jose - soccer

Manchester City have been long-term admirers of De Rossi and tried to sign the 29-year-old in the summer, only for him to commit his future to Roma. More recently, big-spending Paris St Germain have been linked with a January move for De Rossi after Carlo Ancelotti praised the player.

Baldini caused a stir earlier this month when he seemingly opened the door for De Rossi's departure by saying Roma would always to listen to offers for the midfielder. However, Baldini has ruled out any sale of the Italy international after conceding he may have been 'careless' with his original comments.

He told Rai Sport: "Maybe I was a bit careless and that has led to this situation, but Roma does not want to sell De Rossi. "I answered a question about what I would do if offers came in. But once and for all, we are not interested in selling." (skysports.com)

The former wife of Daniele de Rossi feels he should quit AS Roma. The midfielder is nicknamed ‘Future Captain’ and is a life-long Giallorossi supporter, but reports of a transfer escalated after his red card in the derby and clashes with Coach Zdenek Zeman.

“As his wife, then as his ex-wife, I always told him to take the money and leave,” Tamara Pisnoli told RTL 102.5 radio. “However, he always replied that he is attached to this jersey, to the team and his city, so could not do that to the fans. Only now he sees those same fans turning against him. “Gratitude doesn’t exist in football, as they all say that Daniele is playing badly without adding that the entire team is not exactly doing well.” (tribalfootball.com)

FC Bayern München have confirmed that Louis van Gaal has agreed to become their new coach. The German giants have been searching for a new boss since Klinsmann's exit last month.Van Gaal has been Bayern's top target, but they had been struggling to reach an agreement with AZ Alkmaar to release the Dutchman. However, a compromise has been struck and Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness says Van Gaal will take charge from the start of July. "We understand that he will become our head coach on 1st July," he said. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: "We are happy to have signed an experienced and successful football coach for Bayern Munich such as Louis van Gaal." Van Gaal will sign a two-year contract upon his arrival at Allianz Arena.

Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich opted to give head coach Juergen Klinsmann the sack after the 1-0 league defeat against Schalke’04 some three weeks ago and the Bavarians immediately targeted AZ coach Louis van Gaal as his replacement.

Reports in the Dutch media earlier this week already claimed that Bayern Munich were on the verge of announcing the former Ajax coach as their new trainer, but AZ were reluctant to let go of the successful tactician and frustrated the move.

However, according to NOS, the Dutch champions have now reached an agreement with Bayern about a transfer fee and van Gaal will be in charge at the German giants starting this summer. Further details about the deal haven’t been announced yet.

Van Gaal’s AZ deal was due to expire in 2010, but the 57-year-old made it clear that signing for Bayern Munich was like a dream for him. His excellent relationship with AZ chairman Dirk Scheringa eventually made the latter decide to let go of Van Gaal.

(source: goal, goldenfoot.com)

Chelsea are happy for Carlo Ancelotti to have a say on a summer squad clearout, it has been revealed. The Telegraph says AC Milan boss Ancelotti is understood to have finally made a commitment to leave the San Siro and join Chelsea on a three-year contract. According to a report in the British broadsheet The Telegraph, Carlo Ancelotti has been promised huge financial backing for transfers after agreeing to take over as Chelsea manager.

Apparently, the Italian has decided he will depart Milan at the end of the season to take over at Stamford Bridge on a three-year contract. As part of the deal, it is claimed that Blues owner Roman Abramovich has promised to give the 49-year-old at least €56.6 million (£50m) to strengthen the squad during the summer.

Apparently, Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor is a top target, with the west London club setting aside in excess of €22.6m (£20m) in order to land him. It is also thought that Chelsea will pay €17m (£15m) to acquire the services of Russian international winger Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow. The west London club are also said to be keeping tabs on Argentina international Carlos Tevez, whose loan deal with Manchester United is due to expire this summer. It is uncertain whether the Red Devils will pay the reported €22.6m (£20m) being asked for the 25-year-old's rights, with Chelsea allegedly ready to pounce should he become available.

Chelsea will also conduct a clear-out of some of their underperforming stars in the overhaul that they want Ancelotti to oversee. Among those under scrutiny are French internationals Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, along with Deco.

(source: tribalfootball, goal.com)

Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins admits his side’s title hopes are receding after the Blues were held to a surprise 0-0 draw at home to Hull. The west Londoners were jeered off after an insipid performance against the Humbersiders on Saturday, who contained their illustrious hosts with ease and produced several clear-cut chances of their own. Chelsea could fall 11 points behind the leaders Manchester United if the reigning champions win their two games in hand and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari may even start casting anxious glances over his shoulder towards fifth-placed Arsenal unless he can arrest his side’s current slump in form.

This dismal display against a side who have not tasted victory in the English Premier League since December added to the gloom created by last weekend’s tame defeat at Liverpool, and sections of the Stamford Bridge support turned on the Brazilian World Cup winner as his side laboured in the second half.

Scolari’s decision to replace debutant Ricardo Quaresma just after the hour provoked chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ from the Matthew Harding Stand and the 61-year-old gave anther hint that he is struggling to cope with the pressure of fulfilling Chelsea’s grand ambitions by refusing to attend the post-match press conference. Instead, it was Wilkins who was left to explain this latest sorry display and the former England mdfielder did not attempt to disguise the size of the task that faces Chelsea in the final three months of the season.

‘At the moment, it will be very difficult to catch Manchester United, with the way they’re playing,’ he said. ‘We will try to catch them but they have games in hand on us and they’re quite a few points in front of us as well, so it will be hard. ‘There is pressure, of course, but there always is pressure when you’re at a club as big as Chelsea. Second is never good enough for Chelsea because over the last few seasons, we’ve been a power in the Premier League. We strive to be number one and we would never say that second is good enough. ‘That’s why we’re not giving up on the title - you can’t when you have the kind of talent in our squad. We’ll keep going until it’s mathematically impossible to catch United.’

Wilkins also issued a withering assessment of the supporters who turned on Scolari after their side proved unable to pierce Hull’s exceptional defence. ‘It’s never pleasant to hear that kind of thing,’ he added. ‘It’s pretty evident that Luiz does know what he’s doing: he’s been in the game a hell of a long time and won an awful lot of trophies. ‘It’s unnecessary and it shouldn’t be heard around our stadia. It’s their prerogative to boo if they want to because they pay their money. But to say that someone doesn’t know what they’re doing, when they’ve achieved so much in the game, is a tad out of order.’

The criticism heaped on Scolari might have been yet more venomous had Craig Fagan taken one of two good second-half chances or Dean Marney’s low shot across goal sneaked inside the post rather than just out. Chelsea produced precious little in response, although Wilkins was justified in claiming that the afternoon might have boasted a very different narrative had John Terry not spooned haplessly over the crossbar in just the second minute. That weakness means that most teams visiting the Londoners now do so in the belief they can score.

Phil Brown, the Hull manager, was understandably proud of his players’ efforts, which - if replicated during the remainder of the season - should see them escape relegation with something to spare. ‘If we keep showing that mentality then we will be okay,’ he said. ‘The work rate was phenomenal and, as manager of this side, I’m very proud to have come here and got a point. ‘We didn’t put men behind the ball or park the bus in front of the goal, we played a bit.’

And for Hull City - heading south on the back of a miserable run that has brought just one win in 15 league matches - belief is something that has been in short supply of late. So good was their start to the campaign that they dropped out of the top half of the table for only the first time this season last weekend after a home draw with basement club West Bromwich Albion. Manager Phil Brown hasn’t had much more luck in the transfer market after narrowly missing out on AS Roma’s Christian Panucci and seeing new five million pounds signing Jimmy Bullard quickly crocked by a knee injury. Striker Daniel Cousin has also been ruled out for ten days after undergoing surgery and the only upbeat note for Brown has been struck by the support of his chairman Paul Duffen in the face of unexpected criticism from some of the club’s supporters. Even that, though, confounded the manager who said: "I like to fight my own fights, put it that way."

(source: khaleejtimes.com, thetimes)

All of Italy is reporting it now. At first it was just a crazy rumor. Nobody believed that Kaka would leave Milan for Manchester City. But now it’s slowly becoming official. According to Italian press reports (including Milan Channel, Milan’s official TV station), Milan have accepted Manchester City’s 120 million euro offer for Kaka. Kaka’s father has flown to Manchester to negotiate terms and once that is complete Kaka will be a Manchester City player. Yes, you’re reading right, Kaka will become a Manchester City player. Nobody expected this, but this truly shows the power of money in modern day football. This is similar to Juventus’ sale of Zidane to Real Madrid a few years back, where they didn’t really want to get rid of him, but the offer was too good to refuse. Same scenario here. With 120 million euro, Milan can makeover their whole squad, and fix all the areas of the team that need fixing. The way I see it Kaka doesn’t want to leave Milan, but he knows 120 million can really help the club he loves and he always stated how he’s fascinated by the EPL (he speaks fluent English as well). We’ll see how this all unfolds tomorrow, but right now it’s looking like Kaka is a Manchester City player.

It is being reported in the English tabloid press that Kaka is now expected to join Manchester City next week - though more through pressure than preference. Early editions of Saturday's Daily Mirror claim that Kaka has been "railroaded into accepting the £108 million move."

According to Mirror Sport, the Milan and Brazil playmaker bid an emotional farewell to club coach Carlo Ancelotti when he left training on Friday, and is unlikely to figure in the Rossoneri's Serie A clash with Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday night.

It remains to be seen how accurate this report is, but the paper, on its online version, says Kaka's love affair with the Milan club is over, adding that the blow will be softened by a £10m signing-on fee and a £15m-a-year salary. It also says that Kaka’s father and chief adviser, Bosco Leite, will hold talks with City officials in Milan on Monday, but reports claims from the Middle East that Kaka has already agreed to the transfer with Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners.

Despite the astronomical amounts of money being offered, former World Player of the Year Kaka, 26, is said by Mirror Sport's sources to be unhappy about the move, feeling that he is being pressurised into leaving a team he helped win the Champions League in 2007 for one embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation. City's last major trophy was the 1976 League Cup. Earlier this week Kaka revealed that he hoped to “grow old” with Milan, to whom he is contracted until 2013.

(source: goal, italy.theoffside.com)

Defender Wayne Bridge has become the first signing of what seems sure to be a busy transfer window for Manchester City after completing his expected transfer from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £10 million ($14.5 million). The England left-back completed his medical on Saturday morning and agreed personal terms on a four-and-a-half-year contract, before being introduced to supporters prior to City's FA Cup tie at home to Nottingham Forest. He watched on as his new team were humbled 3-0 by the second-flight side in a big upset.

The 28-year-old Bridge, who largely played second-fiddle to England colleague Ashley Cole during his spell at Stamford Bridge, is expected to make his debut against Portsmouth at Fratton Park next Saturday. "I played alongside Wayne at Southampton and saw him come through the ranks," City manager Mark Hughes told the club's Web site mcfc.co.uk. "He was an outstanding young player and he's progressed year on year in his career. He is an England international and has just played for one of the top four sides in the country. "He is of the right quality and is the type of player we need to attract. We need good players that understand this league and we will look to carry on in that way and add more if we can."

It is expected Hughes will return to old club Blackburn for Roque Santa Cruz early next week as City's Abu Dhabi-based owners begin to flex their vast financial muscle. Manchester City intensified their bid to sign Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers last night as Mark Hughes looked to reassert his authority over a demoralised squad. Hughes, the City manager, has been forced to contend with a series of problems in recent weeks, having identified Tal Ben-Haim and Elano among those responsible for a growing sense of disquiet in the dressing-room. But having sent a forceful message yesterday to any disgruntled players, it emerged that City have finally established formal contact with Blackburn as they try to secure the signing of Santa Cruz in a deal worth in the region of £15 million. Reports of an £8 million bid to sign Shay Given, the unsettled Newcastle United goalkeeper, were not confirmed by City officials.

John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, was quoted as saying yesterday lunchtime that he had yet to receive a formal offer from City for Santa Cruz, but contact has since been made between the clubs at boardroom level, with Hughes hoping that a deal for the Paraguay forward can be concluded sooner rather than later.

Hughes has spoken to Paul Aldridge, the City chief operating officer, to express frustration over the time taken to complete the proposed signings of Santa Cruz, Kolo Touré, the Arsenal defender, and Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, the West Ham United duo. City have been frustrated by West Ham’s intransigence and have indicated that they will be forced to look elsewhere if the London club, having sought to sell Calum Davenport to Bolton Wanderers and Matthew Etherington to Stoke City, do not play ball.

The City manager has other targets, having identified Joleon Lescott, of Everton, as an alternative to Touré, and, with the signing of Wayne Bridge from Chelsea completed, Hughes maintains that his squad will be far stronger by the end of the month. He hopes to offload players such as Ben-Haim and Elano, but, in the meantime, has urged the malcontents in his squad to speak directly to him. “All the players know if they have any complaints, they can knock on my door,” Hughes said. “That is how it has always been. You are going to get these kind of stories when things are not going as well as you would like.”

(source: edition.cnn.com, timesonline.co.uk)

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp rubbishes talk of a reported £30m swoop for Portsmouth trio Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson. The January transfer window has opened, which gives clubs their first opportunity to buy or sell players since the end of August. Several deals have already been agreed, including Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra's £20m move to Real Madrid while a number of others are being finalised. A record £150m was spent by Premier League clubs in January 2008.

But that figure could be eclipsed this season if, as expected, Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is given major funds to strengthen his squad by his club's billionaire Arab owners. Any buys by City could kick-start activity from other Premier League sides but the Eastlands club are yet to delve into the market.

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is believed to be top of Hughes' wish-list but Rovers boss Sam Allardyce says he has not received any offers for the Paraguay star, while Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge is widely tipped to be heading to Eastlands.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has underlined his desire to sign new players, and has already had a bid of around £6m rejected for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy as well as confirming his interest in Pompey frontman Jermain Defoe and Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. But teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea insist they will not be buying and others, like Portsmouth and the Hammers, may be forced to sell some of their stars to balance the books.

Wigan are keen to keep hold of England striker Emile Heskey, who is out of contract in the summer, while Newcastle striker Michael Owen and goalkeeper Shay Given are also in demand. Most Premier League managers have already had their say over how they see the next month going:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"Although we are not close to signing anyone at the moment, if we do buy I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience. I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short. "We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away. A loan deal could also be a possibility. "What we might need is someone who can create a little spark."

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"We are definitely looking at trying to do something if it is at all possible. "I do not know whether the credit crunch has affected the market but this is a chance for all clubs to add to their squads."

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"There have been no bids whatsoever for Roque Santa Cruz. "At the moment I am more focused on getting him fit because I haven't seen him play since I've been here. I'm looking to getting him fit and producing the form he produced last year to get us out of trouble. I'm also more focused on getting players in rather than players out. Certainly my focus over the last two days has been speaking to the chairman about that. "We're both going to go out and try and improve our squad as quickly as possible."

Chelsea manager Luiz Filipe Scolari on his side's transfer policy:
"I knew that it's a different time for Chelsea but, if we suffer more injuries, the board understand that I'll need one or two players to replace some [injured] players. "They understand this. If, on the other hand, the players are in good condition and there are no more injuries, I think it's maximum one player they'll replace because we need one more. Only one. A striker.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon says transfer activity will be kept to a minimum:
"I don't think we will be doing any business in the January transfer window because the type of players we are looking for are not available. "Another reason is that we have still got some long-term injuries coming back and in January or February, Chelsea will have more player availability."

Everton manager David Moyes:
"We are actively looking at what will make a difference, but I don't think I will be able to do much in January. I am more likely to be looking at loans. "Anything the club have got they will give me. But that doesn't mean to say I am not out there looking for loans or Bosman signings or anything else that can help us. "I don't think we will be selling because we don't have the numbers. We are short at this present time and that limits what I can do off the bench."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admits signings are unlikely:
"It will be difficult to bring anyone in January because we have a good squad. "To bring in anyone better than what we've got isn't easy and could be expensive."

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:
"We're aware of this assumption about the level of finance that we'll throw at the project in January, but we still have realistic market values. "There is also an assumption that we will stimulate the market, that the money sloshing around will be from the deals that we have started, but we have to make sure we protect the club as well. "We're hoping to go into the market and acquire players that we think will help us, but it is still dependent on whether clubs are willing to deal with us or not. "The deals that we do will have to be good ones, but we are quite happy at the moment. We know that there will be a premium that we will probably have to pay because it's January, and teams don't want to lose their better players. "But it will not be to the extent where we are paying hugely over the market value."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"I do not think there will be any January transfers, I am happy with what I have got. "We are probably going to bring back a couple of young players who have been on loan. That may just give us extra protection. "We took 23 players to Japan (for the Club World Cup) and they are substantial players. I would be happy to play any one of them."

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear insists goalkeeper Shay Given is not for sale:
"Shay won't be leaving - he has no interest in that whatsoever. He loves the football club - he's part of the city and that suits us because he's a world-class goalkeeper."

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams:
"The board are going to do exactly what they did for [former boss] Harry Redknapp to me, and I had money anyway [before Real's move for Diarra]. I have had new signings in mind since I have been in the job."

Stoke chairman Peter Coates:
"We've got a few things on the go. I think Tony Pulis would like about three players, but I don't want to give too much away. "I do know we'll have a stronger squad at the end of January than what we have now."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on his January targets:
"If could find a wide-left player I would like to get one. That and a frontman would be the priority." "I think Portsmouth have had a massive offer from somebody for Jermain Defoe, so good luck to them - I paid about £9m when I signed him. He is a good player but we're not going to pay over the top for anyone. "It's not finished but if they don't want to sell him [Defoe] it's up to them. I am not going to upset the applecart. "If they say 'we'll have that', then we can do something. If they say 'we don't want to sell him' then it is end of story. "I like Stewart Downing but I don't know whether Middlesbrough want to sell him."

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury:
"We must not be afraid of interest in or bids for our leading players. "Each approach will be considered in terms of fee, fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in his career. "We have to consider the will of the player and whether he is committed to what we are trying to achieve. "A bid may be evaluated by the manager as allowing him to significantly improve his team."

(source: BBC, goal)