Not sure if Chinners is about today, delete if you wish :)
JOHNSON
MARTIN O'NEILL IN £10M ADAM JOHNSON CHASE
Adam Johnson is in Manchester City's sights The bid from Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill is acceptable to City but Johnson is likely to delay a decision while he weighs up his options
ADAM JOHNSON is on the way out of Manchester City after Sunderland offered £10million for the England winger.
The bid from Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill is acceptable to City – but Johnson is likely to delay a decision while he weighs up his options.
Everton are also keen and there could be interest from Spurs and West Ham.
Liverpool were in the race and City were ready to offer a £27m package for Anfield centre-back Daniel Agger, made up of cash plus Johnson.
But Liverpool don’t want to lose the Danish defender and have now signed another winger – Oussama Assaidi from Heerenveen in a £3m deal.
Johnson, meanwhile, has refused to confirm that he wants to establish himself at City – but insists he has not had a bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini.
The Sunderland-born winger, 25, said: “It’s not true that there has been a bust-up.
“I haven’t really spoken to him – but I will. In the next few weeks we’ll find out what is happening.”
Johnson believes not playing regularly at City was the reason he did not make the England Euro 2012 squad.
“I think that was part of why I missed out in the summer, as I didn’t play regularly enough,” he said.
“That is in the past now but I think that is important. If Roy Hodgson wants me in the England set-up – and I enjoyed every minute of playing against Italy on Wednesday – that is all that matters.”
Mancini admits that he understands Johnson’s current frustration.
The City boss said: “I’m happy for him after his performance with England. Adam is a player who deserves to play because he’s a good player.
“But it is not easy for me because I can play only eleven players. I can understand why he’s frustrated.”
City, meanwhile, are back in talks with Spurs about a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor.
Ballotelli
Mario Balotelli has been offered a £180,000-a-week contract by Manchester City The controversial Italian has become a hot property after his super show at Euro 2012
MAN CITY plan to discuss a new £180,000-a-week contract with Mario Balotelli in the new year.
The controversial Italian has become a hot property after his super show at Euro 2012.
Balotelli, 22 will have only two years left on his contract at the end of this season and City want to protect his value.
He is now regarded in the £40million bracket with strong interest from Paris St-Germain and the big clubs in Italy.
Balotelli earns £110,000-a-week. His agent is Mino Raiola, one of the top operators in Europe and he is cerain to want to maximise Balotelli’s status.
Raiola recently organised Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s mega-bucks move to PSG from AC Milan.
The Paris club, backed by Arab money, paid £29m for Ibrahimovic and are said to be paying him a mind-blowing £250,000-a-week AFTER TAX.
MARTINEZ
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed that they made an approach for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez earlier this summer
City have been linked with a dynamic midfielder and Martinez is one of the players whose names were mentioned in the press.
The Spain international is rated as one of the most complete midfielders in Europe and Athletic Bilbao are willing to let him go for £31million.
Bayern Munich are now set to pay Bilbao that sum to recruit the 23-year-old, but Mancini claims that City too were in the running for the player.
"We talked about Martinez with his club but it isn't easy an easy situation because there are three or four top clubs who want him," the Italian is quoted as saying in The Independent.
"Sometimes it isn't enough to have the money to spend. When there are other top teams after a player, it is difficult."
KICK OFF LOOMS
City will begin the defence of their Premier League title with a home game against Southampton on Sunday.
The wait is finally over and as City set out to defend their Premier League crown, the back pages are full of Blues news.
After ending the club’s 44 year wait for a league title last season, it seems Roberto Mancini believes he faces an even bigger task this year in retaining it.
According to The Citizen, the City boss believes he and his squad have a real battle on their hands as they kick off their campaign against Southampton.
“It will be even harder than last year. United have played for the title every year for 20 years,” claimed Mancini.
"When you are champions everyone wants to beat you, starting with Southampton. For this reason it will be a difficult game.”
One man who is backing the Italian and believes the Premier League trophy will return to the Etihad Stadium in May is former Blues boss Kevin Keegan.
“Manchester City will win it again, Manchester United are going to push them all the way but I think it's mainly between those two," the 61-year-old told Goal.com.
"Despite Chelsea spending £65 million and with Villas-Boas new at Spurs and Newcastle stacking up, I still think it's going to be in the North West again.
OTHER BOLLOX
Luka Modric, 26, is set to ignore renewed interest from Chelsea and move to Real Madrid this week.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Andre Villas-Boas hopes to bring in a new striker to Tottenham before the end of this week.
Full story: talkSPORT
Newcastle are braced for bids for Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye, with Chelsea and Manchester United keen on both midfielders.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Man City will make a move for Swansea winger Scott Sinclair after opening up a possible loan exit for England star Adam Johnson.
Full story: Sunday Express
Chelsea are looking to loan out Josh McEachran, with Championship clubs sides Bolton, Blackburn and Middlesbrough interested in the 19-year-old.
Full story: Sun on Sunday
OTHER GOSSIP
Sir Alex Ferguson intends to retire in two years' time after building a new team around Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
Full story: Mail on Sunday
Arsene Wenger has admitted that he does not know whether Theo Walcott will sign a contract extension with Arsenal.
Full story: Metro
Roberto Di Matteo is hopeful that 34-year-old Frank Lampard will sign a new contract as he enters the final season of his current Chelsea deal.
Full story: Sunday Telegraph
Joey Barton launches a new attack on the FA, branding them a "firm of muppets" for its £45,000 fine of Rio Ferdinand.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Carlton Cole hits back those who have criticised footballers following the Olympics. "People say we don't give back to the community and we're spoilt brats. That's unfair."
Full story: Sun on Sunday
Manchester City want to discuss a new contract with Mario Balotelli that could be worth up to £180,000-a-week.
Full story: Daily Star Sunday
FINALLY
A new book claims that Manchester City "accidentally" made an offer for Lionel Messi, swiftly rejected, on the night the club was taken over by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
LITTLE SONG TO END WITH
PHIL JONES WHEREVER YOU
MAY BE,YOU ARE THE KING OF
COMEDY,THE SHIRT CAME
OFF,THE CROWD ALL
ROARED,THEN YOU HEARD
AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SCORED CTWD ;)
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