Juventus To Make Liverpool Double Swoop?

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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.

Gallas Out? Chiellini In? As Wenger Rings The Changes At Arsenal

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is set to let defender William Gallas leave the Emirates Stadium for Serie A giants Juventus, but wants Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini to come in the opposite direction as part of the deal to reunite Gallas with former boss Claudio Ranieri, according to the Sunday Mirror.

31-year-old Gallas has been heavily linked with a move away from the Gunners when the transfer window reopens next month. With La Vecchia Signora coach Ranieri favourite to land the player he brought to the Premier League in 2001, while in charge at Chelsea.

Gallas, who was stripped of the captaincy at the North London club after criticising his team mates in the media is believed to be available at around £5million, but Wenger is understood to only be willing to let the former Chelsea player leave if a suitable replacement can be found.



Arsenal have been linked with AS Roma defender Philippe Mexes recently, with 24-year-old Italian International Chiellini now on the radar of the Frenchman to shore up, what has been a shaky defence at the Premiership club this season.

However, it is unlikely that Ranieri would be willing let Chiellini leave for England as the Italian wants Gallas to form a partnership in the heart of the Bianconeri defence with Chiellini. In addition to this Chiellini is valued at as much as three times that of Gallas and is believed to be happy at the Turin side. So despite Wenger being assured that there will be transfer funds available next month after a meeting with new chief executive Ivan Gazidis. It remains to be seen if Wenger would be prepared to spend the extra £10million to replace Gallas, with a like-for-like replacement.

Chiellini has been at Juve since 2005 after joining from Fiorentina in 2005 and has made 93 appearances for Juventus since his transfer from from the Viola. The central defender made his senior debut for Italy in 2004 and has been capped 16 times by the Italians.

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

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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.