Archive » 2008 » October

David Moyes has been a long-term admirer of Stephen Hunt, and now it seems the Merseyside club are prepared to put their money where their mouth is. The Republic of Ireland international was linked with a £5million summer move to Goodison Park which never materialised, and Moyes is now determined to seal the deal in January. Hunt is desperate to be back playing in the Premier League after Reading were relegated last season, and manager Steve Coppell has told him he won’t stand in his way if the price is right.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is the latest top flight boss being linked with highly-rated teenager Fabian Delph. Wenger has already raided The Championship to sign Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey from Southampton and Cardiff respectively, and now he is ready to go into League One to sign the England under-19 international. Delph only signed a new four-year deal last month and has pledged his allegiance to Leeds, but Wenger is said to be preparing a bid of at least £5million, £1million of which would go to Bradford, to land the player. Sunderland are also keen on the 18-year-old and are monitoring the situation.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is stepping up his interest in Lazio and Macedonia striker Goran Pandev – a seasoned international who has started the Serie A season in fine fettle, bagging four goals in eight league games. Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Tottenham have all been linked with the striker in recent months but Pandev quashed those rumours, stating he wished to stay in Rome until his contract expires in 2010. But money-bags Chelsea are prepared to stump up the cash to seal a deal in January.

Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili is ready to move to West Ham after being snubbed by Paul Ince, according to the Daily Mirror. The Georgian international is still waiting for his first Premier League game under new Rovers boss Ince. And with the Hammers leading the race for his signature in the January transfer window Khizanishvili said: “Everybody has to look around and find some way to play football. Blackburn Rovers gave me the chance to play every week, that was perfect, but now I have to be looking to play every game.”

Scottish reports claim that Ipswich Town will make a renewed effort to sign Rangers left-back Steven Smith in January. Smith has reportedly been told he has no future at Ibrox after coming back from a pelvic injury which had sidelined him for the best part of two years. The Bellshill-born player, who is contracted until 2010, made only two senior appearances last season and is currently training with the reserves. The full-back, who has previously received Scotland call-ups but is yet to win a cap, made his debut for the Gers back in 2004/05 and has appeared 50 times for the first team, scoring once.

Stoke City are lining up a £4million January swoop for unsettled Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood. Potters manager Tony Pulis is after some more ammunition to help fire his club clear of the relegation places and maintain their Premier League status. And Harewood, 29, is said to be seeking a New Year move after starting just one Premier League game since his switch from West Ham in July 2007.

Yokohama Marinos have admitted they will attempt to sign Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura in January. The Japanese midfielder has been increasingly linked with a move back to the J League and Yokohama, for whom the 30-year-old made his professional debut in 1997. Marinos are keen to re-sign him during the winter transfer window for the 2009 J League season, which begins in early March. Nakamura’s contract expires at the end of the Scottish season, but the Japan international has previously spoken of his desire to return to his homeland.

New Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has not ruled out bringing striker Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane. Defoe, who made the switch from Spurs to Fratton Park in January, saw his England chances rejuvenated under the former Pompey boss and has so far scored six goals this season. And now Harry admits he would be interested in the 26-year-old, who also played under him at West Ham, should he become available . He told talkSPORT: “You never know do you? If he ever came back up for sale then I’m sure we would be interested.”

David Beckham has agreed to move to AC Milan on loan in January, according to the Italian club. The England midfielder, 33, plays for Los Angeles Galaxy, whose Major League Soccer season ends this weekend. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: “Beckham has chosen Milan. He’ll stay here in Milan on loan for a few months. Our squad is ultra-competitive and it will remain this way. But Beckham is something different and intriguing.” Beckham is eager to stay in England coach Fabio Capello’s plans during the MLS close season and felt the need for a temporary move to maintain his match fitness.

Olympique Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is a target for Manchester City boss Mark Hughes. The Sun says City are set to offer Marseille Â