Mancini Would Welcome Chelsea Job - Agent

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Roberto Mancini's agent Maurizio De Giorgis has revealed that there has been no contact from Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea, who have both been linked with the former Inter Milan boss in recent reports, but did admit that Mancini would welcome the opportunity to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

After a disastrous sequence of results that sees City just two-points off the drop-zone and knocked out of the FA Cup last week 3-0 by Championship club Nottingham Forest at the Eastlands Stadium. The ADUG are reportedly ready to axe Hughes and replace him with former Italian International Mancini after just 20 league games in charge of a Blues team, which has blown more cold than hot in recent weeks.

Chelsea have also been linked with Mancini, who has been staying in London to learn English, with the Italian open to managing in the Premier League. Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has come under fire at Stamford Bridge recently, with Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford fuelling speculation that the Brazilian like Hughes could be heading for an exit from the West London club in his first season in charge.

However, De Giorgis insists that, no approach, for Mancini has been made by either club and dismissed reports that the former San Siro chief had met with officials from City recently.

De Giorgis told Goal.com: “I would know everything and I can tell you with certainty no club has come forward for Mancini.

“We have not had any contact with Chelsea, Manchester City or any other English club for that matter.

“For now no one has been in touch and therefore all this news is unfounded.

“We were not in England last week. In the past we have been because Mancini has been studying English.

“I can tell you for sure Mancini is in Italy at the moment. He has been for quite some time.

“It's impossible he was seen in another place by other people. These reports are untrue.”

De Giorgis did concede that if Chelsea were to come calling then he would be more than happy to talk to the Premiership side.

“I certainly hope they [Chelsea] come forward but, like I said, nothing so far,” added De Giorgis.

“If they call, then we will answer them, obviously.”

44-year-old Mancini was sacked by Inter last summer and replaced with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, despite winning three consecutive Scudetti, with the Nerazzurri and the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2005 and 2006.

Man City Turn Attention To Cudicini After Newcastle Reject Given Bid

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is to turn his attention to Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (below) after having an offer in the region of £3million rejected out of hand by Newcastle United for Republic of Ireland International keeper Shay Given.

A spokesman for the Magpies has confirmed that the North East club had received a formal bid from their Premiership rivals City for Given, but dismissed the offer out of hand, with Newcastle claiming the offer was “laughable” for the keeper, which they consider to be the best in the Premier League.

The Newcastle spokesman said: “We received a bid for Shay in writing from Manchester City and we dismissed it out of hand.

“It was for between three and four million pounds which is laughable when you consider we are talking about the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.”

It is understood that Newcastle, have placed a £11million price-tag on 32-year-old Given, with the Toon spokesman also revealing that talks over the Irishman leaving St James’ Park would not even be considered unless a bid of at least £8million was forthcoming from the Blue half of Manchester.

Hughes has always insisted that he will not be forced into paying over the odds after last summer’s takeover at City by the wealthy ADUG to bring in fresh faces to the Eastlands Stadium, with the former Blackburn Rovers boss now set to turn his attention to Blues No2 Cudicini.

35-year-old Cudicini has been at Stamford Bridge since joining from Castel di Sangro in 2000, but has had to play second fiddle to Petr Cech since Cech’s arrival from Rennes in 2004 and could see a move to City as a last chance to play regular first team football.

Cudicini is out of contract at Chelsea next summer, with manager Luiz Felipe Scolari possibly ready to cash in on the keeper this month rather than have the Italian leave the West London club on a free transfer in the summer.

Bellamy To Reject City Move For Spurs?

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West Ham United striker Craig Bellamy is understood to prefer a move to Tottenham Hotspur over Manchester City, with the Welsh International unsure a bout a reunion with City manager Mark Hughes at the Eastlands Stadium, according to The Guardian.

29-year-old Bellamy has been heavily linked with both Spurs and City, with the striker tipped to join Hughes at the Premier League side, having worked under Hughes at Blackburn Rovers. However, Bellamy feels that his chances of first team football at the Eastlands could be limited due to the influx of players expected to arrive in the Blue half of Manchester.

Tottenham have already had an offer for Bellamy turned down by their Premiership rivals, but reports earlier in the week suggested that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was considering an improved offer for the Hammers forward. Despite securing the return of Jermain Defoe to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth, Bellamy still remains on the Redknapp radar.

Redknapp will be encouraged by the news that Bellamy is favouring Tottenham over the Blues and could make an improved offer in the region of £9million in order to prise the former Liverpool player away from Upton Park.

Bellamy has been at West Ham since making the switch from the Reds in 2007 for £7.5million and has scored 9 goals in 31 appearances for the Hammers in what has been an injury-disrupted spell in East London.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has always insisted publicly that none of the Hammers top players will be leaving Upton Park in January, but with the club in financial difficulty is privately resigned to losing some key players including Bellamy.

City To Offer £19million Misfit To Land Taiwo?

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Manchester City are set to continue their pursuit of Olympique Marseille defender Taye Taiwo, with the Premier League club ready to offer £19million flop Jo as part of the deal to land the Nigerian International, according to The Sun.



City are believed to have already failed with a £14million offer for Taiwo, but manager Mark Hughes is now ready to include Brazilian International striker Jo in part exchange for the versatile left-sided player as the former Blackburn Rovers boss looks to strengthen the squad at the Eastlands Stadium.

Jo, who was a club record signing before the arrival of Robinho at the Premiership club has failed to impress Hughes since his big-money move from CSKA Moscow, with the Brazilian only finding the net three times in thirteen appearances for the Blues since his move to England. Two of those goals coming against, European minnows Omonia in the UEFA Cup and now looks set to be shown the door by the Blues after just six-months at the club.

Should Taiwo arrive City, Jo’s compatriot Elano’s place could also be under threat, with 23-year-old Taiwo playing on the left and £12million signing from Chelsea, Wayne Bridge likely to occupy the defensive berth. Taiwo is also said to be a free-kick specialist and has been linked with Portsmouth and Sunderland in the past.

Taiwo has been at Marseille since joining from Lobi Stars in 2004 and has made 118 Ligue 1 appearances during his time at the Stade Velodrome, with Taiwo also scoring seven times in his 26 caps for Nigeria.

Hughes Heading For Eastlands Exit As City Move For Mancini?

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Former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini is believed to have held talks with Manchester City after reports in England and Italy claim the Italian has met with officials from the Premier League club.

44-year-old Mancini, who finished his playing career with Leicester City in 2001 is in line to take over from City manager Mark Hughes at the Eastlands Stadium and has allegedly been spotted in a restaurant near his Umbrian home meeting with representatives from City. City’s owners the ADUG want Mancini, who was replaced at the Nerazzurri by Jose Mourinho after winning three consecutive Serie A titles at Inter to bring an international pedigree to the Premier League side.

After a disastrous sequence of results that sees City just two-points off the drop-zone and knocked out of the FA Cup last week 3-0 by Championship club Nottingham Forest at the Eastlands. The ADUG are reportedly ready to axe Hughes and replace him with the former Italian International after just 20 league games in charge of a Blues team, which has blown more cold than hot in recent weeks.

Mancini is said to have been living in London for the past few months to learn the language, with the former Sampdoria and Lazio striker keen to work in the Premier League. The Italian was also believed to have been in the running for the jobs at Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham United last year.

As well as the three Scudetti Mancini won with Milan in his four-years at the San Siro, he also won the Coppa Italia in 2005 and 2006, along the Supercoppa Italiana in the same seasons. With the ADUG seeing Mancini as the right man to realise their ambitions, when they took over at the Eastlands last summer and lead City into the Champions League.

Arsenal, Spurs & City In Hunt For Veloso?

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Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso looks destined for a switch to the Premier League, with Arsenal along with Tottenham Hotspur heavily linked to the Portuguese International last summer.

22-year-old Veloso had reportedly been close to signing for Spurs at the end of last summer, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger also keen to add the holding midfielder to his squad at the Emirates Stadium. Although no move to the Premiership materialised in the summer, Veloso is understood to have fallen out with Sporting coach Paulo Bento, which has fuelled speculation that the midfielder will leave the Leoes.

This will also interest Manchester City, who are eager to add an anchorman to the midfield at the Eastlands and could see Veloso as a better option than West Ham United’s Scott Parker. Arsenal’s need for Veloso has also become greater due to the injury to captain Cesc Fabregas, who will be on the sidelines at the North London club for three-months, with a knee ligament injury.

Spurs are also believed to want to shore up the midfield at White Hart Lane so that manager Harry Redknapp can play Luka Modric in the middle and give the Croatian schemer more licence to get forward. Veloso is also left-footed, which make the Sporting player even more appealing as Redknapp also looks to add balance to the midfield.



Veloso has come through the youth ranks at Sporting and has made over 50 league appearances since making his debut in 2006 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, with the Portuguese side valuing the midfielder at anywhere up to £20million.

AC Milan, Newcastle United, Juventus, Everton and Manchester United have all been linked with Veloso in the past, with it remaining to be seen if the talented young midfielder will indeed end up in the Premier League.

Tevez Casts Major Doubt On United Future

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Carlos Tevez has shrouded more doubt on his future at Manchester United, with the striker claiming that despite wanting to stay at Old Trafford he will quit the club if he has to.

24-year-old Tevez has been at the Premier League Champions since joining from West Ham in 2007, with United now having to pay the agreed £32million for the Argentine International’s registration.

Tevez has come out and refuted Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s comments that the striker had rejected an offer from United, with Tevez dismayed that the saga has already dragged on for a year-and-a-half.

“I didn't like him (Ferguson) saying I didn't like the offer I was made because neither my agent nor me were given one,” Tevez told Radio del Plata.

“I don't know anything on my future. United know what they must pay (£32m) if they want me to stay.

“I want to stay but the club have not made any offer. I've been waiting for them for a year and a half.

"If I have to quit the club, I want to quit on good terms."

Amidst the speculation La Liga giants Real Madrid along with Arsenal and Manchester City have shown an interest in Tevez, with the Argentine claiming that he would sign for another club if they offered him a five-year contract.

“Now all clubs are on an equal footing. If a club comes to me and offers me a five-year deal, I will accept it for peace of mind,” he added.

“I will sign my last contract, and then I figure that I'll go back to Boca (Juniors.) That could be in four or five years.”

“I want everybody to know no offer has been made. I don't like that they are playing with our fans, who show their love to me in each match.”

City On Brink Of £32million Deal For Premiership Trio

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Manchester City are reportedly on the verge of luring Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz along with West Ham United pair Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker to the Eastlands Stadium for a combined fee of £32million, according to The Sun.

City have been heavily linked with all three players in recent weeks, with manager Mark Hughes keen to bolster the squad at City after an indifferent start to the Premier League season, which has seen the Citizens falter in the last couple of months after a bright start to the Premiership campaign.

27-year-old Santa Cruz is understood to be on the brink of a move away from Rovers to City, with the Paraguayan International keen on a reunion with Hughes, who brought him to the Premier League last season from Bayern Munich, while in charge at Ewood Park. A fee in the region of £15million is being mooted for the striker that cost Blackburn just £3.5million in 2007.

Hammers pair Bellamy and Parker are also said to be open to a move away from Upton Park to Man City, with it believed that the pair will move North for a combined fee of £17million. With West Ham already conceding that they are ready to listen to offers for any of their players at the East London club.

The Sun claims that the trio will all complete moves to City by the end of next week as Hughes looks to add quality to the squad at the Eastlands, having already agreed a fee of £12million for left-back Wayne Bridge from Chelsea.

However, City are not likely to finish their spending in January should the three join the North West club, with Arsenal defender Kolo Toure at Arsenal also reportedly a target for Hughes along with another West Ham Player, England International Matthew Upson and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given at Newcastle United.

Allardyce Bracing Himself For Man City Santa Cruz Bid

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New Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has conceded that Rovers are bracing themselves for an offer from Premier League rivals Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz now that the transfer window is open again.

City boss Mark Hughes is keen on a reunion with 27-year-old Santa Cruz, who he signed from Bayern Munich last season while in charge at Ewood Park. The Paraguayan International was a huge success for Blackburn last season, scoring 19 goals in his debut Premiership campaign.

Santa Cruz has expressed his desire to leave Blackburn, with the Eastlands Stadium the most likely destination for the striker. However, despite bids being expected for the Paraguayan, Allardyce has revealed that a concrete offer for Santa Cruz has yet to be made.

“I certainly did not speak to Sparky about him after Sunday’s game. I spoke to the chairman and no one has contacted him about it, he tells me,” Allardyce told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

“As far as we are concerned, there appears to be an interest from Manchester City, but there is there is no actual confirmed bid from them.

“We just continue trying to get him fit as quickly as possible and playing for us.

“It is reasonable to think we would expect to hear from them because Mark Hughes brought him to the club in the first place and he had a very good season and, if he is struggling for a striker, he is bound to be interested.

“But that interest can only be at the right price for Blackburn Rovers if we considered we wanted to sell him.

“At the moment, we have had nothing to consider anyway, so it is not an issue as far as we are concerned.”

Allardyce has also claimed that there will be other clubs apart from Man City interested in Santa Cruz, who is injured with a calf problem, but insisted that his priority is to get the forward fit and playing for Blackburn again.

“He wants to leave. He has said it, hasn’t he? But at the end of the day what he has said is okay, but he has signed a new contract in good faith only two months ago,” he added.

“I have only been here seven or eight days and he has only trained a little bit with us before he pulled his calf muscle, so he has not hung around to see if he likes me or not - he has just said he wants to leave.

“At the moment, it is in their hands to make their first approach. It will be speculated about until January is finished.

“I would probably think that if we considered Santa Cruz might be available then there would be a lot more clubs wanting to buy him than Manchester City.

“At the moment, we are resisting that and just trying to get him fit to play for us and see where we go from there. Gaining fitness is the most important thing as far as we are concerned.”

Arsenal Weigh Up £10million Offer For Diakhate?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is understood to be weighing up a £10million offer for Dynamo Kiev defender Pape Diakhate, should Gunners defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure leave the Emirates Stadium in January, according to The Sun.

24-year-old Senegal International Diakhate is also believed to be a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City and Portsmouth, with the central-defender having attracted the interest of Juventus, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the past, while at Ligue 1 side Nancy.



Gallas’ future is unclear at the Premiership club after criticising his team-mates at the North London recently and being stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal by Wenger. With Toure also keen to leave the Gunners after reportedly also having a bust-up with former Chelsea defender Gallas.

This has led Wenger to sound out Diakhate as a possible replacement at the Emirates after the defender impressed the Frenchman with his displays in the Champions League for Kiev this season. However, Wenger is sure to face competition from Man City boss Mark Hughes, who is desperate to shore up a shaky defence at the Eastlands, while Pompey could also have a say in where Diakhate may end up, should the defender decide to leave the Ukrainian club.

City Tracking Buffon Alternative?

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Manchester City have widened their search for a new goalkeeper at the Premier League club, with it believed that scouts from City were in Spain at the weekend to run the rule over Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez.

27-year-old Lopez has been at Villarreal since joining from La Liga giants Real Madrid in 2007 after failing to dislodge Spain and Los Blancos No1 Iker Casillas from between the posts at the Bernabeu.



City have been strongly linked with a move to bring Italian International Gianluigi Buffon from Juventus to the Eastlands Stadium, with a big-money move being mooted for the Azzurri stopper in January. However, Juve have rejected any talk of Buffon leaving La Vecchia Signora, which has led the Premiership club to Lopez.

Lopez, who is regarded as one of the top keepers in La Liga and is valued at around £28million, has also attracted the attention of several other clubs. Although no firm offer has been made for El Submarino Amarillio keeper, who is under contract at the Estadio El Madrigal until 2014.

City scouts were understood to have watched Lopez in the 2-1 defeat to Primera Division leaders Barcelona over the weekend, with it remaining to be seen if Man City will follow up their interest with an offer for the Spaniard when the transfer window reopens in January.

Chelsea Beat Arsenal & City To Turkish Prodigy

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Chelsea, have beaten Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City to the signature of Turkish starlet Abdulkadir Kayali at MKE Ankaragucu, according to sources in Turkey.

The Gunners along with City are understood to have made offers to bring 17-year-old Kayali to the Premiership, but the midfielder has chosen to continue his football education at Stamford Bridge under the guidance of former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Rather, than the Eastlands or Emirates Stadium, where both Mark Hughes and Arsene Wenger were keen to attract the Turkish Under-17 International.

It is understood that a fee of £1.5million has been agreed between Ankaragucu and Chelsea and that Kayali has signed a five-year deal at the West London club, with the youngster due to join the Blues next month when he turns 18.

City Will Have To Wait For £60million Villa

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Manchester City will have to wait until the end of the season if they wish to add EURO 2008 star David Villa at Valencia to the squad at the Eastlands Stadium, according to reports in Spain.

City are expected to be a major player in the January transfer market, with owner’s the ADUG keen to flex their financial muscle in order to turn the Premier League club into a real force in European football.

Blues manager Mark Hughes is eager to use some of that wealth to attract a striker of proven world-class quality to the Premiership side, with 27-year-old Villa being heavily linked with a world record transfer of £60million from the Mestalla to the Eastlands next month.

However, the Spanish media are reporting that Los Che, despite rumours of serious financial trouble at the La Liga club want to hold on to Villa until the end of the season. Meaning City would have to wait to sign the prolific striker, who was the top-scorer at EURO 2008 in the summer.

Spanish International Villa has been at Valencia since joining from Real Zaragoza in 2005 and has scored an impressive 82 goals in 146 appearances for Valencia, with the striker also finding the net 24 times in 41 caps for Spain. Making Villa one of the hottest properties in European football.

Sevilla To Reject £25million Man City Offer For Fabiano

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Manchester City have been told by La Liga side Sevilla that striker Luis Fabiano will not be allowed to leave the Rojiblancos in January, with the Premier League club reportedly planning a £25million swoop for the Brazilian International next month, when the transfer window reopens.

City, who are expected to be one of the major players in the transfer market in January after the takeover by the wealthy ADUG in the summer have made an approach for 28-year-old Fabiano, according to his agent Jose Fuentes.

Fuentes was quoted saying in the Daily Star recently, “Manchester City have asked about Fabiano but that is not unique because they are just one of many.

“The final decision lays with Seville and I still have to speak to the club's directors.”

However, Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has ruled out the possibility of Fabiano leaving the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan for the Eastlands Stadium in January. With del Nido insisting that while the Sevillistas are still involved in all the major competitions it woild damage the team if Fabiano was to leave for the Premiership.

“We have already discarded this opportunity because we feel that it will damage the team,” del Nido is quoted as saying in the Daily Star.

“We are involved in a lot of competitions and at the moment we do not want to lose such an important player. We are not interested in the money. I will not change my mind.”

Fabiano arrived at Sevilla from Porto in 2005 and has scored 64 goals in 131 appearances in all competitions for the Spanish side, with the striker also finding the net 14 times in 23 caps for Brazil.

Man City v Everton Premier League Preview: Have The Toffees Got The Firepower To Inflict More Woe On City?

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Manchester City, play David Moyes’ Everton in the Premier League at the Eastlands Stadium on Saturday.

Manchester City despite their riches find themselves just 3 points off the drop-zone and go into this clash with Everton on the back of a dismal run of form, which has seen the Blues win just once in the last 7 Premiership matches and slide down the Premier League table. City have yet to draw a match at the Eastlands this season, winning 4 and losing 4 of 8 games at home so far, with their last win the 3-0 defeat of Arsenal at the Eastlands. Something manager Mark Hughes will hope to rectify against Everton on Saturday.

The Toffees have been superb on their travels away from Goodison Park this season, with Everton only losing twice, while winning five and drawing the other of their 8 away games. It is Everton’s home form that will worry Moyes, with the Merseyside club only managing to win once at home so far this season, but for their poor form at Goodison, where they lost 3-2 to Aston Villa last week, Everton could have found themselves higher in the table than the 8th place they occupy now.

Hughes expects to have British record signing Robinho available for the clash with Everton, with the Brazilian expected to recover from a sprained ankle, but the visit of the Toffees could come to soon for compatriot Elano (groin) and Gelson Fernandes, who is still struggling with a hamstring injury. Michael Johnson (groin) Martin Petrov (knee) and Valeri Bojinov (calf), will all miss the clash with Moyes’ side.

Everton have a striker crisis at Goodison Park, with Yakubu (calf), and James Vaughan (knee) both ruled out. Summer signing Louis Saha is still struggling with a hamstring injury, but Moyes could be tempted to name him on the bench due to the lack of strikers available to the Toffees. Defenders Tony Hibbert (groin), Lars Jacobson (shoulder) and Nuno Valente (knee), will all miss the trip to City.

Manchester City: (from) Hart, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Jo, Vassell, Schmeichel, Mills, Caceido, Hamann, Evans, Castillo, Ben Haim, Benjani, Sturridge, Etuhu, Logan, Kompany, Glauber

Everton: (from) Howard, Lescott, Jagielka, Yobo, Baines, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Saha, Arteta, Turner, Cahill, Neville, Pienaar, Osman, Nash, Fellaini, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Anichebe, Ruddy, Gosling, Kissock, Baxter, Irving, Agard, Wallace

Can Wigan Keep Hold Of Zaki In January?

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The New Voice Of Football column at FootballFancast.com

With Real Madrid and Chelsea circling Wigan Athletic striker Amr Zaki. Can Latics boss Steve Bruce hold on to the Egyptian International in January if the big clubs come calling?

Since 25-year-old Zaki arrived at the JJB Stadium in the summer on a season-long loan. As a relative unknown from Egyptian side El Zamalek and took the Premier League by storm, with his all-action style and goals in the early part of the campaign. Speculation has grown that the former Lokomotiv Moscow forward will be snapped up by one of the big European sides next month.

While, Bruce insisted today that all the talk has become repetitive and boring and that Zaki belongs to Wigan for the season. Can he really do anything to stop it should Zamalek decide to sell the Egyptian from under his nose?

"It does become a bit repetitive and boring," Bruce said.

"It is Chelsea this week, Real Madrid last week, Liverpool the week before, Man City before that. I think the whole thing needs to be addressed really.

"He is ours for the rest of the season.”

After all Zamalek’s main purpose in loaning Zaki to Wigan and not sell him outright in the first place, was to raise both his profile and price tag. Which, has now happened. So should Los Merengues or the Blues, City or anyone else for that matter turn up at the door of the Egyptian club, with a wheelbarrow full of cash in January? How much thought will be given to the fact that they have an agreement with Wigan until the end of the season?

Yes, Wigan will be compensated in some sort of way, but Bruce didn’t even negotiate the option to be at the front of the queue to buy Zaki should he want him as a permanent fixture at the JJB come May next year.

Now I may be wrong here, but I can’t find anything in the rules, which prevents Zamalek recalling Zaki and selling him to another club. After all Zamalek are the club that own his registration and not Wigan. So from where I’m standing Bruce can huff and puff all he likes, but the fact remains that Zaki is not his player and by the looks of it never will be. Which means that by not having that first option to buy Zaki, Bruce saw the move as taking a punt. Something, that is now surely going to backfire on him.

City To Swoop For Arsenal Legend Henry?

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Manchester City, are considering a bid to bring Arsenal legend Thierry Henry back to the Premier League from La Liga giants Barcelona, according to the Daily Mail.

31-year-old Henry, who left the Emirates Stadium for the Nou Camp in 2007 as the Gunners record goal-scorer, with 226 in 369 appearances in all competitions for the North London club had been linked with a move to City’s rivals, Premiership Champions Manchester United in the summer.

However, United chose to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur and French International Henry remained at the Blaugrana, where after a slow start in his debut season in La Liga he is now a pivotal figure in Pep Guardiola’s team, who are currently top of La Liga.

Henry, who scored a hat-trick at the weekend in the 4-0 destruction of Valencia is understood to be open to a return to England, with City backed by the wealth of owner’s the ADUG prepared offer the striker a mega-deal in personal terms in order to lure the forward to the Eastlands.

While, Barca will be reluctant to let Henry leave the Catalan club it is understood that Henry is unhappy at the racist taunts himself and Cameroon International Samuel Eto’o suffer in away games and this could be enough to see the former AS Monaco striker quit the Nou Camp and return to England, with City.

Arsenal & Man City Set To Lose Out On Huntelaar To Real Madrid

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Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City look set to miss out on Dutch International Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after his present club Ajax confirmed that talks are already underway with La Liga Champions Real Madrid about a proposed switch to the Bernabeu in January.

25-year-old Huntelaar opted to stay at the Amsterdam Arena over the summer, despite being heavily linked with a host of top European sides. However, Huntelaar has not signed a new deal with Ajax and recent reports have claimed that the Dutch club are actively looking for a replacement after resigning themselves to losing Huntelaar in the January transfer window.

Despite being heavily linked with City and the Gunners, Ajax have now revealed that talks with Los Merengues have started although no deal has been agreed yet with the Spanish side for the Dutchman.

A statement read: “Ajax are in talks with Real Madrid over the possible sale of Klaas Jan Huntelaar to the Spanish club.

“However no deal has been agreed at the moment.”

Huntelaar has been at Ajax since his move from SC Heerenveen in 2005 and has scored an incredible 75 goals in 90 league appearances during his time at the Amsterdam Arena, making the striker one of the most sought after players in Europe.

Spurs, Man City & Everton To Miss Out On German International

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Premier League clubs Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are set to lose out in the race for German International Lukas Podolski at Bayern Munich after the Bundesliga giants revealed that the striker will return to former club Cologne at the end of the season.

Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for 23-year-old Podolski since the summer, while City manager Mark Hughes is reportedly keen to bring Polish-born Podolski to the Eastlands Stadium during the transfer window.

Toffees manager David Moyes is desperate to sign a striker in January, with James Vaughan out with a long-term knee injury and Nigerian International Yakubu ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up an achilles injury in the 1-0 Premiership win against Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Podolski, despite being a regular for the German national team has found limited opportunities this season under coach Jurgen Klinsman, who has preferred to play Miroslav Klose and Italian Luca Toni upfront for the Bundesliga club.

However, Podolski looks set to leave the Allianz Arena for Cologne, who he left for Bayern in 2006, with his former club having first option on the forward should he be allowed to leave the Munich side.

This has been confirmed by Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness, who has revealed that Bayern,will accommodate Podolski’s wish to leave the Allianz Arena, however this would depend on Klinsman finding a replacement for the striker.

Hoeness said: “We think we can fulfil his wish to go back to Cologne.”

Liverpool & Man City To Join Spurs In Race For Boro's Downing?

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Manchester City and Liverpool are set to join Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the signature of England International winger Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to reports.

Spurs have been continuously linked with a move to bring24-year-old Downing to White Hart Lane over the past couple of seasons. With Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said to be a big admirer of the left-sided player.

Now reports have suggested that Reds boss Rafa Benitez along with City chief Mark Hughes are also interested in signing Downing from Boro in January and are both prepared to meet Middlesbrough’s £12million valuation of the player.

Hughes is desperate for a left-sided player at the Eastlands Stadium due to the long-term injury to Martin Petrov and has identified Downing as the ideal replacement for the Bulgarian International. Money will be no object for the Blues, should a bidding war commence between the three Premier League clubs in January for the midfielder.

Liverpool on the other hand are widely known to have to sell before Benitez can bring in fresh faces to Anfield, which could leave them trailing in any race for Downing to City or Tottenham. However, the Merseyside club could offer some sort of swap-deal plus cash for Downing, with Yossi Beneyoun and Jermaine Pennant believed to be surplus to requirements at the Premiership club.

Boro manager Gareth Southgate is keen to keep Downing, who recently signed a new five-year deal at the Riverside Stadium. Should a bidding war start for the winger it might be hard for board at the North East club to resist a big-money offer for Downing, who has been at Middlesbrough since 2001.