Redknapp Wants Cole Reunion?

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly keen on Chelsea’s England International Joe Cole, who Redknapp has worked with before at West Ham United, according to The Mirror.

With Spurs’ attempt to sign Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough looking destined to end if failure, Redknapp has turned his attention to 27-year-old Cole, who Redknapp handed his Premier League debut to back in 1999 at the Hammers aged 17.

Cole is understood to be unhappy at Stamford Bridge, with the attacking midfielder continually substituted by Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and could be ready to end his five-years at the Blues, with his present deal at the Premiership club coming to an end in 2010.

Despite Scolari claiming recently that any player at Chelsea is for sale, but the buying club would have to offer big money for anyone at the West London club. It is unlikely that Cole will leave Chelsea for White Hart Lane this month, with a summer reunion with Redknapp a more likely option.

Cole has scored 38 goals in 234 appearances for Chelsea and should the England midfielder be made available by Chelsea is sure to attract interest from other clubs apart from Tottenham.

Spurs To Fight It Out With Bolton For £8million Richardson?

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Sunderland winger Kieran Richardson is a January transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, with Bolton Wanderers also keen on the England International, according to The Mirror.

24-year-old Richardson was persuaded to join the Black Cats by former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane, when the Irishman took Sunderland into the Premier League in 2007. However, with Keane walking out of the Stadium of Light earlier in December, Richardson has reportedly become unsettled at the Premiership club and is looking for a move away from the North East.

Redknapp, who is also understood to be close to a deal for Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing is believed to be ready to offer Sunderland £8million for Richardson in January, but will face competition from Trotters manager Gary Megson, who also wants Richardson at the Reebok Stadium.

Spurs have identified the left side of midfield as an area that needs strengthening next month, with Aaron Lennon filling the void for Redknapp in recent weeks. While it is believed that Downing is the main target for Tottenham, Redknapp is considering Richardson as an alternative, with Boro manager Gareth Southgate wanting Gareth Bale as part of any deal to allow £15million rated Downing to leave the Riverside Stadium.

Tottenham are reluctant to let Welsh International Bale leave White Hart Lane, which has led them to Richardson, but with Bolton also interested it remains to be seen whether the winger opts for Spurs or Wanderers or decides to stay put at Sunderland in January.

Fulham v Middlesbrough Premier League Preview: Can Boro End 5-Game Winless Streak Against The Cottagers?

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Fulham play Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough in the Premier League at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Roy Hodgson’s Fulham side go into this match unbeaten in their last five league outings, but 4 of those games have been draws, with the last win for the Cottagers coming against Tottenham Hotspur in November at home. Fulham are 10th in the Premier League and have only lost once at home all season in 8 matches, winning 5 and drawing the other 2 games.

Boro go into this clash on the back of a good 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Riverside Stadium last week, but have not won in their last 5 Premiership matches, with 3 draws and defeats to Hull City and Bolton Wanderers. Southgate will be hoping that Middlesbrough can get back to winning ways at Craven Cottage on Saturday and start to climb from their 12th place in the table.

Fulham will be strikers Bobby Zamora (thigh) and Diomansy Kamara (knee) for the visit of Boro, while Andranik Teymourian (knee) and Seol Ki-Hyeon (knee) are also ruled out of this clash for the Cottagers.

Southgate is without summer signing Justin Hoyte (knee) and Rhys Williams (knee), with Gary O’Neill and striker Mido to face late fitness tests for hamstring injuries along with Andrew Taylor, who is struggling to shake off a knee injury in time for the trip to London.

Fulham: (from) Schwarzer, Paintsil, Konchesky, Hangeland, Johnson, Nevland, Gera, Murphy, Gray, Hughes, Zuberbuhler, Etuhu, Bullard, Stoor, Dempsey, Davies, Andreasen, Leijer, Brown, Kallio, Baird, Smalling, Watts

Middlesbrough: (from) Turnbull, Taylor, O’Neill, Riggott, Pogatetz, Digard, Mido, Aliadiere, Emnes, Alves, Huth, Shawky, Tuncay, Downing, Arca, Jones, Bates, Johnson, McMahon, Wheater, Porritt, Owens, Hines, Grounds, Walker

Villa v Boro Premiership Preview: Laursen, Barry & Reo-Coker Set For Villa Recalls – Huth In Contention For Middlesbrough

Aston Villa play, Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill will go into this clash with Boro full of confidence, despite losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park last Monday. The Villans are top of their UEFA Cup group and 5th in the Premiership, with the defeat against the Magpies the first since the International break. O’Neill will be confident of collecting all three points at against Middlesbrough, with the Midlands club unbeaten at Villa Park this season.

Southgate will be wondering which Boro team will turn up at Villa, the team that beat Manchester City 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium 10 days ago or the one that has lost to West Bromwich Albion and North East rivals Sunderland this season. Boro have lost 3 of their five away matches this season and are just off the pace in the Premier League in 8th place.

Villa, are unable to call on Stiliyan Petrov (hamstring), who will be out for 2 weeks and long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma (ankle). O’Neill is likely to recall captain Martin Laursen along with Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker and keeper Brad Friedel, who were all rested for the UEFA Cup win over Slavia Prague on Thursday.

Boro will be without Rhys Williams (knee) and Mohamed Shawky (thigh), but could welcome back defender Robert Huth for the trip to the Midlands if the former Chelsea player shakes off a foot injury in time.

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

Middlesbrough: (from) Turnbull, Huth, Hoyte, Wheater, Taylor, O’Neil, Riggott, Pogatetz, Digard, Mido, Aliadiere, Emnes, Alves, Tuncay, Downing, Arca, Jones, Bates, A Johnson, J Johnson, McMahon, Stelle, Porritt, Owens, Hines, Grounds, Walker