Media round-up: Wednesday 14th December featuring de Jong, Conor Hunt and Harry Potter
By Ric Turner, Wed 14 December 2011 09:11
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is plotting a £20m offer for City forward Carlos Tevez, according to The Sun. A source close to the talks said: "People at Tottenham reckon a deal like this could be bigger than anything since they signed Jurgen Klinsmann. There's definite interest. The big stumbling block could be whether or not City are prepared to do business with a team now regarded as one of their rivals for the title."
The Daily Star report that QPR manager Neil Warnock has launched a bid to signt Nigel de Jong on loan for the rest of the season. The 26-year-old midfielder has not started a Premier League game for City since November but appeared as a substitute in the defeat at Chelsea on Monday night. De Jong wants City to offer him a new contract, with his present deal due to expire at the end of next season.
City are ready to pounce for Chelsea's England Under-16 international Conor Hunte, who could leave Stamford Bridge for a nominal fee in the summer, according to talkSport. The youngster played an important role in England Under-16s' Victory Shield win this year and his eye-catching performances from midfield have seen him earmarked as a potential future star by Chelsea coaching staff. His displays in the Victory Shield alerted Manchester City to his potential and under the new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), which will come into force next summer, he could move to the Etihad Stadium for a nominal fee.
Manchester City have agreed special dispensation to delay the departure of a "guilty and confused" Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure to the Africa Cup of Nations in January so he can play against Manchester United and Liverpool. "Our country needs people like myself and Didier Drogba because there is a war and it's important we do what we can for our people, but this is also a crucial time of the season," he said. "There are two crucial months coming up and now I am going to miss one of them. The team, the club and the manager need me, but I will have to go away and play in a different competition.
"It's difficult as I am very focused for City and we need all the players. I have to go because my country is going through some difficult things, but I am a little bit guilty and confused about it. My loyalties are divided and I do feel a little bit sad. But City will cope. We have fantastic players who can take my place, such as Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry, while Owen Hargreaves is also working very hard to come back."
The Metro report that City players enjoyed a fancy-dress Christmas party just hours after losing their unbeaten Premier League record at Chelsea, visiting a London nightclub as popular cartoon characters including Harry Potter (Sergio Aguero), Mr T (Nigel de Jong) and Where's Wally (Gareth Barry).
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