Thursday's transfer tales |
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'Manchester City interested in West Ham star Craig Bellamy - with Fernando Torres still on radar'
Mark Hughes has been put on alert by West Ham’s decision to offload Craig Bellamy for £6million.
The
Hammers desperately need to sell to ease their mounting financial
troubles – and Hughes remains an admirer of Bellamy from their
successful time together with Wales and Blackburn.
Hughes has
already warned Manchester City fans that he could struggle to land the
big stars on his January wish list, for all of Sheikh Mansour’s
billions.
They are ready to make a world record £50m bid for
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, but accept the Spanish striker will
remain loyal to Anfield for now.
That would leave Hughes chasing
more realistic targets next month and the controversial Bellamy, 29,
bagged 17 goals in his one season at Ewood Park in 2005-06 to help
Blackburn qualify for Europe.
Hughes wants to take some of the goalscoring burden off Robinho’s shoulders and Jo has failed to live up to his £19m price tag.
City’s Arab owners sounded out Torres’ advisers earlier this week – and they will return some time in the future.
City
will also go for Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra and Blackburn
striker Roque Santa Cruz in January, with Valencia’s David Villa also
on their shopping list.
The Daily Telegraph...
'Manchester City target Matthew Upson'
Manchester
City are reported to be joining the race to sign West Ham defender
Matthew Upson for a fee rumoured to around the £10 million mark.
City
manager Mark Hughes has said he is on the look out for a central
defender in the New Year, and 29-year-old Upson has been indentified as
an ideal candidate to strengthen the Eastlands club's defence.
West
Ham have been hit hard by the global financial crisis, and £10 million
would come in handy for Gianfranco Zola, who is facing the possibility
of losing his big-name players. Craig Bellamy is reportedly on the
market at a value of £6 million, and it has been widely speculated that
Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole will follow, but Zola insists Upson is off
limits.
Upson joined West Ham in January 2007 for £6 million,
and his good form has since earned him a regular starting place in
Fabio Capello's England squad.
The Express suggests that if he
is to maintain his place on the international scene then the prospect
of European football at City may just tip the balance in convincing him
that a move away from Upton Park is his best option.
Should
Zola give in and let Upson go, City are not alone in their pursuit.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is rumoured to be preparing a £16
million offer for Upson and Robert Green in January - £10 million of
which is being reserved for Upson.
Though he has not given any
public indication of a desire to move clubs, Upson has, of late, said
how tough the season has been so far.
"It's been very
disappointing," he said after his side lost 2-0 to Tottenham at the
start of the week. "Result-wise, we've not really had too much of the
rub of the green at home this season. We were so close to levelling up
against Spurs and taking a point apiece, but it wasn't to be."
And finally the Mirror add...
'Aston Villa to fight Manchester City for Kyle Naughton'
Martin O'Neill will battle moneybags Manchester City in a £6million scrap for Sheffield United sensation Kyle Naughton.
Aston Villa boss O'Neill is set to launch a New Year raid on Bramall Lane for England Under-21 defender Naughton.
O'Neill
sent chief scout Ian Storey-Moore to watch him in the Blades' 1-0 win
over Forest on Tuesday, while City are also keen on the 20-year-old.
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