Football Corner

Carlos Tevez has today urged Manchester United to cough up the £32 million needed to make his move to the Premier League Champions permanent. The Argentine international currently has six months left of a two-year loan deal at Old Trafford and it has been speculated in recent weeks that Real Madrid could enter the market for the player.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has always stated his desire to sign Tevez on a permanent basis, however, United have so far failed to fork out the money needed to do so. Tevez, 24, controversially signed for the Red Devils a year and a half ago from West Ham and has since gone on to become a real fan favourite at the club.

Although I think Tevez has been brilliant for United over the last 18 months or so, I do feel £32 million is a bit too much to be paying for a player who sits on the bench every week. It will be very interesting to see how this one materialises because having spent £30 million on a new striker in the summer (Dimitar Berbatov) I think United may be a bit reluctant to spend the same kind of money on Tevez.

Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear has today told Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham that Magpies keeper Shay Given is not for sale. The Republic of Ireland international is heavily fancied to leave St James' Park this month, with Arsene Wenger, Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp all interested in the player, however Kinnear has today told them to look elsewhere for a new keeper.

Newcastle currently sit 14th in the Premier League table and according to Given's lawyer, Michael Kennedy , the player is considering his future at the club following the side's most recent defeat to Liverpool.

When asked about the possibility of Given leaving the club this month, Joe Kinnear had this to say : " He is our player and he is going to stay our player, it's as simple as that ... We are not interested at all in selling him. I want to clear that - that is probably the last time I will be talking about it ... He is an integral part of the team, he is the best goalkeeper by miles in the league, so why should we jeopardise our chances in the position we are in?"

Although Kinnear has made these defiant comments regarding Given's future at the club, I still wouldn't be surprised to see Given force his way out of the club in the coming weeks. Shay has never hid his desire to win trophies in his career and with no disrespect to Newcastle, he is not going to win a single one on Tyneside. Personally, I feel a move to Manchester City may be in the offing considering the club's new found wealth.

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Jermain Defoe's days as a Portsmouth player appear numbered after Pompey executive chairman, Peter Storrie admitted he would not stand in the way of Defoe leaving Fratton Park. It has been widely speculated in recent days that Defoe could make a speedy return to White Hart Lane as Harry Redknapp looks to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window.

When asked about Jermain Defoe, Storrie had this to say : "It looks like Jermain wants to go. That is something we will be speaking to him about .... If Jermain goes it will be at our price and if there is an offer which appeals. We have always said we do not keep people who do not want to play for Portsmouth. We do not have to sell anyone but if he wants to go that is a different matter."

It is understood that Pompey will look for at least £12 million for Defoe, a figure that Spurs are likely to cough up. There is no doubt Spurs need a new striker and personally, I think Defoe would be a terrific signing. When Juande Ramos sold Defoe to Pompey last January, there were a lot of raised eyebrows amongst Spurs fans (and indeed football fans). It is clear that Redknapp likes him a lot and I feel this move will go through within the next week or so

Manchester City are to complete the signing of Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge within the next 24 hours. The England left-back has struggled to feature in Luis Filipe Scolari's plans at Stamford Bridge since the Portuguese manager's arrival at the club last summer.

Bridge, 28, has been linked with a move to the City of Manchester Stadium all season long and it finally appears as though City and Chelsea have reached an agreement. It is understood the deal will cost City anywhere between £12 million and £15 million, a fee which in my view is way too much for a player that has made about ten appearances in four years.

City boss Mark Hughes insisted just this morning that the world's richest club (Manchester City) would not be held to ransom in the transfer market but judging by this move, I think he may have been lying. As a City fan myself, to say I'm annoyed is an understatement. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but £15 million for Wayne Bridge .... come on. I hope this is not a sign of things to come in January for City.