January Transfer Window

here we go it will be soon time for the transfer merry go aorund

heres the latest rumours

Arsenal have joined the race to sign highly-rated PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most talented players in the Eredivisie having come through PSV's own youth system.

Afellay, who only this year opted to represent Holland rather than Morocco, is now attacting attention from around Europe.

His former boss Ronaldo Koeman, now at Valencia, is thought to be keen and reports suggest he could make a bid as early as January to take him to Spain.

However, Arsenal now look to be in the running after Arsene Wenger dispatched a delegation to take a close look at Afellay over the weekend as PSV won 1-0 at De Graafschap.

Staying put

Afellay is currently in talks with PSV - who are keen to extend his current contract by another three years, taking him to 2013.

"My intention is to sign with PSV," he told Algemeen Dagblad.

"But if that fails I will just serve out my contract until 2010."

Steve Coppell has suggested he will not stop Nicky Shorey or Leroy Lita from leaving Reading in January.

Shorey's future at the Madejski Stadium is uncertain, with the England full-back stalling on signing a new contract.

Striker Lita has not featured in the squad for the past three matches and has been linked with Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.

Reading boss Coppell has previously confirmed he is keen to keep Shorey, who is a target for West Ham United, and Lita at the club.

But he also acknowledged that he does not want players in his squad who are not willing to give their all for Reading

Shay Given is not concerned by speculation linking Newcastle United with a move for Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Reports have claimed that former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is looking to bring Jaaskelainen to St James' Park in January.

Jaaskelainen is out of contract at the end of the season, and is also rumoured to be a target for Arsenal and Internazionale.

But current Newcastle No.1 Given admits that he, and back-up Steve Harper, are not worried by the possible arrival of the Finn.

more to follow soon... who woul you like to see at your club in january

Manchester City could pull off an audacious 14million deal for Brazil's goalscoring hero Afonso Alves.

The Heerenveen striker has also been linked with Middlesbrough but was due to sign for AZ Alkmaar on Friday. However, the deal collapsed at the last minute.

Alves, who scored 35 goals in 31 games last season, is now itching for a move to the Premiership to keep his place in the Brazil squad.

"My dream is to play in the Premier League in England. That will help me stay in the Brazil set-up," Alves told the Sunday Mirror.


Didier Drogba has cast more doubt over his Chelsea future by declaring he plans to leave at the end of the season.

The Ivory Coast star first revealed his desire to leave Stamford Bridge in October following the departure of Jose Mourinho as manager.

Drogba has reiterated his wish to move on in the summer and says his mind has not changed from when he first admitted he wanted to leave.

The former Marseille star admits the exit of Mourinho has helped push him towards the exit door at Stamford Bridge.



Liverpool are reported to be closing in on the signing of Zenit St Petersburg defender Martin Skrtel.

Reports emanating from Slovakia claim Liverpool are ready to pay in the region of 7million to land the 23-year-old.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed he is looking to bring in a central defender in this month's transfer window to bolster his squad and it appears Skrtel is his man.


Bolton have rejected a bid from Chelsea for striker Nicolas Anelka.



The Frenchman has enjoyed a good season with Bolton but his future has been the subject of speculation for some time.


Bolton are struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League table and Anelka admitted last week he would be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.


A number of other top clubs, including Manchester United, had been linked with January moves for Anelka, but Chelsea have now made the first approach.


The Blues will be without Didier Drogba for the next month as he takes part in the African Cup of Nations for Ivory Coast.


The likes of Claudio Pizarro and Andrei Shevchenko have been inconsistent and Avram Grant has set his sights on Anelka to provide the firepower in Drogba's absence.


"We can confirm we have made an official offer for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka, which is being discussed with Bolton Wanderers," read a statement on Chelsea's official website.


But Bolton have turned down Chelsea's first offer as they remain determined to keep hold of the former Arsenal forward.


Chelsea may now decide to come back with an increased offer as they attempt to secure his services during the transfer window.


It is understood that their opening bid was in the region of 12million.

PLENTY OF TRANSFER GOSSIP TODAY


Mohamed Sissoko is keen for Juventus to agree a deal with Liverpool as the midfielder 'wants a new challenge'.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has admitted his admiration for Sissoko after working with the Malian at Valencia.

The 22-year-old has been a long-term target for Juventus and has grown frustrated due to his lack of first-team football this season.

He has started just six games in the Premier League and admits he is willing to move to Serie A, if the two clubs reach an agreement.



Ronaldo has pledged his commitment to Milan, amid talk he is heading back to Brazil with Flamengo.

The Brazilian's second spell in Italy has seen him struggle to find anything like his top form, with the former Internazionale man hamstrung by injuries that have restricted him to just two appearances this term.


Speculation was fanned over the Christmas period when Ronaldo was photographed in Rio de Janeiro wearing a Flamengo shirt.



Rafael van der Vaart admits it would be a 'dream' to play alongside Alessandro Del Piero as he waits on a move to Juventus.

The Dutch midfielder has rejected an extension to his Hamburg contract, which expires in 2010, and is expected to be sold at the end of the season.

He has been strongly linked with a switch to Juventus and Van der Vaart would relish the opportunity to be in the same team as Del Piero.

"He is a fantastic player," Van der Vaart told Gazzetta dello Sport. "He is my idol.

"Playing with him, for me, would be a dream."



Sky Sports News understands Middlesbrough have made an approach for Lyon striker Fred.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate is desperate to add firepower to his squad in the January transfer window, with the Premier League strugglers having been linked with a host of strikers.

Heerenveen hit-man Afonso Alves has been mooted as a possible target, as has Sheffield United's Rob Hulse, but it is Fred who has shot to the top of Boro's wish-list.

Fred is currently persona non grata at the French champions having returned to training late following the winter break and has been told he would be allowed to leave should a suitable offer be forthcoming.



Real Sociedad are close to securing the services of Arsenal youngster Fran Merida on loan.

The 17-year-old midfielder has flown in to undergo his medical and if there are no complications he will then sign a contract that runs until the end of the season.

Merida, who has represented Spain at Under 17 level, could then make his debut against Alaves at the weekend.


Derby have completed the signing of midfielder Robbie Savage from Blackburn.

The Rams agreed a fee for the Welshman on Tuesday which is understood to be to be in the region of 1.5million.

He has now put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year contract and is likely to make his debut in the Premier League clash against Wigan this weekend.


Mark Stimson has confirmed Arsenal are the 'front-runners' to sign Gillingham starlet Luke Freeman.

The young striker has trained with the Gunners, and has also visited Premier League rivals Newcastle United and West Ham United.

The 15-year-old has already made his first-team debut for the Gills, but Stimson is resigned to losing Freeman in the coming weeks.



Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson has confirmed his interest in Roma star Mancini.

The Brazilian forward, who has previously been targeted by Liverpool, is now high on City's wanted list and Eriksson has compared him to Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I want Mancini here immediately as he is the ideal man to strengthen my squad," Eriksson told Il Romanista.


Toulouse striker Johan Elmander is attracting interest from Real Madrid, Manchester City and Tottenham.

The Swedish international has been in exceptional form of late, notching 10 goals in just 15 Ligue 1 games so far this season.

He arrived in France from Brondby in July 2006 and last season helped the club to a third place finish and a spot in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

Toulouse did reject a 7million bid from Lyon before the start of the current campaign, but with the club currently languishing in mid-table they may struggle to retain the striker's services this time around.


Lyon striker Karim Benzema has admitted that he "loves" Manchester United and would be extremely tempted by a move to Old Trafford.

The France international has scored 21 goals in 33 matches this season, including two for his country.

His impressive ratio has attracted attention from top clubs all over Europe - and speculation of a move has furthered by claims that he "loves" Manchester United.

The versatile front-man has played down talk of a move away from Lyon stating that he would only leave Les Gones after helping them to UEFA Champions League glory.

However, 22-year-old Benzema has admitted that he would be extremely tempted by an offer from the likes of the Old Trafford Club.


Real Madrid have joined Liverpool in the race to sign Ghanaian starlet Daniel Opare, according to reports in Spain.

The 17-year-old is currently contracted to Ashanti Gold SC, and is considered to be one football's hottest prospects.

Opare was rated the best defender at last summer's Under 17 World Cup and has been included in Ghana's squad for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations


Lucas Castroman has revealed why he turned down Birmingham to sign for Boca Juniors.

As skysports.com revealed last week, Birmingham thought they had pulled off a major coup by landing the international midfielder.

However, a last-minute move from Boca derailed Birmingham's move - despite the fact they already had agreement with the player and his club, America of Mexico.

"I am very pleased, I did not have great support at America last year but today I am now with a great team like Boca," said Castroman after completing his move to Boca.

chelski completed the signing of anelka...15 million 😆

waste reallyyy 😆

its not reli a waste cos hes good


watched him play last week i think[cnt remember]

buh he was good

heard it on sky news today dat he will be like working wit droogba 😳

and im like

chelsea get whoever u want

u still aint gonna beat arsenal 😆 😆

nah i mean he's like a sulk..when he dnt play he'll start sulking 😆 😆 chelsea already got pizzaro, drogba, shevchenko why do they need anelka 😆

come on guys plz tranfer news only

we are talking about that uff gawdddd 😆

its better than filling the pages with long long stories where u cnt find the news 😆goshh

well i didnt see the point of doing lots of little ones so i did loads of transfer news stories together

sowi 😳