The New Voice Of Football

Spurs Face Delay In Signing Polish Keeper

2009-01-14T19:15:00.001+00:00

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Tottenham Hotspur, look like they will have to wait until the summer to sign goalkeeper Sebastian Przyrowski from Polonia Warsaw, according to coach Jacek Zielinski.

27-year-old Przyrowski has expected to complete a move to the Premier League club for £1million after spending the week on trial at White Hart Lane. With Spurs boss, Harry Redknapp still keen to find a keeper to provide decent competition for Heurelho Gomes, despite the Brazilian’s form in recent matches.

It is understood that the nature of the deal has yet to be finalised with Polonia, with Przyrowsk possibly remaining at the Polish side until the end of the season.

“It seems that Sebastian will be with us until the end of the season and Tottenham will not get him until after the summer,” Zielinski told Przegladu Sportowego.

Despite being out for two-years with a career-threatening injury before going back to Warsaw in 2008, Przyrowski is believed to have passed a medical at Tottenham, with the keeper, who has been capped 5 times by Poland happy to remain at Polonia until his future is resolved.

“At the farewells, manager Harry Redknapp said it will be good if we see each other soon,” Przyrowski said after the trial.

“It will not really be a tragedy if I stay here. I feel ready to leave but my dream has always been the Polish game.”

Liverpool & United To Lock Horns Over Brazilian?

2009-01-14T19:08:00.002+00:00

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Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool are locked in battle for the signature of Fluminense defender Anderson, according to The Sun.

Reds manager Rafa Benitez is understood to have been tracking 21-year-old Anderson for some time, with the Spaniard sending scouts to see the highly-rated Brazilian to check on his progress last year.

Benitez is keen on luring Anderson to Anfield, with the possibility that Danish International Daniel Agger (left) could leave the Merseyside club due to talks reportedly breaking down over a new deal and could force a transfer through to Serie A club AC Milan. The Rossoneri are still interested in bringing Agger to the San Siro, despite already having an offer for the former Brondby player rejected.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who already has the young Brazilian Da Silva twins at Old Trafford had declared the Red Devils spending in January over. Following the double capture of Serbian pair Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade, but is eager to add the Brazilian to his squad after the breakthrough of Rafael Da Silva into the Red Devils first team this season.

Anderson’s contract at the Tricolor Carioca is due to run out in the summer, with the defender available for as little as €3.5million. Anderson has played 31 times for Fluminense, with the defender making his Campeonato debut in 2006 after coming through the youth ranks at the club.

Spurs Villa & Arsenal On Standby As N'Zogbia Seeks Way Out Of Toon

2009-01-14T19:01:00.002+00:00

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Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Aston Villa will all be on alert after Newcastle United player Charles N’Zogbia revealed that he is ready to quit the Magpies.

22-year-old N’Zogbia has been heavily tipped to leave St James’ Park this month, with Spurs along with the Gunners and Martin O’Neill’s Villans side all reportedly interested in the French Under-21 International.

While Arsenal’s interest in the versatile left-sided player seems to have cooled. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is well documented as looking for a solution to the problem on the left at White Hart Lane and sees N’Zogbia as a viable alternative to Stewart Downing, who looks set to remain at Middlesbrough.

Villa are also looking for a player with pace at left-back, with recent reports suggesting that O’Neill is ready to offer Villa misfit Nicky Shorey to Newcastle in a straight player swap.

Toon boss Joe Kinnear has always stated that none of Newcastle’s top players will be leaving in January, but is unlikely to keep N’Zogbia, who is determined to leave St James’ Park after four-and-a-half years.

N’Zogbia told www.lyoncapitale.fr: “There have been some changes at Newcastle recently. I have experienced six different managers in four years, and it is too much.

“Every season is getting worse and worse despite the lofty goals of the club. I therefore decided to leave, to try to find better exposure."

Ligue 1 Champions Lyon are also said to be interested in N’Zogbia, with the former Le Havre player conceding that his future ultimately depended on whether Newcastle are prepared to sell as he is under contract at the North East club until 2012.

“It is for the club to decide,” he added in L'Equipe.

“If Newcastle decide to keep me, I will stay. I will have no choice.

“I am waiting. They (Lyon) may actually have contacted my agent, but I did not get feedback.

“What is certain is that Lyon is a good club. Whether they really want me remains to be seen.”

Ronaldo Agrees Real Deal?

2009-01-14T18:55:00.001+00:00

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Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has made an agreement to join Real Madrid next summer with Los Merengues president Ramon Calderon, according to guillembalague.com.

23-year-old Ronaldo, who has just been crowned FIFA World Player of the Year had been heavily tipped to leave Old Trafford for the Bernabeu in the summer. After a drawn out saga of ‘will he, wont he’ leave the Premier League Champions last summer for the La Liga giants.

Although no deal has been made with United, who are adamant that Ronaldo will stay in the Premiership. It is claimed that Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes have come to an agreement for the Portuguese International to leave England for Spain at the end of the season.

Calderon is understood to have sanctioned the structure of the move, according to the Spanish website, which will smash the previous world record transfer of Zinedine Zidane to Real from Juventus in 2001 for £46million.

Real are believed to have set aside €85million for the transfer itself as well as an additional fund of €30million to cover any add-ons, signing fees and clauses, which could take the total cost in luring Ronaldo to the La Liga side to as much as €115million. Ronaldo is said to be in line for €12million a year, while his agent Mendes stands to pocket a cool €8million from the deal.

Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, will find it hard to resist any such offer for Ronaldo, but if the winger has indeed agreed in principle to end his time at Old Trafford and leave for Real Madrid. Then Ferguson has already shown in the past by allowing Jaap Stam and David Beckham to leave United that no player is bigger than the club.

Redknapp In Italy To Watch Adriano?

2009-01-14T18:51:00.001+00:00

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is in Italy to run the rule over Inter Milan striker Adriano, who is due to start for Inter in their Coppa Italia clash with Genoa at the San Siro on Tuesday, according to Corriere della Serra.

Despite securing the return of Jermain Defoe to White Hart Lane from former club Portsmouth last week, Redknapp is still keen to add another striker to the squad at Spurs, with Brazilian International Adriano reportedly on the Redknapp radar.

26-year-old Adriano has fallen down the pecking order at the Nerazzurri since the arrival of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at the Serie A Champions and has been widely tipped to leave Inter this month.

Redknapp is in Italy to check the form of Adriano out for himself, according to the Italian paper, with a view to bringing the striker to the Premier League. In what will be a rare start for the Brazilian, who has 31 goals in 51 caps for his country.

However, despite being one of the most feared strikers in Europe not so long ago, Adriano is deemed surplus to requirements at Inter for Mourinho, who has preferred Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz upfront in the Scudetto for Inter this season.

Adriano has scored 67 goals in 155 appearances for the Italians since joining from Flamengo in 2001 and spent time on loan at Fiorentina in 2002, before scoring 26 goals in 43 appearances for Parma in two seasons at the side, who, had co-ownership of Adriano’s registration at the time.

Arshavin Wants To Be Arsenal No10

2009-01-13T18:39:00.002+00:00

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Russian International Andrei Arshavin has revealed that he hopes his transfer to Premier League club Arsenal goes through after Zenit St Petersburg rejected a £10million bid from the Gunners recently for the playmaker.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to ask the board at the North London club to make an improved bid of around £12million for Arshavin as he looks to replace his injured captain Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium.

Premiership rivals Manchester City are on standby to make a move for 27-year-old Arshavin, should Arsenal not be able to agree a fee with Zenit for the Russian schemer. It is believed that any new offer by the Gunners could include add-ons to top it up to nearer the £20million valuation of Arshavin by the Russian side.

However, Arshavin seems to have set his sights on a move to the Gunners and has revealed that he would like to wear the No10 shirt at the Emirates, which is currently occupied by William Gallas, who has been strongly linked with a move away from Arsenal this month.

Arshavin told the Daily Telegraph: “I would prefer my present No.10, but in the team where I hope to move it's not vacant. So I'm ready for any number they are going to offer me."

“In some games last season, we [Zenit] played football which was very similar to that of Arsenal.”

Spurs Want Bednar - Agent

2009-01-13T18:31:00.003+00:00

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Roman Bednar could be leaving West Bromwich Albion this month, with Tottenham Hotspur along with other Premier League clubs interested in the Czech striker, according to his agent, Pavel Zika.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is understood to still want another forward at White Hart Lane, despite securing the return to Tottenham of England International Jermaine Defoe from Portsmouth last week and has now set his sights on Bednar.

Zika has confirmed the interest from Spurs, but wouldn’t be drawn as to which other clubs in the Premiership were keen on Bednar, who has 1 cap for the Czech Republic.

“We know of the Tottenham interest, of course, but there are also other Premier League clubs who want Roman,” Zika told iDnes.cz

“I cannot be more specific now.

“In terms of scoring, Bednar has joined players like (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Frank) Lampard or (Steven) Gerrard, who have scored only a few more goals than him.

“And, as there is always interest in skilful scorers, Bednar's move from West Brom during this transfer window is not ruled out.”

25-year-old Bednar joined the Baggies from SPL side Hearts for £2.3million last summer after spending the previous season on loan at the Hawthorns and was a pivotal figure in the Midlands club winning the Championship last season, scoring 13 goals for West Brom.

Mancini Would Welcome Chelsea Job - Agent

2009-01-13T13:22:00.003+00:00

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Roberto Mancini's agent Maurizio De Giorgis has revealed that there has been no contact from Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea, who have both been linked with the former Inter Milan boss in recent reports, but did admit that Mancini would welcome the opportunity to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

After a disastrous sequence of results that sees City just two-points off the drop-zone and knocked out of the FA Cup last week 3-0 by Championship club Nottingham Forest at the Eastlands Stadium. The ADUG are reportedly ready to axe Hughes and replace him with former Italian International Mancini after just 20 league games in charge of a Blues team, which has blown more cold than hot in recent weeks.

Chelsea have also been linked with Mancini, who has been staying in London to learn English, with the Italian open to managing in the Premier League. Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has come under fire at Stamford Bridge recently, with Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford fuelling speculation that the Brazilian like Hughes could be heading for an exit from the West London club in his first season in charge.

However, De Giorgis insists that, no approach, for Mancini has been made by either club and dismissed reports that the former San Siro chief had met with officials from City recently.

De Giorgis told Goal.com: “I would know everything and I can tell you with certainty no club has come forward for Mancini.

“We have not had any contact with Chelsea, Manchester City or any other English club for that matter.

“For now no one has been in touch and therefore all this news is unfounded.

“We were not in England last week. In the past we have been because Mancini has been studying English.

“I can tell you for sure Mancini is in Italy at the moment. He has been for quite some time.

“It's impossible he was seen in another place by other people. These reports are untrue.”

De Giorgis did concede that if Chelsea were to come calling then he would be more than happy to talk to the Premiership side.

“I certainly hope they [Chelsea] come forward but, like I said, nothing so far,” added De Giorgis.

“If they call, then we will answer them, obviously.”

44-year-old Mancini was sacked by Inter last summer and replaced with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, despite winning three consecutive Scudetti, with the Nerazzurri and the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2005 and 2006.

Chelsea Planning To Smash Transfer Record For Barca Star?

2009-01-13T13:17:00.001+00:00

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Chelsea are understood to be considering making a world record bid for Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, with Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari keen to lure the Spanish International away from the Nou Camp, according to Catalan newspaper Sport.

24-year-old Iniesta has been identified by the Premier League club as the player to turn around, what has been a disappointing first season in charge at Stamford Bridge for former Portugal and Brazil coach Scolari. Chelsea are 2nd in the Premiership, but have performed poorly against other teams of the ‘big four’, which was highlighted in their 3-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Chelsea reportedly made an offer of £42million two-years ago to bring Iniesta to England and are now set to reignite their interest in the EURO 2008 winner in a bid to get their faltering season back on track.

Barca allowed Deco to leave the Blaugrana last summer for Chelsea, with Iniesta, who has been at Barca since 1996, proving a more than adequate replacement for the Portuguese International. Deco has struggled to regain his early season form at Stamford Bridge, which has led Scolari to Iniesta, with it remaining to be seen if Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic will bankroll the purchase of Spaniard after refusing to go above a certain point with both Robinho and Dani Alves last summer.

Sport claims that Chelsea are preparing an offer for Iniesta, with it also understood that should Barcelona allow the midfielder to leave. They would expect a fee in excess of the £46million that Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane from Juventus in 2001.

Ballack: Liverpool Main Title Threat Not United

2009-01-11T19:14:00.001+00:00

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German International Michael Ballack has claimed that it is Liverpool and not Premier League Champions Manchester United, who pose the biggest threat to Chelsea’s title aspirations this season.

32-year-old Ballack had felt that the Red Devils were the main opposition to Chelsea bringing a 3rd Premiership title back to Stamford Bridge in five-years, but now believes that it is Rafa Benitez’s Reds side that will provide the main challenge to the Blues for the Premier League crown, come what May.

Ballack said: “A few weeks ago I was sure United were our strongest opponents.

“But now I think Liverpool are a major threat.

“They have shown in the past few games that they have the character to deal with being top of the league.

“They struggled in one or two games but even then we couldn’t get back on top.

“They deserve to be first and the teams behind have to wait for them to drop points or for teams in and around them to play each other. But they have shown they can handle pressure.”

Chelsea are just four-points clear of United and four behind leaders Liverpool as they face the European Champions at Old Trafford on Sunday, but United do have two games in hand.

Arsenal To Make Improved £12million Offer For Arshavin?

2009-01-11T19:07:00.001+00:00

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Arsenal are ready to make an improved offer for playmaker Andrei Arshavin at Russian club Zenit St Petersburg after Zenit confirmed that they have already turned down a £10million offer by the Gunners to bring the EURO 2008 star to the Emirates Stadium.

A Zenit spokesman has confirmed the bid by Arsenal and and also revealed that the North London club are the only team to have made an official approach for the Russian International. Despite recent reports that Premiership rivals Manchester City are hoping to hijack the deal.

Zenit spokesman Alexei Petrov said: “I can confirm that Zenit did get an official offer from Arsenal about Andrei Arshavin. It was rejected as insufficient.

“They offered about £10 million. No new offers have arrived from them since. At the moment, Arsenal are the only club to have approached us about the player.”

Gunners, manager Arsene Wenger is desperate to land a playmaker to the Premier League club this month due to the injury to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and is ready to go cap in hand to the Arsenal board in order to make an improved £12million offer for Arshavin this week.

Wenger reportedly sees the signing of 27-year-old Arshavin as the key to keeping hold of Fabregas at the Premier League club, who is understood to be the main transfer target for La Liga giants Barcelona in the summer.

Arshavin had been on the verge of joining Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur last summer, but a fee couldn’t be agreed, with the Russian side understood to have wanted in excess of £20million to allow the schemer to leave for White Hart Lane.

The present financial climate has taken its toll on transfer fees, with Zenit now willing to compromise on the price for their talisman. However, it remains to be seen if £12million will be enough to lure Arshavin to Arsenal, with Zenit understood to still want in the region of £15million for the versatile player.

Villa To Offer N'Zogbia Route Out Of Toon?

2009-01-11T19:02:00.001+00:00

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Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is to step up his efforts to sign Charles N’Zogbia from Premier League rivals Newcastle United and is ready to offer Nicky Shorey as part of the deal in order to land the Frenchman.

Magpies boss Joe Kinnear has insisted that N’Zogbia will not be allowed to leave St James’ Park in January, with Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly interested in the versatile left-sided player, who is keen on a move away from the Premiership side.

Despite not wanting N’Zogbia to leave, Kinnear is an admirer of England International Shorey, who has fallen out of favour at Villa Park since his £3.5million switch from Championship club Reading in the summer. With a straight swap deal between the Toon and the Villans being mooted for the pair.

22-year-old N’Zogbia had expressed a desire to play for Arsenal recently, but Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of the former Le Havre player arriving at the Emirates Stadium this month.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is also a fan of N’Zogbia and the Frenchman’s versatility makes the player an attractive proposition for Redknapp, who is keen to add balance to the left-hand side of the squad at White Hart Lane.

However, with Kinnear interested in 27-year-old Shorey and N’Zogbia desperate for a move away from the North East a swap involving the pair is the most likely outcome. If the two clubs can broker a deal that would see all parties happy.

Man City Turn Attention To Cudicini After Newcastle Reject Given Bid

2009-01-11T18:56:00.001+00:00

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is to turn his attention to Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (below) after having an offer in the region of £3million rejected out of hand by Newcastle United for Republic of Ireland International keeper Shay Given.

A spokesman for the Magpies has confirmed that the North East club had received a formal bid from their Premiership rivals City for Given, but dismissed the offer out of hand, with Newcastle claiming the offer was “laughable” for the keeper, which they consider to be the best in the Premier League.

The Newcastle spokesman said: “We received a bid for Shay in writing from Manchester City and we dismissed it out of hand.

“It was for between three and four million pounds which is laughable when you consider we are talking about the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.”

It is understood that Newcastle, have placed a £11million price-tag on 32-year-old Given, with the Toon spokesman also revealing that talks over the Irishman leaving St James’ Park would not even be considered unless a bid of at least £8million was forthcoming from the Blue half of Manchester.

Hughes has always insisted that he will not be forced into paying over the odds after last summer’s takeover at City by the wealthy ADUG to bring in fresh faces to the Eastlands Stadium, with the former Blackburn Rovers boss now set to turn his attention to Blues No2 Cudicini.

35-year-old Cudicini has been at Stamford Bridge since joining from Castel di Sangro in 2000, but has had to play second fiddle to Petr Cech since Cech’s arrival from Rennes in 2004 and could see a move to City as a last chance to play regular first team football.

Cudicini is out of contract at Chelsea next summer, with manager Luiz Felipe Scolari possibly ready to cash in on the keeper this month rather than have the Italian leave the West London club on a free transfer in the summer.

Arsenal In Hunt For Battaglia?

2009-01-11T18:52:00.000+00:00

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to step up his efforts to sign Sebastian Battaglia from Argentine Champions Boca Juniors, with an offer for defensive midfielder being mooted, according to The News of the World.

28-year-old Battaglia has been at Boca for the best part of his playing career apart from a disappointing spell at La Liga club Villarreal, who he played for between 2004/2005. The Argentine International came through the youth ranks at the South American side and is the most decorated player in Los Xeneizes history, with 17 professional titles.

Wenger has been keen to add a ball winner to the midfield at the Emirates Stadium after the departure of Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan last summer. The need is now greater at the Premier League club due to the injury to Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas, who is out for the next three-months with knee ligament damage, which has made the Frenchman turn his attention to the highly-rated Argentine.

Battaglia is valued in the region of £4million by Boca, with it remaining to be seen if the Argentine side are willing to let the midfielder leave the Estadio Alberto J Armando for the Premiership.

The Argentine has played nearly 200 league games for Boca during his two spells at the club and was a pivotal figure in the Argentines winning the Apertura in a three-way play-off recently. Battaglia has 8 caps for Argentina and was recently voted Boca’s best player in a poll.

Spurs Agree Terms With Midfield Enforcer?

2009-01-10T21:28:00.001+00:00

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Ghanaian International Stephen Appiah is on the verge of joining Tottenham Hotspur after passing a medical at the Premier League club and agreeing personal terms at White Hart Lane, according to reports.

28-year-old Appiah had been training with the Premiership club, with Spurs manager Harry Redknapp keen to land the free agent if the former Juventus player impressed, while training with the Spurs first team.

Appiah became a free agent in the summer when his contract, was terminated by Turkish side, Fenerbahce. Redknapp had been linked with a move for the combative midfielder while in charge at Portsmouth, with Celtic, Schalke, West Ham United, Arsenal and former team Juve all reportedly interested in the Ghanaian.

One consideration for the North London club had been that Appiah is still coming back from a serious knee injury, but with it believed that the former Juve enforcer has passed a medical and agreed terms it remains to be seen if Redknapp is ready to throw Appiah straight into the team that faces Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Although the acquisition of Appiah might be seen as a gamble by some, there can be no doubt that when fully fit the Ghanaian is a dominant midfielder, with the lack of a transfer fee reducing the risk for Tottenham. The length of the deal on offer is not known, but could be a short-term deal until the season.

Bellamy To Reject City Move For Spurs?

2009-01-10T21:24:00.001+00:00

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West Ham United striker Craig Bellamy is understood to prefer a move to Tottenham Hotspur over Manchester City, with the Welsh International unsure a bout a reunion with City manager Mark Hughes at the Eastlands Stadium, according to The Guardian.

29-year-old Bellamy has been heavily linked with both Spurs and City, with the striker tipped to join Hughes at the Premier League side, having worked under Hughes at Blackburn Rovers. However, Bellamy feels that his chances of first team football at the Eastlands could be limited due to the influx of players expected to arrive in the Blue half of Manchester.

Tottenham have already had an offer for Bellamy turned down by their Premiership rivals, but reports earlier in the week suggested that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was considering an improved offer for the Hammers forward. Despite securing the return of Jermain Defoe to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth, Bellamy still remains on the Redknapp radar.

Redknapp will be encouraged by the news that Bellamy is favouring Tottenham over the Blues and could make an improved offer in the region of £9million in order to prise the former Liverpool player away from Upton Park.

Bellamy has been at West Ham since making the switch from the Reds in 2007 for £7.5million and has scored 9 goals in 31 appearances for the Hammers in what has been an injury-disrupted spell in East London.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has always insisted publicly that none of the Hammers top players will be leaving Upton Park in January, but with the club in financial difficulty is privately resigned to losing some key players including Bellamy.

Spurs Set To Sign Polish International Keeper?

2009-01-10T17:02:00.000+00:00

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is set to make Polish International goalkeeper Sebastian Przyrowski his second signing of the transfer window after securing the return to Spurs of Jermain Defoe from Portsmouth earlier this week.

Redknapp has been linked with a host of keepers since he left Pompey for Spurs last October, with Wayne Hennessey at Wolves, Newcastle United’s Shay Given and Robert Green at West Ham amongst those on the Redknapp radar.

However, 27-year-old Przyrowski, who plays for Polonia Warsaw is set to be the keeper that will provide competition for Brazilian Heurelho Gomes at White Hart Lane, with Redknapp not convinced by Cesar Sanchez or Ben Alnwick as an understudy to the former PSV Eindhoven stopper at the Premier League club.

Despite being out for two-years with a career-threatening injury before going back to Warsaw in 2008, Przyrowski is to undergo a medical for the Premiership club, which is expected to be a formality, with the Pole expected to complete a £1million move in the next few days.

Przyrowski has been capped five time for Poland and had just made his breakthrough into the National side before his injury and is highly thought of in his homeland, with his impending arrival sure to cast doubt over the future of Cesar, who has been linked with a move to La Liga side Valencia.

City To Offer £19million Misfit To Land Taiwo?

2009-01-10T16:31:00.000+00:00

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Manchester City are set to continue their pursuit of Olympique Marseille defender Taye Taiwo, with the Premier League club ready to offer £19million flop Jo as part of the deal to land the Nigerian International, according to The Sun.

City are believed to have already failed with a £14million offer for Taiwo, but manager Mark Hughes is now ready to include Brazilian International striker Jo in part exchange for the versatile left-sided player as the former Blackburn Rovers boss looks to strengthen the squad at the Eastlands Stadium.

Jo, who was a club record signing before the arrival of Robinho at the Premiership club has failed to impress Hughes since his big-money move from CSKA Moscow, with the Brazilian only finding the net three times in thirteen appearances for the Blues since his move to England. Two of those goals coming against, European minnows Omonia in the UEFA Cup and now looks set to be shown the door by the Blues after just six-months at the club.

Should Taiwo arrive City, Jo’s compatriot Elano’s place could also be under threat, with 23-year-old Taiwo playing on the left and £12million signing from Chelsea, Wayne Bridge likely to occupy the defensive berth. Taiwo is also said to be a free-kick specialist and has been linked with Portsmouth and Sunderland in the past.

Taiwo has been at Marseille since joining from Lobi Stars in 2004 and has made 118 Ligue 1 appearances during his time at the Stade Velodrome, with Taiwo also scoring seven times in his 26 caps for Nigeria.

Hughes Heading For Eastlands Exit As City Move For Mancini?

2009-01-10T16:26:00.002+00:00

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Former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini is believed to have held talks with Manchester City after reports in England and Italy claim the Italian has met with officials from the Premier League club.

44-year-old Mancini, who finished his playing career with Leicester City in 2001 is in line to take over from City manager Mark Hughes at the Eastlands Stadium and has allegedly been spotted in a restaurant near his Umbrian home meeting with representatives from City. City’s owners the ADUG want Mancini, who was replaced at the Nerazzurri by Jose Mourinho after winning three consecutive Serie A titles at Inter to bring an international pedigree to the Premier League side.

After a disastrous sequence of results that sees City just two-points off the drop-zone and knocked out of the FA Cup last week 3-0 by Championship club Nottingham Forest at the Eastlands. The ADUG are reportedly ready to axe Hughes and replace him with the former Italian International after just 20 league games in charge of a Blues team, which has blown more cold than hot in recent weeks.

Mancini is said to have been living in London for the past few months to learn the language, with the former Sampdoria and Lazio striker keen to work in the Premier League. The Italian was also believed to have been in the running for the jobs at Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham United last year.

As well as the three Scudetti Mancini won with Milan in his four-years at the San Siro, he also won the Coppa Italia in 2005 and 2006, along the Supercoppa Italiana in the same seasons. With the ADUG seeing Mancini as the right man to realise their ambitions, when they took over at the Eastlands last summer and lead City into the Champions League.

Defoe Completes Spurs Switch

2009-01-09T21:31:00.003+00:00

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Jermain Defoe, is set to be pitched straight into the first-team for Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League clash with Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium on Sunday. After the finer details of his move back to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth were completed.

26-year-old Defoe left Spurs for Pompey last January after four-years at the Premiership club, where he scored 64 goals in 177 appearances for Tottenham before deciding to leave for Fratton Park to work under Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp, who left Portsmouth to take charge of Spurs in October had already worked with Defoe at West Ham United and is now set to work with the England International again, with Redknapp likely to start Defoe against the Latics this weekend.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy expressed his delight at having Defoe back at White Hart Lane, with Levy revealing that Defoe is also excited at being back and the prospect of working with Redknapp at Spurs.

“We are delighted to welcome Jermain back to the club,” said Levy.

“We had previously been keen for Jermain to sign a new contract to extend his initial stay but at that point in time he felt it was in his interests to move on in order to guarantee himself more starts.

“I know the club is close to his heart and that he is thrilled to be back and to once again link up with Harry.”

Redknapp echoed the sentiments of Levy and reiterated how highly he thinks of Defoe, who he has just signed for the third time in his career.

“I am pleased to have him here and I am sure the supporters are looking forward to seeing him back in a Spurs shirt,” he said.

“Because I know what a top class player he is as well as a proven goalscorer.”

Redknapp Wants Cole Reunion?

2009-01-09T21:14:00.001+00:00

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly keen on Chelsea’s England International Joe Cole, who Redknapp has worked with before at West Ham United, according to The Mirror.

With Spurs’ attempt to sign Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough looking destined to end if failure, Redknapp has turned his attention to 27-year-old Cole, who Redknapp handed his Premier League debut to back in 1999 at the Hammers aged 17.

Cole is understood to be unhappy at Stamford Bridge, with the attacking midfielder continually substituted by Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and could be ready to end his five-years at the Blues, with his present deal at the Premiership club coming to an end in 2010.

Despite Scolari claiming recently that any player at Chelsea is for sale, but the buying club would have to offer big money for anyone at the West London club. It is unlikely that Cole will leave Chelsea for White Hart Lane this month, with a summer reunion with Redknapp a more likely option.

Cole has scored 38 goals in 234 appearances for Chelsea and should the England midfielder be made available by Chelsea is sure to attract interest from other clubs apart from Tottenham.

Arsenal, Spurs & City In Hunt For Veloso?

2009-01-09T21:07:00.001+00:00

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Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso looks destined for a switch to the Premier League, with Arsenal along with Tottenham Hotspur heavily linked to the Portuguese International last summer.

22-year-old Veloso had reportedly been close to signing for Spurs at the end of last summer, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger also keen to add the holding midfielder to his squad at the Emirates Stadium. Although no move to the Premiership materialised in the summer, Veloso is understood to have fallen out with Sporting coach Paulo Bento, which has fuelled speculation that the midfielder will leave the Leoes.

This will also interest Manchester City, who are eager to add an anchorman to the midfield at the Eastlands and could see Veloso as a better option than West Ham United’s Scott Parker. Arsenal’s need for Veloso has also become greater due to the injury to captain Cesc Fabregas, who will be on the sidelines at the North London club for three-months, with a knee ligament injury.

Spurs are also believed to want to shore up the midfield at White Hart Lane so that manager Harry Redknapp can play Luka Modric in the middle and give the Croatian schemer more licence to get forward. Veloso is also left-footed, which make the Sporting player even more appealing as Redknapp also looks to add balance to the midfield.

Veloso has come through the youth ranks at Sporting and has made over 50 league appearances since making his debut in 2006 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, with the Portuguese side valuing the midfielder at anywhere up to £20million.

AC Milan, Newcastle United, Juventus, Everton and Manchester United have all been linked with Veloso in the past, with it remaining to be seen if the talented young midfielder will indeed end up in the Premier League.

Southgate: Downing Is Too Good For Spurs

2009-01-09T21:01:00.003+00:00

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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has claimed that England International Stewart Downing is too good for Tottenham Hotspur after Boro rejected two bid for the winger from their Premier League rivals earlier in the week.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp had made 24-year-old Downing his main transfer target after securing the return of striker Jermain Defoe to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth. However, after the rejection of the two offers for Downing, Redknapp is understood to have conceded that he will not land Downing from Middlesbrough this month, despite the winger handing in a transfer request at the Riverside Stadium.

Now Southgate has revealed that should Downing leave Boro, he should set his sights higher than the North London club, with Southgate insisting that he wants the best for Downing.

“I don't think it (a move to Spurs] is in the interests of our club or in the interests of Stewart,” said Southgate.

“There's a certain level that, if Stewart's going to leave this club, he should be going to.

“I'm not knocking Tottenham but I've had plenty of conversations with Stewart about his future, the majority of which I'd prefer to keep private. He totally understands I want the best for him.”

Southgate did concede that if Boro had been in a more comfortable position in the Premiership, where the North East club are currently just outside the drop-zone. Middlesbrough might have been more willing to let Downing leave for Spurs.

“If we'd had seven more points now it could quite possibly have been a different situation,” Southgate added.

Villa Line Up Young Spaniard?

2009-01-09T14:51:00.000+00:00

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Eugenio Botas, who is the agent of left-back Roberto Canella at Portuguese side Sporting Gijon has revealed that Premier League club Aston Villa have shown an interest in the young Spaniard.

20-year-old Canella has been at Gijon since 1999, with the young defender coming through the youth ranks at the Rojiblancos to make his senior debut at El Molinon in 2006.

Canella is valued at £11million by the Portuguese side, with it understood that the Villans are prepared to offer £10million to bring the youngster to the Premiership. However, Botas has claimed that Villa boss Martin O’Neill will have to meet the full valuation before any decision can be taken on the defender joining the Midlands club.

“If Aston Villa put all the money on the table, all the parts will have to make a decision,” Botas told Setanta Sports.

Canella has welcomed the interest from Villa, but has insisted that any transfer talk is something to be discussed between his agent and his club.

“I had no idea of this news, that’s the first time I hear about it. I’m happy at Sporting, focused on fighting to stay up, so that kind of stuff must be discussed by my agent and by Sporting,” he said.

“For sure it’s always a pleasure when such a club as Aston Villa, with the history they have, are interested in you, and it means that both the team and myself are doing things the right way.

“I’m proud but focused on Sporting.”

United Consider Bid For Spurs, Chelsea & City Target?

2009-01-08T16:29:00.001+00:00

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Premier League Champions Manchester United are considering a move for goalkeeper Diego Lopez at La Liga side Villarreal, who is also understood to have been the subject of an approach from Chelsea this month, according to reports in Spain.

Tottenham Hotspur along with the Red Devils local rivals Manchester City have also been linked with 27-year-old Lopez recently, with the Spanish keeper impressing in La Liga since his £5million switch from Real Madrid in 2007.

Lopez first caught the eye of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with his displays against the Premiership side in two goalless draws in the Champions League for El Submarino Amarillo this season. With the Scot praising the Spaniard after the clash at the Estadio El Madrigal.

Ferguson is now understood to be considering a bid to bring Lopez to Old Trafford as he searches for the long-term successor to Man United No1 Edwin van der Sar, but is sure to face stiff competition from Chelsea, who are also eager to recruit the former Los Merengues keeper.

However, Villarreal are unlikely to let Lopez, who was a pivotal figure in last seasons campaign in La Liga in which Villarreal finished second leave the Spanish side, with Lopez under a long-term contract in Spain until 2014.