Manchester City defender Kolo Toure is the latest target for super-rich Paris Saint-Germain.
The ambitious French club, who are owned by the Qatari Investment Authority, are reportedly closing in on a move for wantaway City striker Carlos Tevez.
And according to sources in France, PSG are now hoping to sign Tevez's City team-mate Toure to shore up their backline.
The Ligue 1 side, who are currently second in the division, spent big in the summer to land highly rated stars like Javier Pastore, Kevin Gameiro and Jeremy Menez.
And they look set for a busy January as they attempt to re-establish themselves as a major force in European football with more high-profile signings.
They are ready to turn to Toure, who has become a fringe player at City with manager Roberto Mancini preferring Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany in central defence.
The former City captain, who joined the club from Arsenal for £16m two years ago, missed the start of the campaign as he completed his six-month ban for testing positive for a banned substance.
And it has now been reported that he may be open to leaving City, with PSG preparing an offer. TalkSHIT
Teams are becoming scared of Manchester City, claims defender Joleon Lescott ahead of Chelsea clash
The England international feels his side still inspire fear domestically despite their Champions League exit, and is hoping to continue his side’s unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge
City have made the best start to a season in Premier League history and, despite making an early exit from the Champions League, Lescott feels they still inspire fear in the rest of the division.
"Even though we have just gone out of the Champions League, we like to think teams are becoming scared of us because they can see we are a serious team,” the England international told reporters.
"I see ourselves in the same bracket as Chelsea and United now, we are competing on the same level as them, and we have no fear of playing against them.
‘‘This is the sort of game we want.
“They are one of our main rivals and we are one of theirs, so it will be a exciting game that means a lot, and it will be a good benchmark for us to judge how far we have come.
“We have Arsenal after that too, but we don’t fear anyone.
“We are not afraid of going to Stamford Bridge. We don’t think we’ll score six like at Old Trafford, because that was even a shock to us.
“But we know if teams don’t apply themselves right against us, we have the capacity to punish them.”
A trip to Stamford Bridge should prove a test of City’s title credentials, and Lescott admits his side will have to be on top of their game.
“We find increasingly, week-by-week, that teams and people are starting to look at us differently because we are top of the league,” he added.
“The more we keep our unbeaten run going, the more that is going to happen.
“Chelsea will be desperate to end our run and it’s up to us to respond and try to make sure we get something from the game.
“It should be a great game. They have had two really good performances.
“But don’t forget, even though we went out of the Champions League, we go there on the back of a big win over Bayern Munich so we have belief and confidence.”
Clichy: City eyeing Bridge win
Gael Clichy says that the confidence at Manchester City remains sky high.
The Premier League leaders found themselves knocked out of the Champions League last week, despite a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, but they have been peerless on the domestic front. Their next test is against Chelsea on Monday evening, with former Arsenal left back Clichy saying that his side fears nobody and they are very much looking forward to what ought to be a stiff test at Stamford Bridge.
"The next two fixtures are really important, they are huge,” Clichy said, looking forward to both the Chelsea game and the subsequent visit of his old club, the Gunners, to the Etihad Stadium.
The defender added on City TV: “They are the type of games that as a player you want to play and train every day for.
"If we come out with four points that would be great, but of course we are aiming for the six points.
"We know we are capable of doing anything against any team.
"We will be going to Chelsea with the idea of three points. We will try to give our best shot because we can do it if we are serious and focused.
"Every team now wants to be the first team to make City lose because we haven't lost a game yet.
"And we have just had a team (Norwich) that came standing ten men behind the ball and trying to get a draw with set-pieces and counter-attack.
"We are aware of this and so far we have managed to do well.
"We just have to keep on working like this and hopefully it will be fine."
On for his own form at the club he joined in the summer, the Frenchman added: "I feel I am improving game after game. That is why I came to City and I want to win trophies.
"I am going to try my best to bring something to the team and hopefully to bring something to the fans."
Paris St Germain prepare £21m bid for Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez
Paris St Germain are set to enter the race for Carlos Tevez’s signature with a concrete offer for the wayward Manchester City striker.
But, contrary to reports, the Blues have received no bids for the Argentine international who remains in his home country after going absent without leave nearly five weeks ago.
M.E.N. Sport understands (are they SSN in disguise?) the French club, bolstered by Qatari money, are preparing a bid of around £21m in the January transfer window.
That moves them ahead of AC Milan in the chase for Tevez, with the Italians insisting that they only want Tevez on a six-month loan with an option for a possible £19.5m purchase next summer.
That is not enough for City, who travel to Chelsea in the Premier League tonight, but Milan are adamant they will not increase their offer.
City would only contemplate a loan if Milan signed a legally-binding contract which ensured they would come up with the money at the end of the temporary transfer. City suspect that Milan simply want Tevez as cover for Antonio Cassano as he recovers from minor heart surgery.
Last season, City allowed striker Emmanuel Adebayor to go to the Bernabeu on loan on the understanding the move would be made permanent last summer.
Instead, Madrid used him as cover for the injured Gonzalo Higuain and then made no move to sign him.
Now Tevez’s camp, who have been touting their man to Serie A clubs are stuck in a dilemma.
Tevez wants to go to Milan but, if PSG’s plans come off, the only viable offer on the table will be for him to go to France.
That was recognised by Milan’s chief executive Adriano Galliani, who said: “The ball is in Manchester City’s court. It’s true that PSG entered into negotiations. We know that the City board want to sell their player.
“We just hope they will accept our offer, because it will not change. I would not say I am optimistic or pessimistic. I just know that Tevez’s preference is to go to Milan but convincing City to loan instead of selling is not easy.”
PSG director of football Leonardo confirmed that his club are in the running.
He said: “I spoke to the player’s agent and he told me he preferred to go to Milan but Manchester wants to sell and not loan. If City finally agree to lend, Tevez goes to Milan and the case is closed. Otherwise, the market is open.”
Meanwhile Juventus, who have also expressed an interest, are watching developments.
Manchester City reject AC Milan offer for Carlos Tevez
Tevez has not played for City since they beat Birmingham on 21 September Manchester City have rejected an offer from AC Milan to take striker Carlos Tevez on loan with a commitment to signing him for 23m euros next summer.
Italian champions Milan sent the proposal to City on 6 December but the Premier League club told BBC Sport on Sunday that it had been turned down.
City are only willing to sell the 27-year-old in a permanent deal.
Tevez and City insist reports that Paris Saint-Germain have agreed a fee for the player are incorrect.
PSG made an informal approach to City in October, offering a loan deal, but both parties say this has not been followed up.
A source close to the Tevez camp told BBC Sport: "There has been absolutely no contact with PSG.
"Carlos has had no talks and is unaware of any potential deal."
It is understood that Milan remain favourites to sign the Argentina international but the transfer is still some way off.
"Manchester City want us to buy Tevez definitively," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani told Italian media.
"We have suggested that we sign the player on loan, with an option to purchase. We're not changing our position.
"It's going to be a long negotiation. Anything can happen in the transfer market."
Tevez has not played for City since they beat Birmingham on 21 September.
City boss Roberto Mancini alleged he refused to come off the substitutes' bench in September's Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich, while the player maintained there had been a misunderstanding.
An internal club investigation concluded that Tevez, who joined City in July 2009, was guilty of five breaches of his contract and he was fined four weeks' wages, reduced to two following intervention from the Professional Footballers' Association. (See Tevez thread)
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas banned anyone outside the first-team squad from the training ground at Cobham ahead of their game with Manchester City on Monday night. Daily Express
THIS WEEK's BALO's BOLLOX
MARIO BALOTELLI faces an eye-watering £150,000 fine – for breaking a club curfew to go for a midnight curry. Balotelli stayed out until the early hours of Sunday morning enjoying an Indian meal with pals, less than 48 hours before tonight’s crucial clash with Chelsea.
The controversial Manchester City striker ignored the strict rules put in place by boss Robert Mancini to visit the popular Zouk restaurant in the city centre.
Any attempts to keep his late-night trip quiet bit the dust when the Italian staged a mock sword fight with a friend – using a rolling pin as his weapon. His boss boss Mancini won’t see the funny side of Balotelli’s latest misde- meanour, which comes less than a month after he gave him special permission to pop out for a pizza with his girlfriend on the eve of the Champions League clash in Naples.
The Blues boss will be fuming Balotelli ignored the strict rules banning players from going out at night 48 hours before a game.
City face Andre Villas-Boas’s men at Stamford Bridge tonight looking to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Balotelli travelled down by train with his team- mates yesterday, and it remains to be seen if the striker will be axed from Mancini’s plans tonight.
But he will be hit in the pocket and fined a week’s wages of £150,000, making Balotelli’s curry one of the most expensive in history!
Mancini has been desperate for Balotelli to clean up his act both on and off the field this season. He made more headlines for the wrong reasons in his first campaign with the Blues following his £24m switch from Inter Milan.
Earlier this season Balotelli insisted he was more settled in England and felt more mature.
But in recent weeks he has found himself in trouble again.
Balotelli and his mates set his own house on fire, causing £200,000 worth of damage when a prank with fireworks went wrong.
Last month he was sent off at Liverpool after going on as a substitute and remonstrated with Mancini on the touchline before lashing out at the dressing room door. Mancini has kept faith with his controversial hitman but it remains to be seen how much longer his patience lasts as Balotelli continues to find himself in trouble.
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Jose Mourinho wants to take Frank Lampard to Real Madrid in a swap deal for Spanish Under-21 midfielder Esteban Granero. the Sun
Everton boss David Moyes has admitted making an approach to New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry, who is currently training with Arsenal during the MLS off-season, in an attempt to sign the Frenchman on loan in January. Daily Mirror
Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh has conceded he may have to leave the club to revive his career and has hinted he could be set for a return to his former team Bordeaux. Daily Mail
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is ready to offer Bobby Zamora a move away from Fulham. Daily Mirror
QPR boss Neil Warnock is also eyeing up Zamora who is unhappy at being left out of the Fulham side at Swansea. Daily Express
Manchester United are chasing 17-year-old Dutch left-back Jetro Willems, who plays for PSV Eindhoven, as manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks for the next Patrice Evra. Daily Mirror
Blackburn full-back Gael Givet had to be substituted in the first half of the 2-1 defeat by Sunderland because he was suffering from heart palpitations. the Independent
Phil Jones believes it is wrong to criticise his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney for a lack of goals before the weekend's win against Wolves because he does so much important work for the side in other areas. talkSHIT
New Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has warned the Black Cats supporters that there will be plenty of dark days ahead of them despite their much-needed win over Blackburn on Sunday. Full story: Daily Telegraph
Liverpool's Craig Bellamy and QPR's Joey Barton were involved in an argument moments after the final whistle in Saturday's game at Anfield as bad feelings between the two spilled into the tunnel area. Daily Mail
More Bollox soon ...
