..::Football III::..

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Wolverine GTR

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    Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid: Pepe draws Los Blancos to within three points of Barcelona & Atletico

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    Pepe was Real Madrid's unlikely hero as his goal saw the gap at the top of La Liga cut to three points with a 1-0 win over Espanyol.

    With Barcelona and Atletico Madrid drawing on Saturday the pressure was on Carlo Ancelotti's side to move within striking distance of the top two against a side they have not lost to since 2007.

    The visitors struggled to deal with that pressure in the opening half but finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute as Portugal defender Pepe rose unmarked to head home his third league goal of the season.

    Mid-table Espanyol had executed Javier Aguirre's plans perfectly in the first half and restricted Madrid to shots from the edge of the area that Kiko Casilla was able to deal with.

    Despite the goal Madrid were still far from their fluent best but they had enough to secure the victory and extend Aguirre's winless run against them to 10 games in the league.

    Ancelotti made just one change from Madrid's last league outing, as Gareth Bale replaced Isco, the Wales international playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria in support of Karim Benzema.

    The hosts, who made six changes, started brightly but were unable to test Diego Lopez before Madrid got into their stride and nearly opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

    Di Maria delivered a tempting cross into the penalty area where Benzema swivelled to volley towards the target, but the ball flew just wide of Casillas' goal.

    Espanyol were not intimidated by their illustrious opponents and went close through Jhon Cordoba, but the striker fired wide after skipping past two Madrid challenges.

    Ronaldo, who had been fairly quiet in the opening stages, twice went close to breaking the deadlock just after the half hour.

    His first effort, a swerving shot in the 32nd minute, was punched clear by Casilla and the keeper saved a free kick from the Portugal international with his feet four minutes later.

    After another 10 minutes of frustration for the visitors at the start of the second half, Pepe raised their spirits with a towering header from a Luka Modric cross to give Madrid the lead.

    Pepe's central defensive partner Sergio Ramos nearly doubled the lead in the 67th minute, but his header from a Daniel Carvajal cross was straight at Casilla.

    Casilla thwarted Ronaldo and Benzema in the closing stages as Real went in search of a second, but one proved enough to extend their winning run to five matches in all competitions.
     

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    Stoke City 3-5 Liverpool: Sturridge and Suarez combine to seal Reds’ return to top four

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    Luis Suarez shone again as Liverpool overcame a spirited Stoke City fightback to move back into the Premier League's top four at the Britannia Stadium.

    The Merseyside club looked to be coasting to their first Premier League win at the Britannia Stadium when Aly Cissokho's speculative strike went in off Ryan Shawcross and Suarez scored his 21st league goal of the season. Stoke had other ideas, though, as former Liverpool duo Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam struck in a pulsating first half to peg Brendan Rodgers' side back.

    Steven Gerrard put Liverpool back in front from the penalty spot on his 650th appearance for the club after referee Anthony Taylor controversially awarded a spot-kick for what appeared to be an innocuous challenge from Marc Wilson on Raheem Sterling.

    Fit-again striker Sturridge was the architect for the prolific Suarez's second goal before Jon Walters set up a tense finale when he pulled a goal back.

    But Sturridge then scored a goal of his own to seal the points and ensure Liverpool held on to leapfrog neighbours Everton into fourth place in the Premier League.Defeat for Stoke was only their second at home in the league this season and Mark Hughes' side remain 12th, just four points above the relegation zone.

    Sturridge was named among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury, while Kolo Toure paired Martin Skrtel at the heart of the Liverpool defence in the absence of Daniel Agger (calf).Walters and Crouch returned to Stoke's starting line-up in place of Kenwyne Jones and Oussama Assaidi, who was ineligible to face his parent club.Goalkeeper Jack Butland made his first Premier League start as Thomas Sorensen was left on the bench.

    Liverpool took an early lead at the Britannia Stadium last season and were in front after only four minutes on this occasion courtesy of a major stroke of luck.

    Cissokho's long-range strike was never going to trouble Butland until it struck the unfortunate Shawcross and flew past the wrong-footed Stoke goalkeeper and into the net.Stoke could do nothing about the opening goal, but they only had themselves to blame for Liverpool's second after 31 minutes.

    Wilson was the chief culprit as he failed to get enough on his attempted header back to Butland and the alert Suarez slotted home after Shawcross failed to clear.
    The home side responded and Crouch gave them a lifeline eight minutes later with Stoke's first headed goal of the season after he was picked out by Marko Arnautovic.

    Butland got down well to deny Philippe Coutinho and Shawcross nipped in to clear the rebound, then Stoke were level just before the break when Adam let fly with a fine left-foot strike from 20 yards out that flew into the far corner.

    Wilson had another moment to forget four minutes after the break when he fired the ball straight at Sterling and was then adjudged to have brought the winger down by referee Taylor when there appeared to be minimal contact.Gerrard sent Butland the wrong way from the spot to restore Liverpool's lead on his landmark appearance for the Merseyside club.

    Sturridge made his eagerly-awaited comeback 65 minutes in and the England striker took only five minutes to demonstrate his telepathic understanding with Suarez as his delightful backheel presented the Uruguay international with the opportunity to find the far corner with a clinical finish.Walters was denied by a fine save from Simon Mignolet, but the Stoke forward beat the Belgium international with a tame finish six minutes from time.

    Sturridge had the final say, though, as he was first denied by Butland, but kept his composure to fire home the rebound with his left foot. There was still time for Crouch to be denied by the post in an incredible game.
     

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    Newcastle 0-2 Manchester City: Pellegrini’s table toppers survive Tiote controversy

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    Edin Dzeko fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a controversial and hard-fought victory over Newcastle at St James' Park.

    Dzeko applied a clinical finishing touch to Aleksandar Kolarov's driven cross to give Manuel Pellegrini's men the lead after only eight minutes.

    Cheikh Tiote thought he had brought Newcastle level with a screamer on 34 minutes but referee Mike Jones disallowed the goal for offside against Yoann Gouffran and Alvaro Negredo sealed City's win late on.

    The win is City’s 10th consecutive victory over Newcastle and lifts them a point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

    Less positive, though, was an apparent knee injury to Samir Nasri as the France international was hacked down by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in the second half and had to be stretchered off.

    Alan Pardew made three changes from Newcastle’s last Premier League outing - a 1-0 defeat to West Brom on New Year’s Day - and handed Steven Taylor a first top-flight start since the opening day of the season.

    City, who have endured a busy schedule of late with matches in the Premier League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup since the turn of the year, stuck with the in-form attacking duo of Negredo and Dzeko in the continued absence of Sergio Aguero.

    And Manuel Pellegrini’s men were quick out of the blocks, going ahead in the eighth minute through Dzeko.

    Kolarov found the Bosnian with a superb low cross from the left, allowing him to fire into the roof of the net from close range for his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.

    City continued to dominate as Newcastle struggled to keep hold of possession, with Kolarov sending a dangerous ball across the face of goal and agonisingly out of the reach of an outstretched Negredo, before the Spaniard headed over from a Nasri cross.

    But Pardew’s side started to settle as Taylor guided the ball wide of the left-hand post from a corner and Yohan Cabaye blazed over from the tightest of angles.

    Tiote had the ball in the back of the City net moments later - drilling home a sensational effort from 20 yards out - but, after consultation with his linesman, referee Jones controversially ruled out the effort for offside to the disbelief of all in black and white.

    Joe Hart was called into action shortly before the hour mark as he dived to his right to deny a fizzing Cabaye effort, before getting down well to deny Loic Remy after the French striker was sent clean through on goal.

    Fernandinho then hit the crossbar for City, but Negredo had better fortune in stoppage time as he slotted into the back of the net after reacting quickest to Krul's save from his initial effort - the Spaniard's fifth goal in his last three games.
     

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    Roma 4-0 Genoa: Visitors no match for rampant Giallorossi

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    Roma kept pace at the top of the Serie A table with a 4-0 thrashing of ten man Genoa at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

    Goals from Alessandro Florenzi, Francesco Totti, Maicon and Mehdi Benatia saw off the challenge of the mid table visitors, who had Matuzalem sent off in the second half to compound their woes.The Giallorossi were in control right form the first whistle, but it still took a moment of brilliance for them to break the deadlock after 25 minutes.

    A Totti free kick was not cleared, and Florenzi was quickest to the bouncing rebound, placing a superb overhead kick into the far side.Totti made it 2-0 on the half hour mark, profiting from a smooth Gervinho cutback to slot a placed shot into the bottom corner from the top of the box.

    Maicon got in on the act moments later, sprinting into the box to convert Florenzi’s superb ball and finish off a splendid Roma counter attack.Roma added yet another early in the second half, as Benatia rose highest to guide home a Totti corner past a static defence.

    Genoa were never in contention, and their misery was complete on the hour mark when Matuzalem, on his way out of the game via a substitution, was sent off for mouthing off to the taunting Roma fans.The win keeps Roma two points ahead of third placed Napoli, and within eight points of Serie A leaders Juventus.
     

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    Manchester City boss Pellegrini plays down Lescott loan rumours

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    Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has quashed speculation linking defender Joleon Lescott with a loan move to West Ham.

    The versatile centre-half has featured in just eight of City's 21 Premier League game this season to fuel rumours that he could leave the Etihad Stadium.A temporary switch to West Ham has been mooted, but Pellegrini insists it is premature to suggest it is a done deal, although he stopped short of ruling out a January exit altogether for the 31-year-old.

    "We are not talking about any loan at the moment," Pellegrini told reporters when quizzed on Lescott in the aftermath of the 2-0 win at Newcastle United on Sunday.
    "The transfer window is open until the end of January.

    "We will see what happens, but for the moment Joleon stays here with the team."
    City moved top of the Premier League with the triumph at St James' Park, where Lescott was an unused substitute.
     

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    Defoe still hopeful of World Cup berth after signing for Toronto

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    Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe feels he does not have much more to prove to England boss Roy Hodgson ahead of the World Cup.

    The 31-year-old forward, who has won 55 caps for his country, most recently against Chile in November, is headed for MLS outfit Toronto, after deciding to leave White Hart Lane.

    Defoe has scored 19 goals for England and was considered a likely selection for Hodgson at this year's World Cup in Brazil, but the forward hopes he has done enough to convince the England boss of his qualities."Hopefully the manager knows what I can do," the striker told Sky Sports News. "I am 31 and I have played in the Premiership my whole career.

    "There's not much more I need to prove but it's down to the manager - he picks the squad. If I get picked to play for my country, I will be ready."

    Defoe added that he had a "special" time at Tottenham but that the security Toronto could offer him was too good to refuse."I was there nine years so you can imagine what it's like," he added. "I think everyone knows how I feel about Tottenham.

    "I have had a special relationship with the fans over the years but it's football and players move on. At the age of 31 it is a great opportunity for me and my family."
    "I've been through some things with my family over the last few years and sometimes it is nice to have a change.

    "I only had a year left on my contract at Tottenham. If you have a year left and someone comes in and offers you four, you have to think about it and consider your options. It's as simple as that."
     

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    Record-breaking Berardi dedicates four-goal haul against Milan to cancer-stricken Acerbi

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    Domenico Berardi dedicated his historic four-goal haul against AC Milan on Sunday night to Sassuolo team-mate Francesco Acerbi, who is currently battling cancer.

    Robinho and Mario Balotelli put the Rossoneri 2-0 up after just 13 minutes of play in Emilia-Romagna but the hosts came storming back, with their 19-year-old striker helping himself to a hat-trick by the break.

    Berardi added another goal at the start of the second period and that ultimately earned struggling Sassuolo a crucial victory, with Riccardo Montolivo having set up a frantic finale with his 86th-minute strike.

    "It is an evening I will certainly never forget," the on-loan Juventus striker told Sky Sport Italia.

    "I am happy for the four goals, but above all because this was an important win for Sassuolo and we really needed that boost.

    "I want to dedicate these four goals to Acerbi."

    However, Berardi also singled out Sassuolo boss Eusebio Di Francesco for leading them out of the relegation zone with their upset victory over Milan.

    "It has been a tough time this week with rumours about whether the coach would leave or not, so this win may well be decisive for his time here," the forward entnhused.

    "We're glad to keep him, as he took us into Serie A and has a huge heart, just like the players."

    Berardi, who has now bagged 11 goals in 14 league outings this term, also revealed that he got a fine souvenir after his second hat-trick of the season.

    "I asked Kaka for his jersey, as my friend wanted it," he explained. "He's a great champion and I’m happy to have it even for a little while."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Ancelotti: I convinced Pepe to stay at Real Madrid

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    Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his satisfaction at having persuaded Pepe to remain at Real Madrid this season.

    The Italian coach has revealed that Los Blancos' matchwinner in Sunday's vital 1-0 victory at Espanyol was considering his future at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer.

    However, Ancelotti told the Portugal international that he had a significant role to play at Madrid, as so perfectly underlined by the headed goal in Catalunya that drew the club to within three points of co-leaders Barcelona and Atletico at the summit of La Liga.

    "I think Pepe is having a very good season," the former AC Milan boss told reporters. "At the beginning [of the season], he was hesitant about staying but decided to after I told him he was important.

    "I'm satisfied with the game as the team has balance, played good football and has not taken risks. We cut the points gap and that was the objective.
    "Everything has gone well. We started the game slowly and suffered in the first 15 minutes but after that we had many opportunities. After the goal we controlled the game well."

    The win moved Madrid to 47 points after 19 rounds of action and Ancelotti believes that they will have to do rack up another 53 in order to win the title.

    "It's not normal but this is the Spanish League, where there are three very strong teams," he mused.

    "We've said it before: 100 points is what it will take and we need to get them. It will not be easy but we have excitement and enthusiasm.

    "It was an important moment because Atletico and Barcelona are doing well and there are not many chances to cut the gap. We have to be satisfied."
     

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    Aguero ready for Manchester City return

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    Sergio Aguero says he will be ready to return from his calf injury for Manchester City’s FA Cup third-round replay against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.

    The Argentina international, who has scored 19 goals in 20 appearances this season, has not featured since City’s 6-3 win over Arsenal on December 14.

    Agüero has revealed he may play a smart part in City’s fixture against the Championship club on Wednesday but insists he will be fully fit for his side’s Premier League match against Cardiff City on Saturday.

    “I'll be ready for action this week,” Aguero told ESPN.

    “My injury is improving slowly. Recovery´s going very well. I'm back to sprinting on the field and moving the ball around."

    “I'll be fully recovered by the Cardiff game and depending on how the week's training goes I may be able to show up for a few minutes on the second leg against Blackburn for the FA Cup."

    Aguero is also relishing the prospect of facing Lionel Messi and Barcelona in City’s Champions League knockout tie, which begins at the Etihad Stadium on February 18.

    “It's going to be a very nice match against Barcelona,” said Aguero.

    “It's the best team in the world - so it's going to be tough. We are in good form and we have a great team. It's going to be a duel between equals.

    “The first home match we have to get a good scoreline. We actually have to play these games - but they’ll surely be difficult.

    “I spoke to Leo on New Year's and we said that whoever doesn't make the next round of the Champions League will come to the World Cup really hungry.

    “If we make the round past Barcelona it will be an important feat. Winning the Champions League means winning against everyone. We hope we can make it through and keep making history with the club.”
     

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    Abidal urges Valdes to move to Monaco: I have a room for him in my house

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    Eric Abidal has issued an open invitation to former Barcelona team-mate Victor Valdes to come and join him and Monaco this summer.

    The Spain international is out of contract at the end of the season and has already stated that he will not be signing an extension.

    Consequently, Abidal, who made the move from Camp Nou to the Stade Louis II last year, is hoping that Valdes follows him to Monte Carlo.

    "If Valdes has the dream to come and play in Monaco, I will welcome him with open arms," the defender told Cadena SER.

    "I have a room for him in my house and I will help him find a house near me!"

    Abidal also insists that he hold no ill will towards Barcelona, even though he was keen to extend his stay in Catalunya.

    "I'm very happy in Monaco," he enthused. "There are a lot of good people here, and I'm playing every game. I only ever wanted to play football.

    "But I have no problems with [Barca president] Sandro Rosell or [sporting director] Andoni Zubizarreta. My contract expired and I fought to renew it, but it wasn't to be.

    "But Barca have already told me that the door remains open for me to become director general of their football schools."

    Abidal, who underwent a liver transplant in 2012, also revealed that his thoughts are currently with former Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova and his ongoing battle with cancer.

    "I pray for him every day," the 34-year-old confessed. "He is a fighter and hopefully he'll come out of this.

    "I have pills that I have to take for the rest of my life. Life is complicated but you have to enjoy it to the fullest."

    Abidal also had his say on the battle for the Ballon d'Or, which he hopes will be awarded to France team-mate Franck Ribery over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

    "He's a very good friend and has had a great year," the centre-half stated. "It would be good for French football as nobody has won it since [Zinedine] Zidane [in 1998].

    "But both Messi and Cristiano have incredible numbers that would also be worthy of the award."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Messi will always be better than Ronaldo - Aguero

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    Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero says Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d'Or and claims he will always be better than Cristiano Ronaldo - even if he only scores one goal a season.

    Messi - who has been crowned the world's best player a record four times - goes up against the Real Madrid star and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery in the battle for the award on Monday.

    Ronaldo is the favourite to land the prize, with injury hampering Messi's last 12 months, but that hasn't stopped Aguero from backing his international team-mate to add a fifth Ballon d'Or to his mantlepiece.

    He told ESPN: "Messi — he comes from another dimension. To me, he´ll win the Ballon d´Or. Cristiano [Ronaldo] played well in Madrid but Messi will always be better even if he only scores a goal a year."

    Despite his injuries, Messi still ended 2013 with 45 goals in 46 games in all competitions and marked his return to action on the back of a hamstring problem with two goals in the 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Getafe.
     

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    Kagawa the difference against Swansea - Welbeck


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    Danny Welbeck hailed Shinji Kagawa as Manchester United's difference-maker in Saturday's 2-0 win over Swansea City at Old Trafford.The Premier League champions recovered from three consecutive defeats - including an FA Cup loss at home to the Welsh club - with goals from Antonio Valencia and Welbeck giving them a vital victory.

    Three points were not enough to move United up the table, but they maintained ground on the likes of Tottenham and Everton in the fight for fourth - who also won.

    Kagawa started the game on the left wing before swapping with Adnan Januzaj, who had been featuring in the hole behind Welbeck, at half-time.David Moyes' tactical tweak made the difference with the Japan international orchestrating United's play, and Welbeck hailed the former Borussia Dortmund playmaker's showing."I thought Shinji was the difference in the second half," he told MUTV.

    "Once we moved him to the middle he looked like he was at home and he really switched it on for us. He made a massive difference."

    Welbeck's goal was his sixth in as many Premier League games, and the striker is hoping his colleagues can find a similar level of consistency to propel them back into the league's upper reaches."We've set a platform now and really want to build on that and gather some momentum," he added.

    "The next match is the most important now. That's what you've got to do, take it one game at a time."
     

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    Moyes at Cagliari-Juventus to scout Marchisio & Astori
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    David Moyes is at the Sant'Elia Stadium in Cagliari to keep an eye on Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, Goal understands.

    The Manchester United manager is also on the island of Sardinia to monitor Davide Astori, Cagliari's 27-year-old centre-back, but it is Marchisio who is the key target.

    However, Moyes will have been disappointed to learn that the Juve midfielder was named on the substitutes' bench for the match, just as he had been for the Bianconeri's 3-0 win over Roma a week ago.

    In fact, Marchisio has started just 10 of Juve's 18 matches this season due to the emergence of former United midfielder Paul Pogba.

    Moyes' trip to Italy comes as United step up their winter recruitment programme, according to various reports over the weekend. A newspaper report on Sunday afternoon has claimed that first-team coach Phil Neville is in Spain to cast his eye over Rayo Vallecano's 19-year-old defender Saul Niguez, on loan from Atletico Madrid.

    Goal has also learned that Moyes has been given £150 million to spend in January and over the summer, and will overhaul his squad by allowing a number of players to leave Old Trafford.

    The first of those appears to be Anderson, after Fiorentina director Daniele Prade confirmed the club's interest in the Brazilian midfielder following La Viola's 0-0 draw at Torino.

    "We like Anderson, we're following him but like many other players. We always pay attention to the transfer market, ready to strenghten our roster"
     

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    Wolfsburg confident of signing De Bruyne from Chelsea

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    Wolfsburg are confident of sealing a January move for Chelsea playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.

    The Belgium international spent 2012-13 on loan in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen - scoring 10 goals in 33 appearances - but has featured just three times under Jose Mourinho this season.

    The 22-year-old was forced to train with Chelsea's youth side after Mourinho criticised his effort and the Portuguese confirmed on Saturday that bids had been made for his services.

    And Wolfsburg look primed to take advantage with general manager Klaus Allofs expressing his belief that a deal is close.

    He told Wolfsburger Nachrichten: "It's not that we can confirm the deal just yet, but we are no longer so far apart with Chelsea that we can't bridge the differences."

    Wolfsburg enjoyed a strong first half to their Bundesliga campaign and will resume their season sat fifth in the German top flight, two points off Borussia Dortmund in fourth.

    They will get back to competitive action with a home game against Hannover on January 25.
     

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    Arsenal weigh up January move for Draxler

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    Arsenal are weighing up a January move for Julian Draxler as they assess new options to reinforce their attack this month.

    Arsene Wenger remains in the market for a 'special' forward over the next three weeks and is exploring the availability of the Schalke sensation in the wake of Theo Walcott's season-ending knee injury.

    Diego Costa, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Fernando Llorente feature prominently on Arsenal's target list, while Real Madrid youngster Alvaro Morata is considered a back-up option on loan.

    Draxler is a long-term target of the Gunners, who believe the 20-year-old German can be developed from a wide player into a centre-forward.

    Wenger had already begun exploring the possibility of capturing Draxler this summer but is now considering an approach to Schalke this month.

    The Bundesliga club are unlikely to be interested in selling their prize asset in mid-season, especially given the reported €48 million release clause inserted in the five-year contract Draxler signed last summer.

    Arsenal's already thin forward options have been decimated further over the last week by the cruciate ligament injury that will sideline Walcott for the rest of the season and Nicklas Bendtner's damaged ankle ligaments, which Wenger expects to keep him out for three more weeks.

    Goal understands that Bendtner is making good progress and could return earlier than expected, which is why Wenger sanctioned rookie striker Chuba Akpom's month-long loan to Brentford on Thursday.

    Akpom's loan will be extended until the end of the season if Arsenal suffer no more forward injuries. Meanwhile, the return to training of Yaya Sanogo last Monday - the France Under-21 international who is still to make his first-team debut - has strengthened the squad.

    Olivier Giroud is currently Arsenal's only fit senior centre-forward but the Frenchman has had a heavy workload this season due to the lack of viable alternatives.

    Wenger had been reluctant to utilise Bendtner before his injury and has shown little faith in Walcott or Lukas Podolski moving inside from the flanks and spearheading the attack.

    The Arsenal boss has admitted that he will have to delve into the January transfer market to bolster his centre-forward options, saying Walcott's injury has "accelerated" his plans for the winter window.

    Goal revealed in December that Arsenal had dispatched scouts to monitor in-form Atletico Madrid striker Costa, who figures prominently on a five-man January striker shortlist compiled by the club, which also includes Paris Saint-Germain's Lavezzi, Juventus' Llorente and AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy, who has subsequently broken down with injury.

    Wenger has also laid the foundationz for a loan deal for Spain Under-21 international Morata if he cannot secure a marquee forward in the notoriously difficult winter window.
    Draxler wa ganna puluwan nam patta:yes:habayi January wala sell karana ekak nae:dull:
     
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