Football transfer news

Fulham boss Martin Jol is confident his side can surprise people with the business they do when the transfer window re-opens in January.

The Cottagers pulled off one of the coups of last summer when they signed Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United while other additions such as Mladen Petric have also shone this season.

Jol believes good scouting and analysis of individual players and teams is crucial in getting the best deal for his club.

“We showed that we are able to get players in, even when they are not on the market because if players are on the market it is different,” Jol told reporters.

“If you were president, chairman or chief executive at another club you never try and get rid of your best players – so we have to try and be inventive.

“We have to try to get the players who are not playing well or not fitting in at their other clubs, but they have to be better than the players we have got so we will come up with one or two solutions.

“It is not an easy situation but we know maybe one or two players who are having problems at their clubs – we always look to strengthen and if it possible we will do it.”

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was left shocked by the Champions League last 16 draw that saw the Italian outfit paired with Barcelona for the fifth time in six seasons.

Then under Pep Guardiola, the Blaugrana recorded two wins and two draws against the Rossoneri, but, the club’s CEO is taking heart from his side’s performances across the four ties.

“Do you know that we will being playing Barcelona or the sixth time in just over a year?” he was quoted saying the Corriere dello Sport.

“It’s really incredible. They were assigned to us because the other teams could not face each other, so we were the default option. Barcelona play the best football in the world with the best players in the world.

“Still, we will try and eliminate them, and we will take much from our displays last time round against them where we put on a good show.”

Galliani went on to state that only one of Robinho and Alexandre Pato would be allowed to leave the club in January, but refused to be drawn on rumours linking Didier Drogba with a move to San Siro.

“We won’t sign any more strikers, even if one of the current roster leaves. If both of them go, then we’ll see what we will do,” he continued.

“We haven’t decided yet on Robinho and Pato, as it’s still only December. The Brazilian transfer session ends on April 15.

“Was the offer for Pato satisfying? We’ll see. Robinho wants to go back to Brazil because his family is there and it’s a personal choice. We received an offer from Santos which we rejected, but there has not been a second proposal yet.

“Brazilian football has grown on an economic level, as with sponsorship deals and pay-per-view television the clubs can afford more than they could in the past. We will speak with Pato and Robinho to decide what to do.

“For now Pato and Robinho are Milan players. Our books are balanced and we are even set to make a profit. Any potential Pato and Binho sales would go into the 2013 budget.

“I won’t comment on the Drogba rumours. We have never considered [Pablo] Armero. [Clarence] Seedorf will continue playing in Brazil.”

Blackpool manager Michael Appleton has denied speculation that a deal has been agreed to take Thomas Ince back to Liverpool, stating that the two clubs are still far from agreeing a price for the young attacker.

Ince only left Anfield 18 months ago for a nominal fee, but has impressed with his form at Bloomfield Road, where he has scored 13 goals in 21 games this season, but his manager insists the two sides are not close to agreeing a transfer.

Appleton told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I think there’s been a conversation between [chairman] Karl Oyston and Liverpool about an offer.

“But as far as I’m aware, it’s way below the type of money we’d expect for someone of Tom’s talent.”

The Seasiders boss also confirmed that he will have no problem starting the youngster over the hectic Christmas period, although he is currently struggling with a hamstring injury.

“He’ll continue to play as long as we hold his registration,” Appleton insisted.

“I wouldn’t say I’m resigned to losing him just yet though. There’s still a lot of work that we feel has to be done before anything like that happens.”

The former Portsmouth boss was quick to dismiss any notion that the speculation might unsettle Ince, whose father Paul also played for Liverpool.

“He’s a down-to-earth, sensible young lad,” continued Appleton.

“Having someone like his dad in his family, who has been a footballer himself and knows the ups and downs of the game, I’m sure he’ll put a decent performance in [against Wolves on Friday].

“I just want to make sure that he’s fully concentrating on training and games. If he does that, I’ll leave him be.

“He knows where my office is and he knows that if he wants to speak to me at any time, that’s not a problem.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Raheem Sterling is set to sign a new contract within the next 24 hours.

As exclusively revealed by Goal.com, the Reds youngster is on the brink of penning a five-year deal which is expected to begin with a weekly wage of £30,000.

Speculation had been mounting that the young England international could move away from Anfield, but Rodgers has now confirmed that a new deal has been agreed and should be signed within the next day.

The Liverpool boss told reporters: “Hopefully that will be concluded within the next 24 hours.

“I have said before that there was never a real issue, it was just a matter of timing and we hope that over the next couple of days that can be complete.

“We were always calm. I speak a lot with Raheem and his representatives and there has never been any issues from their side. It was just making sure that we take care in terms of the financial and football plan for the player.”

Sterling has come on leaps and bounds in the few months since the season started, and has evolved from a promising youth player to an integral part of Rodgers’ first team, having also appeared for the national team.

The Liverpool boss is adamant that Anfield is the ideal environment for the winger to continue in his development, with him only having turned 18 in November.

“This was about a young player who has rocketed from playing in the youth teams and the reserves into becoming a full England international, so a lot has happened in his young life and it was just about making sure that there was that protection for him going forward,” Rodgers explained.

“I have always been confident that this was going to be the best place for him. The kid is very focused and devoted to Liverpool. His representatives know this is the best place for him.

“Once it gets concluded, he can start the next part of his development and hopefully he can keep progressing.”