Porto will demand £40million for defender Eliaquim Mangala should Manchester United follow up their interest with a bid.
Manager
David Moyes was in the stands at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on
Wednesday night with Jimmy Lumsden and United's Andalucian-based scout
as Atletico Madrid ensured Porto were knocked out of the Champions
League.
Heading for England? Porto's Eliaquim Mangala was watched by David Moyes in the clash with Atletico Madrid
The lack of Champions League
money will apply pressure to Porto to find funds elsewhere and Mangala
and team mates Fernando, Jackson Martinez and Alex Sandro are the
natural candidates.
Intermediaries
are understood to have already enquired on behalf of Manchester City
for Mangala but City are conscious of overspending particularly with
financial fair play rules still to be maintained.
Bids
will no doubt be made under the release clause of £40m but the
22-year-old French defender's release will still be expensive.
United
have been busy this week scouring Europe as they head into a crucial
part of the season. They were represented at Austria Vienna v Zenit and
Benfica v Paris St Germain as they continue to weigh up targets for
centre midfield, attack and defence.
Star turn: Mangala has impressed at centre back this season and has attracted some attention
Another target: Southampton's Luke Shaw has been hotly tipped to join Chelsea at some point
Southampton's Luke Shaw remains a candidate. Sportsmail reported
last month that the 18-year-old is a target for Chelsea also as they
weigh up replacements for Ashley Cole. Southampton do not want to sell
in January and would prefer to keep him for another year but that may
change in the summer should bids go beyond £25million.
Necessity: David Moyes knows he needs new recruits after a disappointing start to the season
Edinson
Cavani could be a surprise departure from Paris St Germain in January.
The Uruguayan is keen on a move to the Premier League despite making his
move to France a relative success. Chelsea are maintaining interest
following their failed bid to buy him in the summer while Manchester
United will monitor developments. He wouldnt be cheap of course with PSG
having spent £54.3million on the 26-year-old.
Lethal: Edinson Cavani has proved his worth since leaving Napoli for Paris Saint-Germain last summer
The future of Everton striker Nikica
Jelavic is continuing to occupy the thinking of Premier League and
Championship clubs alike.
Queens
Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp is keen to take the Croatian if he
can be convinced of stepping down a division ahead of the World Cup
while West Ham, Crystal Palace, Hull, Stoke and Cardiff have all made
enquiries.
In the balance: Nikica Jelavic is out of favour at Everton since the arrival of Romelu Lukaku
West Ham want to take him on loan but Everton won't contemplate that without getting a striker of their own in first.
Everton
were among clubs present at Austria Vienna v Zenit St Petersburg on
Wednesday where Vienna striker Philipp Hosiner scored twice as they beat
Zenit 4-1.
Liverpool have not given up the fight for Feyenoord's young midfielder Rodney Kongolo.
Manchester
City were widely expected to have agreed a deal for the 16-year-old by
now after leading the chase for the past six months. However, Liverpool
remain in talks with the player's agent in a bid to sign him next month.
The sticking point for agreement is understood to have been wages, with the player's camp looking for around £6,000 per week.
Kongolo,
who has two brothers, Holland U21 international defender Terence, 19,
and nine year old academy prospect Fidel, is shaping up to become a top
defensive midfielder with the physique to match. He can also play in
defence and has drawn comparisons to Patrick Vieira.
Strengthening: Brendan Rodgers could pip Manchester City to the Feyenoord youngster Rodney Kongolo
City are on the trail
of another youngster Keita Balde Diao who has already broken into
Lazio's first team. Keita, 18, is a former Barcelona trainee who was
sent out on loan from the club as punishment for putting an ice cube
into another player's bed while on a trip to Qatar. He then scored 47
goals in one season for the club, Cornella.
A year later Lazio paid £270,000 for him and he is now attracting scouts from all of Europe's top sides again.
In the hunt: 18-year-old Keita Balde Diao is being tracked by Manchester City
Licence to thrill: Lazio starlet Keita celebrates after netting against Napoli earlier this month
Meanwhile, the agent of
Swedish prospect Valmir Berisha admits a decision over the Halmstads
striker's future will soon be made. The 17 year-old has offers from
Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Sunderland and Arsenal.
Agent
Anders Karlsson said: 'We have a priority list of clubs, we have full
control of the situation. The arrival of new clubs is happening all the
time. But the decision is close. How close? I cannot say for hours or
days or so. But it can be done very soon, that's all I can say in the
current situation.'
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor could be a target for Premier League rivals in the January window.
Taylor
has not played since being sent off in the 4-0 defeat by Manchester
City in August and also picked up a niggling injury. However, the
27-year-old is being considered as a possible loan option with Crystal
Palace among clubs in the market for defenders.
Out of favour: Steven Taylor hasn't played for Newcastle since receiving a red card against Manchester City
Newcastle are in talks
with clubs to try and sign a striker imminently. They have asked again
about Stoke City target Luuk de Jong but are continuing to look at
options in France and in Turkey.
Sporting Lisbon's Diego Capel is another possibility as they weigh up various wingers including Aiden McGeady at Spartak Moscow.
Chinese side Beijing Guoan are
looking at Premier League players as they look to strengthen their
league again in January. Although currently third in the CSL table
behind Guanzhou Evergrande and Shandong Luneng, they are willing to
offer deals of around £2million a year tax free for big names to make
the switch to China and raise the league's profile.
Wigan manager Uwe Rosler is
considering a bid to take George Saville on loan from Chelsea. The
20-year-old midfielder played for Rosler at Brentford where he is
currently on loan but Chelsea like the idea of him playing at a higher
level.
Rising star: George Saville (right) currently plays on loan from Chelsea at Brentford
Bournemouth assistant manager Jason
Tindall was among spectators at Cobham training centre watching Chelsea
U19s beat Steaua Bucharest 5-0 on Tuesday. Scottish striker Islam Feruz
scored twice, John Swift, Alex Kiwomya and Ambrose Gnahore added the
others.
Tindall is
weighing up potential loan moves for next month with Chelsea keen for
their young players to gain more experience. Former Fulham coach Billy
McKinlay was also watching as he stays prepared ahead of his next
coaching appointment.
Chelsea scouts were present at
Marseille against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. Local reports
linked Chelsea with Florian Thauvin who Newcastle and Arsenal were keen
on last year, however, Chelsea are maintaining interest in Marseille's
Giannelli Imbula.
Defensive
midfield is a position they want to strengthen as recognised by Rafa
Benitez last year. Nemanja Matic of Benfica is their ideal recruit but
Imbula, at 21, is a younger model and could be bought for around £5m to
£8m less. Arsenal have also monitored his progress since he broke into
Guingamp first team as a 17-year-old in 2009.
Fredy
Guarin at Inter Milan has also been offered to Chelsea, Tottenham,
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United. Privately, David Moyes
does not think Guarin is for him and is looking at other alternatives.
Highly rated: Marseille's Florian Thauvin (right) was watched by Chelsea's Jose Mourinho
Inter want a striker
but are struggling to raise funds and are looking at various swaps and
sales that could involve Guarin going the other way.
City's
Edin Dzeko, Chelsea's Demba Ba, United's Javier Hernandez and
Southampton's Pablo Osvaldo are all on their wish-list. They remain keen
also on a loan for City's Stevan Jovetic but City are not so keen.
Hands up if you want me: Inter Milan star Fredy Guarin has been offered to a number of English clubs
Centre-back Andrea
Ranocchia is another attractive option they are willing to sell for the
right price as is Ishak Belfodil, their 6ft 3ins, 21-year-old Algerian
striker, who has been offered to Fulham.
Fulham
expect offers for Dimitar Berbatov although a return to Tottenham is
unlikely considering his age at 32. Anderlecht are also keen on Fulham's
Bryan Ruiz but may struggle to afford him.
Another option: Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia (left) could be up for grabs for the right price
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given is
in demand as he shakes off the rust at Middlesbrough. The Republic of
Ireland international has impressed three games into his loan spell and
that has brought attention from Swansea and Southampton as they look to
strengthen their goalkeeping options following respective injuries to
Michel Vorm and Artur Boruc.
Sunderland
have spoken to QPR about Julio Cesar but he is also the subject of
enquiries from elsewhere. Cesar's concern is that if he leaves he wants
to play regularly as a number one.
In demand: Shay Given has impressed so far while at Middlesbrough
Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster is
another being mentioned south of the border but The Scottish champions'
asking price of £10m limits his options.
Attracting attention: England and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster has dazzled this season
WICKED WHISPER
Which
Championship manager was turned away from a seaside resort bar renowned
for its transvestite clientele?
Some of his players had already gone
in to the bar as they looked to add some exotic variety to their night
out but took great delight when door staff refused to allow their older
boss through the doors - despite his protests.
Swansea are taking a close look at
Hungarian defender Akos Baki. The 19-year-old from MTK will train with
the club during Hungary's winter break. He said: 'The English league is
both physically and mentally perfect and professionally it is a huge
step forward for me to work at a Premier League team.
'This
gives you a good dose of self-confidence as well, as you know it will
take a lot of talent for someone to be successful internationally.'
Cardiff City scout Tommy Johnson was
at Celtic's game with Motherwell last Friday before watching Dundee
United against Hearts. Cardiff want a striker, a midfielder and a
left-back, however, Malky Mackay is not keen on a return for Joe Ledley
despite the speculation. Dundee United's Ryan Gauld, John Souttar and
Andy Robertson were watched again.
West Bromwich Albion are looking to
raise funds by moving on some of their fringe players. Manager Steve
Clarke is looking for a striker and a left-back but are understood to be
willing to listen to offers for Markus Rosenberg, Nicolas Anelka, Diego
Lugano and Graham Dorrans.
Fringe character: West Brom defender Diego Lugano could be on the move from the Midlands club
Accrington Stanley have confirmed
that 16-year-old winger Connor Mahoney has joined Blackburn Rovers.
Mahoney has made six appearances for Stanley this season and a
compensation package has been agreed between the two teams under the
terms of the Elite Player Performance Plan, understood to be around
£100,000. Accrington may yet bring Mahoney back on loan.
Leeds have signed American Gboly
Ariyibi, 18, formerly of Southampton, on a short-term deal until the end
of the season. Manager Brian McDermott will hold talks with striker El
Hadji Diouf over his future in the next few weeks.
Former Portsmouth striker James Keene
has signed for Israel's Bnei Yehuda from Sweden's IF Elfsborg. The
27-year-old has signed an 18 month deal with Bnei Yehuda.
However, he said: 'I have no doubt it will get better.
'We needed one who could give us something else if we did get an injury to Michael or one who could have played with him.
