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Liverpool have been strongly linked with the signing of Anderlecht forward Dieumerci Mbokani, according to Inside Futbol.

Mbokani is having a brilliant season for Anderlecht, but did not set the world on fire at previous clubs Monaco and VfL Wolfsburg.

Still, this season the Congo international striker has scored 7 goals and supplied 4 assists in 15 appearances for the Belgian team this season, meaning he directly contributes to an Anderlecht goal on average every 123 minutes.

That compares favourably with the best players across Europe, although it should come with the caveat that his impressive form has come in the Belgian Jupiler League and UEFA Europa League.

Now his agent Fabio Baglio says he is ready for a big transfer to one of the biggest clubs in Europe, strongly hinting that a number of Premier League clubs are in the running.

“I never doubted him,” explained Baglio to Sudpresse.

“In Belgium, he’s standing head and shoulders above the rest and he knows this, but he won’t be complacent.

“People always mention his failure in France, but he ran into a coach that didn’t want to consider him.”

“His performances in recent weeks have increased the interest from big English clubs.

“When Dieumerci is ready, he’ll go abroad, but we won’t make the mistake of choosing a second-class club. He will go to a top team because he was born to play with the elite.”

“The price? I would say between €12M and €15M, but when I see that [Nabil] Dirar left for €6M (to Monaco. ed), I tell myself that Dieu is worth €15M to €20M.”

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Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has again discussed the possibility of a Manchester United transfer, but indicated that he was more likely to move to the United States when he leaves Italy.

The Netherlands international playmaker has flirted with the Red Devils for almost a year, as it was believed Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him to replace Paul Scholes upon his retirement, but a move never materialised.

“There have never been any concrete contacts with Manchester United,” Sneijder said to Dutch broadcaster Nos. “I see everything, I am not blind, but there is nothing concrete right now.

“I am happy at Inter, but we will see. I currently have no contacts with other clubs and I am living day by day.

“If on the last day of the transfer window an offer had arrived, maybe I would have left.

“The truth is that I feel at home at Inter, but I do not know where I will play next season.”

As for his potential Major League Soccer move, Sneijder was decidedly coy on a timeframe for things to be put into motion.

“A spell in the USA? That is something I think about, but only in the future.”

“I do not think where I will play next season. I have been in the USA with Yolanthe [Sneijder's wife] because of her work.

“We will surely discuss this in the future, but not now.”

Sneijder will be 28 years old in the summer, but the fact that there is an unwritten law at Old Trafford warning against player recruitment above the age of 27 may scupper any chances the Dutchman would move there anyway.

It appears more likely that he will remain at Internazionale until his contract expires before departing for the MLS.

How close Wesley Sneijder was to a Manchester United transfer we may never know.

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Tottenham Hotspur will battle Arsenal for the rights to sign young Nottingham Forest defender Jamaal Lascelles, according to the Daily Mail.

Both North London clubs are thought to have been impressed by the 18 year-old, who has only just made his debut for the nPower Championship side, with only the Gunners reported to have already submitted a bid.

Lascelles, who plays for the England Under-19 team, had already demonstrated enough potential for Arsene Wenger to make a bid last summer.

The Daily Mail claim that Arsenal offered £2m up front with a further £3m to be paid based on appearances and achievements.

Nottingham Forest did in fact sell their young forward Patrick Bamford to Chelsea in the January transfer window, but clearly did not feel comfortable selling their two best young talents within the space of a month.

Both Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp are clearly looking at long term solutions for their respective back lines, and teenage star Lascelles seems quite understandably to be on both managers’ shopping lists.

In the end, the choice may come down to the player – and at which club he feels he is more likely to develop best at.

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Manchester City are to make a summer move for Real Madrid centre back Raul Albiol, according to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.

The Spain international centre back has only started two league games this season, with a variety of factors contributing to his lack of game time.

One of those is the fractured cheekbone he suffered earlier this season, but another is the repositioning of fellow Spain international defender Sergio Ramos.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has moved Ramos inside to the middle of the back line, believing his increased athleticism makes him a better partner for Pepe, with Alvaro Arbeloa typically stepping into Ramos’ right back slot.

Albiol is still a talented centre back though, with the tall 26 year-old racking up plenty of experience for Valencia and Real Madrid over the past decade.

Cadena Ser claim Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has requested Albiol’s services personally, and he could prove a fine option for the Etihad Stadium outfit to have.

Should Man City fail to land their man, it has been suggested that Juventus will instead enter the bidding.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would consider moving to Real Madrid to replace Jose Mourinho.

The People says Wenger will seriously consider the option of replacing Mourinho at Real Madrid.

Wenger turned down Real three years ago but the door could be opening again after Mourinho admitted his future at the Bernabeu is in doubt.

And Gunners officials are worried that Arsenal’s scrap to stay in the Premier League’s top four may put Wenger under increased pressure from unhappy fans.

The board are supportive of their manager but the opportunity to take up a top La Liga post may tempt him to walk away in the summer.

An Arsenal source confirmed: “There is a feeling that he could move there.”

SOURCE: The Peoplevia Tribalfootball

Expect stories of this nature to increase as we move nearer to the summer, especially if Arsenal continue to sit outside the top four. There does appear to be growing speculation that Jose Mourinho is not happy at the Bernabeu, but given that his Real Madrid side sits seven points clear at the top of La Liga one wonders if the Portuguese manager is merely looking for some appreciation for his efforts both from the press and his board.

Arsene Wenger has of course achieved a great deal at the Emirates Stadium but he may well notch up his seventh successive season without silverware this term and with fans protesting and a number of high profile players, Robin Van Persie & Theo Walcott to name just two, still to put pen to paper on new deals, the North London club could be about to enter a crucial period that could well shape the club in the long term.

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Former KRC Genk starlet Kevin de Bruyne may have only just signed for Chelsea at the end of the January transfer window, but left immediately to go back to the Belgian club on loan for the rest of the season.

Still, that won’t be enough first team action for the youngster.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas also wants to send de Bruyne on loan to FC Twente next season, according to Italian website Calcio Mercato.

It would appear that the 20 year-old is not deemed physically ready to cope with the high intensity demands of the Barclays Premier League, and he will go to the Dutch Eredivisie and attempt to both bulk up and improve his footballing mind.

De Bruyne has spent much of his career on the flanks, despite admitting his favourite position is just behind a striker, and that is largely because of his slight frame.

Still, his intelligence and vision is not in question, and once de Bruyne has grown out enough, he could live up to his considerable potential at Chelsea.

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Barcelona are exploring ways of funding a £50 million bid for Tottenham star Gareth Bale.

The Daily Express says Barca are looking at ways of raising cash to fund a massive summer bid for Tottenham’s £50million-rated star Bale.

Barcelona will consider selling exciting youngsters Cristian Tello, Isaac Cuenca and Jonathan Dos Santos on buy-back deals after putting Bale at the top of their wishlist.

Barcelona have had Bale watched on several occasions this season. They have also made discreet enquiries about how much it might cost to buy him.

SOURCE: Tribalfootball

Given that Tottenham fought off Chelsea interest in Luka Modric last summer it may well be tough for Daniel Levy to consider offers for Gareth Bale, however hefty they are. Barcelona have reportedly sent scouts to monitor the Welsh winger on a number of occasions this season and the former Southampton man has not disappointed.

Thus far this term the 22 year old has notched up nine goals and eight assists in Premier League action and last term Bale showed what he could achieve on the Champions League stage so there will be no shortage of prospective suitors keen on landing the Tottenham youngster.

Guardiola may feel that the left side of his attack is a ‘weak’ area with new signing Alexis not being a huge success thus far. The Nou Camp boss may feel he needs to improve his Barcelona side after seeing them fall some seven points off leaders Real Madrid.

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Chelsea face a battle to keep Daniel Sturridge after Arsenal took significant steps towards a shock summer swoop.
Sturridge, 22, is the Blues’ top-scoring forward this season with 10 goals, but sources close to the player claim he is not happy with his role as a right winger under Andre Villas-Boas.
And Arsenal’s influential chief scout Steve Rowley has put the wheels in motion to effect a surprise switch.

Sturridge wants to negotiate an improved contract, yet Chelsea are unwilling to do so as he still has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal.
And with the likes of Hulk and Edinson Cavani on Villas-Boas’ shopping list, Sturridge’s current wide role is likely to continue.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

This would be quite some coup and one wonders if any feeling of being played out of position that Daniel Sturridge may or may not be suffering from would be counteracted by the fact that the talented youngster has been a practical ever present this term and has clearly been a player Andre Villas-Boas has shown great faith in.

The 22 year old has netted 10 goals in 22 matches this term and is on the fringes of Fabio Capello’s England squad for the Euro 2012 finals and if Arsenal were to try to lure the former Man City man it would surely take a record breaking bid from the North London club in order to convince the Blues to sell.

Arsene Wenger could well do with an effective goal-scoring back up who could offer support to Robin Van Persie as the likes of Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho have failed to make an impact. Sturridge would presumably only consider such a move if the Gunners had secured a top four finish, which would probably entail Chelsea losing their spot in the Champions League for next term.

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Chelsea admit defeat in hunt for Brazilian hitman

Full story: FootyBunker

Aston Villa eyeing Premier League stalwart as defensive reinforcement

Full story: FootyBunker

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Liverpool are launching a bid for Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita.

The £2million-rated midfielder, 32, currently playing for Mali in the African Nations Cup, has been frozen out at the Nou Camp.

Keita is aware of the Reds’ interest and will demand talks with Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

SOURCE: Tribalfootball

Whilst Liverpool are seemingly adopting a youthful transfer policy a move to bring in experienced campaigner to help beef up the strength in depth at Anfield, as proven by the useful purchasing of Craig Bellamy. Seydou Keita may well be a bit part player at Barcelona but the Mali international has notched up over 150 appearances for the Catalan side collecting a myriad of trophies in the process.

Keita is an adaptable player who still has a few seasons in the tank and could well add a calming influence into the centre of Liverpool’s midfield. Indeed it would have been fairly useful to sign the former Lens man in January given that Lucas Leiva is out for the rest of the campaign.

Pep Guardiola may well be willing to sell Keita but it would surely take a bid of more than £2m to land the midfielder, even if he is 32 years of age. In this day and age £2m doesn’t really secure you any player of worth and given we are talking about a player who three La Liga triumph as well as being a double Champions League winner then surely it would take an offer of at least double that quoted by this source.

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