Archive » 2008 » December

Premier League clubs Bolton and West Brom are reportedly weighing up January moves for Bristol Rovers hot-shot Rickie Lambert. Lambert is a target for a number of clubs following his goalscoring exploits for Rovers this season. The 26-year-old has netted 18 goals for Rovers this term and is the joint-top scorer in League One. Rovers know they face a battle to keep hold of Lambert when the transfer window reopens and they are believed to have turned down a substantial offer for the former Rochdale hitman on loan transfer deadline day. Bolton are believed to have had Lambert watched in recent weeks as they consider their options for the transfer window. Trotters boss Gary Megson is keen to bolster his attacking options and Lambert would fit the bill to the type of player he is interested in as he s a natural target man with a good goalscoring record.

Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce wants to sign Newcastle United striker Michael Owen in the January transfer window, ccording to a report in the Daily Star. The England international’s future is yet to be decided with conflicting reports claiming that the Magpies have offered him a new contract which he either has or has not rejected. Whatever the situation, the fact remains that at present Owen’s contract with the Toon Army is set to expire next summer. The Latics are hoping to take advantage of the situation by bringing the 29-year-old to the JJB Stadium in January for a cut-price fee. It is claimed that Bruce hopes to lure the former Real Madrid and Liverpool forward to the club to persuade Emile Heskey to renew his Wigan contract. Heskey is an a similar situation to Owen and with his contract due to expire next summer, Wigan are bracing themselves for a host of bids in the new year.

CARDIFF City are bracing themselves for a renewed £6m bid for stand-in skipper and Wales ace Joe Ledley – this time from Everton. Goodison Park boss David Moyes went in person to Turf Moor on Tuesday night to watch Ledley’s man-of-the-match performance in the 2-2 draw with Burnley. The Bluebirds are expecting Everton to lead the bidding for their man when the Premiership transfer window reopens next month. Moyes knows he needs to bolster his squad as Everton seek to make a new year push up the table from eighth spot to a potential top-four position. He has admired Ledley for some time and will have been impressed with the way the Welsh youngster has shone for club and country in 2008.

Everton have made an approach for Zenit St Petersburg striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, according to the player’s agent. Toffees manager David Moyes is thought to be scouring the market for an attacking recruit as he looks to compensate for the long-term injuries to striking duo Aiyegbeni Yakubu and James Vaughan. Russia international Pogrebnyak is a rumoured target with reports in Tuesday’s press suggesting scouts from the Merseyside club will take a closer look at his qualities when he lines up against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The 25-year-old’s representative, Oleg Artemov, said in the Daily Star: “I have been approached by Everton and several other English clubs.”

Spurs are contemplating a move for Pompey full-back Glen Johnson, according to a report in the Daily Mirror, to help fill the void left by injured right-back Alan Hutton. There was plenty of speculation that Harry Redknapp would return to Portsmouth for players when he joined Spurs, and it now seems that England international defender Johnson is his top target. The 24-year-old, who has 10 caps to his name, has been in impressive form this season for Pompey and, while there are no details as yet of what transfer fee he might command, it is likely that he will not come cheap.

Following the news that Nigerian striker Yakubu will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his achilles, Everton have been left in desperate need of attacking reinforcements. 20-year-old striker James Vaughan is also out until the new year as he will have to undergo surgery on a recent knee injury. That leaves only Nigerian international Victor Anichebe, also 20, available for selection in attack, as new signing Louis Saha is also facing old problems, as hamstring trouble has him sidelined. Therefore, manager David Moyes is in the market for attacking recruits with veteran Swedish striker Henrik Larsson thought to be his number one target. However, should he fail to convince the 37-year-old to depart from Helsingborgs, Portsmouth forward David Nugent is next in line. Following his £6million switch to Fratton Park, the 23-year-old has been limited to only a handfull of appearances and British tabloid the Sun claims that a fee of £3million should acquire the England international’s services who is a fervent Everton fan.

Aston Villa are set to step up their pursuit of Emile Heskey after Martin O’Neill revealed he is again likely to turn to the domestic market in January. The Villa boss has traditionally favoured a tried and tested policy of buying British or signing foreign players with top-flight experience in England or Scotland. Of his seven summer signings, only USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan arrived from outside the UK. He admits dalliances in the foreign market are a ‘bigger gamble’ and Wigan striker Heskey, along with Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz, top his new year shopping list. England international Heskey is in the final year of his contract and has made it clear he has no intention of discussing a new deal until next summer, prompting Latics owner Dave Whelan to admit they could be forced to sell one of their prized assets in January.

Tony Mowbray is keeping tabs on Doncaster midfielder Brian Stock. The West Brom manager is a big fan of the Welsh international and is ready to offer £1million next month. Stock, who captained Doncaster in their League One Play-Off Final victory over Leeds at Wembley in May, is currently contracted till 2011.

Everton could turn to Swedish striker Henrik Larsson in an effort to fill the void left by injuries to Yakubu and Louis Saha. David Moyes, the Everton manager, is eager to sign a striker on a short-term loan after Yakubu was ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles and Saha faces a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. James Vaughan is also out until the New Year, leaving Victor Anichebe as the only fit recognised striker. Larsson, 37, who scored 242 goals during a seven-year spell at Celtic, has just finished his contract with Helsingborgs and while it remains to be seen if he would be open to the idea of a move similar to that which took him temporarily to Old Trafford in January last year, the striker would be available on a free.

Liverpool’s Daniel Agger is being targeted by Serie A side AC Milan to replace their star veteran defender Paolo Maldini. 40-year old Maldini, who has spent his entire playing career with the Rossoneri, has decided to finally retire from the game at the end of the season. Milan are now looking for the perfect replacement for the Italian defender at the San Siro, with reports in Italy suggesting that Carlo Ancelotti has put Agger on the top of his wish list. The Danish international is also reportedly a target for Spanish giants Real Madrid, with Agger looking reportedly weighing up his options following limited chances in the first-team defence with boss Rafa Benitez preferring to partner Jamie Carragher with Martin Skrtel.