Football transfer news

SPECIAL REPORT
By Greg Stobart

The latest chapter in the stormy relationship between Liverpool, Luis Suarez and Manchester United is set to unfold on Sunday and it could potentially be the last, with the Uruguayan forward set to consider his Anfield future in the summer amid renewed interest from Manchester City. 

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Reds’ owners, fear Suarez will seek to leave Merseyside in the summer if the club fail to qualify for Europe, despite the player signing a long-term contract worth £100,000-a-week in the summer.

Suarez has been in stunning form this campaign, scoring 15 goals in 20 Premier League appearances – but Liverpool are just eighth in the table and seven points behind fourth placed Chelsea having played one game more than the Blues.

SUAREZ’S CAREER STATISTICS
Club Liverpool (Jan 11-present) Ajax (Jul 07-Jan 11) FC Groningen (Jul 06-Present) Nacional	Games 79 159 38 34	Goals 40 111 15 9

The 25-year-old is eager to play in the Champions League and his representatives are understood to be considering potential options, although most clubs will be deterred by Liverpool’s £40 million-plus asking price.

It leaves Liverpool in a dilemma. Brendan Rodgers would be loathe to lose his star man – a player capable of leading the team towards a regular place in Europe’s elite competition – but he also realises the need for funds to re-invest in the squad with FSG unwilling to provide him with a substantial transfer kitty.

Liverpool are also well aware of the implications of Suarez being represented by Pere Guardiola, the brother of former Barcelona coach Pep. He intends to take on a new job in the Premier League next season after a year-long sabbatical in New York, potentially at Manchester City where there is already a strong Barcelona influence in the boardroom.

City have made signing one of Edinson Cavani or Radamel Falcao their top priority – but manager Roberto Mancini is a huge admirer of Suarez’s abilities and expressed his interest in the former Ajax man last year.

One issue is whether the Italian will even be in charge at City come the summer, especially if they fail to retain their Premier League title, with Guardiola and potentially Jose Mourinho available in the summer.

Txiki Begiristain, who was appointed as the club’s director of football in October, will increasingly take control of transfers and is planning a summer overhaul of the team’s strikeforce.

Mario Balotelli is almost certain to leave, potentially this month, with AC Milan the most likely destination for the temperamental striker, whose relationship with Mancini has reached breaking point in recent months.

Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez could also be sold in the summer if they attract appropriate bids as City prepare to upgrade their forward options, with the prospect of a South American dream team including Suarez, Cavani and Sergio Aguero their ideal strikeforce.

While City are mindful of Uefa’s financial fair play rules, they have learned the lessons from a poor summer in the transfer market and are prepared to pay big money for stellar signings.

Suarez is settled in Liverpool with his wife and daughter, but his competitiveness on the pitch reflects a drive and ambition to test himself as much as possible, to play and win trophies at the highest level.

City are one of the few clubs in the world who could afford to sign Suarez, provide him with a significant wage increase and give him the opportunity to challenge for league titles and European glory.

The simple fact is that Liverpool are several years away from competing for major honours and Suarez is at the peak of his game, a player who deserves to play in the best club competitions.

Rodgers is targeting a top-four finish this season, which would be enough to convince Suarez to stay at Anfield, but the Reds face a tough task in finishing above the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and even local rivals Everton.

Suarez will have to decide in the summer just how much he is willing to push for a move away from Anfield to fulfil his career ambitions – but there is a potential storm brewing and there are many people at Liverpool who do not expect him to be at the club next season.

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Napoli star Edinson Cavani has revealed he would love to play alongside Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli at the Stadio San Paolo.

The Italy international has continually being linked with a move away from the reigning Premier League champions following numerous acts of indiscipline.

But Cavani is dreaming of teaming up with the flamboyant attacker in Naples, even though his agent Mino Raiola has all but ruled out a return to Italy this winter.

“Nobody has the right to judge someone else. We all make mistakes. He’s a great player in my opinion and I would love to play alongside him,” Cavani told Tg1.

“Balotelli is a champion and has already shown what he can do. He has the quality to make people very happy.”

Cavani then went on to stress that he has no intention of leaving Napoli as he is happy with life at the club.

“I want to stay at this club for a long time. I am enjoying every moment here and the fans give the team something extra,” he added.

“Naples has given me a lot. I have a lot of love for this club, this city and its fans. Their warmth boosts my confidence.”

The 25-year-old has a contract with the Partenopei until June 2017, but he has a limited fee release clause of €63 million.

EXCLUSIVE
By Romeo Agresti

Juventus have turned down an offer from Wolfsburg for Fabio Quagliarella, Goal.com can reveal.

The Wolfe have already signed Ivan Perisic from Borussia Dortmund, but they are looking to make one more attacking signing in January, and they see the 29-year-old as a valuable addition.

Wolfsburg saw a €10 million offer for the forward turned down in the summer transfer window, but they have since continued to monitor Quagliarella’s situation at Juve.

A second offer has now proven unsuccessful as well, though, as the Serie A leaders have no intention of selling the former Napoli star, with their own striking pool relatively shallow.

Quagliarella has netted six goals in 13 Serie A appearances this term, and head coach Antonio Conte sees him as an important first team member.

The striker’s contract with the Bianconeri runs until the summer of 2015.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has stated that players Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ignazio Abate will not be leaving the club in January transfer window.

There has been much speculation about a possible exit for Abate and Boateng but the Italian has made it clear both players will stay at the club.

“Kevin-Prince Boateng is going nowhere. We want Francesco Lodi, have no interest in Maarten Stekelenburg, while we rejected Zenit’s offer for Ignazio Abate,” the CEO told Sky Sport Italia.

“Boateng is a part of the present and the future of Milan. Galatasaray were here to talk to us for different reasons.

“Nobody has asked us for Boateng and if an offer were to come in, we would say no.”

The Turkish champions were also linked with a move for Luca Antonini, while the Rossoneri were reportedly after Parma defender Cristian Zaccardo, but Galliani feels it is unlikely that any full-backs will be leaving from Milan despite the interest from Zenit St Petersburg for Abate.

He added: “I don’t think Abate and Antonini will leave. Zenit made an offer for Abate, but we rejected it. Cristian Zaccardo from Parma? Zaccardo will absolutely not join Milan.”

Lyon coach Remi Garde has said that Argentina international Fabian Monzon could be loaned out from the club.

The French outfit are currently in talks with Brazilian side Fluminense about a possible move for the player, who signed a four-year deal with the Ligue 1 side in August 2012, but has since struggled to cement his place in the first team.

“He could be loaned to Fluminense. The two clubs are discussing,” the 46-year-old coach told Lyon’s official website.

A possible move to Brazil comes after the coach felt a mutual understanding with the player that things have not worked out for the best.

“Fabian has not necessarily brought what I was hoping for him and he probably wanted something else,” added Garde.

The Lyon trainer was also quick to clear up that if Monzon leaves the club, there will no replacement to fill the gap left by the 25-year-old.

He said: “If he leaves, he will not be replaced.”

The French giants currently sit second behind PSG in Ligue 1 on goal difference.