CARLOS TEVEZ could find out today that Manchester City want him suspended for another four weeks.
City have completed their own investigation into his apparent refusal to come on as a substitute in the Champions League match at Bayern Munich.
It is unlikely they will be able to prove the Argentine striker directly refused to play.
But City will claim he effectively did so by refusing boss Roberto Mancini's request to continue warming up in preparation to come on.
Tevez, 27, has already been fined two weeks' wages and suspended for a fortnight.
He is due to train tomorrow but City want his punishment extended before then to avoid him coming to their Carrington complex.
City will put their case to the PFA for his suspension to be extended to six weeks. They will also want his fine increased to £1.5million which represents six weeks' wages for the £250,000-a-week star.
City have taken legal advice and interviewed everyone near Tevez in the Allianz Arena a fortnight ago to put together a watertight case.
They also aim to prove the Sky interview Tevez did straight after the game backs their claim that he did not want to play.
The interview contradicted his statement the following day in which he claimed he did not refuse to play.
Mancini has already made it clear he does not want the player with the first-team squad again. If he does return to training with City it will be with the reserves. Sun
Manchester City target TWO Napoli players
Manchester City have admitted they want to sign Napoli stars Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
But the revelation by first-team coach Fausto Salsano will infuriate the Serie A club who are in the same Champions League group as City.
Roberto Mancini has said he tried to sign Hamsik and Napoli striker Edinson Cavani during his time at Inter Milan.
But now his right-hand man Salsano has said the interest remains strong for the Slovak midfielder and Argentine striker Lavezzi – two of the brightest stars in European football.
“Manchester City are watching Napoli very carefully,” Salsano told a Naples radio station. “I can confirm Mancini’s interest in Hamsik because I have been to watch the Slovak.
“Marek has become a very important player with the right experience. Lavezzi, on the other hand, is a devastating player who can hurt you one-on-one. Hamsik and Lavezzi are players we like because our aim is to do great things. Mirror
ROBERTO MANCINI has branded Mario Balotelli as Manchester City’s secret weapon in their search for Champions League salvation.
The mega-rich club face a striker crisis for their must-win home clash with Spanish side Villarreal next week.
Carlos Tevez is expected to be absent after his Munich mutiny, Sergio Aguero is an injury doubt and Balotelli is banned.
But Mancini says Italian bad-boy Balotelli, who has shown increasing signs of maturity, will return to have a big say in the race for the knockout stages.
Mancini said: “He’s going strong and I am convinced that this time it will last.
“He will be our weapon in the Champions League.”
[spoiler]Maria Mazza
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in Plymouth's 16-year-old winger Matt Lecointe, who is rated as "the next Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain". Daily Mirror
Everton are being rivalled by Bayern Munich in the bid to sign Valencia midfielder Ever Banega. talkSHIT
Stoke City defender Robert Huth is attracting interest from Wolfsburg as the German looks to catch the eyes of national team selectors. FootyOnline
Manchester United have joined Arsenal in the chase for Fiorentina playmaker Riccardo Montolivo. InsideFutbol
Villarreal's tough-tackling midfielder Bruno Soriano is wanted by Manchester United, who will have to pay more than €10m (£8.7m) for the Spaniard. Inside Futbol
Tottenham and Liverpool are battling each other for £12m-rated Lille striker Moussa Sow. CaughtOffside
Spurs are also planning a £15m January raid for Chelsea pair Didier Drogba and Alex. CaughtOffside
Arsenal are facing competition for Lille midfielder Eden Hazard from Real Madrid, according to the Belgian's agent. FootyOnline
The Gunners are also looking to sign Porto striker Hulk but his agent says that the north London club will have to pay more than £23m. talkSHIT
Newcastle United are keeping an eye on European pair Eren Derdiyok of Bayer Leverkusen and Luuk de Jong of FC Twente. FootyBunker
Arsenal are watching Tunisian defender Aymen Abdennour, who plays for Toulouse, according to the player himself. FootyOnline
Fulham manager Martin Jol is planning to raid his former club Ajax with a bid for Mounir El Hamdaoui, a player that he has signed and managed twice before. FootyLatest
Liverpool were "on the brink" and could have gone bust under former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, according to the club's managing director Ian Ayre. Daily Mirror
West Ham could still end up owning the £486m Olympic Stadium despite the Government's announcement on Tuesday that the deal for the club to buy it had collapsed. the Times
Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has indicated he will retire from international football after Serbia's failure to qualify for Euro 2012. Daily Mail
Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham says he would relish a return to Old Trafford in a sporting director role. the Sun
Leeds chairman Ken Bates is backing Chelsea fans who are opposing the club's ground move. Daily Mirror
Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa could be rewarded for his early season form with a new contract before the end of the year. FootyBunker
Arsenal will attempt to open contract talks with their top players in November amid fears rival clubs are already eyeing moves for the likes of striker Robin van Persie in January. Daily Express
Fabio Capello has consulted with England players over the team's likely Euro 2012 base in Cracow in the hope of avoiding the problems that flared up at the 2010 World Cup finals. the Times (subscription required)
Steve Cotterill is the leading candidate to become the next manager of Nottingham Forest. Daily Mail
Chelsea fans fighting the club's bid to buy back the freehold of Stamford Bridge have been given a shareholders' register by the club that is so out-of-date it lists fans who are dead - including the former Labour minister for sport, Tony Banks. Independent
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech has decided to take up the sticks instead of standing in-between them after making his live performance debut as a drummer for Czech band Eddie Stoilow. Metro
James Collins is ready to 'steak' a claim for an Aston Villa starting berth - after putting meat in his boot to recover from injury. the Sun
More bollox soon ...
