With Carlos Tevez seemingly on his way out of Manchester City, the club have started to take steps towards securing the best possible deal for their controversial forward by significantly dropping their asking price.
City's hierarchy value the Argentine hitman at £40million but fear no club will meet such a price tag - therefore they are said to be prepared to except as little as a quarter of this fee, and try to make up the difference in add-ons.
Tevez's refusal to come on as a substitute during City's Champions League loss to Bayern Munich last month has done him no favours in the eyes of potential suitors - who are already thin on the ground after Corinthians ruled out any future move this week.
So, club bosses are set to demand a 20 per cent sell-on clause as one way to sweeten any move.
As part of any deal, depending on the buying club, City could also request first-refusal clauses for any number of up-and-coming stars across Europe.
It is thought that they are prepared to slash the asking price for the player in order to get him off their books, but will use other methods to get market value for Tevez.
The Argentinean has scored 53 goals during his two years at the Etihad Stadium, but his refusal to take to the field in Munich has upset the club and its fans.
Manager Roberto Mancini, speaking after the match, said the former Manchester United and West Ham striker would never play for the side again.
He was then suspended for the maximum period of two weeks while an investigation is carried out.
Manchester City make January exit plan for rebel Tevez
Manchester City will demand a 20 per cent sell-on clause if Carlos Tevez is sold for a cut-price fee in January.
Officials fear top clubs will be put off by a £40million valuation and the Argentina striker's conduct in Munich, where it is alleged he refused to go on as a substitute, which he denies.
City are preparing to take a huge slice off the price tag in return for a cut of any future fee.
Gareth Barry: Manchester City are 'not too far away' from winning the Premier League title
Midfielder believes his side are closing in on being ready to win the league title and hails the gradual progression he has witnessed at Eastlands
Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry believes his side are not too far away from being in a position to win their first Premier League trophy.
City have not been champions of England since 1968 but since the arrival of Sheikh Mansour as owner, big spending has propelled the club to the upper reaches of the domestic game.
Roberto Mancini’s side won the FA Cup last season and Barry feels it is now only a matter of time until the Etihad Stadium is celebrating a Premier League triumph.
He told the club’s official website: “If you look at our finishes, we were 5th, then we finished 3rd last season and won the FA Cup.
“That is great progression and if you keep doing that then a league title is not going to be too far away for us. For this club to win the Premier League would be fantastic.
“Players always look at the league table. You never get too carried away by it but you are always looking. We have started well and now the top area of the table is where we are going to aim to stay.
“It is always tough to keep winning but that is the mentality the club need now and the players are trying to adapt to it
“Last season we finished 3rd and won the FA Cup - if we can improve on that again I am sure the fans will be very happy. It was always going to take time but we are getting there now.
“It was a massive deal for me to win my first trophy last season. To hear that final whistle at Wembley was special and once you have a taste for it you want it more - the whole team are the same.”
The England midfielder believes City’s rapid progression this season has been down to a combination of factors; impressive new signings, a rare full summer break and a change in their style of play.
Barry added: “It has been a fantastic start to the season. If you look at some of the negatives from last season, many people spoke about us being very defence-minded and mainly focused on getting clean sheets and keeping the opponents out.
“But when they now speak about how we have started this season it has been the complete opposite.
“We have scored a lot of goals and probably conceded more than we would have liked, but overall the feeling in the changing room and the way we have started has made us very pleased.
“It is always good to have a break in the summer - sometimes it is tough to get going in the new campaign when you have been away playing in international championships, but to have a full break and then a full pre-season with the squad has certainly helped me and the team as a whole.
“Everybody who has come into the squad this season has added something different and certainly helped to improve us as a unit.
“I think we will keep improving as the season goes on. There are certainly signs early on that we have made the next step up from last season and that can only be very good news.”
While feeling that consistent top honours are not too far away, the former Aston Villa man insisted the club still had a lot to learn and that this season was going to be another new test for the squad at Eastlands.
“The squad and the club are still on somewhat of a learning curve,” admitted Barry.
“This is our first season in the Champions League and we are hoping to go on long Cup runs - there are going to be so many games which means it is very important that players keep their focus.
“You cannot get too disappointed when you are not playing every game - a key part of trying to get success this year is that we all have to stay together, be patient and then take your chance when it comes.”
Spain's Torres cloud has a Silva lining
Manchester City man ready to replace Chelsea striker as La Roja head to Euro 2012
Vicente del Bosque saw the former Liverpool forward flop again in the 2-0 win against the Czech Republic, but was presented with a ready-made solution in the ex-Valencia star
Perhaps David Silva was right to complain. The Manchester City midfielder claimed late last month that he was being overlooked at international level by Spain coach Vicente del Bosque because he did not play for Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Silva has been mainly a bit-part player for Spain in his half-century of international appearances and the player's father revealed his son was 'resigned' to his fate for La Roja.
The comments did not appear to go down well with Del Bosque, who claimed that there were plenty of other footballers worthy of a place, too, while opining that Silva's words had been 'ill-advised'.
But the Spain coach, ever the diplomat, refused to shun Silva. Instead, he started the former Valencia man against Czech Republic on Friday night. And the move paid huge dividends.
Del Bosque also surprised many by fielding Fernando Torres in his starting line-up in Prague. The Chelsea striker, out of sorts since his injury prior to last summer's World Cup, was not even on the bench for La Roja in the 6-0 win over Liechtenstein in early September, but was handed another opportunity here. He didn't take it.
Torres was a willing runner on the flanks and linked up well on occasions with club colleague Juan Mata, but the Chelsea striker did not appear to be on the same wavelength as his team-mates and failed to take up the kind of positions expected of a striker of his calibre.
The former Liverpool forward showed too much of the ball to a Czech defender when he looked to have made a decent opportunity to shoot in the second half and also tested Petr Cech with a tame header. But that was about it.
Torres was replaced on the hour by David Villa and Spain's all-time top goalscorer immediately looked more threatening in a front three made up of a trio of former Valencia players.
Villa, Mata and Silva have played together on countless occasions in the past and the former Mestalla heroes give Del Bosque an intriguing option in attack. Against the Czechs, Mata opened the scoring after just six minutes with a fine finish, but Silva was the pick as he brilliantly set up a second for Xabi Alonso and caused the hosts all sorts of problems with his pace and trickery, on the left, on the right and through the middle. He was everywhere.
Del Bosque, of course, will soon welcome back Barca duo Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas from their respective hamstring injuries, and has a wealth of options at his disposal as Spain head triumphantly to Euro 2012 on the back of seven wins from seven so far.
Another Barca star, Pedro, was left out of the final matchday squad for the game in Prague, but will feature against Scotland in La Roja's last Group I qualifier on Tuesday. Torres, though, may not be so lucky.
On this evidence, the Chelsea striker may not even be needed in future. Because his 25-year-old team-mate from Gran Canaria has shown that he is more than ready to step in and stake a claim to be a first-team fixture for the World Cup winners.
So there is no need for Del Bosque or fans of La Roja to lament. Friday night's win in Prague proved that Spain's Torres cloud has a Silva lining after all.
Elena Barolo & Giorgia Palmas
[spoiler]Elena Barolo & Giorgia Palmas. A couple of Italian models. Elena has dated Pippo Inzaghi and former Torino striker Roberto Stellone, while Giorgia used to date Christian Vieri. Now she’s with Bologna midfielder Davide Bombardini.
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal are the latest club to scout CSKA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev, 21, who Gunners forward Andrey Arshavin says is "the most talented young footballer in Russia". Metro
Aston Villa and Everton are among "several Premier League sides" interested in Fiorentina's Adem Ljajic after the midfielder's agent backtracked on suggestions his client will remain in Italy. Metro
Liverpool are set to go head-to-head with Premier league rivals Manchester United to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Inside Futbol
Manchester United are believed to be interested in signing midfielder Claudio Marchisio from Serie A giants Juventus in the January transfer window. Caughtoffside
Chelsea's South American scout Jorge Alvial says the club could be ready to make a move to sign Chilean defender Igor Lichnovsky, 17, from Universidad de Chile. Footylatest.com
Ki Sung-Yueng wants to quit Celtic, who rejected an £8m bid from Rubin Kazan for the South Korea midfielder this summer, in January or the summer in search of Champions League football. (Daily Mail)
Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins believes Glenn Hoddle should be a leading contender to succeed Fabio Capello as manager of the national side. Hoddle was previously England manager from 1996-99 but he was sacked over comments he made about disabled people. talkSHIT
Aston Villa midfielder Jermaine Jenas has been told not to work so hard after being ruled out for three weeks with an Achilles tendon problem. The 28-year-old is on loan at Villa Park from Tottenham, and is yet to feature for Alex McLeish's side after picking up a knock in training. the Sun
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner wants to cut his squad's average wage by £10,000-a-week per man. Daily Mirror
German defender Per Mertesacker has admitted he is still having "communication problems" at Arsenal and said it is no surprise they have endured such a slow start to the season. Metro
Nottingham Forest are believed to want current Derby manager Nigel Clough to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father Brian and become their new boss. Daily Mirror
Fulham's Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz admits he is struggling to settle into life in the Premier League. the Sun
Theo Walcott's agent has conceded he "doesn't know" if the winger will sign an extension to his current deal at Arsenal. Metro
Former Fulham, Manchester City and Blackburn boss Mark Hughes says he hopes to one day return to former club Chelsea as manager. Daily Mirror
Real Madrid winger Pedro Leon has revealed a proposed January transfer to Chelsea was blocked by former Blues manager Jose Mourinho. Metro
Atletico Excurionistas goalkeeper Marcos Fascanella has become an internet sensation after the highlights from an Argentinean cup game showed him saving five penalties in a single match. Metro
Craig Levein intends to remain Scotland coach for the World Cup qualifying campaign even if his side fails to reach the Euro 2012 finals. (the Herald)
Former Celtic defender Rudi Vata hopes to become Albania's national coach with current boss Josip Kuze poised to quit because of ill health. (the Sun)
The English newspapers have been scathing of Wayne Rooney's dismissal as England qualified for Euro 2012 with a 2-2 draw in Montenegro. Rooney will be suspended for the first game of the tournament but his ban could stretch to three games. The Times calls Rooney "An Idiot Abroad" and the Daily Telegraph's front page just says "Idiot". The Guardian is slightly more circumspect asking "Through at what price?" while the Daily Express says "We will Roo this moment". The Daily Mail screams "Roo Fool!" and the Sun calls the striker "Roonatic".
Former Celtic striker Dixie Deans claims in his new autobiography that reggae legend Bob Malrey was a Celtic fan who could name all of the Lisbon Lions side that lifted the European Cup. (Daily Record)
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