Monday's B*l**x

[Chinners]

Manchester City 'join Chelsea in chasing Stevan Jovetic transfer'
Manchester City have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic, according to reports in Italy.
Citizens boss Roberto Mancini is keen to add another striker to his squad and has seemingly set his sights on the Montenegro international, who is also a target for Juventus.
City have apparently already tested the water with a bid, only to see it rejected, reports La Nazione.
It remains to be seen whether they will return with an improved offer for the 22-year-old, who Fiorentina value at £25million.
Juventus and Chelsea have also had bids for Jovetic turned down since the transfer window opened, but both remain interested.
.The European champions are believed to be putting together a cash-plus-player package featuring Yossi Benayoun in the hope of tempting the Viola to sell.
However, Juventus looks like Jovetic's most likely destination, should Fiorentina finally allow him to leave.

Sunderland set to pip Spurs and Everton to Johnson after launching £10m bid for City winger
Sunderland have lodged a £10m bid for Manchester City's Adam Johnson.
The winger is also the subject of interest from Everton and Tottenham, but Sunderland have made the best offer.
City hope to wrap up an £8m deal for Swansea's Scott Sinclair, 23, and are looking at Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic, 22.
Such moves could push Johnson, who has also been tracked by Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool, further down the pecking order.
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has also enquired about Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov, 31, and is considering a loan move for Tottenham's Danny Rose, 22.
He is also watching Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha, 19.
After Manchester City's 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday, manager Roberto Mancini said that he was willing to let Johnson, 25, find another club before the transfer window closes on August 31.
'Adam is a young guy,' said Mancini. 'He is a good player and he wants to play. In these 10 days, if we find a good solution for him and he can go to play, maybe it is better.
'I don’t know about a loan. We have two or three situations. We are talking with him about this. But if he stays here I don’t have a problem.Sportsmail Reporter'

Agger do: Liverpool offer £80k/week deal to keep Man City target Daniel
Big Dane will snub Bobby Manc and stay at Anfield as Brendan Rodgers finds bumper new contract to hang on to £25million rated defender
Daniel Agger is ready to sign a lucrative new deal with Liverpool and snub Manchester City - despite his red card shocker.
Danish defender Agger is 'desperately close' to agreeing new terms with the Kop after weeks of speculation about his future at Anfield.
Agger will be given a bumper new deal - in the region of £80,000-a-week - as a reflection of the £25 million fee slapped on his head when City came calling and even Barcelona took an interest.
And Liverpool badly want Agger to put pen to paper immediately to give Brendan Rodgers a boost after a torrid opening defeat at West Brom where the centre-half's dismissal cost them dearly.
Rodgers could have done with the money from a sale to re-invest in two or three new faces, but Agger has been one of the team's better performers.
Liverpool had found it hard to get a potental replacement too, with an inquiry for Tottenham's Steven Caulker rebuffed Spurs are rejecting all inquiries for Caulker who is back at the club after loan spells but was surprisingly left out of the team at Newcastle.

Man of God
MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini kicks off the season with a visit to church yesterday — and proves he’s the pray-er manager.
Religious Roberto, 47, went to morning mass before his team took on Southampton and was rewarded with a 3-2 victory.
The Sun told in May how the Italian coach visited the same service at Manchester’s Holy Name Catholic church hours before The Blues clinched the Premier League. Must have been a match of the Deity. sun

SNUB COUNT: 426

OTHER BOLLOX
Brazil international attacking midfielder Kaka, 30, has been offered to Manchester United on a season-long loan as Real Madrid prepare for the arrival of Luka Modric. Daily Mail reporter

Striker Michael Owen, 32, is in close to joining Everton on a free transfer after being released by Manchester United. Daily Mail

AC Milan will step up their efforts to land 24-year-old Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner in a swap deal with centre-back Philippe Mexes, 30. the Sun

Tottenham have made a shock move to sign 28-year-old Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh. Daily Mirror

Roberto Martinez says the reported transfer of winger Victor Moses, 21, to Chelsea is still some way from happening. talkShit

Arsene Wenger sanctioned the £15m sale of Alex Song to Barcelona after becoming infuriated by the 24-year-old midfielder's performance in pre-season. Daily Mail

Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, 21, will this week sign a new four-year contract with the Old Trafford club. the Sun

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed the Hammers still owe more than £10m to Sheffield United over the "Carlos Tevez affair". Daily Mirror

Swansea City defender Alan Tate says new manager Michael Laudrup is still the best player in training - even though he is 48 years old. talkShit


MORE BOLLOX LATER

[Yffi_88]

If Stewart Downing is worth 20 million, then Adam Johnson is worth more than 10.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I really like Jovetic from what I've seen of him. He could take the pressure off Silva (although he seems to play bit further up the field than Dave) and give him some rest + he really seems like one for the future.

[Wooders]

If Stewart Downing is worth 20 million, then Adam Johnson is worth more than 10.

Downing wasn't worth 20 million - there was just someone willing to pay that much for him & that is the difference

[Yffi_88]

Downing wasn't worth 20 million - there was just someone willing to pay that much for him & that is the difference

Probably should have worded that better.

If someone is willing to pay 20 million for Downing, then surely we can find someone willing to pay more than 10 million for a great, young, English player with bags of talent.