Ranieri Set For Inter

Claudio Ranieri appears set to be appointed as the new manager of Inter Milan and is understood to be negotiating the final details of his contract.

The former Chelsea, Valencia, Juventus and Roma boss has emerged as the leading candidate after Gian Piero Gasperini was sacked just three matches into the new Serie A season.

England boss Fabio Capello was also linked with Inter, but the Football Association is understood to be confident he is intent on remaining in his job until after Euro 2012.

Ranieri, who left Roma in February, and his agent were said to be meeting with Inter officials on Wednesday evening and were holding discussions over the length of the Italian's contract.

Media in Milan have speculated the 59-year-old is on the brink of signing a one-year deal with the option for an additional 12 months.

Inter president Massimo Moratti decided it was time for a change after Gasperini's side lost 3-1 at newly-promoted Novara on Tuesday night - their fourth defeat in five games.

The Italian giants are as a result in the process of appointing their fourth coach since Jose Mourinho walked away from the club on the back of an historic Treble in 2010.

Rafa Benitez, Leonardo and now Gasperini have all come and gone, with all three failing to replicate the success enjoyed by Mourinho.

Chelsea & Tottenham Fight To Sign Spain International

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are believed to be mulling over a surprise transfer move for SL Benfica left back Joan Capdevila.

The Spain international has been unable to settle at the Portuguese club, and Benfica manager Jorge Jesus did not even include him in his squad for the UEFA Champions League.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is thought to be concerned at his lack of cover at left back, as Danny Rose has not proven particularly effective when Benoit Assou Ekotto is unavailable.

Similarly, Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas is well known to be in the market for a left wing back to offer Ashley Cole some competition, with understandable reluctance to throw Ryan Bertrand in before he is ready.

Villas Boas bid for Alvaro Pereira in the summer, but Chelsea's offer was rejected by Porto.

Now both Tottenham and Chelsea may return for Capdevila, who as outlined above is not cup-tied for European competition, and despite being a European Championships and World Cup winner in the last three years, could be available for a bargain price.

"There is interest from some clubs," Capdevila's agent Horacio Gaggioli said on Radio Renascena.

"But I need to speak with Benfica and I will attend a meeting in Lisbon this week."

Liverpool Close To Agreeing AC Milan Midfielder Deal

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani looks closer than ever to concluding his spell on Merseyside with a permanent transfer to AC Milan in the offing.

The Italy international star has spent the last two campaigns on loan in his home country - last season at Juventus, this one in Milan.

Should he make 25 appearances for the Scudetto winners this season, it would make his purchase mandatory, with a fee pre-agreed between the two teams.

Having started the first two Serie A matches of the season for AC Milan, Aquilani appears to be in the Rossoneri first choice XI.

Barring injuries and suspensions, he is expected to comfortably reach the 25 appearances needed to force through the transfer, with his agent Franco Zavaglia optimistic.

"I really hope hell play many more and theres a good chance that will happen," said Zavaglia to ItaSportPress.it.

"Last season at Juventus he notched up quite a few games despite the fact he couldn’t play in the Europa League as had already featured with Liverpool.

"We will see. There are some pre-agreed conditions with Milan and we hope his future is here."

Arsenal & Manchester United In Transfer Battle For Prolific Midfielder

Arsenal and Manchester United could move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa in January.

The midfielder proved himself not only as a playmaker for Borussia Dortmund last season - but also as a goalscorer.

In 28 games last season for Dortmund, Kagawa scored 12 goals, making him of immense assistance to the team's strikers.

Injury prevented him from taking part in the title run-in, but Borussia Dortmund did eventually win the Bundesliga - and Kagawa was recognized for his contribution, winning a place in the best XI of the German season by Kicker magazine.

"Kagawa is a very mobile player, he is very clever, very creative and is very quick in the box and that is why he is a proven goal-scorer," said Arsene Wenger last week.

Sir Alex Ferguson meanwhile is also looking for an improved threat from midfield, with only Nani providing a regular goal threat behind the strikers.

Tottenham Consider £13m Offer For Striker

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko could be tempted by a return to Russia in January, with Lokomotiv Moscow prepared to make a bid.

According to Inside Futbol, the Russian side is keen on acquiring the frontman’s services and is ready to make a £13m bid when the transfer window reopens.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp may find such a sizeable offer too good to turn down and could reinvest any fee received into strengthening his squad in the New Year.

The former Spartak Moscow man has been long linked with a return to his homeland and Lokomotiv are the latest club to have shown an interest in clinching his signature.

Pavlyuchenko has remained eager to make his mark at White Lane but, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe impressing upfront, his chances of staking a claim in the side look slim.

With nearly four years of English football under his belt, the forward may now be ready to take up a lucrative deal with Lokomotiv.

Chelsea Eye Swoop For Classy Brazil Defender

Chelsea is leading the chase for Sao Paulo’s highly-rated defender Bruno Uvini.

The 20-year-old captained Brazil's Under-20s to World Cup triumph in Colombia last month, where a number of top European clubs, including Chelsea, sent scouts to keep tabs on his performances.

Blues boss Andre Villas received glowing reports on the classy centre-back and is now hoping to land the youngster in January having just missed out on securing a deal for him in the summer.

Chelsea was unable to agree a fee with Sao Paulo but is now prepared to meet the £8m asking price when the transfer window reopens in New Year.

The West London club allows him to remain on loan with the Brazilian side for the duration of the season before linking up with his new teammates in the summer.

AC Milan Target Van Der Vaart

AC Milan is weighing up a move for Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart.

The Dutchman looked like one of the signings of last season after some impressive early displays, having joined hours before the 2010 summer transfer window shut.

But his form tailed off towards the second half of the season, while questions have been asked about the balance of Harry Redknapp's side when van der Vaart plays.

The manager usually chooses to employ the 28-year-old just behind the lone frontman in a 4-4-1-1 but, following the summer arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor, Redknapp appear keen to play a front two including Jermain Defoe and the Togo international.

And now sources in Italy have claimed that AC Milan is considering a move for van der Vaart in January.

The Serie A side are aware that he may be open to a move if his first-team place cannot be assured, while they would be willing to pay Spurs around £12m for his services, which would represent a sizeable profit on the £8m they paid Real Madrid last year.