The Carlos Tevez saga is set to go right down to the last hours of the transfer window. AC Milan remain favourites to sign the Argentine striker, who went on unauthorised leave to his homeland nearly three months ago.
But they claim to have lined up Catania star Maxi Lopez as a replacement unless they get the initial loan deal they want for Tevez.
The player has told Milan that they are the only club he wants to join, having reportedly dismissed interest from their city rivals Inter, and from Paris St Germain.
“I see myself only in the red and black shirt, I am hoping for Milan,” said Tevez.
Now Milan hope that City will crack and relent on their refusal to contemplate a loan deal with a promise of a permanent move in the summer.
But the Blues are adamant they will not do so – and will retain Tevez’s registration at least until next summer unless Milan meet the £25m asking price.
Milan sporting director Adriano Galliani welcomed Tevez’s words but added: “The closing of the deal, however, depends not on us or the player, but on City. The will of Milan, and of the player, is clear.
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Of the supposed deal for Maxi Lopez, Galliani said: “The situation is very simple – we have an agreement with Catania and with the player. If we don’t get Tevez, Maxi Lopez will come.
“We are still waiting for a few days. Maxi Lopez interests us a lot so is very likely to arrive.
“I was very pleased, however, with Tevez’s desire to come to Milan, and we feel the same way.
“Expect to wait a few more days and then see which one comes.”
Roberto Mancini is still hoping to shift unwanted pair Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge ahead of the January 31 deadline for deals.
Onuoha could move later this week. The big defender has been kept as cover while skipper Vincent Kompany was suspended but the Belgian’s ban ends after Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg.
QPR are still hoping to secure a £3m deal but West Bromwich Albion are also interested and there is still a chance that Everton – who almost took him on loan at the end of the summer window – will enter the race.
Bridge turned out for the elite development squad in the Manchester Senior Cup at Bury on Monday, but there is no concrete interest from other clubs after QPR cooled on a deal last week.
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No club in their right mind will take Bridge, and the player himself clearly has no pride, but would prefer to sit doing nothing rather than take a pay cut in order to play football.
We are lumbered with a Hughes folly I fear !
He could play in our away games only - or perhaps not. Let him rot in the reserves!
It's amazing to think that we have spent almost £30m on 2 left backs - Bridge & Kolarov, both who in my opinion are pretty hopeless. £30m is an unbelievable amount of money & both these players are tactically & positionally naive, hopeless in the air, can't tackle or pass and extremely slow. There also seems to be a similar 'not that bothered attitude' about both of them as well. I love City to bits & have nothing against these 2 guys personally but am at times taken aback by how much we have paid for the quality(or lack of it) we got. Thank got for Clichy!
Surely the ban on Mario will give Mancini food for thought with regards to our reduced striking options. I like the young striker at Blackburn David Hoilet 21 he is very quick and gets plenty of strikes at goal.He has never had the luxory of playing alongside World class players like Silva and Aguero, to me it's a no brainer now!
hopefully we will sign junior hoillet. would be a great pacey addition
What do you think will happen in the January transfer window?
Nothing much!!!
It seems to me that certain teams want him but don't want the commitment of buying him. City should hold out until the £25 mil fee is offered, if that does not happen Tevez will have an extended golfing holiday in Argentina of a further 5 to 6 months.
The one thing I cannot understand is the fact that the FA, PFA, UEFA, and FIFA have all distanced themselves from this saga, no comments on the fact that a player has effectively withdrawn his labour and therefore broken his contract. This appears to have been accepted by the powers that be. A word of warning in looking at what happened to Mr Bosman, this could be the end of transfer fees.
Bridge will continue to be the great unwanted and see out his contract... Waster
Ned will go for less than he's worth and his career will fizzle out
Tevez will concentrate on his golf and win the British Open by three strokes from Rory Mac.
What constantly amazes me is the poor quality of contract negotiations that go on between clubs and players. I do not know any situation, apart from the Police and Fire Brigade, where people get paid for doing nothing! So why don't players contracts have play and pay clauses in them? Why do mcfc fans have to pay Bridges and Tevez for sitting on the sidelines? It's all down to the poor quality of legal advice mcfc are getting.
Get Van Persie signed up, win the league and laugh in the faces of Sky,the FA & FIFA crooks..
Now there's a surprise regarding bridge,who would have thought any club would "cool"on the idea of signing him????
Bridge should do the right thing and agree to have his contract cancelled and walk away from City. He does not need the dosh and should be keen to get back playing.
Surprised Arsenal didn't come for Bridge, lack of full backs cost him the game against United.
Quick question. Why do City feel the need to replace somebody who hasn't played for them for three months?
I wonder how many 'Wayne Bridge may leave City in this transfer window' articles the MUEN will regurgitate over the summer and agian next January.
Let him rot in Argentina on no pay. Then sue him for breach of contract. The man is a disgrace. If he gets his move to Milan it means players can do what they like regardless of contractual obligations. Hope FIFA are keeping a close eye on this. Oh and Milan are no better by trying to take advantage of the situation.
We need to shift the deadwood, that much is obvious. As for who we should buy I think we need a striker. Raul and Huntelaar are at Schalke, surely they'd prefer to be at City?
Closer to home, what about Defoe or Pavlyuchenko? Both unfavoured at Spurs and could we not use them in a deal for the permanent transfer of Adebayor? Neither are starters but they're good from the bench, Pavlyuchenko especially; he would be cheap and he always seems to score when he's brought on. Fed on delicate balls to feet from Silva, Aguero and Nasri, coupled with quality crosses form Milner, Kolarov, Micah and Yaya and I'm sure he could replace Dzeko every now and then and do a good job for us. I'm sure Spurs would contemplate a loan move at least, just to get him off their wage list. He'd bang in goals for us against the lower teams at least...
Either way, I think we need a striker, even if only until the summer. Would a move for Drogba really be that ridiculous either? Just saying....
Meanwhile let's play Carlos against the diddymen tonight.