Barclays Premier League Preview

Manchester United will put the Premier League's only 100 per cent record on the line this weekend, while Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be hoping for home comforts. Newcastle and Aston Villa be looking to make it six games without defeat and Tottenham head to the North West aiming to secure a third victory on the bounce. Finally, Roy Hodgson welcomes one of his former employers to the Hawthorns with West Brom stuck at the foot of the top flight table.

Manchester United are now the only side in the Premier League to still boast a perfect record and have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks. Stoke are the next side charged with the task of trying to halt the Red Devils juggernaut, while attempting to make amends for a sorry showing at Sunderland last weekend. The Potters required penalties to see off Tottenham in the Carling Cup in midweek, but Tony Pulis is likely to make sweeping changes to the team that figured in that game. United should be fresh after resting players for their trip to Leeds on Tuesday.

United wrap up Saturday's action, while their arch-rivals Manchester City get the weekend up and running. The Blues saw two points slip through their grasp at Fulham in their last top flight fixture and will still be smarting when they welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium. The Toffees will make the short journey from Merseyside looking to build on a recent run that has seen them pick up seven points from their last three outings.

Arsenal find themselves languishing in 17th place in the table, with just one win to their name, and desperately need to establish some momentum in a home date with out-of-sorts Bolton. Arsene Wenger saw his men slip to a 4-3 defeat at Blackburn last weekend and make hard work of Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup. He will, however, feel that now is a good time to be facing the Trotters. Owen Coyle's men have lost four on the bounce since opening up with a convincing win at Queens Park Rangers and are currently second from bottom in the top flight standings.

Chelsea left Old Trafford last Sunday feeling they had been harshly treated by the match officials, with manager Andre Villas-Boas lodging a complaint to referees' chief Mike Riley. The Blues must put those grievances to one side, though, when they welcome Swansea to Stamford Bridge. The Swans have made a steady start to their debut campaign among English football's elite and secured their first Premier League victory against West Brom last time out. Chelsea is a formidable force on home soil, though, and will be keen to give former coach Brendan Rodgers a harsh reality check.

Liverpool, following a bright start, have suffered back-to-back defeats in the league and need to address that wobble before they fall too far behind the frontrunners. A meeting with Wolves will provide them with an ideal opportunity to rediscover their league form. Not that Mick McCarthy's side will be a pushover. Wolves may have also tasted defeat in their last two fixtures, but they will have fond memories of their last visit to Anfield - when they left with a 1-0 victory.

Newcastle are performing admirably under Alan Pardew and are one of only four sides yet to taste defeat in the league this season. They could have done without seeing their Carling Cup clash with Nottingham Forest in midweek go to extra-time, but can take plenty of positives from that tie - not least the return to action of Hatem Ben Arfa. The Magpies will be looking to bring Blackburn back down to earth with a bump this weekend, with Rovers' thrilling victory over Arsenal last weekend giving manager Steve Kean a bit of breathing space.

Tottenham blasted four goals past nine-man Liverpool in their last Premier League fixture and will be looking for more of the same when they go to Wigan. The DW Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Spurs down the years, though, with only two victories secured in their five previous trips to the North West. The Latics will be looking to pick up at least a point in their latest meeting, with successive defeats seeing them slip down the table.

The final fixture on Saturday sees West Brom boss Roy Hodgson square up to one of his former employers. Fulham are the next visitors to the Hawthorns and will arrive in the Midlands still searching for their first victory of the season. The Baggies and the Cottagers have both taken three points from their opening five fixtures and find themselves languishing inside the relegation zone. There is, however, still plenty of time for them to turn things around.

Sunday brings only one game this weekend, as Queens Park Rangers entertain Aston Villa. Neil Warnock's side, led by Joey Barton, eased past Wolves in their last top flight fixture, suggesting they are ready to make their mark back among the big boys. They will, however, have their work cut out against Villa. Alex McLeish may not have been a welcome appointment among a certain section of Villa supporters this summer, but the Scot has overseen an unbeaten start to the season - that has included four draws - and has his team sit sixth in the early standings.

Arsenal Hold Talks Over Daniel Parejo January Transfer

Arsenal are keeping a close eye on £5million-rated Valencia midfielder Daniel Parejo, and are reportedly lining up a shock move for the former Real Madrid starlet in January.

Parejo only joined Los Che this summer from Getafe, but has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at the surprise La Liga early leaders.

The Gunners had scouts in the stands for Valencia’s impressive 2-2 draw against Barcelona, and although 22-year-old Parejo played no part, Spanish reports claim initial discussions were held between the two parties.

Despite his relative youth, Parejo is no stranger to English football having spent five-months at QPR in 2008, where he made a total of 18 appearances.

He was recalled to his then-parent club Real Madrid following injuries to Ruben de la Red and Mahamadou Diarra, but hardly featured for the Spanish giants.

Arsene Wenger is set to lose Emmanuel Frimpong to the African Cup of Nations in January, and will likely be in the market for another midfielder, while Parejo would jump at the chance of regular game time at the Emirates.

Tottenham Alerted As Prolific Spanish Striker Hints At Exit

Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo could be on his way out of the Spanish side after reports linked the striker with a move in the January transfer window.

The Spain international striker has been strongly linked with a number of European clubs after a fantastic couple of seasons in La Liga with Tottenham one of the most likely options.

Spurs attempted to land the striker in the summer, but could not come up with enough funds to persuade Sevilla to part with their star player.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is a known admirer of the striker and with Roman Pavlyuchenko linked with a move away from White Hart Lane in January, they may need to strengthen their attacking options.

The 26-year-old has scored five goals in just seven appearances for Spain and is regarded as one of the hottest properties in Spanish football.

Negredo was signed by Real Madrid in 2005 but never managed to progress past the B team and was eventually sold to Almeria. However, Madrid exercised their but back option and once again re-signed the player for €5million.

They then instantly sold Negredo to Sevilla for €15million, where he has continued to impress, scoring 34 goals in 75 league games for the club.

The striker is currently contracted to Sevilla until 2013 and the Spanish side are keen to extend this deal. However, Negredo's representative Alejandro Camano has hinted that the striker could leave.

"He has a contract until 2013. Sevilla wants to renew it but that does not mean his future is indeed in Seville," declared Camano.

Chelsea Tipped To Join Chase For Bolton Defender

Bolton manager Owen Coyle believes Arsenal will face competition for the signature for defender Gary Cahill - with Chelsea being reported as potential suitors.

The Daily Mirror claim the Blues may join the race for the England international after Coyle revealed that he expected further interest when the transfer window reopens in January.

Arsenal failed with a scandalously low bid for Cahill in the summer, an offer believed to be in the region of £5m. Coyle was to say the least miffed considering the Trotters were holding out for £18m.

The affair may very well damage Arsenal's attempts to sign the centre-back and the Bolton boss indicated he expects interest from other parties.

"Whatever happens in January happens. I have no problem with that. I think there will be more than Arsenal in for him," said Coyle.

"Arsene likes him as a player, he has been up front about it, but he is one of a number of admirers. There is nothing wrong with that, Gary is a top player.

"Gary has nothing to prove to anybody," he said. He is the same lad since the deadline. Its only natural that there were distractions.

"He has just had the arrival of his new baby daughter, he is conscientious and focused. He is now representing his family too.

Liverpool Ponder Sensational £25m Move For Playmaker

Liverpool is considering a move for attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik, according to reports.

The Slovakian international has been earning rave reviews for Napoli and is currently being watched by Liverpool scouts.

Reports suggest the Reds are considering a move for Hamsik this January after watching the 24-year old help Napoli earn a draw against Manchester City last week.

The 24-year old was excellent for the Italian outfit, who earned a hard earned point in their Champions League opener.

However, Liverpool will have to fight off interest from AC Milan who is also keen to land the talented midfielder.

The former Slovan Bratislava helped Partenopei finish third last season, scoring 13 goals in the process.

Everton To Move For Fiorentina Star In January

Fiorentina are ready to let attacking midfielder Adem Ljajic leave in the January transfer window after struggling to settle in Italian football.

According to Talksport, Everton are the favourite to seal a deal for the Serbian who was close to joining Premier League champions Manchester United two years ago.

Manchester United agreed to sign Ljajic in January 2009, with the deal set to be completed the following year, however United then pulled out of the deal.

The 19-year-old was meant to be part of a double deal that saw Zoran Tosic also move to Old Tafford, but only Tosic made the move and he eventually was sold on after failing to break into the first team squad.

Ljajic joined Fiorentina instead but has struggled to make an impact in Serie A and it is now believed that the club are ready to cut their losses on the player.

Everton have been keeping tabs on the midfielder for a number of months and are considering making a move for the player when the January transfer window opens.

The club are currently in the midst of a financial crisis and were forced to sell midfielder Mikel Arteta in the summer. They believe Ljajic could be a star of the future and are keen to tie up a deal.

The 19-year-old has a four year contract but it is believed that Sinisa Mihajlovic would consider letting the youngster leave.

Arsenal To Launch January Move For Dangerous Wonderkid

Arsenal is considering a £35million January bid for German wonderkid Mario Goetze, according to reports.

Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis has reignited speculation after confirming Arsenal have “significant funds” available for the January transfer window, with some suggesting that the 19-year old is their No1 target.

Rumours this summer reported that Arsenal did lodge a bid for the German superstar but was unable to complete the deal before the end of the transfer window.

“Certainly in January and next summer there are significant funds available to bolster the team,” Gazidis revealed.

“The important thing from our perspective is – and this is something that Arsène has been extremely disciplined in over time – that we are not just going to spend money because we are under short-term pressure.

“We are going to make sure that the players we bring in are the right players.”

Gazidis’ comments will ease the fears of many Arsenal supporters with some fans questioning the ambition of the club after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer.

The talented 19-year-old Goetze featured recently in a Champions League fixture against Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger has made no secret of his admiration for the highly sought after midfielder.

"He is a provider,” Wenger recently insisted. “He is the one who has the best assists in Germany and is the most dangerous player. He comes in from the right side and links in well with the strikers.”

Juventus Plot £10m Move For Man City Full-Back

Italian side Juventus have declared an interest in Manchester City left-back Aleksandr Kolarov according to talkSPORT.

The Serbian signed for City for £16 million in 2010, and made 24 league appearances last season, netting once.

But now the Turin club is reportedly lining up a £10 million offer for the former Lazio man, who has featured intermittently in the earlier stages of this season due to competition from former Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy.

It is thought that Man City could be persuaded to negotiate with such an offer if the Serb decides he wants first-team football.

Real Madrid Tabled An Interesting Offer For Stevan Jovetic

The agent of Fiorentina star Stevan Jovetic has revealed that Real Madrid tabled a "very interesting offer" for the forward and that every major European club wanted him.

The Montenegro international burst onto the scene in 2008, when he joined the Florence-based club from Partizan, and has established himself as a key member of the team.

Jovetic has long been considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe, and the player's agent has revealed that the player could have joined Real Madrid before he signed for Fiorentina.

"Every big club in Europe were interested in Stevan, and when I say every big club I am not overstating," Fali Ramadani told La Nazione.

"In particular, I can mention Real Madrid, who tabled a very interesting offer. I spoke with Jovetic, but he was impressed with the persistency of [Fiorentina sporting director] Pantaleo Corvivo, who called every day.

"He demonstrated a lot of interest, respect and a cheque. Stevan decided to accept it and I agreed, though there were several other options."

Bayern Munich's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Confirms Interest in Borussia Dortmund Playmaker & Arsenal Target Mario Gotze

The Bundesliga giants have made it clear that they are closely monitoring the playmaker's situation and stress that his current club may not decide what his next move will be.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has rubbished suggestions that Borussia Dortmund will be the ones to determine where Mario Gotze's future lies.

Borussia Dortmund supremo Hans-Joachim Watzke recently stated that there is no chance that Gotze would leave the Bundesliga champions for another German club, but Rummenigge refuses to rule out the suggestion that the 19-year-old will ply his trade at the Allianz Arena in the future.

"Those kinds of comments are quite remarkable. There are three parties involved in a transfer. It remains to be seen whether the player agrees with him," Rummenigge was quoted as saying by Sport Bild.

"There's no doubt about it that Mario is a fantastic player. He fully deserves all the recent praise. He not only plays very spectacular, but is also quite efficient.

"And we all know that Bayern have a preference for players who represent Germany at international level..."

Gotze has a contract until the summer of 2014 with Borussia Dortmund and was a target for Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

Louis van Gaal in Talks Over Vacant Hamburg Job

Former Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal is in talks with Hamburg over their vacant coaching position, according to a report from Sport1.

The northern outfit have recorded only one point in their first six Bundesliga games, which prompted the club to part company with head coach Michael Oenning on Monday.

Now the Dutch trainer has reportedly been speaking with club chiefs in a bid to iron out a deal which would see him take over the struggling side.

The 60-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by the Bavarian giants in April after two seasons at the helm. During his time at the Allianz Arena, he led Bayern to a league and cup double in 2010, as well as an appearance in the Champions League final.

Van Gaal also has previous coaching experience with Ajax, Barcelona, AZ and the Dutch national side, but another former Netherlands boss, Marco van Basten, remains in contention for the Hamburg job.

Ajax Could Cash In On Arsenal and Liverpool Target

Ajax will decide whether or not to sell Arsenal and Liverpool target Jan Vertonghen depending on how they fare in the Champions League group stage.

The talented defender has attracted strong interest from the Premier League pair in the past and is also on the radar of a host of other clubs across Europe.

Ajax hope to cling onto him until at least the summer, but may consider selling if they fail to progress into the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

The Dutch club have been drawn alongside Real Madrid, Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb in a tough-looking group, and could cash in on Vertonghen if they fail to make the lucrative second round.

Incidentally, Group D opponents Lyon are one of the clubs keeping tabs on the 24-year-old Belgian and, according to reports in France, the Ligue 1 side could be ready to firm up their interest with a January bid.

But, should Ajax decide to sell in the New Year, Lyon could face stiff opposition from Liverpool and Arsenal given their previous interest.

Birmingham Willing To Re-sign Crock McFadden

Chris Hughton has told James McFadden he could still have a future at Birmingham.

The out-of-contract Scotland forward has been on the look-out for a new club while he recovers from a cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out of action since last September.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is monitoring the situation with a view to offering the 28-year-old the chance to re-build his career at Molineux.

But Hughton, who is desperate to add bodies to a squad decimated by owner Carson Yeung’s post-relegation fire-sale this summer, feels McFadden could still earn a new deal at St Andrew’s.

Chris Hughton has told James McFadden he could still have a future at Birmingham.

The out-of-contract Scotland forward has been on the look-out for a new club while he recovers from a cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out of action since last September.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is monitoring the situation with a view to offering the 28-year-old the chance to re-build his career at Molineux.

But Hughton, who is desperate to add bodies to a squad decimated by owner Carson Yeung’s post-relegation fire-sale this summer, feels McFadden could still earn a new deal at St Andrew’s.

“He has been training with us for a good while now - since the summer. He’s one we’re still assessing,” said Hughton.

“He’s training on the back of quite a big injury, and the club knew it was going to take him a period of time to recover.

“With that, it’s about making sure he completes his rehab and getting into football work. He’s a player of very, very good ability and he has shown that in the past.”

Hughton is also scouring the loan market for new blood and also considering the possibility of offering a new deal to Stuart Parnaby, who is also a free agent after his deal with Blues expired in the summer.

Arsenal Plot Move to Sign Barcelona Starlet Wing Wizard

Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Barcelona youngster Rafa Alcantara with a view to making a move to capture the teenager in January.

Gunners scouts have been watching the 18 year old in action for Barcelona’s B team where the Brazilian has made an immediate impact. Rafa is more commonly referred to as Rafinha, and is the younger brother of midfielder Thiago Alcantara who is currently on the fringes of the Nou Camp first team after a successful pre-season with the Catalan club.

Unlike his brother, Rafa has opted to represent Brazil even though he has represented Spain at Under 16, 18 and 19 level. The speedy winger can also ply his trade in an attacking midfield role and is said to be a player that Arsene Wenger is taking particular attention to.

The Sao Paulo born starlet is said to be hedging his bets in contract terms and is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal which has led many interested parties to believe that he may be considering his options.

Clearly Wenger is known for trusting to youth and has picked up a number of top young talents from across Europe to ply alongside those coming through the ranks at the Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal boss is also well known for bringing in youngsters from Barcelona, having brought in Cesc Fabregas to North London as well as Jon Toral in the more recent past.

Tottenham Send Scouts to Watch Portuguese Prospect in Action

After an impressive display in the 4-0 thrashing of Liverpool, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is already looking at ways to further strengthen his squad.

Spurs have bounced back from defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City and are now showing signs of the form that saw them push for a top four finish last season.

Tottenham scouts have twice been to watch Portuguese midfielder Eder in action for his club Academica Coimbra and are said to have been impressed with the young talent.

The 23-year-old holding midfielder has just one year left on his contract, but the clubs directors would rather cash in on the player during the January window.

Academia do not want the player to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires and would reportedly be willing to accept an offer in the region of £2million.

Spurs let Wilson Palacios join Stoke during the summer, but the club do still have Sandro and Scott Parker competing for a starting role as a defensive midfielder.

However, the club are still showing real interest in Eder and could decide to pick up the player in January.

Manchester United Eye Scottish Starlet

Skysports.com understands that Manchester United are hot on the trail of Dundee United starlet Scott Allan.

The 19-year-old midfielder has made his breakthrough at Tannadice this season and a number of clubs are already queuing up to catch him in action.

He is also a Scotland Under 21 international, with a series of excellent displays on the international scene leading to speculation back in August about his future, with Newcastle mentioned before deadline day.

Now skysports.com understands that Manchester United are one of the clubs keeping tabs on him.

Martin Ferguson attended Dundee United's clash with Dunfermline last month with the purpose of catching Allan in action, but on the day he did not make it off the bench.

But with Sir Alex dispatching his brother, and most trusted scout north of the border, it is a clear indication that Allan has made a big impact.

It is also believed that Allan is yet to agree a new contract at Tannadice, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Should Allan decide to leave and move to England then the Tangerines would only be due minimal compensation.

Old Firm giants Rangers and Celtic are also well aware of Allan, but the chance of a move to the Premier League could be too much for any young Scot to turn down.

United boss Peter Houston has already confirmed talks are on-going over a new deal, and they remain hopeful he could be persuaded that his short-term future is best served on Tayside.

McCarthy Eager To Sign McFadden

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is keen on signing striker James McFadden after a successful trial period at Molineux.

McFadden departed Birmingham at the end of last season after an option on his contract was not taken up by the Carling Cup holders.

The Scottish international is keen to resurrect his career after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury 13 months ago and has impressed McCarthy in training this week.

McCarthy said: "I sincerely hope there are going to be some developments with McFadden. He has looked fine this week with us, I want to sign him.

"When will that happen and how far down the road we are, I don't know.

"But he is a talented lad and a good character and has fitted in really well.

"He has enjoyed it, at least I think he has, and he will be a great addition to our squad, definitely.

Premier League Switch Appeals To Parolo

Highly-rated Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo has declared that he would relish the opportunity to ply his trade in English football but admits he is a long way off being ready to play for a team like Chelsea.

Reports in Italy have suggested that the Blues considered a move for the 26-year-old during this summer's transfer window after being impressed with his performances in Serie A.

Parolo has blossomed into a high-class performer over the past couple of seasons and made his senior international debut for Italy in March.

He hopes to one day try his luck in another top European competition such as the Premier League or Germany's Bundesliga, but recognises that he still has to improve if he is to earn a move to somewhere like Stamford Bridge.

Parolo also made it clear that it was not his immediate target to go elsewhere as he continues to enjoy life with Cesena and hopes to have a successful season at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi.

Style

"I am not your traditional Italian midfielder as I have a lot of different characteristics than others," Parolo told Goal.com. "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 are 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."

Swedish Striker Emerges As 'Legitimate' Arsenal Target

Arsenal are being linked with a £12 million move for Swedish striker Ola Toivonen.

The PSV Eindhoven forward was linked with a move to England in the summer, with both Liverpool and the Gunners though to be keen on bringing the 25-year-old to the Barclays Premier League.

It's Arsenal who now solely lead the charge though, with talkSPORT reporting that the Emirates outfit have highlighted the prolific player as a 'legitimate' target.

A £12 million price-tag placed on the player's head by his Eredivisie club is not thought to be an issue for Arsenal, who have money to spend following the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the transfer window.

With Maraoune Chamakh failing to ignite in north London and Nicklas Bendtner destined to stay away from Arsenal on completion of his loan at Sunderland, the Gunners now appear to be in the market for a striker despite the arrivals of Gervinho and Park Chu-Young in July and August respectively.

Toivonen, who has scored 35 goals in 76 Eredivisie appearances for PSV in Holland, could be the attacking answer for Arsenal, who could potentially make their move in January.

Ranieri Set For Inter

Claudio Ranieri appears set to be appointed as the new manager of Inter Milan and is understood to be negotiating the final details of his contract.

The former Chelsea, Valencia, Juventus and Roma boss has emerged as the leading candidate after Gian Piero Gasperini was sacked just three matches into the new Serie A season.

England boss Fabio Capello was also linked with Inter, but the Football Association is understood to be confident he is intent on remaining in his job until after Euro 2012.

Ranieri, who left Roma in February, and his agent were said to be meeting with Inter officials on Wednesday evening and were holding discussions over the length of the Italian's contract.

Media in Milan have speculated the 59-year-old is on the brink of signing a one-year deal with the option for an additional 12 months.

Inter president Massimo Moratti decided it was time for a change after Gasperini's side lost 3-1 at newly-promoted Novara on Tuesday night - their fourth defeat in five games.

The Italian giants are as a result in the process of appointing their fourth coach since Jose Mourinho walked away from the club on the back of an historic Treble in 2010.

Rafa Benitez, Leonardo and now Gasperini have all come and gone, with all three failing to replicate the success enjoyed by Mourinho.

Chelsea & Tottenham Fight To Sign Spain International

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are believed to be mulling over a surprise transfer move for SL Benfica left back Joan Capdevila.

The Spain international has been unable to settle at the Portuguese club, and Benfica manager Jorge Jesus did not even include him in his squad for the UEFA Champions League.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is thought to be concerned at his lack of cover at left back, as Danny Rose has not proven particularly effective when Benoit Assou Ekotto is unavailable.

Similarly, Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas is well known to be in the market for a left wing back to offer Ashley Cole some competition, with understandable reluctance to throw Ryan Bertrand in before he is ready.

Villas Boas bid for Alvaro Pereira in the summer, but Chelsea's offer was rejected by Porto.

Now both Tottenham and Chelsea may return for Capdevila, who as outlined above is not cup-tied for European competition, and despite being a European Championships and World Cup winner in the last three years, could be available for a bargain price.

"There is interest from some clubs," Capdevila's agent Horacio Gaggioli said on Radio Renascena.

"But I need to speak with Benfica and I will attend a meeting in Lisbon this week."

Liverpool Close To Agreeing AC Milan Midfielder Deal

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani looks closer than ever to concluding his spell on Merseyside with a permanent transfer to AC Milan in the offing.

The Italy international star has spent the last two campaigns on loan in his home country - last season at Juventus, this one in Milan.

Should he make 25 appearances for the Scudetto winners this season, it would make his purchase mandatory, with a fee pre-agreed between the two teams.

Having started the first two Serie A matches of the season for AC Milan, Aquilani appears to be in the Rossoneri first choice XI.

Barring injuries and suspensions, he is expected to comfortably reach the 25 appearances needed to force through the transfer, with his agent Franco Zavaglia optimistic.

"I really hope hell play many more and theres a good chance that will happen," said Zavaglia to ItaSportPress.it.

"Last season at Juventus he notched up quite a few games despite the fact he couldn’t play in the Europa League as had already featured with Liverpool.

"We will see. There are some pre-agreed conditions with Milan and we hope his future is here."

Arsenal & Manchester United In Transfer Battle For Prolific Midfielder

Arsenal and Manchester United could move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa in January.

The midfielder proved himself not only as a playmaker for Borussia Dortmund last season - but also as a goalscorer.

In 28 games last season for Dortmund, Kagawa scored 12 goals, making him of immense assistance to the team's strikers.

Injury prevented him from taking part in the title run-in, but Borussia Dortmund did eventually win the Bundesliga - and Kagawa was recognized for his contribution, winning a place in the best XI of the German season by Kicker magazine.

"Kagawa is a very mobile player, he is very clever, very creative and is very quick in the box and that is why he is a proven goal-scorer," said Arsene Wenger last week.

Sir Alex Ferguson meanwhile is also looking for an improved threat from midfield, with only Nani providing a regular goal threat behind the strikers.

Tottenham Consider £13m Offer For Striker

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko could be tempted by a return to Russia in January, with Lokomotiv Moscow prepared to make a bid.

According to Inside Futbol, the Russian side is keen on acquiring the frontman’s services and is ready to make a £13m bid when the transfer window reopens.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp may find such a sizeable offer too good to turn down and could reinvest any fee received into strengthening his squad in the New Year.

The former Spartak Moscow man has been long linked with a return to his homeland and Lokomotiv are the latest club to have shown an interest in clinching his signature.

Pavlyuchenko has remained eager to make his mark at White Lane but, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe impressing upfront, his chances of staking a claim in the side look slim.

With nearly four years of English football under his belt, the forward may now be ready to take up a lucrative deal with Lokomotiv.

Chelsea Eye Swoop For Classy Brazil Defender

Chelsea is leading the chase for Sao Paulo’s highly-rated defender Bruno Uvini.

The 20-year-old captained Brazil's Under-20s to World Cup triumph in Colombia last month, where a number of top European clubs, including Chelsea, sent scouts to keep tabs on his performances.

Blues boss Andre Villas received glowing reports on the classy centre-back and is now hoping to land the youngster in January having just missed out on securing a deal for him in the summer.

Chelsea was unable to agree a fee with Sao Paulo but is now prepared to meet the £8m asking price when the transfer window reopens in New Year.

The West London club allows him to remain on loan with the Brazilian side for the duration of the season before linking up with his new teammates in the summer.

AC Milan Target Van Der Vaart

AC Milan is weighing up a move for Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart.

The Dutchman looked like one of the signings of last season after some impressive early displays, having joined hours before the 2010 summer transfer window shut.

But his form tailed off towards the second half of the season, while questions have been asked about the balance of Harry Redknapp's side when van der Vaart plays.

The manager usually chooses to employ the 28-year-old just behind the lone frontman in a 4-4-1-1 but, following the summer arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor, Redknapp appear keen to play a front two including Jermain Defoe and the Togo international.

And now sources in Italy have claimed that AC Milan is considering a move for van der Vaart in January.

The Serie A side are aware that he may be open to a move if his first-team place cannot be assured, while they would be willing to pay Spurs around £12m for his services, which would represent a sizeable profit on the £8m they paid Real Madrid last year.

Arsenal Plot January Move For Fiorentina Ace

Arsenal is lining up a January move for Fiorentina midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas, according to reports in Italy.

Arsene Wenger was linked with a move for the gifted Peruvian during the summer transfer window but made no bid for him.

But now reports in Italy claim the Gunners are preparing to go back for him in the New Year.

The 27-year-old, who can play on the left of midfield or defence, has been one of the Serie A side's outstanding performers since his arrival in 2008.

Vargas has two years left on his contract but it is thought Fiorentina would be willing to sell for around £13m when the window opens in January.

Chelsea Plot £20m Swoop For Everton Wonderkid

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is planning a sensational £20m bid for Everton wonderkid Ross Barkley, according to the Daily Mirror.

Villas-Boas has ordered his scouts to find him top young talent as he looks to dismantle Chelsea’s ageing squad within the next 18 months.

Barkley has now been identified as a priority target for the Blues when the transfer window reopens in January.

The 18-year-old has been highly impressive for David Moyes' senior side this season, which has seen the youngster become arguably Britain’s brightest talent.

But Moyes will do his utmost to keep Barkley as Chelsea prepares a big-money offer having failed with an approach for the teenager in January.

Everton sold Wayne Rooney to Manchester United at a similar age in 2004, and it would take a huge fee to sell Barkley, despite all of their financial problems.

Manchester United boss are also believed to be keen on the youngster but Chelsea look set to intensify their efforts to sign him.

Manchester City Line Up January Move For Midfield Ace

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is planning to make a January swoop for Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, according to the Sun.

The Italian is a keen admirer of De Rossi, and was keen to try and bring him to the Etihad Stadium during the summer but the clubs owners blocked a move as they looked to comply with UEFA's new financial fair play rules which come into effect from next season.

That led to the club signing Owen Hargreaves on a free transfer instead, but after witnessing his team blow a 2-0 lead against Fulham at the weekend, Mancini is determined to secure De Rossi's signature, and has made him his number one target for the January transfer window.

Mancini blamed a lack of depth in midfield as the reason for his side surrendering their lead at Craven Cottage, and although De Rossi is out of contract next summer, Mancini is reportedly so keen to bolster his midfield that he would be willing to pay up to £8m for the player.

Over the summer Roma were demanding £25m price tag on De Rossi, but talks over a new deal have since stalled which could mean they're willing to consider letting him leave in January rather than risk him leaving for free.

In the summer Mancini said: "De Rossi would be absolutely perfect. I rate him one of the best midfielders in the world."

The Italian international is demanding £170,000 a week to sign a new deal at Roma, but Manchester City would be much more willing to offer such lucrative terms than the Italian giants.

Arsenal Renew Transfer Pursuit Of Inter Milan Playmaker

Arsenal will look to sign Inter Milan playmaker Ricardo Alvarez as again newspaper reports attempt to replace Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri on behalf of the club.

Abola in Portugal claim that Arsene Wenger has made enquiries about the availability of Alvarez, despite having missed out on the Argentina international to Inter Milan earlier in the summer.

It is safe to say that Ricky Alvarez - as he prefers to be known - has not had the best start to his career at Internazionale though.

Should Abola's report be accurate, Arsenal already believes they can tempt Inter into moving him on.

Alvarez, 23, can play in attacking midfield either centrally or on the left wing, and at 6'2" offers a height no other Arsenal midfielder currently has.

However, his struggles in Serie A will not fill Arsenal with confidence with regard to a future transfer, and his signing would have to be considered a gamble.

His Italian heritage means a work permit would not be an issue.

Tottenham Ready To Sign Swiss Stopper

Tottenham are considering a move for Switzerland goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, according to the Daily Mail.

Speculation over the future of Jakupovic has grown recently after his club Olympiakos Volos was relegated to Greeces amateur league for their part in a match-fixing scandal

Initially, Volos thought they had been reprieved and were shocked to learn they had been condemned to the Delta Ethniki - meaning all their players are now available for free transfers.

Jakupovic was linked with Everton and Newcastle in the summer but Spurs are now understood to be leading the chase for the highly-rated stopper.

In 2009, the 26-year-old had trials with Tottenham as a Lokomotiv Moscow player but the clubs failed to agree a fee.

Tottenham are scouring the market for a replacement for Heurelho Gomes, who has grown frustrated after losing his number one spot to Brad Friedel.

Liverpool & Inter Milan In Transfer Tussle For Belgian Star

Liverpool and Inter Milan are leading the chase for Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen, according to talkSPORT.

The Belgian International, who has been previously linked with Arsenal, is quickly becoming one of the most sought after central defenders in Europe and was watched by a number of scouts during the Champions League game against Lyon last week.

Reports in Holland claim that Liverpool and Inter are now favourites to sign the 24-year-old when the transfer window re-opens in January after making early enquiries with the Amsterdam club.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is keen to bolster his backline with the capture of the classy stopper and help the Reds return to the top four this season.

But Ajax are keen to keep Vertonghen at the club and will be hoping a decent run in the Champions League can persuade him to remain with the Dutch giants.

Chelsea Striker Ponders MLS Switch

Nicolas Anelka came close to signing for a Major League Soccer franchise in the summer and could still yet make a move to America, according to one of his representatives.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas recently revealed he expected the French striker to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season when his contract expires.

The 32-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the MLS in August and, while a move failed to materialize, his camp has confirmed the US could very well be his next destination.

"I can confirm that Nicolas is still possibly interested in pursuing an MLS career," Michael Wiesenfeld told Goal.com, who is part of European Football Group, an organization which will represent Anelka should he join MLS.

"He got very close to landing a nice contract with a team on the West Coast in August. He also has opportunities elsewhere in the world."

It is understood that Anelka almost joined Los Angeles Galaxy, who instead used their third Designated Player spot to bring in Robbie Keane for a reported salary of 3.4 million dollars per season.

Celtic Plan January Move For Arsenal Winger

Celtic are reportedly hoping to sign Arsenal teenager Ryo Miyaichi on loan when the transfer window reopens in January.

According to The Mirror, the Glasgow giants are closely monitoring the situation of the 18-year-old, who is considered as one of the most exciting footballing talents to have emerged from Japan in recent memory.

Celtic are said to be keen to offer Miyaichi an opportunity to further is development, and Neil Lennon will attempt to bring the youngster to Celtic Park during the new year.

Miyaichi finalized his move to Arsenal after finishing his studies earlier this year, but was immediately sent out on loan to Feyenoord in as the Gunners attempted to obtain him a work visa.

The young attacker has since been permitted to play for Arsenal but has yet to make his competitive first-team bow for Arsene Wenger's side.

Capdevila Eyes January Switch

Spanish international Joan Capdevila is already being strongly linked with a move away from Benfica.

The 33-year-old joined the Portuguese giants in the summer from Villarreal on a two-year deal.

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus is not a fan of Capdevila and did not even include him in their UEFA Champions League squad.

He was connected with a move to Italy with Juventus and Napoli both linked prior to his switch to Portugal.

But now his agent has confirmed that their interest could be reignited.

"There is interest from some clubs," Horacio Gaggioli told Radio Renascena.

"But I need to speak with Benfica and I will attend a meeting in Lisbon this week."