Balotelli charged and facing four match ban

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is facing a four-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the FA. The 21-year-old has until 6pm today to respond to the charge, which relates to an incident in which he appeared to catch Scott Parker’s head with his foot during Sunday’s 3-2 Barclays Premier League win over Tottenham. The one consolation for City is that Joleon Lescott will face no further action for catching Younes Kaboul in the face with his forearm in a separate incident at the Etihad Stadium. If he accepts his charge, Balotelli will miss the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool at Anfield. However, should the Italy international decide to appeal, he will be free to face the Merseyside giants, with a hearing taking place later this week. It would seem, though, Balotelli would be at risk of getting the suspension extended if he took that course of action as referee Howard Webb informed the FA yesterday that, had he seen the Italian’s apparent stamp, he would have sent the City player off. It is a view widely shared across the game, with a succession of former players and managers arguing that Balotelli should have been sent off. That he went on to score the injury-time penalty that gave City their win, only heightened Harry Redknapp’s discomfort immediately after the game. "I don’t like people kicking other people in the head on a football pitch," said the Tottenham boss after the game. "It is not something I understand. "Why should he go and back-heel someone in the head when he is on the floor?" If he accepts the charge, Balotelli would also miss the Premier League trips to Everton and Aston Villa, plus the home encounter with Fulham on February 4. It is the latest in a long line of disciplinary issues involving Balotelli since his arrival from Inter Milan at the beginning of last season, and for City during January. Gareth Barry was sent off for two bookable offences during the recent Premier League encounter with Liverpool, meaning he missed the FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United. It was the early dismissal of Vincent Kompany for a two-footed tackle on Nani during that game that infuriated manager Roberto Mancini. City failed to overturn the Belgian’s four-match suspension, which he completes tomorrow. Now the City manager must face being without a key member of his squad for four crucial games whilst midfielder Yaya Toure is still absent on African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast. Sky pundit Graeme Souness described Balotelli as "a car crash waiting to happen", indicating the 21-year-old could cost City the title. Balotelli has been sent off three times in his fledgling City career and was branded "stupid" by Mancini following the second of those, against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League last season.

Huddlestone linked with Liverpool Move

Harry Redknapp may face a battle to keep hold of Tom Huddlestone in the New year with Liverpool ready to make a move Huddlestone moved to Spurs from Derby back in 2005 when the current director of football at Anfield, Damien Comolli, was in position at the Lane. He is now ready to try and tempt the 24-year-old away from London and up to Liverpool. Huddlestone's current contract runs until 2015 so there is no need for Spurs to sell unless a major offer were to come in and the Reds appear to be blessed in the middle of the park with plenty of options so where they would fit him in is unclear. One possible cause for concern for the midfielder is that Luka Modric, Scott Parker and Sandro are all in front of him in the pecking order at White Hart Lane and if he has any doubts about getting regular first team football he may be tempted into a move.

Luka Modric:I want to leave Tottenham

Luka Modric says he wants to leave Tottenham this summer to join London rivals Chelsea.The superstar Croatian midfielder has already been the subject of a reported £22million bid from the Blues.And with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp describing that as "ridiculous", Chelsea are expected to increase their offer.

Now Modric himself has broken his silence on the matter, and says he wants to end his spell at White Hart Lane.Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club."I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer."

Modric has also been strongly linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, but it appears he's set his heart on a move across the capital to Stamford Bridge.He added: "Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.

"I want to stay in London. I am very happy here and so are my family. I like the city."Modric, now 25, joined Tottenham from Croatia Zagreb in the summer of 2008 for around £16.5million and has been a huge hit at White Hart Lane ever since.

Chelsea have £22m bid rejected by Spurs but will be back

Chelsea last night lodged a £22m bid for Luka Modric as owner Roman Abramovich made the first move in his attempts to rejuvenate an ageing squad.The formal offer was rejected by Tottenham within two hours, but the Blues are expected to return with improved terms imminently.Abramovich -- desperate to add more creativity to Chelsea's midfield and reduce the average age of his squad -- has identified the Croatian playmaker as the priority target.The Russian is determined to press ahead with the signing despite the fact that he is yet to appoint a replacement for manager Carlo Ancelotti.Modric has confirmed in recent weeks that Spurs' failure to retain their Champions League status came as a substantial blow to his ambitions and it is believed Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy, White Hart Lane's manager and chairman, face a fierce battle to hold on to their prize asset.Manchester United have also registered their interest in Modric, but have turned their attentions to Alexis Sanchez -- who is also on Chelsea's target list -- and Arsenal's Samir Nasri.Abramovich has decided against bidding for French international Nasri after being offered the midfielder by intermediaries.Redknapp has already stated that it is crucial for Spurs to retain Modric, describing the playmaker as "key" to his team's fortunes. But he has also knows he has to generate funds to make changes to his side.Spurs rejected an initial inquiry from Chelsea two weeks ago and, although no bid was made at that time, it is believed an offer close to £35m might tempt them into a deal.

Modric was in stunning form last season and has proved to be one of the most effective players in the Premier League. He arrived at Spurs in 2008 -- signing a six-year deal which he renewed in 2010 -- for £16m from Dynamo Zagreb and given the progress he has made, Chelsea's bid will be regarded as derisory by Levy.However, it is the opening salvo in Chelsea's attempts to prise Modric away and much will depend on how the player reacts now an official bid has been made.

Chelsea targeted Modric, Sanchez and Neymar as their three bid signings this summer, but have dropped their interest in Sanchez, believing the Chilean winger will now become United's big summer recruit.

Chelsea are battling with Real Madrid to secure Neymar and have to decide whether to bid the €45m which will trigger a release clause in his contract. Abramovich would prefer to pay around €30m, at most, for the 19-year-old but may be outbid by Real. No official offer has been made yet.

Securing Modric, though, is Chelsea's priority. They will have been encouraged by his remarks that "if there is an offer which is good for Tottenham and for me also, then a transfer is of course possible," though the Croat did add that he was not "bothered" or intent on leaving Spurs.

That may now change given Chelsea's eagerness to secure him to provide the creativity to supply striker Fernando Torres. There is a long-held theory at the club that the team lack a player with Modric's guile, though his arrival would break up a hugely settled area of Chelsea's side.

There have been suggestions that Frank Lampard's future is in some doubt after a comparatively disappointing campaign, though it is all but unthinkable that such a key player will be sold. Modric's presence and price, though, would suggest that it is the 25-year-old who will take over the England international's role as the team's creative hub.

Abramovich is also determined to add pace to his managerless side, and a winger will likely follow in Modric's wake.

Chelsea are understood to be close to announcing the signing of Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, widely regarded as a long-term replacement for Didier Drogba. Spurs are interested in the original version, but Chelsea want him to stay for at least one more year. They may, though, be willing to sell Nicolas Anelka.

If Spurs did sell Modric to Chelsea it would cause an outcry from their supporters, given the animosity between the two clubs and may be a damaging statement about their ambitions.

Spurs would rather clear out the likes of Robbie Keane, David Bentley and Sebastien Bassong, with Redknapp accepting Levy's argument that the squad needs to be "streamlined".

It is understood that Abramovich is close to deciding on appointing a new manager. An announcement is expected within the next 10 days and could come a lot sooner.

The expectation remains that Guus Hiddink will secure his release from his contract as Turkey's coach and will be offered a 12-month deal with the option of a further year.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the gates of Villa Park last night to vent their frustration over the impending appointment of the former Birmingham City boss -- and 'Bluenose scum not welcome' was scrawled in white paint on the entrance to the training ground.

Redknapp Closes In On West Ham Midfielder Scott Parker

Harry Redknapp looks set to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker but will not complete a deal until Daniel Levy sees the North London side offload some of the club’s expansive squad before he will allow the addition of any new faces to the White Hart Lane squad.Wilson Palacios had a poor season last term during which time the Honduras international looked a shadow of the player who had helped Tottenham break into the top four and a move to Napoli, who have qualified for Champions League football next term, would be a good one for the defensive midfielder.Redknapp will also be looking to find buyers for winger David Bentley, cultured playmaker Niko Kranjcar, striker Robbie Keane and midfielder Jamie O’Hara as the Tottenham boss prepares to make way for a few new faces this summer.More importantly the Spurs manager will fight tooth and nail to keep the club’s much sought after talent and will not entertain offers of any size for the likes of Gareth Bale, Rafael Van der Vaart, Luka Modric or Sandro but knows in order to balance the books he must sell a significant number of squad players if he then wants to improve problems areas at the club.
Having brought in Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel to replace error prone Brazilian Heurelho Gomes, Redknapp will also be looking to bring in new striker options and will hope to beat off prospective suitors to sign West Ham’s Scott Parker to help add more steel to his midfield.

Spurs land former Barca starlet

Harry Redknapp has already pulled off the transfer coup of the summer, sources have told ESPNsoccernet, by snatching Barcelona youngster Cristian Ceballos from under the noses of Chelsea.Ceballos, 16, was hailed as Barcelona's new superstar four years ago when he became an internet sensation, featuring in a video juggling a ball with Ronaldinho.However, after a falling out, Barca agreed to release Ceballos, an attacking midfielder, on a free transfer and he was taken to Chelsea for a two week trial.Ceballos trained at Cobham predominately with Chelsea's youth side, but also trained with Carlo Ancelotti's first-team. In a shock move, he has now reportedly signed a three-year contract at White Hart Lane.Sources close to the player said: "The boy captained Barca's Under-17's and here we have a proper player, potentially one of the greats if he develops as people think he might."He went to Chelsea for two weeks and trained for three days with the first-team before a Champions League game such was the impression he made, but for some strange reason no one seemed to make a decision about him."Now, he has signed a three-year contract with Spurs and Harry Redknapp has a player who will be in his first-team within a year."

Redknapp in bust up with Hutton

With the injury to Vedran Corluka in Milan, it was expected that Alan Hutton would return to the side against Blackpool and get another possible extended run of games in the Croatian`s absence, but as at the San Siro, William Gallas started at full back, and there wasn`t even a place on the bench for the Scot, but intriguingly there was no mention of him, nor was he mentioned on the lengthy injury list at the club.

It would appear that rumours of a fall out with Harry Redknapp are spot on and the pair fell out after Hutton took the brunt of his managers anger after a nightmare opening half against Fulham, where Hutton gave away a penalty and as were many others, had a terrible first 45 minutes. Hutton, rather than take his criticism quietly, decided to have an all out row in return, seemingly prompting a next day dressing down and his omission from the side ever since.

A club source claims: "Harry had a pop after Fulham because he felt Hutton had a poor game and Hutton stood his ground because he felt he was being unfairly treated. It was a stand-up row and serious enough for Harry to call him in the next day and freeze him out ever since."

At a time when Tottenham are really are down to the bare bones defensively, freezing out a player would appear to be a pretty damning statement over Hutton`s Spurs future and you feel if he misses the next couple of games, his career at White Hart Lane is over. It would also be a brave decision by Redknappp at a time when there is no other genuine right back at the club available to him for the next few weeks. Gallas will of course not let anyone down, but with only two fit CB`s Spurs really need his experience in the heart of their defence.With Kyle Walker returning in the summer, the end for Hutton at Spurs looked a possibility.

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