Archive » 2010 » September

Southampton are keen to sign Liverpool starlet Nathan Eccleston on loan. Eccleston, 19, is highly rated at Anfield but staff want him to increase his first-team experience. He was on loan at Huddersfield last season and has featured twice in the Europa League. Southampton manager Nigel Adkins and chairman Nicola Cortese watched Eccleston score in Monday’s 3-1 reserves defeat to Chelsea.

Source: Daily Mail

Roberto Mancini has Fernando Torres, Karim Benzema and Edin Dzeko in his sights after the Manchester City boss admitted he is “two or three” players short. The names of Real Madrid striker Benzema and Wolfsburg hot-shot Dzeko have joined Torres on a hit-list drawn up by Mancini for when the transfer window opens in January.

Source: Daily Star

Juventus have emerged as strong rivals for Tottenham in the race to sign Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. The Italian side are long-term admirers of the South African who is out of contract next summer and free to talk to foreign clubs from January 1. Juventus have struggled so far this season and are keen to bolster their squad further in the next window.

Source: Daily Mail

Mark Hughes could yet sign Crystal Palace keeper Julian Speroni after the Argentine revealed he nearly signed before the transfer deadline. Hughes was keen on the Eagles stopper as a replacement for Mark Schwarzer who had been bound for Arsenal. The game of musical goalkeepers was prevented from happening, however, because Fulham could not complete their move for Speroni in time. Speroni, 30, said: “Of course I knew of the interest and I must admit at the time it was a bit disappointing. “It was a good opportunity for me to go and play at the highest level but in the end I’m not sure how talks went and it is not myself that makes the last decision.”

Source: The Mirror

Man City are ready to make a fresh bid to bring Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema to The Eastlands in January and at the same time getting one over on their bitter rivals Man Utd. Man City boss, Roberto Mancini has untold millions at his disposal and had previously targeted Benzema, however that was put on hold after Jose Mourinho took charge at The Bernabeau, now it seems Real Madrid are prepared to let the Frenchman go after his attitude had been questioned by Mourinho. The reports in the Spanish media also claim that Mourinho has lined up a ready made replacement, thought to be Wesley Sneijder and with the growing animosity between Benzema and Mourinho becoming public knowledge it is being said that this is what has prompted Man City to look again at the 22 year old.

Source: FootyLatest

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is ready to make a new cut-price move for Everton’s South African contract rebel Steven Pienaar in the next window. Redknapp’s top spy Ian Bloomfield watched midfield dynamo in action again last weekend and Spurs will try to land Pienaar for a low price in the New Year – with the Toffees under pressure to sell as he could be free in the summer. Pienaar was a target for various swap offers from Spurs in the summer, including an elaborate four-man deal involving Robbie Keane on loan and David Bentley in exchange for Louis Saha and Pienaar.

Source: The Mirror

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to raid Spain with a bid for Atletico Madrid’s wonder keeper David De Gea. Fergie missed his team’s Carling Cup tie at Scunthorpe and flew to Valencia to watch United’s next Champions League opponents but it was a cover for a personal check on the brilliant youngster. De Gea, just 19, is rated the best young keeper in Europe – with a wonder show against Barcelona last weekend also watched by United’s spies as they look for Edwin van der Sar’s long-term successor.

Source: The Mirror

Arsenal are reportedly planning January raids for Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg and Fulham centre back Brede Hangeland as Arsene Wenger looks to make use of a large cash injection he will be handed to improve his Emirates squad. The newspapers have been awash with speculation linking the north London club with a myriad of keepers due to Wenger’s apparent lack of confidence in current number one Manuel Almunia and even though some reports state that Ajax keeper Stekelenburg is leaning more towards a move to replace Edwin Van der Sar at Manchester United, others state his desire to move to the Emirates.

Source: Caught Offside

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly considering a January move for Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone. The Old Trafford boss is keen on bringing in midfield reinforcements and has earmarked the England international as a target when the transfer window re-opens. Having seen Owen Hargreaves continue to be out injured and the likes of Anderson and Michael Carrick being off form Ferguson has been looking for alternative central midfielders and is apparently a big admirer of the box to box performer. The former Derby County man has been in good form over the past year and was a big part of the reason that Tottenham clinched that coveted top four finish last term. Having spent five and a half years at White Hart Lane Huddlestone may well be interested in a new challenge and a move to Man United would surely tempt the powerfully built Nottingham lad.

Source: Caught Offside

Roma want Manchester City keeper Shay Given – and Ireland boss Giovanni ­Trapattoni last night encouraged him to consider a move to Serie A. Trapattoni revealed that various clubs are monitoring the 34-year-old’s bleak situation at Manchester City. He stopped short of naming names but it has emerged that Roma were interested in signing Given on loan just before the transfer window shut at the end of August.

Source: The Mirror