Ahead of TheGame: FA launches new Tevez inquiry

The news in 60 seconds 

FA LAUNCHES NEW TEVEZ INQUIRY
The FA and the Premier League will launch a fresh inquiry into West Ham's conduct in the transfer of Carlos Tevez from Corinthians to West Ham. The governing bodies will look at the London club's dealings with the striker's representatives. The club have already been fined £5.5million for breaching league rules over third-party agreements. 

CITY DENIED IN SANTA CRUZ BID
Blackburn have rejected an increased offer from Manchester City for their forward, with Mark Hughes thought to have bid £15m. "We still want to bring him to the club but he is Blackburn's player and they don't want to deal at the level we have made a bid," the City manager said.

RONALDO WRITES OFF FERRARI
The Manchester United forward badly damaged his sports car this morning after colliding with a roadside barrier in a tunnel near Manchester Airport. He did not require medical attention.  Jodie Lomax, who was in a car behind, said: "Going under the tunnel, the Ferrari dropped a gear. I put my window down to listen to the exhaust. It sounded absolutely superb. Then the Ferrari went straight into the wall." 

ADEBAYOR BACKS GALLAS OVER OUTBURST
The Arsenal forward says his team-mate was right to question their squad's desire, a claim that led to the Frenchman being stripped of the club captaincy. "There is some truth in what he said," the Togo forward said. "Someone had to say these things to make each person face up to their responsibilities."

STOKE CLOSE TO ETHERINGTON DEAL
Tony Pulis expects to complete the signing of the West Ham winger today for a fee of about £3m. "The clubs have done a deal without too many problems," the Stoke manager said. "I am hoping things will be finalised after he has a medical." 

UNITED SIGN DE LAET
Sir Alex Ferguson has taken Ritchie De Laet, the 20-year-old Stoke defender, on loan until the end of the season. The clubs have agreed a performance-related payment package for the player, who joined Stoke from Royal Antwerp in July 2007.

SUNDERLAND 'WILL NOT SELL FORWARDS' 
Ricky Sbragia has denied reports that El-Hadji Diouf, David Healy and Michael Chopra could all be sold in the transfer window. Diouf has been linked with a £2m move to Blackburn but was recalled to the first XI at the weekend. "He set himself a standard and he has to keep to that standard," Sbragia said. "He seems happy. They all seem happy if they are playing football." 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've got another couple of minutes 

BIG BUCKS
Has David Beckham suffered his first bite of the credit crunch? The England midfielder, who played his first game for AC Milan this week, has reportedly priced himself out of TV interviews in Italy by demanding £450,000 for the privilege. Fred Roggin, a leading American anchorman, said: "Understandably no-one is taking him up on that offer, probably because Beckham is not the most engaging speaker and paying $10,000 every time he mumbles 'You know' is not the wisest investment."   

FAT RONALDO 
The Brazilian not the Portuguese, that is, who may have overcome a career-threatening knee injury but is clearly struggling to shake off excess pounds. Click here for footage for the portly forward struggling to keep up with training at Corinthians, his new club. Beware, though, that the video includes a slow-motion shot of his generously sized belly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Hooligans stick riot video on net - Daily Star
What you need to know: 1) Police have launched an investigation after footage on YouTube showed Manchester United fans vandalising Stoke's Britannia Stadium. 2) The supporters can be seen throwing dustbins and beer bottles. 3) About 300 seats were ripped up in the Boxing Day match. 4) The footage has been removed from the internet site.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In TheGame

Matt Hughes: Truth is elusive in Redknapp's world
Our columnist says the Tottenham manager's ability to listen selectively, dissemble diplomatically and offer all things to all men would make him a successful politician. "Redknapp gets away with telling such bare-faced porkies because, albeit selectively, he generally tells people precisely what they want to hear," Hughes writes. 

Derby Fanzone: The crazy world of DCFC part 783
Our Pride Park loyalist reflects on six days in which his side clawed back from the brink of elimination from the FA Cup by Forest Green, appointed Nigel Clough as manager and defeated Manchester United in the Carling Cup. "They say a week is a long time in football," he writes. "With Derby, a couple of days can seem like an eternity."

Gabriele Marcotti: Tevez reality check, United conspiracy and Villa's Englishmen
Our writer has responded to your comments on his column. He reiterates his argument that Martin O'Neill has not purposely built a side with an English spine of players and, in sticking by his claim that Carlos Tevez is worth £20-£25m, says it does not matter that he is not a natural goalscorer. He adds, however, that Rob was a touch cynical with this e-mail: "I'm not sure that it's a great idea to let just any moron (including me, I suspect) add their own thoughts to these journalistic oeuvres." Don't worry, we're certain it is a good idea - keep those opinions coming.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7
Clubs that Scott Sinclair, the Chelsea teenager, has played for. He has been loaned five times in the past two years.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Ed Allen, a United fan from Whitby in Canada, is unconcerned by his side's defeat in the Carling Cup last night: 
"Give credit to Derby, they were up for it and we definitely were not. Hopefully, it will get our guys' heads out of the clouds, bring them down to earth. Thanks Derby, you did us a favour. Hopefully, you taught our side some humility and respect for the opposition." 

Alexander, from Sydney, is concerned by Chelsea's lack of activity in the transfer market:
"We need to buy and we need to buy now! If Chelsea sell Kalou and Malouda the squad will be down to skin and bones. Yes, Essien will come back but he is not a wide midfield player, and Deco hasn't performed on the wings after being pushed out of the middle by Ballack."

Skin and bones? Is that preferable to the bare bones?

Stuart Lambert has taken issue with Gabriele Marcotti's argument relating to Martin O'Neill:
"That Villa are doing well with English players suggests that English players are not as inferior as the media likes to portray them, that a successful side can be built around home-grown players rather than by importing players from overseas and therefore that success in domestic league football can be achieved to the benefit, rather than the detriment, of the national side. That is why it's nice and refreshing to see Villa play with so many English lads."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And expect...

Jodie Lomax to keep her eye on the road (and ear in the car) next time she takes the wheel.