With Giampaolo Pazzini out of the game for the next six months, Milan are reportedly mulling to recall Alexandre Pato back to their fold from Corinthians, the club he joined in winter.
Pazzini will be out long term after undergoing knee surgery last week. It left Milan with a striker shortage and rather than bring in another new player, Milan could be tempted to get Pato back from Brazil.
Other possible replacements for Pazzini could be Alessandro Matri, of Juventus, and Genoa’s Marco Borriello.
Skrtel open to transfer offers
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel would seriously consider his future at Anfield if he received an offer from elsewhere.
Jamie Carragher’s exit might have offered Skrtel the chance to regain a first-team place. But Liverpool could move for Manchester City’s Kolo Toure and they are also being linked with Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopoulos.
That leaves Skrtel’s position uncertain, despite only signing a new deal last August, and he said: “I have not had any specific offers. But if some should come and they interest me, I would probably ponder it seriously.”
Kompany stays
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has rejected rumours linking him with a move away from the club this summer.
Barcelona and Monaco have both been credited with an interest in Kompany as they look to bolster their defensive options. However, Kompany has moved to play down the rumours and insists he is staying at City as he has “unfinished business” at the Etihad Stadium.
“Speculations and questions about next season... I’m not going anywhere,” Kompany said on Twitter.
“I love playing for Man City and I’ve still got some unfinished business.”
Toffees not sold on new crest
Everton are facing a rebellion from within their own support after revealing a new club crest.
The new design does not feature Everton’s motto ‘nil satis nisi optimum’ – meaning ‘Nothing but the best is good enough’ – as it has since 1991.
The club said the updated version – a “next evolution” – formed “a concise, modern and dynamic representation of Everton” and was produced after consultation with various stakeholders, including fans.
However, an online petition was started after its unveiling during the weekend, and it swiftly garnered more than 6,000 signatures, while the new crest drew a largely negative reaction on social media.
Barton wants to stay in France
Joey Barton’s loan spell with Marseille came to an end in yesterday’s final Ligue 1 game of the season against Reims, but he is hoping it was no farewell appearance.
The 30-year-old QPR midfielder has spent the year with Marseille but his future remains unclear as he continues to negotiate with his parent club. Barton says he would like to make a permanent move to the south of France.
“For the first time in my life I’m very happy, really content,” Barton said.
“The fans have accepted me into their hearts and that means a lot to me. When I saw PSG celebrating their title, I was jealous. I would like that to happen in Marseille next year.”
Benitez targets top Euro club
Rafael Benitez has set his sights on managing in the Champions League next term after bringing his stint as Chelsea interim manager to a close with a second post-season tour defeat to Manchester City on Saturday night.
Asked about his plans and a link to Napoli following Chelsea’s 5-3 defeat to City in New York, Benitez said: “I am going to London now. I want to be in a top side so that we can play in the Champions League, if that is possible.
“I think Chelsea was a good challenge and I enjoyed it at the end.”
Heynckes would accept Real job
Outgoing Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes would accept an offer to return to Real Madrid to take over from Jose Mourinho, his agent was quoted as saying yesterday.
German Heynckes, who turned 68 this month and speaks fluent Spanish, is leaving Bayern at the end of the season after leading the Bavarian club to the UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga titles.
Heynckes’s agent, Enrique Reyes, said: “It is Florentino Perez’s decision. If he calls us we would accept the offer.
“The one who has to accept is not Jupp Heynckes, it is Florentino Perez.
“For the moment, he (Jupp Heynckes ) is only retiring from the Bundesliga.”