Everton To Swoop For Niang?

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Premier League club Everton are to turn to Senegal International Mamadou Niang at Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, when the transfer window reopens in January as manager David Moyes looks to add some much needed firepower to an injury ravaged frontline at the Merseyside club.

The Toffees had been heavily linked with a move for Brazilian International Vagner Love at Russian side CSKA Moscow, who reportedly almost joined the Premiership club on loan in the summer, but after making a fresh approach have been priced out of any opportunity to land the Brazilian striker by CSKA.



This has led Moyes to 29-year-old Niang, who has been at the Stade Velodrome since joining from RC Strasbourg in 2005, with the striker scoring 45 goals in 109 appearances during his time at Marseille. Niang has also scored 13 goals in 27 caps for Senegal.

Everton have a severe shortage of forwards at Goodison Park, with Yakubu and James Vaughan both out with long-term injuries and summer signing Louis Saha suffering from persistent hamstring troubles. In addition to this Victor Anichebe is out with a back problem, which means Moyes having to push midfielder Tim Cahill into a more forward role against Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday.

Whether Les Phoceens are willing to part with Niang remains to be seen, with the striker finishing as the second highest goal-scorer in the French league last season and was an integral part of the Marseille side, which finished 3rd and qualified for the Champions League.

Arsenal Target Cabaye Flattered By Interest

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Arsenal January transfer target Yohan Cabaye has revealed that he is flattered by the interest of the Premier League club, but has insisted that for the moment his focus remains on helping Ligue 1 side Lille qualify for Europe next season.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly tracking Cabaye along with the midfielder’s Belgian International team-mate Eden Hazard, who Wenger has had watched on several occasions and is keen to lure the pair to the Emirates Stadium in January.



22-year-old Cabaye has been at Lille since 2001 and has come through the academy at the French side, with the midfielder already making over 100 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since his senior debut in 2004. Cabaye is under contract at the Stadium Lille-Metropole until 2013, but the French Under-21 International hinted that he could leave the French side, with his future dependant on any offers that might arise.

Cabaye told L’Equipe: “In the past, there weren’t all those rumours surrounding me. That’s good - flattering.

“For the moment, I try not to lose my focus. Like every season, my plan is to play the best I can in order to help the club qualify for a European cup.

“Only after that I will see what the best is regarding my future. For sure, I’m happy that my work is being recognised. It’s up to me to work as twice hard to make people speak even more about me.

“(My future) will depend on offers, but reaching the next level in France would be fine. Playing Ligue 1 and Champions League football at the same time would be, super important in terms of development.”

French International Wants Premier League Move

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French International Rod Fanni, who is currently plying his trade with Ligue 1 side Rennes has revealed that he would favour a move to the Premier League or La Liga, with Real Madrid being mentioned as a possible suitor for the full-back as well as Sunderland, who were linked with the Frenchman in the summer.

26-year-old Fanni joined Rennes from French rivals Nice in 2007 and has made 45 appearances for Les Rouges et Noirs during his time at the Route de Lorient. Fanni’s performances for Rennes have earned the defender a call-up to the French National team this year, with the right-back now having been capped twice by Les Bleus.



Fanni has revealed that it is his ambition to improve and has done so by steadily moving to bigger clubs in France, with his sights now set on the Premiership or the Primera Division as his next move.

“Every player’s ambition is to improve. I moved up a step when I signed with Nice, then another when I joined Rennes,” Fanni told Foot Mercato.

“The truth is that I have always been attracted by foreign leagues.”

However, despite his name being mentioned with a move to Los Merengues, Fanni has conceded that there has been no contact from Real, but would jump at the chance to play at the Bernabeu or in the Premier League.

“Personally I never received any phone call but actually I have heard that something may happen,” he added.

“I would be happy with it, but at the same time, many scouts came to see me since my career started. But for sure if I am to leave Rennes my priority will be England or Spain.”

Gunners Planning Double Swoop On Lille?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning a double swoop for Eden Hazard and Yohan Cabaye, who both play for Ligue 1 side Lille, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to French newspaper L'Equipe.

17-year-old Hazard, who is also being tracked by the Gunners Premiership rivals Chelsea, 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.



However, Hazard signed his first professional contract with Lille recently, which will tie him to the Stadium Lille-Metropole until 2012. This is sure to drive up any transfer fee for the talented midfielder, who Wenger had watched recently, when Hazard made his senior debut for Belgium against Luxembourg.

22-year-old Cabaye has been at Lille since 2001 and has come through the academy at the French side, with the midfielder already making over 100 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since his senior debut in 2004. Like Hazard, Cabaye is also tied to a long-term contract at LOSC, with his present deal running until 2013.

Wenger is expected to make a swoop for both players in January, with reports in France suggesting that Cabaye is ready to end his seven-year stay at Les Dogues and join the Premier League club.

Everton To Reignite Interest In Marseille's Cana?

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Everton are set to reignite their interest in Albanian International Lorik Cana at Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, with Toffess boss David Moyes still keen on Cana after being linked with the Marseille captain during the summer, according to The People.

Everton along with Premier League rivals Arsenal had been heavily linked with 25-year-old Cana during the summer, but Marseille stuck a £12million price tag on their captain, which cooled interest from the Merseyside club.

Cana had appeared to be off the radar of Everton after Moyes opted to sign Marouane Fellaini from Standard Liege, but is now believed to have sent his assistant Steve Round to watch the midfielder in action against Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield last Wednesday, with a move to bring Cana to Goodison Park in January being mooted.

Cana has been at the Stade Velodrome since joining from Paris St Germain in 2005 and has made over 100 league appearances for the French side, with the central-midfielder being capped by Albania 31 times.

Argentine International Open To Spurs Move

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Argentine International striker Fernando Cavenaghi has revealed that he would be open to a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.

Recent reports have suggested that new Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to add 25-year-old Cavenaghi to his squad at White Hart Lane in January. With Redknapp only having three recognised strikers in Roman Pavlyuchenko, Darren Bent and loan signing from Manchester United Fraizer Campbell at the North London club.

Cavenaghi has now claimed that if Tottenham are indeed interested in signing him then it is an offer the former River Plate forward would have to give serious consideration to.

Cavenaghi told Setanta: “I do not know if Tottenham are really interested in signing me. If it's right, though, I will study this offer because they are a top English team.

“I must say I like the English league, I like it a lot.

“I know many Premier League players, even if there are not many Argentinians up there. Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano - I know them well. Why shouldn't I follow in their footsteps?”

Despite being left on the bench for Bordeaux’s Champions League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday, Cavenaghi has insisted that he is not frustrated at the French side.

“I would not say I am frustrated. I play every single league game, so it's only in the Champions League that I come on as a substitute,” he added.

Should Cavenaghi leave Bordeaux in January for Spurs then he would be reunited with Pavlyuchenko, who he played with upfront at Spartak Moscow for two years between 2004-2006.

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 Still Tracking Argentine International

Tottenham Hotspur are still tracking Bordeaux striker Fernando Cavenaghi, who has also been linked with Premier League rivals Liverpool, with it understood that the Argentine International is unhappy at the Ligue 1 side, according to reports.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is only to aware of the shortage of strikers at White Hart Lane, with new signing Roman Pavlyuchenko, Darren Bent and on loan Fraizer Campbell the only recognised forward’s at the North London club, following the departure of Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United and Robbie Keane to Liverpool in the summer.

Despite the recent form of all three frontmen at Spurs, Redknapp is still believed to be keen to add Cavenaghi to the personnel at the North London club after recommendation by Tottenham’s French scouts and would have to pay in the region of £12million for the Argentine.

25-year-old Cavenaghi joined Bordeaux from Russian side Spartak Moscow in January 2007 for £6.5million and scored 22 goals in 35 appearances for Bordeaux last season, with sources close to the French club suggesting recently that a move to a top European side in January is likely.

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.

Arsenal & Chelsea Tracking Belgian Starlet

Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly tracking Belgian starlet Eden Hazard of Ligue 1 side Lille in France.

Both the Blues and the Gunners are understood to be sending scouts to watch the 17-year-old midfielder, who is expected to make his International debut for Belgium against Luxembourg on Wednesday.

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.

Should Rowley and Arnesen decide that Hazard possesses the qualities to succeed in the Premiership then a tug-of-war for the attacking-midfielder could happen in January, with both clubs eager to snap up Hazard, who is regarded as on of Europe’s finest young prospects.

Spurs, Arsenal & Newcastle Tracking French Under-21 Star?

Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United are all understood to be interested in Nice winger Loic Remy, according to reports.

21-year-old Remy has only been at Nice since signing from Ligue 1 Champions Olympique Lyonnais this summer and has made an impressive start to the campaign for Nice, with the winger, who can also operate as a secondary striker scoring 4 goals in 8 league appearances for Le Gym this term.

This form has alerted the Magpies, with Newcastle director of football Dennis Wise believed to have taken a close look at Remy last week after being heavily linked with a move to bring the winger to St James’ Park in the summer.

However, sources in France claim that Spurs and the Gunners have also had Remy watched, with a move to the Premiership likely in January for the former Lyon player, who has 2 goals in 4 caps for the French Under-21 side to his name.

Former City & Portsmouth Target Wants Spurs Or Arsenal Move

Moroccan International striker Marouane Chamakh has ruled out a move to another Ligue 1 club from Bordeaux when his contract at the Stade Chaban Delmas runs out in 2010, with the forward instead revealing that he would prefer a move to the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal.

24-year-old Chamakh has been at Bordeaux since 2001, with the Moroccan making his senior debut for the French side in 2002 and has made 165 league appearances during his time at Bordeaux. The French-born striker made his debut for Morocco in 2003 and has 12 goals in 34 caps for his country.

Chamakh had been a target for Premiership clubs Manchester City and Portsmouth, who’s manager at the time Harry Redknapp is now in charge of Spurs, during the summer, but has stated that White Hart Lane or the Emirates Stadium would be his preferred destination in the Premier League should he leave Bordeaux.

“I will reach the end of my contract in 2010. I haven't met any officials yet. I am open to Bordeaux or anything else,” he told L'Equipe.

“In principle, I will not leave for another French club. My objective if I have to leave Les Girondins is to go abroad, preferably to England.

“Let's wait for the end of the current season to see if we will play in the Champions League and if the coach (Laurent Blanc) will stay.

“A London club is always exciting. I really like Arsenal, but a club like Tottenham would be magnificent for me too. It all depends on the circumstances.”

Almunia To Be Shown Emirates Exit As Arsenal Line Up Shock Move For Ligue 1 Keeper?

Arsenal are ready to make a shock January move for goalkeeper Mickael Landreau at Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger ready to replace current keeper Manuel Almunia, according to reports in France.

29-year-old Landreau has been at PSG since joining from Nantes in 2006 and is considered one of the best keepers in France, with Landreau a penalty-kick specialist, having saved over 30 during his career at Nantes and PSG.

Wenger has been keeping an eye on Landreau since last season, but decided to give Almunia his chance at the Emirates Stadium following the departure of German International Jens Lehmann to VfB Stuttgart in the summer.

However, Wenger is understood to have some concerns over his Spanish keeper after recent performances, with the Frenchman not convinced that Almunia is up to the task in the Premier League for the long-term and has drawn up a list of possible replacements, with the PSG stopper topping it.

Landreau has two-years left to run on his contract at the Parc des Princes and could be available for as little as £2million when the transfer window reopens in January, should Wenger decide to follow up his initial interest in the keeper.