Unsettled midfielder Sulley Muntari is on the verge of leaving Inter as reports emerge of his agent meeting with Genoa on Monday.
In fact, Federico Pastorello, the player’s agent, has already met with Genoa chief Enrico Preziosi to finalise details of a six-month loan deal according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Ghana’s Muntari has made just four appearances for Inter this season.
This time last year, the 27-year-old made a similar move when he joined Sunderland in the English Premier League.
Schalke rubbish Guti bid talk
Schalke’s director of sport Horst Heldt has denied that his club are planning a bid for the former Spain international Guti.
Spain’s As newspaper reported that Guti, formerly a team-mate of Schalke striker Raul at Real Madrid, was holding talks with the Gelsenkirchen-based club, but Heldt says there is no foundation to the story.
“It is not true, there is nothing in it. Guti is not an issue for us,” he said.
The 35-year-old left Real at the same time that Raul moved to Schalke. Guti moved to Besiktas, but his contract there was terminated in November and he is now a free agent.
Taiwo joins QPR on loan
Taye Taiwo has joined Premier League club Queens Park Rangers on loan from Milan.
The 26-year-old will remain at Loftus Road until the end of the season after struggling to win a regular place in the starting line-up at Milan since joining from French side Marseille last summer.
The defender, who can also play in midfield, was reportedly the subject of interest from Arsenal but has joined QPR after receiving a work permit.
“To get him now is a fantastic coup and a real statement of intent that we can attract the quality of player that he is,” QPR manager Mark Hughes said.
Capello quiet over future
England manager Fabio Capello gave little indication as to his future plans this week and refused to confirm whether he will return to Italy after Euro 2012.
Capello last month insisted he wished to remain with England until the end of their Euro 2012 campaign but did not reveal what he expects to do following the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
He said: “Before taking a decision we wait for the end of the European Championship. Then let’s see if I go back to Italy, as a TV commentator or as a coach.
“I am well in England, I am fine, but the Italian anthem is always a strong emotion.”
Ibrahimovic – the best Serie A player
Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been voted the best player in Serie A in 2011 at the Oscar del Calcio awards.
The awards are voted for by Serie A players and recognise the best player, coach, club and referee from the previous season.
Ibrahimovic was voted both Best Player and Best Foreign Player while Massimiliano Allegri won the Best Coach award after guiding Milan to the Serie A title last year.
Thiago Silva was named Best Defender and Stephen El Shaarawy, also now with Milan, was given the Best Serie B Player award.
However, it was Udinese who were named Best Club with Samir Handanovic getting the Best Goalkeeper prize.
Swansea count promotion cost
Swansea’s first ever promotion to the Premier League came at a cost as they revealed they had made a loss of £8.2 million up to May 2011.
The Welsh side – who played in the old First Division from 1981-83 – won promotion when they beat Reading in the play-off final but bonuses arising from that moment of glory contributed heavily to their financial loss.
A club statement cites player and management bonuses, as well as having to cede their share of the Wembley Stadium gate receipts to Reading under Football League rules.
Lucas returns
Midfielder Lucas Leiva has returned to Liverpool from his native Brazil to continue his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament damage suffered in the League Cup quarter-final win at Chelsea in November.
Lucas said: “I am still a long way away, but the knee is better and the rehab is going well.
“The next stage is to get the knee moving and in the next few weeks I’ll start to walk again.
“When you’re on crutches you cannot do too much, so I can’t wait to start my programme and get in the swimming pool and things like that.”