Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants to sign on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on a permanent basis. McLeish has also stepped up his interest in his long-term target, Sporting Gijon midfielder, Michel. England international Hart, 22, is on a season-long loan at Birmingham. McLeish said: “Maybe we could come to some arrangement with Man City, if he continues to play to the level he’s playing at.”
McLeish is backing Hart to get into the England squad for the World Cup Finals and he added: “I think England like him and he has got every opportunity. He’s got a great chance. “He’s a massive presence, works really hard and he has tidied up his game on a couple of things. He looks a real prospect for England.”
Manchester City are leading the chase for AC Milan full-back Ignazio Abate. The Sun
Greatest last-gasp goals in the history of British football - 30-21
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WAG WARS - CITY V UNITED (Part 1)
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Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge has vowed to prove his critics wrong and establish himself at Eastlands.
Bridge's denfensive capabilities have been questioned after some below-par performances this season, with reports suggesting he could be on his way out of Mark Hughes' plans. Big-spending City have been linked with a number of full-backs, including Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm, but the former Chelsea and Southampton left-back is not worried about the speculation. The England international's performance against Burnley last month was slated by television pundit Alan Hansen, but Bridge is not bothered about being singled out for criticism and feels he has improved from that showing.
"I didn't watch Match of the Day that night but it's not going to hurt or bother anyone," he told The Sun. "I didn't need to watch it to realise I played badly that day. "Alan Hansen said a few things but I'm not going to cry about it. "I've come in since and trained hard. Since then I feel I've done well defensively and attacked as much as I could. "I don't like to think about it too much but it definitely didn't affect me." Bridge is confident City can finish in the top four this season and he is determined to stick around and enjoy success at the club.
"I want to do well at City - to climb that table and get a Champions League spot," added Bridge. "I came here to win things. The aim is the top four and the Champions League because that's a massive competition everyone wants to play in. "We definitely feel we've got the team that can do it. It's just about turning those draws into wins." Bridge insists he is not thinking about next summer's World Cup finals with England in South Africa as he focuses on doing his best for City. "I watched the World Cup draw with interest. But things need to get better at City first," noted Bridge."So I'll be concentrating on club at the moment."
Manchester City have confirmed striker Craig Bellamy is suffering from a mild case of swine flu.
The striker, who has also had a knee problem, missed Sunday's 2-1 victory over Premier League leaders Chelsea. Midfielder Vladamir Weiss, who scored in City's recent Carling Cup win over Arsenal, has also contracted the virus.
But the club told BBC Manchester that both players will return to training on Thursday and should be available for Saturday's visit to Bolton. Bellamy has been one of City's most influential players this season, scoring six goals and setting up as many in 15 starts for Mark Hughes' team. He and Weiss are not the first City players to be diagnosed with swine flu, defender Micah Richards having contracted the virus on holiday in July. Blackburn Rovers have also been affected, with a spate of illnesses in October.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to bolster his side's injury-hit defence by signing Sol Campbell. The former England defender is a free agent after settling his contract dispute with Notts County, who he left a month into a five-year deal in September Daily Mirror
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is ready to part with defender Anton Ferdinand in his bid to acquire Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton.The Sun
Everton hope to secure a loan deal for LA Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan in the new year.The Guadian
Midfielder Lee Carsley will be an unexpected casualty of McLeish's rebuilding campaign at St Andrews when the January transfer window opens. Daily Mail
Fulham have sent a circular to Premier League and Championship clubs to make it be known that strikers Eddie Johnson and David Elm, forward Seol Ki-Hyeon and defenders Fredrik Stoor and Toni Kallio are available for transfer as the Cottagers try to slash their wage bill.Daily Mail
OTHER BOLLOX
Midfielder Luca Modric could be on the substitutes' bench for Tottenham's home game against Wolves on Saturday after recovering from a broken leg and playing 70 minutes of a training-ground friendly against non-League Grays.The Sun
Crystal Palace have five days to pay their players or face a possible mass walk-out. Neil Warnock and his players have not been paid for November as owner Simon Jordan fights "cash-flow" problems. Under the terms of their contracts, Palace's players must be paid by 14 December - a fortnight after their money was due.Daily Mirror
Jim Magilton's job could be on the line after the QPR manager was accused of headbutting one of his own players. Hungarian striker Akos Buzsaky has threatened to press charges over the incident, which followed QPR's defeat by Watford on Monday.
Daily Mail
Former Aston Villa, Derby and QPR boss John Gregory has returned to management with Israel's top Arab club Maccabi Ahi Nazareth.
Tottenham defender Ledley King suffered a set-back on his return from a knee injury on Tuesday when he was forced out of a friendly designed to boost his match fitness.Daily Mirror
WAG OF THE DAY
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AND FINALLY
Premier League newcomers Burnley have a new fan - Prince Charles. Royal insiders claim the 61-year-old was "over the moon" when the Clarets beat Manchester United and "sick as a parrot" after they were beaten 2-0 by Portsmouth.The Sun
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