Latest Transfer Update at 27-12-11

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Latest Transfer Update at 27-12-11

Thierry Henry: Has been in training with Arsenal

SONG URGES HENRY TO SIGN

Alex Song believes Thierry Henry would bring a lot to Arsenal if he does return to the club on a short-term deal in January.
Henry is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Gunners following a phenomenally successful eight-year stint in North London earlier in his career.
He left for Barcelona in 2007 before linking up with New York Red Bulls, but he has recently been back in training with Arsene Wenger's squad since the MLS season came to an end.
Wenger is currently mulling over whether to try and re-sign Henry, with his attacking options set to be depleted in the coming weeks when Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh head off to the African Cup of Nations.
Arsenal midfielder Song understands that Henry has nothing to prove but has been trying to persuade the Frenchman in training to agree to a deal.
Song feels Henry could still perform in the Premier League and recognises what a boost it would be for the whole club if the 34-year-old did come back.
"When I see him training, I am teasing him: 'You could still play with us, you know?' But he has never replied and just smiled," Song told L'Equipe.
"What he achieved during his career is just amazing. He has nothing more to prove in football.
"Today he has the opportunity to give us a help.
"A player with such stature, such potential. He would bring us a lot."

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Stefan Savic: Set to leave City on loan

SAVIC SET FOR CITY EXIT

Stefan Savic's agent claims the defender will be leaving Manchester City on loan during the January transfer window.
The Montenegro international joined City on a four-year contract in the summer from Partizan Belgrade, but has yet to establish himself in Roberto Mancini's plans.
The 20-year-old has made 12 appearances for the club in all competitions, but his only Premier League start came in the 3-2 win at Queens Park Rangers in early November.
He has been linked with moves to Sporting Lisbon and Roma, and his representative Zoran Stojadinovic expects Savic to head out of the Etihad Stadium in the New Year.
"It is true that he is on his way out of City in January and that he will leave on loan," Stojadinovic told O Jogo.
However, a potential stumbling block to the deal could be City defender Kolo Toure's departure for the African Cup of Nations in January.
Toure will be linking up with the Ivory Coast squad and Mancini would be left with just Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott as recognised centre-halves if he also agreed to Savic's temporary departure.

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Harry Redknapp: Keen to make high-profile signing

REDKNAPP EYES BIG DEAL

Harry Redknapp has revealed he hopes to pull off one major transfer swoop in January to send out a message to the rest of the Premier League that Tottenham are a club moving in the right direction.
The likes of Scott Parker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Brad Friedel arrived at White Hart Lane during the summer to strengthen not only Spurs' squad but their starting XI.
Redknapp's men have enjoyed an excellent first half to the season and are currently third in the standings ahead of Tuesday's trip to Norwich.
The manager is pleased with the options at his disposal and is not planning to do much business in the New Year, although he would love to land one world-class player to demonstrate Tottenham's ambition.
"We've got to be a club looking to go places," he said in The Sun.
"The potential is great here. We sell out every week, we've got good players.
"If we're going to make a signing, let's make one big signing. That would send out a message.
"But it's difficult finding that player who would make a difference."
Redknapp accepts that keeping his players fresh during the second half of the season will be vital to Tottenham's chances of continuing their challenge at the top.
Spurs missed an opportunity to keep themselves in touch with leaders Manchester City last week when they drew with rivals Chelsea 1-1 at White Hart Lane.
The game provided a worry for Redknapp with Rafael van der Vaart substituted at half-time due to a hamstring injury, but a subsequent scan revealed no serious damage.
Aaron Lennon looks set to miss the festive period with a similar problem, though, and Jermain Defoe, Younes Kaboul and Ledley King are also doubts to face Norwich.
Tottenham's injury troubles threaten to halt their recent good form and Redknapp admits his players' fitness is his biggest priority for the rest of the term.
"Managing the squad and keeping them happy is probably my toughest challenge. It's not easy," the veteran boss said.
"Younes Kaboul did his hamstring warming up on the sideline against Chelsea. You wonder what causes it.
"But you've got to try to keep your players fit now. You need a squad, you need to be able to change your squad around to keep some players fresh."
Redknapp has been impressed by Norwich's form since earning promotion to the Premier League and is expecting a tough game at Carrow Road.
"Norwich have done fantastically. They have done really well and Swansea have as well," the 64-year-old said.
"But I'm sure they know that there have been lots of clubs come up and play very well first half of the season and they know they've got to continue that second half, for sure.
"It's going to be tight at the bottom."

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Daniel Agger: No radical changes are needed

AGGER: WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE MISSING

Defender Daniel Agger insists no radical changes are required in order to solve Liverpool's goalscoring problems.
A sixth home draw against the Barclays Premier League's bottom side Blackburn means the Reds have dropped 12 points from a possible 27 at Anfield.
They have also scored only 21 goals in 18 league matches and Monday's match followed an all-too-familiar pattern as Kenny Dalglish's side dominated and created a number of chances but failed to take advantage.
"It would be a problem if we were not creating chances but when we are creating then you can't complain," said Agger.
"But when you don't take your chances, you don't win football games.
"If you look at all the games we've had plenty of chances and possession but it is just that final touch - it is not just one or two players, it is all of us missing chances.
"The only way to solve it is to create more because at some point it has to come.
"I really think for 80% or 90% of the time we are playing well.
"That's the strange thing, as normally when you play well you get a bit more luck but somehow we are missing that final touch - we need to find that.
"Normally when you try harder you get the luck and that's what we must keep doing."
In a lacklustre first half Andy Carroll had a goal disallowed for offside and Maxi Rodriguez was denied a penalty after being brought down by goalkeeper Mark Bunn as the assistant referee had raised his flag when it was Luis Suarez and not he who had crept ahead of the defence.
On the stroke of half-time Blackburn fortuitously took the lead when Charlie Adam diverted Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner into his own net, and although Rodriguez scored his 11th goal in 12 starts soon after the interval Liverpool could not find the equaliser.
Captain Steven Gerrard returned from a two-month injury absence as a second-half substitute as Liverpool pressed for the winner, but in the last few seconds Carroll was denied by a brilliant save from Bunn and Agger had a header cleared off the line by 17-year-old Adam Henley.
"We had a lot of shots on goal but you have to give credit to their keeper who made a few good saves," added the Denmark defender.
"Looking at the game we still created chances so the confidence must still be there.
"It wasn't down to complacency because you know all games in the Premier League are difficult - it doesn't matter whether you are home or away.
"But when you play for Liverpool and play at Anfield you have to win the games - especially these ones."
For Blackburn, who rarely troubled goalkeeper Jose Reina, it was an important point in their battle against relegation, although they remain bottom of the table.
Manager Steve Kean is desperate for the transfer window to reopen so he can bring in new faces to strengthen an injury-hit side which went to Anfield with a patched-up defence.
But he is also keen to get his existing players fit after goalkeeper Paul Robinson became the latest casualty with a calf muscle tear which is likely to keep him out for a couple of weeks.
"I think we need four (signings) and if we can get that amount and get them quickly and together with those coming out of the treatment room I think we can climb the table quickly," said Kean.
"If we can get established players bedded into the team immediately it will give everyone a lift.
"January is important but so is getting the medical lads working their magic in the treatment room - they have to earn their money getting these boys pushed out.
"We are a tight group and this experience for the younger guys in the team will stand them in good stead.
"We have not got as many results as we should have got but we will improve."

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Paul Lambert: Looking for January deals

LAMBERT EYES ADDITIONS

Paul Lambert has handed the Norwich City board a list of transfer targets for January, but is wary about paying inflated prices for players.
Norwich have enjoyed a solid start to life back in the Premier League and Lambert is keen to build on the foundations laid in the first half of the season.
Though the Canaries sit higher in the table than the other two promoted clubs, Lambert's side have yet to keep a clean sheet in 17 games ahead of Tuesday's visit of Tottenham Hotspur.
Lambert hopes to improve his options in the New Year, but the Norwich boss accepts landing those individuals to fit in with the wage structure and current squad ethic could prove testing.
"I have told the club the players I would like to try and get in," said Lambert.
"We have to box clever with what we are trying to do. It is up to the club to try and sort something out."
Lambert expects tackling the January sales to be no different this year from when he was trying to guide the club back up from first League One and then the Championship.
"You still have the same problems," said the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
"It is hard during the January window because nobody wants to sell their better players and price inflation goes really high."
Despite Norwich producing some impressive displays to chalk up five wins and six draws, Lambert maintains there is still a long way to go before anyone at Carrow Road can be patting themselves on the back at a job well done.
"I have never tried to predict anything that is going to happen," said Lambert.
"I am a realist and we will do everything we can to stay in this league.
"Everyone before the season thought we would be bottom by now and it has not happened, so we will keep striving to stay in the league."

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Josh McEachran: Seeking loan move

McEACHRAN CLOSE TO LOAN DEAL

Chelsea teenager Josh McEachran reckons he will discover if he will be granted a loan move away from Stamford Bridge by Andre Villas-Boas this week.
The 18-year-old midfielder has revealed he is close to securing a temporary switch to one of the Blues' Premier League rivals.
He is desperate to help his development with regular first-team football, having made just one substitute appearance in the top-flight this season.
Swansea City are thought to be favourites to land the England Under 21 star but the Welshmen face competition from Bolton Wanderers, Fulham and Aston Villa.
"I will speak to the club this week," he told London24. "I expect to get an answer then."

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Suleyman Kerimov: Moneybags owner of Anzhi

ANZHI CHOOSE KRASNOZHAN

Wealthy Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala have appointed Yury Krasnozhan as their new head coach on a five-year contract.
Owned by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov since the start of the year, Anzhi have brought in players including Brazilian Roberto Carlos, Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o and Russian Yuri Zhirkov.
The spending spree is expected to continue under former Lokomotiv Moscow boss Krasnozhan, who said: "Anzhi is one of the most popular clubs that attracts not only Russia but the whole world.
"To work under such conditions is not only hard and honourable but very interesting as well."
Asked how he would deal with big-name players, the 48-year-old told his new club's official website: "I don't have to cope with them, we are one single entity, one team."

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Alexander Hleb: Has been linked with QPR

WARNOCK: NO MOVE FOR HLEB

Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has ruled out a bid to sign former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb in January.
Hleb has spent the first half of the season on loan at Wolfsburg from Barcelona, but the Bundesliga club will not be extending the arrangement.
The Belarus schemer has endured an injury-hit spell at Wolfsburg and had been linked with a switch to QPR to help regain his fitness.
However, Warnock has played down speculation he wants to add the 30-year-old to his squad as he plots his New Year transfer activity.
"I read that one the other day," said Warnock in The Sun.
"There's no truth in it. I would struggle to say his name in the team talk!"
Hleb has struggled for form and fitness since leaving Arsenal for Barcelona in 2008 after spending three years with Arsene Wenger's side.
He took in a loan spell at Birmingham City last term, but injuries hindered his prospects of making an impact at St Andrew's and he is likely to be looking for another club when the transfer window reopens.

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Lukasz Zaluska: Offered a new contract by Lennon

CELTIC OFFER ZALUSKA DEAL

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska has been offered a new contract to stay at Parkhead.
The 29-year old is currently back-up to Fraser Forster at Celtic and is believed to be looking for regular first-team football elsewhere.
Lennon is waiting for Zaluska to make his decision, but the Hoops boss has indicated the club are keeping their options open as well.
"We've made him an offer and he is going to let us know but we are always looking to strengthen our squad," said Lennon.
Hearts keeper Marian Kello has been mooted as one target for Lennon should Zaluska decide against signing an extension.
Zaluska has made 31 appearances for Celtic since joining the club from SPL rivals Dundee United in 2009.