..::Football III::..

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Schalke star Draxler cleared for return to light training ahead of February comeback

Schalke star Julian Draxler is expected to return to light training as early as next week after undergoing scans on his injured ankle.

It had been suggested that the 20-year-old had ruptured ligaments and would be out of action for three months, but those fears have been dispelled following tests with Germany national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt on Thursday.

The 20-year-old, a transfer target for Premier League leaders Arsenal, is now expected to return to action in mid-February.

"Julian will start running training next week," his agent, Roger Wittmann, told Goal.

"This was arranged and agreed with the medical doctors. He's on course."

Arsene Wenger is plotting a January move for Draxler and plans to convert the left-sided attacker into a central striker, like Robin van Persie or Thierry Henry.

Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt insisted on Wednesday that the club are yet to received a concrete offer for Draxler's services, but previously admitted that a January exit is possible.

Last summer, Draxler signed a new contract which will run until 2018 and contains a €45 million buy-out clause.

 

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Courtois as vital to Atletico Madrid as Costa, says Garcia

Atletico Madrid midfielder Raul Garcia has hailed the performances of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, insisting he is as important as goalscorers like Diego Costa.

The Belgium international has featured in every minute of Atletico's La Liga campaign, conceding only 11 goals, helping Diego Simeone's men to second, level on points with leaders Barcelona.Garcia, who found the net in Atletico's 2-0 Copa del Rey win over Valencia, says the Chelsea loanee is playing a crucial role for the club.

"Courtois brings a lot to the team and his self-belief helps us wins games," Marca quotes him as saying. "It's not just our goalscorers who're important; he is too."

The 21-year-old is in his third season on loan at the Vicente Calderon with Petr Cech preferred as No.1 at Stamford Bridge. However, Garcia is confident Courtois will continue to improve, highlighting his maturity as a major advantage.

"He's young, but he's tremendously mature for his age," he continued. "Keepers usually reach that level when they're slightly older."He also has room to improve and what's good is that he wants to work on becoming a better keeper."

 

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Rodgers backs Sturridge to become world class

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Daniel Sturridge has "every quality" needed to become a "world-class" striker.

Sturridge, who had been sidelined for around six weeks with an ankle injury, made a goalscoring return in the 5-3 win over Stoke City last Sunday, taking his tally for the season to 12 in all competitions.
The striker has formed a lethal partnership with Luis Suarez, the Premier League's top goalscorer, and Rodgers has backed the England man to join his team-mate in being considered as one of the game's great players.

"My opinion on Daniel has only been reinforced through the time that I have worked with him," Rodgers said. "Overall I think he's got a wonderful opportunity over the next couple of years of being world class.

"He has every tool, he has every quality to be a world-class striker, similar to what Luis Suarez is. If we get him onto the field on a regular basis, if he gets a bit of luck and stays clear of injury, then he can be [world class] for sure.

"This period out with injury has refreshed him mentally. He comes back in the second part of the season now in a real good moment.

"I think it really signified how hard he worked in his injury period when he came into the game at the weekend.

"He made an immediate impact, physically he looked very strong and mobile and fast in his reactions. That's a great credit to him and how focused he's been on getting back."

Rodgers also revealed that he was looking at options to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window, but admitted there had been "no real developments".

"We've been working over a number of months on possibilities that could strengthen the team," the Northern Irishman added. "We just need to wait and see how that goes in the next couple of weeks."

 

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Anderson set to join Fiorentina on loan

Manchester United midfielder Anderson is set to join Fiorentina on loan, with the view to a permanent deal in the summer.

The Brazilian, who has made just four Premier League appearances this season, is currently in Florence ahead of a medical, with the deal set to be announced on Thursday.

According to reports in the Italian media, Anderson was keen on joining Fiorentina on a full-time basis but United vetoed the proposal in favour of a set €6.5 million [£5.4m] fee in the summer.

The loan frees up space for Moyes to delve into the transfer market during January, with the Scot recently spotted at the Sant'Elia Stadium casting an eye on Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio.

Goal understands Moyes has been given €180 million to spend in January and over the summer, and will overhaul his squad by allowing a number of players to leave Old Trafford, with Anderson expected to be the first.

Anderson arrived at Old Trafford from Porto in a big-money move in 2007 with the reputation of an attacking midfielder, but has scored only nine goals in 179 appearances.

 

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Good Luck Anderson!

 

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Real Madrid keen to keep Morata as Juventus & Inter step up interest

Juventus and Inter have stepped up their interest in signing Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, but the Spanish side are determined to hang on to their young forward.

According to Goal Italy, the two Serie A sides are willing to pay around €15 million for the 21-year-old, whose contract expires in 2015.

Morata, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal, is growing impatient at a lack of first-team opportunities this season and was forced off after taking a blow to his eye in his brief substitute appearance at Osasuna in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

It was the latest setback in a run of bad luck for the striker, who has seen both summer signing Gareth Bale and former Castilla team-mate Jese move ahead of him in the pecking order since starting the season as a reserve for Karim Benzema.

However, Madrid know that selling the player would prove a hugely unpopular decision with their fanbase, still irked by the summer sale of Mesut Ozil, and coach Carlo Ancelotti is keen to hang on to the forward.

With midfielder Sami Khedira sidelined, defender Raphael Varane also out and left-back Fabio Coentrao recently recovered from injury, the Italian coach has been forced to work with a small squad this term and, after Gonzalo Higuain left to join Napoli in the summer, Benzema and Morata are now the only recognised strikers left at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ancelotti has other options: Isco started in a false-nine role on Wednesday, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Jese can all operate in a central position. Nevertheless, the Spanish side vetoed Morata's move to Tottenham as part of the deal to bring in the Welshman in the summer and still see the striker as part of their plans in future - despite his lack of appearances this term.

"I haven't spoken to him about a transfer," the Madrid coach said last week. "There haven't been any enquiries about him but, if any club comes along to ask us about his situation, the answer is simple and clear: he's not for sale, he's not going anywhere."

Morata, meanwhile, left the pitch in tears after taking a blow to the eye on Wednesday. "I am sad because I just wanted to play," he said.

With his contract up in 2015, player and club are set to sit down and negotiate a new deal later this season, while Madrid will only consider selling the youngster if they sign another forward in the summer and, should that happen, the Spanish side will retain a buy-back option on the young canterano - just as they did with right-back Dani Carvajal, who returned to the Bernabeu last year after a year at Bayer Leverkusen.

 

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'Moyes needs time' - Van Persie backs Manchester United manager

Robin van Persie is adamant that David Moyes is the right man to manage Manchester United and is confident the under-pressure boss can mastermind a strong finish to the Premier League season.

The champions have struggled for consistency under their new manager, winning five of their last six league games but seeing that run punctuated by three successive defeats in three different competitions.

United currently trail fourth-place Liverpool by five points and are a further six adrift of table-topping Arsenal, but Van Persie, who will miss this weekend’s trip to Stamford Bridge for a grudge match against Chelsea with a groin injury, believes Moyes requires time to turn things around.

"Moyes needs time, he's new," said Van Persie, who returned to Manchester last week after a stint in his native Holland where he continued his rehabilitation from an injury that has kept him out since December 7. "The manager is our leading man and he will change things around.

"We lost too many points this year, but we are doing everything we can to change that."

Although hopes of defending their Premier League crown appear to be all but over, Van Persie is keen to ensure the winning culture that was established under Sir Alex Ferguson is maintained under Moyes.

He added: "We are used to winning. If you win, it's a normal day at the office. After the Community Shield win, none of the players really celebrated, or played music, as it was the way things were."

 

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Tottenham eye up Berbatov move

Tottenham are eyeing up a move for Dimitar Berbatov this month.

Spurs are in the market for a new striker and have targeted the former White Hart Lane favourite as one of a number of short-term options.

Goal understands that £1.5million-rated Berbatov, whose Fulham contract expires in the summer, is happy at Craven Cottage but is open to the possibility of a return to the club where he played some of the best football of his career.Berbatov is settled in London and has privately ruled out a switch to anywhere
outside of the capital.

It is believed that neither Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger or Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho are interested in the Bulgarian despite their stated need for fresh striker talent.However, Spurs have now registered their interest in Berbatov, who turns 33 the day before the January window closes.

The north Londoners are looking for a replacement for Toronto-bound Jermain Defoe, who will make his White Hart Lane exit on February 28, leaving manager Tim Sherwood with just two senior strikers in Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado.Relations between Tottenham and Fulham are understood to be frosty but that would not put off Spurs chairman Daniel Levy from attempting to strike a deal.

Levy was angered at the manner in which Berbatov engineered his £30.75m exit to Manchester United in 2008 but tried to re-sign the striker on deadline day in August 2012 before he committed to Fulham.

Berbatov has not been quite as effective in his second season at Fulham as he was following his arrival from Manchester United, but has weighed in with three goals in his last four games and is still considered the team’s principal matchwinner.

 

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Mertesacker wants Draxler at Arsenal

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker would welcome compatriot and Schalke forward Julian Draxler at the Emirates Stadium.

Goal exclusively revealed on January 11 that the Gunners are weighing up a move for the 20-year-old this month, with Arsene Wenger looking to bolster his attacking options.

Schalke's general manager Horst Heldt has also recently admitted that Draxler could leave, with the player's contract including a release clause believed to be set at £37.8 million.
And Mertesacker, who has become a key man for the north London side, along with fellow Germany internationals Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, believes the youngster would fit in well at the Premier League club.

"We already have a little German academy here and I learned that German discipline and talents are very appreciated here (at Arsenal)," the defender told SPOX.

"We would love to welcome a player like Draxler, he is so young and already plays a huge role in Schalke and in the national team."

However Mertesacker was unable to shed any light on the likelihood of Draxler's arrival, indicating he himself is eager to see what unfolds.

"There is lots of talking about possible transfers, I am curious about what is going to happen," he added.

Schalke have, as of yet, insisted that they are yet to receive any bids for their attacking star.

 

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Diouf to remain at Hannover, says agent

Hannover forward Mame Biram Diouf will remain at the club for the remainder of the season, according to his agent.

The Senegal international has been linked with a move away from the HDI-Arena, with Premier League outfits Cardiff City and Stoke City touted as potential destinations.

Indeed, the German side's president Martin Kind revealed earlier on in January that the Welsh team have shown an interest in the player, but insisted they would not let him go.

Whilst the attacker's agent Jim Solbakken again confirmed there is interest from clubs in his client, he also stated Diouf will stay in the Bundesliga until at least the end of the current campaign.

"Diouf remains definitively until the summer at Hannover," Solbakken told Kicker.

"There are four clubs Mame would play for but nobody wants to pay the money Hannover asks."

Diouf arrived at Hannover from Manchester United in January 2012 following loan spells at Molde and Blackburn Rovers.

Former Molde manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, now at Cardiff, has been heavily linked with an interest in Diouf recently, with the striker having scored five goals in the Bundesliga this season.

 

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Fiorentina sign Matri on loan from AC Milan

Fiorentina have confirmed the signing of Alessandro Matri on loan from AC Milan for the remainder of the season.

The Italy international, who began his professional career at San Siro, rejoined the Rossoneri from Juventus for a reported €12 million last summer.

However, Matri managed just one goal in 15 Serie A appearances for Milan and will now spend the rest of the 2013-14 campaign at the Artemio Franchi.

"Fiorentina announce that they have acquired, on a temporary basis, the rights to Alessandro Matri of AC Milan," read a statement on the Viola's official website.

The Florence-based side were in need of attacking cover in light of the recent knee injury suffered by star striker Giuseppe Rossi.

It has been reported in Italy that Matri, who will be formally presented to the press on Thursday afternoon, could soon be joined at Fiorentina by Manchester United midfielder Anderson.

 

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Seedorf confirmed as new AC Milan coach

AC Milan have confirmed the appointment of Clarence Seedorf as their new head coach following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri was sacked on Monday, less than 24 hours after a shock 4-3 loss to Sassuolo that left the Rossoneri 11th in Serie A and 20 points adrift of the Champions League qualification places.

Former Milan midfielder Seedorf announced the following day that he had decided to end his playing career in order to return to San Siro as coach.

Mauro Tassotti took temporary charge for the midweek Coppa Italia clash with Spezia but Seedorf met with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani on Thursday and put pen to paper on a contract that will run until June 2016.

The 37-year-old Dutchman will take charge of his first training session at 15:00CET, while first game at the helm will be Sunday's Serie A meeting with Verona at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Seedorf, who was capped 87 times by Netherlands, spent 10 years with Milan, with whom he won two of his four Champions League medals.

 

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Congratulations For Seedorf & Matri!

 

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Matri: I'm at fault for Milan failure


Alessandro Matri has taken full responsibility for his failure to settle at AC Milan and is now hoping to kick-start his season at Fiorentina.

The Italy international only arrived at San Siro from Juventus in the summer for a reported €12 million but, after scoring only one Serie A goal for the Rossoneri, he has now been loaned to the Viola for the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign.

Despite all of the problems at Milan this season - on and off the field - Matri says he has nobody to blame but himself for his failure to settle at Milan.

"I needed to make a break and start again. At Milan I didn't start well and I didn't feel at ease. The fault for this first part of the season, however, is mine," the 29-year-old told reporters at his official unveiling in Florence on Thursday.

"Indeed, I can only thank Milan because they made a great effort to sign me. But it was a strange six months. I came with a lot of desire to relaunch myself after Juventus but I had some problems of acclimitisation on the field.

"But I repeat that it was only my own problem. Here, at Fiorentina, I will try to have more consistency.

"I actually want to thank Milan, who made it possible for me to come here.

"But I must also thank the Della Valle family, because they made such an effort to meet my needs for the next six months.

"I have taken an important decision because it's not easy to leave a team like Milan after only six months.

"From my part, there's a lot of motivation and desire to restart the engine and return to the levels of last year."

 

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Aguero aiming for full recovery in time for Barcelona clash

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has insisted he will be back in full flow and "ready" to face Barcelona after a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

The Argentina striker came off the bench to make a goalscoring cameo in City's 5-0 third-round replay victory on Wednesday, as he continues his rehabilitation after a calf injury.

And Aguero was delighted at being back in the squad, and targeted reaching full fitness in plenty of time for the first leg of City's Champions League round of 16 clash with Barcelona on February 16.

"I couldn't wait to come back," he told the club's official website. "It's been a great recovery. I am very happy for the goal and also happy for the warm welcome of my team-mate and fans.

"And also, I'd like to thank the medical staff and the physios who did a great job.

"I trained with the team on Monday for the first time and today (Wednesday) I played some minutes to start bringing myself back on form and find my pace to play in such a fast football game.

"Maybe in a week I'll be on top form. Obviously, the more you play the better you feel. I hope I can play a little bit longer on Saturday and take it step by step.

"Against Barca I'll be ready. We still have time and first we have to think about the next Premier League games which are very important, and then we'll think about Barca."

Aguero's absence has barely been felt at the Etihad Stadium, with Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo stepping up to the goalscoring plate.

But the former Atletico Madrid man wants the team to keep on improving and aim for even more goals.

"I think we are doing very well," he added. "We have improved a lot since the beginning of the season.

"We must keep working like that. We are all playing very well. We are building a great team and need to continue trying to score more goals."

 

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'Blue is my favourite colour' - Zouma revels in Chelsea interest

Saint Etienne starlet Kurt Zouma has revealed he is considering a summer move to Chelsea after receiving a phonecall from Jose Mourinho last month.

Zouma, 19, has established himself as one of the most promising young centre-backs in Europe with a series of impressive performances in Ligue 1 and in various France youth sides.

But he claims he has an agreement with his club which will allow him to move on at the end of the season, and says his contact with Mourinho has made him more favourable towards a switch to Stamford Bridge.

“There was advanced contact last month,” Zouma told L’Equipe. “At the start I thought it was a joke but afterwards I quickly took [Mourinho's] call seriously.

“When a great man like Jose Mourinho calls a little player like Kurt Zouma, it’s nice. It doesn’t happen every day and it’s a big sign of respect and confidence.

“If you tell me to go to Chelsea, I’ll go there immediately! Especially after the call from the coach. It’s given me ideas.

“I’m playing my third season in Ligue 1,” he said. “In June, it will be time to go and see how things happen elsewhere.”

Yet despite the Blues' advances, Zouma insists he is keeping his options open and has not ruled out remaining in his homeland or going elsewhere on the continent.

“Why not a step up in France? For me, Saint-Etienne are already a big club,” he added.

“But after that, the top teams are Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. It would be a good career plan. Abroad, it’s make or break. But it’s a risk worth taking.

“I won’t necessarily choose according to the league. It will depend on playing time and the state of mind of the coach and the squad.”

 

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Hummels plays down significance of Spanish classes: I'm not thinking of joining Barcelona

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has played down the significance of the fact that he is learning Spanish, insisting that he is not hoping for a move to Barcelona.

The Germany international is under contract to BVB until 2017 but has been repeatedly linked with a big-money switch to Camp Nou.

However, Hummels insists that the is going nowhere for now, arguing that his sole focus at the moment is on making a successful return from an ankle injury at the end of the month.

"I have been learning Spanish since seventh grade," the 25-year-old told Bild. "But I'm honestly not thinking about [Barcelona].

"My goal is to be back for the game against Eintracht Braunschweig [on January 31]. I want to have gone through a week of full training before my return, in order to find my rhythm."

Dortmund have struggled domestically in Hummels' absence and currently sit fourth, 12 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

The Bavarians also recently announced that Robert Lewandowski will be moving from Signal Iduna Park to the Allianz Arena this summer - but Hummels sees no grounds for pessimism for BVB.

"Every year at least one player has left," the centre-half mused. "I already knew in 2012 about the fact that Robert would be leaving us.

"Plus, our bosses have always found excellent replacements and they will again this year."

Hummels also dismissed the suggestion that Dortmund are currently paying the price for failing to strengthen their squad adequately last summer.

"This is totally wrong," he countered. "If you are to compare us with Bayern, you should also take into account the financial resources of both clubs.

"Bayern have been outstanding but they have a few hundred million more than us to put together a squad.

"We have no debt and have also bought strong players. And, even though it might always sound like an excuse, [Dortmund's struggles] are clearly due to the many injuries we have had. Almost all of those injured were leaders with a lot of influence on our game."

 

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Tottenham demand €12 million for Napoli target Capoue

Tottenham are willing to sell Napoli target Etienne Capoue but only if they receive a fee in the region of €12 million.

The France international has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane, making just six starts for the club in the Premier League since his summer move from Toulouse.

His progress has been hampered by an ankle injury sustained in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal back in August although Tim Sherwood is not convinced by the 25-year-old midfielder and his ability to battle for a regular first-team place.

Rafael Benitez's Napoli are the clear favourites to seal a deal for Capoue, and are understood to be ready to lodge an €11m bid plus additional bonuses to tempt Spurs' hand.

The Serie A club, who agonisingly missed out on a place in the Champions League knockout stages, are on course to finish in the top four in Italy once again this season and Benitez is keen to add to his ranks in January.

The former Liverpool boss insists he has been assured by president Aurelio De Laurentiis that the club will make "one or two" signings this week, with the likes of Daniel Agger and Javier Mascherano, as well as Capoue, having been linked.

Spurs, for their part, are currently swelled with midfield options and the emergence of youngster Nabil Bentaleb, who has started the last two games alongside Mousa Dembele, has done little to help Capoue's cause.

Brazilian duo Sandro and Paulinho are also close to first-team returns after hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, and Sherwood has told senior club officials the squad is overloaded in middle of the pitch.

Capoue, who has earned seven caps for his country, did feature in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United at the beginning of the month but has since been an unused substitute in the most recent fixtures against Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively.

 

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Spain top first world rankings of 2014

World champions Spain have begun 2014 as they ended 2013 - by leading the Fifa world ranking.Vicente del Bosque's men are aiming to win consecutive World Cups this year and remain top of the pile in the first ranking release of 2014.

There has been very little change overall, with no movement across the top 25 countries, given that only 18 matches have been played since the list was updated on December 19.Saudi Arabia have made the biggest leap, climbing 14 places to 73rd, while Egypt are now 31st, moving up 10 spots.

There were also small gains made by a number of other nations, with South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Belize, Oman and Mali all rising by at least five places.
Gabon and Jordan suffered the biggest fall in terms of points, losing 32 each, while the former had the biggest slump in the ranking as Stephane Bounguendza's men dropped eight places to 85th.

 

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Congratulations Spain!

VAMOS ESPANA​