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.

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.

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.

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.

Following his heart, and not his pockets.

So its finally over - Kaka stays in Milan after denying he even considered a move to Eastlands, while Manchester City insist Milan are at fault for the deal breaking down or "bottling it" at Garry Cook would say, and Brazilian ace goes missing from Tenerife training to return home to Brazil for his Birthday.

There will certainly be much more to come.

While City might consider it somewhat of a victory they even got this far in negotiations, they will be dissappointed as Kaka was seen as a key figure in the Blues revolution.

The dressing room unrest rumored to affect Kaka's decision not to come to City was somewhat confirmed when it was found that Robinho jumped ship against Hughes and the clubs wishes. Hughes managerial skills will surely come under scrutiny now, and the next big transfer saga involving City might be a managerial one.

Now where exactly did you pull that from?

In a relatively tame January transfer window (so far), there is one name that is surprisingly not popping up on the radar. Carlos Tevez has failed to land a permanent deal at Old Trafford since the arrival of Dimitier Berbatov after an impressive first season with the Red Devils.

With limited playing time this season and the striker adamant on playing somewhere on a long-term deal, it seems the time is ripe for someone to step in.

If United have dragged their feet this far into the campaign without deciding on the Argentine's future, the on-loan striker to me seems up for grabs and should tempt the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and even Kaka-chasing and cross-town neighbors Manchester City.

Now, Tevez has voiced that he would like to remain at Old Trafford, however he cannot be happy to be so low on the striking pecking order. Time will tell if this hot transfer property attracts new suitors.

Hugging goodbye?

Chelsea sit second in the Premier League table. Not too bad at this point in the season and given Big Phil Scolari's first season in the Premier League. Yet it seems all is still not well, especially after the 3-0 humiliation at Old Trafford last weekend. With rumors of a dressing room split, players wanting out, and Big Phil's inability to win big games, rumors have surfaced that the Chelsea board (Abromovich) want him out.

Scolari has hit back in his own way by axeing a player that has seemed to cause more harm than good over the last year, as Didier Drogba will miss Chelsea's trip to Southend in the FA Cup as he has been axed by Scolari and told he can leave the club if he is not happy.

If this revelation is true is anyone's guess, yet with Anelka leading the Premier League in scoring and the pair seemingly unable or the manager unwilling to play together, it could be lights out for Drogs at Chelsea.

However, it is more Chelsea style to get rid of the manager in times like these than a player, is it not?

With reports rife that City's executive chairman Garry Cook is in Milan negotiating a deal (not quite a deal, more a coup or a bid worth more than some football clubs), it seems Manchester City may not be that far from landing their next big-name signing.

With €100 million euros reported to be on the table, and a cool £250,000 a week in wages to be offered, money will not be a concern for Kaka, yet his agent proclaims the Brazilian is not in it for the money.

Cases can be made for both sides of this argument of whether Kaka will sign or not, given Robinho's recruiting methods and the draw of the City revolution (although it still looks like the same old City) versus whether or not this is another case of the Arab's money-weilding gone array.

At the beginning of January, Manchester City were linked with a slew of world class talent just as they have been ever since the ADUG takeover. With Lionel Messi, Kaka, Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o, and everyone who has ever been in the international spotlight at any given time for their world-class football abilities being linked to Eastlands, it was mind-blowing to see who or what would come to City when the January transfer window opened.

Then something went wrong...

A bid for Roque Santa Cruz was turned down. The Bayern reject who was bought for £3 million by none other than Mark Hughes, has been held at ransom for a staggering £22 million. Jury's out whether Hughes will follow through, but things get worse.

Then news came that Hughes has launched a double bid for....Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy. The mediocre Hammers pair are hot in Hughes sights. After the world-rocking tranfer of Wayne Bridge, Hughes has lived up to the hype by continuing his stronghold on the market by throwing millions around on top-shelf players. Well, let's say mid-shelf players?

The double bid being rejected, a second Bellamy bid rejected, a Shay Given bid rejected, a Taiwo bid rejected. Something is wrong. Things are not going like Hughes or the rest of Manchester City thought it would.

Perhaps Hughes will want to do some well thought out looking and buying this week. All of the players he has recently been linked with are more of the Blackburn stature than the new money-rich Citizens stature which he is the head of. If he does not get on it I have a strange feeling their might be a new Italian sitting amoungst the Eastlands faithful. (Hint, his son played for City last year. Not Peter Schmeichel).