Spurs Villa & Arsenal On Standby As N'Zogbia Seeks Way Out Of Toon

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Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Aston Villa will all be on alert after Newcastle United player Charles N’Zogbia revealed that he is ready to quit the Magpies.

22-year-old N’Zogbia has been heavily tipped to leave St James’ Park this month, with Spurs along with the Gunners and Martin O’Neill’s Villans side all reportedly interested in the French Under-21 International.

While Arsenal’s interest in the versatile left-sided player seems to have cooled. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is well documented as looking for a solution to the problem on the left at White Hart Lane and sees N’Zogbia as a viable alternative to Stewart Downing, who looks set to remain at Middlesbrough.

Villa are also looking for a player with pace at left-back, with recent reports suggesting that O’Neill is ready to offer Villa misfit Nicky Shorey to Newcastle in a straight player swap.

Toon boss Joe Kinnear has always stated that none of Newcastle’s top players will be leaving in January, but is unlikely to keep N’Zogbia, who is determined to leave St James’ Park after four-and-a-half years.

N’Zogbia told www.lyoncapitale.fr: “There have been some changes at Newcastle recently. I have experienced six different managers in four years, and it is too much.

“Every season is getting worse and worse despite the lofty goals of the club. I therefore decided to leave, to try to find better exposure."

Ligue 1 Champions Lyon are also said to be interested in N’Zogbia, with the former Le Havre player conceding that his future ultimately depended on whether Newcastle are prepared to sell as he is under contract at the North East club until 2012.

“It is for the club to decide,” he added in L'Equipe.

“If Newcastle decide to keep me, I will stay. I will have no choice.

“I am waiting. They (Lyon) may actually have contacted my agent, but I did not get feedback.

“What is certain is that Lyon is a good club. Whether they really want me remains to be seen.”

Villa To Offer N'Zogbia Route Out Of Toon?

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Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is to step up his efforts to sign Charles N’Zogbia from Premier League rivals Newcastle United and is ready to offer Nicky Shorey as part of the deal in order to land the Frenchman.

Magpies boss Joe Kinnear has insisted that N’Zogbia will not be allowed to leave St James’ Park in January, with Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly interested in the versatile left-sided player, who is keen on a move away from the Premiership side.

Despite not wanting N’Zogbia to leave, Kinnear is an admirer of England International Shorey, who has fallen out of favour at Villa Park since his £3.5million switch from Championship club Reading in the summer. With a straight swap deal between the Toon and the Villans being mooted for the pair.

22-year-old N’Zogbia had expressed a desire to play for Arsenal recently, but Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of the former Le Havre player arriving at the Emirates Stadium this month.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is also a fan of N’Zogbia and the Frenchman’s versatility makes the player an attractive proposition for Redknapp, who is keen to add balance to the left-hand side of the squad at White Hart Lane.

However, with Kinnear interested in 27-year-old Shorey and N’Zogbia desperate for a move away from the North East a swap involving the pair is the most likely outcome. If the two clubs can broker a deal that would see all parties happy.

Villa Line Up Young Spaniard?

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Eugenio Botas, who is the agent of left-back Roberto Canella at Portuguese side Sporting Gijon has revealed that Premier League club Aston Villa have shown an interest in the young Spaniard.

20-year-old Canella has been at Gijon since 1999, with the young defender coming through the youth ranks at the Rojiblancos to make his senior debut at El Molinon in 2006.

Canella is valued at £11million by the Portuguese side, with it understood that the Villans are prepared to offer £10million to bring the youngster to the Premiership. However, Botas has claimed that Villa boss Martin O’Neill will have to meet the full valuation before any decision can be taken on the defender joining the Midlands club.

“If Aston Villa put all the money on the table, all the parts will have to make a decision,” Botas told Setanta Sports.



Canella has welcomed the interest from Villa, but has insisted that any transfer talk is something to be discussed between his agent and his club.

“I had no idea of this news, that’s the first time I hear about it. I’m happy at Sporting, focused on fighting to stay up, so that kind of stuff must be discussed by my agent and by Sporting,” he said.

“For sure it’s always a pleasure when such a club as Aston Villa, with the history they have, are interested in you, and it means that both the team and myself are doing things the right way.

“I’m proud but focused on Sporting.”

Spurs To Swoop For £3.5million Misfit Shorey?

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly ready to make another move for Nicky Shorey at Aston Villa, having previously missed out on the England International to the Villans, while in charge at Portsmouth in the summer, according to The People.

27-year-old Shorey chose Villa Park over Fratton Park, when the left-back left Reading for £3.5million in August, but has failed to establish himself as a regular starter for Villa boss Martin O’Neill in the Premier League. O’Neill is understood to be ready to let Shorey leave Villa if the Midlands club can recoup the transfer fee paid to the Royals just five-months ago.

Redknapp is known to be keen to bring a left-back to White Hart Lane this month, with the former Pompey chief unsure about Welsh International Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the position.

Given that Redknapp reportedly made an offer for Shorey in the summer for a similar sum. It would appear that the defender is destined to work under Redknapp, albeit five-months later and at Tottenham not Portsmouth.

Villa Line Up £12million Serbian Defoe Alternative?

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Aston Villa are believed to be considering a £12million offer for Serbian International striker Milan Jovanovic at Belgian side Standard Liege, with Villans manager Martin O’Neill keen to keep the Midlands club charge into the top four in the Premier League intact.

O’Neill is resigned to losing out to Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe, who stated on Sunday that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is the manager he wants to play for and was the reason he left for Pompey in the first place.

Reports are also suggesting that Danish International John Carew is to leave Villa Park, with the former Valencia player likely to move on in the summer if not this month.

This makes the need for O’Neill even more urgent to add a striker to his squad, with the Serbian hitman said to be high on Villa’s wish list following 35 goals in 76 appearances for Liege since his move from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2006.



27-year-old Jovanovic has already turned down Everton, Spurs and Real Madrid, with a source close to the striker claiming that it is a straight race between the Premiership club and Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart for Jovanovic.

A close friend of the striker told the Daily Star: “Aston Villa have made it clear they would love to sign Milan – and the deal is ­possible. Milan has already turned down the chance to play for Real Madrid, Everton and Spurs.

“Now, it is a straight choice between Villa and Stuttgart.

“At the moment, though, the Germans are favourites – and maybe Villa have only a few days to change that.”

UEFA Cup Draw: Spurs & Villa On Course For Last 16 Showdown

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Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are on course to clash in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup if they can overcome Shakhtar Donetsk and CSKA Moscow respectively, who, the two Premier League clubs drew in the last 32 of the competition.

Manchester City, who also made it through to the last 32, were drawn against Danish club FC Copenhagen at the draw that took place on Friday at UEFA’s HQ in Nyon, Switzwerland, with Mark Hughes’ side due to meet either Aalborg or La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna in the last 16.

The Villans face a tough tie against CSKA, who were the only team in the group phase to win all 4 of their matches and won the competition in 2005. However, Villa manager Martin O’Neill said he didn’t mind who the Midlands club got in the knockout stages, but must have secretly hoped for an easier draw than the one with the Russians.

Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham side also have a tough task against Shakhtar, who finished third in their Champions League group. However, Spurs will be glad just to be in the draw, having just scraped through on Thursday against Spartak Moscow, coming from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 and book their place in the last 32.

First legs are to played on February 18/19th for the last 32, with the second legs to be played on February 26th. The first and second legs for the last 16, will be played on March12th and March 18/19th.

Full UEFA Cup Draw: Last 32

Paris St Germain v Wolfsburg
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City
NEC Nijmegen v Hamburg
Sampdoria v Metalist Kharkiv
Braga v Standard Liege
Aston Villa v CSKA Moscow
Lech Poznan v Udinese
Olympiakos v St Etienne
Fiorentina v Ajax
Aalborg v Deportivo La Coruna
Werder Bremen v AC Milan
Bordeaux v FC Galatasaray
Dynamo Kiev v Valencia
Zenit St Petersburg v VfB Stuttgart
Marseille v FC Twente
Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham Hotspur

Full UEFA Cup Draw: Last 16

Werder Bremen/AC Milan v Olympiakos/St Etienne
Aston Villa/CSKA Moscow v Shakhtar Donetsk/Tottenham
Lech Poznan/Udinese v Zenit St Petersburg/VfB Stuttgart
Paris St Germain/Wolfsburg v Braga/Standard Liege
Dynamo Kiev/Valencia v Sampdoria/Metalist Kharkiv
FC Copenhagen/Manchester City v Aalborg/Deportivo La Coruna
Marseille v FC Twente v Fiorentina/Ajax
NEC Nijmegen/Hamburg v Bordeaux v FC Galatasaray

Villa & Spurs In Hunt For £10million Ashton?

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Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are reportedly ready to take advantage of the financial problems at West Ham United, with the Premier League duo ready to lock horns in luring England International Dean Ashton away from Upton Park in January.

25-year-old Ashton, who has suffered from a series of injuries since joining the Hammers from Norwich City in 2006 and is currently on the sidelines of the Premiership club after injuring his ankle in September, is expected to return to action for the East London club in the New Year.

Ashton has been continually linked with a move away from West Ham in January, with Spurs and Villa understood to be ready to test the resolve of the Hammers board with offers in the region of £10million to secure the services of the big striker.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has always maintained that despite reports of financial trouble at the club, with a ‘Fire Sale’ being mooted at Upton Park in January. That West Ham will hold on to their best players, which includes Ashton along with Robert Green and Matthew Upson, who are also believed to be on the radar of Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.

However, whether Spurs or the Villans are prepared to take a £10million gamble on the injury prone Ashton remains to be seen, with Zola revealing that the striker is on course for a return to the West Ham side in early January.

Zola said: “Dean is in rehab and seeing his physio.

“He's doing very well but I don't how long he will be out for. Hopefully it'll be the very beginning of the New Year.”

Spurs To swoop For Liverpool & Villa Target?

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Tottenham Hotspur are planning a sensational £7million January swoop for Liverpool and Aston Villa target Antonio Valencia at Wigan Athletic, according to The Mirror.

23-year-old Valencia has been heavily linked with a move away from the JJB Stadium next month, with the Ecuadorian International reportedly on the wish list of both Reds manager Rafa Benitez and Villans boss Martin O’Neill, who are both eager to lure the right winger away from their Premier League rivals.

Now Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is understood to be interested in the Latics midfielder, with former White Hart Lane boss Juande Ramos now in charge at Real Madrid said to be keen on Tottenham wingers Aaron Lennon and David Bentley.

Should the Los Merengues coach make a move for either Lennon or Bentley next month, Redknapp has identified Valencia as the player to fill the void left by any departure at the North London club.

However, Tottenham will face stiff competition from Villa and Liverpool along with resistance from Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who has always maintained that Valencia will not be leaving the JJB in January and is a pivotal part of the Latics team.

Valencia joined Wigan from Recreativo on a permanent basis in 2007 after a successful loan spell at the JJB the previous season, with the midfielder making 59 league appearances and scoring 7 goals for the Latics since his arrival in the Premiership.

Villa v Bolton Premier League Preview: Can The Trotters Halt The Villans Charge Into Top Four?

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Aston Villa play, Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa side go into this match with Bolton on a 4-game unbeaten run, which has seen the Villans win at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal and more recently last Sunday at 3-2 at Goodison Park against Everton. Despite this run, Villa have failed to win their last three games at Villa Park, with O’Neill’s side drawing 0-0 against both Manchester United and Fulham and losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough. However, the Midlands club are 5th in the Premiership and just a point off the Champions League places.

The Trotters might have lost last weekend 2-0 to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium, but have still won 4 of their last 6 matches in the Premiership, with wins against Sunderland, Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Hull City. Megson will be buoyed that Wanderers have taken more points away from home so far this season, but concerned about Bolton’s form at the Reebok, usually a hard place to get a result. With Bolton’s eratic home form seeing them only mid-table in 10th place in the Premier League.

Aston Villa, will be without striker John Carew, who has a back injury, while O’Neill is still unable to call on long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma, who is still six weeks away from a return to the Villans side with an ankle injury.

Gary Megson has almost a full compliment of players to choose from ahead of the trip to Villa Park, with only long-term injury Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) unavailable for the Trotters.

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, Shorey, L Young, Laursen, Davies, Sidwell, Barry, Milner, A Young, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Guzan, Cuellar. Gardner, Osbourne

Bolton Wanderers: (from) Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Nolan, Samuel, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, J O’Brien, Elmander, Smolarek, Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Riga, McCann, Al Habsi, Shittu, Cohen, Sinclair, Fojut, Harsanyi, Basham, A O’Brien, Sissons

Villa Boss O'Neill: Arsenal's Walcott An Inspiration For Any Young Player

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes that his trio of youngsters, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Curtis Davies should take inspiration from Arsenal starlet Theo Walcott. After being called up by England manager Fabio Capello for the International friendly with Germany on Wednesday.

O’Neill has said that his young Villans can learn from the way 19-year-old Walcott has gone from being a fringe player for the Gunners and England to a regular starter for both club and country.

Former Celtic manager O’Neill also hailed the performance of Walcott for his hat-trick against Croatia in England’s 4-1 win in Zagreb in their World Cup qualifier and insists any up and coming player should take inspiration from the former Southampton player.

O'Neill said: “At international level, the team is going really well. You have some outstanding players and an outstanding manager who is guiding the team through to the World Cup.

“They have had a fantastic start to their group and are going along nicely so breaking into that side is difficult - and why shouldn't it be if that is the level you want to achieve?

“But I think any up and coming player should take inspiration from Walcott.

“It was such an important game against Croatia and, for him to come up trumps in the manner he did do, speaks volumes for the kid. He did remarkably well.

“He has put aside that whole trauma of the 2006 World Cup before when he was taken to Germany as a youngster, was hyped up and then didn't play.

“He has done very well, come back from that, and other players can draw inspiration from that."

With Capello expected to give some of the fringe players in the England squad an opportunity to impress against the Germans, O’Neill has no doubt’s that Young and Agbonlahor can play at International level, but has warned his young stars that every opportunity is priceless if they want to be on the plane to South Africa for the World Cup Finals in 2010.
He added: “I have have no reservations about Gabby and Ashley going into the squad now. They are both capable of playing well for their country.

“I've often said to the players the time you really want to be right is when the plane takes off from Heathrow or Gatwick to the World Cup finals in South Africa. You want to be on it.

“So any opportunity they get, they should try and utilise it. Every moment on the field of play is priceless.

“In the scheme of things they are going along nicely but it is still big to get your place in that side, and keep it, which is great credit to Gareth Barry.

“What I wouldn't want is for complete and final judgements made on a player in one particular game or in one half. That is where the pressure might build up, that you feel you might have to really impress.”

Arsenal v Villa Premiership Preview: Van Persie Suspended & Adebayor 50/50 For Gunners – Carew A Doubt For Villans

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Arsenal play, Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners go into the clash with Aston Villa full of confidence after their 2-0 win against Manchester United last Saturday, which saw the North London club bounce straight back after defeat to Stoke City at the Britannia the week before. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will want to collect all three points against Villa in order to keep in touch with Chelsea and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The Villans go into this clash with Arsenal on the back of two straight league defeats to Newcastle United and then more surprisingly Middlesbrough at Villa Park last weekend. This mini-blip has seen the Midlands side lose a little ground at the sharp end of the table, with Aston Villa hoping to take something away from the Emirates to keep the promising start to the campaign on track.

Wenger will bring back his regular first-team squad for the visit of Villa, having played his youngsters in the 3-0 Carling Cup win against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday. However, he faces a selection dilemma in the centre of defence, with Gunners captain William Gallas available after injury, Wenger must decide whether to leave out Mikael Silvestre, who has earned a recall to the French squad on the back of recent displays for Arsenal.

Robin van Persie is suspended for Arsenal and Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) is only rated 50/50 by Wenger, while goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has a better chance of playing against Villa.

“We will assess the situation of Adebayor on Friday," Wenger told the club website. “He is 50-50.

“We have to assess Almunia too. He is 70-30 at the moment.

“He has to go into a normal (training) game to see how he deals with it.”

Emmanuel Eboue (knee) and long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), will miss the clash, but Wenger will be boosted by Croatian International Eduardo’s progress, who is only a week or so away from a return for Arsenal after his broken leg.

Aston Villa are hopeful Stiliyan Petrov (hamstring) and Luke Young (thigh) will be fit to face the Gunners, but will be missing long-term injured Wilfred Bouma (ankle) for their trip to the Emirates, with striker John Carew also a doubt for the clash with a hip problem.

Arsenal: (from) Almunia, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Sagna, Fabregas, Walcott, Diaby, Denilson, Song, Adebayor, Bendtner, Ramsey, Vela, Fabianski, Silvestre, Djourou, Wilshere, Nasri, Vela, Mannone, Bischoff, Fonte, Gibbs, Hoyte, Lansbury, Randall, Simpson

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, L Young, Sidwell, Laursen, Barry, A Young, Milner, Harewood, Carew, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Davies, Knight, Salifou, Routledge, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Shorey, Guzan, Cuellar, Gardner, Osbourne

Villa v Boro Premiership Preview: Laursen, Barry & Reo-Coker Set For Villa Recalls – Huth In Contention For Middlesbrough

Aston Villa play, Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill will go into this clash with Boro full of confidence, despite losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park last Monday. The Villans are top of their UEFA Cup group and 5th in the Premiership, with the defeat against the Magpies the first since the International break. O’Neill will be confident of collecting all three points at against Middlesbrough, with the Midlands club unbeaten at Villa Park this season.

Southgate will be wondering which Boro team will turn up at Villa, the team that beat Manchester City 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium 10 days ago or the one that has lost to West Bromwich Albion and North East rivals Sunderland this season. Boro have lost 3 of their five away matches this season and are just off the pace in the Premier League in 8th place.

Villa, are unable to call on Stiliyan Petrov (hamstring), who will be out for 2 weeks and long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma (ankle). O’Neill is likely to recall captain Martin Laursen along with Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker and keeper Brad Friedel, who were all rested for the UEFA Cup win over Slavia Prague on Thursday.

Boro will be without Rhys Williams (knee) and Mohamed Shawky (thigh), but could welcome back defender Robert Huth for the trip to the Midlands if the former Chelsea player shakes off a foot injury in time.

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, Guzan, L Young, Cuellar, Laursen, Davies, Shorey, Milner, Routledge, Barry, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, A Young, Carew, Agbonlahor, Harewood, Knight, Gardner, Salifou, Osbourne, Delfouneso

Middlesbrough: (from) Turnbull, Huth, Hoyte, Wheater, Taylor, O’Neil, Riggott, Pogatetz, Digard, Mido, Aliadiere, Emnes, Alves, Tuncay, Downing, Arca, Jones, Bates, A Johnson, J Johnson, McMahon, Stelle, Porritt, Owens, Hines, Grounds, Walker