Reds Linked To Damiao

Liverpool has reportedly joined the race for Internacional striker Leandro Damiao after having him watched by club representatives.

The 22-year-old is causing a stir in his homeland with his displays after scoring 39 goals in the current Brazilian season and he was watched by Reds assistant boss Steve Clarke when Brazil beat Ghana at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool would not have it all their own way if they were to make a move for the striker as Spurs are also very strongly linked.

And the Londoners had a £16.5million offer turned down for the player at the end of the summer transfer window, with Internacional thought to want in the region of £20m for the player.

Having already bought Louis Suarez, Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy to Anfield it remains to be seen if Kenny Dalglish is still keen to spend a lot of money on a new striker in January, despite the link.

Damiao, who is currently sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury, has a contract which runs for a further five years but he has already indicated he may like to make the move to Europe.

"If there is an opportunity to play in Europe, of course I would like it," Damiao said recently.

Roma Target Loan Move For Tottenham Striker

Roma are hoping to make a move for Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Pavlyuchenko, 29, has struggled to secure a regular first-team place at White Hart Lane and is having to contend with playing in the Europa League this season.

The Russian striker was recently linked with a move to Lokomotiv Moscow but reports in Spain today suggest that Roma are leading the chase to sign him.

Roma coach Luis Enrique is believed to want Pavlyuchenko on loan until the end of the season with a view to making the move a permanent one during the summer.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will be reluctant to let the Russian forward leave White Hart Lane until he has signed a replacement after allowing Peter Crouch to join Stoke last month.

Champions League Group A Preview

Manchester City face the daunting task of taking on Bayern Munich in their Champions League Group A fixture at Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

The Bundesliga powerhouse have not conceded a goal in their past 838 minutes on the pitch across league and European matches, meaning Roberto Mancini's star-studded side will need something special to penetrate the Bayern defence.

But City are certainly capable of producing sublime football to beat Josef Heynckes's men, with quality such as David Silva, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri in midfield, with in-form stars Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko firing on all cylinders up front.

City showed their human side in their 1-1 draw with Napoli, as nerves got the better of the Mancurians in their European opener.

But Silva paid credit to their Italian opponents, and promised his side would attack at Bayern, to hunt for their first win in the Champions League.

"I think we can attack them like we do at home," Silva said.

"We can stick to our footballing principles. We don't have to change our style against other teams home or away. We believe in what we are doing and have confidence in each other so we will keep doing the same things."

"The truth is Napoli played very well against us. They are a strong team. But against Bayern we will try the same things - to keep the ball, play with the same style and get a positive result."

One of Silva's direct opponents will be Bayern playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger, and the German said his side is expecting a tougher challenge than in their 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.

"Of course we know that on Tuesday we will face a team that is better quality (than Bayer Leverkusen) and also a team with plenty of individual talent," he told Ligatotal.

"We had this game under (control) completely but on Tuesday comes a real challenge for us. We must show that we can play in the Champions League against top teams like them (Manchester City)."

Napoli need to arrest a small form slump when they host La Liga outfit Villarreal at the Stadio San Paolo in the other Group A affair.

The Italian club led in Manchester before settling for a draw.

They beat title challengers AC Milan in the league earlier this month, but have since failed to score in their past two against Chievo and Fiorentina.

Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri defended his recent team selection, stating that their presence in Europe was always going to affect their league form.

"Fiorentina have excellent players, they're a good team and on top of that they're not involved in the Champions League, unlike us, and so they were fresher than us," he said.

"Being in the Champions League can cost you 10 points in the league and I knew that."

"And then you can't forget that we've got Villarreal and then Inter (Milan) coming up. I'm sticking to my path, I had to make changes in Verona against Chievo to protect my players."

From the Spanish camp, striker Giuseppe Rossi is in doubt to play, despite being set to travel to Italy.

Rossi injured his left knee in Villarreal's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao, and potential replacement Marco Ruben is out for three weeks with a foot complaint.

Champions League Group B Preview

Turkish side Trabzonspor can consolidate top spot in Champions League Group B when they host Lille in Trabzon on Tuesday.

Senol Gunes' men rode their luck in their European opener, beating Inter Milan 1-0 away from home, with their goal coming from their only shot on target.

Striker Burak Yilmaz will continue to serve his three-game ban, while attacker Adrian Mierzejewski can return from suspension for the clash at Huseyin Avni Aker Stadyumu.

Defender Arkadiusz Glowacki is likely to miss with a groin niggle, while Gustavo Colman is out due to a hamstring injury attained on Friday.

Lille will be buoyed by English midfielder Joe Cole's first goal in France at the weekend, in their 1-1 Ligue 1 draw with Lorient.

Rudi Garcia's men have not lost in their past seven, but have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 12 official matches (pre-season friendlies excluded).

Defender Aurelien Chedjou has missed the past fortnight with a thigh complaint.

Lille sit third in the table level on one point with CSKA Moscow, after the Russian outfit fought back to earn a 2-2 draw on Gameday One.

Moscow will host Inter Milan in the group's other clash, at the Olimpiyskiy stadion Luzhniki.

Inter will be without midfielder Wesley Sneijder, full-back Maicon and midfielder Dejan Stankovic due to injury.

It will be Claudio Ranieri's first game in charge in European competition, after his side gave him a winning start to his reign at the club with a 3-1 away victory over Bologna in Serie A on Saturday.

CSKA have won just one of their past five, with their 3-1 win over Volga in the Russian Premier League on the weekend their only victory since August 20.

Champions League Group C Preview

Manchester United can bounce back from dropping their first league points when they host FC Basel in Champions League Group C on Tuesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men were held to a 1-1 draw at Stoke in the English Premier League on Saturday, leaving them level on points with bitter rivals Manchester City on top of the table.

But United will look to recover their winning ways when they welcome the Swiss outfit to Old Trafford, and will look to impose their class on the Super League champions.

They will have to do so without star striker Wayne Rooney, who has picked up a hamstring injury, but Ferguson's riches in the scoring department mean he will choose two of Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen or Danny Welbeck to start up front.

The Scot has indicated he will blood a weakened squad for Basel's visit, as he looks to preserve their freshness early in the campaign.

"If you get to 10 points, you know you're into the next stage but we'd like to win the group anyway. If we win our next three games, we can utilize the squad," he said.

"It would definitely help and we've done that over the years. It's sometimes backfired - I played a fresh team over in Fenerbahce and they beat us 3-0 (in 2004)."

"Although I want to make changes, I don't want an embarrassment, so changes have got to be made with a mind of still winning the game."

In the group's other clash, Romanian side Otelul Galati will host Benfica in Bucharest.

Galati are not expected to progress beyond the group stages, but they very nearly earned a point at Basel in their opening clash, save for a late Alexander Frei penalty.

Dorinel Munteanu's side will have a tougher task containing their Liga Sagres opponents on Tuesday, too, with the latter impressing against the might of Manchester in their first group game.

The former Romanian international of 134 caps has plenty of experience on the European stage, helping beat Portuguese side Sporting CP in his first UEFA Cup match in the 1991-92 campaign.

While his side is rank underdogs to take three points, Munteanu will be hoping for more success against opposition from Portugal, but should Benfica play anywhere near what they did against United, it will be hard for the Romanian side to snare a point.

Champions League Group D Preview

La Liga giants Real Madrid found their scoring touch at the weekend, ahead of their Champions League Group D clash with Ajax on Tuesday.

Jose Mourinho has been under pressure recently, after Madrid failed to score in consecutive league matches, but a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick at the Bernabeu on Saturday helped ease the pressure on the master tactician.

However, the Spanish powerhouse also shipped two goals, and had midfielder Angel di Maria sent off - two aspects that would no doubt upset the Portuguese mentor.

Mourinho will return to the sideline for the first time in four UEFA matches after serving a suspension, but Marcelo will be absent for the clash after seeing red in Real's 1-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb to open the group stages.

Ajax should be boosted by the weekend return of Miralem Sulejmani and Vurnon Anita from injury, after Sulejmani picked up a hamstring injury in their 0-0 draw with Lyon in the opening match.

Lyon welcome Zagreb in the other group encounter at Stade de Gerland, hoping to emulate their league form which sees them top of the Ligue 1 table.

Similarly, though, their Croatian opponents top their league table in the Prva HNL, meaning neither side has an excuse for a poor performance on Tuesday.

Dinamo are competing in their first CL campaign in 12 years, and will need to kickstart their run with at least a point if they hope to progress past the group stages.

Arsenal Ready To Renew Interest In Marseille's £10m Midfielder

Marseille midfielder Stephane Mbia has once again declared his interest in playing in the Premier League, news that will certainly have alerted Arsenal who have tracked the player for some time.

The Cameroon international has consistently been linked with a move to England in the last two seasons and last summer was strongly linked with a £15million move to Arsenal.

However, the deal never emerged and now the midfielder is keen to push through a transfer after returning to full fitness.

"I want to play at the very top," Mbia told skysports.com. "Going to England has always been in my mind and I would love to play there one day.

"I was close to moving once and hopefully I will come back, play well and an English team will come back in for me. But at the moment I want to heal fully and play well for Marseille."

Mbia has not managed to play this season due to injury but is hoping that he will be back in time to take on Arsenal in the Champions League on October 19.

"I am feeling much better. The injury is healing like I want it to and I would like to be back on the field as soon as possible. The club needs me but my team-mates are doing their best to get the season back on track."

Mbia has the ability to play as a defensive midfielder, a position where Arsenal are short of options after the departure of Denilson, while he can also fill in at centre back.

PSG Turn Attention To Real Madrid Star Kaka

Paris Saint-Germain is poised to make a move for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka and hope to beat Arsenal in the race to sign the Brazilian superstar.

Kaka was strongly linked with a loan switch to Arsenal during the summer, but the move never materialized.

Arsene Wenger is set to renew his interest in January, but he will have to act fast as reports in France suggest that PSG are now making moves to sign the experienced midfielder.

Kaka has struggled to find his best form under Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu and could be allowed to leave the Spanish giants in the new year.

PSG are not afraid to splash the cash and Arsenal face a strong battle to sign Kaka in January.

West Brom Eyeing Shock Swoop For Fiorentina Youngster

West Brom are monitoring Fiorentina youngster Boadu Maxwell Acosty.

Roy Hodgson, according to reports in Italy, has sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old winger who has been impressing in the Serie A side's reserves.

The Ghanaian winger was watched on Saturday by a West Brom representative and is believed to have impressed enough to add to his growing reputation.

Fiorentina take on Genoa on Wednesday and West Brom are planning to have a set of eyes in the crowd in case Acosty makes an appearance.

Newcastle To Battle Arsenal & Man United For French International

Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin is one of the most in-demand midfielders in European football with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and now Newcastle all chasing the player’s signature.

The France international has become an established member of the Sochaux first team since coming through the clubs youth ranks and has become an integral part of the national team under Laurent Blanc.

The creative midfielder has made more than 100 league appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit despite being just 23-years-old and is being linked with a move next summer.

Martin only signed a new deal with the French side at the start of the season, but it is widely reported that he has an agreement with the club that he can leave next summer if a foreign club makes a significant offer.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal have been strongly linked with the playmaker who has even earned the nickname 'Little Xavi' from his teammates at Sochaux.

Now, the Sunday Sun is reporting that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew wants the French midfielder at the club and even sent chief scout Graham Carr to watch the player in action.

Pardew wants Martin to join his French revolution at Newcastle who already has Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Mehdi Abeid, Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan at the club.

Juventus Enter The Race For Man City Target

Manchester City target Alessio Cerci is now being tracked by Juventus, according to reports in Italy.

City boss Roberto Mancini was reportedly keen to bring the Italian winger to England during the summer but cooled his interest following the signing of Samir Nasri.

But it has been suggested Mancini is still keeping tabs on the Fiorentina midfielder and could be tempted to go back for him in January.

But now sources in Italy have revealed that Juventus boss Antonio Conte has identified Cerci as a January target as he attempts to steer his side, who are currently top of Serie A, to their first title for eight years.

The 24-year-old impressed last season, in his first campaign at Fiorentina after arriving from Roma in 2010, and is valued at around £7m.

Manchester City Keeping Tabs On Arsenal Star

Manchester City will make an incredible £30m bid for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie if contract talks between the Dutchman and the Gunners do not progress before the January transfer window.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Van Persie is deeply disillusioned over the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to City.

He signed a new contract with Arsenal in 2009 despite Juventus, Internazionale and Chelsea all engaging in talks.

If he elects to follow his former team-mates out of the club, it will add to the growing concern for Arsene Wenger's side, who have made their worst start to a League season for 58 years.

Van Persie, along with several other key players, has a contract which ends in 2013 and the Gunners will need to act with conviction if they want to fend off clubs who think the whole squad is potentially available.

On Saturday, Wenger highlighted Van Persie's importance to the team after two more goals took him to 100 for Arsenal and helped secure only their second league win of the season.

“He has grown well into the captain's role” said Wenger. “He is a man who speaks his mind and is doing the job well”

But the departure of so many key players and the inability of Arsenal to keep pace with Manchester United and City, will inevitably influence Van Persie’s decision.

Italian clubs Juventus and Inter Milan are also reportedly monitoring the situation and could line up offers in the January transfer window.

Chelsea Prepare £20m Move For Italian Star Midfielder

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will have been put on red alert after the latest comments to come from Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo, according to reports on Goal.com.

The Italian international during the course of the summer transfer window had been linked with moves to Inter Milan, Lazio and Cagilari, it is also believed Chelsea made an offer for Parolo on transfer deadline day but nothing materialized.

Speaking about his desire to play in the Premier League, the 26-year-old said: "I am not your traditional Italian midfielder as I have a lot of different characteristics than others. 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 is 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."

Ander Herrera Targeted By Spurs

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera will cost Spurs more than £15million if they decide to follow up their interest with a bid when the January transfer window opens.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy are busy trying to identify targets who could strengthen the club's push for a top-four finish after the turn of the year.

One player they are considering is Herrera, who was part of the Spain team that won this summer's Under-21s European Championship.

Athletic Bilbao is willing to consider selling, but have indicated they are only prepared to listen to offers in excess of £15million for the 22-year-old, reports the People.

Tottenham's scouts face a wait to see the former Zaragoza star in action again as they try to decide whether he is worth the asking price, as he is facing a month on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Redknapp's priority for the January transfer window remains a new striker, with Internacional's Leandro Damiao and Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo his top targets.

Arsenal Plan Audacious Bid To Sign Tottenham Star

Arsenal is reportedly considering launching an astonishing bid to sign Tottenham playmaker Rafael Van Der Vaart. Arsene Wenger is thought to be a big admirer of the Dutch international and persuade the midfielder to make a controversial move across North London.

Many sources have stated in recent weeks that the 28 year old is unsettled at White Hart Lane and this has led to speculation that Van der Vaart could leave Tottenham with a number of club’s said to be very interested in signing the former Ajax, Hamburg and Real Madrid man with the likes of AC Milan and Juventus also said to be keen on the talented goal scoring midfielder.

Van der Vaart had an excellent first season in the Premier League, notching up 15 goals in all competitions following his surprise £8m move from the Bernabeu to Tottenham but he is said to now be considering his options having seen his side fail to retain their spot in the top four whilst also failing to make significant additions in the summer.

Wenger is looking for further creative additions to his midfield following the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Man City respectively and is thought to be weighing up an offer in the region of £16m for the Spurs man, an offer that may well be rejected by Redknapp but could lead to Rafael Van Der Vaart being tempted to move to Arsenal.

Van der Vaart netted three goals in the two North London derbies last term and knows all to well just how such a move would go down with Tottenham fans but if by January he feels that his side is no nearer to breaking back into the top four and with Luka Modric having previously made it clear he wanted a move to Chelsea, then perhaps a move to Arsenal is not totally implausible.

Indeed such a move could of course depend on whether Wenger can push his side back up the table after a poor start to the season but given that Arsenal have consistently qualified for Champions League football one would imagine that they should begin to restore the position among the front runners before too long.

Wenger had been strongly linked with a move to sign Van der Vaart during his tempestuous spell in Spain and indeed fellow Dutch international Robin Van Persie had personally pleaded with his boss to sign the midfielder and perhaps a deal could still become a reality.

Manchester United Keen On Aston Villa Youngster Barry Bannan

Sir Alex Ferguson is monitoring the progress of pint sized Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan with a view to a possible move for the determined youngster. The Man United boss has been impressed by the Scottish international’s performances this term and has assigned scouts to keep an eye on the 21 year old in the coming months.

Ferguson has adopted a policy of bringing in young talent to merge with those coming through Man United’s own academy system to help produce a new generation of players he will hope can help continue the club’s domestic dominance and help make the transition from his old guard to a new era as seamless as possible.

Over the past 18 months the Premier League champions have signed the likes of Javier Hernandez, David de Gea, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones and now the wily Scot has his eye on Aidrie born Bannan who moved to Villa Park as a 14 year old from Celtic.

After a couple of seasons plying his trade on loan at Derby County, Blackpool and Leeds United, Bannan has benefited from the appointment of Alex McLeish as Aston Villa boss with the former Rangers and Birmingham City boss showing faith in the fiery youngster this season.

Ferguson may feel he could do with the addition of the adaptable midfielder, not least as he could add further strength in depth and because a number of Man United’s options across the midfield are getting on in years. Michael Carrick, Ji Sung-Park and Ryan Giggs are all 30 years and over and it is believed that Darron Gibson is likely to leave Old Trafford in January.

Mancini Targets £50m Brazilian Superstar

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini wants his club to derail Real Madrid’s signing of Santos striker Neymar, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Brazilian superstar is expected to cost in the region of £50m and Mancini has been telling City's management for the past 12 months that Neymar is the best young player in the world.

He has reportedly told the club if they are serious about competing with the likes of Madrid and Barcelona, they must use their financial muscle to attract elite players of his calibre.

City’s coach and Mancini confidante Attilio Lombardo, has been to South America on a scouting mission to scope out the best young talent on the continent. He has reported back that Neymar could be as important to City as Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

Recently departed City Chief executive Garry Cook had well known differences of opinion with Mancini over targets and it remains to be seen if Mancini’s views carry more weight these days.

Anzhi Makhachkala Set Sights On Inter's Maicon

Anzhi Makhachkala is weighing up the merits of a move for Inter right-back Maicon, Itasportpress suggests.

The Russian outfit is keen to add to their resources as they look to establish themselves as a household name in the country.

After spending a reported €28 million to prize striker Samuel Eto'o away from Inter in the summer, Anzhi have reportedly made Maicon their top priority for the winter transfer window.

The Brazil international was strongly linked with a switch to Real Madrid in the last two summers, but a move always failed to materialize, as Inter held firm over their valuation of the player.

At Anzhi, Maicon would have the chance to play alongside fellow countrymen Roberto Carlos, Joao Carlos, Jucilei and Diego Tardelli.

Itasportpress claims that Maicon, who has a contract with Inter until the summer of 2013, would be allowed to leave the San Siro outfit for €15m.

Barcelona Will Not Sign Replacement For Injured Ibrahim Afellay

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has ruled out the possibility of signing a substitute for Ibrahim Afellay in the winter transfer window.

The Netherlands international is due to spend approximately the next six months on the sidelines after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Thursday's training.

With Afellay expected to feature only in the last two months of the campaign, it has been suggested that Barcelona could bring in a January replacement for the 25-year-old.

However, Zubizarreta has knocked down that scenario, telling Barca TV: "Afellay's injury is not good news, but it is clear that the solution is in our squad and in our youth ranks.

"We are not considering signing a new player. The club doctors will analyze the case and decide his recovery time. "

The 25-year-old, who joined Barcelona from PSV in January, has made two appearances for the club this season, both as a substitute.

Valencia To Bid For Fenerbahce's Gokhan Gonul

Valencia are reportedly interested in Fenerbahce defender Gokhan Gonul, with the Spanish club set to make a €8 million bid for him come January, according to Fanatik.

The Turkey international right back has been a mainstay in the Turkish champions' first team since 2007, and has made 24 appearances for his nation.

The 26-year-old is thought to be unimpressed with the match-fixing scandal in the country, and would be keen to turn out for one of La Liga's top teams.

The report indicates that Mehmet Topal, who currently plays for Unai Emery's side, has recommended his countryman.

The eastern coast team is thought to be preparing a €8 million for him, with a move to occur when the transfer window opens in the new year.

Valencia's current right-back, Miguel, is seen by some as unconvincing, so investment in the position may be a target for Emery.

Roma Target January Move For Vagner Love

Roma are weighing up signing CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love in the winter transfer window, calciomercato reports.

The Brazilian attacker has repeatedly spoken of being unsettled at the club, where he arrived from Palmeiras in 2004.

Flamengo and Porto both tabled summer bids for Vagner Love, but both clubs failed to land the player as CSKA Moscow stood firm over their asking price.

On Saturday, the president of the Russian outfit, Yevgeny Giner, admitted the Brazilian's time at the Luzhniki Stadium is coming to an end, prompting suggestions he could switch clubs in January.

Roma, who have so far struggled to make an impression this season, are understood to be keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old's situation.

The Italian capital club bolstered their attacking department in the summer with Pablo Osvaldo and Bojan Krkic, but reports suggest Luis Enrique is looking for one more striker to be able to mount a serious challenge for the top league places.

Raffael Eyed By Arsenal For January Transfer

Hertha Berlin star Raffael has emerged as a January transfer target for Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his struggling squad.

Wenger recruited Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, but having lost Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City, the Gunners boss is keen to bring in another midfielder.

Reports in Germany suggest that man could be Brazilian-born Raffael, who has scored twice in six Bundesliga games on the club's return to the top flight.

The 26-year-old former FC Zurich star, who scored ten goals last season to help Hertha win the second tier of the German league, is under contract until 2014 and would cost the Gunners around £4million.

It is believed Arsenal have been watching the attacking midfielder since the start of the Bundesliga season, with a view to making a bid in January.

News that Jack Wilshere's ankle injury will keep him on the sidelines for months may see Wenger step up his interest in Raffael, even though the England international is optimistic he will be able to return to action at Christmas.

Tottenham, QPR & New York Red Bulls To Fight For Michael Owen

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is reportedly considering making an offer for Man United striker Michael Owen. The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United man is believed to be ready to consider a move away from Old Trafford in order to pursue regular first team football and could be tempted into a move to the capital where newly promoted QPR are also said to be plotting a bid for the 31 year old.

White Hart Lane boss Redknapp has seen two of last season’s striking quartet, Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane, leave for Stoke City and LA Galaxy respectively and now the North London boss is looking to beef up his attacking options to add to his loan capture of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Roman Pavlyuchenko has failed to impress thus far this season but England international Jermain Defoe has struck three goals in four Premier League appearances but Redknapp feels he needs further support to help the club break back into the top four as well as mounting concerted campaigns to win a cup trophy this season.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes is also keeping a close eye on the experienced striker and could make a move to bring the high profile signing to Loftus Road having helped to land Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Anton Ferdinand, among others, during the summer transfer window.

Neil Warnock could well do with an injection of firepower having seen his West London side net just four goals in five games and the signing of Owen could be just the kind of deal that could help secure the Super Hoops presence in the English top tier and therefore his high wage demands would be well worth forking out for, not least as any fee to be paid to Man United is likely to be nominal given that the former England international’s contract comes to an end next summer.

MLS side New York Red Bulls as the third club ready to make inquiries about the Man United man and a move to the States may appeal to Michael Owen as a potential new challenge and one that could be very lucrative for the striker.

Sir Alex Ferguson may well be willing to allow Owen to leave given the emergence of Danny Welbeck on the scene and the flourishing partnership of Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney up front.

Newcastle & Sunderland Battle To Sign Sochaux Striker

Rivals Newcastle and Sunderland face a January showdown for Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga.

The Black Cats are poised to go head-to-head with their neighbours over the 23-year-old Mali star.

Newcastle was bitterly disappointed not to land him before the August transfer window closed.

Maiga, who was involved in a strike row with his club in August, is determined to land a dream move to the Premier League and named Newcastle as his preferred destination.

But the Black Cats interest could spark a North-East bidding war.

Newcastle thought they had all but completed a £7m deal for Maiga before Sochaux began playing hard ball over the fee.

But Bruce is keen to add another striker to his squad, despite securing Niklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal as cover for Asamoah Gyan.

Tottenham Hotspur Linked With Rodrigo Palacio

Tottenham Hotspur is showing an interest in Genoa forward Rodrigo Palacio.

The 29-year-old joined the Rossoblu in 2009 from Argentine giants Boca Juniors and has impressed in Serie A with form that led Inter to make an attempt to convince Genoa to part with their jewel in the summer.

At one point it did seem that Palacio would head to join the Nerazzurri as a replacement for Anzhi Makhachkala bound Samuel Eto’o, but the proposed deal fell apart and Genoa increased the forward’s wages and contract length.

The Serie A club though looks likely to have to resist an approach from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in January if Palacio is to end the season at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Sources have indicated that Spurs have been impressed with the Argentine, although the White Hart Lane outfit has yet to make an official offer.

Palacio would be likely to be attracted by the opportunity to move to the Premier League and compete in Europe on a regular basis.

Renewed interest in the forward from Inter however, now coached by Claudio Ranieri, also cannot be ruled out.

Juventus & Inter Track Robin van Persie

Serie A giants Juventus and Inter have paid attention to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s admission that Dutch striker Robin van Persie could leave the club.

Wenger confirmed that Van Persie, along with Theo Walcott, Thomas Vermaelen and Andrei Arshavin could all potentially be sold at the end of the season if they refused to sign new contracts within the Gunners’ wage ceiling.

The loss that threatens to cast the biggest shadow over Arsenal is Van Persie, with the Holland international having seen Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri pick up bumper pay rises upon leaving the Emirates over the summer.

Should Van Persie push to leave Arsenal then there will be no shortage of suitors for his signature.

And sources in Italy confirm that both Juventus and Inter will be amongst them, although the pair are not planning to wait until next summer to test the water – the Bianconeri and Nerazzurri are lining up January transfer window bids for the Arsenal man.

Wenger may then be faced with a big decision to make in January when bids from Italy arrive.

While Van Persie would still be worth north of £20M at the end of the season, the winter transfer window could be the Gunners’ best opportunity to realize top dollar for the 28-year-old if it is understood his wage demands as part of a new contract will not be able to be accommodated.

Arsenal To Move For £15m French International Star

Arsenal is reportedly preparing a January swoop for Yann M'Vila after missing out on the Rennes defensive midfielder in the summer, according to Footy Bunker.

The Gunners made a late move for the 21-year-old, but were rebuffed by the French side, who were holding out for more money.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a keen admirer of the French international, and believes that his tenacious play will add a touch of steel to a misguided Arsenal midfield.

With the north London side struggling to find consistent form this season, question marks are surrounding Wenger's current crop of players.

The club is believed to be planning a £15 million bid for M'Vila, having spent little of the combined £50 million they received through the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri over the summer.

Everton Want Manchester United Midfielder In January

Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson only just missed out on sealing a move to Sunderland during the summer but it is now Everton who have identified the player as a potential January signing.

The Republic of Ireland international was hoping to secure a move away from Old Trafford where he has fallen behind the likes of Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick.

However, a deal with Sunderland fell through at the final hour and Gibson has now been forced to sit on the bench, or on some occasions not even make the match day squad, as United have won every league game so far this season.

Everton meanwhile had a difficult summer in which they were forced to sell Mikel Arteta to Arsenal, while finances dictated that manager David Moyes could not spend big money to bring players to the club.

Moyes is now hoping to persuade Manchester United to loan the player to Everton in January where he will almost certainly be given the chance to gain first team football.

The 23-year-old has fallen out of favour at United but still has a reputation as a goal scoring midfielder who would almost certainly be able to gain regular football away from old Trafford.

Manchester United Considering Shock Move For Spanish International

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up VIllarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano, with a view to a move.

United scouts have been monitoring the performances of the 27-year-old, who has displayed some impressive performances of late.

Spanish Radio station Cadena Ser suggests that United are weighing up whether to make an official move for the player in January.

While United are thought to bid around €10 million for the Spanish International, Villarreal are reluctant to lose a player who came through the ranks at El Madrigal.

It is the versatility of Soriano which has attracted the Premier League champions, who can operate as a competent left-back, despite being primarily used as a defensive midfielder.

With question marks surrounding the future of Michael Carrick, and Darren Fletcher still struggling after an extended absence through illness, Soriano looks like an astute target.

Arsenal Looking At Brighton’s Defender Lewis Dunk

Arsenal is reportedly considering a bid to secure the services of Brighton and Hove Albion’s highly-rated defender Lewis Dunk.

According to The Daily Mail, an Arsenal scout was watching in the stands as Gus Poyet’s side went out of the League Cup in midweek in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.

The towering 19-year-old defender remained on the bench throughout the game, although reports suggest that Arsenal will continue to keep tabs on a player who previously captained the Brighton youth team as manager Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his faltering defence.

Another name the north London club has been linked with is 14-year-old Spanish full-back Guim Laporta.

Laporta, who is the son of former Barcelona president Joan, has been highlighted by Wenger as being an exciting prospect for the future.

Ibrahim Afellay Injury Ends Spurs' January Transfer Hopes

Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has suffered a serious knee injury - potentially disrupting the transfer plans of both Spurs and Arsenal.

The Dutchman, who was a target for Tottenham over the summer, is to undergo surgery after tearing a cruciate ligament in his left knee during training on Thursday.

Afellay is expected to be out of action for at least six months, but could miss the whole of the rest of the season.

Either way, the injury will prevent Spurs renewing their attempts to sign the 25-year-old when the January transfer window opens.

The Tottenham board had asked about the former PSV Eindhoven winger's availability, as it was thought he would be surplus to requirements once Barca had completed deals for Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez.

He has played just twice this season, but with Andres Iniesta and Sanchez both also out injured, Barca is now short of cover in midfield.

That will mean a bigger role for 20-year-old Thiago Alcantara, who Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had wanted to sign.

Wenger tried to take the youngster as part of the deal that saw Fabregas return to Barcelona and still has ambitions to tempt the rising star to the Emirates Stadium.

Milan Prepare Amauri Swoop

Milan’s striker shortage is likely to prompt a January offer for Juventus outcast Amauri.

The Rossoneri have only Antonio Cassano and Stephan El Shaarawy available for Saturday’s game with Cesena.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexandre Pato, Robinho and Kevin-Prince Boateng are all injured, while Pippo Inzaghi has not played a full match in 10 months.

The Corriere dello Sport suggests they will make a January swoop for Amauri to strengthen their attack.

The Brazilian, who plays his international football for Italy, is frozen out of the Juventus squad.

His contract expires at the end of the season, but he rejected all transfers to France and Turkey over the summer.

Juve were furious and consider him to be a huge weight on their wage bill, so they would welcome an offer from Milan.