Europa League Preview

Tottenham host Rubin Kazan in Europa League action on Thursday with Spurs looking to bounce back from their 2-2 draw with Newcastle at the weekend.

After defensive frailties let the Premier League side down once again on their trip to Newcastle, Harry Redknapp's team will need to curtail Rubin's former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins if they are to claim the three points from the Russian outfit at White Hart Lane.

Spurs and Rubin are tied on top of Group A with four points each with Rubin ahead on goal difference.

Martins has proved somewhat of a thorn in Tottenham's side, having scored in his first four games against the club for Newcastle - all of them wins.

Greek side PAOK FC play host to Irish team Shamrock Rovers in the other Group A fixture.

Group I leaders Atletico Madrid travel away to take on Serie A side Udinese as both sides battle for top spot with four points each.

The Spanish club will be looking to Brazilian midfielder Diego to pull the strings with the side hosting what should prove to be one of the matches of the round.

Scottish giants Celtic travel across the channel to take on French team Stade Rennes in the group's other match with both clubs only managing to pick up a point so far in their respective campaigns.

AEK Athens travel north to battle Lokomotiv Moscow in Group L without star striker Eidur Gudjonsen, who broke his leg against Olympiakos on Saturday.

AEK have no points so far and new coach Nikos Kostenoglou must steel his men for a rough night as Lokomotiv attempt to seal qualification and continue their formidable record at home.

The other fixture in the group sees Belgian side Anderlecht travel away to Austria's SK Sturm Graz.

In Group E, Stoke, fresh from their 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League, host Israel side Maccabi Tel Aviv as Tony Pulis looks to maintain their position on top of the group.

Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas do battle in the other group match.

Lazio are on the road to Swiss side FC Zurich in Group D full of confidence following their morale-boosting derby win over Roma in the Serie A. Manager Edoardo Reja has star strikers Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse in form and will need both to get their campaign rolling after picking up just a point.

Sporting Lisbon host FC Vaslui in the other match.

In Group K, Polish club Wisla Krakow host Fulham while Odense face Dutch outfit FC Twente.

Fulham boss Martin Jol will seek to cement the Cottagers' passage into the next round of the Europa League with a win, with Andrew Johnson, fresh from a hat-trick in their 6-0 thrashing of QPR a week ago, fit and raring to go.

Twente will look to build on their 4-1 hammering of Krakow last round with danger man Marc Janko at the frontline of their attack, and confident with two goals against the Poles.

Swedish outfit Malmo is at home to Metalist Kharkiv while Dutch side AZ Alkmaar travel away to play Austria Wien in Group G.

In Group H Maribor play host to Portuguese side Braga with Club Brugge entertaining English Championship side Birmingham.

In Group J action, AEK Larnaca host Bundesliga side Schalke while Maccabi Haifa host Romanian team Steaua Bucharest.

Belgian club Standard Liege is at home to FC Vorska Poltava in Group B with German club Hannover playing host to Copenhagen.

In Group C, Rapid Bucuresti is at home to Legia Warsaw, with Hapoel Tel Aviv hosting PSV.

And in Group F, SV Salzburg travel to Spain to take on Athletic Bilbao, while Slovan Bratislava host Ligue 1 leaders PSG.

Manchester United Given Go-Ahead To Sign The "New Messi"

Manchester United have been granted permission to open talks with Athletic Bilbao “superkid” Iker Muniain, who has been described as the "new Lionel Messi", with the brain trust at ‘Spanish Leadership’ claiming Bilbao are ready to sell, according to tribalfootball.com.

The collections of experts have revealed that the exciting prospect’s future will be in the Premier League, prompting interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham.

"Back in 2008 we saw Muniain making his Europa League debut in Bremen. He was just 16 and proved technically more gifted that Mesut Özil.

"However Özil plays for Real Madrid who will never consider signing him (Munain) because he is not a foreigner who would sell T-shirts. In other words, lack of leadership.

“Barcelona do not need to sign him having their own fruitful academy with players such as (Gerard) Deloufeu or Rafinha coming up as well.

"Muniain's future is the Premier."

The diminutive winger, who stands at just 5ft 7in, became the youngest ever player to represent Athletic Bilbao at just 16 years, 7 months and 11 days old. He scored his first ever goal just a week later to re-enter the record books as their youngest ever scorer.

Having represented Spain at every level from Under-16s to Under-21s, the midfielder – now 18 – has made 19 appearances for his current club.

His current deal at Bilbao does not expire until 2015, but interest from the Premier League is said to have cast doubt in Muniain’s mind about a possible future in La Liga.

Manchester City Join Race To Sign Barcelona Defender

Barcelona left-back Eric Abidal has admitted that there are a number of clubs interested in signing him with AC Milan, PSG and Manchester City all in the race to land the vastly experienced defender.

The France international helped Barcelona win the Champions League last season but his current contract is coming towards a close and he will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Barcelona has yet to reach an agreement with Abidal and that has led to a number of European clubs declaring their interest in the 32-year-old.

Abidal has revealed that he is flattered to be linked with these clubs and would be interested in listening to offers if he is unable to agree a new deal.

The three-time La Liga winner also declared that he would like to continue playing at the top level for another three years.

"There are clubs that have shown an interest, notably PSG, Milan and Manchester City," Abidal told RMC. "But there have been no concrete offers and I can't say any more.

"I have a lot of respect for Barca but if we can't reach an agreement, the door is always open. I believe I have the legs to go on for two more years.

"I have an international objective. We have qualified for Euro 2012, which is good, but I am also looking at the 2014 World Cup."

Tottenham Prepare To Swoop For Swiss Wing Wizard

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is set to step up his pursuit of Basel winger Xherdan Shaqiri, according to reports on talkSPORT.co.uk.

The Switzerland international is fast emerging as one of the hottest prospects in Europe and a number of leading clubs are keeping tabs on him including Spanish giants Barcelona and Bundesliga outfit Hamburg.

However Tottenham seem to be leading the chase for the versatile 20-year-old who can operate on the wing as well as in central midfield.

Shagirl has stated he is happy at Basel, but has not ruled out moving from the club, and the club manager Thorsten Fink is desperate to keep hold of his prized asset.

Spurs boss Redknapp however is going to test to Swiss sides resolve by reportedly making a move worth to be £7million when the January transfer window opens.

United Make Approach To Sign Serie A Winger

Manchester United have reportedly made an initial move to sign Juventus winger Milos Krasic in January.

The Serbia international has struggled to make an impact under new Juve bos Antonio Conte and his future in Turin has been the subject of frequent speculation in recent weeks.

Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked with respective moves for Krasic in the New Year, while AC Milan are also alleged to have shown an interest.

But, according to Corriere dello Sport, Sir Alex Ferguson has already approached Juve over a proposed six-month loan deal for the 26-year-old.

Should United formalize their supposed interest, Krasic would not be cup-tied for the Champions League, with the Bianconeri not featuring in the competition this season.

However, it would come as surprise if Ferguson did decided to bring Krasic to Old Trafford, due to a stable of talented wingers already at his disposal.

The United boss currently has Ryan Giggs, Luis Nani, Ashley Young, Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia to choose from when it comes to wide midfield positions.

Liverpool Set To Win The Race For South American Starlet

Liverpool look to have won the race to sign South American sensation Andy Polo - with the teenager expected to arrive at Anfield next month.

A host of top clubs, including Real Madrid and Arsenal, have sent scouts to Peru to run the rule over the highly-rated striker, who made his debut for Universitario aged just 16.

Polo, nicknamed La Joya (The Jewel), has scored three goals in 13 games and has been compared to Brazilian star Robinho.

The teenager is expected to travel to England in November at the end of the Peruvian domestic season.

He will spend a month at Anfield and is then expected to sign a long-term deal to join his South American compatriots Luis Suarez, Lucas and Sebastian Coates.

Villas-Boas Confirms Talks With Belgian Wonderkid

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has hinted that Chelsea are preparing to move for Genk superstar Kevin De Bruyne, after comparing him to Belgian legend Enzo Scifo and revealing that their scouting team have been watching him closely.

Chelsea revealed that during the summer transfer window they were in official talks with De Bruyne and Genk over potentially bringing him to Stamford Bridge. The 20-year-old eventually ended up staying in Belgium, but with Genk set for a Champions League double-header against Chelsea in the next fortnight De Bruyne has an opportunity to impress Villas-Boas.

Chelsea’s 34-year-old manager has already revealed how much he admires the youngster, fuelling speculation that De Bruyne will join Chelsea perhaps as soon as January.

"He's exceptionally gifted technically and reminds me of the old technical Belgian players like Enzo Scifo,” Villas-Boas revealed. “We've not only scouted him but we've scouted numerous different players before.”

With Villas-Boas declaring his interest in the star midfielder, Genk boss Mario Been claimed that he would be willing to sell the youngster at the right price.

"I know that Kevin is a really great player and that Chelsea already talked about him. Chelsea look and want to buy all the big talents so, for me, it wouldn't be a surprise if Kevin went to Chelsea. Everyone's got his price."

De Bruyne has already won the Belgian Pro League, the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup, and the youngster is in the pursuit of a new challenge, with England reportedly his preferred destination.

Real Madrid Face Italian Competition For Maxime Gonalons

Lyon’s highly rated defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons is being targeted by three Italian clubs according to his agent.

Gonalons has begun to make his presence felt at the Stade Gerland this season, clocking up ten Ligue-1 appearances so far under new coach Remi Garde.

The 22-year-old’s fine displays in a rejuvenated Les Gones side have not gone unnoticed, with even Real Madrid believed to be keeping a close eye on his progress.

But the most serious interest so far has come from Serie A, with the Frenchman’s agent Frederic Guerra claiming three Italian sides are queuing up.

"It’s too early to talk about the summer market and his potential sale", Guerra told Tutto Mercato.

"There are three Italian teams that are very interested in him."

Two of the Serie A sides believed to be tracking Gonalons are Inter and Napoli.

Tottenham Hotspur Hunt Valencia Striker Roberto Soldado

Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race for Valencia hitman Roberto Soldado.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is believed to be keen to bolster his attacking options for the second half of the season and has been eyeing up several options, including CSKA Moscow’s potent finisher Seydou Doumbia.

But the former Portsmouth manager has not lost sight of Soldado’s progression at the Mestalla and the Spaniard may represent a better bet than the Ivorian given his experience of a higher quality league.

According to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Spurs have begun to prepare a swoop for Soldado, although it is dependent on selling Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko in January.

Interest in Pavlyuchenko is substantial, especially from his homeland Russia, where several big name sides would dearly love to add the former Spartak Moscow striker to their ranks.

This would give Redknapp the space he needs to launch an assault for Soldado, who has performed such heroics in a white shirt that he has quickly helped Los Che fans to forget the departure of legendary striker David Villa to Barcelona in 2010 – the man Soldado was signed to replace.

Soldado does have a number of admirers, with Bayern Munich keen observers as Valencia took on Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Spurs then could have to battle the Germans for the 26-year-old.

Manchester United Striker Is Set For Premiership Switch

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda is being lined up for a Premier League loan move to new boys Queens Park Rangers, according to reports in the Daily Star.

The 20-year-old joined Manchester United from Lazio in 2007 and so far has made 28 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions.

Last season Macheda went on loan to Serie A club Sampdoria and made 16 appearances and scored one goal.

The Italy Under-21 international has come back to Old Trafford this season but has just made one appearance in the League Cup.

QPR manager Neil Warnock has been keeping tabs on Macheda and is planning to make a loan move for the United striker when the January transfer window opens.

It is believed the move will benefit all three parties involved as Macheda will gain more first-team Premier League experience.

Juve Will Try To Sell Amauri

Juventus have confirmed that they will try and sell Amauri during the January transfer window.

The striker was expected to be sacrificed in the summer given that he earns €3.8m a season and his contract at the club expires in June 2012.

No transfer was agreed though and he remained in Turin, although he’s clearly not a part of the club’s first team plans.

“In January we decided to loan him to Parma,” director general Beppe Marotta told Tuttosport on Wednesday.

“He’d only scored one goal for us and, for his own good and ours, it was decided to give him away on a temporary basis.

“In June, though, we told Amauri that he wasn’t a part of the project anymore. There was interest from Marseille who were ready to offer him a three-year deal, but he rejected that.

“Unfortunately our contractual power over him is almost zero now given that his deal expires in June, but we’ll see if we can sell him in January.”

Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain are being associated with a New Year approach for the Brazilian-born Italian international.