THE BOLLOX
Roberto Mancini to face FA charges after their 'jokes' about referees backfire
Manchester City will stress that Roberto Mancini was joking when he made comments about referee Kevin Friend that have led to the Football Association to ask for his written observations about the incident.
Mancini was angered by the official not awarding a free-kick for a challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in the build-up to Adam Johnson’s goal in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Boxing Day.
The Italian said: “The referee ate too much for Christmas. He was not in good form. But that can happen after Christmas when they have a performance like that.”
City are angry at the prospect of an FA charge, and Mancini’s defence will be that, although he was bitterly disappointed about the manner of his side’s defeat, he attempted to make light of his dissatisfaction at Friend’s display.
Lescott is up for grabs at £8m
MANCHESTER CITY are set to offload £8m-rated defender Joleon Lescott in January.
The England star, who cost City £24million in 2010, is available at the cut-price figure to push through a quick deal.
Former club Everton are keen to take him back to Goodison Park, but his £90,000-a-week wages are a big problem.
That could open the door for QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who wants a quality centre-back to improve his under-performing Loftus Road squad.
Turkish side Galatasaray are also keen.
Centre-back Lescott, 30, has been troubled by a back injury this season and has fallen down City’s pecking order.
He insists he wants to stay and fight for a first- team place, but City boss Roberto Mancini sees youngster Matija Nastasic as the future. Sun
Manchester City: David Platt not expecting January signings
David Platt says Manchester City may not make any signings during the January transfer window.
City's assistant manager feels the leading clubs are unlikely to sell their top players mid-season.
"The kind of players you would want to improve a squad like Manchester City are invariably already playing for the top teams that are involved in chasing honours," he said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't do any business."
City manager Roberto Mancini hinted in December that he had discussed potential transfer window signings with the club's director of football Txiki Begiristain.
However, the Italian has proved reluctant in the past to spend in the winter transfer window, with Adam Johnson in 2010 and Edin Dzeko in 2011 his only big-money January signings.
The Premier League champions will lose Ivory Coast internationals Kolo and Yaya Toure for up to a month during the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. The brothers will miss five Premier League games and a round of the FA Cup if their country reaches the final, which takes place in Johannesburg on 10 February.
The Sweeper: Manchester City & United monitor Ronaldo's situation at Real Madrid
Amid speculation suggesting the forward is unhappy in Spain, the two Premier League giants are considering the possibility of luring the Portugal international back to England
As uncertainty over Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Real Madrid continues to grow, both Manchester United and Manchester City are closely monitoring the forward's situation in Spain.
Roberto Mancini's side have already made two separate enquiries asking for Madrid's valuation of the Portugal international, while the Premier League champions are also willing to offer the 27-year-old £400,000-a-week in wages.
Ronaldo has remained quiet amid Manchester City's interest but has already revealed that he misses the relationship he had with Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at Old Trafford and has hinted that he would welcome a return to his former club.
Sports manufacturer giants Nike are also in line to renegotiate their kit deal with United, which could help finance the club's move for Ronaldo, although City are also changing their sponsorship to Nike as of next season.
Ronaldo's potential destination could also be influenced by the situation of Jose Mourinho, who may see his spell at Real Madrid finish at the end of the season, and the Portuguese boss has already been earmarked by Ferguson as one of two candidates, the other being Pep Guardiola, to be the next manager at Old Trafford.Goal
STURRIDGE WINDFALL COULD PAVE WAY FOR VILLA LOAN MOVE
Manchester City are considering a loan bid for Barcelona forward David Villa next month once they receive a windfall payment from Chelsea for Daniel Sturridge's move to Liverpool.
The Premier League champions are due to receive 15 per cent of the fee Chelsea get from selling Sturridge, which will be in the region of £2.5 million.
City have already been paid £5m from Chelsea through a tribunal case when Sturridge left for Stamford Bridge in July 2009, while the west London club also parted with another £1m when the 23-year-old gained his first England cap in November 2011.
Roberto Mancini will be restricted with the funds he'll have available next month but the Italian is a big admirer of Villa and has already attempted to sign the 31-year-old on two separate occasions but was put off by the Spain international's valuation.
City are also poised to offload Mario Balotelli in January, with AC Milan frontrunners for the striker's signature, and Mancini is keen on adding Villa in a temporary deal to bolster his attacking options ahead of the title run-in.Goal
RICHARDS CLOSING IN ON RETURN
Manchester City defender Micah Richards has stepped up his return from a knee injury and will resume full training with the first team next week.
The 24-year-old tore the meniscus in his right knee during City's Premier League victory over Swansea City on October 24 and required surgery to fix the problem. Following his operation, Richards has been carrying out his rehabilitation programme in the gym at City's Carrington training ground.
The Premier League champions have marked the middle of January as a possible return for Richards, which will come as a boost for Roberto Mancini as the Italian will be without Kolo Toure, who started at right-back against Sunderland on Boxing Day, for the majority of next month due to Ivory Coast international's African Cup of Nations commitment. Goal
Arsene Wenger is hoping the fact that he sold striker Robin van Persie to Manchester United last summer will help him land 26-year-old winger Nani from Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Daily Mirror
Manchester United are to make a new £15m bid for Everton's 28-year-old left-back Leighton Baines, who is also thought to be wanted by Chelsea and Paris St Germain. DSSC
Chelsea are considering a £16m move for Sevilla's Spain striker Alvaro Negredo, 27. DSSC
Birmingham's financial situation could force them into selling goalkeeper Jack Butland, 19, to Liverpool. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are still chasing Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila, 22, despite a deal collapsing in the summer. Metro
Sunderland will discuss a permanent move for on-loan defender Danny Rose, 22, when parent side Tottenham visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Sunderland Echo
Leicester have agreed a £1m deal with Championship rivals Blackpool to sign 26-year-old defender Alex Baptiste in the January transfer window. Sky Sports
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas insists Gareth Bale will not be sold in the January transfer window and says there are no plans for any signings next month. The Sun
Paris St Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti insists there is no chance of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo heading to the affluent French club. Sky Sports
Blackburn directors Paul Agnew and Derek Shaw are holding crisis talks with Venky's in India as the club put any coaching appointments on hold. Lancashire Telegraph
Meanwhile, Blackburn managing director Shaw has reportedly called for the club's global advisor Shebby Singh to be sacked. Daily Mirror
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he is "under pressure" to deliver in the Champions League as he fights for his future at the Bernabeu with Manchester United waiting in the last 16. Sport 360
Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole, 31, will ask for a £3.6m pay-off to quit the club in January. talkSHIT
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned his inconsistent players to toughen up or leave Anfield. Daily Telegraph
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup will hold a meeting with Danny Graham, 27, to sort out the striker's future. DSSC
Brighton striker Craig Mackail-Smith says he will not let talk of a move to Norwich affect his form. The Argus
Blackburn's owners Venky's have signed up Ronaldinho, 32, but, unfortunately for Rovers supporters, the Atletico Mineiro forward will only be starring in a movie. DSSC
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