Van der Vaart ‘snubs’ Arsenal; Mancini’s wishlist

Arsene Wenger's Christmas list seems to have been mislaid by Santa, according to a report in the Daily Mirror. The paper says that the Arsenal manager has suffered "a major setback" after Dutch superstar Rafael van der Vaart revealed he will "snub" any move to the Premier League in January.

The 26-year-old midfielder, a product of Ajax's famous youth academy, had flirted with the Gunners earlier in the season after failing to establish himself with Real Madrid. Wenger let it be known he was a fan of van der Vaart, who captained Holland in August's 2-2 draw with England, and the Mirror said Arsenal had been "strongly linked" with a £6m move by van der Vaart from Madrid.

But since then van der Vaart's fortunes at Madrid have improved, thanks in part to Kaka's groin injury, allowing the Dutchman the chance to nail down a starting spot in the Real team. And for the moment at least he has shelved all plans to join Arsenal. "My intention is to finish the season here and see out the contract that I have with Real Madrid," he is quoted as saying. "I am very happy and believe I am playing very well at the moment."

The wheels have already started turning at Manchester City following the announcement that Roberto Mancini will be taking over from Mark Hughes.

Mancini has apparently given chief excutive Garry Cook a list of players he wants to sign. Early reports suggest that it features names of Juventus' left-back Giorgio Chiellini and Inter's right-back Maicon.

Massimo Moratti, the president of Mancini's former club Inter Milan, has insisted that highly-rated 19-year-old striker Mario Balotelli will not be heading to Manchester in January. The youngster has attracted widespread interest with Arsenal also keen on him. But Moratti said the club had no intention of cashing in on the player.

Meanwhile, it seems that Robinho will be staying put, until the summer at least, after Barcelona president Joan Laporta ruled out a move for the Brazilian during the winter transfer window.

After last week's speculation concerning Franck Ribery and a possible move to either Chelsea or Arsenal, this week it's the turn of Ribery's compatriot, Karim Benzema, to be linked with a move to the Premier League. The Daily Express reports that Sir Alex Ferguson is planning "a late Christmas present" for Old Trafford fans with a move for Benzema in the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old French striker joined Real Madrid from Lyon in the summer on a six-year contract after United dropped out of the race saying the £35m asking price was too much. Since his arrival, says the Express, Benzema has not made the impact at the Bernabeu expected of him and Ferguson is ready "to test Real's resolve".

The Daily Mail says that Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan are all monitoring European football's latest teen sensation, 16-year-old Romelo Lukaku from the Belgian outfit Anderlecht. The youngster bagged a brace of goals for Anderlecht in last week's 3-1 defeat of Ajax in the Europa League and is rated one of Europe's hottest properties.

The Belgian beanpole (he stands 6ft 2in) has been on Anderlecht's books for three years and first attracted interest from Real Madrid earlier this year. The centre-forward also rebuffed an offer from Chelsea to join their youth academy but the Mail says Lukaku's recent goal-scoring exploits are "increasing the intensity of interest in him" and Chelsea are ready to make a second offer. ·