Blackburn is making a record-breaking bid to sign AC Milan’s Brazilian legend Ronaldinho with a stunning $200,000-a-week contract offer. The club’s new Indian owners have put the package to Ronaldinho’s brother and agent Roberto de Assis, and are fighting with Brazilian club Gremio for his signature after the Italian giants cleared him to leave. “Blackburn have contacted us. There is also other interest in England but this is confidential,” said De Assis.
West Ham manager Avram Grant is putting together an ambitious plan to sign Michael Owen in January. Under-pressure Grant is desperate to strengthen his strike force and Owen is top of the club’s list of targets. Owen, 31, has struggled to hold down a place at Manchester United. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists Owen is still in his plans, but West Ham want to test United’s resolve with the striker only having six months left on his current deal.
French striker Nicolas Anelka is planning to quit Chelsea to go and play Major League Soccer in the USA. Anelka, 31, is out of contract in 2012 and has yet to be offered an extension by the Blues. “Nicolas told me he is interested in playing in the United States, ” said Claude Anelka, his brother and agent. “We could see him crossing the Atlantic, and I’m serious when I say this. The U.S. is quite something, and a dream destination. He says he will give it a try, even though he would earn less money than in somewhere like Qatar.”
Gremio president Paulo Odone says the club is trying to sign AC Milan striker Ronaldinho. Odone told Radio Gaucha that the team is putting together a sponsorship plan with private companies to try to sign the 30-year-old striker, who began his professional career with Gremio in 1998. Ronaldinho’s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis Moreira, told the radio station he was “pleased with the possibility” that the player may return home, adding that “one day, I don’t know when, he will once again wear a Gremio jersey.” Palmeiras and Flamengo are also interested in Ronaldinho.
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.
