Man City pledge to outbid everyone in their quest to bring Fernando Torres to Eastlands
MANCHESTER CITY have vowed to outbid any of their rivals when it comes to landing Fernando Torres next year.
Officials at Eastlands have been in contact with the players’ advisers at Bahia International to ensure they are kept up to date with any offers on the table to take the £50million striker away from Liverpool.
City are faced with the very real prospect of losing Argentinian star striker Carlos Tevez in 2011 and that has urged them to seek a top class replacement.
A source close to Torres told People Sport: “They are willing to pay one pound more than the best offer that comes in for Fernando.
“City want to prepare a new project with Torres as their main star. Next season they want to make sure they are fighting for the Premier League title from the first moment again.”
Wayne Rooney could have been heading for the blue side of Manchester if he had not agreed a mega new deal at Old Trafford. And while they are sure to retain tabs on his situation at Manchester United, Torres in now their number one forward target.
Liverpool’s new American owner John Henry has been seeking guidance from the Spaniard this week over his future and United and Barcelona are both waiting in the wings.
But City will trump both clubs if an eventual transfer comes down to money.
Sven ready to rescue Roque Santa Cruz from Man City nightmare and bring him to Leicester Manchester City misfit Santa Cruz is massively out of favour at Eastlands and boss Roberto Mancini will let him go.
Eriksson has been told he can spend heavily on new recruits – and Leicester will offer to pay City around £20,000-a-week of Paraguay star Santa Cruz’s wages for the rest of the year.
City want to move Santa Cruz on as they reduce numbers ahead of the inevitable round of signings in January.
Santa Cruz is aware of Leicester’s interest and open to the idea as it would get him playing and in the shop window.
The Paraguayan signed for City after Mark Hughes talked him into following him from Blackburn Rovers. But he has been troubled by injury ever since.
Hughes’ Fulham are interested in taking Santa Cruz when the Premier League clubs start their recruiting in January but in the meantime he could drop down to the Championship.
Eriksson is looking for five or six new faces to lift Leicester into the play-off picture and his new money men will pay top dollar .
The Swede admitted he would love to have David Beckham on loan – as HotLine revealed last week – but that would only be possible if the Foxes were challenging for promotion.
Manchester City in race for Sampdoria outcast Antonio Cassano
Manchester City are reportedly one of several clubs interested in signing striker Antonio Cassano , whose Sampdoria contract is set to be torn up.
The 28-year-old is known for his temperamental character and last week he was apparently involved in an altercation with Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone and did not attend training yesterday.
Reports in Italy suggest that Cassano has been suspended and will have his contract terminated. Speculation has already begun over the future of Cassano, who has been a regular in the Italy squad under Cesare Prandelli. AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and a return to Roma, where he spent five years have all been suggested.
According to Italian website Tutto Mercato, Manchester City are also in the hunt for Cassano. Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini knows Cassano well from his time in Italy and has already recruited one Italian striker for Manchester City , Mario Balotelli . Cassano and Balotelli have combined for the Italian national side.
Cassano, who has scored five goals so far this season, would become a free agent, should his Sampdoria contract be terminated.
PSG hit Man City with Anelka compo claim
PSG are demanding £1 million from Manchester City for former striker Nicolas Anelka.
The Sunday Mirror says City have been hit by a £1million demand from Paris St Germain for Anelka – eight years after they signed the striker from the French club.
PSG are claiming that the terms of the £13.6m deal stipulated that City paid the fee in euros rather than pounds sterling.
And because City financed the transfer in sterling, it meant PSG lost out on the improving exchange rate of the euro. City insist there was no such agreement.
And the cash row will be settled in the High Court if the two clubs fail to strike an agreement at a pre-trial arbitration meeting scheduled to take place in Manchester this week.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Spanish giants Barcelona could come in for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric after losing patience in their bid to lure Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to the Nou Camp. Mail on Sunday
Manchester United look set to make a move for Lille's £12m-rated teenage midfielder Eden Hazard.caughtoffside
Manchester United are also being linked with Athletico Madrid's teenage goalkeeper David de Gea, said to be worth £18m. News of the World)
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is planning a £9m January transfer window move for Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia. The People
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says he does not fear Kenny Dalglish as a rival for his job and has only praise for the Kop hero's work as club ambassador and scout. Sunday Telegraph
Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out any transfer activity in the January window and says injured striker Wayne Rooney may have to wait until December before being recalled to Manchester United's first team. Mail on Sunday
Striker Michael Owen could be sacrificed as Manchester United look to slash their wage bill following Wayne Rooney's pay rise - while Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is eager to take Owen on. Daily Star
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is so keen to keep James McFadden he is set to offer him a contract extension even though the striker is on the long-term injury list. Sunday Mirror
Tottenham are prepared to offer their goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes a contract that would see the Brazilian shot-stopper remain a Spurs player until 2015. Sunday Mirror
Ipswich chiefs could be forced to choose between boss Roy Keane and 17-year-old striker Connor Wickham because the manager has fallen out with the teenage starlet. Mail on Sunday
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says his England Under-21 midfielder Jordan Henderson is the best young player in Britain, and admits he may struggle to keep him at the Stadium of Light. The Observer
Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves will make a decision on his injury-ravaged career in the new year. The 29-year-old has been out since 2008 after surgery on both knees. Daily Star Sunday
Former FA chief executive and Liverpool fan Brian Barwick is being lined up for a boardroom role by the new owners at Anfield, possibly as acting chief executive. News of the World
Former West Ham, Charlton and Southampton manager Alan Pardew is set to replace George Burley at Crystal Palace "within 10 days." A former Palace player, Pardew scored the winner as they beat Liverpool 4-3 to reach the 1990 FA Cup Final. (Full story: News of the World)
Scores of Tottenham fans may not be able to watch their club entertain Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday after a ticketing error sold seats that were not available. Daily Mail
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole may have left Arsenal but he hasn't forgotten the Gunners' kit man Vic Akers, whom he rescued after a parking row at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.Daily Mirror
Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says his Manchester United-supporting brother keeps urging him to sign for the Red Devils. "Maybe they can swap me for Rooney," he joked. Sunday Times
QPR are waiting in the wings to match Manchester City’s millions next season.
As things stand now they will be up there with the Premier League giants in every sense of the word.
And while Manchester United and others wrestle with massive debts, the club that has a staggering £20BILLION behind it is prepared to go pound for pound with City if necessary to conquer Europe.
“We have a target. We will make it happen no matter what it takes, within reason,” said vice-chairman Amit Bhatia, whose father-in-law Lakshmi Mittal has a staggering fortune that is more than a match for Manchester City’s Sheikh Mansour.
“The dream is to get into the Champions League and if we are promoted we will put our hands in our pockets,” Bhatia added.
“My father-in-law didn’t get where he is settling to finish fourth. We want to finish top,” he added.
Backed by two of the richest men in the world – and a third who is no pauper – the Championship promotion chasers can match the buying power of Mansour and also pay the sort of mind-boggling players’ salaries they will ultimately need to in order to achieve their goal.
It is an amazing prospect for a club whose owner spent £34million on his daughter’s wedding.
The cash-fuelled rise of QPR since Indian steel tycoon Mittal, Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore took over three years ago also adds up to a real rags to riches rise for manager Neil Warnock.
More bollox soon ....
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