Archive » 2010 » February

Birmingham are continuing to monitor Red Bull Salzburg striker Marc Janko, 26, after sending scouts to watch him last week. Janko has scored 67 goals in 92 games for Salzburg and has a one in two record for Austria. At 6ft 5in, he has been easy to spot for Europe’s top scouts but the main concern has been the standard of Austria’s league. However, his price, reported to be around £6million, represents decent value and at 26 that will only increase if he proves a success in the Barclays Premier League.

Source: Daily Mail

Barcelona right back Dani Alves has dismissed speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea and said he wants to stay at the Nou Camp. Reports in recent weeks had suggested Alves was in contract discussions over a new deal and Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City were following developments. Alves told Globoesporte: “Chelsea are a great club. To be talked about and be in their plans is a privilege. At the moment I’m happy at Barcelona and intend to see out my contract here. Interest from them (Chelsea) gives me great satisfaction, knowing that they are one of the biggest teams in world football.”

Source: IMScouting.com

Manchester United are ready to make a new move for Spanish hot shot David Villa – if he goes up for sale at Valencia in the summer. United chief Sir Alex Ferguson sent brother Martin – his top European scout – to watch Villa net twice against Getafa as the Old Trafford club updated their dossier on the superstar. Ferguson wanted Villa last summer but his £45 million price tag put the deal off. However Dimitar Berbatov’s indifferent form has left the door open for a top-flight striker to join for next season.

Source: Daily Mirror

Jamie O’Hara has revealed he is ready to quit Tottenham in a bid to further his career. O’Hara is currently on loan at Portsmouth and has been in top from for Avram Grant’s side after returning to Fratton Park in January. The 23-year-old says Spurs will always attract big-name signings and believes he has little chance of being able of breaking into Harry Redknapp’s first team.

Source: Daily Mail

AC Milan plan to use Klaas Jan Huntelaar as bait to land Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic. The wantaway Vidic is set to quit United in the summer and Milan are putting together a cash-plus-Huntelaar deal to rival Real Madrid in the race for his signature. They see the Serbian centre-half, whose wife is unhappy in Manchester, as the ideal long-term replacement for the ageing Alessandro Nesta and feel he could be attracted by a move to the San Siro.

Source: The Mirror

Spanish newspaper Sport have continued their campaign to bring Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona today, just hours before Arsenal’s match at Porto this evening. Sport claim today that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will not stand in the way of Cesc Fabregas should the Spanish schemer indicate he wants to leave England to return to Barcelona. The Spanish paper add that although Wenger has a great relationship with Fabregas, he will not pressure the player to stay at Arsenal if Barcelona offer a big fee.

Source: IMScouting

Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj could be an unlikely target for Barcelona – after being singled out for praise from star midfielder Xavi Hernandez. Spain star Xavi said versatile Algerian Belhadj and Rangers’ Madjid Bougherra caught his eye during the African Nations Cup and says he could play for Barcelona. Xavi said: “I was surprised by the work of Belhadj and Bougherra. They practice a game that we play under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. It’s nice as a player to hear praise for your work.” Belhadj, who could be on his way out of crisis club Portsmouth, was a target for Benfica in January.

Derby County are in talks to try and sign either the Arsenal forward Gilles Sunu or the Everton striker James Vaughan on loan. Derby boss Nigel Clough hopes to land one of the players this week. Clough said: ‘We are still chasing them and would like to add one of the two to our squad. We will pursue it again this week.’

Source: Daily Mail

Birmingham City are to open talks with Manchester City to try and keep England goalkeeper Joe Hart on-loan at St Andrew’s next season. Hart has starred for Birmingham this season and the club would like to make the loan permanent. Manchester City are not willing to do that, so Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is pushing for another season-long loan deal. McLeish said: ‘I’ve put into the system that our chief executive, Michael Dunford, should be talking to City about next season.

Source: Daily Mail

Harry Redknapp is refusing to let his unhappy Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko join Lokomotiv Moscow. The Russians had hoped to clinch the signing of the 28-year-old for £10.5million this week after positive talks with White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy. But Redknapp has vetoed the deal because he is not prepared to weaken a squad chasing a top-four League finish and FA Cup glory.

Source: Daily Mail