City On Brink Of £32million Deal For Premiership Trio

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Manchester City are reportedly on the verge of luring Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz along with West Ham United pair Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker to the Eastlands Stadium for a combined fee of £32million, according to The Sun.

City have been heavily linked with all three players in recent weeks, with manager Mark Hughes keen to bolster the squad at City after an indifferent start to the Premier League season, which has seen the Citizens falter in the last couple of months after a bright start to the Premiership campaign.

27-year-old Santa Cruz is understood to be on the brink of a move away from Rovers to City, with the Paraguayan International keen on a reunion with Hughes, who brought him to the Premier League last season from Bayern Munich, while in charge at Ewood Park. A fee in the region of £15million is being mooted for the striker that cost Blackburn just £3.5million in 2007.

Hammers pair Bellamy and Parker are also said to be open to a move away from Upton Park to Man City, with it believed that the pair will move North for a combined fee of £17million. With West Ham already conceding that they are ready to listen to offers for any of their players at the East London club.

The Sun claims that the trio will all complete moves to City by the end of next week as Hughes looks to add quality to the squad at the Eastlands, having already agreed a fee of £12million for left-back Wayne Bridge from Chelsea.

However, City are not likely to finish their spending in January should the three join the North West club, with Arsenal defender Kolo Toure at Arsenal also reportedly a target for Hughes along with another West Ham Player, England International Matthew Upson and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given at Newcastle United.

Allardyce Bracing Himself For Man City Santa Cruz Bid

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New Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has conceded that Rovers are bracing themselves for an offer from Premier League rivals Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz now that the transfer window is open again.

City boss Mark Hughes is keen on a reunion with 27-year-old Santa Cruz, who he signed from Bayern Munich last season while in charge at Ewood Park. The Paraguayan International was a huge success for Blackburn last season, scoring 19 goals in his debut Premiership campaign.

Santa Cruz has expressed his desire to leave Blackburn, with the Eastlands Stadium the most likely destination for the striker. However, despite bids being expected for the Paraguayan, Allardyce has revealed that a concrete offer for Santa Cruz has yet to be made.

“I certainly did not speak to Sparky about him after Sunday’s game. I spoke to the chairman and no one has contacted him about it, he tells me,” Allardyce told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

“As far as we are concerned, there appears to be an interest from Manchester City, but there is there is no actual confirmed bid from them.

“We just continue trying to get him fit as quickly as possible and playing for us.

“It is reasonable to think we would expect to hear from them because Mark Hughes brought him to the club in the first place and he had a very good season and, if he is struggling for a striker, he is bound to be interested.

“But that interest can only be at the right price for Blackburn Rovers if we considered we wanted to sell him.

“At the moment, we have had nothing to consider anyway, so it is not an issue as far as we are concerned.”

Allardyce has also claimed that there will be other clubs apart from Man City interested in Santa Cruz, who is injured with a calf problem, but insisted that his priority is to get the forward fit and playing for Blackburn again.

“He wants to leave. He has said it, hasn’t he? But at the end of the day what he has said is okay, but he has signed a new contract in good faith only two months ago,” he added.

“I have only been here seven or eight days and he has only trained a little bit with us before he pulled his calf muscle, so he has not hung around to see if he likes me or not - he has just said he wants to leave.

“At the moment, it is in their hands to make their first approach. It will be speculated about until January is finished.

“I would probably think that if we considered Santa Cruz might be available then there would be a lot more clubs wanting to buy him than Manchester City.

“At the moment, we are resisting that and just trying to get him fit to play for us and see where we go from there. Gaining fitness is the most important thing as far as we are concerned.”

Hull, Arsenal, Blackburn & Everton On Alert As Ajax Bid For Elia Is Rejected

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Premier League clubs Arsenal, Hull City, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, will be on alert today after Eredivisie club FC Twente revealed that they have rejected a bid from Dutch rivals Ajax for winger Eljero Elia.

21-year-old Elia has attracted strong interest from the Premiership, but Ajax, are the first club to make a firm offer for the Dutch International. However, with so many clubs interested in the talented Dutchman, Twente chairman Joop Munsterman has revealed the bid by Ajax to lure Elia to the Amsterdam Arena, which he has confirmed was rejected out of hand and even went as far as to call the offer an “insult”.

“Ajax have made an offer for Eljero [Elia], but we're not even considering it,” Munsterman told TC/Tubantia.

“Ajax's offer was an insult for a player of Elia's level.”



The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Manchester City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is understood to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in England one day.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 7 goals in 45 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should a decent offer and the Premier League beckon in January.

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

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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.

Keane: "Some Players Would Be Crying, But I'm Too Strong For That"

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Liverpool’s summer signing from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur Robbie Keane, has claimed that he “will score a lot of goals” for the Reds, despite recent reports linking the Republic of Ireland International with a return to Spurs in January.

28-year-old Keane arrived at Anfield from White Hart Lane in a deal worth £20million, but has been misfiring since joining the Merseyside club, with the former Inter Milan player only managing to find the net twice in 15 Premiership matches for Rafa Benitez’s side so far this season.

Keane was an unused substitute for the 3-1 win against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, which fuelled speculation that the Irishman was due foe a short stay on Merseyside, with Tottenham linked with a January move to bring Keane back to North London.

This led to Benitez, having to tell Keane that he would not be sold in January and that the striker had a future at Anfield, but just needed more time to settle in. Keane, who was restored to the starting line-up for the 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday has also claimed that he wishes to remain at Liverpool and has vowed to repay Benitez’s faith in him by scoring lots of goals for the Reds.

Keane said of his performance against the Eredivisie Champions: “I am happy with my own performance, I was delighted to play in a position that I like, just off the striker.

“It meant that I was always involved, and I got an assist with the third goal. Yes, I like scoring, but I always like helping others get their goals too.

“My confidence has not been affected by things that have been said about me, things like that never get me down.

“I am confident that I will score a lot of goals for this club, I am not worried about the way things have gone, there is a lot more to come from me.

“Some players would let their heads go down and they would be crying, but I am too strong for that.

“I have only been here a few months, and it takes time to settle, so it is too early to judge me now.

“I am always confident in own ability, I have scored a lot of goals in the past, and that ability doesn't go away just like that.

“But I accept that at club like Liverpool, as a striker you are judged on the goals you score. I love scoring goals, but I also love being involved.

“I am just as pleased with assists so I will carry on doing that and it will be fine.”

Arsenal Planning January Swoop For Dutch Pair?

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Arsenal are tracking two players at former England manager Steve McClaren’s Eredivisie side FC Twente, with winger Eljero Elia along with defender Douglas (below) both reportedly on the radar of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

21-year-old Elia is also a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Hull City, Blackburn Rovers and Everton, with the Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn believed to have watched Elia in action for Twente against Manchester City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Wenger is believed to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

Arsenal’s chief scout Steve Rowley is also understood to have watched Elia play for Twente against SC Heerenveen in the Eredivisie recently, with the young Dutchman putting in an electric performance.

Wenger is also believed to be interested in Twente’s Brazilian defender Douglas, with the Frenchman seeing the 20-year-old as a good prospect for the future at the Emirates Stadium.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership one day. While, Douglas has been at the Dutch side since his transfer from Joinville EC also in 2007.

Kinnear Reveals Shearer Newcastle Snub As He Signs Six-Month Extension At St James' Park

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has revealed that Magpies legend Alan Shearer turned down the opportunity to join the coaching staff at St James’ Park.

61-year-old Kinnear, who took over at the Toon after Kevin Keegan resigned in September had said last week that the door was “always open” for Shearer to return to Newcastle. However, Kinnear has now revealed that the former England International felt he was not ready to step into a coaching role at the North East club.

“[Shearer] said it was a very kind offer but wasn't ready for it yet, and I said,'That's fine',” Kinnear said.

Kinnear has just signed a six-month extension to his original short-term deal at the Magpies and has now suggested that he could bring someone else in on the coaching side at Newcastle.

Kinnear added: “There's a possibility I might bring someone else in on the coaching front now.”

Shearer spent over 10 years at St James’ Park, scoring 206 goals in 404 appearances during his time with Newcastle. The former Blackburn Rovers and Southampton player had stated in September that he would like to manage in the Premier League one day, but Kinnear is unconcerned at the striker being continually linked with the manager’s job at Newcastle, saying that it is never likely to go away.

“I said he would be welcome to come in any time to give the place a lift and work with our strikers,” he said.

“It was very honourable of Alan. Speculation linking him with the job is never going to go away and we're both aware of that.

“I told him he's more than welcome here and there's not a problem, there's no aggravation between us.”

Arsenal To Swoop For Hull, Blackburn & Everton Target?

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Arsenal are being linked with a swoop for Hull City, Blackburn Rovers and Everton target Eljero Elia at Eredivisie side FC Twente, who are managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is believed to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

It seems that the North London club are preparing to make a move for 21-year-old Elia in January, with De Telegraaf claiming that Gunners chief scout Steve Rowley was in Holland at the weekend to see Elia turn in an electric performance in the 6-0 rout of SC Heerenveen. (see video)

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership one day.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 6 goals in 43 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January.

Spurs & Blackburn Set To Lose Out On Mputu?

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Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers look set to miss out on Congolese International Tresor Mputu after the striker revealed that Marseille want him more than Spurs or Blackburn.

22-year-old Mputu, who currently plays for TP Mazembe in Congo had been heavily linked with a move to either White Hart Lane or Ewood Park, but the prolific striker has claimed that Marseille have made a firm offer to take him to the Stade Velodrome. Whereas, there were only offers of trials at the Premiership clubs.

“The president of my club [Governor Moise] has told me that Marseille have made a concrete offer for me, not a trial," Mputu explained to skysports.com.

“My agent is saying he has trials in the UK for me, and to be honest my ambition is to play in England - but no English club wants to sign me straightaway.

“And look at Wigan, I think they are paying that price now with [Amr] Zaki of Egypt.

“Marseille want me more than Tottenham and Blackburn. I have had a trial offer from Tottenham for two weeks but the concrete offer from Marseille is more of a deal for my chairman.

“I don't need to prove anything to any experts in African football - but Premier League clubs don't take players from Africa.

“Wigan took a gamble not signing Zaki permanently. I don't know why, as we all knew Zaki is a quality player and has proved himself on this continent.

However, Mputu did also reveal that he would like to come to England one day to ply his trade in the Premier League and disclosed that he is yet to sign a deal with the Ligue 1 team, but reaffirmed that there was a deal on the table from Marseille.

“One day I might come to the Premier League."

"It is not signed yet," he said.

"But the president said he has the concrete offer on the table."

Spurs v Blackburn Premiership Preview: Modric Out For Tottenham As Rovers Look To End 7-Game Winless Streak

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Tottenham Hotspur play, Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday

Spurs will be full of confidence going into this clash with Blackburn, despite losing for the first time in seven games under new boss Harry Redknapp against Fulham at Craven Cottage last weekend. Tottenham are still in the relegation zone, but had won three out of the last four in the Premiership before the defeat to the Cottagers, with wins against Liverpool, Manchester City and Bolton and a draw against North London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Redknapp will see this as a must win game against Rovers, who are just a point ahead of Tottenham in the table.

Ince will be hoping his Blackburn side can turn around a slump that has seen them take just 3 points out of a possible 21 in the last seven games, which has seen the North West club slide into the relegation zone. Rovers have not won since September, when they beat Newcastle United 2-1 at St James’ Park. Ince will be boosted by the fact that Blackburn have been better on their travels this season losing only twice compared with four times at Ewood Park, but will be happy to take anything away from White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Redknapp will be without his playmaker Luka Modric, who will be out for up to two weeks with a groin strain picked up against Fulham last weekend.

A statement on the club's official website read: “An MRI scan has revealed that Luka Modric has suffered a partially torn groin muscle. He was forced off with the injury at half-time in Saturday's match with Fulham and is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks.”

While, Tottenham will also be without Giovanni Dos Santos (ankle) and Brazilian Gilberto (knee) for the visit of Blackburn. One selection dilemma for Redknapp is who to play up front, with Roman Pavlyuchenko, Darren Bent and Fraizer Campell, who was man-of the-match for the England Under-21 side in their win against the Czech Republic on Tuesday all in good goal-scoring form.

Blackburn will be without Brett Emerton (hamstring), Steven Reid (knee), Vince Grella (hamstring) and David Dunn (calf) for the crunch clash at White Hart Lane. Paul Robinson is set to face his former club for the first time since his summer move to Rovers and will want to show Spurs they were wrong to sell him after being shown the door at Tottenham by former manager Juande Ramos.

Tottenham Hotspur: (from) Gomes, Hutton, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Bent, Stalteri, Ghaly, Gunter, Campbell, Taarabt, Dawson, Cesar, Corluka, Boateng, O’Hara, King, Assou-Ekotto, Rocha, Woodgate, Bostock, Dervite

Blackburn Rovers: (from) Robinson, Oojer, Warnock, Samba, Tugay, Nelsen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Pederson, Khizanishvili, Vogel, Mokoena, Andrews, Villanueva, Simpson, Fowler, Treacy, Derbyshire, Olsson, Roberts, Brown, Bunn

Injury Blow For Spurs Boss Redknapp As Modric Ruled Out For Two Weeks

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Croatian International Luka Modric has suffered a groin injury and will be missing from Harry Redknapp’s Spurs side for at least two-weeks.

23-year-old Modric, who was a £16.5million summer signing from Dinamo Zagreb was injured in the Premier League defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, where the Croatian playmaker was taken off at half-time.

Modric will now miss the Premiership matches at White Hart Lane against Blackburn Rovers and Everton as well as an away tie in the UEFA Cup against NEC Nijmegen. This will come as a blow to former Portsmouth boss Redknapp, who has pledged to build the team around Modric and will now have to do without the midfielder for this crucial series of games in the North London clubs season.

A statement on the club's official website read: “An MRI scan has revealed that Luka Modric has suffered a partially torn groin muscle. He was forced off with the injury at half-time in Saturday's match with Fulham and is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks.”

Hull, Man City, Blackburn & Everton Target Elia To Give "100%"

Young Dutch star Eljero Elia has claimed that he will continue to give “100%” for Eredivisie side FC Twente, despite reports linking the striker with a move to the Premier League in January, with Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Hull City all said to be interested in bringing Elia to England.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 6 goals in 43 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January.

However, Elia insists that he will continue to concentrate on playing football for McLaren’s side, but concedes that he has “ambitions” like any other player.

“I allow my agent to handle all these things and I concentrate on football,” he told Sportweek.

“I will give 100% for FC Twente for as long as I play for them.

“Of course I have ambitions, like every other player, but while there is nothing concrete I cannot say anything about it.”

Hart-Ache For Joe As City Keeper Ruled Out Of Germany Clash

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Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has been ruled out of England’s friendly International with Germany on Wednesday, City manager Mark Hughes confirmed on Monday.

21-year-old Hart injured his ankle in the Premier League clash with Hull City on Sunday after colliding with Daniel Cousin and could be on the sidelines at the Eastlands Stadium for up to a month.

“He'll have to be seen by our medical people when he gets back but he's likely to be out for a minimum of three to four weeks,” said Hughes.

“He's obviously out of the England squad, which is a blow to him, but most importantly it's a blow to us because we have some key games coming up. It will definitely be three or four weeks I think.”

Hart had been hoping to add to his one cap for England against the Germans, having made his debut for the senior squad against Trinidad and Tobago in May and will be replaced by Blackburn Rovers keeper Paul Robinson.

City Boss Hughes Tells Elano To Stop Feeling Blue

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that Brazilian International Elano’s comments about being unhappy at being left on the bench recently have been dealt with internally, with the former Blackburn Rovers boss reminding the playmaker that he has actually had a lot of playing time at the Eastlands Stadium this season.

27-year-old Elano had voiced his discontent to the media about being left on the bench for the UEFA Cup clash with Eredivisie side FC Twente and then again for the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Eastlands on Sunday.

Elano felt the need to make his opinion heard through the press, despite starting 8 out of City’s 12 Premiership games this campaign. Which has not endeared the former Shakhtar Donetsk player to Hughes, who insists Elano went about it in the wrong way.

“I had to remind Elano he actually has played quite often this year,” said Hughes.

“It was an internal matter and has been dealt with, so we draw a line over it and we move on.

“The mistake Elano made is that he went the wrong way about it. I always say my door is open, you can knock on my door and we'll discuss it. He just took and chose the wrong option.”

Hull To Beat Everton & Blackburn To Dutch Under-21 International?

Premier League debutantes Hull City are the favourites ahead of Blackburn Rovers and Everton to sign Dutch Under-21 International Eljero Elia of FC Twente after his agent Sjaron Vink revealed there had been interest from the Premiership and singled out the Yorkshire side for their progression in recent years.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup last Thursday at the Eastlands Stadium, with Hull manager Phil Brown understood to have been there in person to run the rule over Elia.

However, Vink has conceded that there has been no official contact from any Premier League club including the Tigers.

“I know that there has been some interest in Eljero but we have not heard anything from Hull City,” Vink told setantasports.com.

“It is a dream of every Dutch player to move to England but whether that is now or in the future, I cannot say.

“In Holland we have of course heard about Hull, and the way they have progressed through the leagues very quickly.”

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January, with the KC Stadium the likely destination.

Hull, Everton, Blackburn & Man City In January Race For Elia?

Premier League debutantes Hull City along with Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Manchester City are set for a January race for the signature of Dutch Under-21 International Eljero Elia at Eredivisie side FC Twente, according to skysports.com.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup last Thursday at the Eastlands Stadium.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 6 goals in 43 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January.