Tevez move to Milan hits new hitch
Carlos Tevez is still hopeful that his move to Milan can be resurrected after Manchester City's insistence yesterday that the Italian club pay a transfer fee in excess of €25m (£21m) led to the collapse of the latest round of negotiations.
The dispiriting saga of Tevez's rift with City, which began with his infamous refusal to come on as a substitute in the Champions League against Bayern Munich on 27 September, and has continued with the lengthy disciplinary process was close to an end yesterday during meetings between the two clubs in London.
Earlier in the day the Internazionale president, Massimo Moratti, had signalled defeat in his club's bid to sign Tevez and said that he believed the Argentine was on his way to Milan. However, Milan were unable to meet City's valuation on the player and the club's hardline stance has not wavered at all: any prospective new club for Tevez must agree a permanent deal and they must meet City's valuation.
There is an unwillingness on City's part to be specific in public about the size of fee they want from Milan, however it was that which was the stumbling block between the two parties. It is generally agreed that Tevez and his advisor Kia Joorabchian have come to agreement on the player's personal terms some time ago and Tevez has been pictured with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani.
City negotiations yesterday were led by temporary chief executive John MacBeath and football executive Brian Marwood. The deal appeared to be funded, on Milan's side, by the sale of the Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato to Paris Saint-Germain although it emerged the Pato deal had also fallen through. However, it was clear last night that Milan have not given up on Tevez and that they believe it will be possible to resurrect a deal to sign him later in the transfer window. If that is not possible, the player, who has spent much of the time since his exclusion in Buenos Aires, will remain registered to City.
Net-buster: Striker's court served rough justice
Manchester City's non-striker Carlos Tevez has had to demolish a tennis court built without planning permission at his home in Cheshire. Tevez reportedly upset local ramblers who considered it an eyesore. Courting controversy seems to be second nature for the Argentine ace.
Hughes eyes Santa Cruz... again!
Mark Hughes is considering a cut-price move for Roque Santa Cruz from former club Manchester City.
The 30-year-old striker is currently on loan at Spain's Real Betis, where he has hit five goals in 20 appearances this season - including two in his last two.
Hughes signed Santa Cruz for Blackburn as well as for City, and also tried to get him during his time as Fulham boss.
The Paraguayan would have to take a wage cut to go to Rangers but City, who are paying some of his wages during his loan spell at Betis, would be happy to get him off their wage bill.
We here at B*ll*x Towers believe that Mr Cruz must have some very compromising pictures of Mr Hughes.
Harry Redknapp: I’m proud we’ve not spent like Man City
HARRY REDKNAPP has taunted Spurs' title rivals by claiming: We haven't bought our success like you.
Redknapp cranked up the tension ahead of their clash with megabucks Manchester City and Roberto Mancini by revealing he is "proud" of building his team without breaking the bank.
He said: "City are where they are because of Sheikh Mansour and Chelsea thanks to Roman Abramovich.
"We have not done it that way and it makes me proud.
"You don't have to go out and spend fortunes to find good players."
The Etihad showdown on Sunday week is now a key fixture in the title race with Spurs just three points behind wobbling City.
Redknapp added: "Spurs are not third in the Premier League because someone has walked through the door at White Hart Lane and slapped a bundle of money on my desk.
"City can pay players £200,000 a week, it's unbelievable.
"Man Utd wanted Samir Nasri but he blew them out for City.
"The people running Spurs have invested wisely.
"Some of the players we brought in raised eyebrows, like Younes Kaboul, but he's made excellent progress. Hopefully it is coming together now."
VIDEO: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... -City.html
Tottenham pressure can force Manchester City to choke in Premier League title race, says Rafael van der Vaart
Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart believes Spurs are 'more of a team' than Manchester City and should be considered equal favourites to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
Spurs' 2-0 victory over Everton on Wednesday night has seen them climb up to joint-second with Man United, and a win against Wolves at White Hart Lane this weekend will see them go level on points with City at the top - for at least two days.
And Van der Vaart believes Tottenham, who will not be hit by key players disappearing for the Africa Cup of Nations, unlike City who will lose Yaya and Kolo Toure, should be considered genuine title contenders, possibly even favourites.
"Everybody knows Spurs have a great team and if we can keep playing like this, then we're also favourites to win the title," said the Dutch international.
"We know we're good and apart from the first two games, we have won almost every week.
"When we played Man City in August, they were too good but in the last few games they have not been as consistent and they lost last night, too. Maybe it's a little bit in their heads.
"They have invested so much money, so everyone expects they're going to win it but we're still there. Do we believe we can do it? Absolutely. It's a massive game and we're really looking forward to it but first we must beat Wolves on Saturday.
"We are much better now than we were at the start of the season, so I'm really looking forward to the games that are coming up.
"City have so many good players that even when they're not playing well, they can decide a game, whereas we're more of a team. It's going to be very interesting.
"We played well there last season but lost 1-0, so we will go there with confidence and there is no reason why we can't win."
But City midfielder Gareth Barry hit back by insisting his team have the inner resolve to ignore mind games. Daily Express
VINCENT KOMPANY'S FURY AS GLEN JOHNSON IS LET OFF
VINCENT KOMPANY has admitted he is disgusted Glen Johnson was not sent off on Wednesday night.
The Manchester City defender told friends referees are being incon- sistent when it comes to dangerous tackles.
Kompany was banned for four games after being sent off for a two-footed challenge on Nani in last Sunday’s Manchester derby.
But he claims Johnson’s tackle on Joleon Lescott in City’s Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday night was just as bad, if not worse. Kompany predicted “an unprecedented wave of red cards” after losing his appeal against referee Chris Foy’s decision to send him off.
So he was stunned when Johnson’s lunge at Lescott did not result in the Liverpool full-back getting his marching orders.
Referee Lee Mason did not even award a free-kick to City despite both of Johnson’s feet leaving the ground.
The incident sparked a tunnel bust-up between Roberto Mancini and Steven Gerrard after the final whistle.
Gerrard scored the penalty winner for Liverpool which puts them in control of the tie ahead of the second leg at Anfield on January 25.
Kompany will miss both games as a result of his ban, as well as league matches against Wigan and Tottenham.
The Belgium defender went on Facebook after losing his appeal against his red card in City’s FA Cup third-round defeat to United.
He wrote: “I wonder if we are now going to see an unprecedented wave of red cards because we sanction ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’? I appealed because I obviously completely disagreed with the interpretation of the officials on the day but that happens in football and we move on.
“Hopefully common sense will prevail again in the future and I for one hope not to see inconsistency in sendings-off and suspensions when the intent of a player is to win the ball.”
OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea are planning a £25m swoop for Lille playmaker Eden Hazard. the Sun
But Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas insists Frank Lampard remains in his plans. Daily Mail
Blackburn have launched a surprise bid to steal Andy Johnson from under QPR's nose, and have lodged a formal bid with Fulham. Metro
New QPR boss Mark Hughes wants to make Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz - currently on loan at Real Betis - his first signing. Daily Mirror
Mark Hughes is eyeing a move for out-of-favour Fulham striker Bobby Zamora. London Evening Standard
Rangers have identified Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill as further potential signings this month. the Times
Brazilian defender Alex wants to join his former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti at Paris Saint-Germain after snubbing a move across west London to QPR. Daily Star
Newcastle are ready to make an improved offer for Manchester United's talented teenager Ravel Morrison after an initial £500,000 bid was turned down. the Independent
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has made his opening move for Crystal Palace starlet Wilfried Zaha as the Reds look to seal a £10m deal. Daily Mail
Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar could be offered an escape route out of Tottenham by Russian giants CSKA Moscow. Daily Mirror
Bolton are close to completing a £2.6m move for New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream to replace Chelsea-bound Gary Cahill. Daily Telegraph
Championship leaders Southampton may offer up to £6m for Celtic striker Gary Hooper. Daily Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has made a £2m bid for 20-year-old Watford striker Marvin Sordell. the Sun
And Japan striker Ryoichi Maeda is poised to join the Hammers after flying to London to train with the Championship club, according to a Japanese newspaper. Nikkan Sports
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson will offer David Cotterill a chance to revive his career after the Wales international was released by Swansea. Daily Star
New Aston Villa striker Robbie Keane admits he could be sitting on an American beach - but his love for Daily Telegraph
Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley believes the revived Black Cats have nothing to fear when they take on stuttering Chelsea this weekend. Newcastle Chronicle
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says he is happy with striker Andy Carroll's work-rate, amid reports that he may return to Newcastle. Independent
Wolves owner Steve Morgan has demanded an upturn in the club's results after a damning mid-term report. the Times
Port Vale have been hit by an injury-crisis ahead of their League Two match against Wimbledon - with only 13 players training this week. Racing Post
Fulham boss Martin Jol says if Mark Hughes had any real ambition he would have stayed at Craven Cottage. Daily Mail
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