Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg are reportedly interested in Giampaolo Pazzini, the 26-year-old Sampdoria striker. Pazzini’s contract runs out in 2013, making him one of the hottest transfer targets for clubs in Italy and outside the country.
Pazzini, who netted a hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Lecce last weekend, is reportedly eager to play at the highest level. He is valued at €18m.
Juventus are leading the chase in the Serie A but the interest doesn’t stop there, with Chelsea and Manchester City also making queries about the player.
Wolfsburg have turned their attention to Pazzini as they are expected to lose Edin Dzeko in the summer.
Spurs get London Mayor backing
Tottenham moved a step closer to building a new stadium on the site of their existing White Hart Lane after their plans received approval from the Mayor of London.
Boris Johnson could have overturned last month’s decision by the local Haringey Council to give Spurs permission to go ahead in building a new 56,000-seater venue.
However, Spurs are also one of two contenders, along with West Ham, vying to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
The prospect of moving to east London from Spurs’ home of over a century has angered the fans and led to a protest group called ‘We are N17 (the postal address for White Hart Lane).
Rooney apologises to United fans
Wayne Rooney has tried to make his peace with Manchester United’s fans by saying sorry for the way his contract talks were concluded last month.
It left a sour taste with many United fans who, when Rooney did extend his Old Trafford contract by five years, felt he toyed with their emotions in the hope of getting a better financial deal.
Rooney said: “I feel like I have apologised to the fans but everyone keeps saying that I haven’t. If that is the case, then I apologise.
“Everyone is saying that I was definitely going to Manchester City. Believe me if I had gone it wouldn’t have been in England.”
Wenger: Cesc isn’t going like Owen
Arsene Wenger is confident Cesc Fabregas will not experience similar anguish to Michael Owen following his latest hamstring woe.
But despite admitting the 23-year-old’s recent travails have left Gunners medics baffled, Wenger is confident Fabregas is not heading down the same path as Owen, who has been dogged by hamstring trouble throughout his career.
Wenger said: “The strength of Owen was more based on his pace. Cesc is more a playmaker, so he doesn’t need to sprint as much.
“That’s what is remarkable in Cesc’s case: usually, people who are exposed to hamstring injuries are sprinters like Owen but Cesc is more a stamina player.”
Gomes dreaming of Wembley
Heurelho Gomes is already dreaming of Wembley after helping Tottenham seal their place in the KO stages of the Champions League. This season’s final will be played in London and goalkeeper Gomes can think of no bigger incentive for Spurs to continue their fairytale first season in the competition.
But the Brazil international believes his side’s best chance of going far in the Champions League lies in finishing top of the group.
Asked if he was already thinking of Wembley, Gomes said: “A little bit.
“The next step is Twente and then, of course, we need to be prepared for the next one. For the English teams, it is so special when you play at Wembley.”
Downing wants way to five
Stewart Downing believes new Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier needs to bring in up to five new players during the January transfer window. Downing is currently Villa’s top scorer during the current campaign with five goals.
But Villa have been hit by a string of injuries which has left Houllier having to put his faith in youth.
When asked if Villa need to sign a new forward in January, Downing said: “We’ve got one (experienced) striker at the moment and he has just come back from injury.
“If you look at things, as they are at the moment, I would say we probably do need a striker. But we probably need four or five players, not just a striker.”
Bin Hammam backs Iberian bid
The Qatari president of the Asian Football Confederation has confirmed for the first time that he will support England’s rivals Spain/Portugal’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Mohamed Bin Hammam insists, however, that there is no “illegal” pact between the Iberian bid and Qatar’s bid for 2022. The bids were last week cleared by FIFA’s ethics committee of collusion on the grounds of lack of evidence.
Bin Hammam said: “Asia supports the Iberian bid. There’s an excellent relationship between Asian football and Spanish football, we have done a lot of projects together, but that doesn’t mean there has been a pact between us.
“It is something that happens between a lot of bids and it’s not at all illegal.”