Jose Mourinho wants to sign Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor or Javier Hernandez for Real Madrid in January. Mourinho needs a striker because of a back injury which could sideline Gonzalo Higuain for up to two months. Manchester City’s Adebayor tops the list Mourinho gave to club president Florentino Perez and general manager Jorge Valdano on Thursday. The manager is confident he can seal a loan deal for the 26-year-old forward.
Aston Villa has expressed an interest in Juventus midfielder Momo Sissoko. Manager Gerard Houllier wants a box-to-box midfielder and has also already expressed an interest in signing Michael Carrick from Manchester United. However, Sissoko may be an easier target to recruit with Juventus willing to sell the 25-year-old Mali international for around $9.5 million.
Chelsea are ready to turn to Bolton defender Gary Cahill in January to tighten up their defense. The Blues have taken just one point from their last three Premier League games while $23 million-rated Cahill has been in fine form as Bolton have climbed to sixth in the table. Chelsea captain John Terry has been sidelined with a nerve problem in his leg while fellow central defender Alex is facing up to eight weeks out after knee surgery. Bolton are reported to have lined up Aston Villa’s Curtis Davies, on loan at Leicester, as a possible replacement if they lose Cahill.
Tottenham Hotspur front man Robbie Keane has been reportedly linked with a shock move away from White Hart Lane to Major League Soccer in the United States.
Roberto Mancini has given Emmanuel Adebayor the green light to leave Manchester City in January. Adebayor has been frozen out by Mancini and is desperate to join Juventus after failing to claim a regular place at City. Adebayor cannot leave City until the transfer window re-opens in January, but the team will not stand in the striker’s way in the New Year. Mancini has told Adebayor he will be free to leave for around $22 million or on loan.
Ryan Babel will be the most high-profile casualty to leave Liverpool in the January window. Babel, Milan Jovanovic and Daniel Pacheco are all set to be told they can leave Anfield as the Reds’ new owners, New England Sports Ventures, slash the sizeable wage bill. On his Twitter page, Babel revealed his frustration and held former boss Rafa Benitez accountable for his failure. “I wasn’t allowed to train extra under our former manager, even when I wasn’t involved,” said Babel. “I begged lots of times but it was simply not allowed.”
As Landon Donovan kicked off the MLS offseason in style, rumors about his future in the league continued to swirl in the aftermath of comments from Everton boss David Moyes. When asked by Sky Sports if he would be happy to see Donovan return, he responded. “We would be, we have said it every time I get asked.”
Ateltico Madrid striker Diego Forlan has been offered to crosstown rivals Real for $24 million according to reports in Spain. The Uruguayan striker was one of the star performers at last summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa but it is thought that his relationship with Atletico manager Quique Sanchez Flores has deteriorated beyond repair. Reports claim that an intermediary made the offer to Real Madrid and that the fee, which represents the release clause in Forlan’s contract, is negotiable.
