Liverpool to pounce for former Bolton flop; Serie A giants locked in the battle for Cagliari forward

Liverpool to pounce for former Bolton flop

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is hoping to sign Bolton striker Johan Elmander, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Hodgson and his assistant Sammy Lee watched Elmander against Blackpool last weekend and they are now prepared to make a formal bid for the Swede.

After largely struggling in his first two seasons at Reebok Stadium, Elmander has exploded under Owen Coyle this term, scoring 8 goals in 15 Premier League games, thus catching the attention of big European clubs.

Elmander turned down a one-year contract extension last week and he is prepared to listen to offers in January transfer window.

Seeing that his contract expires at the end of the season, the Swede will be available at a cut-back price in January, although Bolton are not willing to let him go for less than £5 million.

[Source: Daily Mirror]

Serie A giants locked in the battle for Cagliari forward

Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina are all keeping tabs on Cagliari forward Alessandro Matri, according to reports from Italy.

Juventus desperately want to sign another striker in January as the Bianconeri look to revive their title bid and it seems that Beppe Marotta has set his sights on Cagliari player Alessandro Matri.

Juve will also try to take advantage of Schalke’s poor financial situation and sign Klaas Jan Huntelaar, but the Cagliari man definitely looks like more realistic option.

Milan are reportedly also keen on the 26-year-old who scored 8 goals in 14 Serie A games this season, while there are reports that Fiorentina have already singled out Matri as the man to replace Alberto Gilardino.

One way or another, it looks that Matri will be leaving Cagliari in January and it only remains to be seen which of the aforementioned clubs will win the race for his signature.

[Source: Tuttosport]

Marseille hot on the trail of Rod Fanni

Marseille are pondering a bid for Rennes’ Rod Fanni after starting right-back Cesar Azpilicueta was ruled out of the season with a knee injury.

The Spanish defender, who arrived to Velodrome last summer, picked up a cruciate ligament injury in Saturday’s 4:0 victory over Montpellier, leaving Didier Deschamps short on cover on the right hand side.

With midfielder Charles Kabore the only player capable of filling in at right-back, Marseille are bound to enter the transfer market in January, and they have singled out Rennes defender Rod Fanni as the number one target.

The versatile defender missed out on a move to Atletico Madrid last summer after the transfer fell through, but he is still keen on leaving les Bretons, with Marseille hoping he would be available for €5 million.

Should they fail to sign Fanni, OM will turn to Sunderland defender Marcos Angeleri, who is yet to be handed a debut for the Black Cats after arriving from Estudiantes last summer.

[Source: L’Equipe]

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