The Sweeper: Pellegrini arrival could prompt Tevez stay

The 59-year-old's appointment could see the Argentina international stay at Manchester City while Tottenham and Internacional will talk transfers at the Champions League final

Carlos Tevez could be set to stay at Manchester City

PELLEGRINI COULD PROMPT TEVEZ RETHINK

The imminent arrival of Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City’s new manager could impact on the futures of several players in the club’s squad - not least Carlos Tevez.

The Argentine striker has just one year left on his contract and City had been preparing for his departure this summer, with big-spending Monaco considering moving for the 29-year-old forward as well as Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra.

Tevez continually clashed with former boss Roberto Mancini and missed much of the 2011-12 season after going on strike following his refusal to warm-up as a substitute during a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

City are understood to be planning talks with Tevez and his representative, Kia Joorabchian, next week, with strong suggestions that chief executive Ferran Soriano will offer the 29-year-old a lucrative new contract.

Tevez, for his part, is believed to be impressed with the arrival of Pellegrini, a fellow South American who speaks Spanish, and is ready to stay at the Etihad Stadium next season.

His current deal is worth £198,000-a-week and City are unlikely to offer him a contract on the same terms, despite the fact that Monaco could match his wage demands.

Juventus have also shown an interest in the former Manchester United and West Ham forward, who has constantly expressed his desire to return to South America.

SPURS TO MEET WITH INTERNACIONAL OVER DAMIAO

The Champions League final brings hundreds of Europe’s top executives to London this weekend, with a number of clubs hoping to take the opportunity to talk transfer business.

The likes of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will be among the 20,000-plus guests of the ‘Uefa family’ when Bayern Munich take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday.

The Spanish giants are preparing a monster bid for Tottenham star Gareth Bale, although the Welshman has already agreed to a new contract that will keep him at White Hart Lane next season.

Tottenham may use the chance to make some strides forward themselves, with Internacional president Giovanni Luigi expected to meet with the Londoners concerning their long-term pursuit of Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao.

SPURS COACH FAILED VILLAS-BOAS

The Sweeper revealed last summer that Tottenham academy coach Chris Ramsey played a key role in the identification of Andre Villas-Boas as the club’s manager.


What we did not mention was that as an FA coaching assessor, Ramsey failed a young Villas-Boas when the Portuguese was taking his Uefa B license.

Ramsey need not worry about any retribution, though. He is highly regarded at White Hart Lane, with insiders describing him as the best coach at the club.

Beckham's MLS plans put on hold by Manchester City

The former England international had been looking for a venture in the United States, according to commissioner Don Garber, but will now take a step back to consider his options

David Beckham's plans to buy an MLS franchise have been put on hold after Manchester Cityannounced a partnership with the New York Yankees to form New York City FC.

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is set to retire from football at the end of the season but retains an option to buy a new franchise in United States.However, MLS commissioner Don Garber has revealed that Beckham's plans have stalled following City's recent announcement.

"We've got some work to do on our next couple of teams," Garber told reporters. "We're pretty focused on taking a deep breath after this [New York] announcement and have got to figure out how to manage David's interests and figure out what kind of expansion would still make sense for us.

"We still don't have teams to the south of Washington DC and that represents 70 to 80 million people, which is bigger than the population of United Kingdom, but we have got to figure that out and we have got to do it at the right time, with the right facility plan.

"David has spent some time looking in Miami and we have been looking at the market there as well but Miami is proving to be a difficult sports market in America in itself.

"It's got a unique community, fabulous diversity which are all things I think are very positive for our sport but there are clearly weather issues there.

"We are a spring/summer sport and it gets pretty hot in Miami. We haven't been able to make any progress on a stadium and facility plan, so we have got to spend some time on that."

Although Beckham may not be set for an imminent return to MLS, Garber was quick to praise the former England international for the impact that he has made on the sport in America.

"David was great for us," he added. "Everything we asked David to do off the field, he did. He flew back from the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and came to play that morning in our All Star game against Chelsea, which we won.

"David sort of transcends sport in so many ways and now he wants to transcend his playing career into a business career.

"David really believed in MLS, he elevated the appeal and popularity of our sport. He took it off the sports pages and pushed it into the popular-culture scene and around the world and this new relationship [with Manchester City] will help to do the same thing."

Manchester City rule out Aguero sale

Chief executive Ferran Soriano says the club would reject any offer for the Argentine striker, and revealed that the club are closing in on new signings

Manchester City are adamant that Sergio Aguero will not be leaving the club this summer, amid speculation linking the Argentine forward with a move to Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old joined the Premier League runners-up in 2011 from Atletico Madrid, scoring 30 goals in his maiden season for the club, but only notching 12 goals in an injury-hampered 2012-13 campaign.

And now chief executive Ferran Soriano has categorically ruled out the sale of City's star forward, and says Aguero has no desire to leave the defeated FA Cup finalists.

"I can be really clear on this one. He’s not leaving. This has gone on and on and on," Soriano told reporters.

"We’ve had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed the willingness to go.

"We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say 'no'."

City have been linked with a host of world-class players as they seek to regain the Premier League title next season, with Goal reporting that Isco, Fernandinho and Edinson Cavani are all on their wanted list.

And Soriano revealed that the club are on the verge of tying up several deals for new players as they look to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.

“Yes we are [close to bringing in new players]," Soriano continued.

"The way we want to work is identify the positions we want to improve, identify the candidates and then work on that.

"We’re at the closing phase with several of them but the closing phase can take one week or sometimes three months.

"We’ve been analysing the positions we want to improve and the market since the start of November.

"So we know what we want and we’re ready to go for the players that we want."

Sky blue thinking: Manchester City officially launch £72m Nike deal with new kit

Manchester City have officially launched their new £72million kit deal with American sportswear giant Nike and revealed next season's home kit in New York.

City announced last year they would switch brand from Umbro, previously owned by Nike, after agreeing a deal worth £12m per year over six years.

The agreement underlines City's determination to grow their commercial income in the upcoming era of financial fair play.

New look: Manchester City launched this kit in New York on Tuesday afternoon

Trim: The sky-blue jersey is complete with a navy and white lining

City launched their first Nike kit at a media event in New York, where the team are currently based on their post-season tour.

Stars Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Jack Rodwell, Carlos Tevez, James Milner and Matija Nastasic, revealed the strip, which is the traditional sky blue with white and navy trim.

The deposed Premier League champions said of their new home kit: 'The kit pays homage to City’s heritage while reflecting the future. The shirt is a classic football design, and unmistakably City, featuring a sky blue body with a white ribbed crew neck and cuffs.

'The collar and cuffs also feature a dark blue trim to represent the colour of the socks City wore as a part of one of their first ever kits in 1892. Weighing only 150 grams, and made from recycled polyester, it is the lightest shirt Nike has ever produced.'

The club crest has been embroidered inside the shield shape to pay tribute to the Manchester coat of arms and inside the neck, the words 'Pride in Battle' are stitched, the translation of the club motto Superbia in Proelio.

Goalkeeper Hart also had his new green kit to show off in the New York sunshine. The City crest is on top of a green shield with white stripes on the shoulders.

City will wear the new kit for the first time when they take on Chelsea at the Busch Stadium in St Louis on Thursday and Yankee Stadium in New York on Saturday.

Nike, who also unveiled the new England kit on Monday, added: 'The kit showcases Nike’s inherent belief in style, craft and strong aesthetics, while aiding the performance of players with key technological features.'


Tom Glick, City's chief commercial and operating officer, said: "We are delighted to join forces with Nike.

Eye on the ball: James Milner shows off City's new strip in New York

Getting involved: Gael Clichy tries the sky-blue strip out for size

'Having them as our new technical kit partner demonstrates City's growing global appeal, and we look forward to working alongside Nike to build and engage our fanbase around the world.

'Nike's extensive distribution networks will ensure the club's presence in markets stretching from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas and that our fans everywhere can find a City shirt.'

As well as playing matches against Chelsea, City are also undertaking a number of commercial and community activities in New York to bolster awareness of their brand.

The club have also announced they have acquired the rights to Major League Soccer's 20th expansion franchise from 2015 in a partnership with the New York Yankees.