OFFICIAL BOLLOX ROUND UP
It is hardly surprising that Rio Ferdinand’s knee - and the captaincy of the England team - is the centre of attention in the papers this morning.
There is not much space left for anything else save fillers and these have a tired old look about them.
The Telegraph and the Sun, for instance, continue to go around in circles over the future of James Milner with the broadsheet reckoning the following:
‘City are preparing to make a renewed attempt to lure James Milner from Aston Villa when the midfielder returns from World Cup duty with England.
‘Although Villa rejected a £20million offer from City for the 24-year-old last month the Eastlands club are keen to secure at least one major signing before flying to the United States on their pre-season tour’.
Martin Blackburn in the Sun has taken the same tack but spiced things up a bit along the way by throwing Yaya Toure into the mix too.
‘Manchester City are poised to renew their interest in James Milner as soon as his World Cup is over,’ he writes echoing the previous article.
‘Roberto Mancini wants the Aston Villa star, 24, alongside Barcelona’s Yaya Toure in a new look midfield next season. City were interested to hear that Milner had talks with Villa boss Martin O’Neill earlier this week.’
If that isn’t a familiar enough story for City fans then the Mail is the place to head where Rafa Benitez’ departure has prompted Chris Wheeler in an ‘exclusive’ to link City with Fernando Torres for the umpteenth time this summer.
‘Chelsea will exploit the turmoil at Liverpool by launching a sustained bid to sign Fernando Torres in a British record transfer this summer,’ he reckons. ‘As revealed in Sportsmail last month Roman Abramovich is ready to lock horns with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour in a deal that could reach £70million.’
Last month? Hardly an exclusive then!
Elsewhere, The Independent has an interesting piece about African players making it to the top of the game against all odds and includes profiles of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure while the Guardian and the Mirror stress that Gareth Barry will not be rushed back into action. Vladimir Weiss and Carlos Tevez appear in the Sun’s World Cup coverage.
Expect more of the same but in larger quantities tomorrow!
Milner deal back on
MANCHESTER CITY are poised to renew their interest in James Milner as soon as his World Cup is over.
Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini wants the Aston Villa star, 24, alongside Barcelona's Yaya Toure in a new-look midfield next season.
City were interested to hear that Milner had talks with Villa boss Martin O'Neill earlier this week.
And the fact Villa have placed a £30million tag on his head is unlikely to deter City's moneybags owners.
Rivals Manchester United are also interested but City are confident they will be able to secure the services of the former Newcastle favourite.
City have also been keeping a close eye on talks between Toure - brother of their captain Kolo - and Barca.
Sources at the Premier League club have denied they have already struck a deal for the Ivory Coast ace, 27.
But Mancini has been keen on Yaya since he arrived at Eastlands in December and that has not changed.
Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a move for Anderlecht midfielder Mbark Boussoufa IF they lose Milner.
But O'Neill's men would face stiff competition from Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen for the £10m-rated Morocco international, 25, who has been player of the year in Belgium for the past two seasons.
Barcelona join Arsenal & Manchester City in race for Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel
Barcelona are understood to be keeping tabs on Ajax star Gregory van der Wiel, according to Sport.
The 22-year-old defender is believed to be Barca's prime target as they look for back-up for Brazilian defender Daniel Alves, but had also been on the radar of Arsenal and Manchester City.
While he is under contract with the Amsterdam outfit until 2013, it is claimed that Ajax officials may be willing to cash in on the youngster for a fee of between £8-10 million [€10-12m]
While that figure would be outside of Barcelona's propsed expenditure for a back-up player, El Mundo Deportivo suggests that the Blaugrana are preparing to make a bid of between £4-5m [€5-6m] for the talented right back after the World Cup finals.
Barca are reportedly keen to have two options at right-back as they currently have at left back with Maxwell and Eric Abidal vying for the one place.
Manchester City deny bidding for Lazio's Zarate and Kolarov
Manchester City, inevitably linked with every available player under the sun, have denied bidding for Lazio’s Mauro Zarate or Aleksandar Kolarov .
“We made no offer for Mauro Zarate or Aleksandar Kolarov ,” Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini told the Italian Radio Incontro.
“The fact is that now City are regularly linked with any player on the market,” he continued. “Perhaps people want to use us to raise their price-tag.”
“At the moment there is nothing in it,” added the Italian. “Kolarov is a great player, but for now we’re now looking at other goals.”
Mancini said that despite his poor form last season, Argentine Zarate was an excellent player,” but stressed that “for Zarate, as with Kolarov, we have made no offer, nor contacted the club.”
Serbian left-back Kolarov, recently linked with Inter Milan and Real Madrid , scored four goals and chipped in with two assists in 38 appearances for the Rome side last season, while striker Zarate scored seven in 39 games, providing four assists.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea believe the turmoil at Liverpool means the Anfield outfit will be unable to resist their £70m bid for striker Fernando Torres. They are ready to fight Manchester City for the Spaniard by breaking the British transfer record. Daily Mail
Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is hoping to tempt former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard to join him at the Bernabeu. The Sun
Arsenal are standing firm over Barcelona's attempt to sign captain Cesc Fabregas. The Gunners say they will not do business at any price, having earlier rejected a £30m bid from the Spanish giants for the midfielder. Daily Mirror
Despite Arsenal's defiance, Barcelona intend to go back to the Gunners with an improved offer for the Spanish midfielder. The Sun
And Barcelona's president Joan Laporta has urged Arsenal to let Fabregas join the Catalan club this summer. The Independent
However, would-be Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says the club will not be held to ransom despite their desire to sign Fabregas. IMScouting
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain has snubbed a move to England by signing a new deal with Real Madrid. Arsenal and Chelsea were said to be tracking the 22-year-old. The Sun
Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan is fully focused on the World Cup with Uruguay despite the interest shown in him by Tottenham. The Independent
Manchester United are considering a £25m offer for Wolfsburg's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. caughtoffside
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is preparing a £4m bid for Middlesbrough defender David Wheater, who is out of contract at the Riverside at the end of next season. Daily Mail
Celtic have rejected an official approach from Spartak Moscow for winger Aiden McGeady who are believed to be preparing an £8.3m offer for the Irishman. Daily Mail
Aston Villa are lining a £9m offer for Wolves striker Kevin Doyle. caughtoffside
Portsmouth's Algeria World Cup defender Nadir Belhadj has spoken to new West Ham boss Avram Grant about a move to Upton Park. Daily Mirror
Ipswich have increased their offer for £4m-rated Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra. Daily Mirror
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.justcurious.co.za/2009/12/wa ... x-gerrard/
OTHER BOLLOX
Sven-Goran Eriksson has thrown his hat into the mix to become Liverpool manager, admitting that it would be a dream come true to become boss at Anfield.
The Sun : http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... l-fan.html
Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish has put Fulham's Roy Hodgson and Louis van Gaal of Bayern Munich at the top of his shortlist of replacements for Rafael Benitez at Anfield. Daily Mirror
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is wanted by Japan as their national coach having previously coached club side Grampus Eight for two years. Daily Star
Ex-United States defender Alexi Lalas is urging his team to wind up England striker Wayne Rooney in their World Cup group match - and wants to see him "act like a baby". Lalas said of the Group C qualifier on 12 June: "I hope Rooney has a temper tantrum, has a swing at someone and gets thrown out." Daily Mail
Former Reds legend John Barnes reckons star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres should follow Rafa Benitez out of Liverpool if they are not happy at the club. "Any player who doesn't want to be at Liverpool should go... no matter who they are," said Barnes. The Sun
Spain's World Cup stars will receive £512,000 in bonuses if they manage to win the World Cup. It is the highest amount offered to any of the 32 teams competing in South Africa. (The Times)
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