MANCHESTER CITY are in a £15million fight with Juventus and Wolfsburg for Bologna ace Gaston Ramirez.
City boss Roberto Mancini wants to make the Uruguay midfielder his first signing of the summer.
Tottenham and Liverpool have also been linked with Ramirez, 21, but City are in pole position.
The South American star’s agent, Pablo Betancourt, said: “I think he could leave this summer.” SUN
Manchester City aiming to pip United to signing of Wesley Sneijder
Manchester City have already pipped neighbours United for the Premier League title – now they are poised to beat them to the signing of Holland international Wesley Sneijder.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was linked with a swoop for the Inter Milan midfielder last summer but he stayed at the San Siro.
Now it appears Sneijder could be heading to Manchester after all, but with the Etihad Stadium as his destination rather than Old Trafford.
Any move, however, is likely to be finalised after the Euro 2012 finals.
Ferguson refused to say last summer whether United had formally made an offer for the 27-year-old but was forced to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement after failing to find a replacement in central midfield.
City manager Roberto Mancini is expected to be busy in the summer as the Premier League champions look to build on their league success in next season’s Champions League.
Manchester City captain to visit Vietnam
Vincent Kompany, captain of English Premier League football champions Manchester City, will visit Vietnam from June 7 to 9 at the invitation of the Vietnam Export Import Bank (EXIMBANK).
The Belgian footballer will meet journalists and football fans, and visit a school for disadvantaged kids called SOS Village in Ho Chi Minh City.
He will take part in a live program on Ho Chi Minh City Television called “Welcome to Euro” on the 8th evening.
He is expected to review the opening match of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland and the month-long tournament itself.
O'Neill considers loan move for Guidetti after City striker's big hit in Holland
Sunderland are considering a move for Manchester City striker John Guidetti on loan.
The 20-year-old scored 20 goals for Feyenoord in the Dutch league last season, including three hat-tricks, and has been watched by Sunderland scouts.
Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill will hold talks with former Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar and midfielder Mohamed Diame, formerly of Wigan.
He is also monitoring Besiktas midfielder Manuel Fernandes, who has been in a contract dispute with the side and could leave on a cut-price deal.
City footballer arrested on suspicion of drink driving B*ll*x
A Premier League footballer has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after an early-morning car crash.
Manchester City's Michael Johnson, 24, was held by police after the smash involving his Mercedes CLS 350 at 3.50am yesterday on Grangethorpe Road in Urmston, Greater Manchester.
Local reports suggest the midfielder had been on his way to his girlfriend's home in Urmston when his car hit a parked BMW X5.
MCF.net thread: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43149
Thiago Motta slaps Mario Balotelli at Italy photo shoot after tie prank
Mario Balotelli was slapped around the head by Italy team-mate Thiago Motta after he messed with the defender's tie prior to an Italy team photoshoot.
Balotelli has threatened to 'kill' anyone who subjects him to abuse during Euro 2012, but it seems the City striker doesn't mind too much if someone slaps him around the head.
In truth, the 21-year-old probably didn't react because he knew he deserved the smack after getting up to mischief during the Italy team photo shoot.
A video of the photoshoot shows a seemingly annoyed Motta hitting Balotelli after he pulls his tie out of place while the players are standing in their dapper suits, waiting to be photographed.
Surprisingly the young striker manages to maintain his cool and just shrugs off the incident.
Earlier this week, Balotelli vowed to end the life of anyone who threw a banana at him in Ukraine and Poland during Euro 2012.
He said: 'If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to prison because I will kill him.'
Ukraine has come under criticism recently after a Panorama investigation revealed racism in football seemed to be prevalent in the country. Metro
[youtube]rglHwZdh4oA[/youtube]
Borussia Monchengladbach Eye Swoop for Manchester City Striker John Guidetti
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2012/05/31/ ... tti/63118/
Manchester City man in to boost Tadcaster ranks
Tadcaster Albion have acted quickly following the departure of assistant-manager Rob Hunter and coach Mark Smitheringale by adding Mike Morton to the boot room.
The Manchester City junior coach and former Pickering Town assistant, who studied at York College and also is now a part-time member of staff at its football development centre, will join up with Albion ahead of their 2012/13 Northern Counties East League premier division campaign.
The club hope Morton’s experience working for the Premier League champions as well as his knowledge of the local area will help them to better last season’s eighth place.
Taddy have also seen goal-scoring midfielder Graham Whitehead depart but four new signings are expected this weekend.
The club hope to continue the annual pre-season fixture with York City though it has not been confirmed.
Albion will face Bradford Park Avenue as part of their pre-season preparations and have a confirmed fixture against Blue Square Bet North side Harrogate Town on Saturday, July 24.
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Brendan Rodgers is set to raid Swansea for three of his former players after he is unveiled as Liverpool's new manager - forward Scott Sinclair, 23, midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, 22, and defender Ashley Williams, 27. Sigurdsson was set to join the Swans after a successful loan spell but has not completed his move yet. Daily Mirror
Swansea midfielder Joe Allen, 22, is also being lined up for a move to Anfield - although the youngster, who came through the ranks at the Welsh club, has three years left on his contract and would cost Liverpool £10m. Daily Mail
The arrival of Rodgers has thrown Joe Cole, 30, an Anfield lifeline. The Liverpool midfielder, who spent the 2011-12 season on loan at Lille, knows Rodgers from his spell as Chelsea's reserve team manager. Daily Star
Chelsea have agreed a fee of £38m for Porto striker Hulk, 25, and the deal is ready to be closed subject to a medical. Guardian
Bayer Leverkusen have ruled out a summer move for Dimitar Berbatov, 31, unless Manchester United release the striker on a free transfer. Daily Telegraph
Chelsea are ready to make a move for Fulham's £10m-rated striker Moussa Dembele with the 24-year-old set to join his Belgian team-mate Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge. the Sun
The Blues are also planning contract talks with defender Ryan Bertrand, 22, who impressed in the Champions League, even though he only signed a four-year deal last summer. Daily Mail
Newcastle striker Demba Ba's £7m release clause can be activated from Thursday for just two months with Chelsea and Tottenham keen to sign the 27-year-old.
David Stockdale could be on the move from west to east London Daily Mirror
Sir Alex Ferguson is set to renew his interest in Spurs star Luka Modric in the hope of tempting the 26-year-old to Manchester United. Daily Star
West Ham have targeted Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale as a replacement for Robert Green. The 26-year-old, who is in England's Euro 2012 squad, has been unable to dislodge Cottagers number one Mark Schwarzer. the Sun
North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in signing Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin after the 24-year-old revealed he is ready to leave France. talkSHIT
Tottenham attacker Rafael van der Vaart looks to be heading out of White Hart Lane after Schalke launched a £10m-plus move for the Netherlands international. Daily Mail
QPR are ready to launch an ambitious bid to bring former Blackburn defender Christopher Samba, 28, back to the Premier League. Daily Mail
French side Paris Saint-Germain are preparing a huge 150m euros bid for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Sport
Chelsea are closing in on a £40m deal for Porto forward Hulk, 25, with talks set to continue later this week. Metro
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are monitoring Ukrainian Yevhen Konoplyanka, 22, the Dnipro playmaker. talkSHIT
Swansea City's potential loan move for Tottenham's Giovani Dos Santos could scupper their bid to bring Spurs defender Steven Caulker back to the Liberty Stadium next season. South Wales Evening Post
Newcastle are reported to have made a bid of between £500k and £1m for Coventry's Gael Bigirimana, 18. Sunderland Echo
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is ready to snap up Wigan's Senegalese midfield star Mohamed Diame, 24. Daily Mirror
Former Watford and England manager Graham Taylor is stepping down as the club's non-executive chairman, but will stay on as life president. The Sun
The FA has sold only 3,000 tickets for each of England's Euro 2012 group games. The Independent
Swansea are poised to move for Brighton's Gus Poyet to replace Liverpool-bound Brendan Rodgers. Daily Mirror
Fawaz al-Hasawi, chairman of Kuwaiti football club Qadisa, is closing in on the takeover of a Championship club, understood to be Nottingham Forest. Sport 360
QPR are stepping up interest in Birmingham keeper Ben Foster, 29, with a £5m bid after an impressive season on loan at West Brom. Daily Mail
Manchester United have joined the race to sign Valencia defender Jordi Alba, 23. The left-back is also a target for Barcelona. talkShit
Norwich striker Grant Holt, 31, is set to follow Canaries boss Paul Lambert to Aston Villa. Daily Mail
Norwich are preparing to make an approach to Celtic for Neil Lennon to replace Aston Villa-bound Paul Lambert. the Sun
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan believes Aston Villa are not a big enough club for Latics boss Roberto Martinez. talkShit
Steve Clarke is expected to leave his role as assistant manager at Liverpool following the arrival of Brendan Rodgers. Daily Telegraph
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will demand to know whether he still has the board's full backing as a Middle East consortium prepares to try to tempt him to Qatar. Daily Mirror
Manchester United goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel, 48, is returning to the club - most likely as an ambassador but he could also be involved in the coaching. the Sun
Blackburn manager Steve Kean has had talks with former Rovers defender Colin Hendry, 46, about coaching the first team and act as a link to the fans. Daily Star
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, 33, has revealed for the first time he would like to be a Premier League manager when he retires from playing. Daily Mail
England are worried about the fitness of Scott Parker, 31, and face going into Euro 2012 with only one fully-fit, first-choice central midfielder. Daily Express
Liverpool are expected to announce within weeks they intend to stay at Anfield and not build their long-planned new stadium on Stanley Park. Guardian
Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, 34, received £12m in compensation when he was sacked by the club in March. Daily Mail
Chelsea's stars have been preparing for their pre-season tour of the United States by trying their hand at a range of American sports. The Metro
CROSSAN'S SUPPLIMENTARY WAG BOLLOX
As it's Friday and the start of a long Jubilee Bank Holiday ahead, we here at Bollox Towers think that an extra WAG is in order, a bit like the extra day holiday next Tuesday, so as selected by Crossan, todays extra WAG is called Jenny and she is a sexy little number from North Manchester who is also a former servant of the Navy.
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[/spoiler]I won't play with Joey Barton's Bollox, says Adel Taarabt
QPR are expected to conclude an internal investigation into Joey Barton’s behaviour within the next seven
Queens Park Rangers are today under increasing pressure to offload Joey Barton after it emerged Adel Taarabt has told the club he will not play in the same team as the controversial midfielder.
Rangers are expected to conclude an internal investigation into Barton’s behaviour within the next seven days after the 29-year-old was handed a 12-game suspension and £75,000 fine following his red card at Manchester City on the final day of last season.
Barton was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez, before kicking Sergio Aguero and attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany as he had to be dragged from the field, to the fury of manager Mark Hughes.
Standard Sport revealed last week that the club have been told they are unlikely to find sufficient legal grounds to terminate Barton’s contract and so they will have to pay his contract in full, worth nearly £11million, if they wish to sack him.
The Rangers hierarchy are fully aware Barton has become a disruptive presence in the squad. Rumours of a dressing room rift persisted throughout last season and it is understood that Barton and Taarabt have not been on speaking terms for several months following two separate training ground incidents.
Barton is believed to have launched into rash tackles on the Moroccan international after becoming irritated by his relaxed attitude towards training. It is understood that Taarabt’s lawyers contacted the club to warn them they would sue Barton if he injured their client in training.
Taarabt is now thought to have indicated his unwillingness to play with Barton in the future and it is possible he could leave the club regardless of the decision Rangers take with his team-mate.
The 23-year-old is hugely talented but failed to make a consistent impact in the Premier League and is no stranger to controversy himself, having been pictured at a bus stop after storming out of the ground following his half-time substitution in October’s 6-0 defeat against Fulham.
Barton hinted at tension with Taarabt following that match by claiming afterwards: “I came here and was told he was a genius but I’m yet to see it. I don’t know whether that is because he doesn’t work hard enough or that he tends to sulk.”
Taarabt has attracted interest from a number of clubs and has just one year remaining on his contract at Loftus Road. He has made it clear he will depart if Barton does not move on.
The problem for Rangers is that they are struggling to find a buyer for a player who is now ineligible until November. West Ham are thought to have registered an interest but Barton would have to take a considerable pay cut from his £70,000-a-week deal, which has three years left to run.
Rangers could force Barton to train with the reserves and then sell him in January and are continuing to assess their options. Hughes will also consult other members of the squad to assess how they feel about Barton continuing his career at the club.
