Football News

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."

Javier Aguirre admitted that Atlético de Madrid will not have it easy when they meet Porto in the Champions League after the clubs were paired together in Switzerland on Friday.The Mexican coach does not think that Los Colchoneros have been given a favourable draw and believes that the Portuguese giants will test his side in what will be a close contest.

Despite having avoided many of the tournament favourites, Aguirre was not prepared to make any predictions about his team's chance against Porto."The tie will be 50-50. They are a strong team with a good coach, former champions of Europe, and they have good players who play in a strong system. It will not be easy," Marca quote him as saying.

"It will be very even, but we will be calm."

While the media focus on the Champions League, Aguirre was keen to concentrate on Atlético's last game of the year against Espanyol on Saturday night in Barcelona.

"The team is doing well and we really want to finish the first stage of the season with a win. We will not relax because we are not on holiday yet," he continued.

"Until midnight on Saturday we will not take the break that we deserve. I am only thinking about playing well in Montjuïc and moving into the top four.

"Espanyol is all that is important now."

Juande Ramos has admitted that he is not happy that Real Madrid were paired against Liverpool in the first knockout round of the Champions League in Switzerland on Friday.Los Merengues' coach had hoped to avoid English opposition and he stated that he was not pleased, but did consider that Rafa Benítez would also not be satisfied.

It will be an even contest though as Ramos knows Liverpool well from his time at Tottenham, while the Reds' manager knows Madrid as he was a coach there before."We have not liked the draw that we have been given and I suppose that they will not have either," Ramos told reporters.

"Rafa Benítez knows Real Madrid very well and I also know Liverpool and Benítez well from my time in England."

Although he is not pleased with the draw, Ramos admitted that while Liverpool are a strong side Madrid should not worried about playing any team in particular.

"They are a complete and difficult team and have some very good players," he continued. "But Real Madrid cannot fear anyone and we have the same chances as them to go through."

Lazio coach Delio Rossi is demanding a good showing against Palermo tomorrow evening.The Biancocelesti have fallen off the pace over the last few weeks, but they will look to make amends against the Sicilians and end the year on a good note.

Lazio have been distracted this week by constant talks of an exit for the coach, as well as dressing room unrest.However, Rossi has brushed all that under the carpet as he looks ahead."We have a tough game against Palermo as they are a direct rival for Europe," Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.

"I hope my players can take advantage of playing at home.

"Palermo have picked themselves up after a fairly slow start to the league.

"They are doing very well and they are a team which will fight until the end."

Christian Brocchi is injured for the Aquile, and Rossi is likely to start with an attacking trident composed of Mauro Zarate, Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi.

Milan have reacted to the UEFA Cup draw having been paired with Werder Bremen in the knockout phase.Early talk seems to suggest they are not too worried.

Club director Silvano Ramaccioni was in Nyon as he followed the draw and he is confident in his side's abilities, despite meeting a Champions League drop-out."It's a serious draw but not severe," the director told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

"It will be a difficult game because Werder are a strong team and they are used to playing Italian sides.

"We have to play them with maximum concentration and conviction. Overall, I think it's better to have drawn Werder."

The Rossoneri have not been too special in Europe, drawing with both Portsmouth and Wolfsburg in the group stage.

Reports in Italy have suggested Milan would rather win the Scudetto than the UEFA Cup.

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has warned it will not be easy to head to Chelsea and come away with a good result as he looks ahead to the Champions League last 16 stage.Del Piero and company were drawn with Luis Felipe Scolari's Blues side in one of the games of the round.

The game will be like a home coming for Juve coach Claudio Ranieri. The Tinkerman is happy at heading back to Stamford Bridge, 'Pinturricchio' not so."It's a difficult draw. Every team is strong at this stage but what makes Chelsea different is their squad," Del Piero told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

"They have an excellent team at their disposal."

Momo Sissoko, who played in the Premier League for Liverpool, is looking forward to returning to England.

"I always follow the English game and it will be very difficult for us," added the Mali international.

"Chelsea are not going through a great patch but the have excellent players.

"We will be at the top of game and level on terms with them."