Tuesday's transfer tittle-tattle |
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The Daily Telegraph tell us...
'Manchester City aim to strengthen defence by moving for Arsenal's Kolo Toure'
Mark Hughes is ready to test Arsenal's resolve with a January move for Kolo Toure after being given the green light to make an offer for Germany striker Lukas Podolski.
The Manchester City manager is determined to increase his defensive options when the transfer window opens on Jan 1 and has made Toure and Chelsea full-back Wayne Bridge his top targets.
Bayern Munich star Podolski, who has been tracked by Hughes, is now back on City's radar after telling Bayern manager Jurgen Klinsmann that he wants to quit the Bundesliga giants.
"I've made my decision and I would like to leave the club in the winter," Podolski said. "I've told the club's management I want to leave."
Klinsmann has warned Podolski that he will not be allowed to leave in January, despite falling behind Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose in the Bayern pecking order. However, the German champions could be ready to cash in if City make a big-money offer for the 23-year-old.
Arsenal defender Toure is ahead of Podolski on Hughes' wish-list, however, due to the defensive problems that have dogged City this season.
The loss of form that has affected Richard Dunne and Micah Richards has left Hughes searching for reinforcements.
Hughes has now put Ivory Coast international Toure ahead of Blackburn's Christopher Samba and Hull's Michael Turner on his target list.
Youngster Nedum Onuoha and former Everton left-back Michael Ball are likely to make way for new blood in January, with Blackburn eyeing Onuoha and Sunderland keeping tabs on Ball.
Meanwhile across London, after being linked with Wayne Bridge recently, the Sun now say...
'Man City want to sign Ashley'
MANCHESTER CITY will make an amazing £20million bid for Ashley Cole in January.
The club’s billionaire Arab owners are trying to exploit Cole’s contract situation at Chelsea — and also sign Portsmouth midfield star Lassana Diarra.
An £18m deal for Diarra is almost complete but Cole will be much harder to sign.
City are willing to pay Chelsea £20m and will offer him a £130,000-a-week deal to move to Eastlands.
Cole, 27, has 2½ years of his current deal left which pays £82k a week — much less than Frank Lampard and John Terry.
Chelsea are aware of City’s intentions and also of the fact Cole could ‘buy out’ his contract next summer and move for nothing.
FIFA rules state the contract of any player over 27 is out of the ‘protected period’ when there are less than two years left.
A senior City source said: “The owners agreed to strengthen the team in January. The Diarra deal is almost done and Cole is very interesting.”
And finally, the Daily Mirror report...
'Manchester City line up £6m raid for Hull defender Michael Turner'
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is plotting a £6million raid on Hull for defender Michael Turner.
Hughes will have a massive transfer pot when the window opens again and has put the centre-back on his wanted list.
Turner has emerged as one of the best in the Premier League in his position, and Hughes is desperate to strengthen City's defence.
The 25-year-old Londoner joined the Tigers from Brentford in 2006 for just £350,000 but has proved a revelation in Phil Brown's side this season.
Turner signed a new contract at the start of the campaign, in which he has been ever-present, scoring three goals - and has even been tipped for an England call-up.
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