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Liverpool flop Andrea Dossena linked to Roma
Transfer Talk: As Italian defender looks set to go, Benitez may swap Babel for Pavlyuchenko
Has Andrea Dossena played his last match for Liverpool? According to reports emanating from Merseyside, the Italian defender's appearance in last night's shocking 2-1 home defeat to Fiorentina in the Champions League might be Dossena's Liverpool swansong with Roma his most likely destination.
"If from now until January we see he is no longer required by the club, then we will evaluate other scenarios," Dossena's agent, Federico Pastorello, told a local radio station. "Roma? We are delighted Dossena is valued by a coach like Claudio Ranieri. We are not worried about the money, what's important is that he is physically well."
The 28-year-old Dossena has his heart set on a spot in the Italian squad for next year's World Cup and thinks it's best he moves back to an Italian club to pursue his ambition. He almost signed for Napoli in the summer but the deal foundered on Dossena's wage demands. This time, however, with his first-team appearances dwindling, the Italian is said to be willing to take a pay cut.
"The situation is not good, now we will evaluate everything," Dossena was quoted as saying in today's Times. "It is clear that staying on the edge [of Liverpool's first-team squad] is not good and it might be better to find another solution."
Liverpool have been linked with out-of-favour Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, whose agent has recently been talking up a move to Manchester United and who only yesterday was being talked up for an unlikely move to Arsenal. According to a report in today's Daily Mail, "Liverpool plan to swap Ryan Babel for Spurs misfit Pavlyuchenko". The paper says that Reds' manager Rafa Benitez needs cover for Fernando Torres and Pavlyuchenko could do the job.
Spurs paid £13.8million for Pavlyuchenko 15 months ago and while cash-strapped Liverpool can't afford that sort of money, "Babel, an £11.5m signing from Ajax two years ago, represents Liverpool's bargaining tool and at 22 he has a great re-sale value".
Chelsea are planning a January spending spree in advance of a possible transfer ban in the summer over the Gael Kakuta affair.
Top of Carlo Ancelotti's list is Ajax striker Luis Suarez, who could cost as much as £20m. The 22-year-old Uruguayan has shone in the Dutch league this season and has caught the eye of other clubs including Arsenal and Spurs according to the Independent. But it is Chelsea who are favourites to make the first move.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are also said to be interested in Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero and young Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell.
The Sun says that Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is interested in Sint Truidense VV goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. With Craig Gordon out until February Bruce wants a replacement and the promising 21-year-old fits the bill.
FC Twente are also keen on the stopper, but he is said to favour a move to the Premier League.
Ruud van Nistelrooy may not be in Arsene Wenger's sights, but the out-of-favour Real Madrid striker could return to the Premier League with Blackburn. Sam Allardyce is keen on the Dutch international - and so, apparently, are Bolton, Fulham, Sunderland and Birmingham.
The Sun reports that West Ham are weighing up a cut-price move for Stoke's "wantaway "striker James Beattie. The paper has it on reliable authority that the 31-year-old is desperate to leave the Potters after his weekend bust-up with manager Tony Pulis, and West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola looks set to spring Beattie from his unhappy situation. With Carlton Cole and Zavon Hines sidelined through injury, Zola needs a proven goalscorer to lift his side away from the relegation zone. ·
