Chelsea Still Want Slovakian International?

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Chelsea are still keen on Slovakian International Marek Hamsik at Serie A side Napoli, despite the midfielder reportedly signing a new deal at the Stadio San Paolo, which will tie him to the Azzurri until 2013.

The Blues along with a host of top European clubs are said to be in the hunt for Hamsik, with Chelsea also linked to the midfielder’s team mate Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi. Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is reportedly keen to bring Hamsik to the Premier League when the transfer window reopens next month, according to The news of the World.



However, Chelsea will have to wait until the end of the season before any move can be made to bring 21-year-old Hamsik to Stamford Bridge, with Napoli unlikely to part with one of their biggest stars halfway through the season and with the Slovakian’s agent Juray Venglos also insisting that Hamsik will remain in Italy until the end of the season.

“He will remain in Naples until at least the end of this season, the team are doing great things and he is happy to stay there,” Agi/Italpress quoted Venglos as saying.

Hamsik joined the Partenopei from Italian rivals Brescia in 2007 and has scored 16 goals in 52 appearances for the Azzurri since his arrival in Naples, with the Slovakian an integral part of the Napoli side that finished 8th in the Scudetto last season. Hamsik made his international debut in 2007 and already has 5 goals in 18 caps for his country.

City Will Have To Wait For £60million Villa

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Manchester City will have to wait until the end of the season if they wish to add EURO 2008 star David Villa at Valencia to the squad at the Eastlands Stadium, according to reports in Spain.

City are expected to be a major player in the January transfer market, with owner’s the ADUG keen to flex their financial muscle in order to turn the Premier League club into a real force in European football.

Blues manager Mark Hughes is eager to use some of that wealth to attract a striker of proven world-class quality to the Premiership side, with 27-year-old Villa being heavily linked with a world record transfer of £60million from the Mestalla to the Eastlands next month.

However, the Spanish media are reporting that Los Che, despite rumours of serious financial trouble at the La Liga club want to hold on to Villa until the end of the season. Meaning City would have to wait to sign the prolific striker, who was the top-scorer at EURO 2008 in the summer.

Spanish International Villa has been at Valencia since joining from Real Zaragoza in 2005 and has scored an impressive 82 goals in 146 appearances for Valencia, with the striker also finding the net 24 times in 41 caps for Spain. Making Villa one of the hottest properties in European football.

Agent: Arsenal Face Competition For Fiorentina's Felipe

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Premier League club Arsenal are set to face competition for the signature of Felipe Melo at Serie A side Fiorentina from another big unnamed European club, according to Felipe’s agent Jose Rodrigo Bastos.

Last week Viola chief Pantaleo Corvino revealed that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is keen on the Brazilian wing-back, with a move for the former Gremio player being mooted when the transfer window opens in January to bring the versatile player to the Emirates Stadium.

25-year-old Felipe has only been at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since joining from La Liga side Almeria in the summer, but has attracted interest from the Premiership club with his performances in both Italy and the Champions League this season.

However, now Bastos has claimed that the Premiership club have a rival for the signature of Felipe, but did not disclose the name of the interested club, with Bastos also claiming that Fiorentina will have difficulty holding on to Felipe, despite the Brazilian being under contract at the Italian side until 2013.

Bastos said: “Felipe is one of the great names of European football. Fiorentina have already taken measures to upgrade the player's contract, which was scheduled for the third year.

“Apart from Arsenal, another power of European football has shown interest in Felipe and I believe that, if he continues to play at these big levels, Fiorentina will have difficulty in retaining him.”

Huntelaar To Snub Arsenal, Man City & Real Madrid For Bundesliga?

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Prolific Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has revealed that he would be open to a move to the German Bundesliga, which will come as a shock to Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester City along with La Liga Champions Real Madrid, who have all been strongly linked with the Dutch International.

25-year-old Huntelaar opted to stay at the Amsterdam Arena over the summer, despite being heavily linked with a host of top European sides. However, Huntelaar has not signed a new deal with Ajax and recent reports have claimed that the Dutch club are actively looking for a replacement after resigning themselves to losing Huntelaar in the January transfer window.

Despite being heavily linked with City, Real and the Gunners, Huntelaar has revealed that he would be open to a move to Germany should the right offer come along.

“I can imagine that I will play in the Bundesliga one day. But at the moment I am fully focused on Ajax. When a club comes by with a big bag of money though, Ajax will have to consider,” said Huntelaar.

“If it is better for me and for the club, it can be possible that Ajax will decide to sell me.

Ajax, travel to Germany to face Hamburg in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, with Huntelaar revealing that another Bundesliga side, Schalke 04, have already made enquiries about his availability.

“That's correct. Schalke 04 wanted to sign me," he said.

“It happens more often that interested club contact us. As a striker I am always interesting for other clubs.”

Huntelaar has been at Ajax since his move from SC Heerenveen in 2005 and has scored an incredible 75 goals in 90 league appearances during his time at the Amsterdam Arena, making the striker one of the hottest properties in Europe.

Richards: Players Fear January Clearout At Man City

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Manchester City defender Micah Richards has revealed that there is concern amongst the players at the Eastlands Stadium, with a transfer spree anticipated by City in January that could see some of the senior players leave the Premier League club.

Following the summer takeover at Man City by the wealthy ADUG, City have been linked with a host of top European stars, with reports linking a new name daily. This has unsettled the players at City, who Richards has revealed are worried what will happen in January.

“If I said the players weren't worried about what will happen in January, then I'd be lying,” Richards told the Daily Express.

20-year-old Richards is even fearful for his own future at the Blues, with the England International sure City manager Mark Hughes will sign one or two defenders to shore up a back line that has already conceded 22 goals in the Premiership.

“Every one of us knows the manager wants to make the team stronger and with the team conceding a lot of goals he is definitely going to sign defenders. So that is something that we have to face up to.”

Arsenal & Chelsea Set To Miss Out On Hazard?

Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea look set to miss out on Belgian starlet Eden Hazard after the midfielder decided to sign his first professional contract at Ligue 1 club Lille.

Both the Gunners and the Blues have sent scouts to watch 17-year-old Hazard for Belgium against Luxembourg on Wednesday, where the highly rated youngster is expected to make his debut for Belgium.

However, this could prove to be a wasted journey, with Hazard signing his first professional contract with Lille, which will tie him to the Stadium Lille-Metropole until 2012. This will be a blow to the Premiership sides, with Hazard regarded as one of the brightest prospects in European football.

Hazard first came to prominence during last summers Under-17 European Championships, which is when the youngster caught the eye of Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen along with Steve Rowley, who is the chief scout at the Emirates Stadium.