Spurs Villa & Arsenal On Standby As N'Zogbia Seeks Way Out Of Toon

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Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Aston Villa will all be on alert after Newcastle United player Charles N’Zogbia revealed that he is ready to quit the Magpies.

22-year-old N’Zogbia has been heavily tipped to leave St James’ Park this month, with Spurs along with the Gunners and Martin O’Neill’s Villans side all reportedly interested in the French Under-21 International.

While Arsenal’s interest in the versatile left-sided player seems to have cooled. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is well documented as looking for a solution to the problem on the left at White Hart Lane and sees N’Zogbia as a viable alternative to Stewart Downing, who looks set to remain at Middlesbrough.

Villa are also looking for a player with pace at left-back, with recent reports suggesting that O’Neill is ready to offer Villa misfit Nicky Shorey to Newcastle in a straight player swap.

Toon boss Joe Kinnear has always stated that none of Newcastle’s top players will be leaving in January, but is unlikely to keep N’Zogbia, who is determined to leave St James’ Park after four-and-a-half years.

N’Zogbia told www.lyoncapitale.fr: “There have been some changes at Newcastle recently. I have experienced six different managers in four years, and it is too much.

“Every season is getting worse and worse despite the lofty goals of the club. I therefore decided to leave, to try to find better exposure."

Ligue 1 Champions Lyon are also said to be interested in N’Zogbia, with the former Le Havre player conceding that his future ultimately depended on whether Newcastle are prepared to sell as he is under contract at the North East club until 2012.

“It is for the club to decide,” he added in L'Equipe.

“If Newcastle decide to keep me, I will stay. I will have no choice.

“I am waiting. They (Lyon) may actually have contacted my agent, but I did not get feedback.

“What is certain is that Lyon is a good club. Whether they really want me remains to be seen.”

Villa To Offer N'Zogbia Route Out Of Toon?

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Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is to step up his efforts to sign Charles N’Zogbia from Premier League rivals Newcastle United and is ready to offer Nicky Shorey as part of the deal in order to land the Frenchman.

Magpies boss Joe Kinnear has insisted that N’Zogbia will not be allowed to leave St James’ Park in January, with Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly interested in the versatile left-sided player, who is keen on a move away from the Premiership side.

Despite not wanting N’Zogbia to leave, Kinnear is an admirer of England International Shorey, who has fallen out of favour at Villa Park since his £3.5million switch from Championship club Reading in the summer. With a straight swap deal between the Toon and the Villans being mooted for the pair.

22-year-old N’Zogbia had expressed a desire to play for Arsenal recently, but Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of the former Le Havre player arriving at the Emirates Stadium this month.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is also a fan of N’Zogbia and the Frenchman’s versatility makes the player an attractive proposition for Redknapp, who is keen to add balance to the left-hand side of the squad at White Hart Lane.

However, with Kinnear interested in 27-year-old Shorey and N’Zogbia desperate for a move away from the North East a swap involving the pair is the most likely outcome. If the two clubs can broker a deal that would see all parties happy.

Villa Line Up Young Spaniard?

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Eugenio Botas, who is the agent of left-back Roberto Canella at Portuguese side Sporting Gijon has revealed that Premier League club Aston Villa have shown an interest in the young Spaniard.

20-year-old Canella has been at Gijon since 1999, with the young defender coming through the youth ranks at the Rojiblancos to make his senior debut at El Molinon in 2006.

Canella is valued at £11million by the Portuguese side, with it understood that the Villans are prepared to offer £10million to bring the youngster to the Premiership. However, Botas has claimed that Villa boss Martin O’Neill will have to meet the full valuation before any decision can be taken on the defender joining the Midlands club.

“If Aston Villa put all the money on the table, all the parts will have to make a decision,” Botas told Setanta Sports.



Canella has welcomed the interest from Villa, but has insisted that any transfer talk is something to be discussed between his agent and his club.

“I had no idea of this news, that’s the first time I hear about it. I’m happy at Sporting, focused on fighting to stay up, so that kind of stuff must be discussed by my agent and by Sporting,” he said.

“For sure it’s always a pleasure when such a club as Aston Villa, with the history they have, are interested in you, and it means that both the team and myself are doing things the right way.

“I’m proud but focused on Sporting.”

8 Premier League Clubs In Hunt For Belgian Star?

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Belgian International Steven Defour put a host of Premier League clubs on alert after the midfielder claimed he is ready to leave Standard Liege, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Portsmouth all interested in the young starlet.

20-year-old Defour joined Standard from Genk in 2006 and has already made nearly 100 appearances for the Belgian Champions, who he led to their first title in 25-years last season, with the midfielder now claiming he has achieved all he can with the Belgian club and is ready to take the next upward step in his career.

Defour admitted, “I have achieved what I wanted to achieve with Standard.

“Maybe it is best for my career to make an upward step. I feel the time is right for me to move on.”



Although Defour has been a rising star of Belgian football for the past two seasons and already has 18 caps for the national side. It was the midfielder’s performances in Europe against Liverpool and Everton that have attracted the clutch of Premiership clubs to the youngster.

However, Standard are understood to be not willing to let Defour leave the Stade Maurice Dufrasne on the cheap, with the midfielder valued in the region of £8million. This price could easily escalate though, should a bidding war break out from the interested English clubs.

Standard can hold out for a high price for Defour, who won the Golden Shoe award in 2007 for most outstanding player in the Jupiler League as the midfielder is contracted to Les Rouches until 2013.

Villa along with the Gunners, Spurs, Magpies, Boro, Pompey and Blackburn are all understood to have had Defour watched recently, with a move to the Premier League almost certain the only uncertainty is which club the young star will join.

Arsenal To Offer Bendtner In Part Exchange For Villa & Spurs Target?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be forced into offering striker Nicklas Bendtner (below) to West Ham United in part exchange for defender Matthew Upson if the Frenchman wants to bring the former Gunner back to the North London club, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa also reportedly interested in the England International.

29-year-old Upson has been widely tipped to leave Upton Park this month along with Welsh International Craig Bellamy, who is a target for Spurs and Manchester City. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is understood to have identified Bendtner as a possible replacement for Bellamy, with a player plus cash deal being mooted.

Bendtner aged 20, has also been linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the transfer window, with it remaining to be seen if the Danish International is prepared to move to East London in order to allow Upson to return to the club he left for Birmingham City in 2003.

Despite reports that West Ham have to sell in the transfer window, Zola is determined not to let any of his key players leave the Premiership club on the cheap, with the Irons valuing Upson in the region of £15million. This would mean Wenger, having to find somewhere in the region of £9million to make the deal go through, with Arsenal valuing Bendtner at around £6million.

However, with Spurs and Villa still interested in Upson it remains to be seen if the England defender wishes to go back to the club, where he made only 35 appearances in six-years at his first spell at the Gunners, with Wenger in charge.

Spurs To Swoop For £3.5million Misfit Shorey?

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly ready to make another move for Nicky Shorey at Aston Villa, having previously missed out on the England International to the Villans, while in charge at Portsmouth in the summer, according to The People.

27-year-old Shorey chose Villa Park over Fratton Park, when the left-back left Reading for £3.5million in August, but has failed to establish himself as a regular starter for Villa boss Martin O’Neill in the Premier League. O’Neill is understood to be ready to let Shorey leave Villa if the Midlands club can recoup the transfer fee paid to the Royals just five-months ago.

Redknapp is known to be keen to bring a left-back to White Hart Lane this month, with the former Pompey chief unsure about Welsh International Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the position.

Given that Redknapp reportedly made an offer for Shorey in the summer for a similar sum. It would appear that the defender is destined to work under Redknapp, albeit five-months later and at Tottenham not Portsmouth.

Defoe Wants Redknapp Reunion

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Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe has revealed that he wishes to leave Fratton Park in order to join Tottenham Hotspur so that the England International can work with Harry Redknapp again, who left Pompey for Spurs in October.

New Portsmouth manager Tony Adams admitted that he didn’t know if Defoe would play for Portsmouth again on Friday, with Aston Villa and Juventus said to be interested in the striker along with Tottenham.

While Redknapp has made no secret of his desire to lure Defoe back to the club he left 12 months ago. Defoe has now hinted that White Hart Lane is the only destination of interest and only left the North London club to work under Redknapp, who he has also worked under at West Ham United.

Pompey value Defoe in excess of £20million, despite paying Tottenham only £9million for the forward a year ago. Spurs are understood to have made an offer of £16million, with Defoe eager for the two Premier League sides to reach an agreement. So that he can rejoin the club he spent four-years at between 2004-2008 before his move to Portsmouth.

“If Portsmouth can agree an acceptable deal with Tottenham I would like the opportunity to talk to them,” Defoe told the Sunday Mirror.

“I've enjoyed my time immensely here, but I can't deny that Harry Redknapp's departure as manager hit me hard particularly because he was the reason why I joined Portsmouth in the first place.

“I have a great deal of respect for Tony Adams and what he's trying to achieve. We have a very good working relationship.

“But I left Tottenham to join Portsmouth with the intention of working with Harry for a considerable time to come. I could have gone to other clubs when I left Tottenham, but I wanted to work with Harry.”

Villa Line Up £12million Serbian Defoe Alternative?

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Aston Villa are believed to be considering a £12million offer for Serbian International striker Milan Jovanovic at Belgian side Standard Liege, with Villans manager Martin O’Neill keen to keep the Midlands club charge into the top four in the Premier League intact.

O’Neill is resigned to losing out to Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe, who stated on Sunday that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is the manager he wants to play for and was the reason he left for Pompey in the first place.

Reports are also suggesting that Danish International John Carew is to leave Villa Park, with the former Valencia player likely to move on in the summer if not this month.

This makes the need for O’Neill even more urgent to add a striker to his squad, with the Serbian hitman said to be high on Villa’s wish list following 35 goals in 76 appearances for Liege since his move from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2006.



27-year-old Jovanovic has already turned down Everton, Spurs and Real Madrid, with a source close to the striker claiming that it is a straight race between the Premiership club and Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart for Jovanovic.

A close friend of the striker told the Daily Star: “Aston Villa have made it clear they would love to sign Milan – and the deal is ­possible. Milan has already turned down the chance to play for Real Madrid, Everton and Spurs.

“Now, it is a straight choice between Villa and Stuttgart.

“At the moment, though, the Germans are favourites – and maybe Villa have only a few days to change that.”

Juve To Rival Spurs For Defoe?

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp’s bid to be reunited with Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe at White Hart Lane is under threat of being scuppered by Serie A giants Juventus, according to reports.

26-year-old England International Defoe has already expressed his desire to leave Fratton Park after just 12 months, with a return to former club Spurs looking like the most likely destination. Redknapp is understood to have offered £16million for the striker that he paid £9million to Tottenham for, while in charge at Pompey.

Premier League rivals Aston Villa are also keen on the former West Ham United player, with it believed that it would be a straight fight between the Villans and Spurs for the signature of Defoe.

However, now it is said that Juve have made an offer of £20million to lure Defoe from the Premiership to Italy. If La Vecchia Signora are serious about their interest in the striker it could wreck Redknapp’s plans of working with Defoe at a third club after claiming recently that he will not pay over the odds in the transfer window.

One thing that is almost certain is that Defoe will leave the South Coast club especially after revealing that he has been the subject of death threats from fans for wanting to quit Portsmouth.

Defoe told the Sunday Mirror: “I have absolutely no idea how they got hold of my number but some of the calls have made me feel sick to my stomach.”

N'Zogbia Wants Arsenal Move

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Newcastle United midfielder Charles N'Zogbia has stated once again that he wishes to leave St James’ Park in January, with the Frenchman expressing a desire to stay in the Premier League and admitting that Arsenal would be his preferred destination.

22-year-old N’Zogbia is reportedly a target for Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, with Premiership rivals Aston Villa along with Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain also linked with a move for the French Under-21 International.

N’Zogbia has become disillusioned with events at the North East club in recent months and is desperate for a move away from the Toon in order to win trophies and realise his ambition of playing for the senior French side. N’Zogbia, who joined Newcastle as an 18-year-old from the Le Havre youth side four-years ago has also claimed that the Magpies are willing to let him leave St James’ Park, should the right offer come along.

“I am used to English Football, so my priority is to stay here,” N'Zogbia told Le 10 Sport.

“France? I don't know it very well! But I think about it. I don't have any contact with French clubs, or any other clubs.

“I ask myself questions about my future. At Newcastle for three years we are playing in the bottom of the league. I want to win titles, and I have set myself high objectives, like being in the French team.

“I told Newcastle in case of possible transfer, I will do anything to leave this winter. If the club receives a nice offer, they will try to transfer me."

“Arsenal is the club that makes me dream the most in the Premier League.

“Lyon is a very, very good club. PSG is currently in a very good period.

“If I could have to be transferred there, I would have no regret. It would be a good choice.

“But Anyway, I am at Newcastle so far. I give my best for that club, which gave me my start in professional football.”

Are Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea & Blackburn Guilty Of Not Giving Home Grown Talent A Chance?

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While on Manchester United’s foray in Japan for the World Club Championships, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has once again reiterated that he would like to see a limit on foreign players in the starting XI’s in the Premier League, with the United boss all in favour of having to field 6 British players in the starting XI.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's match against Gamba Osaka Ferguson said: “I think it should be a concern when local and national players are not given opportunities, so therefore eventually there have to be limitations on foreign players. That way clubs' youth systems are protected. Progress is progress and the future has to protect the national game.”

Even though we all know this contravenes EU law and is highly unlikely to be introduced. What would happen in the Premiership if it, was introduced today?

The first club that springs to mind would be Arsenal, having fielded an entire team of foreign imports on more than one occasion. However, they do have 11 players from the British Isles in the first team squad, though not one of these players is out of their teens yet. So while they have youngsters coming through they would struggle to have six British players start for them in the Premier League and be competitive. Leaving them to field their Carling Cup kids to meet the quota.

Chelsea, don’t even have the option of fielding British youngsters, because they simply don’t have any. While they do have 5 England Internationals at Stamford Bridge if you look further than that they only have 2 other English players in the first team squad. Yes they also have Michael Mancienne on loan at Wolves, but with Luiz Felipe Scolari willing to send a player out on loan that has pushed himself into the thoughts of England boss Fabio Capello, with his performances for the Under-21’s. What message does that send to the British schoolboys at the club?

You then look at Liverpool and it would appear that Rafa Benitez’s side would struggle immediately if this quota was introduced. Only 8 English players and Irishman Robbie Keane in the squad, with only Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher along with Keane likely to be in Rafa’s starting line-up on any given match day. In fact no British talent has emerged from the Red half of Merseyside and been used by Liverpool consistently since Gerrard and Carragher along with Michael Owen burst on to the football scene many years ago now. They have 7 British players out on loan, but we all know these players are highly unlikely to feature for the Reds in the future.

So now to Blackburn, who you might have thought, would have a British heart and soul? Not at all, only 6 English players, 3 Irish and a Welshman and of these they could just about scrape together the required 6. For 3 of these 10 players are goalkeepers and Danny Simpson is on loan. So Blackburn would struggle to as they are now anyway if this quota were to be introduced.

So is it any surprise that Ferguson would like to see this quota introduced, with the knowledge that as it stands now it would severely impair his three closest rivals, while having little effect on his own side

If you go through the rest of the squads in the Premier League most clubs would be ok, with all the other clubs having enough British players on their books that either play for the first team or have a realistic chance of playing in it. Tottenham might have the best of it, with Spurs able to field 7 England Internationals, 3 England Under-21’s, 2 Welsh Internationals and a Scottish International if all fit. Although one of the Under-21’s is on loan, but could still field a very strong side as they have the players there to choose from. Aston Villa would find it very easy to, with their current crop at Villa Park.

So regardless of whether a quota is ever introduced shouldn’t clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, Blackburn and to a lesser extent Arsenal as the Gunners have a crop of English youngsters coming through, be looking to produce some real home grown talent and not be looking abroad every time, when trying to find new recruits for their clubs? Not just for their progression, but for the progression of the game in England.

The New Voice Of Football column at FootballFancast.com

UEFA Cup Draw: Spurs & Villa On Course For Last 16 Showdown

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Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are on course to clash in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup if they can overcome Shakhtar Donetsk and CSKA Moscow respectively, who, the two Premier League clubs drew in the last 32 of the competition.

Manchester City, who also made it through to the last 32, were drawn against Danish club FC Copenhagen at the draw that took place on Friday at UEFA’s HQ in Nyon, Switzwerland, with Mark Hughes’ side due to meet either Aalborg or La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna in the last 16.

The Villans face a tough tie against CSKA, who were the only team in the group phase to win all 4 of their matches and won the competition in 2005. However, Villa manager Martin O’Neill said he didn’t mind who the Midlands club got in the knockout stages, but must have secretly hoped for an easier draw than the one with the Russians.

Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham side also have a tough task against Shakhtar, who finished third in their Champions League group. However, Spurs will be glad just to be in the draw, having just scraped through on Thursday against Spartak Moscow, coming from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 and book their place in the last 32.

First legs are to played on February 18/19th for the last 32, with the second legs to be played on February 26th. The first and second legs for the last 16, will be played on March12th and March 18/19th.

Full UEFA Cup Draw: Last 32

Paris St Germain v Wolfsburg
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City
NEC Nijmegen v Hamburg
Sampdoria v Metalist Kharkiv
Braga v Standard Liege
Aston Villa v CSKA Moscow
Lech Poznan v Udinese
Olympiakos v St Etienne
Fiorentina v Ajax
Aalborg v Deportivo La Coruna
Werder Bremen v AC Milan
Bordeaux v FC Galatasaray
Dynamo Kiev v Valencia
Zenit St Petersburg v VfB Stuttgart
Marseille v FC Twente
Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham Hotspur

Full UEFA Cup Draw: Last 16

Werder Bremen/AC Milan v Olympiakos/St Etienne
Aston Villa/CSKA Moscow v Shakhtar Donetsk/Tottenham
Lech Poznan/Udinese v Zenit St Petersburg/VfB Stuttgart
Paris St Germain/Wolfsburg v Braga/Standard Liege
Dynamo Kiev/Valencia v Sampdoria/Metalist Kharkiv
FC Copenhagen/Manchester City v Aalborg/Deportivo La Coruna
Marseille v FC Twente v Fiorentina/Ajax
NEC Nijmegen/Hamburg v Bordeaux v FC Galatasaray

West Ham v Villa Premier League Preview: O’Neill To Recall Big Guns For Trip To The Hammers

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West Ham United play Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa in the Premier League at Upton Park on Saturday.

Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers side go into this match with just one win in their last 5 league outings, which was against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, but have also drawn with top two Premier League teams Liverpool and Chelsea away from home in this sequence. However, West Ham are just one point of the relegation zone in 16th place and will be hoping to come out of this clash with an inform Villa side with something on Saturday.

The Villans are unbeaten in their last 5 Premiership games, which has seen them draw with Manchester United and Fulham, while beating Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and Everton. This run has seen O’Neill’s team climb into the Champions League places in 4th place above the Gunners. Villa are yet to draw an away game in the Premier League this season, winning 5 and losing 3 on their travels away from Villa Park.

The Hammers are unable to call on striker Dean Ashton (Os Trigonum syndrome), Daniel Gabbidon (groin), Lee Bowyer (thigh) and James Collins (calf) for the visit of the Midlands club, with Carlton Cole expected to partner Craig Bellamy upfront for West Ham.

Martin O’Neill is still without Wilfred Bouma (ankle) and striker John Carew (back) for the trip to Upton Park, but is expected to recall captain Martin Laursen along with Gareth Barry, Ashley Young, James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who were all rested for the UEFA Cup tie with Hamburg on Wednesday.

West Ham United: (from) Green, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Lopez, Dyer, Parker, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Noble, Mullins, Spector, Faubert, Behrami, Stokes, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Collison, Di Michele, Sears, Stech, Hines, Jefferey, Widdowson

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, L Young, Sidwell, Laursen, Barry, A Young, Milner, Harewood, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Davies, Knight, Salifou, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Shorey, Guzan, Cuellar, Gardner, Osbourne, Bannan, Herd

Villa & Spurs In Hunt For £10million Ashton?

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Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are reportedly ready to take advantage of the financial problems at West Ham United, with the Premier League duo ready to lock horns in luring England International Dean Ashton away from Upton Park in January.

25-year-old Ashton, who has suffered from a series of injuries since joining the Hammers from Norwich City in 2006 and is currently on the sidelines of the Premiership club after injuring his ankle in September, is expected to return to action for the East London club in the New Year.

Ashton has been continually linked with a move away from West Ham in January, with Spurs and Villa understood to be ready to test the resolve of the Hammers board with offers in the region of £10million to secure the services of the big striker.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has always maintained that despite reports of financial trouble at the club, with a ‘Fire Sale’ being mooted at Upton Park in January. That West Ham will hold on to their best players, which includes Ashton along with Robert Green and Matthew Upson, who are also believed to be on the radar of Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.

However, whether Spurs or the Villans are prepared to take a £10million gamble on the injury prone Ashton remains to be seen, with Zola revealing that the striker is on course for a return to the West Ham side in early January.

Zola said: “Dean is in rehab and seeing his physio.

“He's doing very well but I don't how long he will be out for. Hopefully it'll be the very beginning of the New Year.”

Spurs To swoop For Liverpool & Villa Target?

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Tottenham Hotspur are planning a sensational £7million January swoop for Liverpool and Aston Villa target Antonio Valencia at Wigan Athletic, according to The Mirror.

23-year-old Valencia has been heavily linked with a move away from the JJB Stadium next month, with the Ecuadorian International reportedly on the wish list of both Reds manager Rafa Benitez and Villans boss Martin O’Neill, who are both eager to lure the right winger away from their Premier League rivals.

Now Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is understood to be interested in the Latics midfielder, with former White Hart Lane boss Juande Ramos now in charge at Real Madrid said to be keen on Tottenham wingers Aaron Lennon and David Bentley.

Should the Los Merengues coach make a move for either Lennon or Bentley next month, Redknapp has identified Valencia as the player to fill the void left by any departure at the North London club.

However, Tottenham will face stiff competition from Villa and Liverpool along with resistance from Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who has always maintained that Valencia will not be leaving the JJB in January and is a pivotal part of the Latics team.

Valencia joined Wigan from Recreativo on a permanent basis in 2007 after a successful loan spell at the JJB the previous season, with the midfielder making 59 league appearances and scoring 7 goals for the Latics since his arrival in the Premiership.

Villa Boss Warns Real Madrid Off Young

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Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has moved quickly to warn La Liga Champions Real Madrid off winger Ashley Young, with the former Celtic boss insisting that Young “is certainly not for sale”.

23-year-old Young had become the latest Premier League player wanted by former Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos, who is now in charge of Los Merengues, with a £25million swoop for the former Watford player in January being mooted by the new Bernabeu boss.

Ramos is keen to add some fresh faces to his injury deleted squad at Real, with his former charges at Spurs, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Didier Zokora, David Bentley and Aaron Lennon also reportedly on the Ramos radar.

Young however, will not be leaving the Villans, according to O’Neill, who managed to keep hold of Liverpool target Gareth Barry in the summer, with the Irishman also revealing that he didn’t “know anything about” the interest from the Spanish side.

Talking to the official club site O’Neill said “I don't know anything about it but he's certainly not for sale.”

England International Young joined Villa from Watford in 2007 for £9.75million, with the winger scoring 16 goals in 75 appearances while at Villa Park and also chipping in with 28 assists. Young along with Villa captain Martin Laursen, Barry, James Milner and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor are all due to be left in England for the Midlands club crunch UEFA Cup tie in Hamburg on Wednesday.

River Plate Forced To Sell Spurs & Arsenal Target

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Néstor Gorosito, who is due to become the coach of Argentine giants River Plate in the New Year has confirmed that either Radamel Falcao a target of Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur or Diego Buonanotte, will be sold in January to balance the books at the South American club.

River Plate have just suffered the humiliation of finishing bottom of the Argentine Primera Division, which means that Los Millionarios must offload at least one of their two biggest stars, with either Buonanotte, who is a target for Serie A side Napoli or Falcao likely to be sacrificed in January when the transfer window reopens.

“Falcao or Buonanotte will leave,” Gorosito told reporters on Monday.



22-year-old Falcao had been the subject of offers from Aston Villa and AC Milan in the past, but River Plate resisted the attempts to sign the striker, who has scored 35 goals in 89 appearances for the Argentine sides. Falcao has suffered from a series of niggling injuries during his short career, but is now back to full fitness and is valued in the region of £7million by River Plate.

The Colombian International had previously played down rumours of a switch to the premiership, but with River Plate now having to sell to balance the books it remains to be seen whether Spurs or the Gunners revive their interest in bringing Falcao to England.

Villa v Bolton Premier League Preview: Can The Trotters Halt The Villans Charge Into Top Four?

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Aston Villa play, Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa side go into this match with Bolton on a 4-game unbeaten run, which has seen the Villans win at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal and more recently last Sunday at 3-2 at Goodison Park against Everton. Despite this run, Villa have failed to win their last three games at Villa Park, with O’Neill’s side drawing 0-0 against both Manchester United and Fulham and losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough. However, the Midlands club are 5th in the Premiership and just a point off the Champions League places.

The Trotters might have lost last weekend 2-0 to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium, but have still won 4 of their last 6 matches in the Premiership, with wins against Sunderland, Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Hull City. Megson will be buoyed that Wanderers have taken more points away from home so far this season, but concerned about Bolton’s form at the Reebok, usually a hard place to get a result. With Bolton’s eratic home form seeing them only mid-table in 10th place in the Premier League.

Aston Villa, will be without striker John Carew, who has a back injury, while O’Neill is still unable to call on long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma, who is still six weeks away from a return to the Villans side with an ankle injury.

Gary Megson has almost a full compliment of players to choose from ahead of the trip to Villa Park, with only long-term injury Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) unavailable for the Trotters.

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, Shorey, L Young, Laursen, Davies, Sidwell, Barry, Milner, A Young, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Guzan, Cuellar. Gardner, Osbourne

Bolton Wanderers: (from) Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Nolan, Samuel, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, J O’Brien, Elmander, Smolarek, Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Riga, McCann, Al Habsi, Shittu, Cohen, Sinclair, Fojut, Harsanyi, Basham, A O’Brien, Sissons

United Flop Has "Unfinished Business" In The Premier League

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Former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has claimed that he has “unfinished business” in the Premier League, with the combative midfielder open to a move to West Ham United, who are reportedly keen on the Cameroon International from Odense BK in Denmark.

27-year-old Djemba-Djemba spent two years at Old Trafford after arriving from French side Nantes in 2003, but failed to live up to his reputation and was sold by Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson to Aston Villa in 2005, with the midfielder only making 20 league appearances for United.



Djemba-Djemba also failed to make an impression at Villa Park and was sent out on loan to Championship side Burnley before being sold by the Villans to Qatar SC in 2007, where the midfielder only made one appearance before joining Odense in 2008.

However, Djemba-Djemba has shown the type of form in Denmark that prompted Ferguson to pay £3.5million for him and has now attracted the attention of new Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola, who is keen to bring the midfielder back to the Premier League.

Djemba-Djemba told Sky Sports: “I am having a good season.

“I lost my way a bit when I signed for Manchester United, but I am a good player. You don't play alongside Roy Keane and Paul Scholes if you are a bad player.

“West Ham, are interested, I've heard, so that means I am having a good season.

“I have unfinished business with the Premier League, so who knows? It would be good to go back there and prove myself.”

Villa To Join Liverpool & Man United In Valencia Hunt?

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Aston Villa, are to join Liverpool and Manchester United in the race for the signature of Wigan Athletic midfielder Luis Antonio Valencia, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The News of the World.

The Sunday tabloid claims that Villa boss Martin O’Neil is planning to make a £7million offer to lure 23-year-old Valencia from the JJB Stadium to Villa Park. As the former Celtic boss looks to build a squad capable of challenging for a Champions League place in the Premiership at the Midlands club.

Ecuador International Valencia signed permanently for the Latics in the summer, having spent the previous two seasons on loan from La Liga club Villarreal and has made 65 Premier League appearances for Steve Bruce’s side.

Valencia has also attracted the attention of Reds boss Rafa Benitez, with the Liverpool boss keen to bring the right-winger to Anfield as a replacement for Jermaine Pennant, who looks destined to leave the Merseyside club in January.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is also said to be interested in bringing Valencia to the Premier League Champions, with the Red Devils chief also linked with Valencia’s club and International team mate Wilson Palacios.