Well, I Ever! Lescott return to Toffees could spark string of deals by Moyes
Taking England defender back on loan from Man City will allow Champions League-chasing boss to sell Heitinga and spend that fee on two strikers
Everton are ready to take England defender Joleon Lescott back to Goodison Park.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has lost faith in centre-back Lescott, who cost the club a staggering £24million three years ago under his predecessor Mark Hughes.
And that news will spark a January transfer scramble which could allow Everton to snap up TWO top French stars.
Mancini will attempt to bring in a centre-half in January, with his long shopping list including names such as Paris Saint-Germain's French international Mamadou Sakho and summer-window targets Daniel Agger of Liverpool and Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini.
Toffees boss David Moyes has made no secret of his desire to bring 30-year-old Lescott back to the club, and admitted recently he would be interested in a loan deal in the window if the player became available.
The stumbling block would, obviously, be money - not only that £24m fee but also Lescott's City salary of around £90,000 a week.
The champions would be happy to get a fringe player on such a large wage off the books, but would have to pay part of his salary to facilitate a move to Everton and, ultimately, take a massive loss on the deal, which would prove an embarrassment following the acrimonious way they got their man in 2009.
Lescott though, would be an ideal capture for Moyes, who is desperate to strengthen his squad as he looks to make a concerted push for a Champions League place.
The manager believes Everton now have a very real chance of a top four place, especially if they can bring in a couple of new faces to give the squad fresh impetus.
Moyes wants to keep hold of prize asset Marouane Fellaini in January, despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, but would be willing to sell defender John Heitinga in a bid to raise funds - and signing Lescott on loan could allow that to happen.
Heitinga has been targeted by Galatasary, who could pay as much as £7million for the Dutch international and Moyes has already identified a use for the money - TWO French international strikers.
The Mirror understands Moyes has been involved in extensive talks over a deal to bring in striker Kevin Gameiro from Paris Saint-Germain and has also offered around £5million for Toulouse and former France U21 forward Wissam Ben Yedder.
Everton scouts have watched the pair regularly in recent months, and talks are already at an advanced stage with their respective clubs.
Gameiro, 25, has been capped eight times by France, but has fallen out of favour at PSG following the summer signing of Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Coach Carlo Ancellotti will allow him to move on if the club can recoup the £7million they paid Lorient for his services 18 months ago.
Ben Yedder, 22, is top scorer at Toulouse this season with nine goals in 16 games, and has been identified as one of the top young talents in France.
He is available for around £6m, and Moyes believes he can get both men if he raises enough from the sale of Heitinga.
City boss Mancini wants a ball-playing centre-half, and that need was heightened when skipper Vincent Kompany limped out of the derby - highlighting what he sees as a lack of cover.
Agger is still a target, but the fee remains a stumbling block, with Liverpool adamant they would accept no less than £25million for the Danish star.
If City were persuaded to part with such a massive fee though, it would prompt Reds boss Brendan Rodgers to sign a replacement defender.
He has been closely monitoring the progress of highly-rated young Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij, who could become available in January after refusing to sign a long-term deal with current club Feyenoord.
And Rodgers is also a confirmed admirer of Ashley Williams, star centre-half at his former club Swansea.
He agreed not to bid for any of his former players for a year, but the Welsh club may listen to an offer if it is attractive enough
Captain Vincent kompany promises payback for Manchetser City’s derby defeat
Vincent Kompany has promised down-hearted Blues fans there will be some ‘beautiful’ derby moments to come in the future. The Blues skipper took a team of 12 players, and the Premier League trophy, to spread some Christmas cheer at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital yesterday.
And he issued a rallying call to City supporters, saying that the fightback starts with Saturday’s trip to face Newcastle at St James’ Park.“Every fan should enjoy these moments, because as bitter as things are in defeat, that just makes it that much more beautiful in winning,” said Kompany. “We have closed the gap on United in the last couple of years, but the past is past and you always have to prove yourself again and again.”
Juventus are ready to approach Manchester City with a £6.5m offer for Aleksandar Kolarov, according to reports in Italy.
As revealed by talkSHIT last month, the Serie A leaders are in the market for a new left-back and have identified Kolarov as their first choice.
This may well be an offer Roberto Mancini chooses to accept given that Kolarov is very much a back-up option on the left-wing and the Italian may well be instructed to sell some of his expansive squad before he can once again dig into the club coffers.
The former Lazio man has made just seven Premier League starts thus far this season as more often than not Gael Clichy gets the nod and a move back to Italy could tempt the 27 year old Serbian international.
Kolarov spent three successful seasons in Rome with Lazio and would surely be tempted by the chance to join the reigning Italian title holders though he would clearly be cup-tied in relation any Champions League action this season.
Man City spent £19m to bring Aleksandar Kolarov to the Premier League but will be more than aware that his value will have decreased over the past 18 months, during which time he has struggled for form in the English top tier.
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Rooney: If There’s One Team I Want To Beat It’s Sunderland
When the whistle blew at the Stadium of Light after our final game of the season, Manchester United were top of the league. Moments later, Manchester City scored a late winner against 10 man QPR, who capitulated once they learnt they were safe, to win the league.
As news of the goal started to spread around the ground, Sunderland fans starting celebrating and copied City’s lame Poznan celebration.
“When the final whistle went, we didn’t really know what the score at City was. But then we heard the Sunderland fans cheering,” Rooney said after the game. “It was sad to see that because they should be supporting their own team really. They didn’t have the best of seasons so for them to be cheering like that was sad. It was something myself and a lot of the players won’t forget.”
Rooney brought out his latest autobiography this summer and it was clear that his feelings on the matter were still strong.
“I don’t know where I will play the previous games before it, I just want to play against Sunderland. When the fixtures come out I look for three games – City, Liverpool and Everton. This time I checked the Sunderland game. If there is one team that I want to beat this season it will be Sunderland.”
I have a feeling that if he plays, we will have more discussion about players provoking fans after the final whistle, because there’s no way Rooney won’t be giving the travelling supporters stick when we score.
Everton are ready to make a triple swoop for Manchester City and England defender Joleon Lescott, 30, on loan, Paris Saint-Germain striker Kevin Gameiro, 25, and Toulouse forward Wissam Ben Yedder, 22.Daily Mirror
Juventus are lining up a £90,000-a-week deal to persuade Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott, 23, to join them in January. Daily Mirror
The Italian giants also want to sign former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 34, from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. Gazetta dello Sport
Liverpool may try to keep Nuri Sahin, 24, at the end of his loan spell from Real Madrid but face competition from the Turkey midfielder's former club Borussia Dortmund. talkSHIT
Former Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, 31, could return to the Premier League to help Reading stay in the top flight, a year after the Russian's transfer to Spartak Moscow. London Evening Standard
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is going to use the sale of Portuguese winger Nani, 26, to fund the transfers of Porto's Colombian winger James Rodriguez , 21, and Celtic's 21-year-old Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama. Manchester Evening News
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill wants to sell striker Fraizer Campbell, 25, and defender Titus Bramble, 31, in the January transfer window. Daily Mirror
QPR manager Harry Redknapp says DJ Campbell, 31, who has scored eight goals in 12 games at Ipswich, could be recalled from his loan spell at the Championship club. Sun
Sir Alex Ferguson will spend next week in New York - raising the intriguing possibility of fresh talks with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.Daily Mirror
Reading reportedly fine Danny Guthrie, 25, two weeks' wages for refusing to travel to Tuesday's Premier League game at Sunderland. Sun
QPR winger Adel Taarabt wants to join up with the Morocco squad for next month's Africa Cup of Nations, despite new manager Harry Redknapp's request for the 23-year-old to stay and help in the club's fight against relegation. Daily Mirror
Arsenal's players, including Germany forward Lukas Podolski, 27, and Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla, 27, who both joined the club in the summer, are losing faith with the methods of manager Arsene Wenger. Goal.com
Bradford City captain Gary Jones believes Arsenal's stars ought to be embarrassed by their Capital One Cup quarter-final exit at Valley Parade on Tuesday and said that 10-man Torquay United had put up more of a fight in League Two on Saturday. Guardian
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to award reserve goalkeeper Brad Jones, 30, an extension on his contract, which ends at the end of the season. Daily Mirror
Magician and Bradford fan Dynamo claims he helped his side to a shock victory over Arsenal by having a hand in Gunners defender Thomas Vermaelen's missed penalty. DSSC
Former England captain David Beckham, 37, is likely to base his family in London even if he moves to a club in France next year. Beckham's wife Victoria has visited two different west London schools in the last two weeks. DSSC
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