CORINTHIANS MOVE FOR TEVEZ COLLAPSES

It’s looking like Carlos Tevez will be staying put at Manchester City until at least January, with Corinthians having withdrawn their bid for the striker. 

Despite City stating yesterday they’d accepted a £40million offer from Corinthians, the Brazilian side denied that negotiations were complete and have now pulled out altogether, citing the closing of the Brazilian transfer window tomorrow as the obstacle to the deal’s conclusion.

Corinthians have, however, hinted that they will return in January with a reconstructed bid for Tevez, saying: “We are aware of the dream our fans had of having this player at Corinthians again and we look forward to him being with us in the near future.”

The hope that they will return will provide little comfort for either Tevez or City in the present. The player is desperate to find employment closer to his family in Argentina before the close of the European transfer window at the beginning of September, and City desiring the funds from the deal to go towards a bid for Tevez’s compatriot Sergio Aguero.

CHELSEA LOAN DEAL RAISES AGUERO POSSIBILITY

Chelsea’s imminent new young goalkeeper recruit, Thibaut Courtois, has revealed that once the finishing touches to his move from Genk are complete, he is likely to be loaned out to Atletico Madrid for at least one season, where he will take the place of David de Gea.

This news has led to mutterings that the Atletico deal has been orchestrated by Chelsea as a sweetener to acquire the signature of that club’s hottest asset, a certain Sergio Aguero. 

Chelsea have been linked with Aguero for the last few seasons, but are not believed to have ever made a serious offer.  That could change with Aguero last month informing the world he intends to leave Atletico this summer.

Although Manchester City have been tipped as his most likely destination, Chelsea may have been encouraged to step in due to City’s failure to offload Tevez.

EVERTON MAKE N’ZOGBIA APPROACH

Everton have made an official approach for Wigan wing wonder Charles N’Zogbia.  The Frenchman has garnered a lot of interest this summer, with his club believed to have already turned down a £9million bid from Aston Villa.

The Times reckons the Toffees have made their interest known to Wigan, who are expected to ask for at least £10million. N’Zogbia’s current contract runs out at the end of the season and the club are keen for him to renew, but would rather sell him now than risk losing him for nothing in 12 months time.

STOKE STEP UP CROUCH INTEREST

According to The Daily Mail, Tony Pulis, frustrated so far this summer in his club’s failure to bring in a top striker, is now ready to lodge a substantial offer for Tottenham’s Peter Crouch.

Stoke have seen previous bids for Carlton Cole and Cameron Jerome break down over wage demands and these are players contracted to Championship clubs! If Stoke are serious about bringing England international Crouch to the Potteries, it’s extremely likely they will have to break their existing wage structure.

Spurs will only be willing to sell Crouch if they manage to sign a top replacement, and are believed to be interested in Emmanuel Adebayor (just in case Arsenal had stopped hating him!). Even if such a move comes off, Crouch is thought to be content to stay at White Hart Lane.

BOLTON ON VERGE OF DEAL FOR BARCA YOUNGSTER

Jeffren Suarez, a star of Spain’s European Under-21 Championship-winning side last month, has emerged as a target for Bolton boss Owen Coyle. Such is the surplus of promising talent coming through at the Catalan giants that the club’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has said Suarez can leave this summer.

According to The Mirror, Coyle is an admirer of the winger and Bolton are ready to launch a £5million bid to secure his services.

ON THE CONTINENT

Real Madrid appear to be in the boxseat with regards to signing Neymar.  It’s now emerged that Madrid have an in-principle agreement to sign the Brazilian, with a fee of 45 million euros agreed with Santos should they buy him now, or a cheaper deal on the cards if they wait until January.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has urged Cesc Fabregas to remain calm in his relationship with Arsenal and not demand a move. He also says Alexis Sanchez is the club’s transfer priority.

Former France international and Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord, 37, has joined Nantes on a one-year deal.

OTHER NEWS

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he wouldn’t have blamed Dimitar Berbatov for wanting to leave Manchester United after being left out the team for the Champions League Final against Barcelona. 

Newcastle new boy Yohan Cabaye was initially denied entry into the United States for the club’s pre-season tour due to an alleged unpaid bill for dentistry treatment he’d received in America while a Lille player.

The Premier League’s chief executive Richard Scudamore has raised the prospect of goal-line technology being introduced in time for the start of the 2012/13 season.