Tuesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Manchester City attempt to bring Joe Hart back from loan at Birmingham
Injury to Shay Given prompts special goalkeeping request
• Birmingham vice-chairman would look 'favourably' on approach
Joe Hart has forced his way into the England squad and was named in the PFA's team of the year. Manchester City are trying to persuade Birmingham City to allow Joe Hart to return to Eastlands for the final three games of the season after requesting special permission from the Premier League to help them out of a goalkeeping crisis.
Hart is on a season-long loan at St Andrew's but Birmingham's vice-chairman, Peter Pannu, said tonight he would "consider it favourably" even though the manager, Alex McLeish, has made it clear he is against the idea.
Pannu said: "I understand their [Manchester City's] concerns. I am very sympathetic to City and if I was Garry Cook [City's chief executive] I would already have been on the phone."
Contingency plans have been put in place, with Manchester City's football administrator, Brian Marwood, contacting Sunderland earlier in the day to ask about the availability of the Hungary international Marton Fulop. The 26-year-old Fulop has not only lost his place to Craig Gordon but is now third choice behind Trevor Carson. It is understood his relationship with the manager, Steve Bruce, has been strained.
Roberto Mancini, trying to steer City to the fourth Champions League qualification place, needs a replacement for Shay Given after the Republic of Ireland international dislocated a shoulder in Saturday's goalless draw at Arsenal. Two of Given's understudies, Stuart Taylor and David Gonzalez, are also injured.
The third-choice goalkeeper, Gunnar Nielsen, a 23-year-old Faroe Islands international, is available but the next option is a 16-year-old academy player, Loris Karius. The club supplied medical statements to the Premier League today to request an emergency loan.
The officials discussing the application have agreed that City meet the criteria, namely having no established first-team goalkeeping cover, and the club hope to be given official approval tomorrow.
Hart, voted into the Professional Footballers' Association's team of the year, has one England cap and also forced his way into the squad this season. It is likely City would have to pay a one-off fee to Birmingham. Alternatively, a deal may be reached whereby Hart goes back to Eastlands but Birmingham are guaranteed he will return to St Andrew's for next season.
The complex nature of the negotiations is not helped by the fact McLeish has already gone on record to say he would rather keep Hart for Birmingham's final two games, with the Midlands club on course for their best finish since 1959. However, Pannu said: "We have a great relationship with City and I will consider it [the approach] favourably because Joe has done a great job."
Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, City's main rivals, are monitoring the situation closely. Neither club have raised any objections with the Premier Premier League
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HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is apparently considering a move for Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz. The Eastlands man has failed to push his way into the first team picture at Eastlands and could well be on his way out in the summer and the Emirates manager is apparently monitoring the situation with great interest.
Wenger showed interest in the 28 year old before he moved from Blackburn in the summer and may attempt to pull off something of a coup by making a bid for the rangy well built forward. Roque Santa Cruz has managed just five Premier League starts this season and seems unable to break past Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor into the starting eleven.
After two successful years at Ewood Park the former Bayern Munich man had proven his ability to perform in the Premier League and will be very disheartened by the manner in which he has been treated by Roberto Mancini. However the Italian clearly has a successful pairing to call upon and is therefore stuck with a highly talented front man he simply can not find room for.
The £17.5m arrival is one of many City players reportedly set for an Eastlands exit in the summer and a number of sides are looking to pick up some real bargains and Wenger clearly feels that Santa Cruz could offer his side a new dimension and a vastly experienced performer such as the Paraguayan could be a great player to have in his armoury.

Tottenham Ready to Make Ambitious Bid for £23m Premier League Pair
Redknapp Wants Man City Duo Bellamy and Richards
Harry Redknapp hopes to complete an audacious double swoop for Man City pair Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards this summer. The Tottenham boss believes that if Champions League football is secured then the White Hart Lane outfit could persuade the Eastlands duo to make the move to London.
Welsh international Bellamy has apparently had a few run ins with new Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini and the 30 year old could be allowed to leave in the summer as the City boss looks to bring in new additions. Redknapp is known to be a fan of the former Liverpool and West Ham man and the fact that he can be used in a number of attacking positions appeals to the Spurs boss.
Micah Richards is by no means a first choice at Manchester City and also expressed his disappointment when Mark Hughes was sacked earlier in the season and the England international has struggled to hit the highs he reached earlier in his career when under Sven Goran Eriksson he became a regular in the international set-up.
The White Hart boss hopes that Daniel Levy will stump up the cash for such signings if indeed the north London club grabs that all important top four spot.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is planning a radical shake-up at Upton Park after conceding the club will listen to offers for any player except Scott Parker. "Other than Parker, there is not a player we wouldn't sell if it was the right bid," confirmed Sullivan. Daily Mirror

Aston Villa will be the first to test out West Ham's willingness to sell with a £10m bid for England striker Carlton Cole. Daily Mail

West Ham have also bid £4m for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans as they begin their squad overhaul. Daily Mirror

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to let up to 10 of his players go as he makes way for a new wave of signings at Wanderers. Record buy Johan Elmander is likely to be among those who squeezed out by fresh faces. Daily Mirror

Liverpool are set to sign Swedish teenage forward Kristoffer Peterson from Savedalens IF after the 15-year-old impressed on trial. Daily Mail

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona are lining up a shock bid for Newcastle defender Stephen Taylor, with Carlos Puyol heading to St James' Park in return.imscouting.com

Real Madrid's veteran midfielder Guti has reportedly signed a deal to play in Dubai, ending rumours that he could join Tottenham this summer. imscouting.com

Wolves are chasing £3m-rated Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard. Daily Mail

OTHER BOLLOX
Ex-Everton striker Wayne Rooney is asking Liverpool to do his Manchester United side a favour when Rafael Benitez's side face Chelsea as the Red Devils look to seal a a record 19th top-flight title. United currently trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by a point, with two games left to play. Times

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has emerged as a leading contender to replace Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. The Israeli heads a shortlist, which also includes Ajax manager Martin Jol, FC Twente's former England boss Steve McClaren and ex-Hammers defender Slaven Bilic, now in charge of Croatia. Daily Mirror

Crisis club Hull are going to ask their players to take a 40 per cent pay-cut in a desperate bid to save money and avoid administration. The Tigers were relegated to the Championship last week and are reportedly £35m in debt. Daily Mirror

Hull chairman Adam Pearson has revealed that the Tiger's goal-shy strikers have cost the club a whopping £901,875 a goal this season. Pearson admitted the club are spending £195,000 a week on strikers, which in total this campaign has cost them £7.215m for a return of eight goals. The Sun