Latest Transfer Update at 29-12-11

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Alex McLeish: Expects quiet January

VILLA BOSS EXPECTS QUIET JANUARY

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish expects to have a trio of experienced players back available by the start of the New Year as he prepares for a quiet January in the transfer market.
Striker Darren Bent and defender James Collins should have recovered from thigh and Achilles problems respectively in time for Saturday's clash at Chelsea.
Veteran forward Emile Heskey will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge with his Achilles injury but McLeish hopes to have him available for the home game with Swansea on Monday.
McLeish will require all his senior players available as he again conceded Villa have to trade carefully and would prefer a sell to buy policy.
The Scot said: "January can be a bit of a panicky window but we have got to be sensible and trade carefully.
"Whether there is a lot of business here at Villa (in January) is doubtful.
"I don't think we will see much. I've said since the summer we've got to trade carefully and, for something to happen, we have to try and balance it out by someone going off the wage bill.
"That is the way we are working at the moment. There are no out and out targets as such.
"I know where I need to strengthen the team but whether that is going to be in January remains to be seen."
Bent has missed the last three games but trained with the club's physios this morning.
McLeish said: "He did a good session, and he'll train with the team tomorrow, and he'll travel with the team to London if he comes through tomorrow's session and would be available for selection.
Heskey came off at half-time during the goalless draw at Stoke on Monday.
McLeish said: "Heskey is out of Saturday, he has got an Achilles problem.
"But it's not something serious and we just have to manage that one and he could be back on Monday (against Swansea).
Collins defied an Achilles setback to play the whole 90 minutes at the Britannia Stadium.
McLeish said: "Again, it is manageable. He had a little agitation in his Achilles. He played brilliantly through it in the second half at Stoke.
"He has been back out training and is also getting ongoing treatment."

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Helguson: Extends QPR stay

NEW QPR DEAL FOR HEIDAR HELGUSON

Queens Park Rangers have announced that Heidar Helguson's fine form this season has been rewarded with a contract extension.
The Iceland forward has a made a stunning start to the 2011/12 campaign, netting seven times in 12 Premier League outings.
That return makes him the club's top scorer by some distance and has underlined his value to the Loftus Road cause.
QPR boss Neil Warnock is delighted with the standard being maintained by the 34-year-old and is pleased to have seen Helguson commit his future to the club until the summer of 2013.
"I fought tooth and nail to keep Heidar here over the summer, because I knew he could be a threat for us in the Premier League," Warnock told the club's official website.
"He's proved time and again what a good player he is.
"He's more than earned this new deal - no-one deserves it more.
"He's a credit to his profession and it couldn't happen to a nicer lad."
Warnock added: "We know he's not going to play every game at his age, which is why we need to add to our options in that department.
"It's something we're working on and we're quite hopeful we'll be successful in our pursuit."
With Helguson tied down, Warnock is now hoping to agree fresh terms with a number of other senior stars.
He said: "With a little bit of luck, hopefully we can get one or two more of the lads that are here to sign new contracts over the next few weeks."

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Thierry Henry: Set for Arsenal return

REPORT: HENRY CLOSE TO ARSENAL RETURN

Thierry Henry has been offered the chance to return to Arsenal and is poised to agree a two-month loan deal in the next 48 hours, Sky Sports sources understand.
Speculation about the possibility of Henry re-signing for the Gunners has been building since he linked up with Arsene Wenger's squad for training at the end of the Major League Soccer season.
Wenger initially insisted that he had no plans to bring in Henry on loan, with his French compatriot merely keeping fit during the winter before returning to New York Red Bulls.
However, the Arsenal manager has softened that stance in recent days and admitted before Christmas that he was thinking about trying to reach an agreement with the striker.
It is now understood that a deal is on the table and Henry could accept by Saturday, allowing him to start the New Year back at the Emirates Stadium.
Henry is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Gunners following a hugely successful eight-year stint in North London earlier in his career.
He left for Barcelona in 2007 before heading across the Atlantic last year, but he has maintained his form and is now set to return to the Premier League.
A number of Arsenal's players have stated their desire to see Henry link up with the club once again, and if a deal is finalised he may be asked to play a key role.
Wenger's attacking options will be depleted when Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho leave for the African Cup of Nations.
The new MLS season does not kick off until March and Henry could feature in a number of mouth-watering fixtures, including the clash with Premier League champions Manchester United on January 22, the North London derby at home to Tottenham on February 26 and both legs of the Champions League tie against AC Milan.