's investment on players since his installation as chairman in September 2008, Khaldoon takes an understandable interest in events at Eastlands and will have been relieved by Mancini's side's biggest league win of the season. With City finally playing with the handbrake off, albeit against opponents enduring a wretched run of form, Mancini was able to counter criticisms that his Italian managerial stye is too cautious to be translated into English glory.
Johnson may not always see eye to eye with his manager but he agrees success is tantalisingly close. "We know we have a great chance of winning a trophy this season and cementing a Champions League place," said the England international.
"We have not had a major blip this season, just a couple of bad results. There are seven games left in the league now and we have just got to keep on winning. We have got to keep pushing on."
In the process City, preparing to head to Anfield for an intriguing game on Monday, must avoid dropping one of the two balls they continue to juggle. "You have to play in the moment," acknowledged Johnson. "Next up we have got to look at our Premier League game against Liverpool. Despite the fact that most neutrals are looking ahead to our semi-final against our biggest rivals we can't take our eye off the league situation."
Nonetheless, Johnson is permitting himself to indulge in a little anticipation of that Wembley date with United on Saturday week. "It will be a massive game, an unbelievable occasion for everyone," he said. "There is nothing better than playing at Wembley. I've played there for England a few times and each occasion is huge. The semi-final will be a massive pressure game and, as a player, you want to show what you can do."
None more so than a winger anxious to make up for lost time after being sidelined with ankle ligament damage. Sunday represented Johnson's first start for two months and he revelled in reminding Mancini just how much his creativity had been missed.
"It has been hard watching while I've been injured. I have felt forgotten about for the last seven weeks so I felt like I had something to prove, to show 'I'm still here'," said Johnson. "I want to play a massive part in what we are aiming to do between now and the end of the season." Guardian
[b]The Star version[/b]
ADAM JOHNSON reckons a pep talk from billionaire chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has given Manchester City’s season new life.
Khaldoon jetted into Eastlands from Abu Dhabi on Sunday to address Roberto Mancini’s side before they thrashed Sunderland 5-0. He made it clear to the players how vital it is that the club secure a place in next season’s Champions League – and end their trophy drought. England star Adam Johnson is sure Khaldoon’s speech has given the side a major shot in the arm at the perfect time. He said: “To get into the Champions League would be huge for this club. It has been far too long since anything like that has happened for Manchester City.
“The chairman spoke to us in the morning and outlined what it would mean to the club – and I think that spurred everyone on for the victory against Sunderland.
“He said he was backing us to get a Champions League place and told us how important it is to win a trophy, because we haven’t won one for more than 30 years.”
Johnson, 23, also thinks Mancini’s men can still win the title.
He added: “We are battling with the teams at the top and the top two aren’t too far off. A couple of bad results for them and everything changes again.”
WAG OF THE DAY
OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal are to offer full-back Gael Clichy to Everton in exchange for England star Leighton Baines. Metro
Manchester United are monitoring the form of Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, 25. The tough-tackling player is a product of the Turin club's youth academy - making his debut in 2006 - and has played 11 times for Italy. talkSPORT
United are also considering joining the chase for Brazil's new strike sensation Neymar, who scored twice for his country against Scotland in a recent friendly at the Emirates. Chelsea have been heavily linked with the Santos player. caughtoffside.com
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to invite 16-year-old Brazilian Adryan to Old Trafford for training. The Flamengo forward is also a target for Real Madrid. talkSPORT
Gunners utility player Emmanuel Eboue may follow William Gallas from Arsenal to arch rivals Tottenham. Daily Mirror
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is planning to swing the axe to trim his White Hart Lane squad and help fund new additions this summer. Forwards Robbie Keane, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovani dos Santos and midfielders David Bentley and Niko Kranjcar could be among those sold. caughtoffside.com
Aston Villa are monitoring the progress of Legia Warsaw midfielder Maciej Rybus as winger Ashley Young moves closer to an exit. Young has been linked with moves to Liverpool and Manchester United. talkSPORT
Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda could be about to leave the club in the summer, according to reports in France. Malouda's former club Lyon, as well as German giants Bayern Munich, may be preparing a bid. talkSPORT
Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill is being targeted by AC Milan as a replacement for ageing defender Alessandro Nesta. Daily Mail
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is tracking Valenciennes' Cameroon international left-back Gaetan Bong. Daily Mail
Bruce is also in the hunt for Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro - and aims to beat Tottenham to his signature. Frenchman Gameiro is valued at £12m. Daily Mirror
Porto president Pinto Da Costa has made it clear that if any English clubs are interested in either of the Portuguese club's strikers, Hulk or Falcao, they will have to meet his demands. The pair have scored 32 league goals between them this season and have reportedly been monitored by a host of Premier League clubs. talkSPORT
Former Coventry chairman Ray Ranson has revealed that the club's owners, Sisu, blocked a move for England and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll - three years before his £35m move to Liverpool. Ranson also revealed that the club had an option to buy England midfielder Jordan Henderson and Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork following successful loan spells at the Ricoh Arena. Daily Mirror
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will fight the Football Association over Wayne Rooney's two-game ban for a foul-mouthed rant to a TV camera. Rooney was banned by English football's governing body on Monday for swearing at a camera after completing his hat-trick in Saturday's 4-2 win at West Ham. the Sun
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is a target for Italian side Roma. New Roma owner Thomas DiBenedetto has told current Roma coach Vincenzo Montella he is "on trial" until the end of the season. Daily Mail
Ancelotti believes winning the Champions League is Chelsea's "destiny" this season. The Blues lost agonisingly on penalties to Manchester United in the 2008 final and Ancelotti said: "It could be the real time that Chelsea do something in the Champions League." Daily Mirror
Arsenal defender Johan Djourou is targeting a surprise return from injury in time for the crunch clash against Liverpool on 17 April. Daily Mail
Striker Michael Owen admits he has no idea about his long-term Manchester United prospects. "My contract expires at the end of this season and I've made no secret that, in an ideal world, I would extend my stay. But I will just wait and see what the club say. We've not held any talks yet," said Owen. the Sun
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has given manager Steve Bruce a boost by insisting there will be no "knee-jerk" reaction to the club's run of six defeats in seven games, the last of which was a 5-0 defeat at Manchester City. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are reportedly weighing up FC Porto manager Andre Villas Boas as a future replacement for Arsene Wenger. caughtoffside.com
Everton have started talks to try to secure midfielder Marouane Fellaini's long-term future at the club. Daily Mirror
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho last night backed Champions League opponent Harry Redknapp to be the next England boss. Redknapp's Tottenham side face Real in the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Tuesday. Daily Mirror
Blackburn defender Michel Salgado, a two-time European Cup winner during 10 years with Real Madrid, says Jose Mourinho will be considered a "failure" if he does not win the Champions League during his time in charge at the Bernabeu. Daily Mirror
Former Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor has vowed to do his old club a favour and score against arch rivals Tottenham when Real Madrid face the north London club on Tuesday. Metro
