January Transfer Rumours 3

dat frenchcastle

Yoann Gourcuff’s agent has claimed that Zinedine Zidane has advised his client to move to Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s men want to take the midfielder on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move during the summer.

However, Gourcuff’s current club Lyon want to bring in cash if the 26-year-old goes, while Atletico Madrid are thinking only in terms of a free loan.

The player himself though has been told by Zidane to head to the Vicente Calderon if he gets the chance, a destination which the former Real Madrid star considers perfect for his countryman.

"Zidane told him not to hesitate because Atletico is an ideal destination for him right now", Gourcuff’s agent Nikola Franco told Spanish daily AS.

Atletico Madrid are currently flying high in La Liga, second only to Barcelona and well on course for Champions League football next season.

According to Sky Italia, former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka will arrive in Turin tonight ahead of finalising his move to Juventus.

Apparently, Nicolas Anelka has now arrived in Turin and he will undergo a medical on Sunday before signing a six-month contract with Juventus.

juve

Lyon have reiterated their stance that Lisandro Lopez will not be joining Juventus this month.

The Bianconeri had reportedly made a loan offer for the player, but this has been rejected by the French side.

“Lisandro Lopez will not be joining Juventus,” said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

“The rapport with Andrea Agnelli remains good, though. Lisandro is indispensible for Lyon, as it is an issue of image, charisma and professionalism.

“He is a leader of this team, so we said no to the proposal from Juventus.”

On Saturday fans of Juventus bombarded Lyon president Aulas on Twitter with calls to #FreeLisandro.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan have submitted a “a serious €20 million offer to Manchester City for Mario Balotelli.

Rossoneri Vice President Adriano Galliani and representative Mino Raiola each insinuated the possibility of a switch on Saturday, the former cryptically saying, “Balotelli? He is 99 per cent.”

Raiola stated that the Eastlands outfit are unwilling to consider Milan’s desired loan with an option to buy arrangement, so the Diavolo are ready to put together the necessary cash.

City are thought to require €28 million to release the Italian international, but the San Siro giants continue to pursue the striker even with the offer of €20 million.

Balotelli has had a lacklustre season to date, combining a number of rows with coach Roberto Mancini with poor performances on the pitch to incur the ire of his current employers. He has score just one goal in 14 Premier League appearances.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has once again retorted that Milan are no longer in the hunt to sign Kaka and Didier Drogba.

The seven-time European champions, had earlier been involved in negotiations with Real Madrid over a possible transfer for the Brazilian which broke down due to financial reasons.

“There is no chance of getting Kaka now, are we are no longer working on it,” Galliani told Sky Sport Italia on Friday.

“The same goes for Drogba. For now, we are staying as we are. Genoa? We did not talk about Mattia Perin,” he added.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho had earlier fueled speculation regarding Kaka’s possible transfer by stating that a move back to the San Siro would be good for all parties involved but the Rossoneri have given up on their former star.

Sky Italia had on Wednesday declared that former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, was willing to terminate his contract with Chinese side Shanghai Senhua to facilitate a move back to Europe just seven months after signing with his current club.

However, the Ivory Coast striker, currently with the national team at the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, may not see the deal come through as his high wages have proved to be a stumbling block for the financially troubled Rossoneri.

Drogba helped Chelsea lift their first Champions league trophy last season before moving to China in July.

Robinho looks set to stay at AC Milan despite lengthy speculation that he would return to Brazil in January.

The tricky forward, who was 29 on Friday, was linked with a move back to Santos but appears to have dismissed reports about his future by reaffirming his commitment to the Rossoneri.

"I'm happy to be here for my 29th birthday," he told Milan Channel. "I'm happy here at Milan and I hope I'll be here for another five or six birthdays.

"The best present would be three points against Atalanta on Sunday. I hope that I'll play well against Atalanta. Winning that match would really be a great gift.

"I have more experience now than during my younger years but the mentality is the same."

Milan have also announced two new deals as they finally confirmed the club has acquired joint-ownership rights to Genoa duo Kevin Constant and Francesco Acerbi.

According to Il Roma, Napoli have offered 26 year old wingback Blerim Dzemaili to Cagliari to obtain 24 year old midfielder Radja Nainggolan.

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik has confirmed his commitment to the club despite interest from elsewhere.

The Slovakian has been in fine form this season, scoring seven goals to lift Napoli into the thick of the title battle in Italy.

And the 25-year-old insists he has no plans to walk away from the Serie A side any time soon.

"I've been here for several years. I'm growing together with Napoli," said Hamsik.

"Napoli are becoming a big club and I'm happy to be part of this team. I have a contract until 2016."

Asked about the prospect of star forward Edinson Cavani leaving Naples, Hamsik added: "He extended his contract for five years a while ago. I hope and think he'll stay here for many years."

Ashley really is going mental

Newcastle should let Coloccini go if he wants to go.

Bony is great. Will be a big hit in the Prem whoever signs him.

Urban will not be happy

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:Bony is great. Will be a big hit in the Prem whoever signs him.

Can he play out wide?

Bastia chairman Pierre-Marie Geronimi claims to have rejected an offer from Newcastle United for Florian Thauvin and that Arsenal have also shown an interest in the midfielder.

Newcastle have been busy bolstering their French contingent during the January transfer window and have held a long-standing interest in Thauvin.

The France youth international, who turned 20 on Saturday, has 18 months left on his contract and Bastia say he does not intend to sign an extension.

Geronimi has stated that Newcastle are the only club to have made an offer for Thauvin, but that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been in contact about the player.

"Florian Thauvin has been the object of just one concrete offer so far, from Newcastle, for €3million (£2.6m), but we refused it," Geronimi told France Bleu radio station.

"However, he didn't want to prolong his contract with Bastia, but he will stay until the end of the season."

Regarding Arsenal's interest, Geronimi added: "We have not received any firm offer from Arsenal and, thus, there is no question of the €5m (£4.3m) reported.

"This week I have had Arsene Wenger on the phone twice. He expressed his interest in the player to us, but it has not gone beyond that."

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:Bony is great. Will be a big hit in the Prem whoever signs him.

Just like Altidore...

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:Bony is great. Will be a big hit in the Prem whoever signs him.

Can he play out wide?

No.

Meh i don't want him then

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Newcastle should let Coloccini go if he wants to go.

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:Bony is great. Will be a big hit in the Prem whoever signs him.

Can he play out wide?

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Newcastle should let Coloccini go if he wants to go.

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:Bony is great. Will be a big hit in the Prem whoever signs him.

Can he play out wide?

He'll be as useful out wide as Ba was. That should give you a good indication. But I think he's better than Cisse in the middle.

No, he won't. He doesn't have the skills that Ba did. He's a pure forward.

RedOranje wrote:No, he won't. He doesn't have the skills that Ba did. He's a pure forward.

I was led to believe that Ba wasn't remotely useful out wide, that's why I used the comparison.

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:

RedOranje wrote:No, he won't. He doesn't have the skills that Ba did. He's a pure forward.

I was led to believe that Ba wasn't remotely useful out wide, that's why I used the comparison.

He was, he didn't score but his general play was more than adequate.

Bony and Altidore are largely similar players. Both could/should do well in the PL, if used properly. Altidore is a bit quicker, but Bony is a bit stronger.

It's all meaningless if the manager uses them stupidly though (see Hull).

What are his attributes Red?

I'm trying to keep an open mind about this, even though he's not the type i want.

I suppose we could go 4-3-1-2 and it could feasibly work.

Everytime I watch Bony, I get a boner