Jasper Juinen/Getty ImagesThanks to Footybunker for this one. Tottenham are apparently contemplating a sensational swoop for Real Madrid superstar Kaka in the January transfer window.
Kaka is said to be unhappy under Jose Mourinho at Madrid and the rumour mill is suggesting the club will let him leave for as little as £25 million—roughly half what Madrid paid AC Milan for his services in 2009 when they made him a Galatico.
But Spurs? Would the Brazilian international really forgo a shot at La Liga and Champions League glory to join a team with just a feint hope of doing something remarkable this season?
Footybunker are quick to remind us that Harry Redknapp said he'd make a "major signing" at one point or another.
Let me counter that with this story from three days ago, which seems suggest Spurs are unlikely to be spending this winter. Here are the relevant Redknapp quotes:
"I don't really see us doing anything. I'd be surprised. It's hard to find players, I couldn't say that we have anyone in mind we would want to bring in."It is difficult to see me bringing anybody in really as we have a strong squad. I have Michael Dawson coming back and I have Ledley King so we are not short there."The young right-back Kyle Walker has done well, I have an excellent left-back in Benoit Assou-Ekotto and we have cover there with Danny Rose so I am not short anywhere. Tom Huddlestone will come back too so really we are okay, we just need to keep cracking on.
File this one under the, "try not to think about it Spurs fans" category.
Jamie McDonald/Getty ImagesManchester United are reportedlykeen on Basel midfielder Granit Xhaka, but could find themselves up against Hamburg and Lazio in a fight for the teenager's signature.
Nineteen-year-old Xhaka is said to have impressed United manager Sir Alex Ferguson this season—with the Swiss international twice having come up against United in the Champions League group stages.
Metro.co.uk say he could be available for around £7 million, which would likely appeal to the financial sensibilities of United's manager in the transfer market. The downside of that price is the potential for competition from some of Europe's other big clubs.
Xhaka has made six appearances for the Swiss national team, and most recently featured for 85 minutes in their 0-0 draw against the Netherlands. He started both games Basel played against United in Europe this season, the second of which saw Ferguson's team downgraded to the Europa League by virtue of a 2-1 defeat.
United are unsurprisingly being linked with a host of midfielders this January. With Darren Fletcher ruled out with illness, and Paul Scholes long since retired, Ferguson's team have looked weak centrally this season and in desperate need of reinforcement.
Wesley Sneijder's name continues to be linked to Old Trafford, but a deal seems unlikely with Inter Milan still involved in the Champions League.
The Times ran the original story, and their article has been quoted by Football365 this morning. I'd have got the quotes myself, but Rupert Murdoch's paywall is in the way.
Here's what The Times' story had to say of al-Mukhaini.
"The left back, capped 25 times by the Arab nation, is due to arrive at the club this week for a two-day trial. If Wenger decides to offer him a deal, al-Mukhaini would become only the second Omani to play in the Barclays Premier League, after Ali Al Habsi, the Wigan Athletic goalkeeper."
A quick Wikipedia tells us al-Mukhaini currently plays for Fanja FC in the Oman Second Division. The 24-year-old has been capped 23 times for the Oman national team and his full name is Saad Al-Mukhaini.
As yet, nothing has been confirmed at the Arsenal website.
Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesLiverpool forward Dirk Kuyt is a January target for Turkish side Galatasaray, according to a report at Metro.co.ukthis morning.
Kuyt has struggled to hold down a regular place in Kenny Dalglish's team this season, and has managed just one goal in club colours, away to Brighton in the Carling Cup.
The 31-year-old is still very much part of Dutch plans for Euro 2012, however, and the suggestion in the Metro article is that first-team football at Galatasaray could further enhance his credentials on the international scene.
The Turkish club are said to be willing to up Kuyt's £65,000/week wages and pay a transfer fee in the region of £10 million, plus extras is the team are successful.
Metro say Liverpool are likely to want a fee nearer to £15 million, however.
Kuyt started for Liverpool in their 3-0 loss to Manchester City last night, and didn't do much to further his cause with Dalglish. It was his sloppy pass that led to City's opener and he was substituted before the hour mark.
Could it prove the performance that convinced Liverpool to let him go? Time will tell.
Clive Mason/Getty ImagesArsenal's chances of signing German international striker Lukas Podolski rose today, with the news the German international is stalling on his contract talks with Cologne.
Podolski's current deal runs out in summer 2013, and he's asked for more time to consider an offer to extend it. The suggestion here is that Podolski may be looking for a move away from the Bundesliga this summer—perhaps following the Euro 2012 tournament.
Podolski has already said he won't be leaving Cologne in January, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said in a press conference he has no intention of making a move for the player this winter.
Wenger didn't rule out a move at a later date, however, and with the striker in red-hot form this season he may yet to be tempted to make a move in the summer. Wenger has been overly reliant on the goals of Robin van Persie this season, and could certainly use a proven goalscorer to give his team an extra cutting edge.
According to the BBC Gossip stream, German newspaper Bild have also linked Liverpool with Podolski, so the two Premier League clubs could face a bidding war.
Jasper Juinen/Getty ImagesHulk's agent says Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Manchester City are all keen on the Porto striker, but it doesn't look like anything will happen in January. (Talksport.co.uk)
The highly-rated Brazilian international has an £84 million buy-out clause in his contract, and agent Teodoro Fonseca is pretty sure that will put would-be suitors off for the time being.
"It is not only PSG that are interested in Hulk but also Inter Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City," he said.
"Honestly, I do not think anyone will pay his clause but maybe one day, if he decides to leave the club, then the clause will not be such a big obstacle.
"In these circumstances he could leave at any time, but now he is happy at Porto. Every day about 30 people ask me about his situation but I just refer them to Pinto da Costa (Porto's president)."
Hulk has scored five goals in his last six games for Porto, including a valuable strike away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stages, which helped secure the Portuguese side a place in the knockout stages.
Quinn Rooney/Getty ImagesIt looks like David Beckham's mooted loan move to PSG is off. BBC Sport say reports in France have confirmed Beckham will instead sign a one-year rolling contract with LA Galaxy and stay in the MLS.
The 36-year-old has been heavily linked to PSG, who are undergoing a revolution with the help of their wealthy Qatari owners. But ultimately it seems Beckham has decided not to move his family from LA and will be back at the Home Depot Stadium next season.
Beckham joined Galaxy in 2007 and helped Bruce Arena's team to the MLS Cup in 2011 with arguably his most impressive season in America.
The former England captain is said to have agreed a clause in his contract to allow him to represent the Great Britain team at the 2012 Olympics—should he be selected.
Angel Martinez/Getty ImagesArsenal fans are advised to take a mountain of salt with this one. It'scaughtoffside again, this time linking the Gunners with a move for Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain.
They say Arsenal are in the market for a forward—that Arsene Wenger is keen to show Robin van Persie the club's ambition, and also to get himself some much-needed cover if RvP was to get himself injured (touch wood Arsenal fans).
Apparently Wenger likes the look of Higuain. Why wouldn't he? The Argentine has bagged 12 goals in La Liga this season and helped himself to three hat-tricks—one of which came on international duty against Venezuela.
With Karim Benzema on song, however, Higuain has found himself increasingly deployed as a substitute as the season has progressed. He is, if you like, the Dimitar Berbatov of Madrid right now.
Can Arsenal steal in and tempt the player with the offer of first-team football? I'm not so sure Jose Mourinho would be keen on it myself.
Jamie McDonald/Getty ImagesChelsea's Brazilian defender Alex has told Andre Vilas-Boas he wants to leave the club and looks set for a January exit. The question is, where's he going next?
The Daily Mail reckon he could be staying in London, with Queens Park Rangers. QPR are said to been keen on a move, and Alex is prepared to hear what they've got to say.
Talksport, meanwhile, say the battle for Alex's signature will be fought between Brazilian side Santos, where he began his career, and Juventus of Italy.
Juve are said to be very interested in bringing the 29-year-old to Serie A, and will attempt to fight off any approach from Santos with a lucrative offer of their own.
Dmitry Korotayev/Getty ImagesManchester United are reportedly keen on CKSA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev—a player who's been dubbed "the Russian Lionel Messi" and is attracting more attention by the day.
According to caughtoffside, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has had the 21-year-old watched and is keen on making a move for Dzagoev sooner rather than later.
The article suggests CSKA will want £18 million for the Russian international, who's also been linked to PSG and Juventus. It also claims United are willing to pay that fee, such is their belief in Dzagoev's ability.
Further justification is provided with a reference to Dzagoev's performance against United in the Champions League, back in 2009, where it's said he first caught Ferguson's eye.
As with everything sourced from caughtoffside, file this one in the "I'll believe it when I see it" category.
Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty ImagesTalksport.co.uk are reporting thatDaniel De Rossi will extend his contact at Roma this week—thus ruling out a January move to Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The 28-year-old midfielder is apparently set to sign a new five-year deal with the Serie A club, who he's been with for his entire senior career, making his debut back in 2001.
According to Goal.com, Roma are set to offer De Rossi £5 million/year to stay put and also want to introduce a €25 million buy-out clause into his contract.
City manager Roberto Mancini has talked highly of De Rossi and could be in the market for a defensive midfielder, with Yaya Toure set to go off to the African Nations tournament shortly.
Clearly Roma don't want that to happen, and it looks as though they've done enough to keep their man—for now at least.
Stu Forster/Getty ImagesAccording to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal are keen on Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson.
The 27-year-old is said to be considering his future in the north east and may favor a return to London, where he began his career with West Ham.
Richardson moved from there to Manchester United, before a £5 million move to Sunderland in 2007.
Sunderland's new manager Martin O'Neill is yet to comment. Does he value Richardson as a key player? Or is he prepared to offload him to gather funds to spend elsewhere?
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