City Will Have To Wait For £60million Villa

*

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.

City On Verge Of World Record Deal For Villa?

*

EURO 2008 winner David Villa is on the verge of a world record £52million transfer from Valencia to the Premier League with Manchester City, with the Spanish International’s agent due to fly into England on Tuesday to thrash out a deal for the striker, according to The News of the World.

City owner’s the ADUG, who broke the British transfer record, when they brought Brazilian Robinho to the Eastlands Stadium on transfer deadline day in the summer for £32.5million from Real Madrid are understood to have already rubber stamped Citizens manager Mark Hughes’ move for Villa. As the Manchester club look to flex their financial muscle when the transfer window reopens in January.

Los Che are understood to be in serious financial turmoil and City, are ready to take advantage by making Villa the most expensive signing in football history. With the fee for 27-year-old Villa set to eclipse the £50million Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

A source close to the deal said: “It is clear City need a world-class striker and Villa fits the bill.

“The Arabs have been impressed with him and Mark Hughes is convinced he will do well in English football.

“His agent will be flying in on Tuesday and there is every chance talks and a deal will be concluded by the end of the week.”

Villa has been at Valencia since joining from Real Zaragoza in 2004, with the prolific striker boasting an incredible 70 goals in 114 La Liga appearances during his time at the Mestalla and is considered one of the hottest properties in European football.

Hildebrand Released From Valencia To Pave Way For Swoop For Spurs Keeper?

*

La Liga club Valencia have revealed that they have released German International goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, which could pave the way for a January swoop for Cesar Sanchez at Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur, who the Xotos have been heavily linked with recently.

29-year-old Hildebrand (left) has fallen out of favour at the Mestalla, with Valencia coach Unai Emery opting to play Brazilian Renan Brato in goal at the Spanish club. Hildebrand joined Valencia from Bundesliga side Stuttgart in 2007 and had been under contract at Los Che until 2010.

“Valencia wishes Hildebrand the best of luck in his future professional career,” A statement read on its Web site.

Valencia could now make a January move for Spurs No2 keeper Cesar Sanchez, who despite Tottenham No1 Heurelho Gomes making a string of high-profile errors since his summer transfer from PSV Eindhoven to White Hart Lane for £7.8million, has still to make an appearance for the North London club in the Premier League.

Cesar’s agent Arturo Canales is understood to have already met with Valencia sporting director Fernando Gomes about a proposed return to Spain. However, Cesar has played down talk of a return to Spain, with the former Real Madrid shot-stopper insisting he is happy in the Premiership and did not wish to discuss the possibility of leaving Tottenham.

Cesar told Setanta.com on Monday: “I am in London, waiting to know what is going to happen.

“My mission is simple – work every day and then the coach takes his decisions.

“I have been told that Spurs are looking to sign a keeper in January, but we have not been told anything by the club yet.

“Personally I am happy with my Premier League experience but playing some minutes is also what I want.

“Returning to Spain? I am under contract with Spurs and do not wish to speak about rumours.”

Spurs Keeper Plays Down Talk Of January Exit

*

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez has played down reports that he is set for a return to La Liga with Valencia, despite being aware that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to bring a goalkeeper to White Hart Lane when the transfer window opens in January.

Redknapp has concerns over Tottenham No1 Heurelho Gomes along with 37-year-old Cesar, who were both summer signings for the Premier League club. Despite Gomes making a series of high-profile errors since his switch from Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven, Redknapp has still not given Cesar an opportunity to impress in the Premiership, with the former Spanish International’s only appearance for Spurs coming as a substitute in the Carling Cup against Liverpool.

Valencia are keen to bring the experienced Spaniard to the Mestalla in January, with current Los Che keeper Timo Hildebrand expected to leave the La Liga side in January.

Cesar’s agent Arturo Canales is understood to have already met with Valencia sporting director Fernando Gomes about a proposed return to Spain. However, Cesar has played down talk of a return to Spain, with the former Real Madrid shot-stopper insisting he is happy in the Premiership and did not wish to discuss the possibility of leaving White Hart Lane.

Cesar told Setanta.com: “I am in London, waiting to know what is going to happen.

“My mission is simple – work every day and then the coach takes his decisions.

“I have been told that Spurs are looking to sign a keeper in January, but we have not been told anything by the club yet.

“Personally I am happy with my Premier League experience but playing some minutes is also what I want.

“Returning to Spain? I am under contract with Spurs and do not wish to speak about rumours.”

Valencia Leading Liverpool & Barca In Chase For Brazilian Starlet?

Valencia, are leading the race ahead of Liverpool and La Liga rivals Barcelona to sign Brazilian starlet Keirrison, with Los Che opening talks with the young Brazilian’s management company, according to Sport.

19-year-old Keirrison currently plays for Brazilian club Coritiba and was a pivotal figure in the Coxa Branca winning the Campeanato Serie B last season and has shone in the top-flight of Brazilian football this season.

Keirrison has an incredible strike-rate for Coritiba, with the young forward scoring 54 goals in 100 appearances for the Brazilian side since making his senior debut in 2007 after coming through the youth system at the club.

Sport claim that Valencia are willing to pay £8million to bring Keirrison to the Mestalla and have opened talks with Traffic, who own 80% of the striker’s registration, with Coritiba owning the other 20%.

Keirrison is expected to leave Coritiba in January, with Valencia now appearing to lead Premier League club Liverpool and Barca in the chase for the highly rated youngster.

However, the 20% stake of Keirrison that Coritiba own is believed to be complicating the talks with Valencia, which could leave the door open for a move to the Nou Camp or Anfield.

Arsenal & Liverpool Chasing Spanish International Albiol?

Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool are both tracking Spanish International defender Raul Albiol of La Liga side Valencia, according to Spanish paper AS.

23-year-old Albiol can play either as a central-defender or a defensive midfielder and has come through the academy set-up at Los Che. After joining Valencia as a 11-year-old, Albiol made his senior debut for the Spanish side in 2005 and has made over 100 league appearances for Valencia during his time at the Mestalla.

Albiol gained his first cap for Spain in 2007 and was a member of their EURO 2008 winning team this summer, with the Spaniard’s performances for club and country attracting interest from the Gunners and the Merseyside club.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to strengthen the centre of his defence and midfield in light of recent results in the Premiership and has identified Albiol as a possible solution to the current problems at the Emirates Stadium. With a move for the Spaniard being mooted in January.

Former Valencia coach Rafa Benitez knows all about Albiol from his time in charge at the Mestalla and is reportedly keen to bring the versatile player to Anfield as he looks to try and secure his first Premier League title this year.

However, Albiol current deal at the Mestalla runs until 2011, with Valencia president Vicente Soriano keen to keep the player in La Liga and has already made moves to discuss a new deal with Albiol to ward off any potential suitors.