Archive » 2009 » October

Brazilian midfielder Sandro has admitted he is interested in a move to Tottenham. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in the Porto Alegra star after admitting he wants to strengthen his squad. But Real Madrid are also monitoring the midfield anchorman. who is rated in the £15m bracket and could be allowed to leave in January. Sandro said: “I am aware that clubs have watched me and read about Tottenham’s interest, which is very flattering.”

Source: The Mirror

Liverpool and Manchester United are on red alert after David Villa fired his agent for failing to get him a summer move. Valencia striker Villa, 27, was also linked with a £30million switch to Real Madrid and Barcelona. And the Spain hitman has now lost patience with Jose Luis Tamargo. Valencia are in huge debt and may be forced to sell their star in January if a substantial bid comes along.

Source: The Sun

Rafa Benitez is ready to sign Valencia left winger Juan Mata – which could spell curtains for Ryan Babel. Mata, 21, has been devastating in La Liga this season and Valencia are starved of cash so look ready to take £16.5million next summer. Benitez is confident of landing the deal because, though Mata’s contract is until 2012, he is on only £10,000 a week and has already turned down an improved offer. Mata’s father Juan Snr, also his agent, said: “We want Valencia to recognise the kid’s true quality, and it’s not only a matter of money.”

Source: The Sun

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is ready to make an opening £1.5million bid for Huddersfield’s highly-rated young goalkeeper Alex Smithies. Pulis has been tracking Smithies for months and will now offer a big sum for the shot-stopper who is tipped as a future England international. Huddersfield claim they want around £4m for Smithies, but Stoke think they can bring the price down as they look for a long-term No.1 for the Britannia Stadium.

Source: The Mirror

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell is sending out an SOS to free-agent striker Henri Camara to boost his injury-hit squad. Camara was on trial at Bramall Lane last month but left without being offered a contract. However he is due back today for talks and could sign. The experienced, speedy forward would give Blackwell options as he copes with a glut of injuries and a run of bad results that has put him under fire.

Source: The Mirror

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce wants to sign England Under-21 star winger Adam Johnson from neighbours Middlesbrough in a bargain deal. Bruce and assistant Eric Black watched top target Johnson score twice in Boro’s 2-0 victory over Derby County – and he plans to win the chase for him as his contract runs out. Johnson has refused a £1million-a-year deal from Boro and looks set to leave at the end of the season.

Source: The Mirror

Birmingham will enter the race for Emile Heskey if he quits Aston Villa to boost his World Cup hopes. Boss Alex McLeish is to offer some of new owner Carson Yeung’s £40million winter transfer pot to land the big hitman. As revealed by SunSport yesterday, Blackburn are also in the market for Heskey, 31, who is struggling to make the Villa starting line-up, while Fulham are also assessing the situation. But it is understood McLeish has asked Villa to keep him informed of developments as he bids to bring Heskey back to St Andrew’s where he previously played for two seasons.

Source: The Sun

Tottenham will make a £6million move for Manchester City midfield ace Michael Johnson in the January window. Boss Harry Redknapp feels Spurs are short in the middle of the park. And he is ready to test City’s resolve to hang on to a player who has fallen down the pecking order after a year out. Johnson, 21, was one of the hottest young prospects in the country when he broke into the City team three years ago. But he has managed just one minute of league action this season since recovering from a persistent abdominal injury.

Source: The Sun

Aston Villa are set to launch a bid to sign Jay Bothroyd from Cardiff if England striker Emile Heskey leaves in January. Heskey has accepted he needs to get regular football if he is to guarantee his place in Fabio Capello’s squad at the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Starsport understands former club Wigan are the favourites to re-sign the player they sold to Villa for £3.5m in January. Villa appear to be preparing for Heskey’s exit, monitoring Bothroyd’s Championship form.

Source: Daily Star

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is ready to make Gareth Bale one of the first signings of new owner Carson Yeung’s era in a £3million deal. McLeish has lined up a move for the Spurs defender, 20, who will be allowed to leave White Hart Lane after a poor two-year spell. Bale, who was signed by Martin Jol for an initial £5m from Southampton, almost joined Nottingham Forest in the summer and has made only one league start this season.

Source: The Mirror