Manchester City are plotting a January swoop for Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Inter Milan defender Maicon.Daily Mirror
Mancini is close to agreeing a deal to make Ivan Cordoba, Inter's Colombian defender, his first signing as City manager.
But with the Italian already targeting a top-four finish at Eastlands after succeeding the sacked Mark Hughes two weeks ago, he admits that City's financial power will enable him to pursue the world's best players if he can guide the club into the Champions League. Mancini said: "If City finish in the top four we will look for players of the highest level.
"I would like Maicon and, with 'Ibra', there's always been a rapport of great loyalty. He is world class. Which manager in the world wouldn't like Ibrahimovic? "City is the best club in the world for an ambitious manager. There are very good players there, but we must improve as it won't be easy to get into the top four." Mancini is set for his first taste of the FA Cup on Saturday when City travel to Middlesbrough for a third-round tie. Defenders Joleon Lescott, Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge are all injured, while Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor have flown to Angola on African Cup of Nations duty. With Stephen Ireland and Roque Santa Cruz also injured, Mancini admits he has no option but to field his strongest team at the Riverside, despite the distraction of next Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final first-leg against Manchester United. Mancini said: "There can be no risks taken with anyone who is not fully fit, but I will play the strongest team that I can. I will not be thinking about the match against United. "We do not have a very big squad, but we do have some young players who have been training with the first team and one or two might have to play. "I have told the players that they should not be thinking about the semi-final. We must have full attention on the FA Cup and then prepare for the next game as soon as the final whistle goes. "Middlesbrough will be a tough side to play on their own pitch and will see the tie as one where they can relax and try to take the scalp of a Premier League team."
Manchester City are the latest club to show an interest in teenage Crystal Palace star Victor Moses but will refuse to meet the Eagles' £5m asking price. Daily Star
Sir Alex Ferguson will continue with his policy of selecting youngsters for next Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City. The Manchester United manager has used the competition to give the less experienced members of his squad an opportunity to impress in recent years and that trend has continued this term.Yet, a draw which pitches United into direct confrontation with a club whose 33 years without a trophy is immortalised on the Stretford End with a banner that ticks on one with each passing season, might have prompted a change of heart.Most United fans would accept losing to either Blackburn or Aston Villa at Wembley on 28 February if it meant City being denied a big day out. But Ferguson refuses to be deflected from his original aim, so the likes of Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck can expect to start at Eastlands."I will stick with the principle of picking young players on Wednesday," said Ferguson. "That is what we have done in the Carling Cup and we are not changing that."The stance is bad news for Leeds, who head over the Pennines on Sunday to face United for the first time since 2004 knowing the champions will unleash all their big guns on them in the FA Cup. It will not prevent 9,000 travelling fans helping to create a white-hot atmosphere that will be a new experience for Michael Carrick, who cannot wait."Experiencing those types of feisty atmospheres are why you play football," he said. "Rivalries like that add extra spice. It is great for the fans and good for the players."No matter where you play, or whether the atmosphere is for or against you, it is a great feeling to play. Besiktas was very hostile when we went there earlier this season but it was still terrific to play in. Leeds are bringing a lot of fans and we are looking forward to it. It should be a cracking game."The return of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes is anticipated against the Elland Road outfit, although one man who definitely will not be involved is John O'Shea, who could be out of action for another two months with a thigh injury sustained during the Republic of Ireland's dramatic World Cup exit in France six weeks ago.
Chelsea are set to smash the British transfer record with a £40m swoop for Valencia striker David Villa.
Daily Express
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will embark on a spending spree now the transfer window is open, with Real Madrid striker Ruud van
Nistelrooy and Tottenham forward Roman Pavlyuchenko his two top targets. Daily Mail
Liverpool could move for Olympiakos right-back Vasilis Torosidis as a replacement for their injured defender Glen Johnson. Daily Mirror
Benitez wants to take Argentina winger Maxi Rodriguez on loan from Atletico Madrid, while out-of-favour Reds forward Ryan Babel is set to reject moves to Fiorentina and Besiktas. Daily Mail
Liverpool face stiff competition from Boca Juniors for Rodriguez, who is out of contract in the summer. The Times
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made a £3.5m swoop for Fluminese's Brazilian wonder-kid Wellington Silva, who impressed on a recent trial at the Emirates, but he will not be able to join the Gunners until he turns 18 in January 2011. Daily Mirror
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who has signed 19 players in the last five January transfer windows, says the mid-season transfer window is "a nightmare" and claims the chances of him bringing anybody to Spurs this month are "very, very, very, very slim".The Guardian
Birmingham have failed in their bid to sign on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on a permanent basis and also look likely to miss out on Rangers striker Kris Boyd.The Sun
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish does not plan to spend all of the £40m he has been given to enhance his squad during the transfer window, and hopes to sign two or three players with "character" rather than make any marquee signings.Daily Telegraph
Sunderland are ready to make a £4m bid for Tottenham's Scotland right-back Alan Hutton and are still on the trail of Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa and Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson.Daily Mail
The Black Cats also want Coventry goalkeeper Kieran Westwood.Daily Mirror
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is exploring the possibility of signing Roma striker Stefano Okaka on loan.Daily Mail
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is considering making a £2.5m bid for Stoke striker James Beattie but hopes to keep hold of Emile Heskey despite interest in the England striker from Liverpool, Fulham, Wigan and Chelsea. Daily Mail
Leeds have rejected Newcastle's £1.25m bid for Jermaine Beckford and hope to keep the striker at Elland Road for the rest of the season. Daily Mirror
The Magpies will move for QPR's Iceland forward Heidar Helguson, who is currently on loan at Watford, after having their bid for Beckford turned down. Daily Mail
Or, Newcastle will secure the signing of Beckford - as soon as Leeds find a replacement. The Sun
Peterborough have been told to double their £400,000 offer for in-form Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman.The Sun
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... ca-perello
OTHER BOLLOX
Bolton are yet to make a formal approach to Stoke for their assistant boss Peter Reid, who is the leading candidate to succeed Gary Megson as Wanderers manager, and are also considering the possibility of employing Alan Shearer and Gary Speed as manager and assistant.The Guardian
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock and former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley are on Bolton's shortlist to become their next manager, with Wanderers set to move for their first choice as Megson's replacement - Burnley boss Owen Coyle - early next week. Daily Mail
Curbishley will be interviewed for the Bolton job on Tuesday, although Wanderers have not ruled out a move for former Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson.Daily Telegraph
Coyle, former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes and Hull City manager Phil Brown have all ruled themselves out of the running to be Bolton's new boss. The Sun
The future ownership of West Ham United could be decided next week after the Hammers' owners asked Rothschild Bank to sift through potential investors who either want to buy the club out-right or take a stake.Daily Telegraph
Former Oldham, Crystal Palace and Coventry City boss Iain Dowie is set to be named Reading's new manager. The Sun
Lens want Portsmouth to be shut down if they do not honour their debts, with Pompey still owing the French club fees for Aruna Dindane and Nadir Belhadj. Daily Mail
Dundee United are set to open talks with Raith boss John McGlynn about taking over from new Scotland manager Craig Levein in the Tannadice hot-seat. Daily Record
FINAL BOLLOX
West Ham have sent out an email begging their fans to attend their third-round FA Cup tie against Arsenal after struggling to sell tickets for Sunday's game. Tricky times for the Hammers, example from a mate ...
URGENT FA CUP FIXTURE INFO FOR SUPPORTERS
...
Mon, 28 December, 2009 12:17:19
From: West Ham United FC <westham@s-2.see-email.com>
Dear
We have noticed that you have yet to purchase a seat for our FA Cup fixture against Arsenal on Sunday 3 January 2010. It would be fantastic to have your support at this fixture and at what we hope will be the start of the road to Wembley building on our promising performance against Chelsea.
As we are keen to fill the stadium to provide the 12th man to support the team we are extending our Season Ticket holders discount offer. This remains available to you until 2nd January. Please click here to purchase or call the ticket office on 0871 222 2700.
Please click here to purchase or call the ticket office on 0871 222 2700.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Everyone at West Ham United
