Fistpumping across town next season?

Manchester United have today confirmed the departure of Carlos Tevez, as the Argentine hit-man has turned down the 5-year deal he so craved mere months ago. As his two-year loan deal ends in a few days, his adviser Kia Joorabchian has declared his clients next destination not only lies in the Premier League, but could very well be in the same town. Manchester City seem to be favorites to add Tevez to their Eastlands revolution but paying and playing the Argentine the way he feels he deserves.

Meanwhile, Joorabchian has also confirmed Chelsea are in the running to land the former West Ham player as the scramble for his signture is sure to intensify.

Liverpool is said to be out of the running as Tevez is said to respect the rivalry between the two clubs with their historic reluctance to share players well-documented. While this may be a noble gesture by the Argentine, it could also be considered a slap to the face to City fans who see their club as direct competiton for their cross town rivals and see United as their biggest rivals. To have Tevez consider City might be seen as a new high for an ambitious club like Manchester City, but for their prideful fans to have their side considered when Liverpool have been ruled out because of their bitter rivalry, could be seen as disrespect to his potential new side.

Can't buy a game at Eastlands.

Now-a-days at Middle-Eastlands, headlines are dominated by Robinho and Shay Given, and the exploits of last seasons dominate early season form at the hands of Brazilian Elano have been nearly forgotten. That is until he was dispatched by Dunga against Italy in London for an International friendly. Playing on the right Elano showed pure class, with silky passing and fluent moving and a clear ability to operate all over the field. With his one two from Ronaldinho found Robinho, followed by a through pass on the on-running Elano where he finished over the helpless Buffon, one thing became clear - this guy needs to play.

Although Mark Hughes and Elano have had a falling out back in September, it is time to get this guy on the field for the faltering Citizens. With the three-match ban on the horizon for Shaun Wright-Phillips, the time could be right for the Brazilian to step into the position he occupied for his country which he went on to impress. If Hughes overlooks this world-class star he already has on his books, this could go a long way in carving out the future for Elano who has done a great deal in a short time at the City of Manchester Stadium, mostly under Sven Goran-Eriksson.

So they missed out on Kaka, but after Elano's performance against Italy, is that such a big deal?

Where he should have been all along.

A part of me is glad Golden Balls loan move seems to have turned into a permanent migration, given the fact that Becks shied away from top flight football way too early. Although we were not going to see his name on any FIFA World Player of the Year shortlists, there was a lot the former Real Madrid star could bring to the table on a European level.

From the start there was really no way Beckham could A) settle, and B) do for the game what the the Galaxy and the MLS wanted him to do for the sport in America. Just like for a football side, big names won't bring you anything more than 15 minutes of notority. His star power attracted attention, but it wasn't enough to bring any permanent change. That has to come from development, just like a club's youth academy.

A big draw for Becks had to have been the money, and after realizing that by this point in his career, money doesn't mean all that much, playing in a side like AC Milan must have been like coming home after being lost at sea. With a host of superstars around him, Becks has fit into a strong Milan side and has even pushed Ronaldinho out of the starting XI. Milan will benefit from his play and his marketing abilities, while the US will use the fact that David Beckham used to play for one of their sides.

In hindsight, Beckham probably should have gone straight to AC when they were after him as it became clear that he was going to leave Madrid. Then perhaps, after a few years plying his trade in the Serie A would a move to the US seem slightly more rational and intelligent. But hindsight is always 20/20.

Kopp flop: Was probably always on the cards.

In a record January transfer window since its induction in 2003, while Manchester City dominated the headlines for their pursuit of Kaka and various rumored expenditures, it was a host of other clubs that really seemed to take advantage of the dying hours of the transfer window.

Tottenham: With the Redknapp renaissance having its highs and lows, the Spurs boardroom seem to have found it necessary to go back and resign just about everyone they've recently let go. Bringing back Darren Bent,Pascal Chimbonda and Robbie Keane shows that the Juande Ramos era at White Hart Lane did much more harm than good, with Gio Dos Santos rumored to be seeking a way out of London. Spurs also landed highly sought after Wilson Palacios. The signing of Carlo Cudicini was a smart one, and should spell the end for the disasterous Gomes.

Arsenal: The stingy London side seem poised to land the ridiculously oversought, overhyped, and overpriced Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St-Petersburg. For such a phenomenon on the field, why was Zenit calling around Premier League clubs in the eleventh hour trying to scour up a bid?

Manchester City: No Kaka, but probably for the best for their current state. Signed Craig Bellamy who has already scored two games in, Wayne Bridge who has already been at fault for two goals, Nigel De Jong who is not quite Vincent Kompany, and Shay Given who is most likely the keeper of the season so far. It looks like Hughes skipped buying new centerbacks, in the hopes that Given could marshall the back line more effectivly than the young Joe Hart.

Chelsea: Little on their agenda as promised, but the loan signing of Ricardo Queresma could solve some of their injury problems, although the Portoguese winger has failed to establish himself anywhere he goes outside Portugal.

Manchester United: The loaning out of Manucho was probably the most noteworthy, but bringing in the Serbian pair was the only acquisition. For a club with such a strong injury crisis, one would think SAF would look for reinforcments. Although results seem to indicate that they're doing just fine.

Whats the problem Andrei?

Andrei Arshavin has been linked with just about every major football club, on every continent, since the end of the Euro 2008 competition. Why?

Well, to be frank it is because of his leading Russian club Zenit St-Petersburg to the UEFA Cup title, and more so, about two or three appearances for Russia in the Euros, following his suspensin of the group stages of the competition.

No one doubts his talents, but the 27-year-old has created a sort of hysteria about himself. Plying his trade only in Russia for Zenit St-Petersburg, one wonders if all the hubbub around the creative midfielder is warrented.

No question of his talents, but at 27 what has kept this shining star from major European football? Many major teams are reluctant to sign the star, one because of his age, and two because of his reported belief that he deserves sky high wages. Why this belief that he deserves so much after proving himself, if you really think about, not proving himself at all at the highest level.

Problems mount up for the Samba star.

After the well-documented walk-out on the club in Tenerife, Robinho seems to have returned to England a wanted man after being arrested and reportedly released on bail. The charge stems from a nightclub sexual assault allegation at a Leeds night club. The former Real Madrid star has denied the charges on his official website, and in light of the timing of these events, some eye brows have been raised in connection with all the dramatic events surrounding the troubled star.

On Robinho's official website (http://www.robinhoofficial.com/) the meeting with police was described as pre-arranged, hinting that Robinho probably knew what was to take place when he jetted off back to South America. This could indicate that the "personal reasons" Robinho cited for leaving might be tied to the charge, as it also could explain Mark Hughes unwillingness to publicly and harshly punish the star, although the gaffar confirmed he would face a monetary punishment. More developments are sure to unfold, stay tuned as the plot thickens.

Can't get a game on Merseyside.

Jermaine Pennant is a hot commodity this transfer window, given his lack of first team opportunities at Anfield. With Portsmouth, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Tottenham, Chelsea and Wigan are all reportedly in for his signature, the pacey winger is surely out of Liverpool in the coming weeks. Portsmouth seem favorites to sign the former Birmingham man, yet it is reported Pennant is not interested in anything more than a loan spell away from the Reds.

Pennant was not named in the squad which lined up against Everton in the Merseyside derby on Monday, which further propels the idea that the wide-man's days are numbered.