Transfer window: 89 hours left

• The main name linked with a move is still Shay Given. Friday's Mail and Times both suggest that he put in a transfer request on Thursday in an attempt to force through his move. But with Kinnear claiming we've only bid as high as £5million, we may to change course if we're to sign him in time.

• The other frequently linked name is Roque Santa Cruz. Oliver Kay and James Ducker suggest we've made a final offer of £18.5million - but that Blackburn are holding out for £22m. Ian Herbert writes that Blackburn are holding out for at least £30m and that the £18.5m bid will be turned down. This fits with Allardyce's claims on Thursday that RSC was not for sale, because they didn't have enough to sign a replacement, particularly with Matt Derbyshire going to Olympiakos.

• Ian Herbert claims that, having failed with Santa Cruz, City will turn their attention to other targets. One of those, not for this January but for the summer, will be Manchester United's Carlos Tévez. He was one of three players - along with Messi and Kaká - whom City were looking at as our January 'marquee signing'. So there is a longstanding interest there, and apparently Hughes is a big fan. Our interest in Tévez is also mentioned in The Times - along with Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter.
  

• Celtic are interested in two City fringe players, according to The Times. They're looking for a loan move for Gelson Fernandes (we want £4m) and some sort of bid for Ched Evans - for whom they face competition from Championship clubs.

• And a curiously anonymous Daily Mail piece mentions a £12m bid for Kolo Touré which Arsenal will turn down. We may go back with £15m and/or Richard Dunne, or pursue Alex or Materazzi instead. Michael Ball is injured for the season and then out of contract too, apparently.