Tuesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Manchester City Begin Negotiations to Bring £18m Italian Striker to Eastlands
Perennially sulky Italian teenager Mario Balotelli is reportedly in negotiations with Manchester City over a move to the Premier League. Sources in Italy have suggested that whilst the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United and a host of others have been linked with a move for the Inter Milan forward, Roberto Mancini has been working behind the scenes to bring his former player to the Emirates.
Balotelli has fallen out with San Siro boss Jose Mourinho as well as a number of his own teammates and is apparently ready to leave Serie A for a new challenge and as a result a move to England has become a much speculated possibility. The Italian Under 21 international has undoubted talent but has some temperamental issues that seem to plague his progress.
Mourinho doesn’t feel the youngster is ready to play a pivotal role for the domestic champions and prefers to use him sparingly until he is ready to shoulder the responsibility of a bigger role at the club, clearly ‘Super Mario’ feels that he is ready now and is unhappy with having to wait around to establish himself as a first team regular.
19 year old Balotelli has started just 15 games in all competitions this term but has still managed to weigh in with nine goals but has found it increasingly hard to get a game since the arrival of Diego Milito from Genoa in the summer.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Arsenal are on the trail of £10m-rated Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega with Latics boss Roberto Martinez already lining up Espanyol forward Jose Callejon as a replacement.The Sun

Juventus are lining up a £12m bid for Tottenham's Wales international full-back Gareth Bale in the summer. caughtoffside.com

AC Milan are set to beat Manchester United to the signing of France international forward Karim Benzema by offering Real Madrid a swap deal involving Brazilian striker Pato. imscouting.com

Midfielder Boudewijn Zenden is not sure that he has done enough to earn a new Sunderland contract, despite his spectacular volleyed goal against Tottenham on Saturday. Daily Star

Martin O'Neill is planning to offer Tottenham £11m for striker Robbie Keane, who is currently on loan at the Aston Villa manager's former club Celtic. caughtoffside.com

Arsenal are monitoring Paris St Germain midfielder Clement Chantome after the 22-year-old voiced his dissatisfaction with life at the Ligue 1 side. (Daily Mirror)

Major League Soccer chiefs are hoping to tempt a raft of French stars to bring their careers to a lucrative end in the United States' domestic league. Barcelona forward Thierry Henry, Villareal midfielder Robert Pires and Manchester City anchorman Patrick Vieira will all be approached.imscouting.com

Former Rangers player John Brown has urged Gers full-back Danny Wilson to resist a move to Liverpool or Tottenham to stay at Ibrox. (Daily Record)

WAG OF THE DAY
http://images.football.co.uk/Dynamic/Gr ... 239f32.jpg

OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says that midfielder Joe Cole will "definitely" sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge. The Sun

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan left out Gary O'Neil of Monday's night match against Plymouth with the midfielder one match away from triggering a £1m payment to former club Portsmouth.Daily Star

Fabio Capello has been reassured that Manchester United will not play Wayne Rooney against Bayern Munich if there is any risk to his long-term fitness. Daily Mail

Manager Arsene Wenger will include Sol Campbell in the heart of his Arsenal defence for their Champions League second-leg quarter-final match against Barcelona. The Sun

Bayern Munich are set to welcome back winger Arjen Robben and defender Daniel van Buyten from injury for Wednesday's trip to Old Trafford. The Sun

Liverpool are the underdogs in the race for fourth place in the Premier League and Champions League qualification, according to captain Steven Gerrard. The Guardian

Gianfranco Zola has invoked Bill Shankly's famous line about football being "more important than life or death" as he tries to inspire West Ham for their fight against the drop. Daily Mail

Iran's girls' football team have been ejected from the Youth Olympic Games because Fifa rules prevent players wearing Islamic headscarves. Herald Sun

[sweenyuk]

Balotelli has fallen out with San Siro boss Jose Mourinho

Is this signing aimed at stoping the Morinhio for City rumours..?? or is it all just bollox anyway..??

[Vhero]

Hmm MLS signing a bunch of French players?? Trying to get Canadians watching or something?

[kinkylola]

Hmm MLS signing a bunch of French players?? Trying to get Canadians watching or something?

that's why they gave toronto a team ...

they want to sign old retiring big names because it brings in more fans who may only know a big name, or have heard the name in the past. It's a good way to bring in new fans ... but obviously not long-term sustainable.

[JamieMCFC]

Hmm MLS signing a bunch of French players?? Trying to get Canadians watching or something?

that's why they gave toronto a team ...

they want to sign old retiring big names because it brings in more fans who may only know a big name, or have heard the name in the past. It's a good way to bring in new fans ... but obviously not long-term sustainable.

Don't forget about Vancouver having a team starting in 2011 and possibly Montreal being awarded a spot.

[ryanmjo]

As an American, I'm bewildered by the Vieira to MLS rumors. I don't think he would be a good fit for the league.

[Blue in the face]

Sources in Italy have suggested that whilst the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U***d and a host of others have been linked with a move for the Inter Milan forward, Roberto Mancini has been working behind the scenes to bring his former player to the Emirates.

When did Mancio go there?

[Blue Since 76]

Sources in Italy have suggested that whilst the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U***d and a host of others have been linked with a move for the Inter Milan forward, Roberto Mancini has been working behind the scenes to bring his former player to the Emirates.

When did Mancio go there?

He can play alongside Vieira in the team of the week.

Perhaps we were so good on Saturday, everyone assumes it was Arsenal. Knew the black shirts were a mistake