Wolfsburg want to sign Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel during January’s winter break, according to daily Bild.
The 33-year-old Dutchman is under contract until June 2011, but extension talks with the German champions have produced no results so far and Wolfsburg want to lure the Dutchman away.
Wolfsburg need a defensive midfielder to bolster their squad and Van Bommel would be a good option, according to Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hoeness.
“We always want players who have an edge,” Hoeness said.
“As for van Bommel, I would be happy to have someone like him in the team.”
Rosler slams Tevez conduct
Ex-Man. City striker Uwe Rosler claims wantaway striker Carlos Tevez should be stripped of the captaincy and allowed to leave.
Rosler said: “I like players who want to play for the manager. I would let Tevez go as long as the price is right.”
Tevez does not deserve to wear the captain’s armband, Rosler said.
“City supporters idolise Tevez because of the way he is playing and the way he is leading by example on the field,” he added.
“But we have seen the other side when he is not living up to his responsibility as captain off the field. That is disappointing and difficult to understand. I would take the captaincy away from him, 100 per cent.”
Liverpool owners realistic – Hodgson
Liverpool’s owners realise regaining the club’s Champions League status will be a difficult task, according to manager Roy Hodgson.
On Monday principal owner John Henry labelled results this season as “unacceptable”.
“The owners are very intelligent people and have a very clear vision. What they want is for the club to be in the top four,” Hodgson said.
“But what they also realise that coming in when they have come in (buying the club in October), and me coming in when I did (July), it might not be quite as easy as all that.
“It is not a question of waving a magic wand and we are going to get there.”
Coyle open to Al-Habsi offers
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has hinted he is open to offers for on-loan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.
The Oman international is currently at near-neighbours Wigan where he has deposed former England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland as first-choice.
With Jussi Jaaskelainen a permanent fixture for Wanderers, Coyle appears content to let the player move on.
“If a bid comes in we’ll sit down and look at it,” he said.
“We can’t really talk about it until it happens. We know he’s been playing well but we knew he was a top goalkeeper when we loaned him out.”
Bale won’t be sold – Levy
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has told fans to expect a quiet transfer window, but that means good news in relation to Gareth Bale.
Bale has been the subject of transfer speculation following some stunning performances this season, but Levy reiterated that the Welsh wing-back is not for sale.
Levy told the club’s AGM: “I’ve never deemed us to be a selling club, if you look at the big transfers which have taken place since I’ve been chairman.
“Both (Dimitar) Berbatov and Michael Carrick had two years left on their contract, both players wanted to go and that was the reason they were sold.
“But in the case of Gareth he’s got a long contract and I can assure you he will not be sold.”
Terry hopes Chelsea are back on track
Chelsea captain John Terry hopes Carlo Ancelotti’s side have turned a corner after going through “a blip” recently.
However, but for a stoppage-time penalty miss from Didier Drogba in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham, Chelsea would have been back to winning ways.
“I’m hoping this is the end of it,” Terry told Chelsea TV ahead of the weekend visit of rivals Manchester United.
“We’ve gone through a blip, as we’ve seen other teams do. We’ve got a massive home game and it’s important now the fans stay with us, even through a bad spell in the game of 10 or 15 minutes, because when you play against a quality side, they are bound to have a good spell of possession.”
Corinthians close in on Adriano
Roma striker Adriano has agreed to join Corinthians when the transfer window reopens next month, the Brazilian club said.
The 28-year-old is reportedly keen to move back to Brazil after failing to break into Roma’s first team this season, making only one start since his arrival from Flamengo in the summer.
Roma president Rosella Sensi told journalists last weekend that Adriano is going nowhere, but reports in Brazil suggest otherwise.
“We have reached a verbal agreement with Adriano and the contract is ready to be signed,” Roberto de Andrade, the director of sport at Corinthians, said.
“At this point we are only missing the final word on Roma’s behalf.”