The talks between AC Milan and Manchester City over Carlos Tevez seem to have hit a standstill.
Manchester City is maintaining its firm stance that it will not loan Tevez anywhere this winter and is instead only seeking a permanent transfer for the wantaway Argentine striker.
"When Manchester City buy a player, they have to pay a lot of money," City manager Roberto Mancini told The Guardian. "But when we want to sell them, they have to go on loan. This is not good. It is not correct for the other players. Manchester City paid Carlos a lot of money for three years. It is correct that if one club – it could be Milan, Juventus, PSG, Inter – want him, they pay for his value."
Milan, meanwhile, claims that it doesn't have the funds for such a move right now and could take Tevez on loan now while coming up with a full move in the summer. Officials from City and Milan are reportedly scheduled to meet about the player, who hasn't played since Sept. 21, on Thursday.
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SOUTH KOREA LOOKING AT BRUCE
When Steve Bruce got fired from his post as Sunderland manager, most figured he would catch on somewhere else in England, where he's managed for the duration of his 13-year coaching career. Instead, his career could be making a pretty radical turn.
Bruce is reportedly a leading candidate to coach the South Korean national team, with the country's federation looking for a replacement for the ousted Cho Kwang-Rae. The link between Bruce and South Korea has been established through Sunderland owner Ellis Short and his business partners in the country.
South Korea has qualified for each of the last seven World Cups, but Cho struggled while trying to replicate the success of Huh Jung-Moo, who guided South Korea to the knockout round at the 2010 World Cup.
Bruce has never coached on the international level, and he was never capped by England during his playing days either. He would be the first English manager for South Korea, which has turned to foreign coaches such as Dutchmen Pim Verbeek and Guus Hiddink in the past.
CITY, UNITED SQUABBLE OVER FA CUP TICKETS
No stone is left unturned when it comes to the Manchester City-Manchester United rivalry these days.
The latest spat involves tickets for the clubs' third-round FA Cup meeting next month. The FA stipulates that clubs must allocate 15 percent of their available tickets to visiting supporters. City, which is hosting the match, is only offering up 5,500 tickets (about 11 percent) instead of 7,100. That move is in response to United having a special ruling that allows the club to only offer up about 11 percent of seats at Old Trafford, which is in place because of the atypical large seating capacity there.
United has reportedly lodged an official complaint to the FA in order to seek the full 7,100 tickets, with a result pending.
SUBWAY STRIKE THREATENS EPL GAMES
This year's Boxing Day slate in England could be a little less full than usual.
A planned strike by London's subway drivers may force clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea to postpone their Dec. 26 Boxing Day matches against Wolves and Fulham, respectively. The strike, which is reportedly over holiday shifts and wages, would also potentially impact London clubs in the country's lower division.
A strike would severly hamper supporters and stadium workers from being able to attend the matches, which in turn would force the clubs to push their games to another date. The strike, if executed, is slated for four specific days as opposed to one elongated stretch, meaning that the games could be played as early as the following day. A ruling that could prevent the strike from happening is expected on Wednesday.
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Where do you see Tevez ultimately winding up? Does Bruce coaching South Korea seem like a natural fit to you? Who do you side with in the ticket fiasco, City or United?
Share your thoughts below.