Football Corner

Tottenham have reportedly made a £30 million bid for Portsmouth and England trio Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson. All three players have been strongly tipped to leave Fratton Park during the January transfer window after Pompey boss Tony Adams was told he must sell before he can buy in the window.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been linked with a several different Pompey players since leaving the club back in October to move to White Hart Lane. It is understood that Spurs will have money to spend when the window opens tomorrow and Redknapp is now desperate to add the Pompey trio to his under-achieving Spurs squad.

There is no doubt that Spurs need strikers because at the moment they have Roman Pavlyuchenko (who hasn't done much since his £14 million in the summer), Fraizer Campbell (who is unproven in the Premier League) and Darren Bent (who can't do it all by himself). If Spurs could pull this move off they would be doing extremely well, however I think Pompey will look for somewhere nearer the £40 million mark for three of their most prized assets.

Source : The Guardian

Arsenal are preparing to re-ignite their interest in Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given once the January transfer window opens Thursday. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been told he has money to spend to strengthen the Gunners squad during the window and Given is now understood to be one of his number-one targets.

The Republic of Ireland international has been linked with a move to the Emirates for several months now and an £8 million move has been touted. Given, 32, has in the past admitted he may be forced to leave St James' Park in order to win silverware and Wenger is now ready to make a move for the former Celtic youth keeper.

Personally, I think this would be a cracking signing for Arsenal. I have always rated Given very highly and I feel, although he is 32, he would still prove value for money at £8 million. I wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal alone in their interest of Given when the transfer window opens next month. Be sure to stay tuned to Football Corner over the busy few weeks ahead.

Nominations for the Irish Blog Awards 2009 have today been opened. Last year Football Corner was nominated for the 'Best Sport & Recreation Blog' (which was a great honour). When the nominations were originally announced, there were a total of 22 blogs left in the running, however that list was cut to just 7 and thankfully we made it through. Unfortunately we didn't win the actual award, however this year we would love to do so.

We would really appreciate it if you went over to the Irish Blog Awards website and nominate Football Corner for the 'Best Sport and Recreation Blog 2009'. Thanks very much. Link

That's the opinion of our readers anyway. Football Corner ran a poll over the last week or so and asked you, the reader, where you thought Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin would be when the transfer window closes and nearly half the voters chose Arsenal.

The Russian international has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks following the news that Gunners captain, Cesc Fabregas will be out of action for the next four months. Here is the full result of the poll :

Arsenal - 142 votes (42%)
Tottenham - 71 votes (22%)
Zenit St Petersburg - 36 votes (11%)
Man United - 22 votes (7%)
Other - 15 votes (4%)
Barcelona - 13 votes (4%)
Chelsea - 11 votes (3%)

Total Votes : 310

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time out to vote and I would encourage everyone to take part in our latest poll (which can be found on the top of the sidebar on the right). The latest poll asks you, Where will Jermain Defoe be when the transfer window closes? Get voting.

The race to sign West Ham United striker Craig Bellamy is beginning to heat up with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City all understood to be preparing bids for the Welsh international.

The 29-year old looks set to leave Upton Park during the January transfer window as the Hammers need to cash in on some of their most valuable assets in order to balance the books. Harry Redknapp, Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes are all ready to take advantage of the situation.

West Ham boss Gianfrano Zola is keen to hold onto Bellamy, however it is thought that should a bid of £7 million plus come in for the former Liverpool man, it may be accepted. In recent weeks, Bellamy has begun to show glimpses of the kind of form which earned him a reputation as one of the best strikers in the Premier League but unfortunately for West Ham, it would appear as though he won't be able to continue that form in East London.

The next few weeks should be very interesting regarding the future of Craig Bellamy. Although I have never been a big fan of his, I do think he would be a decent signing for any of the three sides in question at £7 million. I am sure West Ham fans will be gutted to see him go, however with the current financial trouble at the club it seems a question of when he leaves rather than if he leaves.

After weeks and months of speculation, Barcelona's Yaya Toure has today admitted he no desire to join Premier League giants Arsenal during the transfer window next month. The Ivorian international had been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates throughout the year, however today he has quashed all rumours of a potential move.

The 25-year old had this to say about a possible move to the Gunners : "I know of Arsenal's interest but I insist I have no desire to seek an exit .... The rumours will not affect my game. My head is with Barcelona. There are no doubts."

This news will come as a bit of a blow to Arene Wenger as he tries to replace his injured captain, Cesc Fabregas. With Toure now definitely not arriving at the club in January, a whole host of other names have already been mentioned. The likes of Andrei Arshavin and Marcos Senna have both been linked with a move to the North London giants in recent weeks as Wenger desperately attempts to bring a new central midfield player to the club.

Personally, I thought Toure would have been a decent signing for Arsenal, however that's not to be. With Wenger admitting yesterday that he intended to spend during the transfer window, it will be very interesting to see who he does bring to the club over the coming weeks. My money would be on Zenit St Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin to arrive at the club.

Jermain Defoe's possible £10 million move to Tottenham now appears nailed on after the player was dropped to the bench for Portsmouth's 1-0 defeat against Arsenal this afternoon. The England international has been strongly linked with a move to White Hart Lane in recent days after it was revealed Pompey boss Tony Adams will have to sell in January.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen to bring Defoe back to North London once the transfer window opens next month as he bids to strengthen his attacking options. The 26-year old only left Spurs last January when then Pompey boss Redknapp signed him for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million - £9 million.

When asked why he left Defoe on the bench for today's Premier League encounter with Arsenal, Adams claimed it was for tactical reasons. He went on to say : "Jermain was was annoyed and angry - he's had the hump with me ever since and I wouldn't want it any other way to be honest."

I would be very surprised to see Defoe still at Fratton Park when the transfer window closes on February 2nd. I have always been a massive fan of Defoe's and I think, when he is fit, you should start him. Obviously Adams doesn't feel the same way and I feel he will look to cash in on the former West Ham man when the window opens on Thursday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has today admitted the North London club will be looking to spend when the transfer window opens on Thursday. The Gunners have struggled this season to keep up with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool and currently find themselves ten points off the top of the Premier League.

Following the news that club captain Cesc Fabregas will be out of action for the next four months, Wenger has been linked with a whole host of big names and today the Frenchman has admitted he will be looking to strengthen his squad next month.

Andrei Arshavin, Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez are just a few names to have been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent days, however Wenger remained tight lipped when asked about specific targets after today's 1-0 victory against Portsmouth. The Arsenal board recently confirmed that Wenger would definitely have money to spend in the new year, although they failed reveal how much.

Personally, I think Arsenal will have to spend big next month if they are to have any chance of challenging for the title. The loss of Fabregas is huge and I feel they will struggle to find a suitable replacement for the Spaniard. I am sure the majority of Gunners fans will be delighted to hear that Wenger has finally identified the need to spend some money on new players.

Liverpool are to make a £4 million bid for Wigan striker Emile Heskey when the transfer window opens next week. The England international looks more than likely to leave the JJB Stadium in January after Heskey admitted he wasn't interested in extending his current deal at the club (which runs out next summer).

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to add to his attacking options when January comes around and Heskey is seen as a possible acquistion. Heskey, 30, spent four years at Anfield, scoring over 50 goals during his time at the Merseyside club. It is understood that Heskey would be interested in a return to Liverpool, however Wigan boss Steve Bruce is desperate to hold onto one of his most prized assets.

It would not surprise me one bit to see Heskey in a Liverpool shirt come February. In recent months he has began to reproduce the kind of form that made Liverpool cough up £11 million for him back in 2000. I feel he would prove a bit of a bargain should Liverpool snap him up for just £4 million, although I don't think Benitez will be alone in his interest of the player.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has today claimed it will be difficult to sign West Ham striker Craig Bellamy should Manchester City follow up their interest in the player. It has been speculated in recent days that Bellamy could move to White Hart Lane in a £7 million deal once the transfer window opens next week, however Redknapp admits they could find it difficult to get their man.

The Welsh international has been in fine form of late, scoring the goal that earned Gianfranco Zola's men a point at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. Bellamy also bagged two goals away at Portsmouth just yesterday, which has added to the speculation that mega-rich Manchester City may get involved.

When asked about a possible move for the 29-year old, Redknapp had this to say : "I think there will be more offers - Manchester City are supposed to be very interested - but he belongs to West Ham and if they decide they do not want to sell him, then it's up to them .... I'll speak to the chairman, but if Man City are in for him then it is very difficult to compete with them."

I have never been Bellamy's biggest fan and I think Spurs should be looking elsewhere in their bid to bring a new striker to the club. Names like David Villa, Fernando Torres and Luis Fabiano have all been linked with a move to Eastlands in recent months, so personally it doesn't make sense that Mark Hughes would be interested in someone like Craig Bellamy.

Robbie Keane was the hero at Anfield today as Liverpool beat Bolton 3-0 to move back to the top of the Premier League. The Merseyside club had briefly been replaced at the top of the table after Chelsea beat West Brom 2-0 in one of the earlier kick-off's.

Albert Riera put Liverpool ahead 25 minutes into proceedings with a beautiful volley past Jussi Jaaskelainen. It wasn't until after the break that Liverpool wrapped up the victory. Robbie Keane, who has come in for a lot of criticism in recent weeks for his sub-standard displays in the Liverpool shirt made sure of all three points.

He grabbed his first goal just under 10 minutes into the second-half when he fired home after a superb through ball by captain Steven Gerrard. The Republic of Ireland international scored his fifth goal of the Premier League season just moments later after some superb play by Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun in the Reds midfield.

All in all a good win for Rafa Benitez' men. Bolton have been in decent form of late and on paper it looked a tricky enough game, however they made it look easy. This victory sets them up very nicely for their trip to Newcastle on Sunday, which should give us all a good indication as to whether or not they can go on to win the league this campaign.

Elsewhere it finished : Chelsea 2-0 West Brom, Middlesbrough 0-1 Everton, Manchester City 5-1 Hull City, Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal, Sunderland 0-0 Blackburn, Wigan 2-1 Newcastle, Portsmouth 1-4 West Ham, Tottenham 0-0 Fulham, Stoke City 0-1 Manchester United.

Football Corner will be taking a break over the next few days to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.

2008 has been a magnificent year for Football Corner, with many highlights. These include being nominated for Best Sports and Recreation Blog in the Irish Blog Awards 2008 and signing a contract with the Daily Mirror to advertise their fantasy football game, "You the Manager" (speaking of which, now would be a good time to enter your team to win some terrific weekly and monthly prizes).

We at Football Corner would like to thank all of our readers for making this year such a success. So have a wonderful Christmas and make sure get yourself back onto the site on Boxing Day for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature. Look forward to seeing you back on the site very soon.

Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin now looks set to leave the Russian giants next month after his agent confirmed he will definitely leave in January. This news will come as a massive boost to Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, who are all keen to sign the player once the transfer window opens.

The 27-year old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League over the past few months after Tottenham narrowly missed out on his signature during the summer. It was believed that Spurs were extremly close to signing the Russian international, however Zenit's demands of £24 million ended any possibility of a deal.

The player's agent, Daniel Lachter has today confirmed that he fully expects Arshavin to leave Zenit this January. Lachter had this to say : "He will definitely move in January or the player and club will lose money .... Zenit and Andrei understand that it is time for them to part from each other."

These comments from Arshavin's agent look very promising. I would love to see Arshavin come to England in January because I feel he would prove a tremendous success in this country. With Arsene Wenger keen to bring another midfielder to the Emirates next month following the news that captain Cesc Fabregas will be out for the next four months, I personally think the Gunners are big favourites to capture Arshavin.

Who do you think Arshavin will join? Place your votes in the poll on the top right of the site.

Arsene Wenger has today been rocked by the news that Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will be out for four months after injuring knee ligaments in the side's 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

The Spanish international limped off just as the half-time whistle blew on Sunday after a collision with international team-mate Xabi Alonso. Both players went for the ball fully committed and unfortunately for Fabregas he came off the worse.

Wenger had this to say : "The news is not good. It will take three to four months, we count four. He will be working hard to come back earlier but I count four months .... We will miss him, of course, but how much is difficult to say. We have to find a way and we want to find a way to compensate the fact that he is not on the pitch to give everyone a bit more. "

With Fabregas now sidelined for the foreseeable future, it means Wenger is short a central midfield player and many names have already been mentioned. One name which has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Emirates is Barcelona's Yaya Toure.

The 25-year old plays in a not too dissimilar role as the one which Fabregas plays for the Gunners week in week out and a January move for him may now become a reality. Earlier this year, the Ivorian international had this to say about a possible move to North London : "I am aware of the interest from the Premier League .... It would be great to play in a big team with my brother."

No matter who Wenger does eventually bring in, I think they will struggle to fill the boots of Fabregas. Personally, I feel Fabregas is irreplaceable. He is without one of the best players in the world at the moment and without him in the Arsenal side, I can see them struggling to even finish in the top four considering the unbelievable form of Aston Villa this campaign. Get well soon Cesc.

What a year of football 2008 has been. Football Corner has decided to take the opportunity to count down the most memorable footballing moments of the year, enjoy.

10. How can anyone forget England's memorable 4-1 win in Croatia back in September. Fabio Capello's men went into the game as under dogs, however a Theo Walcott hat-trick inspires England to one of their most famous victories of all-time.

9. David Beckham agrees to join Italian giants AC Milan on a three-month loan deal. Golden Balls claims he needed to leave MLS side LA Galaxy to have a chance of staying in Fabio Capello's plans for national side and AC are only too happy to take him.

8. Chelsea appoint former Brazil boss Luis Filipe Scolari following the departure of Avram Grant two months earlier. The London club announce the deal whilst Scolari is still the manager of the Portuguese national team (During Euro 2008), much to the annoyance of Portuguese officials.

7. Kevin Keegan returns to St James' Park after nearly 11 years away back in January. However things don't go according to plan and after a falling out with the Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, Keegan quits after eight months in charge.

6. Joe Kinnear's first press conference as Newcastle United interim-manager. The Dubliner swore approximately 52 times which left several different impressions on the Magpies faithful. Some thought, good he is letting it all out before his takes the hot seat and who knows it may have a positive affect on the team. Others thought, why the f*** did Mike f***in Ashley appoint this c***?

5. The minute silence which marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. Manchester United took on their bitter rivals Manchester City on the day United remembered the victims of Munich. It was feared before the game that the minute silence may be disrupted by the City fans, however it was impeccably observed and the away fans were rewarded for a famous 2-1 victory on the day.

4. Real Madrid striker Robinho signs for Manchester City on transfer deadline day in a move which shocked the whole footballing world. You may be wondering why this is not higher on the list, however you will understand when you read on. No football fan could believe their eyes when the news broke that City had signed one of the most exciting footballers on the planet. The deal was only made possible when City were taken over by mega-rich Arab owners on the morning of the deal. £32.5 million was all it cost for City to take the little Brazilian to Eastlands.

3. Spain beat Germany 1-0 to win the European Championships final. It was the final that everyone wanted. The powerhouse of Germany against the side that always promises much but never really delivers, Spain. It was Liverpool's Fernando Torres who handed Spain the trophy with a delicate dink over former Arsenal keeper Jens Lehman. The victory, which was met with joyous scenes in the streets of Spain, was the first major trophy the Spaniards had won in over 40 years.

2. Many people may claim that this should be the number one footballing moment of the year, however it's not. Manchester United winning a very famous double. Sir Alex Ferguson's men lifted the Premier League and Champions League trophies to cement their place as one of the greatest United squad's in history. United narrowly edged out Chelsea in both the Premier League title race and the Champions League final (which will be remembered for just one thing).

1. Yes Football Corner's number one footballing moment of 2008 is ...... John Terry's penalty miss in the final of the Champions League in Moscow. Sorry JT. It was just such an incredible moment. The England and Chelsea skipper steps up to win the biggest competition in Europe and slips as he hits the ball. The ball skims the outside of the post and United go on to lift the trophy.

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off in today's 1-1 draw with Liverpool today, however Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has questioned the decision by Howard Webb to show Adebayor two yellow cards. So, what do you think, did Adebayor deserve to be sent off? Place your votes below :

Arsenal have today been linked with an incredible £32 million move for Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez. The Argentine international has struggled this season to keep his place in the United starting eleven due to the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov at Old Trafford earlier this season and a January exit has been touted.

Tevez, 24, has yet to sign permanently for the Premier League Champions and a move to both Manchester City and Real Madrid has been rumoured, however Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is now ready to join the race.

United have thus far failed to cough up the £32 million needed to make Tevez' move permanent and have just six months left to do so. Should Sir Alex Ferguson decide not to make Tevez' move permanent, that will leave the door open for the likes of Arsenal, City and Real to make a move.

I fully expect Tevez to leave United next summer, however whether or not he moves to the Emirates, I do not know. He has established himself as a firm fan favourite at Old Trafford and I am sure the United faithful would be upset to see him join the Gunners (or even City for that fact). Make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Tottenham are ready to offer Fulham £4 million to take Jimmy Bullard to White Hart Lane when the transfer window opens next month. The England international looks set to leave Craven Cottage after it was claimed on Friday that the London club have informed Bullard that he will be allowed to depart the club in January, which has attracted the attentions of several Premier League sides.

Harry Redknapp has been linked with dozens of midfield players since arriving at the club almost two months ago, however Bullard now looks the most likely option. The former Wigan man has established himself as one of the best midfielder in the country and has even attracted the attentions of England boss Fabio Capello.

At £4 million, I think Spurs would be doing a great bit of business to land Bullard at that price. Jimmy is definitely one of football's nice guys and I feel he would prove a real asset for Spurs. I would be very surprised if Spurs don't face any competition in their attempt to sign the 29-year old when January comes around.

Wouldn't you just love to have a player like Bullard in your team? He is obviously a class act and he would definitely be a great signing for your team at £4 million. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

"Sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning". That was the cry of the West Brom fans as their team beat Mark Hughes' Manchester City 2-1 at the Hawtorns this afternoon to leave the world's richest club sitting just three points off the bottom of the Premier League.

It seems as though Hughes has been under pressure as City boss ever since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan walked in the door at Eastlands and despite the board insisting in recent weeks that they are fully behind "Sparky", I think it will only be a matter of hours not days before he is gone.

During his time as Blackburn manager, Hughes earned a reputation as one of the best young British managers. That led to him being appointed as the City boss in early June and since then it has certainly been one heck of a roller coaster.

The first day of the season saw City slump to a 4-2 defeat away at Aston Villa, which left City fans questioning whether or not they were capable of challenging at the highest level. Two comfortable victories over Sunderland and West Ham soon followed and then the day that no football fan will ever forget.

City sign Real Madrid striker Robinho for a British record transfer fee of £32.5 million.

This news sent shock waves across the whole footballing world. One of the world's most exciting talents signing for one of the most inconsistent teams on the planet. City fans couldn't believe their eyes. Of course, this made everyone at City very optimistic about the future and as most football fans do, the City faithful expected an immediate impact.

The optimism has failed to materialise on the pitch and with only one win in nine Premier League games, City now find themselves in a relegation battle. Hughes has spoke of his desire to strengthen the squad in January but unfortunately for him, I don't think he will be the man spending the owner's billions come the new year.

Arsenal are ready to join Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in the race to sign Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin. The Russian international has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League in recent days after he admitted he would be interested in a move to either Chelsea or United, however Arsenal are now preparing to snatch the 27-year old from under their rivals noses.

Spurs nearly signed Arshavin in the summer but Zenit's demands of £24 million for the player ended the possibility of any move, however the North London club are still keen on bringing the player to White Hart Lane. Arshavin really sprung to fame during Russia's Euro 2008 campaign where they reached the semi-finals, with Arshavin undoubtedly their best player in the tournament.

With Luis Filipe Scolari, Sir Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp and now Arsene Wenger all interested, this could be a very interesting battle indeed. Arshavin is a quality player and would definitley improve any of the four sides in question. I personally don't care who he joins, as long as he moves to the Premier League because I would love to see how he would adapt to the pace of English football.

So where will Arshavin be when the transfer window closes? Place your votes in the poll on the top right of the site.

Manchester United are officially the best club in the world after winning the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson's men ran out 1-0 winners over Ecuadorian side Liga De Quito thanks to a goal from Wayne Rooney.

The Premier League Champions found it difficult to break down their opponents for large parts, however they finally made the break through with twenty minutes left on the clock. Cristiano Ronaldo laid the ball to Rooney, who in turn expertly finished from the edge of the box.

Despite the win, it's not all good news for United. Nemanja Vidic was shown a straight red card just after the break and may face a suspension. Great achievement by United, however I just hope that this doesn't affect their bid for the title this season because things like this can often have a negative affect on the team's league form.

Tottenham are in talks with Middlesbrough about a possible £15 million move for Stewart Downing. The England international has been linked with a move to Spurs for what seems like decades now, however Boro boss Gareth Southgate has always insisted "I don't have to sell, unless I want to buy."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen to strengthen during the January transfer window, with Downing understood to be his number-one target. The 24-year old is widely renowned as the best left-sided midfielder in the country (only because England have no other left-wingers) and has over 20 caps for the national side.

I have never been Downing's biggest fan, in fact I am probably one of his biggest critic. If Spurs were to splash £15 million on Downing, quite frankly, I think they would be wasting their money. I know a lot of Spurs fans who would most definitley disapprove of Downing arriving at White Hart Lane in January because he is just wouldn't improve the side in any way.

New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce got off to a flyer today as he guided Rovers to a 3-0 home win against Stoke City. The former Bolton and Newcastle manager took over at Ewood Park on Wednesday and judging by today's display, he has certainly had an immediate impact on the player's.

Benni McCarthy opened the scoring for Allardyce's men just ten minutes into proceedings when he slotted home a penalty after Ibrahima Sonko brought down Morten Gamst Pedersen in the box. Jason Roberts doubled the lead for the home side just five minutes later when he netted from close range.

It was 3-0 just before the break when McCarthy bagged his second to end any chances of a possible comeback for Stoke. This result leaves Blackburn just three points off safety and will no doubt come as a massive confidence boost as they enter this busy Christmas period.

Disappointing for Tony Pulis' men who now sit just two points above the relegation zone. It is often said that the appointment of a new manager can have a positive affect on a team and that was definitely the case with Blackburn today. Over the past two months or so under former boss Paul Ince, they looked as though they were going only one way .... down, however with Allardyce in the hot seat they now have a cracking chance of beating the drop.

Elsewhere in the Premier League it finished : Bolton 2-1 Portsmouth, Fulham 3-0 Middlesbrough, Hull City 1-4 Sunderland.

That's the opinion of our readers anyway. Over the last ten days or so, Football Corner has asked you, the reader, where you thought Wigan striker Emile Heskey would be when the transfer window closes and amazingly the result was a draw. Yes the same amount of voters picked Wigan as well as Liverpool, so the whereabouts of Heskey when the transfer window closes is still undecided.

Here is the full result of the poll :

Wigan - 34 votes (28%)
Liverpool - 34 votes (28%)
Aston Villa - 32 votes (26%)
Tottenham - 11 votes (9%)
Man City - 4 votes (3%)
Other - 4 votes (3%)

Total votes : 119

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted and I would encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll which can be found on the top right of the site. The poll is : When the transfer window closes, Andrei Arshavin will be a _______ player? Place your votes now

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has today ruled out a move for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe. The England international has been linked with a possible return to White Hart Lane since the arrival of Redknapp at the North London club almost two months ago, however Redknapp has today quashed those rumours.

It was Redknapp who brought Defoe to Fratton Park back in January of this year after the player spent a large part of last year on the bench at Spurs. The 25-year old has since gone onto to become a huge success on the south coast with Pompey, scoring over 15 goals in just 30 appearances for the club.

With Spurs keen to add a striker to their ranks during the January transfer window, Defoe is seen as a likely candidate to arrive at the club come the new year, however Redknapp had this to say when asked about a possible move : "We haven't made an offer for Jermain ... I do like Jermain but there are a lot of players at Portsmouth I like. They have a great squad of players there.

I am sure Pompey boss Tony Adams and indeed the Pompey faithful will be praying that they can hold onto Defoe. Although Redknapp has denied he has made an offer for Defoe, I still wouldn't rule out a possible move come January. He is obviously a very talented player and I think Spurs could really use him right now. You sign Defoe for just £6.5 million in this season's "You the Manager" so follow the link below to enter your team now.

Roque Santa Cruz looks certain to leave Blackburn Rovers come the new year after today revealing he wants to play for a club that is both ambitious and in Europe, cough cough Manchester City. The Paraguayan striker has been heavily linked with a move to Eastlands ever since former Rovers boss Mark Hughes arrived at City earlier this year and an £18 million January move has been touted.

Santa Cruz' comments come just a day after new Rovers boss Sam Allardyce insisted he would not be forced to sell his star players when January comes around, however the 27-year old now looks more than likely to leave Ewood Park next month.

The former Bayern Munich man had this to say about a possible exit from the club : "I would really like to keep improving and performing better than I am doing right now ... And if a better or an ambitious club come in and want to offer me the chance I would like to take it ... I am looking to again play in a big side that is in Europe and trying to win their league."

It has been reported in the last several days that Santa Cruz has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave the club should any club come in with a bid of £18 million. Money-bags Manchester City have been linked with dozens of big name strikers in recent months, however the name that keeps popping up is Santa Cruz. As a City fan myself, I would be more than happy to welcome Roque to the club. He is a quality player and I feel Blackburn would be thrilled to make a £15 million profit from the big man.

Chelsea are preparing a £20 million bid for Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano as they look to bolster their attacking options come the new year. The Brazilian international has long been linked with a move to England, with Chelsea understood to be keen admirers of the player for some time, however for whatever reasons he remains a Sevilla player.

That may be about to change though. Blues boss Luis Filipe Scolari is desperate to bring another striker to Stamford Bridge in January after losing out to Manchester City for the signature of Robinho during the summer. Fabiano, 28, has been in sensational form for Sevilla since his move to the La Liga giants back in 2005 and has firmly established himself as one of the world's most prolific strikers.

What a tremendous signing this would be for Chelsea. Fabiano is a player who I really admire and I think he would be a real success should he decided to move to the Premier League. There is no doubt that Sevilla will reluctant to sell one of their star players, however, as well all know, when Chelsea set their sights on a player they usually get their man (apart from Robinho of course).

Here is the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League :

Chelsea V Juventus
Villarreal V Pannathanikos
Sporting Lisbon V Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid V Porto
Lyon V Barcelona
Real Madrid V Liverpool
Arsenal V Roma
Inter Milan V Manchester United

The first-leg's of each tie will take place on the 24/25 February with the return legs coming two weeks later. A very interesting draw indeed. Obviously the Inter Milan V Man United looks the most attractive, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho set to meet his old friend Sir Alex Ferguson.

Italian giants Juventus are lining up a summer move for Liverpool duo Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger. With talks over a new contract for Agger at Anfield currently stalling, Juve are ready to take advantage of the situation and offer the player the chance to join the Serie A giants when the season ends.

Agger, 24, is apparently demanding £70,000 a week, a figure which would double his current wages of only £35,000 a week. The Merseyside club are unwilling to cough up that money for the Danish international and a move to Juventus could be on the cards.

Meanwhile, Ryan Babel is another player who Juve boss Claudio Ranieri is keen to bring to Italy. The Dutch international has struggled to nail down a place in Rafa Benitez' starting eleven since his £11 million move from Ajax back in 2007. He was recently linked with a January return to Ajax, however Liverpool prevented the move from going ahead which leaves the door open for Juve.

I personally think, should Liverpool receive an offer of around the £20 million mark for the pair they would be mad not to accept. Babel has done nothing for me since moving to the Premier League and Agger looks a shadow of the player he was 18 months ago this campaign. Make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner over the busy weeks ahead.

It has been reported in several papers today that Manchester United have agreed in principle to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid once the seasons ends. The Portuguese winger was continuously linked with a move to the Spanish giants during the summer, with an £80 million transfer being touted, however for whatever reasons he remains a United player.

At times it looked as though Ronaldo would join the La Liga side, but in the end Sir Alex Ferguson managed to hold onto his man but how much longer will he be able to keep hold of his prized asset. Well it has today been claimed that United and Real have a gentleman's agreement in place for Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford next summer and move to the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid director Pedro Trapote is quoted in El Mundo today saying : "The deal is already done for the summer ... It's better not say anything now because there are some clauses that prevent us from announcing it. For us it would be the right time, but we shouldn't do it."

For many people, it is a case of when, not if Ronaldo joins Real after the 24-year old openly admitted it has always been his dream to play for the club. As much as I dislike Ronaldo, I feel it would be a shame to lose such a fantastic player. He is undoubtedly the greatest player in the world at this current moment in time and I think United will find it tremendously hard to find a replacement should he leave in the summer. Judging by the picture of Ronaldo, he doesn't know where he'll be next season!

Zenit St Petersburg play maker Andrei Arshavin has today admitted he would like to join either Chelsea or Manchester United. The Russian international looks set to leave Zenit during the transfer window next month and a move to the Premier League looks a real possibility now following the player's comments.

The 27-year old was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham earlier this year, however Spurs failed to meet Zenit's asking price of £20 million so Arshavin stayed with the Russian giants. However the player has now admitted he would love to leave Zenit and join either Chelsea or United.

Arshavin had this to say : "I still have a desire to play abroad and I'd like to play in either Spain or England .... Barcelona are my favourite team and in England there is Manchester United and Chelsea." With Chelsea boss Luis Filipe Scolari currently in the market for a new play maker, Arshavin may well find his way Stamford Bridge come the new year.

The sooner Arshavin comes to the Premier League the better. I have always been a huge fan of his and I think he would be an excellent signing for either United or Chelsea. During the summer I was disappointed Arshavin didn't move to White Hart Lane, however we may not have to wait too much longer to see Arshavin move to England.

Celtic's Aiden McGeady has today been banned by the Glasgow club for verbally abusing manager Gordan Strachan during a post-match team talk. The Republic of Ireland international is widely regarded as one of the best players currently playing in the SPL, however his days in Scotland appear numbered following the recent bust-up with Strachan.

In the past, McGeady was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with the likes of Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle all apparently interested in the 24-year old. Due to Strachan's decision to ban McGeady, the player will now miss Celtic's Old Firm clash with Rangers later this month, a decision which is bound to upset the Hoops faithful.

McGeady has spent his whole career at Celtic Park and has made over 180 appearances for the club scoring over 25 goals in the process. Personally, I would be delighted to see such a talented player move to England. It will undoubtedly be a massive blow for Celtic should McGeady decide to leave, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he does indeed leave.

Manchester City and Tottenham look to have lost the race to sign Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra after it was reported the French international is on the verge of signing for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea man has been heavily linked with a £15 million move to both Eastlands and White Hart Lane, however former Spurs boss Juande Ramos recently admitted his interest in signing the 23-year old.

In recent weeks, Pompey boss Tony Adams has failed to rule out a Diarra possibly leaving the club in January and it now looks certain that he will indeed leave Fratton Park come the new year. Since joining the club back in January of this year, Diarra has become an instant legend on the South Coast.

He played no small part in the side's successful FA Cup campaign last season, however injury has restricted Diarra to only a handful of appearances this campaign. It will be a shame to see Diarra leave England because during his time here he has proved what a cracking player he is. Personally, I am a huge fan of Diarra's and I think he he will prove a real hit at the Bernabeu.

Paul Ince has today been sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers after the side's shocking start to the Premier League season. The former MK Dons boss arrived at Ewood Park just six months ago and became the first black British manager to manage in the top league in England, however the Rovers board have today started to sack him.

Blackburn Chairman John Williams had this to say : "Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad which finished seventh last season fall to 19th place ... We are currently in danger of becoming detached from the pack."

Early favourites to take over from Ince at Blackburn include Sam Allardyce, Graeme Souness and former Sunderland boss Roy Keane. Personally I am not one bit surprised to see Ince get the sack. I do feel a little sorry for the former Manchester United midfielder, however when a team goes on a run of such poor results it is often the manager who feels the consequences.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will return to work in the next few days after undergoing surgery. The Spaniard is suffering pain from a kidney stone and was admitted to hospital this morning, where he underwent surgery earlier today.

Coincidentally, Chelsea boss Luis Filipe Scolari was also suffering the same illness at the weekend, however he managed to recover in time to overlook his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham yesterday afternoon. A spokesman for the Merseyside club had this to say : "Rafa was admitted to hospital last night after suffering problems with a kidney stone.

"He will undergo a minor operation this afternoon and is expected to return to work within two or three days. He remains in good spirits and everyone at Liverpool wishes him a very speedy recovery." Football Corner would also like to take the opportunity to wish Benitez a very speedy recovery.

Real Madrid are preparing a £25 million move for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young after another stunning display from the England international at the weekend. New Real manager Juande Ramos is set to spend big in January as the La Liga giants look to turn their poor start to the season around.

Young, 23, has been one of the Premier League's top performers this campaign and has recently come in for some high praise from England boss Fabio Capello. Villa boss Martin O'Neill will undoubtedly be doing everything he can to hold onto Young once the new year comes, however with Real ready to bid as much as £25 million for the player, Young may well be on his way to the Bernabeu.

Personally I would be devastated to see Young leave Villa. He has simply been outstanding this season and it would be a real shame to see him depart, not just for Villa fans but for fans of the Premier League in general. I am not surprised to see the likes of Real Madrid interested in the pacey winger because he definitley has the ability to perform at the very highest level.

Real will definitley have to pay more than £5.5 million to have Young in their team, but you won't. The former Watford man costs just that in this season's "You the Manager" and is a definite bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

For more on this story - First For Football

This week's Who Would You Pick, sees Liverpool striker Fernando Torres come up against Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor. Both have had terrific starts to their careers in England, with Torres scoring over 38 times for Liverpool, whilst Adebayor has netted over 50 goals for the Gunners. So who would you pick? Place your votes below.

This weekend saw the Premier League's 'Big Four' all drop points, which begs the questions, who really wants to win the title? Liverpool drew 2-2 at home to newly promoted Hull City, Manchester United claimed a creditable 0-0 draw away at Tottenham, Arsenal could only draw 1-1 away at Middlesbrough and Chelsea had to fight to earn a point at home to West Ham.

Many people have talked about how close this season's title race is and will be with the big four separated by only eight points. Liverpool are currently leading the way, however draws at home to the likes Stoke City, Fulham and West Ham has prevented them from moving clear at the top.

Chelsea sit just a point behind Liverpool. It has been their home form which has let them down this season. Beaten by Liverpool and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, Luis Filipe Scolari's men have found it hard to remain consistent this campaign. The current Champions, Manchester United seem half the side they did last year.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have struggled to emulate last season's heroics, however they are bound to come with a late bid for their 11th Premier League crown. Meanwhile, Arsenal look in disarray this season. The whole William Gallas situation hasn't helped of course but five defeats in just seventeen games has seen Arsenal slip to fifth in the table, leaving a possible title challenge in question.

With the busy Christmas period nearly upon us, it will be very interesting to see who excels and who falls behind. Personally, my money is on Chelsea to go on and claim their 3rd Premier League title, however I think they will be pushed all the way by Man United. I see Liverpool battling hard, but eventually finishing third ahead of Aston Villa. Arsenal have done nothing for me this season and I don't feel they have enough to finish 4th.

Arsenal could be about to make a sensational £50 million move for Valencia striker David Villa. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been told he has money to spend in January and he is now preparing to move for Villa who is more than likely to leave La Liga come the new year.

Valencia are currently in massive financial trouble and will be forced to sell players like Villa once the transfer window opens on January 1st in order to survive. The Spanish international has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in recent weeks, however it is understood that Villa would prefer a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal are desperate to strengthen their squad in January in a bid to keep alive any chance of winning the Premier League title this season. Villa, 27, is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world at the moment and has scored an impressive 82 goals during his time at Valencia.

Personally, I would be delighted should Villa decide to come the England in January. I have always rated Villa very highly and there is no doubt he would improve Arsenal. I would be surprised to see Wenger spend such a large amount of money on one player, simply because he doesn't have a reputation of doing so.

Source : Tribal Football

Tottenham keeper Huerelho Gomes yesterday proved his critics wrong with a stunning display against Premier League Champions Manchester United. The Brazilian international has received much criticism since arriving at White Hart Lane during the summer for his dodgy displays in goal for Spurs, however yesterday he showed everyone why Spurs decided to spend £8 million on him.

Harry Redknapp has always been quick to defend Gomes, saying he would prove to be a great keeper for the North London club and judging on yesterday's display, he may just be right. The 27-year old has made several high-profiled mistakes this season, including blunders against Fulham and Liverpool, which led to much speculation that a new keeper would arrive at the club in January.

I must admit, I have always been quick to criticise Gomes when he has made a mistake, however I was quite impressed with him yesterday. He never looks confident when coming to collect the ball from corners or frees but against United yesterday that certainly wasn't the case. His save from Ryan Giggs' free-kick late on was world class and Spurs fans will be hoping he can keep that kind of form up over the busy Christmas period.

Has Gomes finally turned a corner? I certainly think he has and I would strongly recommend you have him in your team. Gomes costs just £3.5 million in this season's "You the Manager" and looks a real bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

Robbie Keane's days as a Liverpool player appear numbered after Rafa Benitez left him on the bench as his side drew 2-2 at home to Hull City yesterday. Benitez made three substitutes in the last 20 minutes or so as Liverpool chased all three points against Phil Brown's Hull and for some reason he decided to leave £20 million summer signing Keane on the bench.

The Republic of Ireland international has only scored 4 goals for the Merseyside club since joining from Tottenham in the summer and has even been linked with a move back to White Hart Lane. All last week Benitez had insisted that Keane had a future at Anfield and even claimed that Keane could play a large part in Liverpool winning the title.

When asked why he decided not to bring on Keane during yesterday's match with Hull, the Spaniard replied : "Using more people in the box is not a guarantee." I understand that Keane hasn't done so well during his time at Liverpool, however if your side is drawing at home in the Premier League and you need a goal, why not gamble on a player like Keane.

Personally I would be very surprised to see Keane still a Liverpool player once the January transfer window closes and I feel a move back to Spurs could be on the cards. So, what do you think will happen. Will Keane be a Liverpool player beyond the January transfer window, place your vote below.

We at Football Corner have decided to start a new feature called : Football Corner Interviews. Over the next few weeks and months, we will be interviewing several well known writers from various different football sites. This week sees Brian Lofruemento from Premiership Talk answering the questions. I would like to thank Brian for taking the time out to answer the questions and I would recommend you visit his site once you have finished reading.

Q : Well Brian, it's been almost six months since Premiership Talk
launched, what has been the highlight for you so far?

A : Six months already, huh? It seems like just yesterday Premiership Talk
was based on a generic Blogger template! The highlight so far has definitely
been meeting new people and giving readers the chance to become a part of
the Premiership Talk team. Part of the reason I started the site was to give
everyday Premier League fans a chance to voice their opinions to thousands
of supporters, and many of the site's forum members and readers have began
writing for the site. It's a great way to connect with fans from around the
world and meet new people.

Q : Are there any football sites at the moment which you really
admire? (Apart from Football Corner of course!)

A : Soccerlens and EPL Talk are two sites that I really admire. Before I got
into the blogging world, I read EPL Talk everyday (and still read it a lot).
The Gaffer is a great writer and always has news that other sites don't.
Soccerlens is probably the most comprehensive blog when it comes to football
news, as it does more than just English football. I've done a few guest
articles for Soccerlens and have loved writing for Ahmed and his team.

Q : You were recently nominated for three awards in the Soccerlens yearly awards, that must of been a big honour?

A : Yes, it was a massive honour. I didn't expect it at all, especially since
the site is only half a year old. It's always great to get acknowledged, and
these nominations will certainly help the site grow. I can't thank
Premiership Talk's readers and members enough. Hopefully the site will pick
up a few awards come December 15th. I'm sure soon enough we'll be seeing
Football Corner on the ballots!

Q : Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, who do you think is the best player
currently playing in the Premier League?

A : I'd say Rio Ferdinand. Rio often gets criticized a lot in the media, but
he has proven himself time and time again over the past few years. He
captained United last year to a Premier League and Champions League double,
so it's hard to deny his leadership qualities. He's also so calm and cool on
the ball, and it's unusual for a center back to be as skilled as him. I'm
sure Rio could slot comfortably into any back line in the world. United's
match against Liverpool last season defines Rio Ferdinand in my eyes, as
Fernando Torres hardly got a touch of the ball for 90 minutes.

Q : Do you have an all-time favourite Premier League game?

A : Without a doubt my favorite Premiership match of all time was between
United and Arsenal in February of 2005. It was at the Emirates, and even
before kickoff it was clear that it was going to be a fiery affair. It was
the match where Keano and Vieira went at it in the tunnel. Arsenal got off
to an early lead and went in 2-1 at the half. United came out storming in
the second half and scored three straight goals, with a lovely John O'Shea
chip in the dying minutes of the game. A 4-2 win for United, and a match
that I'll never forget.

Q : Do you have an all-time favourite Premier League goal?

A : It might not be the first on everyone's list, but Wayne Rooney's goal
against Bolton at Old Trafford during the 2006/07 season tops my list.
Bolton had a throw deep in the United half, and the ball went from United's
own penalty area to the back of the Bolton net in just a few seconds.
Ronaldo picked up the ball up, found Rooney, who returned it to Ronaldo with
a clever flick. Ronaldo used his pace to take it through the heart of the
Bolton midfield and found Rooney, who just chipped it over Jaaskelainen. It
is a perfect example of how a counter-attack should work, and for me it
typifies United's attacking spirit.

Q : In your opinion, should goal-line technology be brought into the game?

A : I think it should, but in a reasonable manner. I don't think it should
become like American sports and introduce stoppages into the game, but I'm
sure the fourth official could take a look at the video and make a call if
there needs to be one. Almost all other sports have video technology, and I
don't want to see football fall behind the times.

Q : The white Premier League ball or the yellow one?

A : I'm going to have to say white. The yellow one is just too distracting,
and it reminds me too much of Arsenal's unbeaten season. The white ball with
red trim is class.

Thanks again Brian and best of luck in the future with Premiership Talk.

If you are interested in featuring on Football Corner Interviews, please e-mail football.corner@gmail.com.

Liverpool striker Robbie Keane has been dropped to the bench for his side's Premier League encounter with Hull City this afternoon. The Republic of Ireland international has been strongly linked with a move away from Anfield in recent weeks as he continues to be overlooked for a starting role in Rafa Benitez' side.

Keane started Liverpool's midweek Champions League tie with PSV, however Benitez has decided to replace him with Dirk Kuyt for this afternoon's game. Since arriving on Merseyside, Keane has only managed to score 4 goals in all competitions and a move back to Tottenham has been touted.

Personally I am very surprised to see Keane on the bench this afternoon. With Benitez insisting all week that Keane does have a future at the club, it is strange to see him leave him on the bench in a game, where I feel he could of scored a couple of goals and got a bit of confidence back in him. Make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for a report on all the Premier League 3pm kick-off's once the final whistle blows.

Tottenham have today informed Spanish giants Real Madrid they will need to cough up £20 million to have any chance of signing Aaron Lennon. The England international has been strongly linked with a move to the La Liga club since Juande Ramos' arrival at the Bernabeu earlier this week and now Spurs have set their price.

Lennon, 21, has had an inconsistent time at White Hart Lane since his £1 million move from Leeds United back in 2005. He has made over 130 appearances for the North London club, scoring 11 goals in the process. Former Spurs boss Juande Ramos has been linked with several Spurs players since becoming the Real Madrid manager on Monday, however Lennon is now understood to be his number one target.

Now that Spurs have told Real to cough up such a massive amount, I don't foresee them making any move for the player. £20 million is way too much to be spending on a player, who for me has yet to show his best form in the Premier League. He is young and has a lot of potential, however until he shows that potential on the biggest stage, I don't feel he can be valued at the ridiculous price which Spurs have put on him.

Real will definitley have to pay more than £4 million if they want to get their hands on Lennon, but you won't. Yes the pacey winger costs just that in this season's "You the Manager" and may be worth a look. So follow the link below to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

The FA have today confirmed that next month's transfer window will close at 5pm on February 2nd. As well all know, the January transfer window usually opens on January 1st and closes on January 31st at midnight, however the 31st of January is a Saturday and the FA has therefore decided to extend the window by two days.

Personally, I am a little unhappy that the deadline has not been extending until midnight on February 2nd. I always enjoy those late nights watching Sky Sports News, with teams trying ever so hard to make their last purchases of the window. Well make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news as we enter this very busy period in the footballing world.

The nominations for this year's FIFA World Player of the Year have been announced. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres have nominated alongside Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi as well as AC Milan's Kaka.

Last year saw Kaka take the award, however this year's award is unlikely to go to the Brazilian playmaker, with Ronaldo a very hot favourite to take the award. Although you can't really look beyond Ronaldo, I feel Xavi has had a magnificent year. He was outstanding during Spain's successful Euro 2008 campaign and he deserves a lot of praise.

The winner will be announced on the 12th of January in at a ceremony in Zurich.

So who do you think should be crowned the FIFA World Player of the Year? Place your votes below.

Tottenham are looking to offload summer signing Roman Pavlyuchenko once the January transfer window opens. The Russian international has failed to impress since moving to White Hart Lane on September 1st for a fee of £14 million and it is now thought that Harry Redknapp is preparing to get rid of the striker.

The 26-year old has scored just three goals for the North London club in a dozen appearances. With Spurs currently only having three recognised strikers at the club in Frazier Campbell, Darren Bent and Pavlyuchenko it makes a January exit for the former Spartak Mosocow man highly unlikely.

Several big name strikers have been linked with a move to Spurs in recent weeks, including the likes of Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch, who have been tipped to replace Pavlyuchenko in the Spurs starting eleven.

Although I have been unimpressed with Pavlyuchenko since coming to the Premier League in the summer, I don't think he will be leaving any time soon. He came to England with a big reputation and unfortunately for Spurs fans he hasn't quite lived up to the billing, however given some time he may yet turn into a top class striker.

Fancy having Pavlyuchenko in your team? Well he costs just £5.5 million in this season's "You the Manager" and may well be worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific monthly and weekly prizes.

Arsenal are ready to replace William Gallas with Fulham defender Brede Hangeland once the January transfer window opens. Gallas looks set to leave the Emirates after a turbulent last month at the North London club which has seen him lose his captaincy after a public outburst at the rest of the Arsenal squad.

Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan have both been linked with the French defender, however as yet neither side have made their interest known. With Gallas likely to depart, it leaves Arsene Wenger short a centre-back and Fulham defender Brede Hangeland could be the man to step in.

The big Norwegian international has been strongly linked with a move away from Craven Cottage in recent weeks with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham also interested. His performances in recent weeks have been outstanding, most notably against Liverpool and Aston Villa were Hangeland helped his side keep clean sheets in both games.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has admitted it may be tough to hold onto the 27-year old in January should the likes of Arsenal come knocking. "If a serious offer comes our way for Brede I'm pretty sure it'll have to be considered ... When the day comes we'll have to take into account all the possibilities and probabilities and make a decision ... But at this stage we have absolutely no indication that Arsenal or any club of that stature are interested in Brede."

It is understood that Arsenal will need to bid somewhere around the £10 million mark to have any chance of landing the former FC Copenhagen man. Personally I think Hangeland would be a magnificent signing for Arsenal. He has proved this season that he can certainly perform at the highest level and I feel most Gunners fans would be happy to see him arrive in January.

Arsenal will need to pay more than £3 million to sign Hangeland, but you won't. Yes the 6ft 5in defender costs just that in this season's "You the Manager" and in my view is well worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

UEFA are to investigate an incident involving Manchester United's Wayne Rooney following the English giants 2-2 draw with Danish side Aalborg last night. Aalborg midfielder Kasper Risgaard has today claimed Rooney stamped on him during the game at Old Trafford and has claimed that Rooney should of been sent off.

Risgaard had this to say about the matter : "He was jumping at my chest. I do not know why ... Maybe he was a little bit frustrated but Manchester United were playing some good football. It was still 1-1."

"I do not think the referee saw it. Anywhere else but this place it would have been a red card. I'm disappointed with the challenge, that's what happens in football. I have some big marks. He apologised."

Personally I only saw replays of the incident and in my opinion is looked a little bit accidental. There is no doubting that Rooney is one of the best players in the world at the moment, however he often gets himself involved in things he ought not to. So do you think Rooney's stamp was intentional or not? Place your votes below.

Tottenham are preparing for the possibility of life without midfielder Didier Zokora, with a £15 million bid for Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra. New Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos is looking to strengthen in the January transfer window and Zokora is now understood to be top of the Spaniard's wish-list.

The former Spurs boss admitted : "The player who impressed me most at Tottenham was Zokora." Following Ramos' comments Zokora had this to say about a possible move to the Spanish giants : "I’m in the world’s biggest league, so it will be hard to find something better. But I’ve never hidden my interest in playing in La Liga.

"Juande Ramos was not to blame for our poor results at Tottenham. They were down to the players on the pitch." Should the 26-year old leave White Hart Lane in January, it will inevitably see Harry Redknapp enter the market for a new midfield player and he is now setting his sits on Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra.

The pair worked together during Redknapp's days at Fratton Park and they may be about to re-ignite their relationship in North London. Diarra, 23, has made just over 30 appearances for Pompey during his time on the South Coast, helping the club win their first major honour in nearly 70 years, winning the FA Cup last May.

Personally I think this would be a terrific move for Spurs. Getting rid of Zokora, who in my eyes has never really impressed during his time in the Premier League, and signing a quality holding midfielder in the shape of Diarra. Although Portsmouth manager Tony Adams insists he will do his best to hang onto his best players in January, should Spurs make a bid of £15 million for the French international, I feel he will find it very hard to turn down.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is preparing to dip into the market with a £16 million bid for West Ham United pair Matthew Upson and Robert Green. With the Hammers currently in a spot of financial trouble it has been speculated that Gianfranco Zola will need to sell several of big name players if he wants to make any additions to his squad in January.

Redknapp is looking to strengthen his squad once the transfer window opens and he is likely to have funds available to do so. Green, 28, has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane for some time now as current Spurs number one Heurelho Gomes continues to come in for criticism for his less than convincing performances between the sticks for the North London club.

Meanwhile, Upson, 29, could also be on his way out of Upton Park. The former Arsenal defender has be one of the Hammers top performers over the past 18 months and has caught the eye of England manager Fabio Capello. Redknapp is keen to bring Upson to Spurs to provide necessary cover for Ledley King, who continues to struggle with a knee injury.

Personally, I think this would prove to be a smart bit of business by Spurs. Both players are well capable of performing at the highest level and another positive is the fact they are both English. It's a shame that Zola will be forced to sell in January because over the past few weeks his side have started to look quite decent. With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabergas has today admitted he would like to leave the club once his current contract runs out at the club. The Spanish international has been repeatedly link with a move to La Liga giants Barcelona over the past 18 months, however it now appears as though they will have to wait until 2014 to sign the player.

Fabregas, 21, was recently handed the captain's armband at the Emirates following William Gallas' negative comments regarding his team-mates. The former Barcelona youth player had this to say about a possible move back to the Catalan giants : "Right now I am very happy and very motivated and to be captain is an even bigger incentive. At some time I would like to return to Spanish football. It is an experience that I would want some time it in the future."

Fabergas went on to say : "The idea has always been the same, I signed a very long contract but what happens is that in football nobody has a guaranteed position anywhere." I feel once Fabregas does eventually leave the Premier League it will be a massive loss for the English game. He has undoubtedly been one of the best players in the league over the past two years or so and I think Arsene Wenger will have his work cut out to find a player to replace him. Ah well, he has about five years to do so.

Wouldn't you just love to have Fabregas in your starting eleven? Well here's your chance. Fabregas costs just £7 million in this season's "You the Manager" and in my view is a definite bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific monthly and weekly prizes.

That's according to our readers anyway. Football Corner has been running a poll for the last week or so, asking you, the reader, who you thought would be top of the Premier League on Christmas day. I would like to say it was close, but quite frankly it wasn't. Liverpool won the poll by a country mile.

Here is the full result of the poll :

Liverpool - 67 votes (68%)
Chelsea - 19 votes (19%)
Man United - 12 votes (13%)

Total Votes : 98

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted and I would encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll, what club will Emile Heskey be at come February 1st? The poll is located at the top right of the site, so get voting!

Chelsea have tonight booked their place in the latter stages of the Champions League after a home win against CFR Cluj, whilst Liverpool beat PSV in Eindehoven to confirm their passage through to the next round as group winners.

Chelsea knew they needed to win to guarantee their qualification for the last 16 of the tournament and they just about managed that. Goals from Salmomon Kalou and substitute Didier Drogba helped Luiz Filipe Scolari's men to a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge. Yssouf Kone grabbed the visitors only goal which pulled the side's level for all of fifteen minutes, however the strength of the Premier League side proved too much for Cluj.

Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez' Liverpool came from behind to beat PSV 3-1 in Holland. The Reds fell behind ten minutes before the break when Danko Lazovic struck the ball past Diego Cavaleiri from all of six yards. However goals from Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David Ngog ensured Liverpool topped Group D and will now avoid facing any other group winners in the next round.

Elsewhere in the Champions League it finished : Roma 2-0 Bordeaux, Panathinaikos 1-0 Anorthosis Famagusta, Werder Bremen 2-1 Inter Milan, Barcelona 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk, Basle 0-1 Sporting Lisbon, Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid.

It has been revealed today that Liverpool's Ryan Babel is interested in leaving the club, however Reds boss Rafa Benitez is unwilling to let him leave. The Dutch international has struggled this season to nail down a first team place at the Merseyside club and has even attempted to engineer a move to former club Ajax.

Babel, 21, has made just over 50 appearances for Liverpool since his £11.5 million move from Dutch giants Ajax back in 2007, most of which have come as a substitute. The player's agent, Winnie Haatrecht had this to say on the matter : "Ryan sits on the bench too much, he wants to play more and asked me to see if Ajax were interested in a temporary return.

"After we got an enthusiastic reaction from Ajax, we asked Liverpool but the club don't want to see him go." I personally would of liken to have seen more of the pacey winger this season because I feel he is one of Liverpool's best players. I am not surprised to see him asking to leave the club because he clearly has a lot of ability and there is no point wasting it every weekend.

With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Newcastle United striker Michael Owen. The England international looks certain to leave St James' Park in January with his contract due to expire next summer. Magpies boss Joe Kinnear is ready to cash in on the former Liverpool striker once the transfer window opens and Chelsea are understood to be monitoring the situation.

The 28-year old has been heavily linked with a move away from Newcastle in recent weeks with Liverpool and Tottenham also interested, however Chelsea now look favourites to secure his signature. It is believed that Chelsea will need to cough up just £3 million for the one time winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

Blues boss Luis Filipe Scolari is desperate to bring a new striker to Stamford Bridge and Owen is now seen as a possible acquisition. There is no doubting Owen is still a top class striker. As he showed at the weekend, he is still capable of performing at the highest level and I personally think he would prove real value for money should Chelsea snap him up for just £3 million.

With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Arsenal are ready to renew their interest in Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso once the January transfer window opens. The Spanish international was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates during the summer, but for whatever reasons Alonso remains a Liverpool player.

The 27-year old has played no small part in Liverpool's terrific start to the Premier League campaign, which sees the Merseyside club sit top of the table. Alonso was close to joining to Juventus during the summer after falling down the pecking order at Anfield behind Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard, however Rafa Benitez has now managed to use the trio to best affect.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been told he has money to spend in the transfer window and he has now set his sights on bringing Alonso to North London. I am sure all Arsenal fans would be delighted to see a player like Alonso walk in the door in January, however I just can't see it. He is really starting to excel at Liverpool and I can't see Benitez letting him go for anything.

There is no doubting that Alonso is in terrific form and personally I would want him in my team. He costs just £4 million in this season's "You the Manager" and personally I feel that is a bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some great weekly and monthly prizes.

Former Sunderland manager Roy Keane has this evening insisted he will return to management. Keane left the Stadium of Light last week after a poor run of form with the Wearside club, however he has vowed to one day return to management.

Many senior figures in the game questioned whether or not Keane would have the desire to return to management including his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The 37-year old had this to say when questioned about the matter : "I have experienced and learnt a tremendous amount in the last 27 months and enjoyed the rigours of being a manager.

"I look forward to building on those experiences and, sometime in the future, returning to football management." Personally, I am glad to hear Keane say these things. There is no underestimating how well Keane actually did during his time at Sunderland, earning promotion in his first season their and maintaining their Premier League status the season after.

Meanwhile the race to replace Keane at Sunderland is hotting up. Sam Allardyce remains the bookies favourite, however Alan Curbishley has come in for a lot of support from the punters in recent weeks and is now the second favourite. Make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner over the coming weeks for the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela could be on his way out of the Emirates when the January transfer window opens with West Brom boss Tony Mowbray keen to take him on loan. The Mexican international has proved a massive hit at the Gunners since officially joining them this summer, however Arsene Wenger may be tempted to let him go in January.

Vela, 19, was originally signed by Arsenal back in 2005 from Mexican side Guadalajaral, however he spent three seasons on loan with several different Spanish sides, waiting for his work permit to be granted. Vela has now gone on to make just over a dozen appearances for the North London giants, scoring 4 goals in the process.

West Brom are desperate to add to their attacking options once the transfer window opens on January 1st and they are now hoping to take Vela on a six-month loan deal. The Gunners were recently knocked out of the Carling Cup, a competition which Vela has made most of his performances so the Baggies are now hoping to persuade Wenger to let him spend the rest of the season at the Hawthorns getting first team football every weekend.

Personally, I feel this would be a good move for all parties. West Brom would be getting a quality young striker who may help them stay in the Premier League. Vela himself would be getting much needed game time and Arsenal would hopefully see the benefit of it next season. With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Who would you pick is a new feature of Football Corner were we ask you, the reader, who you would pick? Each week we will pick two players who play in similar positions and ask you who you would pick? This week we have chosen two former Tottenham strikers, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, both of whom have had poor starts with their new clubs.

So just place your vote below. Either Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov or Liverpool's Robbie Keane.

Manchester City are closing on the world-record signing of Valencia striker David Villa. The Spanish international is understood to be the subject of a £52 million bid from City and it is understood that his agents will fly to Manchester later this week to discuss the move.

Villa, 27, has been linked with a move to the Premier League for years really. With Valencia's current financial troubles, it is likely that they will need to sell some of their most valuable assets in January, and Villa may be one to make way.

The former Real Zaragoza man played no small part in helping Spain win the European Championships last summer and even claimed the Golden Boot for the tournament. Since the arrival of Robinho at Eastlands, many of Europe's best players have been linked with a move to the club, however Villa looks a very likely arrival.

If City were to land the player for the rumoured £52 million, it would smash the world-record fee of £46 million which Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane back in 2001. Wouldn't this just be amazing. Personally, Villa is a player who I have always admired and I would love it if he came to England. Could you imagine City having Robinho and Villa as a strike-force?

Football Matters

After is was reported yesterday that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could place £20 million summer signing Robbie Keane on the transfer list, his former club Tottenham have today been linked with a January move for him.

The Republic of Ireland international has failed to shine at Anfield since his joining the club back in July and it is now understood that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is considering bringing him back to White Hart Lane. Keane, 28, has only scored 4 goals for the Merseyside club and was recently dropped for the side's 3-1 victory against Blackburn.

Should a bid of around the £20 million mark, which Liverpool spent on Keane, be received it is likely it will see the former Inter Milan striker on his way out the door. I think this would be best for all parties. Liverpool would get a decent sum of money for a player who has struggled this season, Spurs would be getting one of their best performers over the past two years back and Keane will hopefully start showing everyone why Liverpool did cough up so much money for him in the first place.

Keane costs just £7 million in this season's "You the Manager" and may be worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is desperate for his international team-mate Andrei Arshavin to join him at White Hart Lane. Both played vital roles in Russia's terrific run to the semi-final of the European Championships last summer and Pavlyuchenko is now calling on Arshavin to join him at Spurs.

Arshavin, 27, has been repeatedly linked with a move to North London after it was revealed that Spurs had several bids for the player rejected in the summer. The Zenit St Petersburg playmaker has apparently told the Russian giants he wants to leave the club once the January transfer window opens and Pavlyuchenko has told him to move to Spurs.

Asked whether he'd like Arshavin to sign for Tottenham in January he replied : "Yes, of course I would like that. I haven’t spoken to Arshavin myself, although I know there have been discussions about him moving to another club. All I know is that Arshavin wants to join another good European team."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen to add to his attacking options once January comes around and Arshavin is believed to be high on his wish-list. Personally, I would love to see Arshavin come to the Premier League. It is obvious that he wants to come but will Spurs manage to cough up the £20 million that Zenit are demanding. I certainly hope so

Liverpool have today beaten Blackburn Rovers 3-1 to stay top of the Premier League table. Rafa Benitez' men remain a point clear at the top of the table ahead of Chelsea after a convincing victory at Ewood Park.

It was Xabi Alonso who put the visitors ahead just after the hour mark when he coolly slotted home from 18 yards. Liverpool doubled their lead just ten minutes later when Yossi Benayoun finished past Paul Robinson in the Rovers net from a tight angle.

Credit to Paul Ince's men, they didn't give up and they were rewarded when Roque Santa Cruz got on the end of a Keith Andrews corner to head the ball beyond Jose Pepe Reina. The home side's chances of getting a point from the game were ended just minutes later when Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard placed the ball into an empty net to send the travelling fans home happy.

Good result for Liverpool. Many people had predicted a tough afternoon in store for them, however they made it look easy and it certainly sets them up very nicely for the busy weeks ahead. Personally I fear for Ince. This was their eleventh Premier League game without a victory and they are no in serious trouble.

Elsewhere in the Premier League it finished : Arsenal 1-0 Wigan, Bolton 0-2 Chelsea, Newcastle 2-2 Stoke City, Hull City 2-1 Middlesbrough, Fulham 1-1 Manchester City

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is ready to put £20 million summer signing Robbie Keane on the transfer list after what can only be described as a shocking five months for the player. The Republic of Ireland international moved to Anfield in July after spending six successful years at Tottenham, however since his move Keane has struggled for goals and could be on his way out when January arrives.

The 28-year old has made 19 appearances for the Merseyside club, scoring just 4 goals in the process. Much was said about Keane and Torres' partnership up front for the Reds, however there chances together have been limited due to recurring hamstring injuries for the Spaniard. Keane is likely to be rested for Liverpool's trip to Blackburn this afternoon which I'm sure he won't be too happy with.

Although Keane has struggled for goals since joining Liverpool in the summer, it hasn't been for lack of effort. I almost get the feeling he is trying a bit too hard to impress and I think he just needs to relax and hopefully the goals will come from him. Personally I hope Benitez keeps faith with Robbie because I have no doubts he will turn out to be a good player for the Reds over the coming months.

I think Keane will eventually come good for Liverpool, but do you? Well he costs just £7 million in this season's "You the Manager" and may be worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

Tottenham are planning to bring Ghanaian midfielder Stephen Appiah to White Hart Lane after months of speculation over the player's future. Appiah has been a free agent since leaving Turkish giants Fenerbahce almost three months ago and has been linked with a whole host of Premier League clubs during that time, including Arsenal and Chelsea.

Harry Redknapp is now ready to offer the former Juventus man the chance to move to England. The 27-year old had this to say in relation to a possible move to the Premier League : "My dream is to play in the Premier League and with the help of God, I will realise that dream."

Personally I think this would be an unbelievable bit of business for Spurs. I have always rated Appiah very highly and I feel he would prove a quality signing should Spurs manage to bring him to North London. He wouldn't cost a penny and I believe he is just what Spurs need. A solid holding midfield player. With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has today told Real Madrid and AC Milan that Reds defender Dan Agger is not for sale. The Danish international has been heavily linked with a move away from Anfield in January after is was revealed that his demands for his wages to be doubled were turned down.

The 23-year old has made just six Premier League appearances for Liverpool this campaign due to the terrific form of both Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher. Agger only began to get a look in after Skrtel injured himself back in October, however with Skrtel likely to return later this month, it could mean the former Brondby man will have to settle for a place on the bench once again.

It was rumoured last month that both Real Madrid and AC Milan were preparing to bid as much as £10 million for the player but Benitez has today confirmed that Agger is happy on Merseyside.

The Spaniard had this to say : "He is very happy here. He is not playing badly, but he can do better. He knows he has not been playing at the same level he achieved last season, but I am still pleased with him. He is very competitive, and his only concern is how he can improve. His commitment to the club is 100% and he does not want to leave."

This can only be good news for Liverpool fans. If Liverpool are to seriously challenge for the title this season, they need to keep their best players and I feel Agger is certainly one of them. It will be interesting to see who Benitez picks to partner Carragher in the heart of the Reds defence once Skrtel comes back. With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Tottenham and Aston Villa are ready to move for West Ham striker Dean Asthon after is was reported that the Hammers were looking to sell. The England international has had a torrid time with injuries this season, making only a handful appearances for Gianfranco Zola's men and it is now expected that he could be on his way out of Upton Park once January comes.

The 25-year old was previously linked with a move to White Hart Lane, however for whatever reasons he remains a West Ham player. That may be about to chance though. It is obvious for everyone to see that the club are in a spot of bother financially (with the whole Icelandic bank crisis and the on-going Carlos Tevez affair) so the club may be forced to sell Ashton come the new year.

Both Harry Redknapp and Matin O'Neill are both now keen to take advantage of the situation and if either was to bid £10 million for the player, how could West Ham turn it down. I think there is a real possibility this could happen, although I don't know whether or not Spurs or Villa will be prepared to spend big money on such an injury-prone player. I am sure, given the opportunity, Ashton would jump at the chance to make a fresh start at either club. With January fast approaching, make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has today claimed he was just inches away from joining Premier League rivals Arsenal. The Portuguese winger joined United back in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon and has since gone on the become the best player in the world, however it could of all been so different for him.

Ronaldo, 23, has only recently been crowned the winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or and is widely regarded as the greatest player in the world. Since joining United Ronaldo has made over 250 appearances for the club, scoring an astonishing 101 goals in the process, however today he has admitted he could of joined one of United's biggest rivals.

Before Ronaldo left Sporting all them years ago, he apparently spoke with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. He told French magazine France-Football : "I saw Arsene Wenger three times with my mother. I was just an inch away from signing for Arsenal." What a difference one signing can make. Could you imagine if Ronaldo had actually of signed for Arsenal. I don't personally think United would of won the Champions League last season, or even the Premier League.

Now would be a good time to have Ronaldo in your team. Cristiano costs just £8 million in this season's "You the Manager" and personally, I feel that's a bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific monthly and weekly prizes.

Bayern Munich have today confirmed that Lukas Podolski will remain at the club until at least next summer. The German international has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent weeks after it was claimed that Bayern would sell the player for £15 million in the January transfer window.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham are all believed to be interested in Podolski who is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe.

However their hopes of signing the player in January appear to have gone now after Karl-Heinz Rummenigge released this statement : "Lukas will stay at least until summer 2009 - his contract runs up until June 2010. He will certainly spend the second half of the season at Bayern and after that we will see."

This is obviously disappointing news for the three clubs involved. I feel the sooner Podolski comes to England the better because he is top notch. He is only 23 and I think he has a massive future in the game and I am sure he wants to leave the Allianz Arena as soon as possible so he can move on with his career. With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Blackburn are reportedly interested in bringing Espanyol defender Steve Finnan back to the Premier League. The Republic of Ireland international has spent six months in La Liga since leaving Liverpool for an undisclosed fee, however Paul Ince is now keen to bring him back to England.

The 32-year old left Anfield on transfer deadline day after falling down the pecking order at the club and has since only made a handful of appearances for Espanyol. It is now believed that Finnan is interested in a move back to the Premier League and Ewood Park now looks a likely destination for the player come January.

I always rated Finnan as a decent defender, although I think Rafa Benitez was right to sell him at the time. For me, he wasn't up to Liverpool standard, however if Blackburn were to sign him I feel he could turn out a decent little purchase. I wouldn't think that they'd have to pay much to tempt Espanyol into selling because to be fair, Finnan hasn't made much of an impact in Spain.

Chelsea have today been linked with a January move for CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love. The Brazilian international has been linked with a move to the Premier League on several occasions in the past, however for whatever reasons he remains a CSKA player. That may be about to change though.

Chelsea boss Luis Filipe Scolari is desperate to bring a new front man to Stamford Bridge during the upcoming transfer window and Love is seen a possible acquisition. The 24-year old was the top scorer in the Russian Premier League last season and has earned a reputation as one of the best players currently playing in the league.

It has been speculated that Love may move to London on an initial six-month loan deal before possibly making the move permanent in the summer. Personally I think Love would be a great signing for Chelsea. Nicolas Anelka has been in terrific form for the Blues this season and I feel if they could bring another top striker to the club in January, they could easily to go on to win several trophies.

With January fast approaching, make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Liverpool have today been rocked by the news that Fernando Torres will be out of action until the new year. The Spanish international was set to return to action next weekend, however after seeing a specialist about his hamstring injury, Torres has been told he will now miss the busy Christmas period ahead for Liverpool.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez had this to say : "We first said two to three weeks but do not want to put a time on it now ... He will come back when he is ready. We will not rush him back ... We want to resolve this problem once and for all and we will make sure we do that."

The former Atletico Madrid man has only made 16 appearances this season for Liverpool, scoring total of 5 goals in the process. The 23-year old has become an essential part of the Liverpool first team since moving to Anfield last summer. Torres is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe at the present moment and this news will obviously come a massive blow to Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League title.


Although Liverpool will be without their best striker for the next few weeks, I feel Reds fans will be happy about this. There is no point in trying to rush Torres back every time he injures his hamstring. He needs to rest it and with time they will get better. Hopefully he will come back better than ever next year. Get well soon Fernando. As we get ever nearer the opening of the January transfer window, make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Roy Keane has today decided to part company with Sunderland. The former Republic of Ireland captain has left the club after what can only be described as a shocking run of form which sees them sitting 18th in the Premier League.

Keane's future at Sunderland came into question after their latest defeat to Bolton Wanderers last Saturday afternoon. His side were beaten 4-1 at the Stadium of Light and after the game Keane had this to say : "I ask myself every day if I'm the right man for Sunderland ... I asked myself this morning, and I said I was. Sunday morning, if the answer's no, we'll have to look at it."

Keane joined Sunderland back in 2006 and guided the club to promotion in his first season. During his time at the club he was a real favourite with the fans, however in recent weeks things have gone downhill. The fans began to show their disapproval at the side's performances by booing after the full time whistle, much to the annoyance of Keane.

Early favourites to take over from Keane are former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley. This has obviously been coming for some time. It was clear for all to see that over the past few weeks Keane hasn't been the same. I wouldn't expect him to make an immediate return to management, however when (or should I say if) he returns I think it may be to former club Celtic.

Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United are all gearing up for a battle for Wigan Athletic winger Antonio Valencia. Wigan boss Steve Bruce has been told he must sell before he can think of signing new players in the upcoming January transfer window and with interest from some of the Premier League's big boys, Valencia could be one to make way.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Martin O'Neill are ready to battle for Valencia and it is believed they will need to bid at least £7 million to have a chance of signing the 23-year old. The Ecuadorian international has been a revelation since joining Wigan back in 2006 from La Liga side Villarreal and has since made over 60 appearances for the Latics.

It comes as no surprise to me to see Valencia being linked with the likes of Liverpool and United. Personally I think Valencia will leave the JJB this winter, but who he will join I'm not too sure. I have been very impressed at how well Valencia has adapted to the Premier League and I feel he would be a quality signing for any of the sides in question. Make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner as we get ever nearer to the opening of the January transfer window.

Valencia costs just £4 million in this season's "You the Manager" and must be worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific monthly and weekly prizes.

AC Milan are understood to be planning a January move for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. The Danish international could be about to leave Anfield after his demands for his wages to be doubled were turned down by the Liverpool board.

The 23-year old has previously been linked with a move away from Merseyside after falling down the pecking order at the Premier League giants. The terrific form of Martin Skrtel kept Agger out of the starting eleven for several weeks at the beginning of the season, however Skrtel has since picked up a long-term knee injury which has seen Rafa Benitez give Agger the chance to to prove himself once again.

With Milan boss Carlo Anceolotti desperate to bring a new central defender to the San Siro in January, Agger is now seen as a possible acquisition for the Italian giants. Agger joined Liverpool back in 2006 from Danish side Bronby and he has since gone on to make 60 appearances for the club. Personally I was surprised to see Agger sitting on the bench at the start of the season because I feel he is a far better player than Skrtel. It would not surprise me at all to see Agger leave Liverpool once the transfer window opens, however I don't think AC will be alone in their interest in him.

Fancy having Agger in your starting eleven? Well, the Big Dane costs just £5 million in this season's "You the Manager" and looks a bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

Tottenham have decided to ditch plans to sign Newcastle United keeper Shay Given and instead move for Portsmouth's David James. Given today ruled out any possible move to White Hart Lane come January, leaving Spurs boss Harry Redknapp with no option but to look elsewhere.

Redknapp is now planning a £3 million bid for Portsmouth and England keeper David James. Redknapp brought James to Fratton Park back in 2006 during his days as Pompey boss and he is keen to sign him once again. With current Spurs number one Heurleho Gomes failing to impress since his summer move from PSV, many people have speculated as to who might arrive in North London in January.

James, 38, is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers and I think he would be a quality addition to a Spurs side who have struggled for clean sheets this season. He is a very experienced keeper, who to be fair, only has one or two more seasons left in him, however regardless of that I feel he would be a bargain should Spurs snap him up for £3 million.

I recommend Spurs sign him and I also recommend you do to. James costs just £4 million in this season's "You the Manager" and I feel he is definitley worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some superb weekly and monthly prizes.

Arsenal and Tottenham are ready to move for Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins when the January transfer window opens. The Nigerian international recently stormed off after been substituted during Newcastle's 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough on Saturday and it has now been speculated he could be off in January.

With both Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp understood to be in the market for a new striker, Martins is now seen as a possible acquisition. The 24-year old has a buy-out clause in his contract of £13 million, a figure that both Wenger and Redknapp are willing to meet.

Martins moved to St James' Park back in 2006 from Italian giants Inter Milan and has since gone on the become a real fan favourite at the club. It was speculated earlier this season that many of the Magpies first team were planning the leave the club following the controversial departure of Kevin Keegan and Martins was one of them.

There is no doubting Martins is one of the best strikers in the Premier League at the moment but personally I feel he needs to leave Newcastle to before he can progress. If he was to move to Arsenal he would be surrounded by quality and I have no doubt he would prove at hit at the Emirates. With January fast approaching, make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Jermaine Pennant. Yes the Liverpool midfielder's home was nearly burgled on Monday morning. Pennant's house on Hale Road, Cheshire was targeted by burglars and thankfully for Jermaine they failed to brake through the gates outside his home.

It is now understood that the gates outside Pennant's house were damaged in the incident and Cheshire Police released the following statement : "At 1.40am on 1 December police were informed of an incident of criminal damage at a property on Hale Road, Hale, Widnes."

The 25-year old is not the only Liverpool player to have his home targeted in recent months. Lucas Leiva, Dan Agger, Jose Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane have all had their homes burgled in the past 12 months.

This is obviously awful news for Jermaine and his family. Pennant has found it hard this season to get into Rafa Benitez' plans and this can not help. The former England under-21 international has been linked with a January move away from the club and this latest incident may just convince Pennant to leave the club.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar will join Real Madrid on January 1st for a fee of £17 million. The Dutch striker has agreed to join Real on a five-year deal after weeks of speculation over his future. Huntelaar should slot straight into the Real first team with international team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy currently out injured.

The 25-year old has been linked with a move away from Ajax for some time after he admitted he wanted to leave the club come the new year. Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus were all understood to be interested in Huntelaar however he has now opted to move to the Bernabeau.

What a shame. Personally I was hoping to see Huntelaar move to the Premier League because I think he could of been a success here. I feel Real have got a real talent on their hands and if they use him correctly, £17 million will look a bargain. Huntelaar is without doubt one of the best strikers in Europe at the moment and I just hope he manages to do really well in La Liga.

Arsenal are lining up a potential £6 million January bid for Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure. The Ivory Coast international has been linked with a winter exit from the Camp Nou for some time now after falling out of favour with Barca manager Pep Guardiola.

Arsene Wenger is keen to bring a new central midfield player to the club after seeing both Alexander Hleb and Matthieu Flamini leave the Emirates during the summer. Since been told he has money to spend for the upcoming transfer window, Wenger has been linked with several big name players and Toure is the latest to be linked.

The 25-year old has spent just a year-and-a-half at Barca and, in truth, hasn't had the best of times. He has made 39 appearances in total for the Catalan giants, scoring just three times in the process. Yaya, is of course the brother of Gunners defender Kolo and it has been speculated on more than one occasion that the pair would link up at either Arsenal or Barca.

What a good signing this would be for Arsenal. I have always rated Toure very highly and I think if Arsenal were to sign him for £6 million it would be a real bargain. I feel Fabergas and Toure would make an excellent partnership in the heart of the Gunners midfield should the move happen. With January fast approaching, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news.

Everton are ready to join Liverpool in the race to sign Wigan Athletic striker Emile Heskey after the Latics chairman confirmed that the club may be forced to sell the player in January. Heskey's contract runs out at the end of the season and Wigan boss Steve Bruce is preparing to cash in on the player to avoid letting him leave on a free next summer.

The England international seems unwilling to sign a new deal at the JJB leaving Wigan no choice but to sell him, but to whom is another question. Everton manager David Moyes is now preparing to enter the market for a new striker after seeing Yakubu sustain a serious knee injury during his side's 1-0 victory away at Tottenham yesterday.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is looking to add to his striking options after watching £20 million summer signing Robbie Keane so far fail to make the grade at Anfield. Heskey, who of course spent four years at Liverpool and is said to be interested in a possible return to the club. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan admitted : "Emile is out of contract in the summer, It could cost us £3m or £4m if that goes on to the summer so we'll have to see what January brings."

The 30-year old has made over 80 appearances for Wigan during his two years at the club, scoring just 15 goals in that time. Heskey could prove to be a decent signing at 3 or 4 million for whoever does eventually sign him. Personally I hope he opts for a move to Goodison Park because he definitley has a better chance of getting a first team place with the Toffees.

The former Birmingham City man costs just £4 million in this season's "You the Manager" and is definitley worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.