Chelsea Favourites To Sign £40m Brazil Star

Chelsea is in pole position to sign Santos starlet Neymar are hoping to sign the striker when the January transfer window reopens.

The Blues now appear favourites to clinch the signature of the Brazil international after Santos suffered a breakdown in relations with interested parties Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Santos president Luis Ribeiro angrily denied claims that Neymar was on the verge of agreeing a pre-contract agreement with Real, while he is also accused Barcelona of delaying tactics.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is now ready to take advantage of the situation and meet the teenagers £40m buyout clause the West London club held preliminary talks with the Brazil side in August.

But Ribiero has said Neymar is close to agreeing a new deal, however, this could be a tactic to get reported suitors to firm up their interest.

"He is closer to a contract extension than to a move abroad," said Ribeiro.

"He will sign a new contract. He has a very good salary at Santos and we're confident that he will stay in Brazil.

"We expect him to sign shortly. We are working hard on this and expect news in the near future."

He added: "Neymar hasn't signed anything with another club as that would be illegal.

"He has an ongoing contract with us and I'm sure that [Real Madrid president] Florentino Perez wouldn't do anything like this as he knows the potential consequences.

"We will not hesitate to report them to FIFA if there's proof that there's a pre-contract, but I don't think we have to go that far, because there's no signed pre-agreement."

Manchester City Eye Swoop For Germany International

Manchester City is considering a move for unsettled Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese.

The German international has admitted he would like to play in a foreign league when his contract expires next year with the German league club.

City signed Costel Pantilimon from FC Timisoara for an undisclosed fee in the summer, but Roberto Mancini is keen on recruiting another 'keeper to aid City's bid to challenge on all fronts this season.

Weise, who has made five appearances for Germany, is out of contract with Bremen after next June's Euro 2012 tournament to be hosted by Poland and the Ukraine with the final being held in Kiev on July 1.

The 29-year-old is seeking a contract extension at Werder or a main move abroad, with the Citizens mulling over a cut-price £1m bid for his services in January.

"Next year, I will be on a free transfer and so there are lots of possibilities," Wiese told German magazine Kicker.

"I'm only 29 years old and another league would appeal to me if things don't work out at Werder."

Werder are currently second in the Bundesliga having won four of their first five games and Wiese says things are going well in Bremen after last season's flirt with relegation.

"Things are going well because we are successful and having fun," he said.

"We are playing football together again, it's as simple as that."

Juventus Ponder Move For Benfica's Joan Capdevila

Juventus are weighing up the merits of a winter bid for Benfica's out-of-favour left-back Joan Capdevila, Tuttosport claims.

The current Serie A leaders are understood to be scouring the market for a left-sided defender after shipping Reto Ziegler out to Fenerbahce on loan.

Capdevila has grown unsettled at his lack of playing time after joining Benfica in the summer on a free transfer from Villarreal.

The 33-year-old has not been included in Benfica's 25-man squad for the Champions League, with coach Jorge Jesus making no secret the Spaniard falls behind Emerson in the pecking order.

Juventus are reportedly monitoring Capdevila's situation very closely and could soon engage in talks with Benfica with a view to signing the World Cup winner for the second half of the season.

Chelsea Set To Join Manchester City In Sergio Busquets Race

Chelsea is being linked with a big-money transfer battle with Manchester City over Spanish international midfielder Sergio Busquets.

The Barcelona star is reportedly set to become the subject of a bidding war between the two Barclays Premier League clubs, with the Etihad Stadium outfit first linked with a £35 million move for the player earlier in the week.

Reports in France now claim Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is prepared to rival Roberto Mancini when the transfer window re-opens in January, should the La Liga giants be willing to sell the 23-year-old.

With concerns over the long-term fitness of Ghanaian international defensive midfielder Michael Essien, Chelsea is reportedly weighing up their options with regards to cover in the position.

Busquets has rapidly risen through the ranks at the Nou Camp to become regarded as one of the world's best in his position, making an impact at both domestic and international level since making his first team debut for the Catalan outfit in 2008.

The Spaniard would also add youth to an ageing squad at Stamford Bridge, whilst joining a growing crop of compatriots at Chelsea with Fernando Torres and Juan Mata already in the ranks.

Manchester United Eyes Double Samba Swoop

Manchester United are rumoured to be keeping tabs on Brazil's latest twin talents Alex and Andre Santos reports talkSPORT.

The pair, who recently signed four-year deals with Eredivisie outfit Vitesse, are yet to appear for the first-team, but are tipped for bright futures having emerged from South America with big reputations.

Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a known admirer of young, up-and-coming talent from that part of the world, having snapped up teenage twins Rafael and Fabio Da Silva from Fluminese three years ago.

And history could be about to repeat itself, as Fergie deploys his team of Manchester United scouts to run the rule over the promising duo, with a view to bringing the 19-year-old siblings to Old Trafford.

The Santos brothers will be monitored closely, to see how they are progressing in Holland, before the Barclays Premier League champions make a decision - based very much on the future of Manchester United football club - as to whether or not they could have a future with the Reds.

Sources in Brazil have indicated that United's track record with the success of the Da Silva twins means the Santos brothers are well-placed as they look to realize their dream.

Bayern Munich Plot January Raid For Chelsea Star

Bayern Munich is set to make a move for Chelsea winger Florent Malouda when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Germany's leading sports magazine Kicker is reporting that Bayern Munich are showing a big interest in the French international and are hoping to finalize a deal to bring him to the club in the new year.

Malouda was linked with a switch away from Stamford Bridge during the summer following the arrival of Juan Mata, but the move never materialized.

AC Milan and Juventus have also been linked with the 31-year-old, but Bayern Munich is confident they can win the race to clinch his signature.

Malaga Keen On Real Madrid's Esteban Granero

Malaga is looking to sign Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero, news daily AS claims.

The 24-year-old has only appeared as a late substitute so that this season, in the capital side's 4-2 La Liga victory against Getafe.

Granero has reportedly grown unhappy at his lack of playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu and is currently assessing his options.

And a move to Malaga appears to be Granero's liking as it would spell a reunion with coach Manuel Pellegrini, under whom he enjoyed his most successful period at Real Madrid.

The Chilean boss is reportedly interested in adding to his central midfield, an area in which Malaga are short of numbers.

It is believed Madrid would not stand in the way of a transfer for Granero, who re-signed for the Copa del Rey holders in the summer of 2009 after two seasons at Getafe.

David Beckham Wanted By Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has revealed he would like to bring David Beckham to the club.

During the LA Galaxy midfielder's loan spells in Italy with AC Milan, Beckham was managed by the Brazilian.

Asked if the Qatari-owned club would consider signing the 36-year-old former England captain, Leonardo told the BBC: "The door is open.

"He is more than a football player - he's a brand, a pop star. I would always consider him."

PSG, who last won the French league title in 1994, were Europe's second biggest spenders in the summer transfer window, with an outlay of £75.6m - just £3m less than Manchester City.

Leonardo was hired by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) to revamp the Ligue 1 club and in just two months the former AC Milan and Inter coach has used his extensive contacts to reshape the PSG squad.

Half of that £75.6m was used to buy Argentine star Javier Pastore, who credited Leonardo with persuading him to join the club.

PSG spent six times more than French champions Lille, who brought in Liverpool's Joe Cole on loan.

Asked if he would like to follow suit and sign any English players, Leonardo said: "Why not? I have an English player who I really like and I worked with him.

"It's someone that I really appreciate and admire so much - his values and everything he has done in football. It's David Beckham - a big brand of English football.

"I coached him in AC Milan and we created a good relationship. He is more than a football player, but when you see him every day he trains and plays like a kid.

"He respects the rules, listens to you and wants the best for the team. That's why for me he is a big example. I worked with him and that's why I talk about his name."

Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy runs out at the end of the Major League Soccer season, but he has already been linked with Premier League clubs Spurs and QPR and he is keen to be a member of the Great Britain squad at the London Olympics next summer.

As well as the recruitment of players, Leonardo spoke about the importance of creating a new brand for PSG to enable them to compete with Europe's top clubs in the Champions League.

"We have the Eiffel Tower in our club badge - we have to use that - it's not only French, but a worldwide brand," said Leonardo.

Former LA Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas has talked of the "incredible" impact Beckham's arrival in the United States in 2007 had on the MLS club in boosting shirt sales, sponsorship and appearance fees, as well as helping to make the Galaxy brand "international".

Established in 2005 by the son of the Emir and heir to the Qatari throne - Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani - QSI has a five-year plan to turn the sleeping Parisian giants into a major European powerhouse. The club finished fourth in last season's Ligue 1 and qualified for the Europa League.

During the transfer window, PSG also tried to sign Dimitar Berbatov, Adel Taarabt, Samir Nasri and Brazilians Ganso and Neymar.

Qatar is attempting to build on its controversial success in winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup.

The Qatar Foundation last year signed a £126m sponsorship deal with Barcelona - a first for the Spanish champions and Champions League winners - while another member of the Qatari ruling family bought Spanish club Malaga last year.