Saturday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Juventus vow to root out Balotelli abuse
Juventus have promised they will not tolerate any racist abuse of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli when the sides meet in the Europa League.
Balotelli was subject to abuse while playing a Serie A match for Inter Milan at Juve's Olympic Stadium last season.
He is likely to be in the squad for City's visit to Turin in December.
"This will be the chance for the supporters to demonstrate that the standard has been raised," said Juve chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc.
"Hopefully fans will behave the way they should be behaving and supporting the team and only this.
"Supporting your team is to support your team, and not to make remarks of a racist nature toward other players. We will be extremely demanding and intransigent about this."
Juventus will be carefully watched by European governing body Uefa after receiving a one-match fans ban in 2009 after supporters racially abused Balotelli.
City will face Juve in the Europa League Group A along with Salzburg from Austria and Polish side Lech Poznan and the Manchester club's football administrator Brian Marwood said they did not anticipate any targeting of Balotelli and were looking forward to the clashes with Juve.
Marwood stated: "I'm sure Mario, like all of our players, will be relishing the opportunity. He's a young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him and we will give him every support and help that he needs.
"We will leave it to the authorities to deal with anything that happens but we are not anticipating any issue."
Balotelli moved to City from European champions Inter Milan in August for a fee of £24m.

Emmanuel Adebayor told to fight for his place at Manchester City
Brian Marwood warns striker to stop looking for move. Adebayor unhappy at lack of first team chances
Emmanuel Adebayor was warned today by Manchester City that he must compete for a place in Roberto Mancini's expensively assembled team and stop agitating for a move if he is not selected.
The club's senior football administrator, Brian Marwood, in Monaco for today's Europa League group stage draw, dismissed Adebayor's public complaint that he would "definitely" look for another club if he does not regularly feature in the first team – despite having been at City for only one season following his £25m move from Arsenal.
"These players need to realise that if you are paying them, they are salaried, contracted and have obligations to their football club," Marwood said. "They are part of the squad. They have to work hard to prove they are worth a place in the team. We are trying to create a very competitive environment at Manchester City. "
Adebayor admitted today that he would give serious consideration to severing his ties with City because of the growing sense that he will feature only intermittently in a season of change for English football's most powerful spenders.
"The season is going to be very long and very difficult for myself," he told TalkSport. "I'm a footballer and have to keep going and not give up. I need to keep fighting for myself and enjoying my football. But if I'm not playing, and there is a team that comes in for me, then I will definitely be on my way out because I'm a footballer and I love playing.
"So if I don't have a chance to play here there will be a lot of chance to play somewhere else. If they force you out then you always have to follow your destiny."
Marwood was speaking after City were drawn in a Europa League group with Juventus, the Polish club Lech Poznan and FC Salzburg from Austria. Describing the prospect of meeting Juventus as "a mouth-watering tie" which "makes you realise you are in a top European competition", Marwood said City need a squad full of top-class players to cope with the number of matches the club will play this season. He said he understood the frustrations of Adebayor and the goalkeeper Shay Given when they did not feature in the first team, because as a player at Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday Marwood himself had to battle for selection.
"Emmanuel is no different to Shay Given, to other players in the squad who want to be playing," he said. "I understand that. I've been there myself. It's frustrating. But if we are to have a successful season we need to have depth in our squad, and Roberto will rotate his squad how he sees fit."
Adebayor started both legs of the Europa League qualifier against Timisoara but has been a substitute for their two Premier League games, and when Mancini brought on a striker to replace Carlos Tevez against Liverpool on Monday it was Jô rather than the former Arsenal player.
That has led Adebayor to wonder how much of a contribution he will make this season, even though City have already loaned another forward, Craig Bellamy, to Cardiff City and are prepared to move on Roque Santa Cruz.
Mancini, however, still regards Adebayor as an important squad player and potential buyers will be informed he is not available if there are any inquiries before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. Despite the £120m City have spent this summer, Mancini is not overly stocked with strikers, having failed with a summer move for Edin Dzeko of Wolfsburg and abandoned hope of luring Fernando Torres from Liverpool.
Mario Balotelli, the £22.5m signing from Internazionale, is regarded more as a left-sided attacker, leaving only Adebayor and Jô as natural back-up if Tevez, the club's principal striker, is injured. Mancini has been operating a 4-3-2-1 system, with Tevez spearheading the attack, and that could mean Adebayor is absent again when they play at Sunderland on Sunday, the second anniversary of Sheikh Mansour's takeover.
Robinho is expected to leave Manchester, with Mancini saying there are "two or three choices" for the Brazilian to resurrect his career in Spain or Italy.
Marwood, however, said there have been no firm offers for Robinho and that if he stays at City, he will be included in Mancini's 25-player first team squad. Guardian

City enter chase for Stoke keeper Begovic
Roberto Mancini has moved in for want-away Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic - opening up an escape route for Shay Given.
Chelsea yesterday backed away from signing Begovic after Stoke boss Tony Pulis’ outspoken attack on clubs trying to unsettle his keeper.
But Begovic, 23, still finds himself in big demand amid a keeper merry-go-round with Manchester City and Fulham having made enquiries and the ex-Portsmouth keeper expects to be on the move before the transfer window shuts.
City boss Mancini is looking at alternatives as Republic of Ireland keeper Given is unhappy after losing his place as No.1 to England’s Joe Hart.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes has made another enquiry to see whether Given is available after the 34-year-old was left out of City’s Europa League tie on Thursday night.
City are reluctant to let Given go and have offered him a five year contract to stay but may be willing to let him go out on loan as a last resort.
However, Fulham have also moved in for Begovic as a back-up plan as they prepare to sell Mark Schwarzer to Arsenal before the deadline closes and fear rookie David Stockdale lacks experience.
Begovic, who only joined Stoke from Portsmouth in January, is a keeper in a hurry and was keen to join Chelsea who were prepared to offer him cup games, a few chances in Europe and the opportunity to be Petr Cech’s deputy.
But Stoke appear to have scared Chelsea off after claiming they do not want to sell but that has not perturbed other clubs.

Fulham seem determined to bring in a new keeper and they have also asked about taking City’s Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz on loan.
Santa Cruz has also interested West Ham. Santa Cruz, 29, finds himself surplus to requirements at City just a year after his £17.5m move from Blackburn and may be loaned out as long as he does not join a direct rival. Mirror

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is poised to make an approach for Aston Villa's Ashley Young, with the winger willing to review his future following his club's Europa League exit at the hands of Rapid Vienna on Thursday. Daily Mirror

But if Redknapp wants to sign Brazil striker Luis Fabiano from Seville, he will have to fork out £25m. (The Sun)

Liverpool have moved quickly to replace midfielder Javier Mascherano by agreeing a £10.7m package with Porto for the Portugal international Raul Meireles. Guardian

Or, Udinese's Swiss international Gokhan Inler is the man Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has identified as the successor to Argentine Mascherano in the Reds midfield. Hodgson will also push through Paul Konchesky's £3m arrival from his old club Fulham and move for PSV Eindhoven striker Ola Toivonen. Daily Mirror

The Anfield club are also reported to be leading race for Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra. IMScouting.com

Goalkeeper Richard Wright, who is training with Crystal Palace, is on Blackpool's radar after the Londoners failed in a move for Birmingham's Maik Taylor. Daily Mirror

West Ham have dismissed a loan move for Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami from Serie A side Roma. Daily Mirror

Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia turned turned a £9m move to Birmingham because the St Andrews club would not yield to the French player's £50,000-a-week wage demand. Daily Mirror

Celtic have had a £60,000 offer for striker Paddy Madden rejected by Irish club Bohemians. (the Sun)

Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba says he hopes to quit Hibernian in a £650,000 return to his former club, Paris St Germain, before Tuesday's shutting of the transfer window. (Various)

Hibernian have targeted Darryl Duffy, who has struggled to secure a regular game with Bristol Rovers, should striker Anthony Stokes be sold to Celtic. (the Sun)

Hibernian, who turned down an initial offer from Celtic of £700,000, want £2m for striker Anthony Stokes. (Daily Express)

OTHER BOLLOX
England manager Fabio Capello is prepared to axe striker Wayne Rooney from his starting XI for the Euro 2012 qualifier with Bulgaria on Friday. The Sun

Capello is also in talks with Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta in the hope of persuading the Spaniard to play for England now that he qualifies through residency. The Sun

Dutch legend Ronald Koeman has revealed he is interested in becoming Aston Villa's new manager. Express

This season's Scottish Premier League winners could face three qualifying rounds to reach next year's Champions League group stage because of the early exit of Celtic, Dundee United and Motherwell from the Europa League. (Various)

Celtic's Neil Lennon is now the bookmakers' favourite to be the first Scottish Premier League manager to be sacked this season. (the Sun)

Utrecht midfielder Dries Mertens says the arrogance of Celtic's players spurred the Dutch side on to a 4-0 win on Thursday. (Various)

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has identified the reason for the Latics' dismal away form last season, putting it down to a fashion faux-pas. "We always blame the orange kit for our away performances last season," he said. "We never won a game with that kit." Daily Mirror

Matthew Kilgallon says he talks to himself in the Middlesbrough dressing room because he cannot understand his Scottish team-mates.Daily Mirror

[Chinners]

Evening Bollox Update
Chelsea Star Didier Drogba Tells Manchester City Money Does Not Guarantee Success
Striker not convinced big-spenders are title contenders yet...
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has warned Manchester City that money does not always guarantee success in football and that it is too early to judge whether they are credible title rivals.
Another summer of big spending has seen James Milner, Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli, Jerome Boateng, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov arrive at Eastlands.
Yet the Sky Blues’ wealth does not worry the Ivorian who pointed out that the club spent big last season too, but failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League and therefore qualify for the Champions League.
“Money cannot guarantee success in football," Drogba told The Sun. "[Manchester] City paid a lot for players last season but did not make the Champions League.
"They have a better squad now and will be dangerous - but it is still too early to judge their chances."

Lazio remain locked in talks regarding a deal for Manchester City's Paraguay international striker Roque Santa Cruz.
Numerous clubs have been linked with a move for the out-of-favour 29-year-old frontman this summer, but at present he remains at Eastlands.
With the transfer window drawing to a close, he risks being left kicking his heels on the sidelines at City.
A switch to Italy appears to be the most likely option, with Lazio having made steady progress in their efforts to bring him on board.
The Rome club's coach Edy Reja is hoping an agreement can be pushed through before Tuesday's deadline, but admits he may need to move another forward out in order to make room for Santa Cruz.
"Santa Cruz is one of the players we're negotiating with, but I don't know if you could consider the matter closed," he said.
"If we do sign Santa Cruz from Manchester City, then someone else has to leave.
"Obviously with his arrival, it would damage everyone: Pasquale Foggia, Tommaso Rocchi, Sergio Floccari and Mauro Zarate."

Schalke have made bids totalling nearly 30million euro for AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Atletico Madrid's Jurando.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is likely to join from AC Milan after the clubs agreed a 14million euro fee.
And the Bundesliga club have also made a 15million euro bid for Atletico Madrid midfielder Jurando.
Dutch international Huntelaar is likely to be deemed surplus to requirements at Milan if Barcelona star Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to Serie A with the Rossoneri, with the club looking for extra cash to fund the deal.
Huntelaar looks set to link up with former Real team mate Raul at the German outfit.
Even if Ibrahimovic's move to the San Siro collapsed, Huntelaar's agent confirmed that it was likely he will depart.
"Milan told me we would decide this weekend what will be best for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar," he said.
"He thought he could stay, but within two days the situation changed. There will be four strikers for only two positions, so that's not that attractive.
"Milan have let us know Klaas-Jan is able to leave.
"It would be a quick move as the transfer market is about to close. He still has a contract at Milan. So we have to decide what the best is for him."
Schalke's interest in Jurando comes after attempts to land Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart failed.
The Germans are set to offer the 24-year-old a four year deal and they can offer the incentive of Champions League football too.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is poised to leave Spanish football champions Barcelona to join Italian giants AC Milan, according to media reports on Saturday.
The final details of the complex deal will probably be thrashed out on Saturday, between Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and Mino Raiola, Ibrahimovic's controversial agent.

After weeks of negotiations, Newcastle have finally completed the loan signing of French international Hatem Ben Arfa.
The 23-year-old went on strike earlier this month, in an attempt to engineer a move away from the French champions Marseille.
The loan deal has an option clause attached that makes it possible to make the move permanent at the end of the season.