Monday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Man City ready to spend big to get their man from Serie A
Reports coming out of Italy are that Manchester City will be making an official approach this coming week for Napoli midfielder, Marek Hamsik.
Hamsik has been the subject of much transfer gossip over the last 18 months and so it is easy to dismiss such transfer speculation, especially when Manchester City are involved, however the Italians do appear rather convinced that Hamsik will end up at Eastlands this summer.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has reportedly been a long term admirer of the Slovakian international and of course they have the money, the biggest question that remains, is can Hamsik cope with the rigours and physicality of the Premier League? if he can, then he will without a doubt be a tremendous signing.
The 23 year old midfielder, who was Napoli’s top scorer in 2009, has made 140 appearances for the Italian club since signing for them in 2007, he has progressed into an exceptional player since his Napoli debut and has progressed to be the captain of the Slovakian national team.
The reports have suggested that Manchester City will be coming in with a bid of around 35-40 million Euros, figures that should convince the Napoli board to sell.

Eyre apparent: Rochdale appoint Steve Eyre as new manager
Rochdale have appointed former Manchester City coach Steve Eyre as their new manager.
The 39-year-old spent two decades working for the Blues and admitted the decision to leave his post as Under-21s coach at Eastlands was the most difficult of his career.
“It’s been an emotional decision – after 21 years at City and a lifetime supporting the club it is something of a risk to walk away,” said Eyre, son of City’s first-ever apprentice, Fred.
“Roberto Mancini is out of the country but I’ve had hourly conversations with Brian Kidd and Paul Power, who have both been incredibly supportive.
“While it’s been a heart-wrenching choice to make, I believe joining Rochdale is the right decision for me and my family and I’m very excited. I’ve had Premier League managers and first-team City players on the phone wishing me luck and now I can’t wait to get started.”
Eyre, who will be officially unveiled as the new manager at a press conference on Tuesday, is not fazed by the prospect of taking over the reins from Keith Hill, the most successful manager in the club’s history.
“Rochdale have punched above their weight in recent seasons and Keith Hill and Dave Flitcroft have to take a lot of the credit for that,” he said. “But I’m used to being around big shoes – Sven Goran Eriksson, Mark Hughes, Joe Royle to name a few – so I’m not daunted by the prospect of filling them!
“It was never my intention to leave City, but Chris Dunphy and the board did not have too much trouble selling Rochdale to me. The chairman and directors were all very supportive and it quickly dawned on me that this was an opportunity I had to take – a great club left in fine condition by Keith and Dave.”
Eyre revealed the role former Dale boss Hill had played in helping make up his mind.
“Keith has always been a role model for me, ever since I was an apprentice at Burnley and he was a few years older, making the grade at Blackburn. He was an inspiration and showed me then what could be achieved.
“We met up on holiday last year and he told me all about Dale. He said nothing but positive things and when he left for Barnsley we spoke again regarding the vacant position. He told me
‘I know it would be an almighty wrench to leave City, but if you are going to do it, this is the right club’.”

Manchester City star Carlos Tevez faces court after his £140,000 Bentley is caught by speed camera
Manchester City ace Carlos Tevez is to appear in court after his £140,000 sports car was caught on a speed camera.
The Argentinian has been charged with failing to disclose who was driving the Bentley Continental when it was flashed by the camera.
The car was photographed on the A56 Chester Road in Stretford allegedly travelling at 38mph – 8mph over the limit. The 27-year-old striker has already pleaded not guilty and the case is listed for trial at Oldham magistrates’ court on September 14.
Two years ago, Tevez – who lives in Prestbury – had his Bentley impounded after it emerged he did not have a full UK driving licence. The car was later returned and he was not prosecuted for any driving offence. The alleged offence involving the speed camera happened on February 12 – just hours after the Blues lost 2-1 to United in a derby clash at Old Trafford.
The Eastlands club are currently battling to hold on to the £250,000-a-week striker.
Tevez recently appeared to belittle Manchester for its weather and lack of restaurants in an interview in his homeland.

Manchester City want full asking price for Bayern Munich target Jerome Boateng
Manchester City will not budge from their current valuation of defender Jerome Boateng.
The Daily Mail claims Bayern Munich must pay City’s £17.5 million asking price if a deal with Bayern Munich is to be concluded.
The price appeared to signal the end of any further negotiations but Boateng’s public declaration of his desire to return to Germany with Bayern may have a bearing.
While the onus is on Bayern to find the money they have no compulsion to
rush the deal given Boateng’s wishes.
Conversely, City will not want to keep hold of a player who does not want to be at Eastalands and a so a compromise deal may well ultimately be agreed.



OTHER BOLLOX
Blackburn and Manchester United are ready to agree a compromise £20m fee to end their bitter dispute over 19-year-old Rovers defender Phil Jones. Daily Mirror

Chelsea are ready to match the £30m asking price from Santos for 19-year-old Brazilian striker Neymar. Metro

The Stamford Bridge club have also joined Tottenham in the race to sign Everton's 20-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell. Daily Mail

Arsenal's majority shareholder Stan Kroenke is ready to open his chequebook in a bid to keep contract rebel Samir Nasri at the club, amid interest from Manchester United. Daily Mail

The Gunners are ready to listen to offers in excess of £25m for the 23-year-old French midfielder, however, Nasri will not be sold to another Premier League club. Footybunker.com

West Ham and England midfielder Scott Parker, 30, is waiting for the chance to join Tottenham, despite the Upton Park club receiving an offer from Turkish side Fenerbahce. Metro

Liverpool and Aston Villa will battle to sign Real Madrid defensive midfielder Fernando Gago, 25. Footylatest.com

Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla, 26, could be one of the arrivals at Liverpool this summer after goalkeeper Pepe Reina apparently recommended him to manager Kenny Dalglish. Metro

Everton are making a second attempt to sign attacking midfielder Sergio Canales, 20, on loan from Real Madrid. Daily Mirror

Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro, 24, has joined Paris St Germain on a four-year deal, ending rumours of a possible move to the Premier League. Tottenham, Newcastle and Arsenal had been linked to the player. talkSport

Bolton are making a £4m bid to sign striker Rodrigo Moreno from Benfica. The 20-year-old Spaniard had a season-long loan spell with the Trotters in 2010/2011. Daily Mirror

Newcastle hope to fend off late interest from Everton to sign West Ham striker Demba Ba, 26. Daily Mail

Birmingham may take legal action against former manager Alex McLeish if he tries to take over at rivals Aston Villa after quitting Blues. the Sun

The Glazer family are considering returning Manchester United to the stock market in a £1.7bn flotation that would result in the club being listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, rather than in London. Daily Mail

Steve McClaren is set to be unveiled as the new Nottingham Forest manager, only one day after Billy Davies was sacked. Former England manager McClaren has been out of work since being sacked by German side Wolfsburg in February. the Sun

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has backed Daniel Sturridge to become one of the best strikers in the Premier League if he knuckles down. talkSport

Injury-plagued Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate has until the end of the month to sort his future out at White Hart Lane. Daily Mirror

Birmingham City star Liam Ridgewell has called off his £170,000 wedding by sending a text to guests only eight days before the ceremony. Daily Mirror

England strikers Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll have been 'treating' holidaymakers in Barbados to a few Beatles tunes. The duo belted out some of the band's classics as they recharged their batteries on the Caribbean island. Daily Mail

[StrikeAnywhere]

yuck. I'm not a Hamsik fan. Granted I Haven't seen much of him this season (our coverage in New Zealand of Serie A = nil) but from watching him in the world cup vs our national side he was pathetic really.

[dazby]

I'm the same mate. I've watched him 3 or 4 times and he just doesn't excite me.

[HeyMark]

I'd heard all these great things about him but the first time i properly seen him play was in the World Cup and he was awful. But admittedly I haven't seen much Serie A in the past few years so wouldn't be in the best position to comment on how good he actually is.

Does anyone know how good Gourcuff has been since joining Lyon?

[lets all have a disco]

Needs a barber.

[bobby brows]

I'm pleased for Steve Eyre, he used to come in my shop, (i'll ignore the time he was wearing an FC United kit) and his knowledge of the game is excellent. Doesn't give much away but if you ask him about a player he's pretty much spot on every time.

The one that sticks to mind was Sturridge, telling me that he's lazy and he's thinks he's made it already. that he''ll under achieve.


Today's mill was headlined: Can someone please get on with signing this man? with a photo of Phil Jones. Well, made me laugh

Manchester United will up their bid for Phil Jones to £20m after Blackburn's owners refused to accept a lower figure, reports the Mirror. Manchester United have refused to up their bid for Phil Jones, forcing Blackburn's owners to accept a lower figure, reports the Mail, the Telegraph, the Express and others. Either way, Phil Jones is going to Manchester United and not to anyone else.


Unlike Alexis Sánchez, who could be going to Manchester United or indeed anyone else, depending on who is most likely to deliver his current club Udinese the most enormous bag of swag in return for the in-demand winger. It's looking increasingly unlikely to be Barcelona, who have now turned their attention to the Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann, but Manchester City are very much in the frame.


Chelsea and Tottenham are mulling over possible bids for Everton's £25m-rated Jack Rodwell. The money would allow his current club to enter the transfer market, with targets including Demba Ba — more likely to join Newcastle — and Sergio Canales, though Wolfsburg are also competing for the season-long loan signing of Real Madrid's 20-year-old lukewarmshot.


Blackburn are planning to replace Jones, or indeed Chris Samba — for whom Arsenal will lodge an improved £10m offer any day now — with Birmingham's Roger Johnson, who labours under a burdensome £14m price tag. Bolton, meanwhile, will replace the similarly Arsenal-bound Gary Cahill with the Gunners' 18-year-old Spanish prodigy Ignasi Miquel, who will join on a season-long loan. Arsène Wenger is also planning to cave into Samir Nasri's spiralling wage demands and pay the Frenchman £110,000 a week rather than risk losing him to one of his key rivals. But he faces losing another target to just such a team, with Liverpool's desire to hoover up the best English talent at any price leading them to the door of Southampton's £10m-rated Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.


Wesley Sneijder has offered Manchester United hope in their chase for the Dutch craftsman by referring to Internazionale's fans in the past tense, suggesting he may be about to move on from San Siro. "The Inter fans have always treated me very well. They were wonderful," he said. "I want to thank them. Only God will decide where my future lies." Though God may be assisted by Sneijder's agent when he makes the fateful decision.


A crater, or possibly a rock formation, that looks a bit like famous TV loudmouth Alf Garnett's head has been spotted on Mars.


Alex McLeish walked out on Birmingham despite the club landing every name on his four-man summer transfer shortlist before June was out, in the shape of Chris Burke, Marlon King, Morgaro Gomis and Danny Koevermans. In addition to a new manager It looks like Blues need a striker, with Cameron Jerome keen on a move to Bolton and the Trotters preparing an improved £8m offer for the far-from-free-scoring forward.


Swansea want to partner their record signing, Danny Graham, with the Barcelona reserve-team striker Jonathan Soriano — who has just gone public with his desire to join Luis Enrique at Roma — or Middlesbrough's Marvin Emnes. They're also vying with Fulham for itinerant ex-Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, but a move for ageing Spaniard Marcos Senna appears less likely to succeed after the player's current club, Villarreal, pledged they would "fight for him to stay". And fellow promotees Norwich are battling Genoa and Lazio for Cesena's £1.5m-rated Swiss centre-back Steve von Bergen.


Finally, congratulations to Vincent Kompany, Didier Drogba and Luka Modric, who all got married this weekend (Modric for the second time in a little over a month, though in a rare sign of footballing fidelity both weddings did actually involve the same woman). And commiserations to Liam Ridgewell, who has sent the 200 prospective guests for his £170,000 wedding, scheduled for this weekend, a text message informing them it has been cancelled.


Talking of marriage, the former England striker Gary Lineker's wife Danielle has told the Mirror her diet secrets, and insists readers desperate not to be too embarrassed when they scoop themselves into their bikini this summer can "lose a stone for summer" simply by following her simple guide. Breakfast, for example, might include "a soya yoghurt with 12 almonds or eight walnuts, a green apple and up to a teaspoon of cinnamon". Yummy! And perfect for obsessive-compulsive nut counters! And for dinner, how about "carb-free shepherd's pie: mashed cauliflower served with minced turkey". Deeee-lish-us! Of course, it won't help the Mill, whose insatiable appetite for rumours has led to it piling on the pounds in recent years. But we never looked great in a bikini, anyway.

[mr_nool]

Needs a barber.

Has Fidel dyed his hair black?

[Bingo Lewis]

Needs a barber.

Has Fidel dyed his hair black?

GREAT SPOT

[Biamp]

I'd heard all these great things about him but the first time i properly seen him play was in the World Cup and he was awful. But admittedly I haven't seen much Serie A in the past few years so wouldn't be in the best position to comment on how good he actually is.

Does anyone know how good Gourcuff has been since joining Lyon?

I would still go for Gourcuff instead, he's by far a better quality. And he has proven that with international team as well as playing in the Champions League.

[Wonderwall]

Gourcuff as another Elano, very good when he turns up, but alas its not often enough.

[sandman]

Needs a barber.

I'm fucking sick of Jedward!