Manchester City are ready to let Emmanuel Adebayor join Tottenham on a free transfer.
Two years after spending £25million to recruit the striker from Arsenal, the richest club in the world want to ditch the Togo striker and shed his £170,000-a-week wages.
But even on a free transfer, Spurs will shy away from a permanent deal. They are content to take Adebayor on loan, with City subsidising the bulk of the 27 year-old’s wages.
Over the next three years Adebayor’s wages will cost City around £30m.
City are also refusing to pay around £3m in agents fees and that’s why Samir Nasri’s £25m recruitment from Arsenal has stalled.
The clubs agreed the transfer fee and Nasri accepted City’s offer of a five-year deal worth £180,000-a-week.
But Sunday Mirror Sport understands that City broke off negotiations when it became clear that Nasri’s advisers wanted paying for making the deal happen.
Sources at the club last night insisted that the move could still take place.
But they have told Nasri and his advisers that they will not pay agency fees on top of a premium transfer fee and wages.
Nasri, who has turned down Arsenal’s offer of a new contract worth £90,000-a-week, featured in the Gunners side beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at The Emirates yesterday.
Adebayor is in danger of being frozen out of City’s plans and needs to escape the Eitihad Stadium.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: “It in the hands of the chairman. I spoke to him some time ago about Adebayor and I would like to bring him to White Hart Lane if we can do a deal with City. But it would only be on loan.”
Spurs have a wage cap that has not exceeded £65,000 for several years and prevents them from even entertaining taking Adebayor on a permanent deal.
Man City agree deal to sell young winger
Manchester City have agreed a £3million deal to sell Slovakian winger Vladimir Weiss to Dynamo Kiev.
Weiss, 21, has been told by Roberto Mancini that his chances will be limited this season, despite playing a prominent role during City’s pre-season tour of the United States and Canada. The winger spent last season on loan with Rangers after a spell at Bolton the previous year.
Weiss – whose father Vladimir is Slovakia’s coach – was part of the City team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2008, but has found his first-team opportunities limited
Man City flop rejects Celtic loan move.
Wayne Bridge has rejected a loan move to Celtic
Manchester City were prepared to massively subsidise a season-long loan move to Parkhead.
But the former England left-back has no interest playing in Scotland and would prefer to remain in England.
Both Newcastle and Championship side West Ham, where the defender spent part of last season on loan, have enquired about taking him.
Yet City were not prepared to offer either side the terms on offer to Celtic.
The SPL side were only prepared to pay £20,000 towards Bridge’s £90,000-a-week salary, yet when Newcastle enquired, they were told they would have to pay Bridge’s entire salary to take him to St James’ Park.
Aguero: It is disrespectful to compare me to Maradona
Sergio Aguero claims it’s embarrassing when people compare him with the Argentinian legend called Diego Maradona.
Manchester City’s new £38million striker knows Maradona well.
He’s married to the South American hero’s daughter Giannina and clearly has no wish to invoke the fury of his father-in-law.
Yet the comparisons do continue – understandably.
When Aguero, aged just 15 years and 35 days, became the youngest player to appear in the Argentinian First Division with Independiente, who did he oust from the record books?
Diego Maradona.
Aguero took the Premier League by storm on his debut last Monday night, coming on as a second-half substitute to score twice and set up another goal in the 4-0 win over Swansea.
So how does he cope with being mentioned in the same breath as one of the world’s greatest ever players?
Aguero said: “I find it embarrassing when people compare me to Maradona. How can they? It’s disrespectful. There is only one Maradona.
“People who say this just have no idea, they don’t know what they are talking about. And you won’t find me ever fuelling comparisons with him.
“Diego was a complete one-off, an all-time great who can never be matched and will never have an equal on the football pitch.
“I know I can play, but you will never find me saying that I’m the new Maradona.
“He was a genius with a ball at his feet, a leader and a total inspiration to his team-mates.
“No one, I repeat no one, could have transformed teams like he did all those years ago. Like so many, I have nothing but respect for what he achieved.”
Maradona inspires mixed reviews in England, although every football fan can appreciate his genius.
But the bitter taste of cheating from his “Hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup finals will never be forgotten. For Aguero, his relationship with Maradona is extremely close.
The player, born and bred in Quilmes, a tough suburb of Buenos Aires, even sought the great man’s advice when he decided to join City.
In fact, Aguero ensured his wife Giannina and his father-in-law gave their blessing to a move that has seen his earnings rocket past the £200,000-a-week mark when he left Atletico Madrid where he was revered and happy.
But he swiftly draws a line under talk that he is more than capable of following in Maradona’s footsteps.
“It’s fair to say we have a similar approach to the game,” said Aguero.
“We always look to invent, take risks and make things happen in the attacking third of the field.
“Both of us love to dribble, quicken the play and react fast out on the pitch.
“There are other things too, as each of us plays with raw emotion, each of us is driven by a burning desire to win.
“Then again, all Argentine professionals are highly motivated and competitive.
“Ultimately, though, Maradona was a genius, the world’s greatest ever player and a legend, while I’m just an apprentice.”
Maradona worked as Aguero’s boss when he coached the Argentina national side.And when it comes to advice on football matters, Aguero invariably goes knocking on his father-in-law’s door .
Turning to his arrival in the Premier League, Aguero added: “He gave me his blessing and told me to play football and enjoy myself.
“Whenever I’ve asked him for advice, he’s been there and, you know, he’s always straightforward and honest in his analysis. Diego likes to keep things simple and straightforward.
“We both come from humble backgrounds and he has always said the important thing is to remember where we have come from.”
SNEIJDER 'SNUBS' MAN CITY
MAN City have failed in a late swoop for Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder.City, at a secret meeeting last week, proposed a swap deal with wantaway Carlos Tevez but Dutch ace Sneijder said no.
Manchester City have failed in a dramatic late swoop for Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder.
A high-level meeting was held at a secret venue in Europe last week, when it was planned to agree a deal which would have taken Sneijder to City in exchange for Carlos Tevez.
But City abandoned the deal when it was made clear by the Dutch star’s representatives that he wouldn’t compromise on his massive wages of £250,000 a week.
Neighbours Manchester United had a similar problem when they tried to sign Sneijder, 27, although it is understood that United is still the club he wants to join.
Sunday can reveal that a City delegation, believed to be headed by chief executive Garry Cook, flew out for a meeting with Sneijder’s advisors immediately after Monday night’s victory over Swansea.
But they were left disappointed and dismayed after being confident a deal would be agreed.
A City source said the days of the club being held to ransom over wages were “long gone.”
A cash deal to take Tevez to Inter, though, could be resurrected if City lower their £50million asking price.
An Inter source said a reduction in the fee to between £40m and £45m could see Tevez heading for the San Siro before the transfer window closes at the end of the month STAR
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Sir Alex Ferguson will make one last attempt to sign Wesley Sneijder, after the Inter Milan midfielder pulled out of training for "personal reasons". Mail on Sunday
And Harry Redknapp is prepared to release as many as seven players as he looks to make space in his squad for Adebayor and Lassana Diarra. Wilson Palacios, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Jenas, Alan Hutton, Sebastien Bassong, David Bentley and Niko Kranjcar could all leave the club. Sunday Telegraph
Tottenham and Liverpool both want Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega to supplement their strikeforces. Metro
Arsenal are mulling over a move for Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta as a short-term replacement replacement for fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, who joined Barcelona in a £35m move earlier in August. Caught Offside
Arsenal are also set to reignite their interest in France midfielder Yann M'Vila. Sunday Mirrror
Manchester United are considering a late bid for Arsenal's Samir Nasri with the Frenchman's long-expected move to Manchester City still not complete. Caught Offside
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson - not Harry Redknapp - could be the man the FA bring in to replace Fabio Capello as England manager after Euro 2012. Sunday Mirror
New QPR owner Tony Fernandes is considering moving the club away from Loftus Road, acknowledging that a new stadium is part of his long-term vision for the club. The Observer
Manchester United are set to announce a £4m-a-season sponsorship deal with DHL - to sponsor their training kit. That figure would be more than 12 top-flight clubs receive for their actual kits. The Observer
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas insists combining strikers Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba's talents is a strength rather than a problem for the Blues. talkSHIT
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has claimed Arsenal have expressed a firm interest in Argentina playmaker Lucho Gonzalez, but that the Gunners' attempt to take the 30-year-old on loan has been rebuffed. Mail on Sunday
BOLLOX BOLLOX
(As mentioned recently in Douglas's Training reports)
Roberto Mancini floored by Pablo Zabaleta as Man City get physical
Roberto Mancini is proud of Manchester City's ultra-physical training games, but may have regretted that approach when he was floored by a Pablo Zabaleta tackle.
The City boss was a silky midfielder during his playing days, but his quick feet weren't enough to take him clear of Argentine hardman Zabaleta, who piled into him during Friday's practice match at Carrington.
Mancini went down as though he had been hit by a Nigel de Jong special, complete with a facial expression that indicated he was in agony.
But seconds later the Italian was up on his feet and smiling about the incident, so perhaps he was just showing his players how to feign injury and win a free-kick!
Zabaleta could really have done without upsetting the manager, as he was left on the bench for the 4-0 opening-weekend win over Swansea.
Dumping Mancini on his backside doesn't seem like a great way for him to win his place in the team back; but the Citizens' next test is Bolton Wanderers away, so perhaps reminding the boss of his hardman credentials was appropriate.
