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?

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).