New Inter
Milan manager Roberto Mancini is set to offer Steven Gerrard a move in
January, unless the Liverpool captain agrees a new deal at Anfield.
Gerrard
also has a number of options to move to the United States next summer
with New York Cosmos one potential avenue for the 34-year-old
midfielder.
But the Football Grapevine understands that a move to Serie A could be very appealing.
As revealed
in the Football Grapevine three weeks ago, Manuel Pellegrini faces the
sack from Manchester City at the end of the season.
But
it is Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone who is top of the short list
to replace him at the Etihad, not Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola.
My Catalan contacts tell me that Pep would rather manage Manchester
United down the line rather than City.
Guardiola
will see out his contract at Bayern, which runs until the summer of
2016, and, unless there is a dramatic turn of events in Manchester, the
Etihad hierarchy will not wait that long.
Manuel Pellegrini is facing the sack from Manchester City at the end of the season
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is among the favourites to replace Pellegrini at City
Pep Guardiola wants to see out his contract with Bayern Munich, and he would prefer United over City
Mike Ashley will sell Newcastle so he can fully purchase Scottish side Rangers.
But the Newcastle owner's £300million asking price is being questioned by brokers, who value the club at a maximum of £100m.
Mike Ashley will sell Newcastle to complete his full purchase of Rangers
I-SAY:
Mon: Emmanuel
Adebayor has a point when he says that booing your own team mid game is
hardly going to inspire. But one can understand the frustration of
Spurs fans and Adebayor is hardly in a position to complain about people
being fickle.
Tue: Bobby Charlton suggests captaincy for club and country could weigh Wayne Rooney down. He has a point.
Wed:
Rooney says even if he ends up with 200 caps and 200 goals he will
never be a football legend like Bobby Charlton. At last, some reality in
Wayne’s world.
Thur:
FIFA 'investigation' into allegations of awarding 2018 World Cup to
Russia and 2022 to Qatar is published and instantly becomes parody when
US based chief investigator Michael Garcia condemns his airbrushed
report. It would seem the only way to bring down Sepp Blatter and his
regime is for the FBI and the Interpol to move in.
Fri:
After losing at home to Faroe Islands, Greece sack manager Claudio
Ranieri. Quite right too. That's how tough they are on the continent.
Libero:
It
was a privilege to be in the company of Besso brokers at the Lloyds
insurance football club annual dinner at the Park Lane Marriott Hotel in
London on Thursday.
Not
least because I was able to re-engage with my greatest boyhood hero. No
not Denis Law, who was on the top table, but Billy Bonds.
That said, ex-ref Howard Webb stole the night with is his self-effacing after-dinner speech.
The crowd, who initially booed Webb, whooped in applause when he said his three sons are called Wayne, Cristiano and Rio.
I am hearing:
Napoli are set to make a bid for Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski.
I am also hearing:
The real money behind Tottenham, owner Joe Lewis, is asking questions about club chairman Daniel Levy.
Wayne Rooney’s quest to surpass Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record of 49 could be usurped.
As it stands, there is currently a 'marksman' who is alongside Gary Lineker on 48 who will continue indefinitely.
The name? Own Goal.
