Having been publicly snubbed by Brazilian playmaker Kaka and Italy’s World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, nouveau riche Premier League club Manchester City, who, we’re told, weren’t rejected by Samuel Eto’o because their meeting with Barcelona boss Joan Laporta had nothing to do with a bid for the striker, have now set their sights on Arjen Robben.
Despite being described by interim Real Madrid president Vicente Boluda as “more electric” than Lionel Messi the Daily Mirror claim that the Dutch winger is something of a misfit at the Bernabeu and does not feature in the plans of presidential election favourite Florentino Perez.
The 25-year-old joined Madrid from Chelsea for £24m two years ago but the Spanish club would accept an £18m bid to get rid of the player. Inter Milan are also reported to be interested but money-bags City are leading the chase for Robben, who had a difficult relationship with Inter boss Jose Mourinho when he was at Chelsea.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be hoping City are successful with their attempt to land Robben so that the Citizens drop out of the bidding for Roque Santa Cruz, according to the Daily Express.
Although Emmanuel Adebayor recently committed to the Gunners, after having his head turned by AC Milan in the summer, the Togo striker’s career at the Emirates could be cut short if Wenger can sign Blackburn Rovers’ want-away forward Santa Cruz for a cut-price £12million.
And Wenger’s hopes will be boosted by the news that City are back in the hunt for the £35m-rated Valencia striker David Villa, at least that is the opinion of The Independent.
Valencia, who are in a difficult financial position, have indicated that they are prepared to sell one of Villa or attacking midfielder David Silva.
Meanwhile, The Sun have transformed Carlos Tevez’s admission that he is likely to leave Manchester United at the end of the season into an imminent bid for Lyon striker Karim Benzema.
Although all the quotes in the story are from the United striker the paper claim the Red Devils will bid £30million for Benzema to replace Tevez. Apparently manager Sir Alex Ferguson sent his brother Martin to watch the 21-year-old striker play for Lyon last week.
The Daily Mail report that United’s arch-rivals Liverpool are preparing to snatch the unhappy Tevez from Old Trafford with a £30m bid. The Reds attempted to do a similar thing with Gabriel Heinze a few years ago and the two clubs entered a bitter battle; the Argentine defender’s move to Anfield was eventually blocked by Ferguson.
The difference with this bid is that the cash for on-loan Tevez would go to agent Kia Joorabchian’s investment company, who hold the players rights, and United would have little say in the deal.
The move would also give Tevez a chance to join Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano, who came to England at the same time as his countryman when they both joined West Ham United.
Although if Cristiano Ronaldo has his way Tevez will be going nowhere. United’s World Player of the Year told The Times that he “definitely” hoped the Argentina would remain at the club, adding: “Manchester United have to keep their best players and Carlos is one of the best.”
There are mixed reports over the severity of Rio Ferdinand’s rib injury, with the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror insisting the United skipper will be out of action for at least three weeks and has started coughing up blood.
But The Guardian and the Daily Star are more optimistic saying Ferdinand’s injury is not as bad as first feared and the 30-year-old could be fit to face Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.
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