The Carlos Tevez transfer saga is without doubt playing havoc with the minds of Fantasy Football Managers. In the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game Tevez boasts the third highest points tally and is owned by a whopping 24.3% as a result. Beyond that existing ownership, plenty of others will have been eyeing up Tevez as an option with City entering a kind run of opponents over the forthcoming Gameweeks. In the light of the weekend’s events however, there’s every chance that Tevez will not be seen in a City shirt again this season then, let alone in Monday’s fixture with Everton at Eastlands.

The initial signs are positive however. The want-away striker apparently smiled his way through training and the latest reports suggest that he is happy to continue playing for City for the time being. His adviser Kia Joorabchian has recently stated…

“Carlos has never said he is not going to play so those rumours are rubbish. He will play if picked and 100% do his best. He feels that is important every time he puts on the shirt.”

In the main then, his Fantasy owners are surely set to hold firm, at least until we hear an official statement from City. That’s when we are due to get Roberto Mancini’s take on the situation; his view will be crucial.

It’s still not 100% certain that the City boss will select Tevez. Mancini has favoured a 4-5-1 for much of the season and 20 year-old loose cannon, Mario Balotelli, has all the potential to become City’s principal attacker. Plus of course, City won convincingly at West Ham last time out, without a suspended Tevez.

If the Argentinian’s Eastlands departure is confirmed, Mancini will surely have to decide on who to appoint as his new captain as Tevez’s stance will do little for dressing room morale. Whether Mancini opts to make a replacement signing in the January transfer window remains to be seen, but reports suggest that the likes of current FPL joint top scorer Andy Carroll, Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and a swap deal for either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain are all firmly on City’s radar.

Tevez possible destination is another matter, with his most obvious port of call, Real Madrid, reportedly unable to afford the Argentine, it is unclear where he will end up. Reports generally seem to think that he is destined for La Liga, although an Argentinian journalist, who is reportedly close to Tevez’s family, has stated that a move to another Premier League club is not outside the realms of possibility…

“Carlos is unhappy with Manchester City and some of the relationships in the club – he is not unhappy with England, with the Premier League. He says he is tired, he is mentally and physically tired, but the impression he gives is that he will not give up football – and his motivation is not money. Carlos will join another club, and although Spain offers him another option – one where his family may be prepared to move nearer to him – he could stay in England.”

We’re informed that Roberto Mancini will hold talks with Tevez on Friday and that will be the next major development in the saga. Until then we can expect further speculation and conflicting reports from all corners of the media. The only certainty right now is that Tevez remains a crucial player – not only for City but also for many Fantasy Managers.