CITY BOLLOX
Manchester City have joined the chase for Wolfsburg's highly rated Bosnia international striker Edin Dzeko.
Daily Mail
Man City launch mega-bucks raid for four La Liga stars
Manchester City have launched a daring swoop for David Silva and three other La Liga stars.
City chief executive Garry Cook met Valencia president Manuel Llorente in Spain last night to discuss Silva after earlier holding talks with Real Madrid about Gonzalo Higuain, Rafael van der Vaart and Fernando Gago.
Cook told Llorente that City were determined to sign the £25million-rated Silva, who has also been a target for Manchester United and Liverpool.
In a sign of City's vast spending power, he also met Real's director general Jorge Valdano and sporting director Miguel Pardeza to discuss Higuain, Van der Vaart and Gago.
Real are open to offers for the trio to help fund Jose Mourinho's raid on the Premier League for Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard.
City nearly signed midfield hardman Gago in January and have also been monitoring striker Higuain, who was Real's top scorer in La Liga last season and who is in a contract dispute with the Spanish giants.
They have now added Van der Vaart to their shopping list, who is also on Sir Alex Ferguson's radar, and the Dutch playmaker is not see as part of Real's future.
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.wsn.com/blog/2010/03/19/wag- ... na-de-pin/
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool are considering an £8m move for Atletico Madrid's Portuguese winger Simao as boss Rafael Benitez continues his search for a left winger. Daily Star
Everton boss David Moyes has swooped for Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford and will make him his first signing of the summer.Daily Mirror
Jose Mourinho has pinpointed Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole as the type of signings he would like to make at Real Madrid, causing consternation in the boardrooms of Liverpool and Chelsea. The Guardian
West Ham have made a £3m offer for Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne, who spent a year-long loan at Portsmouth last season.Daily Mail
Wolves are closing in on a £7m deal for Burnley striker Steven Fletcher. Daily Mail
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has approached his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger about the possibility of midfielder Jack Wilshere returning on loan next season. Daily Mail
Defender Mario Melchiot is set to join Qatari club Umm Salal. The Wigan skipper, 33, is out of contract and will sign a lucrative deal in the Gulf. The Sun
OTHER BOLLOX
England have suffered a World Cup injury scare after Steven Gerrard limped out of a training session, with the Liverpool midfielder requiring 20 minutes of treatment on his right calf after he pulled up sharply.
Daily Mail
England manager Fabio Capello says Argentina are the team he fears most in the World Cup, claiming they are the team with the most talented players. Daily Mirror
Capello has also warned his England team not to rely on Wayne Rooney in South Africa. Daily Star
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is sure David Beckham can still be England's secret World Cup weapon - despite injury ruling the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder out of the tournament.
Daily Star
Capello believes Gareth Barry is recovering more quickly than expected from an ankle injury and is inclined to include the holding midfielder in his squad.
The Guardian
Manchester United chief executive David Gill has described the United fans driving the 'green and gold' protest against the Glazer family ownership as "a minority" and suggested that many people who wear the scarves do not even understand the nature of their own protest.The Independent
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has revealed to friends he made up his mind to quit after a bust-up surrounding Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood. Daily Mirror
The United States's football team have visited the White House for an official World Cup send-off from President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton ahead of their flight to South Africa on Sunday.
The Sun
Scotland manager Craig Levein wants England to win the World Cup, claiming it will be "good for Scotland".
The Sun