City confident of £25m Tevez deal

Manchester City are confident they have the deal in place to sign Carlos Tevez, whose loan contract at Manchester United runs out in 10 days' time.

Sources at the club believe that the Argentine is as good as theirs, despite United's option on the player and the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea. While there is no announcement expected in the next few days – Tevez's adviser Kia Joorabchian was at Royal Ascot yesterday – City believe they will start the new season with Tevez.

The European football fraternity is still waiting for the real movement in the transfer market – even the Cristiano Ronaldo deal to Real Madrid has not really set the dominos falling yet. However, the word around Mark Hughes' staff is that once the major players get moving around the end of this month it will be City who get Tevez for the asking price of £25.5m.

City can offer the best deal to the investment consortium that owns Tevez's rights, they can pay the wages he wants and give him the first-team football he made such a fuss about last season. Unwilling to be drawn into an auction, the rest of English football is waiting to see who City sign before making their moves in the market.

Tottenham have been hopeful of signing Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers but the Paraguayan, who returns to Britain from holiday this weekend, is expected to undergo a medical at City almost immediately.

This means Hughes' long-term target will probably be named a City player early next week. However, the medical is significant: Santa Cruz has not played since March after knee surgery and had longstanding injury problems earlier in his career.

While Samuel Eto'o was the subject of talks between City and Barcelona on Tuesday, the future of the striker still rests upon whether the Spanish club can replace him. Nevertheless, the vast wealth of owner Sheikh Mansour has allowed them to dominate the market this summer, forcing everyone else to postpone their moves until City have shown their hand.

United look untouchable - Wenger

Arsene Wenger has all but admitted Arsenal will not challenge for the Premier League title after describing Manchester United as "untouchable".

Wenger: All but given up on title

United sit two points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand at the top of the table, with Arsenal a worrying 12 points off the pace in fifth.

Wenger, whose Gunners side went unbeaten in 2003/04, is refusing to give up on having a say in the title race but admits the Red Devils are currently some distance clear of the pack.

The two-goal return of Croatia striker Eduardo after a year out in Monday night's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Cardiff gave Arsenal fans reason for cheer, but Wenger has warned that long-time rivals United will take some stopping.

"We are on a very strong run at the moment and we have promised to give everything until the last day of the season but at the moment Manchester United look untouchable," confessed the Arsenal boss.

"They are 12 points ahead of us and they have a game against Fulham which they will certainly win. If they win that they are 15 points in front and that means they need to lose five games.

"Let us say they lose one against us, that still leaves four. They still need to lose four other games, which they haven't done yet this season.

"But our basic target is to get into the Champions League and therefore the championship remains a priority."

Jo 'at home' at Goodison Park

verton's newest signing Jo says the warm welcome he has received at Goodison Park has enabled him to settle quickly on Merseyside.

Jo: At the double against Bolton

With David Moyes short of fit strikers, he bolstered his attacking options before the transfer window closed by landing Jo on loan.

The Brazilian mustered only one Premier League goal for Manchester City but has already exceeded that at Everton after his brace in the win over Bolton.

The former CSKA Moscow striker has revealed being thrown in at the deep end by Moyes was a confidence-booster in itself.

"It makes a difference going into a settled team full of mates rather than an all-star one of strangers," said Jo. "City are trying to build a team, it is a new project, so it is a lot different than here.

"The players are still going to know each other, so it is something that is still building up.

"But here everything was right from the start, the players made me feel really welcome. I felt at home from the first moment I walked in.

"The manager has put a lot of trust in me so when I went into the game I felt confident, even though I'd not played in a while."

United taking small steps to glory

Manchester United will carry on chasing progress in four competitions and try not to worry about winning the lot, according to Mike Phelan.

Phelan: One step at a time

The newly-crowned Club World champions have already booked a Carling Cup final appearance against Tottenham at the start of next month, and beat West Ham on Sunday to regain a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand on second-placed Liverpool.

They also have a Champions League last-16 clash with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan to look forward to, although before that comes a trip to Derby on Sunday at the same stage of the FA Cup.

Yet as each game passes in a congested fixture list, so the murmurings of an unprecedented quadruple become louder, not that the United camp are paying any notice.

"Everybody wants the four trophies but it has never been done," reflected Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Phelan.

"It is obviously difficult and we are just happy to be in it at the moment, getting nearer to the finishing line in every competition.

"The club has been built to sustain challenges in four competitions, so now we will look to the FA Cup and try to pick the right team for Sunday."

The awesome strength of United's squad can be seen in the fact Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Wes Brown were not even called upon to sit on the bench after their recent injuries.

In addition, Gary Neville has a virus, while Owen Hargreaves has been written off altogether this season as he recovers from two knee operations to cure a tendinitis problem.

Yet still United find themselves clear of the pack following the win at Upton Park, knowing their lead on Liverpool will widen to five points, with Aston Villa and Chelsea eight and 10 points adrift respectively, should they win that extra match against Fulham at Old Trafford on February 18.

It is hard to see anyone closing that gap, yet Phelan is refusing to take anything for granted.

"It is a race, that is the thing," he said. "Where the challenge comes from doesn't really matter.

"If we train well and play well, pick the right team and the players do their jobs we have a good chance to capitalise."

Carragher: Torres key to title tilt

Jamie Carragher believes Fernando Torres' return to goalscoring form is vital to Liverpool's Premier League title challenge this season.

Torres followed up his brace against Chelsea with the dramatic late winner at Portsmouth on Saturday to briefly take the Reds back above Manchester United in the race for the Premier League crown.
United moved to the top once again after winning 1-0 at West Ham, and Carragher told the club's official website: "Fernando is massive to our title challenge. It's credit to the players and the staff that we are where we are considering he's been missing for a long time this season.
"To get him back, the way he's been firing against Chelsea with a couple of great goals and then he's done the damage against Portsmouth has gained us an extra four points in two Premier League games.
"If he can keep doing that for the rest of the season then we'll run whoever it is close for the title.
"At the moment Fernando is just coming back to fitness and he played into extra-time on Wednesday and now he'll be going away with Spain so given the injuries he's had this season the manager is being very careful with him. He's doing okay with the goals he's scoring but he's not quite 100%. Given that, if he keeps coming on and scoring then we've got something to look forward to in the coming months when he is fully fit."

Drogba: Blues will turn corner

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba admits he is currently finding things "a little difficult" but has vowed to help the club get back on track.

Drogba (r): Confident things will get better

Drogba has fallen out of favour under Luiz Felipe Scolari, and his introduction in place of Ricardo Quaresma against Hull on Saturday prompted taunts of 'You don't know what you're doing' from fans towards the Blues boss.

But the 30-year-old is confident both he and the west London outfit - who slipped to fourth in the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by the Tigers - will overcome their current troubles.

"It's a little difficult at the moment, but we will find ways to return," he told L'Equipe. "I hope in the Champions League we will do well.

"You can't have a 10-year career where everything is great. I am in a period like that - a little less good.

"Is this difficult to experience? If I say no, people will say I am not ambitious. If I say yes, people will think I am demoralised when it is really not the case.

"It is not easy but it is not the end of the world. The main thing is that I am in good health physically."

The Ivory Coast frontman, who stopped off in France en route to Turkey for Wednesday's friendly international, played down talk he could be interested in a return to Marseille.

"Nino (Wiltord) is there and Brandao has just arrived. Let's trust these people rather than talk about Drogba," he said after watching his former team beat Bordeaux 1-0 at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday.

City complete swoop for De Jong

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has completed his second signing of the week with the capture of Dutch international Nigel de Jong.

The 24-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with the Eastlands club, after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical on Wednesday.

It is thought De Jong will link up with his new team-mates for Wednesday's Premier League match against Newcastle, when he is expected to make his debut.

Although the deal has taken a couple of days to complete, Hamburg boss Martin Jol was resigned to De Jong's exit on Monday.

City are refusing to say how much they have paid for De Jong but it is believed to be around £17million.

The player, who has 29 international caps, will bring some added steel to the City midfield, offering cover to the more flamboyant members of Mark Hughes' squad.

Although he will not be eligible for the remainder of City's European campaign, he should be a major figure in the club's attempt to clamber into a higher Premier League position.

De Jong played against City in a pre-season friendly last summer and is a former team-mate of another recent recruit, Vincent Kompany, who he should play alongside in the Blues' engine room.

De Jong said of his move: "I feel very good and for me it is the next step in my own career after three years in Germany and I hope to be successful at Manchester City.

"The ideas and the planning behind this club are very hopeful and it is a new adventure so I am delighted to be here right now."

De Jong represents City's third signing of the transfer window, following on from Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy, who completed his move north from West Ham on Monday.

However, the Blues did miss out on their number one target when Kaka opted to snub the riches on offer at City and stay with AC Milan.

Lucky Spurs reach Carling Cup final

Tottenham survived a major scare to reach the Carling Cup final despite losing 3-2 to Burnley in the semi-final second leg at Turf Moor.

Goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe deep into extra time eventually sealed a Wembley date with Manchester United on March 1 after a 6-4 aggregate win, but only after the Clarets had hauled themselves to within three minutes of pulling off the finest comeback in League Cup history.

Spurs were odds-on to finish the job after defeating their Championship opponents 4-1 in the first leg, but a timid and toothless performance from the visitors nearly put paid to their hopes of defending the trophy as they found themselves 3-0 down and lucky to reach the 90 minute mark still in the competition.

Robbie Blake's superb free-kick in the first half gave Burnley hope that they could pull off an unprecedented comeback, and hope turned to real belief with 18 minutes to go when Chris McCann swept home the hosts' second.

With Spurs visibly shaken, substitute Jay Rodriguez swept home an aggregate leveller with three minutes remaining to take the tie to extra time.

Spurs created little in the extra half-hour until Pavlyuchenko swept home the goal that put his sideback in the driving seat in the 117th minute, before Defoe grabbed second just before the final whistle.

Harry Redknapp made six changes from the side that drew with Portsmouth on Sunday including handing a debut to young goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, with first-choice stopper Heurelho Gomes ruled out with the groin injury he picked up on Spurs' last visit to the north west, a 1-0 defeat at Wigan 10 days ago.

Alnwick was called into action early on to spare the blushes of team-mate Benoit Assou Ekotto when the full-back inexplicably lofted his backpass towards his own goal and had it not been for the former Sunderland stopper leaping to tip the ball to safety, Burnley would have had the early goal they craved.

Brian Jensen diverted Defoe's drive from distance safely around the post a minute later but with Tottenham struggling to keep the ball, it was the only time during the first half that the huge keeper was called into action.

Burnley's industry and desire kept the Premier League side pegged back in their own half for much of the opening half-hour, so it was of little surprise when Coyle's men took the lead in the 33rd minute, with a wonderful free-kick from Blake.

The former Bradford and Leeds striker - looking to follow up his brilliant free-kick in the defeat at local rivals Preston on Saturday - lined up a set-piece from 25 yards out, level with the right side of the penalty area, but with Alnwick expecting a cross, Blake lifted the ball over the two-man wall, beating the Spurs debutant at his near post.

Gareth Bale, on for the injured Jamie O'Hara, spurned a great chance to kill off the tie just after the hour mark, by pulling his shot horribly wide with only Jensen to beat and in the 72nd minute, Spurs were made to regret the young Welshman's profligacy.

Blake picked the ball up on the left before teasing and torturing Chris Gunther to create the space to deliver a low cross which was turned home from close range by McCann.

Pavlyuchenko wasted another chance to make the last 15 minutes more comfortable for the visitors, side-footing wide from close range and again, Tottenham were made to pay.

With only three minutes remaining, Blake delivered a free-kick from deep into the Spurs box which Alnwick failed to claim. Substitute Jay Rodriguez was first to the loose ball, tapping home into the empty net to spark wild scenes of celebration at Turf Moor.

Jensen parried Tom Huddlestone's curling effort in the fourth minute of extra time as Tottenham went in search of the goal they needed to stay in the competition as Burnley sat back, content to defend their away-goals advantage.

The hosts could not hold on however, and Pavlyuchenko swept home the all-important Spurs goal in the 117th minute, before Defoe rubbed salt in the Clarets' wounds by beating Jensen from inside the box in the final minute of added time.

Manutd vs Derby 1st half highlights