D Friday, January 8, 2010 SPORT 23 Cup squad, and is counting on the help of Mancini, the former Inter coach who replaced Mark Hughes last month. It is important for me to go to Manchester City, to show the coach that I am the same as I was during the time when he was at Inter, he said. He has played in 12 of 18 Serie A matches this season but appeared for only 23 minutes during Inters six Champions League group games. I have goals and I cant achieve them by staying at Inter where I am not part of the coachs choices, he SOCCER PREMIER LEAGUE Transfer talk Schalke striker kevin kuranyi is not thinking about a move away from the club and insists he is committed heart and soul to the Royal Blues. The 27-year-old (pictured), whose contract is up in the summer, has scored eight times in this seasons Bundesliga and been strongly linked with Sunderland and Birmingham this month. But he said: I try not to get involved in [speculation] too much. I want to have success with Schalke. We are in a very good situation at the moment. I feel good here and I am of course committed heart and soul to Schalke. Kevins keen to stay at Schalke Hull manager Phil Brown admits striker Caleb Folan is likely to be playing elsewhere by the end of the month. The Tigers boss has been told the club need to trim 9million from their wage bill. Brown said: There is interest. Caleb has expressed a desire to leave the football club and we have agreed to it. Republic of Ireland forward Folan has been linked with a move to Championship side QPR, and the 27-year-olds agent Hayden Evans said: The two clubs have agreed a loan deal and now just a few details need to be finalised. Folan set to depart REPORTS in Spain suggest Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is weighing up a move for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain. Wenger is short of options in attack with Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner injured. West Hams Carlton Cole is also reported to be a target. o FedeRIco MachedaS agent claims Bologna want to take the Manchester United forward back to his native Italy on loan. Macheda, 18, burst on to the scene at old Trafford last year. agent Giovanni Bia said: Bologna have asked for him but it will be difficult for [United] to let him go. o Vieira set for City switch Former Arsenal star has medical PAtrICk VIeIrA looks set to make his Manchester City debut against Blackburn on Monday night after he had a medical at the club yesterday evening. City were last night waiting on the results of the former Arsenal midfield- ers tests before completing his move from Inter Milan. the club are confident the French- man will be registered in time to face Blackburn at eastlands on Monday. Vieiras arrival as manager rob- erto Mancinis first signing could help fifth-place Citys push for a top- four Premier League finish. the 33-year-old has not played a competitive game for his country since September 2007. But he is set to sign an 18-month contract at City, hoping the move will cement his place in Frances World added. Inter coach Jose Mourinho thanked Vieira after Wednesdays 1-0 win against Chievo, a game in which the Frenchman played from start to finish. It was his last game with us and he played an incredible match. He could have refused to play or held his leg back at times but he gave his all, said the former Chelsea boss. Im sad that he is leaving but happy that hes going to a place where he will play more. Vieira spent nine seasons with Arse- nal before moving to Serie A with Juventus in 2005. He only lasted a year in turin, though, with the Italian match-fixing scandal prompting his move to Inter in 2006, where he has secured three Italian titles. It is important for me to go to Manchester By Paul Murphy Waiting game: Vieira had a medical at City last night Picture: AFP/Getty aRSeNal have agreed to pay the travel costs of unhappy Bolton fans who arrived at the emirates on Wednesday only to find the match was postponed. Supporters who battled snow to make the trip to london were angry the Premier league game was called off just five hours before kick-off, despite assurances it would beat the cold snap. There was no problem with the pitch but there were concerns over nearby roads. arsenal boss arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has confirmed cesc Fabregas will not recover from a hamstring injury for tomorrows game with everton, although Tomas Rosicky should be available after a groin problem. BRIAN MuRPHy knows he has to prove himself again under Roy Keane at Ipswich Town. Keeper Murphy, called into the Ireland squad for Novembers World Cup play-off, has long-term ambitions to replace Shay Given as Irish No.1. Murphy officially joined Ipswich from Bohemians on January 1 and, though he has not played in two months, is in contention for Sundays Championship game at leicester. Im under no illusions. Its going to be a tough four or five months ahead for me, admitted Murphy. I know that I wont just be handed a start. I know that I have to prove myself all over again. RYaN GIGGS has warned Manchester Uniteds Premier league rivals that now is the time the champions will come into their own. The 36-year-old, who was yesterday awarded the Freedom of Salford, insists there is no need for Sir alex Fergusons men to panic after last Sundays Fa cup loss to league one leaders leeds. It has always been the same here, one defeat and it is a disaster, he said. That is never going to change. It is up to us to work hard and get back to winning ways. We are still in a strong position in the league and still in the champions league. The turn of the year is when we are notoriously at our best. lANDON DONOVAN has insisted he is not treating his Premier league loan spell at Everton as a bit of fun. The uSA forward has signed for the club for ten weeks from los Angeles Galaxy and admits he is desperate to succeed in the Premier league. Ahead of his potential debut tomorrow at Arsenal, the 27-year-old said: The reality is Im here to do a job and help the team win. Im not just here to have fun for a few months. What Im good at is creating chances and that is what Ill try to do here. Now I have to prove I belong. footballdigest Strong position: Giggs Portsmouth were finally able to pay their players yesterday and denied there would be a fire sale to ease their financial plight. A spokesman for the club confirmed the players had now received their salaries for December which had been due on New Years Eve the third time they were late this season. We are pleased to say the players have now been paid, the spokesman said. the confirmation followed chief executive Peter storries pledge, earlier in the day, the issue was on the brink of being resolved. storrie said: As far as I am aware everything is going through to their accounts today. obviously it is not the best scenario to have this situation happening but obviously finance is a major problem in the world market at the moment. the owners are trying everything they can and they have obviously managed to find this [funds] in the last couple of days. storrie, however, insisted players would not be sold on the cheap in order to help ease Pompeys woes. storrie said: Ive had one or two calls and I think one or two people think there is some sort of fire sale going on. that is not the case. If we have to sell players then well sell them for their market price and not what people think is a knock-down price. 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