Manchester United Plan £20m Plus Player Offer For Serie A Goal Machine

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will look to lure Napoli striker Edinson Cavani to Old Trafford next summer as he looks to add to his side’s attacking options. The Scot will reportedly offer Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov in part exchange for the Serie A striker who has long been scouted by the Premier League champions.

Though Man United have had no problem finding the back of the net this season Ferguson is looking to strengthen his attacking options as Michael Owen will see his current deal come to an end in the summer and Berbatov may well feel the time is right to leave having failed to fight his way back into the first team picture.

Edinson Cavani has been a huge success since his move to Italy back in 2007, first making a name for himself at Palermo before securing a move to Naples. Last term the 24 year old striker netted 33 goals in all competitions and has continued that fine run of form this season.

Ferguson has been monitoring the Uruguayan’s progress and sources in Italy believe a bid may be forthcoming this summer with Berbatov offered as part of a package the club hopes will persuade Napoli to sell.

The success of such a bid may well depend on how Napoli fair in domestic and European action. Cavani’s form helped secure his side a Champions League spot and Walter Mazzarri’s side are unbeaten after three games in this season’s competition and find themselves in fifth spot in Serie A.

Sir Alex Ferguson may well feel that Cavani’s powerful build may well lend itself to the physical nature of football in the English top tier. The £30m rated 6ft in striker may well be tempted by a move to Man United but he would also find himself fighting for regular first team football with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez.

Chelsea Offer £17m For Maggio

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is said to be preparing a £17m offer to snap up Napoli winger Christian Maggio.

The indefatigable Italian international has been among their most impressive players so far this season in Serie A and the Champions League.

Maggio’s work-rate caught the eye of Chelsea boss Villas-Boas and, according to the Daily Mail, a huge £17m bid is in the works.

It will not be easy to prise him away from Napoli, especially as Maggio has worked with Coach Walter Mazzarri at Sampdoria and now the San Paolo.

Liverpool To Move For £12m Defender

Liverpool is reportedly preparing a £12 million swoop for Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini.

The Argentinian has been earmarked as a target by Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who is looking to bolster his defence.

Coloccini has 18 months remaining on his current deal at St. James' Park, and Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is growing concerned that he could lose the 29-year-old.

Liverpool has struggled with defensive injuries this season, and with doubts over the prolonged fitness of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, Dalglish is keen to add Coloccini to the Anfield ranks.

The former Deportivo La Coruna defender is likely to cost Liverpool around £12 million, and has impressed during his time in England.

Should the powerful centre-half leave Newcastle, it would be a massive blow for the club, who bough the player in 2008.

Redknapp Keen On Carlos Tevez Loan

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says he would not hesitate to sign Manchester City's Carlos Tevez if the club is willing to part with the wantaway striker.

Tevez has repeatedly insisted he is keen to leave Manchester citing family reasons, and appears frozen out of City boss Roberto Mancini's plans due to his conduct on the substitute's bench during last month's Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.

With an investigation ongoing into his alleged misdemeanour, Tevez is unlikely to see any first-team action at City in the foreseeable future, and Redknapp would not hesitate to bring the Argentinian to White Hart Lane on a loan deal.

"I would take him if he were available for sure, warts and all. Who wouldn't?" Redknapp is quoted as saying in the English press.

"If Manchester City want to let me have him on loan and massively subsidize it, I'll take him tomorrow. Say what you like, but he's a world-class player and you can't say he doesn't work his socks off when he plays. When he gets on the field he's a right handful.

"It's all right people refusing to condone his behaviour but, to be honest, I'm only interested in what he does when he plays. And world-class players are in short supply."

Manchester United's Mame Biram Diouf Set For Cardiff Loan Move

Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf is set for a loan move to Championship side Cardiff after struggling for first team opportunities at Old Trafford this season according to the Mirror.

Diouf has struggled to make the breakthrough at Old Trafford since joining from Molde in 2009, despite scoring on his United debut.

The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Premier League rivals Blackburn but failed to find the net regularly in his first full season in the Premier League.

Diouf has recently expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford on loan as he accepts his chances under Sir Alex Ferguson are going to be limited.

"It is not easy for me, but to be honest unless you are [Lionel] Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo you are not going to get in the attack of Manchester United," he told Sky Sports.

"Sometimes you have a winner of the Golden Ball [Owen] or last season's top scorer [Berbatov] not even on the bench, in the last game the striker substitutes were Rooney and Hernandez.

"I will keep on fighting and see, going on a loan to play regularly would benefit both parties."

Cardiff have asked about taking the striker on-loan though it is believed they will require Manchester United to pay half of his wages, believed to be around £14,000 per week.

Chelsea & Hotspur Well Aware Of Jordy Clasie

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring the progress of Feyenoord youngster Jordy Clasie.

A midfielder, the 20-year-old has been tipped for big things and is one of the Rotterdam side’s great hopes as they seek to re-establish themselves as one of Holland’s giants after several seasons of struggle.

Clasie recently saw his potential recognized at international level when Holland Under-21 coach Cor Pot handed the starlet a call-up to his Jong Oranje squad.

The promising player spent last season on loan at Feyenoord’s former feeder club Excelsior and enjoyed regular first team football with the Roodzwarten.

It is little surprise then that Chelsea and Spurs have begun to watch Clasie’s progress closely and the pair could well opt to launch a swoop sooner rather than later.

Feyenoord would dearly love to keep hold of the talented midfielder, who promises much over the next few years. But money talks and the Dutch side would be unable to resist a sizeable offer for their youth product.

Inter Track FC Porto’s Joao Moutinho

Inter are keeping tabs on FC Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho.

The Nerazzurri are considering launching a bid for the 25-year-old as coach Claudio Ranieri looks to ensure the Serie A giants enjoy a strong second half of the season.

Moutinho will not be easy for Inter to prise away from Porto; Chelsea were linked with the Portugal international over the summer, but he stayed put.

Moutinho is under contract with Porto until 2015 and as such will cost a substantial fee.

Inter though could well tempt the Portuguese champions in January and, if Porto have been knocked out of the Champions League by that time, may stand a good chance of getting their man.

Fiorentina Keen On Palombo And Ilicic

Fiorentina have expressed interest in signing midfielders Angelo Palombo and Josip Ilicic, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

With Ricardo Montolivo and Juan Manuel Vargas likely to leave Viola in January, sporting director Pantaleo Corvino is already identifying new midfield targets.

According to the latest reports, Corvino has not given up on Sampdoria captain Angelo Palombo and he is currently monitoring the situation regarding the former Italy international.

Palombo is adamant that he is happy at Sampdoria, but his stance could be changed if Sampdoria’s promotion plans get compromised.

Fiorentina are also interested in Palermo playmaker Josip Ilicic, who has been struggling to hold on to regular starting place this season.

Following the unsuccessful negotiations with Palermo last July, Viola officials are ready to reignite their interest in the Slovenia international.

Inter Favourites To Land Signature Of Internacional's Juan

Inter have stolen a march on their city rivals AC Milan in the chase for Brazilian defender Juan, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The Internacional defender has attracted the attention of Europe's elite clubs with his recent performances, and the 2010 Champions League winners have been most proactive in pursuing their interest, with the in-demand 20-year-old reportedly indicating that his preference is to join Claudio Ranieri's men.

AC Milan general director Ariel Braida had attempted to use Alexandre Pato's link between the defender's current club and Massimiliano Allegri's men as a conduit, but his attempts seem doomed to failure.

However, Inter sporting director Marco Branca's efforts look to have reaped reward. Indeed, the paper claims that a five-year contract has been agreed between the player and the Serie A giants for a switch which will be completed once the January transfer window opens.

The onus will be on the centre-back to plug a leaky backline, which has conceded 13 goals in six games as the San Siro side have slumped to 17th in the league.