Festive glad tidings for all ye faithful. Yaya Toure will be delaying his New Year departure to the Africa Cup of Nations and can line up in next month's FA Cup derby.
Yaya, whose semi-final goal at Wembley fired City to, er, Wembley last season, will also be staying long enough to tackle Liverpool in the first leg of our Carling Cup clash.
Bearer of the joyous news is the Telegraph's Mark Ogden, who writes that "the Ivory Coast midfielder admits he feels 'guilty' at leaving at such a crucial point in the campaign".
The tournament begins in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea on January 21 and, under FIFA rules, "Ivory Coast would be within their rights to summon Touré and his brother, Kolo, prior to the FA Cup tie.
"However, City manager Roberto Mancini’s friendship with his Ivory Coast counterpart François Zahoui, who spent two seasons in Italy with Ascoli in the 1980s, has paved the way for City to retain the Touré brothers for the United game and the Carling Cup semi-final first-leg at home to Liverpool three days later."
He adds: "Losing Yaya Touré, in particular, will still represent a major blow to City’s ambitions, but the player himself is adamant he would not have been able to forgive himself if he had not travelled to the Cup of Nations."
Fair enough. We're pretty sure Roberto can rustle up a replacement while he's away
Festive frolics at the fun-loving Daily Mail, meanwhile. They run a brilliant photo spread of the players' fancy dress party in the form of a quiz, best appreciated in the paper itself.
The headline - "The Iron Man defender, a Wally of a midfielder and Mancini rock the night away" - is a clue, and the costumes are so good you'll need the captions to help recognise your heroes. See how many you can ID without cheating ...
The Mail also reveal that Ashley Cole's tunnel taunt that angered the Blues at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea's controversial 2-1 win was a rather unoriginal "Thursday night, Channel 5."
When you're sitting at home come May, watching Channel 5 and glancing over at a bare trophy cabinet, we certainly won't be gloating, Ashley. No, not at all. Not one bit.
Manchester City delay Yaya Touré's Africa Cup of Nations release
Midfielder able to play in FA Cup tie
Yaya Touré says that while his 'loyalties are divided' he must play in the Africa Cup of Nations because his country needs him. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images
Manchester City have agreed special dispensation to delay the departure of a "guilty and confused" Yaya Touré to the Africa Cup of Nations so he can take part in their FA Cup tie against Manchester United and the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Touré still faces the possibility of missing a month of City's title campaign and the Ivory Coast international has admitted being torn about his involvement in the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, starting on 21 January.
However, City have minimised the damage by persuading Ivory Coast not to enforce a Fifa rule that players can be called up two weeks before the competition. The same provisional agreement is in place for his brother, Kolo, and means they can be involved against United on 8 January followed by the home leg of the Liverpool match three days later.
City's case was helped by Roberto Mancini's links with François Zahoui, the Ivory Coast manager, who spent two seasons in Italy with Ascoli in the 1980s. However, it has also become increasingly clear on the part of Yaya Touré that his desire to represent his country is tempered by the fact it means missing potentially five league games, the second leg of the Liverpool tie and a possible replay against United or an FA Cup fourth-round game.
"Our country needs people like myself and Didier Drogba because there is a war and it's important we do what we can for our people, but this is also a crucial time of the season," he said. "There are two crucial months coming up and now I am going to miss one of them. The team, the club and the manager need me, but I will have to go away and play in a different competition.
"It's difficult as I am very focused for City and we need all the players. I have to go because my country is going through some difficult things, but I am a little bit guilty and confused about it. My loyalties are divided and I do feel a little bit sad. But City will cope. We have fantastic players who can take my place, such as Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry, while Owen Hargreaves is also working very hard to come back."
Mancini's concern about losing the former Barcelona player partly explains why he has prioritised the signing of another central midfielder in the January transfer window and is monitoring the potentialavailability of Daniele De Rossi at Roma.
The City manager has lost the trust he once had in De Jong but, with Touré away, the Premier League leaders are expected to repel QPR's attempts to sign the Dutchman on loan until the end of the season.
"Channel 5 on Thursday" were apparently the words uttered by Ashley Cole that sparked the tunnel skirmishes after Chelsea win last Monday
Harry Redknapp: Spurs want Carlos Tevez
TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp is plotting a sensational move for Manchester City outcast Carlos Tevez.
Spurs have made enquiries about a £20million offer for the Argie rebel which could reunite him with on-loan City star Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane.
A source close to the talks said: "People at Tottenham reckon a deal like this could be bigger than anything since they signed Jurgen Klinsmann.
"There's definite interest. The big stumbling block could be whether or not City are prepared to do business with a team now regarded as one of their rivals for the title."
City want Tevez out after a string of run-ins with boss Roberto Mancini but the Italian is adamant only a permanent deal will do.
The striker's £198,000-a-week wages would shatter Spurs' pay structure.
But the insider added: "There are some who reckon Tevez signing would pretty much guarantee Champions League football and that it would be worth the investment."
AC Milan want Tevez on an initial loan deal and vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "We know we have the player's agreement but we hope he'll not agree with other clubs." SUN
NEIL WARNOCK SWOOP FOR DE JONG
NEIL WARNOCK has launched a bid to sign Manchester City outcast Nigel De Jong on loan.
QPR boss Warnock is ready to test City boss Roberto Mancini with an offer to bring the Dutch international to Loftus Road for the rest of the season.
Warnock has compiled a list of targets for the Januuary transfer window and wants De Jong to help guide the club to Premier League survival.
The 26-year-old midfielder has not started a Premier League game for City since November but appeared as a substitute in the defeat at Chelsea on Monday night.
De Jong wants City to offer him a new contract, with his present deal due to expire at the end of next season.
But he has struggled to bat- tle his way into Mancini’s starting XI and Warnock will make an auda- cious attempt to land him when the window opens next month.
Warnock will be backed with substantial funds by chairman Tony Fernandes, with a striker and a centre-half also on his wish list.
He said: “The board know we need some more players and they have been very supportive. We are on the lookout for four or five.
“I’m not saying they’re all going to be big-name signings but we need numbers in the squad.”
Shaun Wright-Phillips insists QPR are ready to crush Manchester United’s hopes of going top of the Premier League this weekend.
United will overtake City, for a few hours at least, if they win at Loftus Road on Sunday. And Wright-Phillips said: “It’s a massive game to play in and we’re all looking forward to it. Hopefully we can move further up the table again.”
AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani insisted yesterday the club had not given up hope of signing Carlos Tevez.
Galliani said: “Milan will wait for Carlos Tevez right up until the final minute. If Carlito does not sign for another team we will be waiting for him here.” STAR
Manchester City ready to raid Chelsea for midfield starlet
Manchester City are on the trail of Chelsea schoolboy Conor Hunte.
The Blues youngster played an important role in England Under-16s' Victory Shield win this year and his eye-catching performances from midfield have seen him earmarked as a potential future star by Chelsea coaching staff.
His displays in the Victory Shield alerted Manchester City to his potential and under the new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), which will come into force next summer, he could move to the Etihad Stadium for a nominal fee.
Premier League clubs are now intensifying their search for young talent by taking advantage of the new EPPP rules, and to fall in line with the new Financial Fair Play rules, and City are ready to pounce for Hunte.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea are ready to cut their losses on out-of-form striker Fernando Torres and will accept an offer of £20m for the 27-year-old Spaniard in January. Their valuation represents a loss of £30m on the fee they paid Liverpool in January of this year. Daily Mail
Juventus are ready to loan 27-year-old Serbia winger Milos Krasic to injury-hit Manchester United until the end of the season. Daily Mirror
Atletico Madrid are keen on bringing in out-of-favour Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, 31, once they have offloaded former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes to Turkish side Galatasaray. Inside Futbol
AC Milan's Taye Taiwo, 26, has emerged as the potential answer to Arsenal's full-back shortage. Metro
Juventus are keen to sell reserve striker Amauri to Tottenham in January. The 31-year-old can leave on a free transfer in the summer. Daily Mirror
Spurs midfielder Sandro, 22, could be on his way out of White Hart Lane, with his agent refusing to rule out the possibility of one of "many" expressions of interest in his client turning into a move to Italy. talkSHIT
Newcastle are reportedly interested in 20-year-old Guingamp winger Anthony Knockaert and could make a move in January. Footylatest
Bolton are already preparing for life after 25-year-old Gary Cahill with New York Red Bulls' American international Tim Ream, 24, lined up as a replacement for their much-coveted centre-back. Daily Mail
West Ham are eyeing £5m-rated Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, 19, after Matt Taylor and Sam Baldock picked up injuries. The Sun
Newcastle full-back Danny Simpson, 24, has turned down an improved contract offer but will not be allowed to move to QPR or Aston Vila during the transfer window. Evening Chronicle
Talented Everton youngster Ross Barkley, 18, has admitted he is frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities at Goodison Park but says he still has faith in manager David Moyes to oversee his development. Liverpool Echo
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic's former doctor confirms the Serb will be sidelined for "9-12 months" with his knee injury. Sport360
Manchester City celebrate Christmas party hours after Chelsea defeat
Some may have thought Manchester City players would be feeling down after losing their undefeated record at Chelsea, but that didn't seem to be the case as the animated stars danced their worries away at a fancy dress Christmas party.
The City boys should definitely be given an A for effort when it comes to their outfits, although not all of them were up to scratch.
Gareth Barry came dressed as Wally, from 'Where's Wally', which was apt as he was missing for much of the game at Chelsea.
Owen Hargreaves was wearing a batman costume, which wasn't representative of a man who is injured most of the time and rarely saves the day for City.
Sergio Aguero came dressed as Harry Potter and Nigel De Jong was Mr T from the A Team. This was seemingly a nod to the fact that Aguero weaves magic on the pitch and De Jong adds steel to the midfield.
Other famous faces from the screen at the Anaya nightclub in Mayfair included Avatar, Iron Man, The Mask and Kermit the Frog.
For some costumes it wasn't easy to tell who was underneath, but we were left in no doubt about who was playing the bandit when Mario Balotelli strolled in with his trademark swagger.
Unlike Balotelli, Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart looked like he'd put in some effort with his costume. He wore an American football outfit with the name Hartdog on the back of the jersey (we're told that's his alter ego).
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