Liverpool & United To Lock Horns Over Brazilian?

*

Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool are locked in battle for the signature of Fluminense defender Anderson, according to The Sun.

Reds manager Rafa Benitez is understood to have been tracking 21-year-old Anderson for some time, with the Spaniard sending scouts to see the highly-rated Brazilian to check on his progress last year.

Benitez is keen on luring Anderson to Anfield, with the possibility that Danish International Daniel Agger (left) could leave the Merseyside club due to talks reportedly breaking down over a new deal and could force a transfer through to Serie A club AC Milan. The Rossoneri are still interested in bringing Agger to the San Siro, despite already having an offer for the former Brondby player rejected.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who already has the young Brazilian Da Silva twins at Old Trafford had declared the Red Devils spending in January over. Following the double capture of Serbian pair Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade, but is eager to add the Brazilian to his squad after the breakthrough of Rafael Da Silva into the Red Devils first team this season.

Anderson’s contract at the Tricolor Carioca is due to run out in the summer, with the defender available for as little as €3.5million. Anderson has played 31 times for Fluminense, with the defender making his Campeonato debut in 2006 after coming through the youth ranks at the club.

Chelsea To Sell Alex To Milan To Fund Kleber Transfer?

*

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is weighing up the option of selling Brazilian International Alex to AC Milan in order to fund the purchase of Kleber from Brazilian side Santos, according to The Sun.

Milan have been heavily linked with a move for William Gallas at Arsenal as the Rossoneri look to shore up a defence at the San Siro that age has caught up with. Alessandro Nesta along with Milan legend Paolo Maldini are both coming to the end of distinguished careers with the Serie A giants, which means coach Carlo Ancelotti must bring in reinforcements this month.

However, at 26-years-old Alex is a more attractive proposition to Gallas, who is 5-years older than the Brazilian, with the Blues understood to be prepared to let Alex leave Stamford Bridge for around £10million as long as they can secure the services of left-back Kleber.



28-year-old Kleber has been at Santos since joining from FC Basel in 2005 and was handed his first cap for Brazil by Scolari in 2002. It is thought that a fee in the region of £2million could be enough to bring Kleber to the Premier League club, but Chelsea could face competition from Manchester City, who Kleber has been suggested to the board at the Eastlands Stadium as a possible target by British record signing Robinho.

“I had a year in Europe with Hannover and the experience was great,” said Kleber.

“Robinho told me he was going to suggest me to the Man City board. If he gets me to play in Manchester, I will be thankful for the rest of my life.

“It would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’d say ‘yes’ straight away.”

Fulham, Spurs, Milan & Celtic To Fight It Out For Croatian International

*

Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Fulham along with AC Milan and Celtic for Croatian International goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, who id due to face Spurs when they play Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

29-year-old Pletikosa is the subject of interest of all four clubs, according to the keeper’s agent Mark Naletilic. With Naletilic also revealing that while enquiries have been made no firm offer has been made for Pletikosa, who is valued at £6.5million by Spartak.



“There are several interested clubs, but we are still at an early stage,” he told sportskenovosti.hr.

“Fulham is certainly among them, but the club have not yet submitted an official bid. Everything will depend on the price.

“Spartak are pleased with him, but they will not make things complicated if a real opportunity presents itself. Russians behave in the market, if a good offer arrives they do not stand in a player’s way.”

Naletilic went on to declare the interest from Celtic, while claiming that Tottenham were keen on Pletikosa to replace Heurelho Gomes, who has made a string of high-profile errors since his summer move to White Hart Lane from PSV Eindhoven.

Along with the interest from the Rossoneri, who while not dismissing a move to the San Siro highlighted the problem of the Serie A side having too many players from outside the EU in their squad.

“Contacts with Celtic are there from before, while Tottenham are interested due to the bad form of Heurelho Gomes,” he added.

“Milan also seek a goalkeeping solution, but there could be perhaps the problem of too many players from outside the EU. Everything is possible.”

Juventus To Make Liverpool Double Swoop?

*

Serie A giants Juventus are planning a double swoop for unsettled Liverpool pair Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger, with La Vecchia Signora hoping to take advantage of the financial problems at the Premier League club to lure the duo away from Anfield, according to The Mirror.

21-year-old Babel’s agent revealed recently that the Dutch International had wanted a loan move back to former club Ajax, with the winger growing frustrated at the lack of first team opportunities at the Merseyside club this season. Reds manager Rafa Benitez blocked this move, but Babel still remains unhappy at Anfield due to having to settle for a place on the bench this season under the Spaniard.

Agger (left) has also become unsettled at Liverpool for much the same reasons as Babel, with the Danish International falling behind Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel in the pecking order for a place in the heart of the Reds defence. Agger has been handed an opportunity recently due to an injury to Skrtel, but it remains to be seen whether the Dane can hold on to his place when Skrtel returns for the Premiership side.

In addition to this 24-year-old Agger is locked in talks over a new deal at Anfield and is also believed to be a target for AC Milan, who are keen to bring Agger to the San Siro to replace ageing stars Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri has also been heavily linked with William Gallas at Arsenal, with the Gunners interested in his own central defender Giorgio Chiellini. Should Gallas arrive in Turin and Chiellini go in the opposite direction then Ranieri sees Agger as the ideal replacement for the Italian. While, Babel is wanted by Ranieri to replace Czech star Pavel Nedved, who is coming to the end of a distinguished career at Juventus.

With it understood that Liverpool have to sell before they can buy in January, Juventus hope to take advantage by making an offer for the unsettled pair, which could see the duo leave Liverpool, with Benitez needing to raise funds for his own transfer targets next month.

Arsenal To Swoop For Brazilian International?

*

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering a January bid for Brazilian International striker Alexandre Pato at Serie A giants AC Milan, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Wenger is eager to get the Gunners faltering Premier League challenge back on track and is understood to have funds available in January to bring fresh faces to the Emirates Stadium after a meeting with new Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Friday.



19-year-old Pato is believed to be on the list of potential targets for the boss of the North London club, with Emmanuel Adebayor struggling with injuries this term and Nicklas Bendtner failing to impress in the Premiership this season. Although Wenger expects Croatian International Eduardo to return to first team action in the near future, Wenger is keen to add another forward to bolster the frontline at the Emirates.

Pato has been at the San Siro since signing from Brazilian side Internacional in 2007 and had been linked with Arsenal before joining the Rossoneri. Pato has scored 13 goals in 37 appearances for Milan during his time at the Italian club, but it remains to be seen if Milan, are willing to let him leave Italy for England in January or whether Wenger will have to wait until the summer to land the Brazilian starlet.

Arsenal Tracking Roma Defender Mexes?

*

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been linked with a January move for French International defender Philippe Mexes at Serie A club AS Roma, according to reports.

Despite, Wenger stating in public that his own French International defender William Gallas will not be leaving the Premier League club in January. After being stripped of the captaincy at The Gunners following his outburst to the press about his team mates at the Emirates Stadium recently. It is widely believed that 31-year-old Gallas will leave Arsenal in January.

Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan have both been linked with the former Chelsea player, with a reunion at Juve under Claudio Ranieri, who signed Gallas for Chelsea, while in charge at Stamford Bridge in 2001 looking the most likely.



This has led Wenger to start his own search for a replacement for Gallas and he has placed Roma central defender Philippe Mexes on his list of targets to replace Gallas at the Premiership club, with a January move for the former Auxerre player being mooted.

26-year-old Mexes has been at the Giallorossi since joining from French side Auxerre in 2004 and has made 120 appearances in Serie A for Roma during his time at the Stadio Olimpico. With the Frenchman, who has been capped 11 times by France a pivotal figure in helping the Italian side finish runners up to Inter Milan in the Scudetto last season.

Man City May Be Rich Now, But Will They Just Chuck Money Around In January?

*
The New Voice Of Football column at FootballFancast.com

Manchester City broke the British transfer record on transfer deadline-day to sign Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5million after the takeover at the Eastlands Stadium by the ADUG on the same day. Since then the media have come to the conclusion that the wealthy Arab owner’s will be prepared to chuck as much money around as is needed to land any player they fancy.

I for one do not think this will be the case. Wealthy? Yes. Stupid? No. While, City are in the position to outbid anyone for a player they want, they simply won’t pay massively over the odds just in order to get their man.

Take the case of Robinho (left), Chelsea wanted him and offered £30million, so City steal in and do a deal at £2.5million more, Real take that deal and so Robinho ends up in Manchester, despite the Brazilian revealing recently that Stamford Bridge was where he wanted to play.

So now look at the list of potential targets for the Premier League side in January, which include David Villa, Kaka, Gianluigi Buffon, Esteban Cambiasso, Fernando Torres and Roque Santa Cruz.

Now the name on that list that has cropped up most recently, with a World Record price tag attached is Valencia striker Villa, but how did anyone arrive at the figure of £60million? Valencia, are in dire straits financially and surely if City are to pay £60million. Then another club has to be willing to pay £55million, but I have not heard anything to that affect. So why would the City owner’s launch in at £60million?

Take what will probably be a much cheaper option in Mark Hughes former player Roque Santa Cruz at Blackburn Rovers, if offers are coming in for him at around £15million. Would it not make sense to just gazump them by a little in the same way City did with Robinho and Chelsea?

The only possible exception on that list is AC Milan playmaker Kaka, who if the Rossoneri decide to sell then a bidding war will ensue, starting at a pretty big fee and ending up anywhere. However, City will again only have to go that extra yard if they really want to recruit the soon to be former FIFA World Player of the Year to the Eastlands.

Yes, Man City will certainly be making a few big-money signings in January, but I can’t see them offering £10-20million more for a player just to get their man. You see my experience of rich people is they didn’t become rich by throwing it away when they simply didn’t have to.

Agent: I Don't Know If Agger Will Stay At Liverpool

*

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, who is a target for European powerhouses AC Milan and Real Madrid in the January transfer window is edging closer to leaving Anfield after his agent Per Steffensen claimed that he didn’t know whether the Danish International would see out the remaining 18 months of his contract at the Merseyside club.

23-year-old Agger has always maintained that he is happy at the Premier League club, despite speculation linking the Danish central-defender with a move to the Bernabeu or the San Siro in January. However, while Agger has been a regular starter for Reds manager Rafa Benitez recently due to the injury to Martin Skrtel. It remains to be seen if he can hold on to his place, when Skrtel returns from injury, which the Slovakian defender is expected to do in a couple of weeks time.

Add to this reports that talks on a new deal for Agger at Liverpool have stalled and the Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani declaring on Wednesday that a defender will be arriving at Milan in January, with Agger very much in their thoughts and the Danes future at Anfield looks less certain.

“We are going to sign a new defender in January, there's is no doubt about that," Galliani told Denmark's tipsbladet.dk.

“We have kept a frequent eye on Agger and his situation at Liverpool and have of course noticed the problems that Agger and Liverpool have on agreeing on a new contract.”

With Agger’s agent now refusing to comment on the situation regarding the former Brondby players new deal at Liverpool and conceding that he does not know if his client will remain at the Premiership club. A move away from Merseyside is looking ever more likely, with Milan the likely destination.

Steffensen said: “He still has 18 months left on his Liverpool contract, that is a fact.

“It’s not only up to Daniel. He has said he is happy at Liverpool but there are always two parties.

“I don't know if he will stay.”

Milan Set To Miss Out As Juventus On Verge Of Signing Gallas From Arsenal

*

Former Arsenal captain William Gallas is edging closer to a switch to Serie A, with Juventus director of sport Alessio Secco flying into London to thrash out a deal with new Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis, according to the Daily Mail.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri knows all about 31-year-old Gallas, having signed the French International from Ligue 1 side Marseille in 2001, while the Italian was in charge at Chelsea. Reports in Italy claim that Secco met Gazidis at Chelsea’s Champions League match against Cluj at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to finalise a deal to make the Frenchman a La Vecchia Signora player.

Gallas is widely expected to leave the Emirates Stadium in January, having been stripped of the captaincy at the Premier League club by manager Arsene Wenger after an outburst in the media criticising his team mates at the North London club.

While it would appear that Juventus are leading the race to sign Gallas, Serie A, rivals AC Milan are also reportedly interested in the defender, with the Rossoneri keen to bring Gallas to the San Siro. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has identified Gallas as the man to replace veteran defenders Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, who are both coming to the end of distinguished football careers at Milan.

Arsenal's Fabregas: Move To Italy? Only To Milan

*

Serie A giants AC Milan, who have been linked with a move for Spanish International Cesc Fabregas in recent reports, will be pleased to hear the Arsenal midfielder reveal that if he were to leave the Emirates Stadium for Italy. It would have to be to the San Siro to join the Rossoneri.

Gunners captain Fabregas has always maintained that he is happy at the Premier League club under manager Arsene Wenger, but continues to be the subject of speculation. La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and former club Barcelona are keen to bring the midfielder back to Spain along with Milan, who see the 21-year-old Spaniard as the perfect player to inject some youth into an ageing midfield at the San Siro.

Fabregas has now revealed that should he ever leave the North London club for Italy then the only option for the EURO 2008 winner would be Milan.

“I would undoubtedly pick the Rossoneri,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I think they are the Italian side that play the best football. I mean, there are several strong outfits in Serie A, such as Inter, Juventus and Roma, but they seem too much dependent on their star players.

“They run into trouble as soon as these are out injured. On the other hand, Milan lean on the group and their organization. I feel this is a winning mentality and a philosophy that I approve of.”

Fabregas has also revealed that he would have preferred Spain to meet Italy in the final of EURO 2008 as opposed to their quarter-final clash in which Fabregas scored the winning penalty against the World Cup holders.

“I think we met the Azzurri too early,” he smiled, “I would have preferred to face them in the final.

“Either way, I believe Italian fans can be happy: you lifted the World Cup and we just hoisted the European trophy. Do you fancy a swap?”

Milan Dismiss Link With Arsenal's Gallas

• 
  

Serie A giants AC Milan have moved quickly to quell reports that they are preparing to launch a January bid for Arsenal defender William Gallas.

31-year-old Gallas’ future at the Emirates Stadium has become shrouded in doubt after being stripped of the captaincy at the Gunners by manager Arsene Wenger after comments the French International made to the media last week.

Gallas was subsequently dropped from the Arsenal team that lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the Eastlands Stadium in the Premier League last Saturday. However, Gallas was restored to the starting line-up for Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League win against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday and was praised by his performance by Wenger.

The Frenchman’s agent has already declared that Gallas does not wish to leave the North London club, with reports recently linking the defender with a move back to France.

Reports earlier on Wednesday have linked the Rossoneri with a January bid to take Gallas to the San Siro, but Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has rejected the reports and insisted that there will be no new arrivals at Milan in January. Instead Galliani declared that Milan’s focus is on their UEFA Cup clash with Premiership club Portsmouth on Thursday and continuing their recent form in Europe is what mattered most.

“Gallas? We won't be making any signings in January and we are only thinking about tomorrow's Uefa Cup clash,” Galliani claimed on Datasport.it.

“What matters now is that we continue our form in Europe after picking up six points in the last two games,” he added.

“There will be changes in the team tomorrow night, but every player in our squad is important and so I don't think we will struggle on the pitch.”

Arsenal To Make January Swoop For Aquilani? - Chelsea, Man City & Juventus Also Linked

• 
  

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been given encouragement in his quest to sign Alberto Aquilani from Serie A team AS Roma after reports in Italy have claimed that the Italian side maybe forced to sell the midfielder in January due to mounting debts at the Stadio Olimpico.

Wenger has been tracking Aquilani for over a year and is understood to want the Italian to replace Mathieu Flamini, who left the Emirates Stadium for AC Milan in the summer. The Giallorossi had previously claimed that Aquilini would not be leaving Roma, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Serie A giants Juventus also linked with the Italian International.

24-year-old Aquilani has yet to sign a new deal with Roma, although his current contract does not end until 2010, with the Gunners reportedly ready to take advantage of the financial problems at Roma and make an offer for the midfielder in January.

Aquilani is a boyhood Roma fan and turned down the chance to join Chelsea when he was just 16, making his debut for the Roma first-team in 2003 and helping them achieve second place in Serie A last year, but now looks set for a move away from La Magica in January, with Arsenal in the Premier League the likely destination.