MONDAY’S GOSSIP COLUMN – TRANSFERS AND RUMOURS
A rift with club executives Garry Cook and Brian Marwood appears to have prompted Carlos Tevez's decision to leave Manchester City.
Full story: Daily Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Carlos-Tevez-slams-Manchester-City-executives-Garry-Cooke-and-Brian-Marwood-over-the-handling-of-his-transfer-request-article650301.html
City claim that Tevez's outrageous financial demands of £300,000-a-week are behind the rift between the player and club officials.
Full story: the Times (subscription only) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/clubs/manchestercity/article2842085.ece
Striker Tevez is furious with City for portraying him as a money-grabbing mercenary in the wake of his transfer request. The Argentine has apparently turned down a one-off payment of £2.5m to stay at Eastlands.
Full story: Daily Star http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/167264/Carlos-Teves-fury-at-Manchester-City-s-slur/
“This is not about money,” Tevez is understood to have told Manchester City in an email when the club offered him the chance not just to renegotiate his contract but collect a substantial one-off bonus, thought to be about £5m.
Full story: Daily Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/8197952/Carlos-Tevez-transfer-request-to-leave-Manchester-City-is-not-about-money.html
Tevez says that no amount of money will keep him at Manchester City and if the club do not grant him a transfer in January, he will quit football altogether.
Full story: the Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3273079/Carlos-Tevez-has-told-Manchester-City-Let-me-go-or-I-will-quit.html
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester City are weighing up a renewed attempt to sign Nemanja Vidic from neighbours Manchester United. Roberto Mancini's side are willing to double the Serbian defender's current £90,000-a-week wage.
Full story: goal.com http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/12/13/2255107/manchester-city-ready-to-make-renewed-attempt-to-sign-manchester-
Manchester United target Alexis Sanchez will not be leaving Udinese in the January window. However, the winger's representative has hinted that a summer move to Old Trafford remains a possibility.
Full story: sport.co.uk http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/47932/Agent_hints_at_Fergie_summer_bid_for_El_Nino_Maravilla.aspx
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is ready to make a bid for Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam – but he will have to pay £3m for him.
Full story: Daily Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Blackburn-determined-to-bag-Blackpool-s-schemer-Charlie-Adam-article650215.html
Marseille manager Didier Deschamps has revealed he failed in a bid to sign Chelsea's Didier Drogba – but the French club have not given up hope of taking the striker back to the Stade Velodrome.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1337988/Marseille-eye-Chelseas-Didier-Drogba-Liverpool-target-Rod-Fanni.html
Everton manager David Moyes has admitted he may have to sell midfielder Steven Pienaar in the January transfer window to revive his ailing strike force.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1338040/Everton-boss-David-Moyes-admits-Steven-Pienaar-leave-January-boost-transfer-funds.html
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema will not be leaving the Bernabeu in the January transfer window. The news will come as a blow to potential suitors Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Full story: sport.co.uk http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/47935/EXCLUSIVE_Agent_rules_out_Benzema_sale.aspx
West Ham manager Avram Grant wants £10m to spend in the transfer window to get West Ham out of relegation trouble.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1338041/Give-10m-West-Ham-manager-Avram-Grant-wants-splash-cash-January.html
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to win the race for Swansea's Darren Pratley – but he is also happy to wait until he can sign the midfielder on a free when his contract expires in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Bolton-winning-the-race-for-Swans-midfielder-Darren-Pratley-article650219.html
Wigan Athletic want to offer Rangers striker Kenny Miller a return to the Premier League in England and could make a £1.5m bid next month, although he would prefer to wait until the Scotland international is out of contract in the summer. (Daily Express)
English League One outfit Charlton Athletic are chasing Aberdeen defender Zander Diamond, who is out of contract in the summer, but face competition from Barnsley. (Daily Express)
Celtic are set to renew their interest in Coventry City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood after failing to sign the Republic of Ireland international in the summer. (the Sun)
OTHER GOSSIP
Reports in Italy suggest that England boss Fabio Capello is being lined up to replace Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan. There is also speculation that Capello may attempt to bring Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to the San Siro.
Full story: imscouting.com http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Italian-report-Wayne-Rooney-would-join-Fabio-Capello-at-Inter-Milan/12554
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is the new Sir Alex Ferguson, says Eastlands coach Brian Kidd, who used to work under Ferguson at Manchester United.
Full story: Daily Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-City-boss-Roberto-Mancini-dubbed-the-new-Alex-Ferguson-by-Brian-Kidd-article650251.html
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted striker Didier Drogba was furious at having to start on the bench for Sunday's 1-1 draw at Tottenham. But the Italian praised the player, who hit the Blues equaliser then missed a penalty.
Full story: the Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3273095/Drogba-fury-over-sub-snub.html
Midfielder Joey Barton says there's no dressing room revolt at Newcastle and insists he and his team-mates are fully behind new boss Alan Pardew.
Full story: talkSPORT http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/3657/6/exclusive-%E2%80%93-barton-%E2%80%98no-player-revolt-newcastle%E2%80%99
Arsenal are ready to give a shock call-up to third-choice keeper Wojciech Szczesny for Monday's game at Manchester United.
Full story: the Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3273089/Gunners-call-up-kid-Szczesny.html
Gerard Houllier has given his Aston Villa squad two days off to clear their heads after Richard Dunne's training ground bust-up, and the Irishman could be on his way out of Villa Park.
Full story: Daily Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Richard-Dunne-facing-the-axe-from-Aston-Villa-after-his-training-ground-bust-up-article650269.html
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has taken a swipe at Newcastle owner Mike Ashley by saying he prefers to work for people who understand football.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1338054/Sunderland-manager-Steve-Bruce-takes-dig-trigger-happy-Newcastle-owner-Mike-Ashley.html
Sheffield United boss Gary Speed has agreed to become the new Wales manager ahead of an official announcement on Monday.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1338049/Wales-set-confirm-Gary-Speed-new-manager-Monday.html
Stephen Ireland's future will be decided this week after the Aston Villa midfielder did not even make manager Gerard Houllier's squad of 18 on Saturday.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1338055/Aston-Villa-midfielder-Stephen-Ireland-set-crunch-talks-Gerard-Houllier.html
The Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League will merge under radical proposals to be voted on by the top-tier clubs and likely to begin in season 2012. (Various)
Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir has rubbished proposals for a two-tier Scottish Premier League with regional leagues below. (Daily Express)
New Aberdeen manager Craig Brown says he had an agreement with Motherwell that he could leave the club without them being due any compensation. (Daily Record)
Celtic youth team chief Chris McCart is being considered for the Motherwell manager's job, with former Hibernian manager John Collins and ex-Sunderland boss Malcolm Crosby both keen on the post. (Daily Express)
AND FINALLY
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has revealed that his side's midweek visit to a casino helped their preparations for Saturday's victory over Stoke.
Full story: Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1338013/Ian-Holloways-laughing-slick-Blackpool-joke-Stoke-win.html