Tottenham have completed the transfer of Man City forward Emmanuel Adebayor for $7.89 million. Adebayor formally played for Tottenham’s fierce local rivals Arsenal, before leaving for the Etihad stadium in a 25 million pound deal.
The 28-year-old spent a successful loan spell with Spurs last year, bagging 17 Premier League goals to help the club finish fourth.
As one of City’s highest earners, the forward’s wage demands looked to have scuppered any chance of the deal being made permanent, with Spurs refusing to break their wage.
City have agreed to subsidize Adebayor’s income in order to complete the deal, with the BBC reporting that Tottenham will pay just 80,000 pounds of the 175,000 pounds he will continue to receive weekly.
Liverpool have emerged as the favorites to sign midfielder Adam Johnson from Manchester City, but face stiff competition from Sunderland for the England international’s signature.
Johnson is keen to leave the Etihad Stadium in order to bolster his international career, after being left out of Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2012.
A number of clubs have been linked with the winger but British daily The Independent reports that Liverpool have jumped to the front of the queue after manager Brendan Rodgers was given the green light to move ahead with the transfer by the club’s owners.
Rodgers retains interest in Barcelona winger Tello although Johnson is understood to be his first choice.
Johnson joined the English champions from Middlesbrough in 2010 but saw less playing time than he would have liked as City marched toward the Premier League title.
“I’m the kind of player that needs to be playing regularly,” Johnson recently said. “Any player does, really, no matter what age they are. I need to play week-in week-out. You can’t just go into one game after not having played for five and be expected to perform.
“It would be nice to get a run of games with England but I’m not sure if I’ll get that chance at City.”
The Sunderland Echo reports that Sunderland are determined not to be beaten by Liverpool after losing out to City for the player in 2010, and are said to be willing to pull out all the stops to land the 25-year-old.
Black Cats chairman Ellis Short is believed to have prepared a lucrative financial package for Johnson, with the club willing to meet City’s 10 million pound ($15.77 million) asking price.
City could also lose star midfielder David Silva after negotiations between the two parties failed to reach agreement on a contract extension.
The Premier League champions have been in talks with the Spanish midfielder’s representatives since June, with The Telegraph reporting the player is seeking parity with the club’s top earners.
Both Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure are said to earn in excess of 200,000 pounds a week at the club, and Silva is believed to be asking for a pay raise after establishing himself as one of City’s key players.
Silva joined the Citizens in 2010 from Valencia in a deal worth a reported 24 million pounds, and despite initial uneasiness about Manchester’s climate he is thought to want to stay in the city.
This is unlikely to deter Barcelona who are thought to have identified the 26-year-old as the long-term successor to playmaker Xavi.
Silva’s contract runs until 2014, but City are prepared to continue negotiations with the Spanish international who was instrumental as Spain won Euro 2012, scoring the first goal in the final against Italy.
The Guardian reports that Swansea midfielder Scott Sinclair is close to sealing a 5 million pound switch to City, after the English champions made a formal offer for the 23-year-old.
The former Chelsea winger has told Swansea that he will not sign a new deal with the club, with Swans coach Alan Curtis admitting that a move to Manchester is looking increasingly likely.
“He’s not really interested in signing a new contract and I think Man City have made a bid,” Curtis said. “So it’s just a matter of time now before it happens and it’s good for both parties.”
QPR midfielder Joey Barton is expected to join French side Marseille on a season-long loan. A deal between the two clubs has already been agreed in principle, and the 29-year-old is thought to be open to a move to France.
Barton is currently serving a 12-match ban after his part in a fracas on the final day of the 2011/12 season which saw him react violently to being sent off. The player was also fined six weeks wages and stripped of the captaincy by the London-based club.
Should he join Marseilles, the Football Association will decide whether Barton’s ban will be served when he is in France or upon his return to the U.K.
Liverpool forward Andy Carroll has been told by the club to make a decision about his future or expect to spend the majority of this season on the substitutes’ bench.
The club are determined not to be forced into doing business on the final day of transfers, and want the England player to make up his mind about whether to switch clubs this summer.
Newcastle want to re-sign Carroll for considerably less than the 20 million pound valuation quoted by the Anfield club, although the Reds are determined not to let this happen.
“We will only do what is best for Liverpool Football Club, and that means we need time to find replacements if any players go,” a club insider told The Daily Mirror.
Carroll has so far refused to join West Ham, Aston Villa and Fulham, although Tottenham are reportedly readying a bid for the 23-year-old.
