Mancini confirms his interest in Flamini and Gago

City were strongly linked with a move for Flamini earlier this week, but Milan claimed there had been no contact. Gago, meanwhile, is behind Lassana Diarra in the pecking order at Madrid and is thought to be keen to secure regular first-team football to bolster his chances of playing for Argentina at the World Cup.

City have a number of options in defensive midfield, with Nigel De Jong, Vincent Kompany and new signing Patrick Vieira all capable of playing the role. However, Kompany has been used as a defender in recent matches while Vieira is still struggling with a calf injury, and Mancini is keen to strengthen.

"I need players," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I hope that Vieira is fit (for the Carling Cup tie against Manchester United on Wednesday). Perhaps Real Madrid will give me Gago, maybe Milan (will give me) Flamini..."

Despite City's wealth, it is understood that Mancini has been told he cannot spend money on the duo and a loan arrangement looks the most likely outcome. The former Inter Milan boss believes the owners want him to show his capabilities in the transfer market.

"I think they are putting me to the test," he said. "I won't disappoint them."

Ronaldinho: I’ll Lead AC Milan To Derby Glory

AC Milan star Ronaldinho is relishing his superb period of form and admits he could again steal the show in Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina with city rivals and Serie A leaders Inter.
“Why not?” the 29-year-old told the Corriere dello Sport.

“I am going through a great patch and Milan are playing very well. And it will be a very important game for us.”
Ronaldinho netted the winner in his first Milan derby appearance in September 2008.
The Diavoli sit second in the league standings, six points adrift of their ‘Cugini’ but have a game in hand.
“The Scudetto? Why not?” smiled the Brazilian international.
“We are back on track now and have climbed up the table. We have everything to keep doing well.”
The Rossoneri directors are reportedly set to tie Ronaldinho to a new long-term deal to keep him at the San Siro until 2013.
“I would have nothing against ending my career here at Milan,” he explained.
“I hope to be able to do like [Paolo] Maldini or Romario. I want to play football for as long as possible because that’s how I feel happy and accomplished.”

AC Milan Reveal No Manchester City Move For Mathieu Flamini

AC Milan sporting director Areido Braida has revealed that the Italian giants are yet to hear from Manchester Cityregarding a possible move for Mathieu Flamini.

The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to the Citizens in recent days, but Braida insists that Roberto Mancini's side are yet to get in touch regarding the 25-year-old.

"We have heard rumours regarding possible interest from Manchester City for Flamini," he said, according to Press Association Sport.

"But for the time being, there has been no official offer, interest or talks between AC Milan and Manchester City.

"Flamini is an AC Milan player."

Former Arsenal midfielder Flamini has started only eight games for Milan this season and remains keen on a move in order to boost his chances of playing for France in next summer's World Cup finals.

Tottenham leading the chase to land Kaboul?

Younes Kaboul could be on his way out of Portsmouth with three Premier League clubs hot on the defender's trail.

One of the clubs are Tottenham Hotspur, who sold Kaboul to Pompey. Spurs are still owed £2 million on Kaboul and also have a substantial cut of any sell on fee, so it would be one of the most unusual deals of all-time if Portsmouth sold him back to the Lane.

Spurs would, in effect, get a cut of their own fee for Kaboul!

A Pompey insider told Soccernet: "Yes, we are working on a deal with Spurs, but yes it is pretty complex. Spurs look favourite to sign Kaboul but five clubs have shown interest, three from the Premier League, Spurs, Manchester City and Sunderland."

Pompey are fighting on all fronts: an appeal against their application to have an Inland Revenue winding-up order struck out, a battle with the Premier League over £2 million TV money being withheld and a transfer embargo they decline to lift, and it all adds up to the PFA's concerns about whether the players will be paid on time for a change this month.

Much will depend on whether the club can ease their cash flow crisis with the sale of Kaboul, whom they value at £14 million but may have to sell at around £10 million to avoid financial meltdown.

If they sell him back to Spurs the club would only see a fraction of that asking price but at least it would allieviate immediate debts and help convince the Premier league to lift the transfer embargo.

Manchester City and Sunderland have expressed an interest, with Steve Bruce ready to swap Anton Ferdinand as part of a deal, which has been rejected, while Pompey has turned down €10 million from the player's former club Lyon, and Lille have also entered the bidding war.

A deal with Spurs might prove to be the more logical route as Pompey owe the North London club transfer installments on Kaboul, so there could be a straight cash adjustment which would appeal to both clubs.

Redknapp has made centre half a priority with club captain Ledley King's permanent knee injury and Jonathan Woodgate spending a month with a specialist in the United States to cure his long-term groin problem.

Redknapp has sounded out his an interest in Palermo's Simon Kjaer, a Danish international who has an £11 million buy-out clause in his contact, but Kaboul might be the easier option.

Michael Dawson and Sébastien Bassong are the club's only senior centre backs. Midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who can play as an emergency centre half, is now injured.

Pompey have also confirmed that they have received a writ from their former centre half Sol Campbell claiming £1.7 million owed to him in image rights and wages. But a Pompey insider said: "We shall be vigorously defending this action."

Dempsey Won't Need Surgery

The U.S. soccer team got good news Tuesday when Fulham said Clint Dempsey's injured right knee won't need surgery.

The 26-year-old attacker from Nacogdoches, Texas, was injured during Sunday's English Premier League game at Blackburn, and Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had feared Dempsey had torn his posterior cruciate ligament.

"Early indications are positive in that no operation is required," the Cottagers said in a statement Tuesday after Dempsey had an MRI. "At this stage it is thought that the injury will not prevent him from featuring for Fulham prior to the end of the season."

The U.S. team is already dealing with major injuries to defender Oguchi Onyewu, who is recovering from knee surgery, and forward Charlie Davies, who broke two bones in his right leg and had a lacerated bladder in a car crash.

"The news about Clint's injury is positive, especially given the fact that he will not require surgery," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "We are confident that Clint will be ready to be an important part of our team during the World Cup."

Dempsey, a midfielder and forward, has become one of the best attacking options for the U.S. team, which plays England, Slovenia and Algeria in the first round of the World Cup. He has 17 goals in 60 international appearances for the U.S. and seven goals this season for Fulham, including six in the Premier League.

At least 30 Haitian soccer federation members died in last week's earthquake

The Caribbean Football Union reported to FIFA today that at least 30 members of Haiti's football federation have died in the country's earthquake.

In its report, the union said the dead included players, coaches, referees and administrative and medical representatives who were attending a meeting at the federation's headquarters when it collapsed during the quake.

Federation president Yves Jean Bart survived the quake and told Caribbean Football Union president Horace Burrell that at least 20 federation members remained buried in the rubble or are unaccounted for.

"Words cannot describe what I have seen in Haiti. It's heartbreaking," Burrell said in his report to FIFA Vice President Jack Warner.

Luis Mejia, president of the Dominican Olympic committee, reported today that at least seven Haitian Olympic athletes have died in the quake. The dead include two siblings who were taekwondo competitors.

FIFA is donating $250,000 to the relief efforts.

U.S. Team Awaits Word on Dempsey’s Knee Injury

By JACK BELL

Tag : Soccer,World Cup, USA

Barely two weeks after scoring a dazzling goal for his club team, Fulham, Clint Dempsey is playing a waiting game. His immediate future and the United States’ hopes at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa hinge on the words of doctors who are evaluating Dempsey’s right knee after he was injured Sunday in an EnglishPremier League match at Blackburn Rovers. Read More