Football transfer news

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon believes that his side are favourites to lift this year’s Serie A crown, but will not have an easy ride with teams like AC Milan, Inter, Roma and Napoli nipping at the Turin giants’ heels.

The Bianconeri have been widely tipped to storm to a second consecutive Scudetto this year, with their rivals enduring turbulent summers, but the veteran goalkeeper believes his side will face stern competition, thanks in part to coach Antonio Conte’s 10-month ban.

“There are three or four teams who might start behind us, but could be dangerous along the way,” the Italy international told Sky Sport24.

“I’m talking about AC Milan, but also, Inter, Roma and Napoli, who don’t have the Champions League, but have an experienced group of players.

“We are missing Conte and his absence is felt on the bench. He’s a coach who gave us new belief and did a great job of turning the team around with his determination.”

Buffon also expressed his delight at Juventus’ impending return to the Champions League.

“We have been missing these type of matches – for too long we have only been watching them on television.”

He also spoke about former team-mate Alessandro Del Piero’s transfer to Sydney FC, as well as commenting on his own future.

“He [Del Piero] made a choice with his life, and I am not only sure that he won’t have any problems, and that he will still have a long career,” he continued.

“My future? Soon I will talk with the club and I doubt there’ll be any problems. I want to renew my contract, but the club are currently occupied with other matters.

“I think I won’t play for any other Italian team, even if in football you can never say never.”

Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas says the club are “highly unlikely” to reignite their interest in Porto’s Joao Moutinho, after coming close to a deal on transfer deadline day.

Spurs were negotiating a deal for the Portugal international into the final hours of the window but failed to agree terms with Moutinho before the window slammed shut.

The club was expected to make a fresh approach for Moutinho in January but Villas-Boas says that move is now very unlikely to take place.

“We were prepared for missing out on that player,” he told reporters. 

“We set our sights on that player in the end of the transfer window – we couldn’t conclude the deal but we were ready if that failed.

“It’s not likeable that we go back in January. Generally the market is very difficult and very expensive.”

The return of Scott Parker from injury is a welcome boost in the centre of midfield and another reason Villas-Boas feels he doesn’t require Moutinho’s services.

He continued: “It’s highly unlikely that we will continue to pursue that transfer because by then we will have Parker coming back, and he’s a player that we want to come back as soon as possible.

“He’s a player who had maximum importance for this club last season and we feel that he can add so much to the squad that we are waiting for the moment when he can come back, so it’s just a question that we have to reassess at that time.”

Nacho Monreal has insisted that he is completely focused on Malaga and is not thinking about a potential move to Athletic Bilbao.

The Basque side have until the end of the month to add to their ranks after the Spanish football federation gave them special compensation following the last-minute departure of Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich, and they see the 26-year-old Monreal as a valuable signing.

Nevertheless, the Spanish international is happy with life at his current club and is relishing the prospect of playing Champions League football.

“I am only thinking about Malaga and I believe that a great season lies ahead of us,” Monreal said at a press conference.

“I have never before featured in the Champions League and I am really looking forward to doing so with Malaga.”

Malaga will face AC Milan, Zenit St Petersburg and Anderlecht in Group C of the Champions League.

By Greg Stobart

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano is eyeing a raid on former club Barcelona for the Spanish giants’ emerging stars.

Soriano started on September 1 as City’s replacement for the disgraced Garry Cook largely due to his work as vice-president of Barcelona between 2003 and 2008.

As City plan a transfer strategy to comply with Uefa’s financial fair play regulations, Soriano and manager Roberto Mancini are considering cherry-picking the best young talent from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy.

The likes of Sergi Roberto, Gerard Deulofeu and Cristian Tello have all been mentioned as potential targets, with Soriano privy to the players’ contractual information, including wages and buy-out clauses.

Reports in Spain have also suggested that Soriano wants to sign one of Barcelona’s major stars such as Xavi or David Villa, but far more likely is the prospect of City buying younger players on cheap deals.

City announced on Friday that they have started work on a £100 million, state-of-the-art training centre adjacent to the Etihad Stadium that they hope will lead them to the summit of world football.

It marks a shift in the club’s focus towards recruiting, nurturing and developing the best young talent in the game.

That will concern clubs across Europe as City attempt to focus on academy development under their Abu Dhabi owners, with Sheikh Mansour having spent more than £1 billion on the club since his takeover in 2008.

Soriano is considered key to City’s strategy after being credited with overseeing a huge improvement in Barcelona’s off-field activities, while the 44-year-old also has a vast number of contacts in the game and has intimate knowledge of La Masia, which is considered the most productive academy in Europe.

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