Suarez Set To Escape Rap Over Evra Claims Of Racism

Luiz Suarez is likely to escape disciplinary action following allegations of racist abuse by Patrice Evra unless the Manchester United defender is able to offer secondary evidence of his claims when he meets the FA to discuss the matter within the next 48 hours.

Evra is due to be interviewed by members of the FA’s disciplinary unit in Manchester before the weekend after United granted permission for the governing body to speak to the French full-back following his claim that Liverpool forward Suarez racially insulted him “at least 10 times” during last Saturday’s Premier League encounter at Anfield.

But due to the hugely sensitive nature of Evra’s allegations, the 30-year-old will be expected by the FA to provide additional evidence of his claims, beyond his own accusation, that supports his suggestion that Suarez subjected him to racist abuse.

The FA is likely to require witness statements from players or officials supporting Evra’s claims or television evidence which provides grounds for further investigation.

Uruguay international Suarez has strenuously denied Evra’s accusation, but Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed on Monday that his player is determined to follow through with his complaint.

“He (Evra) thought he was slighted on Saturday. Obviously Patrice feels very aggrieved at what was said to him, so it rests in the hands of the FA now,” Ferguson said.

It was understood that Evra, who went public with his allegations in an interview with French broadcaster Canal Plus on Saturday, would meet the FA today or tomorrow, depending on his training schedule ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table fixture against Manchester City.

Suarez is only likely to be interviewed by the FA if the disciplinary unit is sufficiently persuaded by the United defender that his opponent has a case to answer.

Liverpool have already issued a public statement defending Suarez, but Ferguson has attempted to ease the tensions between the two clubs by insisting that the issue is “not something we would want to level against Liverpool” as a club.

Manchester United Keeping Tabs On Next Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told his scouts to keep a close eye on the progress of Real Betis winger Alvaro Vadilo who has drawn comparison to former Red Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 17-year-old winger has already established himself as an important member of the Betis first team and was due to be watched by both Manchester United and AC Milan, according to Madrid newspaper Marca.

Unfortunately for the young midfielder he picked up a knee injury playing against Real Madrid at the weekend and will not learn until later today how long he will be on the sidelines.

United have been keeping a close eye on the midfielder ever since he first appeared in the Betis B team and reportedly sent two scouts to watch him in action at the Bernabeu.

Ferguson has previously snapped up Ronaldo and Nani from Portugal and has managed to turn them into superstars and believes that Vadilo could be the next star winger.

Vadilo is the second youngest player ever to play in the Primera Division and is currently a member of the Spain Under-19 squad.

Chelsea Keeper Admits He Could Make Shock Tottenham Move

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed that he could end up playing for Tottenham after out lining that the west London club has already outlined his future.

The Belgian stopper was only brought into the club in the summer but was immediately loaned to Spanish side Atletico Madrid as a replacement for David de Gea.

The Spain Under-21 star was bought by Manchester United in the summer and Atletico immediately contacted Chelsea about taking their new signing on a one-year loan.

Now, Courtois has explained to Spanish radio station Onda Cero that Chelsea has outlined a plan that could see him join Tottenham of Fulham in the future.

"Chelsea told me that I would spend two years in a team like Atletico," said Courtois. "At the moment is only one year, but if they want me for a second Chelsea are fine with that. It is possible."

"After that I would then spend one more season with an English club, like Fulham or Tottenham, to allow me to adapt to the English league. Then in the fourth season everything would be normal at Chelsea."

Tottenham currently have two vastly experienced keepers as their first choice and reserve with Brad Friedel, 40, and Carlo Cudicini, 38, so could well be on the lookout for a younger stopper.

Courtois has looked impressive for Atletico so far this season and the 19-year-old has a big reputation after arriving at Chelsea for £8million.

The youngster has also called into question the future of Petr Cech by declaring that he does not know how much longer the keeper can keep playing at the top level.

"Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach told me he doesn’t know how much time Cech can play at the top level. I know he has problems in his knees and on his back."

Arsenal Striker Is Set For Shock Emirates Exit

Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh looks as though he could be heading out of the Emirates as French Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille are showing an interest, according to reports on tribalfootball.com.

The Moroccan international forward has failed to impress during his time at Arsenal since moving to the Emirates on a free transfer from French outfit Bordeaux last year.

So far this season the 27-year-old has only made four appearances in the Premier League and scored a single goal. He is struggling to gain a first team place and is behind Robin van Persie and Gervinho in the pecking order.

It is believed that Marseille president Vincent Labrune is keen to bring Chamakh on loan in January but it is felt Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be willing to sell the player on a permanent deal.

Reds Linked With Inkoom

Ghana full-back Samuel Inkoom has claimed Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign him in the January transfer window.

The club are reported to be in negotiations with the 22-year-old who is contracted to Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

The right-back area has been a problem for the Reds this season, with Glen Johnson suffering from a hamstring injury.

Centre-back Martin Skrtel has been used as a temporary right-back, while young defender Martin Kelly has also deputized in the position.

Inkoom told Ghana radio station Top Radio: "My agent is still locked in talks with my club and a scout of Liverpool and a deal could be concluded very soon.

"Nothing has been decided yet on whether I will join Liverpool on loan or move permanently.

"Liverpool is one of the biggest names in football and so if everything goes well and the Lord allows it, everyone will see where I am going and hopefully, it will be Liverpool, which will be a big step for me."

Inkoom began his career at Ghanaian side Sekondi Hasaacas before playing for Asante Kotoko and Basle.

He has won 25 caps for his country and was part of the squad that reached the World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa in 2010.

City Coach Hypes Up Lavezzi

Manchester City first-team coach Fausto Salsano believes Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi is ready for the Premier League, but has ruled out a swap deal involving Mario Balotelli and says the club will not make a move for him while they have a full complement of strikers.

Lavezzi has been linked with a switch to the Etihad Stadium along with his Napoli team-mates Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik following a series of impressive performances over the past couple of seasons.

Salsano feels Lavezzi would be the best equipped of the trio to take English football by storm and rates the Argentine among the best frontmen on the planet.

The City coach says there are no plans at the moment to try and bring in Lavezzi, although he does not know what might happen in the future.

Roberto Mancini currently has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal and there will only be new arrivals if somebody leaves.

Balotelli's agent recently sparked rumours of an exchange with Lavezzi before making it clear that no such deal was in the offing, and Salsano has also stressed that City have no desire to let the Italian go.

He told Radio Kiss Kiss: "Who among Lavezzi, Cavani and Hamsik is ready for the Premier League? They are three important players with qualities that can play anywhere.

"Lavezzi in particular has important qualities because he is good in one on one situations, he's fast, he's clever and he could do very well in England.

"The Balotelli-Lavezzi exchange? Mario is one of the strongest strikers in Europe and worldwide at this time.

"For us he is a very important player and will not leave Manchester City. We believe very much in him.

"However, Lavezzi is proving to be one of the best strikers around the world."

Asked if Lavezzi might come in if Carlos Tevez were to leave City, Salsano refused to speculate on what could happen.

"In place of Tevez? I don't know, at this moment we are full," said Salsano.

"We have very strong forwards and you may not know now about the future, we look only at the present."

Josh McEachran Threatening To Be Left Out In The Cold At Chelsea

With weak opposition facing them, Chelsea used Wednesday evening's Champions League tie to give some of their first-team peripherals the opportunity to get some minutes under their belt.

The likes of Alex, Paulo Ferreira and the recently returned David Luiz were all handed run outs, while Juan Mata, John Terry and Didier Drogba sat out ahead of a week of fixtures which climaxes with the visit of Arsenal.

Another handed the opportunity to impress was Oriol Romeu, a summer recruit from Barcelona.

Those who had missed his Carling Cup appearance against Fulham, before Wednesday night his first start for the Blues, were given a glimpse of the 20-year-old's calmness on the ball and adept positional sence, seemingly inherited from his time at the Nou Camp.

Despite Chelsea plundering five goals past the Belgian champions, it was the performance of the Spaniard that caught the eye at Stamford Bridge.

It appears, at least in the recent history of the Barclays Premier League, that Chelsea more than most have possessed some of the world's best holding players.

The likes of Claude Makelele, Didier Deschamps and more loosely Dennis Wise have applied their trade protecting the Blues' back four, and with John Obi Mikel, only 24, having failed to stamp his authority on the position, Romeu is being prepped as the club's long-term midfield solution.

While on commentary during Wednesday night's win over Genk, former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins compared Romeu to Brazilian World Cup winner Dunga for his no nonsense approach in midfield, while the morning's papers reported shades of Makelele in the former Catalan protege.

But everything isn't quiet as rosy as you might think. While Romeu is impressing, the west-Londoners are neglecting a player who in many quarters is considered to be one of England's prized young assets.

Following the game, Jamie Redknapp immediately raised the issue where Romeu's assured display leaves 20-year-old Josh McEachran.

The England under-21 international has featured just twice for Chelsea this season after being assured of regular first-team opportunities this season.

Such were the fears of the midfielder that he would be restricted to a bit-part role that he requested a loan move during the summer, which was subsequently rejected by manager Andre Villas-Boas.

"I did ask to go out on loan at the start of the season but Andre said he wants me to stay because he thinks I will get enough games here," McEachran said.

"I saw in the paper that Fabio Capello wanted me to go on loan to get more experience but Andre is my manager and if he wanted me to go on loan, that's what I'd do.

"It's not going to happen before the transfer window closes next week, but maybe it could happen in the new year."

Many in the ranks at the Football Association see McEachran as the future of England's midfield alongside Jack Wilshere, but with appearances rare at Stamford Bridge, Capello has signalled that he wishes the player to go out on loan this season.

The move worked for both Tom Cleverley, who spent last season at Wigan Athletic, and Wilshere, who spent 12 months at Bolton Wanderers, with both now pivotal members of their club sides, while in Wilshere's case, established internationals.

Andre Villa-Boas would do well to follow the acts of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, and give McEachran the experience of regular first-team football in the Barclays Premier League, so not to see his undeniable talent fall away.

Too often we've seen home grown talent held back by club's bringing in expensive foreign imports, and let's hope one of those latest additions, manager Villas-Boas, doesn't hold back the career of another potential England star.

With England lacking creatively in their midfield, and given Capello's insistence to occasionally go against the grain, an impressive season lower down the division may give the Italian reason to chose McEachran for next summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, a potentially vital experience for the teen.

His transfer policy suggests Villas-Boas is gearing towards refreshing Chelsea's squad and he's doing youth a favour by blooding them in the Blues first-team, but he's going to do any favours to the future of the club and of England, providing the country's leading light with the chance to shine would be a good place to start.

Everton Prepare To Move For American Defender

Everton manager David Moyes is preparing to make a move for FC Dallas defender George John, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

During the course of the summer transfer window it seemed as though John was on the verge of signing for Premier League outfit Blackburn Rovers in a deal believed to be worth £1.2million but it collapsed.

John who is eligible to play for either USA or Greece was keen for a move to England and would welcome the interest for Everton when the January transfer window opens.

Toffees boss Moyes is planning to make his move for the 24-year-old in January but is set to face a battle from Premier League rivals Wigan Athletic.

AC Milan Hints At Signing Alessandro Del Piero

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has given a hint that the Rossoneri could try to sign forward Alessandro Del Piero next summer.

Del Piero’s current contract with Juventus runs out at the end of the season and the Turin giants have announced that they will not renew his deal thereafter.

The 36-year-old has yet to confirm whether he will retire from football altogether in 2012, and Galliani has suggested that should the former Italy international decide to continue carry on playing, then Milan could make an approach for his services.

“Is it never too late? I have learned to define players as talented or mediocre, not young or old,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “I always prefer a talent to a youngster.

“After all, many of our stars like Paolo Maldini and Billy Costacurta retired at 40. Pippo Inzaghi is 38 and still playing for us.”

Galliani also revealed that Milan had tried to sign Del Piero from Padova in 1993 just before he made the switch to Turin where he has been playing for Juventus since.

“We nearly signed Del Piero in 1993 and failing to do that remains one of the great regrets of my career,” admitted the 67-year-old.

“The fact remains that before he went to Juve, Milan were interested in the player.”

Del Piero has made over 450 appearances for the Old Lady, scoring over 200 goals, and has won Serie A five times and the Champions League once among other honours.

Inter Chase Brazilian Prospect

Brazilian stopper Juan Guilherme Nunes Jesus has confirmed reports that Italian giants Inter are looking to sign him.

The Nerazzurri want to rejuvenate their ageing defence and the 20-year-old, who plays for Internacional in Brazil's Serie A, has been on their radar for some months.

"I know that Internacional and Inter will make contact," Juan told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"My agent told me of their interest and someone from Milan will arrive over the next few days to talk about it."

"I don't occupy myself with these things though, my representative will look after it. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

The Brazilian Under-20 international was also being watched by Serie A rivals Napoli, who reportedly had a five million euro bid rejected for his services in the summer.

If an agreement can be reached between the two clubs, Juan could make a January switch to the Stadio Meazza.