Manchester City Keeping Tabs On Arsenal Star

Manchester City will make an incredible £30m bid for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie if contract talks between the Dutchman and the Gunners do not progress before the January transfer window.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Van Persie is deeply disillusioned over the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to City.

He signed a new contract with Arsenal in 2009 despite Juventus, Internazionale and Chelsea all engaging in talks.

If he elects to follow his former team-mates out of the club, it will add to the growing concern for Arsene Wenger's side, who have made their worst start to a League season for 58 years.

Van Persie, along with several other key players, has a contract which ends in 2013 and the Gunners will need to act with conviction if they want to fend off clubs who think the whole squad is potentially available.

On Saturday, Wenger highlighted Van Persie's importance to the team after two more goals took him to 100 for Arsenal and helped secure only their second league win of the season.

“He has grown well into the captain's role” said Wenger. “He is a man who speaks his mind and is doing the job well”

But the departure of so many key players and the inability of Arsenal to keep pace with Manchester United and City, will inevitably influence Van Persie’s decision.

Italian clubs Juventus and Inter Milan are also reportedly monitoring the situation and could line up offers in the January transfer window.

Chelsea Prepare £20m Move For Italian Star Midfielder

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will have been put on red alert after the latest comments to come from Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo, according to reports on Goal.com.

The Italian international during the course of the summer transfer window had been linked with moves to Inter Milan, Lazio and Cagilari, it is also believed Chelsea made an offer for Parolo on transfer deadline day but nothing materialized.

Speaking about his desire to play in the Premier League, the 26-year-old said: "I am not your traditional Italian midfielder as I have a lot of different characteristics than others. I really admire Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. The Premier League and the Bundesliga are leagues where they play a type of football that's very similar to my style.

"Chelsea is a very big club and I still have plenty of progress to make before I'm ready for a team like them. Let's not get carried away and take one step at a time. I'm feeling very well at Cesena for now and want to repay them for the faith they've shown in me."

Ander Herrera Targeted By Spurs

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera will cost Spurs more than £15million if they decide to follow up their interest with a bid when the January transfer window opens.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy are busy trying to identify targets who could strengthen the club's push for a top-four finish after the turn of the year.

One player they are considering is Herrera, who was part of the Spain team that won this summer's Under-21s European Championship.

Athletic Bilbao is willing to consider selling, but have indicated they are only prepared to listen to offers in excess of £15million for the 22-year-old, reports the People.

Tottenham's scouts face a wait to see the former Zaragoza star in action again as they try to decide whether he is worth the asking price, as he is facing a month on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Redknapp's priority for the January transfer window remains a new striker, with Internacional's Leandro Damiao and Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo his top targets.

Arsenal Plan Audacious Bid To Sign Tottenham Star

Arsenal is reportedly considering launching an astonishing bid to sign Tottenham playmaker Rafael Van Der Vaart. Arsene Wenger is thought to be a big admirer of the Dutch international and persuade the midfielder to make a controversial move across North London.

Many sources have stated in recent weeks that the 28 year old is unsettled at White Hart Lane and this has led to speculation that Van der Vaart could leave Tottenham with a number of club’s said to be very interested in signing the former Ajax, Hamburg and Real Madrid man with the likes of AC Milan and Juventus also said to be keen on the talented goal scoring midfielder.

Van der Vaart had an excellent first season in the Premier League, notching up 15 goals in all competitions following his surprise £8m move from the Bernabeu to Tottenham but he is said to now be considering his options having seen his side fail to retain their spot in the top four whilst also failing to make significant additions in the summer.

Wenger is looking for further creative additions to his midfield following the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Man City respectively and is thought to be weighing up an offer in the region of £16m for the Spurs man, an offer that may well be rejected by Redknapp but could lead to Rafael Van Der Vaart being tempted to move to Arsenal.

Van der Vaart netted three goals in the two North London derbies last term and knows all to well just how such a move would go down with Tottenham fans but if by January he feels that his side is no nearer to breaking back into the top four and with Luka Modric having previously made it clear he wanted a move to Chelsea, then perhaps a move to Arsenal is not totally implausible.

Indeed such a move could of course depend on whether Wenger can push his side back up the table after a poor start to the season but given that Arsenal have consistently qualified for Champions League football one would imagine that they should begin to restore the position among the front runners before too long.

Wenger had been strongly linked with a move to sign Van der Vaart during his tempestuous spell in Spain and indeed fellow Dutch international Robin Van Persie had personally pleaded with his boss to sign the midfielder and perhaps a deal could still become a reality.

Manchester United Keen On Aston Villa Youngster Barry Bannan

Sir Alex Ferguson is monitoring the progress of pint sized Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan with a view to a possible move for the determined youngster. The Man United boss has been impressed by the Scottish international’s performances this term and has assigned scouts to keep an eye on the 21 year old in the coming months.

Ferguson has adopted a policy of bringing in young talent to merge with those coming through Man United’s own academy system to help produce a new generation of players he will hope can help continue the club’s domestic dominance and help make the transition from his old guard to a new era as seamless as possible.

Over the past 18 months the Premier League champions have signed the likes of Javier Hernandez, David de Gea, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones and now the wily Scot has his eye on Aidrie born Bannan who moved to Villa Park as a 14 year old from Celtic.

After a couple of seasons plying his trade on loan at Derby County, Blackpool and Leeds United, Bannan has benefited from the appointment of Alex McLeish as Aston Villa boss with the former Rangers and Birmingham City boss showing faith in the fiery youngster this season.

Ferguson may feel he could do with the addition of the adaptable midfielder, not least as he could add further strength in depth and because a number of Man United’s options across the midfield are getting on in years. Michael Carrick, Ji Sung-Park and Ryan Giggs are all 30 years and over and it is believed that Darron Gibson is likely to leave Old Trafford in January.

Mancini Targets £50m Brazilian Superstar

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini wants his club to derail Real Madrid’s signing of Santos striker Neymar, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Brazilian superstar is expected to cost in the region of £50m and Mancini has been telling City's management for the past 12 months that Neymar is the best young player in the world.

He has reportedly told the club if they are serious about competing with the likes of Madrid and Barcelona, they must use their financial muscle to attract elite players of his calibre.

City’s coach and Mancini confidante Attilio Lombardo, has been to South America on a scouting mission to scope out the best young talent on the continent. He has reported back that Neymar could be as important to City as Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

Recently departed City Chief executive Garry Cook had well known differences of opinion with Mancini over targets and it remains to be seen if Mancini’s views carry more weight these days.

Anzhi Makhachkala Set Sights On Inter's Maicon

Anzhi Makhachkala is weighing up the merits of a move for Inter right-back Maicon, Itasportpress suggests.

The Russian outfit is keen to add to their resources as they look to establish themselves as a household name in the country.

After spending a reported €28 million to prize striker Samuel Eto'o away from Inter in the summer, Anzhi have reportedly made Maicon their top priority for the winter transfer window.

The Brazil international was strongly linked with a switch to Real Madrid in the last two summers, but a move always failed to materialize, as Inter held firm over their valuation of the player.

At Anzhi, Maicon would have the chance to play alongside fellow countrymen Roberto Carlos, Joao Carlos, Jucilei and Diego Tardelli.

Itasportpress claims that Maicon, who has a contract with Inter until the summer of 2013, would be allowed to leave the San Siro outfit for €15m.

Barcelona Will Not Sign Replacement For Injured Ibrahim Afellay

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has ruled out the possibility of signing a substitute for Ibrahim Afellay in the winter transfer window.

The Netherlands international is due to spend approximately the next six months on the sidelines after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Thursday's training.

With Afellay expected to feature only in the last two months of the campaign, it has been suggested that Barcelona could bring in a January replacement for the 25-year-old.

However, Zubizarreta has knocked down that scenario, telling Barca TV: "Afellay's injury is not good news, but it is clear that the solution is in our squad and in our youth ranks.

"We are not considering signing a new player. The club doctors will analyze the case and decide his recovery time. "

The 25-year-old, who joined Barcelona from PSV in January, has made two appearances for the club this season, both as a substitute.

Valencia To Bid For Fenerbahce's Gokhan Gonul

Valencia are reportedly interested in Fenerbahce defender Gokhan Gonul, with the Spanish club set to make a €8 million bid for him come January, according to Fanatik.

The Turkey international right back has been a mainstay in the Turkish champions' first team since 2007, and has made 24 appearances for his nation.

The 26-year-old is thought to be unimpressed with the match-fixing scandal in the country, and would be keen to turn out for one of La Liga's top teams.

The report indicates that Mehmet Topal, who currently plays for Unai Emery's side, has recommended his countryman.

The eastern coast team is thought to be preparing a €8 million for him, with a move to occur when the transfer window opens in the new year.

Valencia's current right-back, Miguel, is seen by some as unconvincing, so investment in the position may be a target for Emery.

Roma Target January Move For Vagner Love

Roma are weighing up signing CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love in the winter transfer window, calciomercato reports.

The Brazilian attacker has repeatedly spoken of being unsettled at the club, where he arrived from Palmeiras in 2004.

Flamengo and Porto both tabled summer bids for Vagner Love, but both clubs failed to land the player as CSKA Moscow stood firm over their asking price.

On Saturday, the president of the Russian outfit, Yevgeny Giner, admitted the Brazilian's time at the Luzhniki Stadium is coming to an end, prompting suggestions he could switch clubs in January.

Roma, who have so far struggled to make an impression this season, are understood to be keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old's situation.

The Italian capital club bolstered their attacking department in the summer with Pablo Osvaldo and Bojan Krkic, but reports suggest Luis Enrique is looking for one more striker to be able to mount a serious challenge for the top league places.