Wenger: Gallas Is Not Right Mentally

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that defender William Gallas has still to find the stability in his mind after being stripped of the Gunners captaincy following an outburst in the media.

31-year-old Gallas, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates stadium in January, has become a cause of concern for Wenger. The Frenchman believes that while the former Chelsea player has regained some form for the Premier League club of late, Gallas has still to get things right mentally.

Wenger said: “On the human level, what happened with William was the most difficult thing I have had to handle in my career because I have a lot of esteem for him.

“He was caught in a media storm, a witch-hunt that isolated him to the point where it became a handicap for the team. He has refound the stability in his game but I am not convinced that, in his mind, he has refound his stability and his joie de vivre.”

Wenger also went on to reveal his disappointment at summer signing Samir Nasri from Marseille, who Wenger feels has had far too many injuries since his £12.7million switch.

Wenger added: “I thought Nasri had the qualities to be, say, a mixture between (Robert) Pires and (Alexander) Hleb. The dribbling of Hleb and the passing, vision and finishing of, Pires.

“His contribution? He has had too many injuries, far too many. It’s perhaps down to the fact he played sooner than I would have liked without being sufficiently ready for the Premier League.”

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.

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."

Liverpool Boss Benitez: New Deal "Could Be" Resolved By The End Of The Month

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez refused to be drawn on how negotiations are going on a new deal at Anfield, but indicated that “it could be” resolved by the end of the month.

Former Valencia coach Benitez revealed recently that talks were due to get underway regarding an extension to his current deal at the Merseyside Club, which runs out in 2010.

However, when asked about how close the talks were to a conclusion and the possibility of a resolution by the end of November, Benitez insisted that his focus was on the Reds Champions League clash against Marseille on Wednesday at Anfield.

Benitez replied: “It could be, but I prefer to concentrate on this game.”

Benitez also revealed that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, will be fit to face Marseille after missing the Premier League match with Fulham on Saturday with a groin injury. Benitez also believed that England International Gerrard could start and might even play the full 90 minutes.

Benitez added: “Gerrard has trained today so he is available. I think he would be fit to last 90 minutes if he needed to.

”It depends on the player, but he is fit and he can start if necessary and after that, it depends on how he is feeling during the game.”

Marseille, PSG, Lyon Or Bordeaux To Offer Arsenal Outcast Gallas Way Out?

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Olympique Marseille along with Bordeaux, Olympique Lyonnais and Paris St Germain could offer French International a way out of Arsenal when the transfer window reopens in January. With 31-year-old Gallas being suspended and stripped of the captains armband at the North London club following comments made to the media on Friday.

Gallas has already declared a desire to return to France, with Marseille along with Lyon, PSG or Bordeaux his preferred destination.

“It's true that I'd like to return to France for one or perhaps two seasons to finish my career," Gallas is quoted as saying in Times Online.

“But if I go, it won't be to just anywhere. I'd go to a big club or nowhere at all. The choices look simple to me - it would be Marseilles, Lyon, PSG or, let's not forget, Bordeaux. PSG are a massive club and known everywhere."

This process could now be speeded up in light of recent events at the Emirates Stadium, with a family member of Gallas claiming that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has told Gallas he can leave.

The family member told The Sun: “Arsene told him 'If you don't want to be in my team then just go. You are free to leave'.

"He's had the captaincy taken away and has also been suspended from the team.

"Of course, he's totally devastated about what's happened and is now wondering what to do next.

"He simply doesn't know what will happen to him. He's very down."

With his Arsenal future in doubt the Ligue 1 sides would be able to lure Gallas away from the Premier League for a modest fee, with Wenger reportedly ready to offload the defender in January.

Gallas has already played for Marseille between 1997 and 2001 before joining Chelsea, making 111 league appearances during his time at the Stade Velodrome, but has singled out Bordeaux coach former Manchester United player Laurent Blanc as a good guy to lead you.

Gallas said: “As far as Bordeaux, I really like the club and the region. I was a Jean Tigana fan when he played for Bordeaux. Their coach now is Laurent Blanc who I've never played for but who knows football off by heart and must be a good guy to lead you.”

FA Hand Drogba The (Coin) Tosser Three-Match Ban

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Ivory Coast International Didier Drogba has been given a three-match ban by the FA for throwing a coin back into the crowd during Chelsea’s defeat in the Carling Cup to Burnley at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday.

30-year-old Drogba had already admitted to a charge of violent conduct yesterday, with the former Marseille striker apologising for his behaviour straight after the match. Drogba threw the coin after giving Chelsea the lead against the Clarets and was also booked for a gesture towards the travelling Burnley fans.

Drogba will now start his ban with immediate effect, starting with the Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.