Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is ready to leave Old Trafford to join La Liga giants Real Madrid. The Argentine international is understood to be fed up with sitting on the bench at the Premier League Champions and is now preparing for a January exit.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has always spoke of his desire [...]

Manchester United have today beaten local rivals Manchester City 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium, however the main talking point has to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card. Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal of the game to hand United all three points but it was Ronaldo who grabbed all the headlines.
The Portuguese winger was [...]

Liverpool and Manchester City have today joined Tottenham in the race to sign Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. The England international has been heavily linked with a January exit from the Riverside, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp understood to be winning the race, however now both Mark Hughes and Rafa Benitez are ready to start a massive bidding war for the player.

The 24-year old only recently signed a new long-term deal at Boro which will keep him at the club until 2013 and Gareth Southgate has recently spoke of his desire to keep Downing at the club. Downing has been at Boro for over seven years now since joining back in 2001 and has since gone on to make over 180 appearances for the club.

It appears unlikely now that he will remain a Boro player any longer with Benitez, Redknapp and Hughes all prepared to meet the club’s valuation of £12 million for the player. Personally, I feel that on his day, there is no better left winger in the Premier League than Downing, however for me he doesn’t have enough of those days. I think a lot of people will agree with me when I say, he is a bit overrated and that whoever does eventually sign him may be making a big mistake.

Either Liverpool, Spurs or City will have to pay more than £5.5 million for Downing, but you won’t. Yes, the former Sunderland man costs just that in this season’s “You the Manager” and he may be worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

Yes, during a poll that has been running on Football Corner over the past week or so, you the readers were unanimous in your decision. We asked you whether or not you thought the FA’s “Respect the Ref” campaign was working and the answer by some distance was no.

Here is the full result of the poll :

No – 40 votes (67%)
Kind of - 10 votes (17%)
Yes – 9 votes (16%)

Total Votes : 59

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted and I would encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll. Who will be top of the Premier League on Christmas day? The poll can be found on the top right of the site, so place your votes now.

Tottenham and Arsenal have today been linked with a move for Fulham defender Brede Hangeland. The Norwegian defender is stalling a signing a new contract at Craven Cottage and now both Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger are keen to take advantage of the situation.

The former FC Copenhagen man has been one of Fulham’s top performers this season and has caught the attentions of both North London clubs. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is desperate to bring a new centre-back to the Emirates come January, with William Gallas likely to depart after his recent troubles.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been linked with several defenders since arriving at the club, however Hangeland is now seen as a possible acquisition. I have always thought that Hangeland has never really got the credit he deserves because he has been brilliant since arriving the Premier League. He is only 27 and I feel he would be a very decent signing for either Spurs or Arsenal.

Hangeland must be worth a look in this season’s “You the Manager”. The 6ft 5in defender costs just £3 million and I would strongly really recommend you put him in your team. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

The pressure is mounting on Sunderland boss Roy Keane after his side fell to their 8th Premier League defeat this afternoon in humiliating fashion. The Black Cats were beating 4-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers, a defeat which leaves everyone wondering how long Keane will remain at the club.

The former Manchester United captain yesterday spoke about possibly leaving the club at the end of his current deal, which expires at the end of the season. Sunderland currently lie 18th in the Premier League after today’s results and look in desperate need of a result.

It doesn’t get any easier for Keane. His side travel to Old Trafford next weekend to face the Premier League and Champions League Champions, Manchester United. Although we are not even half-way through the season, I personally worry for Sunderland. People often talk about second season syndrome and I feel that is just what is happening to Sunderland.

Today marked Keane’s 100th game in charge of the club and I am sure not many results will have annoyed him as much as the one today. Keane brought in a whole host of new faces in the summer, many of which have failed to make any sort of impact. Although I doubt Niall Quinn will have the balls to sack Keane, I don’t think Keane will remain Sunderland manager beyond the end of this campaign.

Tottenham are lining up a £12 million move for Bordeaux striker Fernando Cavenaghi. Harry Redknapp is desperate to add to his striking options once the January transfer window opens after Spurs lost Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United on deadline day last summer.

Cavenaghi, 25, has an impressive scoring record in Ligue 1 with Bordeaux, scoring a goal every other game. The Argentine international has previously been linked with a move to White Hart Lane but for whatever reasons he remains a Bordeaux player, however that may not be the case come February 1st.

Spurs have been linked with a whole host of strikers, including the likes of Lukas Podolski and Andrei Arshavin, since Redknapp’s arrival at the club earlier this season. The former Portsmouth manager is likely to be given a hefty sum of money to spend in the January transfer window and Redknapp is preparing to splash a chunk of it on Cavenaghi.

Personally, I feel Cavenaghi would be a terrific signing for Spurs. Although their form has improved in recent weeks, I think it is vital they strengthen their attacking options and signing Cavenaghi would be a great start. They probably need to sign another one or two strikers if they are to challenge for a Top 6 spot in the Premier League this season.

Now here’s a great chance to win a hefty some of money. The Daily Mirror’s fantasy football game “You the Manager” is giving away £10,000 to the Manager of the Month for December and you never know, it could be you.

Yes, all you have to do is follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning the top prize. There is also £500 up for grabs for 2nd place and £250 for 3rd place. It costs £5 to enter and you can also avail of an offer which entitles you to five teams for the price of four.

When you sign-up you will have a £60 million budget to spend on eleven players (you must have a 4-3-3 formation). Here are some players who I feel are definitely worth a look : Petr Cech (Chelsea) – £5 million, Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) – £6 million, Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) – £4 million, Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) – £8 million, Crisitiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) – £9 million, Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) – £5 million.

So enter your team now by following the link below.

AC Milan star Kaka continues to be linked with a move to the world’s richest club, Manchester City. The Brazilian international has been talking about one day moving to the Premier League and with Man City boss Mark Hughes ready to splash the cash come January, Kaka is now seen as a possible acquisition.

The 26-year old is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the world and has won several awards during his career. Since joining Milan back in 2003 from Brazilian side Santos, Kaka has made over 240 appearances for the Italian giants, scoring 80 times in the process.

Kaka has had this to say on the matter : “I like the Premier League. It’s a great championship with big players and big teams … I know it is the best league in the world. So one day, maybe – I don’t know when but it would be great to play in the Premier League.”

The current FIFA World Player of the Year went on to talk about his relationship with international team-mate Robinho : “I have a lot of friends who are playing there so I am watching some games … I speak with Robinho sometimes about Manchester City.”

Although I would love to see Kaka come to the Premier League in January, I just can’t see it happening. I have always been a massive fan of Kaka’s and I feel the sooner he comes to England the better, however I think it will be at least another year or two before we see him in the country. As a City fan myself, I must admit I am over the moon to see us linked with player’s of the quality of Kaka but I don’t know whether or not we will manage to get them. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and gossip.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had today been told he will have money to spend when the January transfer window opens. The North London club have struggled this season, currently lying 5th in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool and Chelsea, with fans demanding investment in the team.

The Gunners spent just £18.55 million on new players during the summer, a figure that was well behind some of their nearest rivals. Liverpool spent more money on Robbie Keane than Arsenal spent all summer, whilst Manchester United spent over £30 million on Dimitar Berbatov.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood had this to say about the matter : “He certainly has money if he wants to spend it … There have been suggestions we keep stopping him from buying – that is not the case … He’s very sensible with the way he approaches the transfer market, he’s not going to buy anybody just because the press or fans say he should … He’s only going to buy somebody if he thinks they’re going to improve what is a young squad but a very talented one.”

Although I do admire Wenger’s ability to integrate one of the youngsters into the first team, I do however feel he needs to sign a £25 million player in order to have a chance of competing for titles. It may of been OK for Wenger just to spend £10 million here and there and different players five years ago, but now clubs have so much money and they are using it and if Arsenal aren’t careful they could fall behind.