Latest Transfer Update at 17-11-11

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Latest Transfer Update at 17-11-11

Dimitar Berbatov: Anzhi Makhachkala target
AGENT: BERBATOV WOULD CONSIDER ANZHI

Dimitar Berbatov's agent has confirmed that the striker would consider a move to Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala.
The Dagestan giants are one of the biggest spenders in world football, and they highlighted this by making Samuel Eto'o the highest paid player in the world during the summer.
Now the Manchester United striker is being tipped for a move to the Russian club in January and Berbatov's agent admits he would be keen to hear what they have to say.
"We would be interested when Anzhi make a concrete offer," Danchev is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
"We will sit down with Dimitar and ponder this.
"I don't know if Dimitar is happy in Manchester. He plays, then he just sits on the bench."
United paid Tottenham £30million for the Bulgarian in 2008, but he has slipped down the pecking orders over the last 12 months following the emergence of Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck.

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Nigel Pearson: Back at Leicester
PEARSON TO LOOK AT LEICESTER SQUAD

New Leicester manager Nigel Pearson believes success between now and January will determine how much money he will have to spend in the transfer window.
Pearson has returned to the Foxes hot seat just 17 months after walking away from the previous City regime, with chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn now in charge following the takeover of Thai-based consortium Asia Football Investments in August 2010.
Pearson's predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson took the reins last October with the club near the foot of the npower Championship and was given huge financial backing, including a spending spree in the region of £12million over the summer, only to be sacked 12 months on after a solid if unspectacular start to this campaign.
Pre-season promotion favourites following their display of financial might, Leicester are bound by high expectation levels as they strive to become a Barclays Premier League team, and that brings its own burden of pressure.
Pearson said: "There's already been questions about how much money is available? And I think, how long is a piece of string?
"I think that will be governed by results between now and the transfer window.
"If we're in a competitive position then I think there's every likelihood that things will be made available.
"But I get the impression, and I'm prepared to back my judgment on this, that they (the owners) are very, very supportive. I get a good feel for it."
He added: "We've got a big squad here. We'll look at it - let's put it like that.
"I don't dismiss the possibility of juggling it around a bit because we may have to do that. It's going to be results governed. If we get results quickly then..."
It took close to two weeks of negotiations to prize Pearson away from second-tier rivals Hull, whom he joined having departed Leicester in June 2010.
In his previous stint in charge, he guided the Foxes to the League One title in 2009 and the Championship play-off semi-finals the following year.
And he has wasted little time analysing how he goes about repeating that success.
"I've got a good idea where we need to strengthen, or change things around," Pearson said.
"I think we possibly need a little bit more width, but as always it's about seeing for the time being what can be achieved with the players we have.
"We need to tighten up a bit, make sure we stay in games a bit more because I think we've got goals in us. But, as always, it's a team game. We have to create a spirit where the players want to be a part of success.''

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Johnson: Extends deal until 2015
ADAM JOHNSON EXTENDS MAN CITY DEAL

Adam Johnson has signed a new deal at Manchester City until 2015.
The England winger has been in talks with City over a new deal for a number of months, despite having two-and-half-years left on his previous deal.
He has now put pen-to-paper on a new long-term contract with the club, he joined in January 2010 from Middlesbrough, and is committed until 2015.
The 24-year-old has played over 50 first-team games and has established himself as a firm fans' favourite.
Since his move he has also established himself as a regular in the England squad, and as a result City have now rewarded him for his progress.
Johnson has admitted he has to battle for his first-team place at the Etihad Stadium, but speculation had seen him linked with a loan move to a Premier League rival.
But now both Johnson and City will hope any question over his future at the club will have been put to bed with the signing of a new deal.

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Giovanni Trapattoni: Backed by Keith Andrews
ANDREWS: TRAPATTINI SHOULD STAY

Keith Andrews is desperate for Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni to be allowed to continue his mission.
The 72-year-old Italian guided his team into the finals of Euro 2012 on Tuesday night when a 1-1 draw in their play-off second leg clash with Estonia completed a 5-1 aggregate victory.
However, his existing contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign, and talks have yet to open over an extension.
Andrews, who scored the opening goal in the 4-0 first leg win in Tallinn on Friday night, admitted he hoped the Football Association of Ireland would reach agreement with Trapattoni.
He said: "It would be ludicrous if they didn't try to build on this. Good things don't happen overnight.
"He has come in and he has built a system and a squad, a team with real togetherness and a formula that has become very successful.
"They would be mad not to try to keep him."
Midfielder Andrews, currently on loan at Ipswich from Blackburn, has been a major beneficiary of the system Trapattoni has chosen as the one he believes makes best use of the players at his disposal.
However, the spirit fostered within the camp has proved almost as important during the two years since France controversially ended their World Cup dreams.
Andrews said: "Since Paris, we have stuck together as a group through thick and thin. Obviously, that was a low point in all of our careers, but since then, we have done quite well.
"We have grown as a group and become closer-knit, if that was even possible, and topping it all off with this achievement is fantastic.
"We are a team. Anyone who sees us play or sees us train or sees us in the hotel, it's fairly obvious that there are no prima donnas in this team, there are no egos.
"We love joining up and getting together, and we thoroughly enjoy each other's company, and that's fairly clear to see."
The Republic will discover what lies ahead for them next summer when the draw is made in Kiev on December 2.
In the meantime, they will attempt to take in exactly what they have achieved over an eventful 16-month period which culminated in a remarkable victory at the A Le Coq Arena and an emotional night at the Aviva Stadium four days later.
Andrews said: "It's mental. It hasn't sunk in yet.
"Obviously, over the weekend, we had a good feeling that we would be there, but to finally be there now and to look forward to the draw on December 2, it's a special feeling."

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County Ground: Young stays put
SWINDON YOUNGSTER SNUBS CHELSEA

A 12-year-old Swindon midfielder has rejected the chance to join Chelsea, the League Two club have confirmed.
Jordan Young, one of Swindon's most promising players, has been the focus of attention of several bigger clubs but it was the Blues who made the first overtures.
However, he has opted to remain with the Robins and continue his development, to the delight of the Wiltshire outfit.
Jeremy Newton, director of Swindon's Centre of Excellence, told the club's official website: "We are delighted with the way Jordan is progressing, like so many of our other players within the Centre of Excellence and the STFC Youth Department.
"A lot of hard work goes on, not just at our club, but in the majority of Football League clubs as we coach and develop youngsters at all ages.
"So to have interest shown in this emerging talent by Premier league clubs and for them to continue monitoring players is testament to the good work that is going on.
"Jordan remains contracted to the club until 2015 and he is one of a number of players who we have high hopes for and have secured for the future."

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Michael O'Neill: Wanted by Hibs fans
HIBS FANS' GROUP LOBBIES FOR O'NEILL

A newly-formed fans' protest group has urged Hibernian to recruit Michael O'Neill as their next manager rather than fellow League of Ireland boss Pat Fenlon.
'Hibsforchange' believe O'Neill's pedigree and previous links with both the club and Scottish football should make him front-runner for the job ahead of Fenlon.
Bohemians boss Fenlon is the latest name to be linked with the vacancy at Easter Road following the sacking of Colin Calderwood earlier this month.
Former Hibs player O'Neill is also reported to be in the frame.
He spent three years at the Edinburgh club in the 1990s and began his managerial career at Scottish Football League side Brechin City before moving to Shamrock Rovers in December 2008.
On Fenlon, 'Hibsforchange' organiser Keith Sands said: "He is currently the second best manager in the Irish league, which is the equivalent of the Scottish First Division.
"Surely if the board are looking to the Irish league for our new manager they would go for Michael O'Neill, who is currently and, for the last two years, has been the best manager in Ireland.
"He also knows the Scottish game, and our famous club, having played here."
Around a dozen members of the group gathered outside Easter Road last week ahead of the club's AGM to protest against the Hibs board and chairman Rod Petrie.
Sands added: "We would, as Hibs fans, all be behind Pat Fenlon, Michael O'Neill or whoever the board choose.
"But just remember this - [owner] Tom Farmer put his neck on the line and publicly backed Rod Petrie, who in turn backed Scott Lindsay [executive director] and Fife Hyland [managing director].
"If this next appointment goes wrong, and as a Hibs fan, like all Hibs fans, I sincerely hope it doesn't, then all I can say to the board is 'You can run but you can't hide."'
Sands also confirmed the group had called off a planned protest before Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Kilmarnock out of "respect" for caretaker boss Billy Brown and the players.

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SUTHERLAND MAKES ARGYLE SWITCH

Blackpool striker Craig Sutherland has joined npower League Two side Plymouth on loan.
The 22-year-old signed his first professional contract for the Tangerines over the summer and has gone on to make eight appearances under Ian Holloway.
Sutherland could go straight into the Pilgrims squad for this weekend's trip to Torquay and he will be available for selection up to and including their match with Port Vale on January 28.

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Aquilani set for Milan stay

Italian's agent thinks San Siro deal is a 'formality'

By Simone Bargellini.


Alberto Aquilani: Needs to play 25 matches for Milan this season

The agent of Alberto Aquilani thinks it is a 'formality' that the Liverpool midfielder's loan move to AC Milan will become permanent.
Aquilani is in the middle of a season-long loan at the San Siro after failing to settle at Anfield since an £18million arrival from Roma in 2009.
The Italy international spent time with Juventus in the last campaign and he is keen to secure a permanent return to his homeland.
His representative does not think that will prove a problem, with Aquilani impressing as he attempts to reach the 25 appearances required to make Milan offer a contract.
"The option to define the permanent deal with AC Milan can surely be described as a formality because the player will reach the parameters written on the agreement between AC Milan and Liverpool," said Aquilani's representative, Franco Zavaglia, to itasportpress.
"Alberto is doing well and I think this is the case in the eyes of everyone."

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Damiao: Linked with Arsenal and Tottenham
AGENT: ARSENAL AND SPURS WANT DAMIAO

Leandro Damiao's agents have claimed that Arsenal and Tottenham have both lodged offers for the Brazilian.
Spurs have long been regarded as leading the chase for the forward, who so far this season has scored 17 goals in 13 games for Internacional.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and AC Milan have also previously been credited with an interest, while in Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk, Dnipro and Dynamo Kiev are all said to be lining up bids.
Damiao signed a new long-term contract in the summer and only this month his representatives indicated that he could follow the same line as compatriot Neymar and pledge to stay in Brazilian football.
His representatives Sivori & Asociados admit that a move in January is unlikely, although it would represent a cheaper outlay for any club than in the summer.
Pointing to the English interest, they also confirm that Damiao does not possess an EU passport, although having four full caps at 22 he would likely gain a work permit on appeal anyway.
"The big clubs wait to take player like him, to be sure that a player does well, that he can prove himself," the Sivori & Asociados spokesman told Sky Italia.
"In January, Damiao would cost less than now, but was still considered a risk."
Then it was claimed that both Spurs and Arsenal have offers on the table for Damiao.
"Now Damiao has important requests: there is a good offer of Tottenham, one from Arsenal and even some Spanish clubs are sounding out Internacional," the spokesman said.
"It's normal: he's a striker born in 1989, he attracts a lot interest. It should be considered, however, that he has the non-EU passport."

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Sammy Ameobi: Extends Newcastle contract
SAMMY AMEOBI EXTENDS NEWCASTLE DEAL

Sammy Ameobi has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with Newcastle.
Ameobi, 19, has been rewarded for his breakthrough into the first team and some impressive performances.
The younger brother of Shola, he has made seven first team appearances in all competitions this term, scoring once - the winner at Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup.
Ameobi made his first team debut in May 2011 when he came off the bench to help Newcastle secure a 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
His England Under 21 debut came earlier this month as a substitute against Iceland and he started the next match against Belgium.
Ameobi said: "It is brilliant to get this new contract signed.
"Since I have been young it has always been my dream to play for Newcastle, and it has been an amazing last year for me, making my first team debut and being involved in the squad.
"I love this club and would love to stay here for years to come."
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said: "We are delighted that Sammy has signed a new contract.
"He is a player of huge potential and talent, and it is always great to see homegrown players come through the system at the club.
"We have already seen glimpses of what he can do, and we hope Sammy can go on and make a real impact."