Champions League Group A Preview

Rampant Manchester City will head to El Madrigal to face a depleted Villarreal in Champions League Group A action on Wednesday.

La Liga side Villarreal have been struggling domestically with their second win of the campaign over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday lifting them out of the relegation zone, though the win came at a cost.

Already savaged with injuries with star striker Giuseppe Rossi ruled out for six months with a knee injury sustained against Real Madrid last week, Villarreal suffered further setbacks against Rayo.

Christian Zapata (knee) and Javier Camunas (leg) are two casualties to come out of the win while Nilmar (knee), Cani (knee), Marco Ruben (adductor) and midfielder Marcos Senna (hamstring) form part of an increasingly threadbare squad.

To add to their woes, Villarreal sit at the foot of the table in Group A, having lost all three of their opening fixtures to Bayern Munich, City and Napoli.

Meanwhile, City boss Roberto Mancini boasts a fully fit squad brimming with confidence after wins over bitter rivals Manchester United and back-to-back wins over Wolverhampton in the Carling Cup and English Premier League.

The Etihad Stadium outfit won the corresponding fixture with Villarreal 2-1 thanks to Sergio Aguero's late winner and will be expected to pick up the three points.

Bayern Munich vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger looks set to feature in the side's reverse fixture with Napoli after making a quick recovery from a hamstring injury sustained in a 4-0 win over Nuremberg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Bayern are looking for their ninth straight win at the Allianz Arena while Napoli, who suffered a 2-1 defeat at Catania in the Serie A on Saturday, are without captain Paolo Cannavaro who is suspended for the trip north.

Bayern top the group, while a win for Napoli would see them leapfrog the Bundesliga leaders into first and could potentially put more pressure on third-placed City.

Champions League Group B Preview

Inter Milan will be looking to build on their good form in the Champions League when they host Lille on Wednesday.

The Serie A giants have had a tumultuous league campaign, struggling in 17th place with just two wins from their opening nine outings.

But their form in Europe has been solid, sitting top of Group B after consecutive wins, including a 1-0 victory at Lille on October 18.

Inter held out after Giampaolo Pazzini gave them a 21st-minute lead, and they will close in on progress to the round of 16 with a win at the San Siro.

Claudio Ranieri will be without defender Maicon, who picked up a thigh injury in their 2-1 loss to Juventus on Saturday.

The Brazilian has been one of the better performers this campaign, but Ranieri will be confident of overcoming Lille despite his absence, particularly at home.

In contrast to Inter, Lille has enjoyed a fine start to Ligue 1, but have struggled in the Champions League.

They are winless and bottom of the group, while they sit third in the league - behind Paris-Saint Germain and Montpellier.

Goals have been hard to come by for Rudi Garcia's men, with Senegalese striker Moussa Sow their best with just three goals in his last nine outings.

Lille desperately need maximum points if they are to keep their hopes of advancing to the round of 16 alive.

In the other game, CSKA Moscow travel to Turkey to take on Trabzonspor.

The Russian outfit has been in excellent form recently, unbeaten in their last five outings, with three of those victories.

They have scored at will since the comfortable 3-0 win over Trabzonspor on October 18, netting nine goals in two matches.

Seydou Doumbia and Vagner Love have been vital in that run, although the latter was sent off in the 4-0 league win over Spartak Nalchik on Friday.

In his last three matches, Doumbia has struck a remarkable eight goals.

Meanwhile, Trabzonspor have gone three matches unbeaten since losing to CSKA and will be hoping they can capitalise on their home advantage this time around.

Champions League Group C Preview

Manchester United will go into their meeting with Otelul Galati in the Champions League on Wednesday as hot favourites.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men drew their opening two matches in Group C, but a win over the Romanians on October 18 helped them into second, behind Benfica.

It took a brace of Wayne Rooney penalties to record that 2-0 win, while captain Nemanja Vidic will miss the return meeting after being sent off.

After that win, United were embarrassed at Old Trafford, slumping to a 6-1 loss to fierce rivals Manchester City in the English Premier League.

But they have bounced back, thanks to a win in the Carling Cup and a 1-0 victory over Everton in the league on Saturday.

Ferguson could afford to leave Portuguese star Nani on the bench until the final half-hour at Goodison Park, while goalscorer Javier Hernandez came off towards the end of the contest.

Ferguson's team is two points behind Benfica in the group, and the Scot said he expected the November 22 meeting between the sides at Old Trafford to decide who finished top.

"I expect Benfica to beat Basel as they're in a bit of disarray with (manager) Thorsten Fink going to Hamburg," Ferguson told United's official website.

"We'll hopefully win our game and, when we play Benfica at home, it'll be the decider in our section."

The Romanian outfit are eighth in the league and have won three consecutive games since the loss to United, but manager Dorinel Munteanu will need a bit of luck if his team are to take anything out of the game at Old Trafford.

In the other game, Benfica will be out to extend their unbeaten run in Group B to four matches when they host Swiss outfit Basel.

The Portuguese side is also unbeaten in Liga Sagres and will be keen to record a win over Basel to maintain their advantage over United.

Champions League Group D Preview

Real Madrid can seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over Lyon on Wednesday.

The in-form La Liga giants have been irresistible of late, leading Barcelona in the league thanks to their recent run, as well as topping Group D.

Jose Mourinho's men have won eight games in a row in all competitions, impressive in both attack and defence.

In the run, they have netted 29 goals and conceded just three.

It includes a 4-0 thrashing of Lyon on October 18, a clash the Ligue 1 outfit struggled in and were always likely to lose.

Mourinho has his array of talent combining well, with the midfield - led by Spaniard Xabi Alonso - pulling the strings for a star-studded attack.

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to score, while strikers Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain have battled for a spot up front.

Both Benzema and Higuain are scoring when called upon, and Mourinho is happy to have two in-form strikers at his disposal.

A win for Real at Stade de Gerland would see them wrap up a top-two spot, while Lyon would remain in the hunt even if they are beaten.

Remi Garde's team, who sit fourth in Ligue 1, will finish with fixtures against Ajax and struggling Dinamo Zagreb.

Striker Bafetimbi Gomis (seven goals in 12 appearances) will again hold the key for Lyon, but he has failed to net in his last three matches.

In the other Group D game, Ajax will be keen to make it two wins from as many matches against Dinamo Zagreb.

The Eredivisie champions sit second but a win, along with a Lyon loss, would move them three points clear of the French outfit.

Miralem Sulejmani (six goals) and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (five) had done most of the damage up front for Frank de Boer's team.

Dinamo Zagreb is still searching for their first point, but it will be a tough task at the Amsterdam Arena.

Liverpool & Man City Considering Swoop For Inter Milan Defender

Liverpool are keeping tabs on Inter Milan full-back Cristian Chivu - but they may face competition from Manchester City, according to reports in Italy.

The Romania international is out of contract at the Serie A side in the summer and is yet to discuss a new deal with the club, who are currently 17th in the table.

As a result, Chivu has been linked with a number of clubs across Europe and now Liverpool and City are reportedly monitoring his situation.

The 31-year-old, well known for wearing a protective helmet during games following a fractured skull, has been one of Serie A's stars since he joined Roma in 2003.

He became a mainstay of the Inter defence following his £14m move in 2007 but it has been suggested that Chivu is now ready for a fresh challenge.

And he could be handed a shot at the Premier League, with Liverpool and City considering a cut-price deal.

Arsenal Set To Move For Real Madrid Striker

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is preparing to step up his pursuit for another striker and has set is sights on Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.

On the back of beating Chelsea 5-3 in the Premier League on the weekend Arsenal could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Marseille in the Champions League.

Robin van Persie who scored a hat-trick in the game against Chelsea and has scored 12 goals in all competitions so far this term did not start for the Gunners against Marseille, and it just goes to show the lack of fire power Wenger has available.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Benzema on a number of occasions in the past and it is felt with money to spend and needing a new forward urgently Wenger is planning a £25million bid for the 23-year-old, French international.

So far this season Benzema has made 13 appearances for Real Madrid and has scored seven goals whilst providing five assists.

Manchester United Defender Set For Shock Move To Italian Giants

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is being lined up for a shock move to Italy with Serie A side Inter Milan preparing to make an offer.

According to reports in Russian publication Novosti, Inter Milan is struggling in the bottom half of the league and the clubs president Massimo Moratti, is willing to break the bank to secure the services of Manchester United skipper Vidic.

The Serbian international has been linked with moves to Spanish giants Barcelona and big-spending Russian out Anzhi in the past.

However Vidic face stiff competition for a place in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting line up with the emergence of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Inter president Moratti fears not qualifying for next seasons Champions League and is ready to make an £16million move for the 30-year-old in the January transfer window and can offer the Vidic first-team football at the San Siro.

Chelsea Line Up Move £35m Real Madrid Striker

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is preparing to make a move for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain as a replacement for Dider Drogba.

Drogba's contract with the Stamford Bridge club runs out next summer and the Ivory Coast international is still yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.

It is felt Chelsea is willing to listen to offers for Drogba when the January transfer window opens for business.

According to reports in Spanish publication Sport, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is a huge admirer of Higuain and sees him being the ideal replacement for Drogba.

So far this term the Argentine international has made 15 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions and has scored 10 goals.

The 23-year-old has been earning high praise for his performances at the Bernabeu this season and if Chelsea is to get their man they will have to pay in the region of £35million, as he is under contract with Madrid until 2016.

Arsenal Prepare To Make Move For England U21 Keeper

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to step up his pursuit of a new goalkeeper and has set his sights on Birmingham City's Jack Butland, according to reports in The People.

The England Under-21 international is currently on loan with League Two side Cheltenham Town and has become the first choice keeper at the club this season at just 18-years-old.

Butland's performances haven't gone unnoticed and it is believed a number of Premier League clubs have shown an interest with Manchester City and Arsenal leading the way.

Wojciech Szczesny is the current Gunners No. 1, but it is strongly felt that Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski could leave the Emirates in January in search of more regular first-team action.

It is felt Arsenal is favourites to acquire the services of Butland, and Wenger is planning to make a move for the £1.5million rated keeper in January.

Man Utd Weigh Up Multi-Million Pound Offer For Real Madrid Star

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen on making an approach for Real Madrid attacking Angel di Maria, with the Catalan press suggesting that the Argentinean is enduring a turbulent time in the Spanish capital.

The South American winger has featured 67 times for Real Madrid after being signed for €25 million plus €11 million in incentives from Portuguese club Benfica.

Since arriving at the Santiago Bernaneu, Di Maria has become a key part of Jose Mourinho's attacking front line, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain also featuring.

Whilst Di Maria has only scored 11 times in a Real Madrid shirt, he has contributed 27 assists, underlining his creative potency and importance to Real Madrid's fortunes.

However, tribalfootball.com has reported of Sir Alex Ferguson's interest in the wide midfielder, whom he believes has improved defensively under Mourinho.

Di Maria has become increasingly frustrated by Real Madrid's reluctance to offer him a new deal at the club, after he spoke to Spanish radio station Radio La Red.

"I am now eager for a contract renewal because I was promised that if things went well, I would receive a new deal," Di Maria revealed in the summer.

Ferguson is said to be keen on bolstering his attacking options despite having the likes of Luis Nani and Ashley Young available in wide areas, and Di Maria represents the sort of creative flair Ferguson would be keen on.

According to the Catalan press, Di Maria's position at the Santiago Bernabeu has always been shaky, as the Argentinean wasn't initially a signing that club president Florentino Perez was always enthusiastic about.

FIFA Reveal Ballon d´Or Shortlist

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo have made the 23-man shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award.

Manchester United players Wayne Rooney and Nani have also made the cut alongside the likes of Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero.

The list is dominated by 2010 World Cup winners Spain with seven candidates to win the trophy, while 2011 Copa America holders Uruguay have two players in contention to take home the award.

Meanwhile, three German players still have a chance to win the Ballon d'Or, while Argentina and Brazil will have to settle for two candidates.

Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o is the only African player to have made the cut.

Champions League holders Barcelona are the best represented club team on the list with eight players up for nomination.

The winner of the award will be revealed at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 9, 2012. On December 5, 2011 FIFA and France Football will announce the names of the three men who have received the most votes.

Last year's award was won by Messi ahead of his Barcelona team-mates Iniesta and Xavi.

Full list: Eric Abidal, Karim Benzema (France), Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi (Argentina), Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Xavi (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani (Portugal), Dani Alves, Neymar (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wayne Rooney (England), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

Champions League Group E Preview

Chelsea will be desperate to shrug off a poor couple of weeks when they head to Belgium to face Genk in Champions League Group E action on Tuesday.

Andre Villas-Boas' side looked to be in cruise control after big wins over Swansea, Bolton and Everton in the English Premier League, but in their past two matches they have been beaten 1-0 by Queens Park Rangers before losing 5-3 at home to Arsenal on Saturday.

The QPR result was overshadowed by a race row involving skipper John Terry and Rangers' Anton Ferdinand, brother of Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand.

Villas-Boas will be hoping to put all that behind him when he does battle with Genk, who Chelsea slaughtered 5-0 at Stamford Bridge, inspired by a brace from Fernando Torres, in their most recent Champions League outing.

Chelsea are sitting on top of Group E on seven points, one clear of German side Bayer Leverkusen, with Spaniards Valencia on two points and Genk bottom with just one point.

Chelsea can make sure of their place in the knock-out stages by beating Genk if Valencia cannot claim full points against Leverkusen in Spain in the group's other match, and the Portuguese coach will be imploring his men to go for the jugular.

"The Champions League is a different scenario to the Premiership and this is a good opportunity for us," Villas-Boas said.

"We will put ourselves in a very good position to qualify if we win this."

Valencia therefore need to beat Leverkusen at the Estadio Mestalla to keep their hopes of progression alive, and their cause was boosted by news influential Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack broke his nose in Bundesliga action on Friday.

Ballack scored in the second minute in Leverkusen's 1-0 away win over Freiburg – his first Bundesliga goal since 2006 – but was forced off the field after the hour mark after a clash with Jan Rosenthal.

Valencia will head into the match in good form, winning their past two La Liga games to sit in fourth place in the Spanish league, four points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Champions League Group F Preview

Arsenal will hope to turn their resurgence in domestic fortunes into some strong Champions League form when they host Marseille on Tuesday.

Despite their indifferent English Premier League form over the first two months of the season, Arsenal sit on top of Group F in the Champions League with two wins and a draw, one point clear of Marseille.

Since their 2-1 loss to Spurs on October 2, Arsene Wenger's side have won three league games in succession, culminating in their stunning performance in eclipsing Chelsea 5-3 on Saturday.

The last time they met, a last-gasp winner from Aaron Ramsey lifted Arsenal to a 1-0 triumph over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome, but Marseille – ninth in Ligue 1 – head to London in confident mood after defeating Dijon 3-2 on Saturday.

Wenger will be hoping for more good form from Dutch master Robin van Persie, who has already found the back of the net 10 times this season.

"Robin's form is fantastic," Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said. "It makes our job much easier when he plays like that."

"We're enjoying our football, our run is great now and we're just going to keep on continuing that. Everyone is buzzing at the moment."

Group F's other match sees German champions Borussia Dortmund welcome Greek outfit Olympiakos to the Signal Iduna Park in dire need of a win.

After drawing with Arsenal in their opening match, Dortmund suffered crushing away defeats to Marseille (3-0) and Olympiakos (3-1) to leave them bottom of the group on one point, two behind Olympiakos.

Dortmund is third in the Bundesliga and played out a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart on Saturday, but manager Jurgen Klopp knows his side needs three points.

"We need to play at least as well as we did against Stuttgart," Klopp said.

"Our chances of qualifying are over if we lose."

"We have learned our lessons from the first three games and we know what we have to do to make this group more interesting."

Champions League Group G Preview

Porto will look for a big improvement when they tackle Group G's surprise leaders APOEL Nicosia in Tuesday's Champions League match in Cyprus.

Porto, two-time European champions, may make wholesale changes to their team as they seek to avoid being stunned again by the Cypriots, who they drew 1-1 with at home in their last Champions League match.

APOEL played out a goalless home draw in their domestic league with Anorthosis on Friday.

But APOEL's Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic said he could understand why the team played so poorly with the Porto match and the possibility of a place in the last 16 looming.

APOEL lead the tightly-bunched Group G quartet with five points, one clear of Zenit St Petersburg and Porto and three ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Portuguese champions were booed by their fans after they drew with APOEL earlier this month.

Coach Vitor Pereira said his team had no choice but to go for the three points in Nicosia.

"The APOEL match is fundamental to us. We know that to go over there and win will require a Porto side at its very best level," Pereira said.

"I am sure that in the APOEL match, with a good performance and a good win, the fans will applaud, because they love the club and they love football."

Pereira has not been afraid to make significant changes, having dropped regulars Kleber and Nicolas Otamendi for striker Walter and centre back Eliaquim Mangala.

Mangala, also captain of France's under-21 team, will probably feature against APOEL but Walter cannot be picked because he was not registered to play in the Champions League, a decision that Pereira has publicly regretted.

APOEL are without injured goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis and Brazilian defender William Boaventura while midfielder Marchinho is not 100 percent fit after a lengthy injury absence and is unlikely to feature.

In the group's other match, Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg will seek their 11th successive European home win against Ukraine giants Shakhtar Donetsk.

Goals from midfielder Viktor Faizulin, forward Alexander Bukharov and Serbian winger Danko Lazovic gave Zenit a 3-0 win over Russian league minnows Volga Nizhny in their last match and Zenit sit on top of the table, two points ahead of CSKA Moscow.

Russia striker Alexander Kerzhakov may miss with an ankle injury while attacking midfielder Vladimir Bystrov is an unlikely starter.

Shakhtar, who have a 5-5 win-loss record in their last 10 European away matches, will also be without several first-choice players.

Fullback Dmitry Chygrynskiy has a serious hip injury suffered in the Ukraine Cup match with Dynamo Kiev, while Brazilian midfielders Fernandinho and Jadson are injured.

Champions League Group H Preview

AC Milan and Barcelona can wrap up qualification for the Champions League knockout stages should both sides win on Tuesday.

Italian champions Milan visit Belarusian side BATE Borisov, while Barca are in Prague to meet Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen.

Milan and Barca are top of the Group G standings with seven points each, while BATE and Plzen have just one point apiece meaning in all likelihood they will be fighting among themselves for third place in the group and the resulting Europa League place.

Massimiliano Allegri's men made an indifferent start to their league campaign, but four wins in succession in Serie A have seen them climb to fourth in the league, just two points behind leaders Juventus.

In their most recent match, a brace from Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic lifted them to a 3-2 win over Roma, while Kevin-Prince Boateng is another in sensational form after a hat-trick in 14 minutes helped inspire Milan to come from 3-0 down to defeat Lecce 4-3 on October 23.

Allegri will be sweating on the midfielder's fitness, however, after he picked up a knee knock in the Roma clash, while striker Antonio Cassano has been kept in hospital with a mystery illness.

Milan cruised to a 2-0 win over BATE on October 19 in their last Champions League match, with the goals coming from Ibrahimovic and Boateng.

Barcelona will be confident of victory from their trip to Prague, after strolling to a 5-0 thumping of Real Mallorca in La Liga on Saturday.

Argentine maestro Lionel Messi cracked a hat-trick in half-an-hour against Mallorca, and in their last meeting with Plzen goals from Andres Iniesta and David Villa earned them a 2-0 triumph at the Nou Camp.

Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool Alerted As Hazard Confirms Leaving Lille

Lille midfielder Eden Hazard has alerted a host of Premier League clubs after declaring that he is ready to leave the French champions at the end of the season.

The 20-year-old is on the radar of Real Madrid and big spending French outfit Paris Saint-Germain, while the trio of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea has all shown an interest in the attacking midfielder.

Arsenal attempted to sign the Belgium international over the summer, but Lille decided to turn down the offer and it is now expected that the Gunners will once again come in with an offer.

Hazard is one of the hottest properties in Europe and having gained some experience in the Champions League with Lille is now ready to move away from the Stade Lille-Metropole.

"I am ready to go to the next level at a big club," Hazard told French newspaper L'Equipe. "I won't leave in January. It would be silly to do so. But it's my last season at Lille.

"I stayed with Lille this year because I still had things to work on and prove. But now I'm ready. I feel able to play in another country."

Both PSG and Real Madrid have been linked with Hazard and are reportedly ready to bid in the region of £35million, however, the midfielder has declared that Paris is not an option.

"Paris is not for now," he added. "Paris is magical, as they say. Of course it attracts me. But for now, no, I will not go there. I do not want to go to a rival of Lille's in France. It would be inconsistent. The fans would not understand."

Manchester United Scout Newcastle Midfielder

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on Newcastle's playmaker midfielder Yohan Cabaye and will consider making a move at the end of the season.

Cabaye, who was signed by the Magpies in the summer for £4.5m, is proving to be one of the players of the season and has been instrumental in Newcastle's bright start to the league.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly desperate to improve his midfield options and according to The People, has set his sights on Cabaye.

It is thought Ferguson will have the 25-year-old scouted and will continue to keep tabs on him. If he continues to impress, the United boss will reportedly make an official offer at the end of the season.

Despite proving to be an essential part of their team, Newcastle will surely have to reluctantly accept a big offer for Cabaye were one to arrive.

It is thought a bid of around £17m would tempt the St James' Park club into allowing United to hold talks with the talismanic midfielder.

Liverpool Face Competition In Race To Sign Croatian International

Premier League clubs have been in touch about the availability of Liverpool target Dejan Lovren, according to his agent.

The 22-year-old defender has become one of the most highly rated centre-backs in Ligue 1 since joining Lyon in January 2010.

And his performances have alerted Italian duo AC Milan and Juventus but reports in France have also linked Liverpool with a move for the Croatia international.

And his agent Nikky Vuksan has now revealed that clubs from England have made contact about a possible January move for his client.

Vuksan said: "Many top clubs in England have spoken to us in recent weeks and also [clubs] in Italy.

"Lyon know that and I think the leaders should think about it if they finally receive a good offer."

Tottenham Keen On Signing Celtic Winger

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is monitoring the progress of Celtic winger James Forrest but insists he is a long way off making any move for the star.

Spurs chief scout Ian Broomfield watched the 20-year-old as Celtic was held to a 0-0 draw by Hibernian on Saturday.

Forrest, who netted two impressive goals against Hibs in the Scottish Communities League Cup three days earlier, hit the bar from long range and was exempted from criticism of his team by Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Redknapp confirmed his interest but played down reports he was poised to launch a January offer for the Scotland international, who has scored 10 goals in 44 first-team appearances.

“We have had good reports of what is obviously a good player,” Redknapp told BBC Scotland. ”But he belongs to Celtic and that’s as far as it’s gone.

“It is just about having reports on people, you put them on the file and you keep looking.

“We haven’t gone any further. If we were to go any further, I would phone Neil and have a chat with him about the boy.

“It was just that Ian decided to have a look at him, but it was the first report on him really.

“Ian says he’s a talent. I haven’t seen the boy play.

“I have seen him on TV and bits and pieces, but I would want to see him in a couple of games if I was ever going to do anything.”

Bolton Line Up January Double Swoop For Liverpool Starlets

Bolton Wanderers are hoping to take Liverpool duo Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan on-loan in the January transfer window.

Manager Owen Coyle is desperate for new recruits to salvage his team’s season after two wins all season has left his side second bottom.

Winger Sterling, 16, is one of the most highly-rated teenagers in England and Coyle insists he can help the teenager’s development in the same way he has done for Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge.

The England U17 international is yet to make his first-team debut and following the Reds summer recruitment drive is unlikely to feature this season.

Defender Flanagan, 18, has made nine appearances for the Reds so far but as Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly are now fit his chances of any action is greatly reduced.

Coyle is in need of a right-back with major doubts arising over Paul Robinson and the injury to Tyrone Mears.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is willing to let the youngsters go on-loan to give them first-team experience but this may change by the new year depending on injury and form of his current regulars.

Chelsea Eye £25m Spurs Striker Target

Chelsea are chasing £25 million rated striker Fernando Llorente, according to ClubCall, with Tottenham also interested in bringing the star to White Hart Lane next January.

Llorente has starred for Athletic Bilbao since the 26-year-old signed to the club in 2005. After scoring 69 goals in 213 appearances for the Spanish side, he is now reportedly considering a move abroad.

Chelsea and Tottenham are both said to be showing interest. While Chelsea are hoping to bring in a replacement for Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, who are both considering exits from the club, Tottenham want to bolster their forward line even further after the successful signing of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Llorente’s current form is making Chelsea even more desperate to sign the Spain international, scoring seven times in La LIga so far this season and keeping a consistently physical presence on the pitch.

The Blues will no doubt be hoping that their ability to offer higher wages than Tottenham, as well as Champions League football, will sway Llorente towards Stamford Bridge.

Fenerbahce Ponder Move For Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Kiessling

Turkish champions Fenerbahce are considering making a move for Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling, according to Milliyet.

With Henri Bienvenu and Semih Senturk both misfiring, Fenerbahce coach Aykut Kocaman is looking to boost his attacking options and may turn to Kiessling in January.

It is believed that a €9 million offer would be enough to persuade Bayer Leverkusen to part with the 27-year-old, who is under contract at the Bundesliga club until 2015.

Despite their problems in the final third, Fenerbahce sit on top of the Super Lig, one point clear of local rivals Galatasaray.

Man United Plan To Hijack Chelsea’s Move To Sign Young Assist Making Machine

Sir Alex Ferguson is considering making a move for Chelsea target Kevin De Bruyne after glowing reports from his scouts sent to run the rule over the Racing Genk youngster.

Andre Villas-Boas has been heavily linked with a possible move for the Belgian international who came up against the Blues in Champions League action earlier this month. The 20 year old is considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe and now Man United has entered the race to sign the attacking midfielder.

Last term was something of a breakthrough for the quick thinking youngster as he laid on 16 assists to help his side to their first domestic title success in almost a decade and has followed up that success with an excellent start to the current campaign during which he has begun to become more effective in front of goal, netting an impressive hat-trick at Club Brugge this weekend.

Man United have successfully brought in a number of youngsters from abroad and the UK to help as Ferguson plans for the future, indeed the policy appears to be an attempt to be more cost effective as the Old Trafford side looks to bring in youthful additions to complement those coming through the academy system.

Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez, David de Gea and Phil Jones have been purchased over the past 18 months and now Ferguson’s scouts have alerted the Scot to De Bruyne which may well spark a bidding war for the £10m rated starlet.

Arsenal Look To Tempt Ajax With Cash Plus Player Offer For Vertonghen

Having seen his side concede goals at alarming rate Arsene Wenger has decided to re-affirm his interest in Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen by making an offer in the region of £10m the long term Gunners target. As was the cash offer the Arsenal boss will offer Frank De Boer his choice of a number of squad players he is willing to use as a makeweight in order to land the 24 year old Belgian international.

Among those thought to be available for such a swap deal include striker Marouane Chamakh and centre back Sebastien Squillaci, both of whom have struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Arsenal have conceded 21 goals in 10 Premier League matches leaving Wenger to worry about his sides ability to clinch a crucial top four finish. German international Per Mertesacker was brought in to beef up defensive options but continuing injury concerns over Thomas Vermaelen has still left the North London club looking very weak at the back.

Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou have both struggled to put a run of form together when called upon which has led to Arsene Wenger wanting to bring in another option at the back.

Vertonghen was handed the Ajax captaincy over the summer when Maarten Stekelenburg left for Roma, it was thought that was as much a decision to appease the consistent defender as much as it was about finding an able replacement to the Dutch international keeper.

Wenger will hope to tempt the Ajax man to leave the club he has represented since the age of 16 and even though Vertonghen will be cup tied with regards to Champions League football the urgency to secure at the very least a top four spot will lead to the Arsenal manager making a significant offer for the defender in January.

Chelsea Considering Making Another Bid For Modric In January

Chelsea is considering making another attempt to sign Croatian and Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric when the transfer window reopens in January.

Chelsea who lost 3 – 5 to Arsenal yesterday made several attempts to sign Modric over the summer, but manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to make a renewed effort to sign the Croatian playmaker in January.

The news that Chelsea will once again be courting their star player will be disconcerting to Tottenham fans.

Villas-Boas is likely to make an offer nearing the British record transfer fee Chelsea themselves paid Liverpool for Fernando Torres back in January, to force Tottenham’s arm and relent on their resolve to keep Modric at White Hart Lane.

Only two weeks ago Harry Redknapp the Tottenham manager said that Modric would have been sold in the summer if he had become a disruptive influence as a result of the speculation concerning his future.

Well it now seems that come January, Redknapp and Tottenham could have an anxious 30 days to see if the latest interest from Chelsea turns the 26 year old’s head.

Manchester United Plan £23m Bid For Former Liverpool Hero

Manchester United will make a £23million bid for Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano as the Red Devils try to address their midfield problems.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is worried about the lack of protection his backline is getting and wants the 27-year-old to give his side more bite.

The Argentina international has a contract at the Nou Camp until 2014 but is frustrated about being played in defence and wants a return to his favoured position.

It is unclear whether he would welcome a move to Old Trafford having spent three years at rivals Liverpool.

Anfield fans were unhappy to see Mascherano go but he still holds the club dear to his heart and dedicated Barcelona’s Champions League win over United to the Reds.

“I know the Liverpool supporters were a little bit sad with me after my exit, this is for them as well,” Mascherano said.

Ferguson tried to sign Mascherano before he moved to Liverpool but was put off by the third-party ownership agreement.

With that now cleared up, the United manager will make his move after losing patience with Michael Carrick and Anderson following the 6-1 defeat by Man City.

Arsenal Prepare To Swoop For England Intetnational Wing Wizard

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be keeping a close eye on the situation unveiling at Manchester City with regards to winger Adam Johnson.

According to reports in the Daily Star, Johnson and Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini were involved in a bust up after the 5-2 win over Wolves in the Carling Cup.

Mancini made critical comments about Johnson after the game, despite the England international scoring a stunning goal and producing a Man of the Match display.

It is not the first time the pair has clashed, last season Mancini told the 24-year-old to improve his attitude off the field and his all round game needs to improve if he wants to fulfill his potential.

During the course of the summer transfer window Johnson was linked with a move to Premier League rivals and it is felt Gunners boss Wenger could make a move for the City winger in January.

Theo Walcott has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona of late and Wenger sees Johnson being an ideal replacement and are believed to be preparing a bid of around £12million.

Chelsea Prepare To Make £35m Move For Drogba Replacement

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is preparing to make a move for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani as a replacement for Didier Droga, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.

It is felt by many at Stamford Bridge that this is Drogba's last season at the club, and some feel he may even be sold in the January transfer window.

However Chelsea have already set there sights on Drogba's replacement and Mick Doherty, Blues' European scout has made a number of trips over to Italy this season to watch Cavani in action.

Villas-Boas would have been impressed with the scouting reports as so far this term the Uruguayan international has already netted five goals in six games including one against Manchester City in the Champions League and a hat-trick against AC Milan.

Reports in Italy suggest Napoli rejected a number of offers from Manchester City for Cavani during the summer.

Last season Cavani scored 26 goals to help Napoli qualify for the Champions League and he is playing a key role once again this term as his goals have helped the side to fourth in Serie A.

However it is believed an offer of around £35million could be enough to acquire the services of the 24-year-old and Chelsea are ready to make a move in January.