Football News

In the long-term absence of perma-crocked Czech Republic star Tomas Rosicky, and the four month lay-off of young playmaking captain Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been linked with a replacement who can pull the strings while the former two ensure the club's physios earn their wage.

Despite reports to the contrary suggesting the buy would be too flambouyant, confirmation has just this moment arrived that Arsenal are indeed in talks with Zenit St Petersburg over Russian attacker Andrei Arshavin. A Zenit chief today told Sky Sports: "We have been in discussion with Arsenal now for some time.

"They are hoping that a deal will be concluded within the next ten days to two weeks."It is no secret that Zenit value the Russian international at £20 million, and if Arsenal were to pay the full amount, then it would smash the club's record.

The Gunners paid £13 million for Sylvain Wiltord in August 2000. In the winter window in 2003- 04, the fee paid for Jose Reyes was initially £10 million, but could have risen to £17 million due to top ups, but was unlikely to dwarf the transfer for Wiltord.

English tabloid The Star claims to have inside information regarding Chelsea's January transfer plans.It has appeared as though boss Luiz Felipe Scolari would have to take his squad 'as is' into the New Year, as the board have seemed unwilling to splash out in the January transfer market.

However, the report claims that the Brazilian boss is winning his boardroom battle to have some cash injected into the Blues' glory push. Now, he could be set to be given the option of pursuing one of his two main targets: Luis Fabiano or Andrei Arshavin.

Spanish outfit Sevilla are reluctant to sell Luis Fabiano, but they crashed out of the UEFA Cup ahead of schedule and the player could now start looking elsewhere.

Arshavin is a more achievable target, as Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, the UEFA Cup holders, fully expect him to move on sooner rather than later.

Indeed, fresh gossip had already linked the 27-year-old with the Blues, with the player set on an imminent move to "Spain or England."

The Sun reported this week that Zenit general manager Maxim Mitrofanov had given Arshavin the green light to negotiate with other clubs and the new claims suggest that his people have been doing just that with the beaks of Stamford Bridge.

Whether Roman Abramovich, Peter Kenyon, Bruce Buck and the rest of the Pensioners supremos have really softened up on their winter transfer policy remains to be seen, but Scolari is sure to have given them an ear-bashing.

Speaking at the launch of his official website, David Villa remarked that he was in no hurry to leave his current club, Valencia, despite constant rumours linking him with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City.

The €127 million price tag slapped on him by the Mestalla top brass may have played a part, but the striker nonetheless seemed more than happy with his current lot."I am pleased to be here and for now things are going well for me," he said. "I am proud to stay at Valencia."

David Silva, his team-mate, is another one who has been linked with an exit, quite possibly to the Bernabeu. But the Asturian denied that his Canarian colleague was on the way out - for now, at least.

"Silva will play in the 15th matchday against Real Madrid tomorrow," he said.

"That match is an important one for us because we can achieve something more than our 2008 target, which was to end the year with 30 points.

"What's more, we have the chance to hold on to second place."

Europe, too, was on the forward's mind as he was questioned about Valencia's UEFA Cup meeting with Dynamo Kyiv.

"They will be a tough rival because they entered this competition via the Champions League, and also because it's very difficult for us to play in Kiev," he warned.

"But still, we need to knock them out if we want to progress in the UEFA Cup."

Seventh Heaven

Villa's website has the number '7' in pride of place in its address, leading some in the press to question whether or not he's tempting fate: currently the striker wears this number for Spain but such matters are always open to change.

But David said, "I'll always have this question around me, even if I manage 2,000 goals or get called up to every single squad!

"I am the '7' firstly because I am going to be called up that way and secondly because I'm allowed to be. On the day that I'm not called up, it'll be someone else."

As a result of their Champions League success last term, Manchester United are currently contesting the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.They smashed Gamba Osaka 5-3 in the semi-final and have now booked a date in the final with Ecuadorian team LDU Quito.

Despite the prospect of becoming world champions, talk has still refused to veer away from man-of-every-moment Cristiano Ronaldo who, according to latest reports, has made a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid.

Club captain Gary Neville though is adamant that the Portuguese recipient of the Ballon d'Or will remain at Old Trafford.

Respect

"There should be a level of respect shown between the clubs, but we can't do anything about the specualtion. All we can do is look after our own situation," the United right-back told the club's official website.

"Cristiano is our player and he will continue to be our player as long as we want to keep him. The manager has already said that.

"Manchester United don't let players go that they don't want to sell, it's as simple as that. And they want to keep Ronaldo."

The draw for the first knock-out round of the Champions League was announced today, and United have been partnered with Jose Mourinho's Internazionale.

Parma coach Francesco Guidolin has rubbished the claims that his star striker, Cristiano Lucarelli, will be joining Palermo this January in the upcoming transfer window.Guidolin reassured the Gialloblu fans that the former Livorno player will remain at the club at least until the end of the season to help the team obtain a quick return to Serie A.

“We never received the news of a possible Palermo interest for the player,” explained the former Bologna and Rosanero coach.“I only think about the transfer market in January but, in any case, I can easily say that we don’t want to lose our striker.”

Parma are currently fighting for the top positions in Serie B as they are currently tied in third place with four other teams, with 29 points from 18 league games, three points behind league leaders Sassuolo.

It seems that Chelsea really are no longer the Premier League's money men, after owner Roman Abramovic told manager Luiz Felipe Scolari he will not be given funds to sign players in January.According to a report in the British tabloid The Sun, the World Cup-winning Brazilian had hoped to sign Newcastle United's Michael Owen & Orlando Sa from Braga in a bid to install more competition in attack.

Apparently, Sa, a Portugal under-21 international, had been on trial at Stamford Bridge and looked all set to remain with the Blues, until Braga demanded a fee of €6.1 million.It seems that 'Big Phil' may be content to settle with what he already has at his disposal for this season, after declaring: "I don’t think the club will buy, I don’t think they’ll sell. This is my squad, these are my players."

When reminded of the club's less prosperous home-form this season, Scolari replied: "I need to work harder and I need to find the solution for this situation.

"I need to look at putting one player in a different position or making a special position for one player in some games.

"But I know I need to think about my squad only, not new players."

When asked what he feels is letting Chelsea down at Stamford Bridge, the 60-year-old remarked: "I need a good connection between the middle and front of the team.

"Sometimes I have the connection but I don’t have the players there to score a goal.

"Sometimes I have the players to score but I don’t have the connection from behind."

Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a bid for Portsmouth's French midfielder Lassana Diarra, according to Sky Sports News.The former Arsenal and Chelsea player has been the subject of almost constant transfer speculation this season, particularly after the departure of Harry Reknapp from the Portsmouth manager's job.

Rumours of financial instability continue to surround the Fratton Park outfit, and the cash that a club like Real could pay would be very much appreciated by Pompey.The Spanish giants could face some significant English competition for the player's signature from newly wealthy Manchester City though, whose manager Mark Hughes is keen to boost his midfield options.

New Madrid manager Juande Ramos is reportedly an admirer of Diarra, having seen the player in action whilst he was the manager at Tottenham Hotpsur. With Mahamadou Diarra currently unavailable at El Santiago Bernebeu due to injury, Ramos is keen to bring in a defensive midfielder and the Portsmouth man would seem to fit the bill.

Diarra joined Portsmouth for £5 million in January 2008 but would likely jump at the chance of playing for the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid and Ajax have officially confirmed they have reached an agreement over the transfer of forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
The 25-year-old is going to cost the Bernabeu club €20 million up front, with the total fee potentially rising to €27m with additional clauses based on appearances and his levels of success with Los Blancos included in the deal.


The transfer will take place subject to Huntelaar agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, with Madrid set to sign the striker on a four-and-a-half-year contract, running until the summer of 2013.
If everything goes as planned, the player will join Madrid on January 2.

Huntelaar, who will be eligible to play in the Champions League having only played in the Uefa Cup with Ajax this year, has earned former club Heerenveen €2.5m as part of a sell-on clause they held from his sale to the Amsterdan giants in 2005.

Madrid’s official statement read: "Huntelaar is the new Real Madrid player. Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam have reached an agreement for the forward.

"As usual, the deal is dependent on the player passing a medical and the signing of his contract with Real Madrid.

"Klaas Jan Huntelaar will be tied to Real Madrid until June 30, 2013."

Los Merengues have acted in the transfer market after a season-ending injury to Ruud van Nistelrooy left them short on striking options, with another signing expected to be announced for the January transfer window.

Huntelaar scored a superb 75 goals in 90 league games and a total of 100 strikes in 120 appearances in all competitions for Ajax, following up from a successful spell with Heerenveen where he netted 34 league goals in 46 matches.

The prolific striker also has 18 international caps for the Netherlands and has already scored 10 times for his country.

In form Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu could be heading to Milan after his agent Alessandro Moggi was seen at the Rossoneri's headquarters in Via Turati on Tuesday afternoon.
Rossoneri chief Adriano Galliani had said earlier in the week that his club wouldn't be moving and shaking in the transfer market but the latest turn of events would suggest otherwise.

Sky Sport Italia claim the hit-man's agent met club directors with a view to begin talks over a possible deal which could see the prolific hit-man arrive in June.
Mutu has been outstanding so far this term and it seems as if Christmas will come late for the San Siro side.

The striker is likely to consider the move and reports suggest either Andriy Shevchenko or Marco Borriello will head the other way.
The Romanian was linked with Milan all summer but he was on the verge of joining Roma before the move collapsed at the last minute.

Everything seemed in place but the Viola owners scuppered the deal. They may now reconsider their options and a mega bid from the Diavolo could swing the scales in their favour.

The hit-man will be involved in Champions League action later tonight when his side lock horns with Lyon. A win is necessary if his side are to have any hope of getting into the next round.
Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com

Lukas Podolski's agent Andrea Stops believes a move to Roma could suit his client.
The Bayern Munich man had warned he could leave the team but that was soon put into perspective after coach Jurgen Klinsmann had said he wasn't going anywhere.

However, the player's agent has now opened the door to a potential move to Serie A by claiming his man could move to the Giallorossi in future.
"I wouldn't want to comment at the moment," the agent told Roma24.it.

"Bayern has told us that he is not for sale and their stance is not to release him in January.
"However, Roma would be an incredible opportunity for him. But, like I said, there possibilities will be discussed with Bayern in June seeing that the club doesn't want to sell the player in January."

The 23-year-old forward has been at Bayern since 2006. Roma have had some problems up front this term and a decent striker could be the key.