what the papers say

Santa back on the Christmas list?

11/10/2008 09:50

Daily Mirror

'A ROQUE ROAD TO HUGHES'

MANCHESTER CITY boss Mark Hughes has made signing Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz his top target in January.

Hughes and Paraguayan Santa Cruz, 27, share a close bond after the City manager brought him to Ewood Park in July 2007 from Bayern Munich for £3.5million.

Hughes had a £10m summer bid for Santa Cruz rejected after swapping Rovers for Eastlands.

And Santa Cruz has since signed a new four-year deal with Blackburn as the financial chaos surrounding Thaksin Shinawatra's troubled City reign restricted the club's transfer moves.

But Santa Cruz's preference remains to be reunited with Hughes, who has vast riches at his disposal following the club's Abu Dhabi takeover.

And finally, the Daily Mirror claim City's previous interest in keeper Thomas Sorensen...

'Martin O'Neill nearly wrecked my career'

Thomas Sorensen has reopened his bitter war of words with Martin O'Neill by accusing the Aston Villa boss of almost destroying his career.

Sorensen remains furious with O'Neill after he was frozen out at Villa Park last season.

The Danish goalkeeper, 32, annoyed O'Neill by questioning the loan signing of Scott Carson from Liverpool in August 2007.

And Sorensen was then sidelined last term before quitting on a free this summer to promoted Stoke when his contract expired.

He believes he may have taken the best available option after claiming Manchester City, Blackburn and Middlesbrough were all interested in him.

But Sorensen reckons O'Neill allegedly conducted a whispering campaign against him suggesting he had psychological and fitness problems.

"It stayed personal for him and had nothing to do with football," said Sorensen, who cost Vill a £2.25million from Sunderland in 2003.

"This summer it was so crazy and insane that I suddenly realised my manager could destroy my career.

"He said to me and two others that he didn't use me because I just wasn't good enough but at the same time he didn't want to let me go to another club.

"He must really have had a down on me, because why would he effectively destroy my chances for me to change clubs?