Cheers Crossie was just about to ... cheers for yesterday as well Jimbo
B*ll*x supplements.Stephen Ireland has told Manchester City he wants to leave the club.
The Irish midfielder asked to be put on the transfer list when he met City officials during the week to discuss his future after a nightmare season at Eastlands.
City now expect Ireland to put his request in writing after he explained that he feels that only a move away from the Blues will enable him to resurrect his career.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a big admirer of the 23-year-old, while Liverpool have also been monitoring him.
WAG OF THE DAYhttp://www.footballtransfertavern.com/p ... tin-lovely Man City want £25million for flop RobinhoManchester City are hoping Robinho has an outstanding World Cup so they can finally ditch their temperamental £32.5million signing.
Robinho has again restated his intention not to return to City next season after being allowed to join former club Santos on loan in January.
And the Brazilian will be told that the feeling is mutual – but that City are unwilling to write off the British-record fee they paid Real Madrid to land him in August 2008.
City want to recoup at least £25million for Robinho after ruling out extending his loan at Santos unless the Sao Paulo club come up with a significant fee that will enable it to happen.
A City insider said: “If any club shows an interest in Robinho at the right price then he will be sold.
“He wants to leave and you can be sure that the club won’t stand in his way.
“But we did make a significant investment in the player two years ago and we would want a significant amount of money back.
“Our hope is that he puts himself in the shop window by having a good World Cup for Brazil.”
Richards off to Scouse 1 for £12
Rafa Benitez is looking to make a summer move for Manchester City defender Micah Richards. The Liverpool boss is hoping to bring in the 21 year old by offering him the carrot of regular first team football and a way back into the England set up.
The Anfield manager is hoping to get a cash injection this summer to help bring in new additions but given the precarious financial state the Merseyside club finds itself in Rafa may have to sell before he can buy. Micah Richards has found his first team chances limited of late and as a result has fallen down Fabio Capello’s pecking order.
Even though Liverpool did not manage to secure a Champions League spot the chance of a move to Anfield and the chance to re-ignite his career may tempt Richards who can usefully play effectively both at right back and in the centre of defence and for that reason Benitez considers him one of his top summer targets.
The likes of Albert Rieira, Philipp Degen and Yossi Benayoun may be offloaded in order to garner the funds for new signings such as Micah Richards.
Some lively debate on this:
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2010/05/22 ... ards-move/Manchester City want Mikel Arteta Roberto Mancini lines up £20m bid for Everton star and new move for Aston Villa winger James
City’s interest in the 28-year-old former Barcelona trainee is in addition to their hopes of landing Aston Villa’s James Milner.
They will face competition for the Spanish midfielder from Arsenal, who regard him as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas, now looking certain to return to the Nou Camp.
Manchester United are also monitoring Arteta, who has developed into one of the Premier League’s hottest properties.
Arteta’s agent insists he is happy on Merseyside and Everton will resist all attempts to poach one of their key assets.
Any transfer saga will also conjure up memories of last summer’s battle over England defender Joleon Lescott.
Everton twice rejected approaches from City for Lescott, who eventually made a transfer request. Finally, following a war of words between Everton boss David Moyes and his opposite number Mark Hughes, Lescott signed for £24m.
There is also no love lost between Moyes and Roberto Mancini, Hughes’ successor.
Mancini was given a £20,000 suspended fine by the FA following a touchline clash with Moyes during a 2-0 defeat by Everton at Eastlands in March.
Round two: Roberto Mancini and David Moyes could clash again - this time over transfers
Arteta, who still has two years left on his contract at Goodison Park, has blossomed after a slow start to his career which included indifferent spells with Rangers and Real Sociedad.
Moyes signed him for a bargain £2m from Sociedad five years ago and he was an ever-present in the Everton midfield until a knee ligament injury sustained in February 2009 forced him to miss last year’s FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea and kept him out of action for 11 months.
His return in January coincided with Everton’s late charge for a Europa League place — only Chelsea secured more points over the second half of the campaign.
Moyes is faced with having to better his achievement in finishing eighth in the Premier League with little financial backing.
Although some cash is available, the Everton boss will have to generate most of any spending money by selling the likes of Arteta.
City, meanwhile, are determined to press ahead in their pursuit of Milner and are prepared to offer Villa a choice of four players plus £20m for the 24-year-old.
The mega-rich Eastlands club have already seen a £20m cash offer for the England star rejected by Villa, but plan to tempt them by throwing in either Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, Micah Richards or Nedum Onuoha.
City are expected to bid again next week with Mancini desperate to tie up the transfer before the World Cup, but could still face competition from United and Chelsea, who can offer Champions League football next season.
SUNDERLAND LEAD CHASE FOR ONUOHA SUNDERLAND have moved ahead of Aston Villa and Newcastle in the hunt for want-away Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
The former England under-21 international has made no secret of his desire to leave Eastlands and burned his bridges with a televised outburst against City manager Roberto Mancini last weekend.
Onuoha, 23, signed a new five-year deal only last year after coming through the club's respected academy.
But he is now surplus to requirements and could be available for as little as £3million as City prepare for a host of comings and goings this summer.
MOYES JOINS PURSUIT OF BELLAMY Bad relations won't deter bid
Everton have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Craig Bellamy from Manchester City.
Toffees boss David Moyes is a huge admirer of Bellamy and knows the former West Ham player would prefer to stay in the north-west rather than return to London.
The Wales captain fears he will be forced out of Eastlands this summer after a series of fall-outs with City's Italian boss Roberto Mancini.
City want around £10million for the livewire 30-year-old, but relations between them and Everton soured last season.
Moyes was furious at City's handling of their bid for Joleon Lescott and he went toe-to-toe with Mancini during a fiery encounter at Eastlands.
City chief executive Garry Cook was later forced to apologise to Everton officials in a bid to restore harmony between the two clubs.
The ill feeling could make a deal for Bellamy difficult to conclude, but it won't stop Moyes' pursuit.
