Football transfer news

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has claimed that the signing of a new forward will depend on whether or not Alexandre Pato and Robinho leave the club.

The Brazilian duo have both been linked with a return to their homeland, and the former Cagliari boss says they could both leave San Siro during the winter transfer window.

“If Pato and Robinho leave, then we’ll need another striker. Five attackers is the right number, but it all depends on Galliani,” the 45-year-old told reporters.

“Then we will look at what the best solutions are to strengthen the team. But talking about this now makes no sense.

“If a player arrives then it will be an important player and if it is an important player then they would probably have already played in the Champions League this season.”

He went on to play down his chances of signing Mario Balotelli and Javier Pastore, who both had been linked with a move to the Rossoneri.

“I’ve never trained Balotelli and until I do I can’t pass judgment on him,” he added. “He’s a Manchester City player and there’s no point talking about him.

“Javier Pastore? I don’t think Paris Saint-Germain will let him leave.”

Meanwhile, Milan are currently preparing for their trip to Roma on Saturday, and the trainer is confident of success as long as his team play to their full potential.

“We have to play a good game from every point of view knowing that we’ll be up against one of the three best teams in the League with players that suit Zeman’s game well,” he noted.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has suggested he could leave Bayern Munich once his current contract with the Bavarians expires.

The influential midfielder is a product of the Bayern youth academy and has spent his entire career at the Allianz Arena, yet he has made it clear it is not a certainty that he will stay put until the end of his active career.

“My contract with Bayern Munich runs until June 2016. I signed it with the intention to fulfil it. I can imagine all kinds of things after that. You cannot rule anything out in football,” the Germany international was quoted as saying by Bild.

The 28-year-old has been linked with clubs such as Manchester United, Inter and Real Madrid in the past, but has so far shown no intention of moving elsewhere.

Schweinsteiger has made well over 400 official appearances for Bayern over the years, winning five Bundesliga titles in the process.

Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed the transfer of Brazilian midfielder Renato Augusto to Corinthians after a four-year spell at the BayArena.

The 24-year-old has found it difficult to break into the Werkself first team over the last couple of years due to fitness and form issues, and has decided to return to his homeland.

“Renato gave us many moments of great football,” Leverkusen sporting director told the club’s official website.

“Even though the past few months have been difficult for the various injuries he suffered, we will cherish the memories. He played a very important role in the positive development of our club.”

Meanwhile, B04 managing director Wolfgang Holzhauser believes that the player missed his country, and feels that he could break into the Selecao set-up in time for the 2014 World Cup.

“Renato is a Brazilian and missed his home. We believe that a new start in Brazil makes sense. Thinking about the World Cup, he could become an option for Brazil. We wish him the best,” he added.

The switch will become official on January 1, the start of the winter transfer window.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva has expressed his desire to return to AC Milan at some point in the future.

The Brazil international moved to the French capital in the summer for a €42 million fee, but admits that he misses his former club, and would be open to going back to San Siro at some point.

“I miss Milan a lot, to tell the truth. No one can deny that I miss Milan, the club will surely always be in my heart because they gave me so much,” he was quoted by Sky Sport 24.

“I would like to return, certainly. Milan are a great team, the most successful in the world. I played there for three years and I do not know the future, but, if there is the chance to return again, I would definitely go back.”

Thiago Silva went on to reveal that he found the transition to Ligue 1 tough at the start, and claimed that Robinho and Alexandre Pato could well leave San Siro in the January transfer window.

“It is better now, but, to be honest at the start, it was a bit difficult for me. French football is strong and at times very challenging to play. It is not as easy as everyone thinks,” he continued.

“Robinho and Pato to return to Brazil? The club are going through a difficult period, this year was always going to be different from the past.

“I am not sure if Robinho is unhappy. But, in my opinion he is not as happy as he was in the first year that he joined the club. He had an immense desire to win.

“As for Pato, I would advise him that a change of scenery may be required. It is difficult to say what is right for another person, but, again I do not think that he is happy there anymore. He may have to return to Brazil.”

PSG were drawn with Valencia in the Round of 16 of the Champions League, but, the Brazilian went on to admit that he was hoping to draw Milan and Stephan El Shaarawy, who he rates very highly.

“I wanted to face Milan in the Champions League. While I enjoyed my time at Milan a lot, I wanted to play them just so I could return to the club that is still so important to me,” he added.

“When I played my last game there, I did not know it was my last so I did not say goodbye to everyone that I wanted to.

“El Shaarawy has been impressive. He has great technical skills, he really is a quality player. He has to continue like he is now, focusing on football and staying humble.

“His movements in and around the area sometimes remind me of Pippo Inzaghi.”

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has admitted he cannot guarantee striker Demba Ba will still be at the club following the conclusion of the January transfer window.

The former West Ham striker has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave the Magpies should another club lodge a bid in the region of £7 million.

Pardew has conceded that due to the terms of the 27-year-old’s contract it will be up the him whether he decides to stay at St James’ Park or not.

“It’s unfortunate that the contract he has leaves open a lot of questions because we have this clause and every window that comes around, I have to answer the same questions,” Pardew told reporters.

“It would be disappointing for him to leave in this window for this club and for his team-mates here, but the decision will be his, ultimately, because that clause is there.

“The most important things we have got with Demba is he is someone who is a goalscorer and he is scoring goals, and that’s very, very important to a side. His commitment to and work-rate for the team, I don’t fault.”

Ba recently insinuated that a move to Arsenal, who have a reported interest in him, would be an attractive proposition should he wish to leave Newcastle.

Pardew has revealed no disciplinary action will be taken against the striker for the interview which he believes was taken out of context due to a poor translation into English.

He said: “I have had to because it was quoted in England not correctly, and that’s unfair on Demba and unfair on us.

“There will be no disciplinary procedure against him. There was one procedural matter where he could have informed us and should have, really, but that’s neither here nor there.

“The most important thing for me is that the content of that conversation was about trying to turn the situation around, like all of us.

“We are professional people, we want to win. That’s what we are paid for and I have got no problem with anything he said in that interview.”