Arsenal Expected To Complete Deal For Real Madrid Wonderkid

Arsenal are close to completing a deal for Real Madrid youngster Jose Rodriguez with the Daily Mail even suggesting that the 16-year-old has already been to London to check on the clubs facilities.

Rodriguez was brought to the attention of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger by the clubs chief scout in Spain Francisco Cagigao who suggested the club attempt to lure the midfielder away from Real Madrid.

Wenger has already brought Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin to Arsenal from Barcelona over the summer while central defender Ignasi Miquel is a regular for the Spain Under 19's.

Now Arsenal plan to bring Rodriguez to the club and are hoping to convince the Spain Under-17 star to choose north London, despite interest from a number of Spanish clubs.

The player has reportedly been to the capital to check on Arsenal's training ground and has also spoken to Cesc Fabregas who has advised him to make the move to the Premier League.

During his time in England, Rodriguez was offered a deal with the Gunners and was also told that he would have the opportunity to play first team football within two seasons.

Madrid cannot offer the player a professional contract until he turns 17, but have already become destined to the fact that he looks likely to choose a move to Arsenal.

Tottenham Tempted By Aston Villa’s High Flyer

Tottenham Hotspur is keeping tabs on Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and are tempted to make an offer in January.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is looking to sign a permanent hit-man but has been left frustrated as he is constantly being priced out of the market.

He has long been impressed by Agbonlahor, who has made an excellent start to the season scoring four goals in seven games.

The 25-year-old has struggled with injury last season but seems to have shaken off the niggles.

He has lost his place in the England squad, but wants it back, and knows a move to an elite club with European football on offer will help.

But Tottenham’s attempts to steal him away from Villa Park could be ended by the Midlands’ side valuation of £20million.

Agbonlahor has four years left on his contract and Villa would not want to lose another star so soon after losing Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.

Nevertheless Redknapp will test their resolve with a bid in January but will have more of a chance at the end of the season.

Chelsea Line Up Move For South American Defender

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is looking to step up his pursuit of a defender and is keeping tabs on Atletico Madrid's Diego Godwin.

According to reports in The Sun, Chelsea will raise the money for Godwin by selling Brazilian defender Alex.

Both Tottenham and Arsenal have shown an interest in signing Alex when the transfer window re-opens which would enable the west London club to make their move for the Uruguay international.

In the past former Stamford Bridge boss Carlo Ancelotti had a £15million bid for Godwin rejected last January.

However it is believed the new Chelsea manager is preparing to go back in for the 25-year-old when the transfer window opens in the New Year with a bid in the region of £20m.

United Keen On Krasic

Milos Krasic's agent has claimed Manchester United have been monitoring the Juventus winger for the past two years.

Krasic, 26, joined Juve in 2010 after impressing for his former club CSKA Moscow, and the midfielder caught the eye in his debut campaign in Italy, scoring six goals and laying on as many assists in Serie A.

The Serbia international's agent, Dejan Joksimovic, told tuttomercatoweb.com: "Manchester United have been interested in Krasic for two years.

"They like the player but no negotiations have taken place. Every day Krasic is rumoured to be departing Juventus but, currently, there are no signs of this happening."

Arsenal Boss Set For £50m Transfer Splurge

Arsene Wenger is reportedly contemplating how best to use his significant transfer kitty when the window opens again in January.

According to The Telegraph, Wenger will have £50 million at his disposal to spend on player recruitment and the renewal of existing contracts.

Majority Arsenal shareholder Stan Kroenke is reported to have told Wenger he can use the cash however best suits, and the Emirates Stadium is likely to be a hub of transfer activity come the New Year.

Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Theo Walcott will all be out of contract in 2013 so the Arsenal boss will use at least some of the £50 million to ensure they further their respective stays with the club.

Wenger, meanwhile, is also expected to further reinforce his Arsenal midfield following the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer.

Arsenal acquired Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun on deadline day in order to compensate for the loss, but are still in need of further numbers in that department.

Yann M'Vila, Eden Hazard and Mario Gotze have all been mentioned as potential targets for the Gunners.

Tottenham's Defender Wanted By London Rivals

Newly promoted London club QPR are hoping to convince Tottenham to part with out-of-favour defender Sebastien Bassong in the January transfer window.

QPR boss Neil Warnock is a known admirer of the former Newcastle defender and attempted to persuade Tottenham to sell them the centre-back in the summer but the deal fell through when the north London club where unable to sign Bolton's Gary Cahill.

Warnock is set to meet with QPR owner Tony Fernandes in the coming days to discuss potential targets and a defender seems the most urgent with QPR's last game ending in a 6-0 loss at Fulham.

“We have already begun talking about what we are going to do in January and have a number of ideas,” admitted Warnock.

“There are so many things that are possibilities and if I ask for a certain player, the board will support me. At the moment, a striker and a defender are my two priorities.

“We are looking abroad, as well as in this country. We would be silly not to, because Tony has all these contacts. We haven’t got a big enough squad, but we just have to keep going now until January and look to improve again.”

“Tony has given me great support. I couldn’t wish for more backing from him since he arrived," said Warnock. “People should know that we are still in the infancy of what we are trying to do.”

Bassong has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham with Ledley King, Michael Dawson, William Gallas and Younes Kaboul all ahead of him and is keen to secure a move away from Spurs to gain regular first team football.

Allardyce Hopeful On Tevez Loan Deal

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce feels he still has an "outside chance'' of bringing Carlos Tevez back to Upton Park.

Tevez returned to training at Manchester City on Thursday following his suspension for apparently refusing to go on as a substitute against Bayern Munich a fortnight ago.

The controversial striker's future at Eastlands remains uncertain, while West Ham has already had an initial enquiry about a possible loan move knocked back.

But Allardyce is monitoring the situation and has not given up hope of Tevez returning to the club he originally joined in 2006 along with fellow Argentinian Javier Mascherano.

When asked if there was any possibility of landing Tevez, Allardyce said: "The answer is I don't know. I suppose the situation, from my point of view, is just if and when the decision is finally made regarding what's happening with Carlos at Manchester City, then perhaps my co-chairman David Sullivan might want to pursue it.

"That would be with my blessing, obviously. [Sullivan] was the man who talked about it with me first and if we could get him back here, based on what he did here last time and if he did love the club as much as he did, and if it was a possibility, then I think it's an outside chance. We'll wait and see.''

Tevez was a huge favourite during his one season at West Ham, scoring seven goals including the strike which kept them up at Manchester United on the final day of the campaign.

He was named the club's player of the year and the first time he returned to Upton Park as a United player, he saluted the crowd by crossing his arms in a 'Hammers' gesture.

Toon Plot January Swoop For Celtic Striker

Newcastle United is lining up a £5m January transfer offer for Celtic striker Gary Hooper according to the Sun.

The 23-year-old began his career in non-league football playing for Grays Athletic, before being snapped up by Southend United in 2006.

Hooper progressed through the divisions with loan spells at Leyton Orient and Hereford United, before joining Scunthorpe United in 2008 for an initial fee of £125,000.

Two years later, Hooper earned a big-money move to Celtic, heading to Parkhead in a £2.4million deal.

After scoring on his Hoops debut in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round against Braga, the Englishman endeared himself to Bhoys fans, and finished his first season under manager Neil Lennon as Celtic's top goalscorer.

His form at Celtic Park has drawn calls for Hooper to be handed an international call-up, and whilst the player retains an ambition to play for England, he has previously admitted that playing in Scotland may be a hindrance to his international aspirations.

If reported interest from Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is true, then Hooper will likely relish the prospect of a return to England, with the St James' Park platform on which to ply his trade in the Barclays Premier League, giving him a more realistic chance of achieving his England goal.

Newcastle and Celtic have a strong relationship having agreed to a number of player exchanges in the past - the most recent involving a season-long loan deal for Fraser Forster who returned to Parkhead for a second spell this summer.

The Magpies will be looking to tap into that relationship, with a view to securing Hooper's signature, as they look to conclude their search for a striker in January.

Inter Join Cahill Chase

Juventus aren’t the only Serie A side tracking Gary Cahill, as Inter also show interest in the Bolton and England defender.

The centre-back is already hot property on the Premier League transfer market after Tottenham’s bid was rejected.

Spurs will try again in January, especially as his contract expires in June 2012.

Juve had been linked in the last few weeks, but the 25-year-old is now a main target for Inter as well.

New Coach Claudio Ranieri has pin-pointed the centre-back as a valuable addition to his ageing squad.

It is believed the Nerazzurri would offer around €12m for Cahill.

Eto'o Linked With Inter Loan

Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o is reported to be keen on a two-month loan return to Inter Milan in January.

Eto'o left for Anzhi in a £20 million deal this summer but, as the Russian championship breaks in January and February and Cameroon have failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup, he would be free for a brief return.

The Gazzetta dello Sport claims Eto'o has been in touch with Inter president Massimo Moratti to offer his services as the club still have a vacant non-EU spot. Should the move go ahead, he could feasibly feature in nine Serie A games and a Champions League tie.

Inter have struggled in the striker's absence, taking just four points from five Serie A games in what has been their worst start to a season in 28 years.

"Eto'o is one of the strongest players in the world," former Inter striker Alessandro Altobelli told the Corriere dello Sport. "He can't be replaced.

"His exit is a problem for Inter because Eto'o, especially last season, covered up their problems with his goals. Without him those difficulties have surfaced. Someone like him made a difference in Italy."

Eto'o, 30, scored 37 goals in all competitions for Inter last season.