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Rumours & Gossip

Could Napoli top-scorer Marek Hamsik be on his way to West London?

 The Daily Express today suggests that Chelsea are still very much in the market for Napoli forward Marek Hamsik, a story that  has been backed up by sources in Italy as well.  Meanwhile Serb centre-back Neven Subotic of Borussia Dortmund is also being tracked.

The transfer window may have only just shut but it looks like Chelsea are already reviewing their options for the summer, and one player who has come back into reckoning for a move to Stamford Bridge is Marek Hamsik.  The Slovakian international star has been with Napoli for 2.5 seasons making just over 100 appearances in all competitions scoring 30 goals from a range of positions including up front, from the play-maker position and even out wide.

The 22-year-old first caught the eye with Brescia, to whom he moved as a youngster back in 2004/05 hitting 10 goals in 40 appearances in Serie B prompting Napoli to snap him up as they returned back to Serie A after several seasons in the doldrums themselves.

This season he already has 8 goals in 24 Serie A matches, as Napoli have maneuvered themselves into a position to challenge for a position in the Champions League for next season thanks to a wonderful run of form, which saw them hold runaway league leaders Inter Milan to a 0-0 draw last time out.

Hamsik is one of a number of Napoli players who has been connected with Chelsea in the recent past, with his team-mate Ezequiel Lavezzi also thought to be interesting the West London club.  However, Hamsik is now thought to be the man most wanted by Carlo Ancelotti, who has had the chance to watch him first-hand when in charge of AC Milan.

Chelsea may find they have some stiff competition for the 29-times capped Slovak forward, as Inter Milan are also thought to have made Hamsik a top-target for what could be a busy transfer period.  Furthermore if Napoli succeed in qualifying themselves for the Champions League next season, they may be in a stronger bargaining position in terms of demanding a transfer fee thanks to their potentially enhanced finances. 

The Napoli top scorer isn’t the only player on the Chelsea radar, with defender Neven Subotic currently under contract to German side Borussia Dortmund also being closely watched.  The 21-year-old Serb-stopper has had an impressive season at the Signal Iduna Park helping propel his side to the edge of the Champions League places this season thanks to some wonderful performances at the heart of the defence. 

Standing at an impressive 6’3” Subotic is not only excellent in the air but also a strong tackler and reader of the game.  His 6 goals for Dortmund last season in his first season after joining from Mainz will certainly earn comparisons with John Terry.  With 9 caps to his name already, Subotic may well be a top performer at the World Cup in South Africa alongside Nemanja Vidic for his country, and Chelsea may be eager to tie up a deal sooner rather than later if they are considering a move for him.

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Could Manuel Fernandes be back on his way to Portugal?

Reports in Spain say that Sporting Lisbon are considering a move for the ex-Everton midfielder Manuel Fernandes.  Currently with Valencia in La Liga, Fernandes has been targeted by Sporting after a move for Glasgow Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes fell through.

The one-time Everton, Portsmouth and Benfica midfielder has been targeted by the Portuguese side as they look to close the gap to the top of the table in the Superliga.  Indeed Sporting Clube de Lisbon to give them their full name are now a massive 12 points off the race for the title languishing on 27 points, with the leaders Sporting Braga and cross-city rivals Benfica on 39.

Sporting have been linked with several midfielders, most notably Glasgow Rangers’ Pedro Mendes, another player with Portsmouth links, but a deal  never came to pass, and the former FC Porto player remains in Scotland.

Manuel Fernandes has made just one start this season in the UEFA Europa League, and a further 3 sub appearances in La Liga, but has fallen behind the like of Ever Banega and David Albelda in the pecking order in the central midfield area for Valencia.

Fernandes, like so many players not featuring regularly for their first team, is desperately looking for a way out of Valencia to ensure that he keeps his place in the Portugal World Cup squad later this year.  Fernandes, a one-time regular in the heart of the midfield, made 19 league appearances for Everton in two separate spells and played ten times for Pompey as well.  However, a full deal to move to Goodison Park never came off after a potential permanent move fell foul of then-recent new rules implemented by the Premier League regarding player rights and contract ownership in the wake of the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano affairs.

During his time in England he was a regular in the national team squad after impressing with his contribution in the middle of the park both going forward and screening the defence.  However he has made only one appearance for Portugal in the World Cup qualifying campaign, which dates back to November 2007. 

However, after making 27 La Liga appearances for Valenica last season, a slow recovery from injury and a susbequent loss of form have badly affected Fernandes this time around.  Therefore in a bid to salvage his season, he is now hoping that he can get some regular action with Sporting Lisbon.

Could the Swiss right-back be on his way to the North-East?

 Reports from Italian daily La Repubblica say that Lazio’s Swiss right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner is ready to quit the club and has set his sights on a move to the Premiership. 

With Sunderland in the market for a right-back having already failed in an attempt to secure the signature of Hamburg’s Ivorian international Guy Demel, could the un-named club be the Black Cats?

The 25-year-old Swiss international has been with Lazio since signing from French football in 2008, where he played with Lille helping them into the Champions League.  The 25 times capped international is a versatile character able to play both as a conventional right-back, as well as a more attacking right wing-back, and his surging runs up and down the wing have earned him the nick-name Forrest Gump from the Lazio-Ultras.

Lichsteiner has been linked on several occasions with a move to the Premiership, most recently with Everton in the wake of Euro 2008, but opted for a move to Lazio instead. 

However, the recent arrival of Danish international Jakob Poulsen from AGF Aarhus in the Italian capital in direct competition to Lichtsteiner, allied with a less familiar role on the right-hand side of a four man midfield playing in front of a back three, has convinced the Swiss-stopper it’s time to seek a new club.

Sunderland have been looking for a reinforcement in the right-back area, and were initially heavily linked with a move for Guy Demel before that transfer hit the buffers.  Reports in the English media say that the club have launched a £10-million bid for Portsmouth’s Younes Kaboul, but Lichtsteiner is likely to be available for a good deal less than that.

Lazio are still financially strapped for cash after several years staving off bankruptcy, and may be tempted into doing business for around £2-3 million.  Overall Lichtsteiner has made 26 appearances for Lazio this season in both Serie A and the Europa League, as well as playing 8 games for Switzerland as they eased themselves into the World Cup by winning their pool

Nacho Novo could be on his way from Rangers...

Spanish website Futbolmercado.es has reported that Nacho Novo could be a potential transfer target for either Celta Vigo or Deportivo la Coruna.

 Reports surfaced before the opening of the transfer window that Nacho Novo could be one of a number of players on his way out of Glasgow Rangers during January.  It now seems as if the Spanish pair of Deportivo la Coruna and Celta Vigo have thrown their hat into the ring in a bit to tempt Novo back home.

 Novo (30) has been in Scotland since the summer of 2001 when he accepted a deal to join Raith Rovers.  A further spell at Dundee United, persuaded Rangers to step in for Novo in the summer of 2004 for a fee of just under half a million pounds.

However, with Novo’s current deal to expire at the end of the season, and no indication that a new one is in the offing, it’s thought that Novo is keen to look at other options.  This season at Ibrox, Novo hasn’t been considered a first-team regular and has managed just three goals in the SPL and a further two in other competitions.

Although Novo has declared himself happy to remain in Glasgow, the lack of a new contract will no doubt be of some concern, and has aroused the interest especially of Deportivo, who might either look at a bid now or wait until the summer when the player is out of contract.  After once being one of the best funded teams in Spain, Depor have fallen on hard times, and Chairman Augusto Cesar Lendorio declared Novo an interesting option because of the relatively low fee he would command.

Celta Vigo after once being an established top-flight team in Spain have also struggled to make ends meet and are are currently battling relegation from the Segunda to avoid the drop to the third-flight.  With just 20 goals in 21 matches in the league, any striking reinforcements would be welcome. 

Rangers boss Walter Smith told BBC Scotland recently that he wasn’t expecting any further departures from Ibrox over the course of January.  However, with a police investigation pending over alleged obscene gestures to the Aberdeen fans during a recent SPL match, Rangers may decide this is a good a time as any to consider a bid for Novo.

Reports on Italian website Tutto Mercato Web indicate that Fulham’s young Italian midfielder Luca Moscatiello could be on his way back home.  The loss of Moscatiello would come as a souble blow after reports in the English media that Manchester United are lining up a bid for the impressive Chris Smalling.

 Moscatiello (18) has only been in West-London for 6 months after arriving in the summer after breaking through at the Inter Milan youth academy.  However, it was Fulham, who moved in for the midfield prospect and Roy Hodgson had no hesitation in offering Moscatiello his first professional contract.

However, Mosciatello is yet to make his first team debut at Craven Cottage despite several appearances for the reserves and youth team.  A recent interview given just after Christmas indicated that he didn’t intend to stick around in England too long, stating that he was planning to return to Italy sooner rather than later.

It now seems that Palermo, and at least one Serie B club are thought to be keen on offering the player a move back to Italy.  Palermo in particular have been busy with several high profile comings and goings as they look to snatch a European place in Italy.

The potential departure of Moscatiello wouldn’t be the only starlet heading out of Fulham this transfer window with Manchester United thought to be lining up a bid to tempt Chris Smalling away from the club.  The 20-year-old has already been linked with a move to Arsenal, and now United are also keen on snaring the centre-back, who has already impressed both in the league and at England U-21 level.

On the plus side, Fulham are thought to be in the market for Egyptian forward Geddo.  The Ittihad striker is currently at the 2010 African Cup of Nations, but made quite an impression as substitute against Cameroon in the quarter-finals helping to set one goal up and scoring another in the 3-1 victory.

The 25-year-old had a scoring record of about one in every four for his club side, but has impressed in recent international matches with Egypt catching the eye with his pace and willingness to run at defenders.

Reports from Germany suggest that German side VfL Wolfsburg are on the trail of Tottenham target Simon Kjaer.

It looks like the proposed move for Palermo’s Danish defender Simon Kjaer to White Hart Lane could be in danger of being hijacked by ambitious Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg.  The defending German champions are thought to have made Kjaer one of a number of defensive targets to snap up before the closure of the winter transfer window.

Spurs have been long credited with an interest in the Italian-based defender, with reports surfacing early in the window that Kjaer was heading to London for talks with Harry Redknapp and the club.  However, Tottenham and Palermo have struggled to reach an agreement over the fee, which after much haggling appears to have been fixed at €11 million.

There has also been the small matter of the player’s willingness to consider a move, something that has been the subject of some debate as the transfer drags on.

The inability of Spurs to close the deal has promoted Wolfsburg to try their luck and hijack the move.  The potential acquisition of Kjaer wouldn’t be the first time that Palermo and Wolfsburg have done business, as 18-months ago the German side moved for Italian internationals Andrea Barzagli and Christian Zaccardo.

This season Wolfsburg have been hampered in their attempts to defend their Bundesliga title won in thrilling circumstances last May by a leaky defence, and have already snapped up Brazilian defender Rever for around €5 million from Gremio.

The VW-sponsored side have the worst defence in the top-half of the German top-flight, and the second worst in the entire division, with just bottom-team Hertha Berlin letting more in, so more defensive arrivals are a distinct possibility.

FC Twente-based Douglas is thought to one option, whilst one-time Liverpool target Rafina, who was thought to be in talks with Atletico Madrid last week, could also be on his way to Wolfsburg.  The German team, despite losing out to Manchester United and CSKA Moscow in the Champions League group stages, aren’t short of cash, so if Tottenham do want to wrap up a deal they’d better get a move on!

Reports from both Italy and Spain suggest that Blackburn Rovers are set to be disappointed in their quest to tie up Sebastian Eguren.

 The Uruguayan international had been linked earlier in the transfer window with a move to Ewood Park on a loan deal from his current side Villarreal. 

However, Eguren’s agent has now confirmed that his client is in advanced talks with Lazio and expects the player to join the Biancoceleste shortly.

Blackburn were thought to have identified Eguren as a possible target in the transfer window has Big Sam and the management team look for possible options to help bolster their squad.  Eguren has been struggling for games in La Liga this season, and is in need of matches to help him cement a place in the Uruguay World Cup squad ahead of the tournament in the summer, for which his country qualified thanks to a narrow play-off victory over Costa Rica. 

It would now seem that Eguren prefers a move to the Italian capital over a switch to Lancarshire, and Blackburn will have to switch their attentions elsewhere.

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to reject a return to the Premier League and instead join Bundesliga side Hamburg on a free transfer. The 33 year-old Dutchman has been linked with moves to West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City, but now it appears he is set to move to Germany despite some big-money offers from the English clubs.

van Nistelrooy has failed to win back a place in the Real Madrid side following lengthy injury lay-offs during the last 18 months. The Spanish club have allowed him a free transfer in order for him to be able to try and push for a place in the Dutch national squad for the forthcoming World Cup this summer after reversing his decision to retire from the international scene after Euro 2008.

The star striker has not been short of offers since becoming available, with half the top flight clubs around Europe vying for his signature. And that’s hardly surprising given his goalscoring record. During his club career, his has amassed 326 goals from 514 appearances and has scored 33 times from 64 appearances for the Netherlands.

Despite receiving better financial offers from elsewhere, including a reported offer of £100,000 a week from West Ham United’s new owners, van Nistelrooy is about to put pen to paper on a transfer to Hamburg.

Spanish sports daily Marca, believe that the main reason behind van Nistelrooy’s decision to snub the Premier League is that he doesn’t believe he is at the same physical level as he was when he was at Manchester United. The less physical demands of the Bundesliga may suit him much better.

A deal between the two clubs is believed to have been concluded and van Nistelrooy will travel to Germany over the weekend to finalise personal terms and complete a medical before signing for the Rothosen.

Reports from Spain today suggest that Arsenal could be one of a number of clubs chasing the signature of Loic Remy.  The OGC Nice player has been linked with a host of clubs, and is expected to be on the move during the transfer window.

The 23-year-old has been attracting much interest from around Europe following some excellent performances for the side based on the French south-coast.  Remy has knocked in seven league goals in 20 games, which accounts for nearly half of his sides attacking output in what has been a disappointing season for the side from the Stade du Rey.

Remy has an unusual history in that he came through the Lyon academy, but after being farmed out on loan to Lens, he was allowed to join Nice on a permanent basis at the beginning of last season.  His first season brought 11 goals in 32 league games, and this season he could be on course to better it.

His excellent form has brought him to the attention of not only a string of clubs around Europe, but also the Fnrech national side, and he earned his first cap at the end of last season in a friendly against Nigeria.

Since then the like of Barcelona, AC Milan and Arsenal have all been tracking his progress.  His agent sparked a wave of interest by urging AC Milan to make a move for the player, insisting that if they don’t within 48 hours Remy will be on his way to another side outside Italy. 

Many have interpreted that to be Arsenal, who are on the look-out for attacking options following the long-term injury to Robin van Persie.  Remy is quick and versatile and just the sort of player that could represent a quality enhancement to Arsenal’s attack, both in the short and medium term.

Remy could be available at a price a good deal lower than the one Bordeaux have quoted for Marouane Chamakh, a player with a lesser goal-scoring record than Remy.  Therefore Remy could become another of Arsene Wenger’s genuine transfer gems,

West Ham United are believed to be close to sealing a deal to secure the services of Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco. The 31 year-old has been on the radar at Upton Park for some time, having played alongside current Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola at Chelsea, but the Premier League club failed in an attempt to snap him up last summer when he left Barcelona to move to France.

Gudjohnsen has failed to settle in the French principality after joining AS Monaco just last August. He hasn’t scored a single goal in his nine appearances for Les Rouges et Blanc so far, and is now set to up sticks once more and team up again with Zola in a return to the Premier League after four years away from England’s top flight.

Zola is a keen admirer of Gudjohnsen after enjoying a successful spell together at Stamford Bridge. In their three seasons together up front for the Blues, they shared the princely sum of 79 goals.

Zola has been desperately trying to get another striker through the doors of Upton Park for some time as they look for the perfect partner for current top goalscorer Carlton Cole. A lack of funds denied the Italian from getting his man last summer, but following the club’s takeover this week by David Gold and David Sullivan, he has been given funds to spend in the transfer market and looks set to bag his number one target.

The Hammers are also looking to conclude a deal for 32-year-old Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy. The South African has been on the fringes of Sam Allardyce’s side so far this season and seems set to leave Ewood Park during the January transfer window.

The Cape Town-born forward is hoping for more regular first-team football in a bid to secure a place in the Bafana Bafana squad for this summer’s World Cup finals which take place in his homeland. Blackburn are said to be looking for a fee in the region of £2.5 million for the striker, who is also being tracked by Turkish club Galatasaray.