Anzhi Target Neymar Gerrard Lampard and van Persie!

Anzhi Makhachkala are lining up bids for Robin van Persie, Nicolas Anelka and Neymar, according to the Russian Premier League club's temporary player-coach, Roberto Carlos.Roberto Carlos said his club are also targeting the Paris St Germain star Nenê in a bid eventually to become as big as Real Madrid and Barcelona.The former Brazil defender was the first major star to move to Anzhi following their takeover by the billionaire businessman Suleyman Kerimov at the turn of the year. The 38-year-old has since been joined in the volatile Dagestan region of Russia by Samuel Eto'o and Yuri Zhirkov.Roberto Carlos, who is also the club captain, has now said there are four more big names on the club's wishlist. "Anelka is not the only player," he told the French TV show Canal Football Club. "Nenê from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following. And Neymar? I talked to him. If Real, Barça or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."Anzhi have also been linked with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, as well as Fabio Capello and José Mourinho on the management front. Carlos said: "We want to make a club the calibre of Real or Barça. We have the potential to have a strong team. We are already the best team in Russia and I am serious when I say that." are lining up bids for Robin van Persie, Nicolas Anelka and Neymar, according to the Russian Premier League club's temporary player-coach, Roberto Carlos.Roberto Carlos said his club are also targeting the Paris St Germain star Nenê in a bid eventually to become as big as Real Madrid and Barcelona.The former Brazil defender was the first major star to move to Anzhi following their takeover by the billionaire businessman Suleyman Kerimov at the turn of the year. The 38-year-old has since been joined in the volatile Dagestan region of Russia by Samuel Eto'o and Yuri Zhirkov.Roberto Carlos, who is also the club captain, has now said there are four more big names on the club's wishlist. "Anelka is not the only player," he told the French TV show Canal Football Club. "Nenê from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following. And Neymar? I talked to him. If Real, Barça or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."Anzhi have also been linked with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, as well as Fabio Capello and José Mourinho on the management front. Carlos said: "We want to make a club the calibre of Real or Barça. We have the potential to have a strong team. We are already the best team in Russia and I am serious when I say that."

Big Spending Russian's Target Anelka

Big spending Anzhi Makhachkala are now targeting Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, having already shown an interest in Frank Lampard.Player-coach Roberto Carlos claims the club's Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov is determined to bring in more household names despite making Samuel Eto's the highest-paid player in the world football this summer.Eto's is being paid in excess of £250,000-a-week to play his football for Anzhi but Kerimov's spending hasn't finished yet as he looks to turn them into a team to be reckoned with on the European stage.England coach Fabio Capello is being eyed to manage the team once while Steven Gerrard and Robin van Persie are other top Premier League stars being considered.Carlos, a former Brazilian international, has revealed that the club's interest in Anelka is for real although he is just one of a dozen on their radar. He told TV show Canal Football Club: "Anelka is not the only player. Nene from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following."Neymar? I talked to him. If Real, Barca or Man United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."

Neymar Transfer Chaos

Santos have made an amazing U-turn and told Chelsea: Neymar is NOT for sale.The Blues were given permission to talk to the Brazilian whizkid this week after matching a £40million buy-out clause.
Four other clubs from across Europe were also in the hunt having agreed to meet the bumper release fee.
But now president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira has thrown the move into chaos by insisting Neymar is going nowhere.Oliveira said: "In light of continuous speculation in the national and international press about the future of our player, I feel obliged to communicate the departure of Neymar is non-negotiable.
"Neymar is a media phenomenon known throughout the world. His talent for brilliant moves on the field is proportional to his charisma."In any case, the response of Santos is that we are not yet considering any offer for his transfer."The Brazil striker, 19, is currently on international duty at the Copa America.
And Oliveira added: "The fans love Neymar, not only how he plays, but for his human qualities.
"That love is shared by millions of other Brazilians who admire him regardless of the club to which he belongs.
"Neymar will return to Santos after the Copa America and we will make efforts to retain and keep him happy for many years."

Chelsea have £22m bid rejected by Spurs but will be back

Chelsea last night lodged a £22m bid for Luka Modric as owner Roman Abramovich made the first move in his attempts to rejuvenate an ageing squad.The formal offer was rejected by Tottenham within two hours, but the Blues are expected to return with improved terms imminently.Abramovich -- desperate to add more creativity to Chelsea's midfield and reduce the average age of his squad -- has identified the Croatian playmaker as the priority target.The Russian is determined to press ahead with the signing despite the fact that he is yet to appoint a replacement for manager Carlo Ancelotti.Modric has confirmed in recent weeks that Spurs' failure to retain their Champions League status came as a substantial blow to his ambitions and it is believed Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy, White Hart Lane's manager and chairman, face a fierce battle to hold on to their prize asset.Manchester United have also registered their interest in Modric, but have turned their attentions to Alexis Sanchez -- who is also on Chelsea's target list -- and Arsenal's Samir Nasri.Abramovich has decided against bidding for French international Nasri after being offered the midfielder by intermediaries.Redknapp has already stated that it is crucial for Spurs to retain Modric, describing the playmaker as "key" to his team's fortunes. But he has also knows he has to generate funds to make changes to his side.Spurs rejected an initial inquiry from Chelsea two weeks ago and, although no bid was made at that time, it is believed an offer close to £35m might tempt them into a deal.

Modric was in stunning form last season and has proved to be one of the most effective players in the Premier League. He arrived at Spurs in 2008 -- signing a six-year deal which he renewed in 2010 -- for £16m from Dynamo Zagreb and given the progress he has made, Chelsea's bid will be regarded as derisory by Levy.However, it is the opening salvo in Chelsea's attempts to prise Modric away and much will depend on how the player reacts now an official bid has been made.

Chelsea targeted Modric, Sanchez and Neymar as their three bid signings this summer, but have dropped their interest in Sanchez, believing the Chilean winger will now become United's big summer recruit.

Chelsea are battling with Real Madrid to secure Neymar and have to decide whether to bid the €45m which will trigger a release clause in his contract. Abramovich would prefer to pay around €30m, at most, for the 19-year-old but may be outbid by Real. No official offer has been made yet.

Securing Modric, though, is Chelsea's priority. They will have been encouraged by his remarks that "if there is an offer which is good for Tottenham and for me also, then a transfer is of course possible," though the Croat did add that he was not "bothered" or intent on leaving Spurs.

That may now change given Chelsea's eagerness to secure him to provide the creativity to supply striker Fernando Torres. There is a long-held theory at the club that the team lack a player with Modric's guile, though his arrival would break up a hugely settled area of Chelsea's side.

There have been suggestions that Frank Lampard's future is in some doubt after a comparatively disappointing campaign, though it is all but unthinkable that such a key player will be sold. Modric's presence and price, though, would suggest that it is the 25-year-old who will take over the England international's role as the team's creative hub.

Abramovich is also determined to add pace to his managerless side, and a winger will likely follow in Modric's wake.

Chelsea are understood to be close to announcing the signing of Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, widely regarded as a long-term replacement for Didier Drogba. Spurs are interested in the original version, but Chelsea want him to stay for at least one more year. They may, though, be willing to sell Nicolas Anelka.

If Spurs did sell Modric to Chelsea it would cause an outcry from their supporters, given the animosity between the two clubs and may be a damaging statement about their ambitions.

Spurs would rather clear out the likes of Robbie Keane, David Bentley and Sebastien Bassong, with Redknapp accepting Levy's argument that the squad needs to be "streamlined".

It is understood that Abramovich is close to deciding on appointing a new manager. An announcement is expected within the next 10 days and could come a lot sooner.

The expectation remains that Guus Hiddink will secure his release from his contract as Turkey's coach and will be offered a 12-month deal with the option of a further year.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the gates of Villa Park last night to vent their frustration over the impending appointment of the former Birmingham City boss -- and 'Bluenose scum not welcome' was scrawled in white paint on the entrance to the training ground.

Chelsea set to lose out to Barcelona in Neymar race

Chelsea are set to miss out on Santos star Neymar as Barcelona look likely to secure a deal for the teenager.
The Catalan club's president Sandro Rosell has secured the services of manager Pep Guardiola on a new 12-month contract and now he has his sights set on signing one of South America's hottest prospects.
Rosell, a former executive at Nike, is planning to use his close relationship with the American sports brand that sponsors Neymar and the Brazilian national team to lure him to the Nou Camp - as he did when he took Ronaldinho there in 2003.
Rosell is also reported, in Spanish newspaper El Confidential, to have met with the player's agent Wagner Ribeiro about a possible deal.
Barca's chief scout Alber Valentín has publicly praised the 19-year recently saying: "He is a player that would insert perfectly in the philosophy of play at Barcelona. He has talent and physical attributes and when you combine the two aspects you have a very big player."
Chelsea were reported to have had a £17m bid for the player rejected in the summer after former Santos legend Pele urged the youngster to stay at the club.

European clubs have young Neymar in sights

He only turns 19 next week, but the scouts from the big European clubs have Neymar da Silva Santos in their sights once more after a four-goal salvo for Brazil at the Under20 world championships in Peru.
Neymar has clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United in a lather after his quadruple saw off Paraguay and a clutch of agents are touting for business with at least four Italian sides also reportedly chasing after his signature.
Chelsea were first out of the blocks in the summer, making an initial bid of 35 million euros but Neymar elected to stay put for now in the belief it is too early to make the move to Europe.
The nimble forward-cum-winger currently plays for FC Santos, who know a little about breeding star names having produced not just Robinho but a certain Pele.
Pele may have won a World Cup winner's medal when even younger than Neymar but the latter has a precocious array of skills and Santos have a battle on their hands if he is to see out his contract through to 2015.
Many in Brazil consider the teen with the "Mohican" style haircut as a huge star in the making - even if he himself eschews comparisons with Pele - further comparisons have been made with late 1950s and early 1960s wideman Garrincha, Brazil's 'Anjo de Pernas Tortas' (Angel with Bent Legs).
Neymar was keen to play down his widely acclaimed individual brilliance after the win over Paraguay, saying Monday: "Brazil can score goals. We played very well against an excellent Paraguayan side. I am very happy."
But it has not always been sweetness and light for the teen.
Last year, Santos fined him for insulting both players and officials at Santos, including his skipper Edu Dracena.
Even so, his influence is growing as coach Dorival Junior was sacked just days after refusing to bow to demands at boardroom level to start him in a match against Corinthians.
His temperamental nature has to date acted as a brake on his progression to the full squad under new coach Mano Menezes, who left him off the squad which travelled to Europe for October friendlies even after he had been called up for an August friendly against the United States - he scored in a 2-0 victory.

Brazil's most wanted

Santos' young striker Neymar has never been a shy, retiring character on the pitch - his distinctive hairstyle attests to this - and his self-confidence has helped him reach heady heights in Brazil already.

At 18 years of age, Neymar has already scored for the Seleção and been linked with a £20m move to some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Chelsea and Juventus. After an excellent 2010, his future has been fervently discussed with the January transfer window open, but in an interview with Globo Neymar sought to distance himself from transfer speculation and focus on his own game.

"I am trying to follow in the footsteps of my idols. I am trying to take a bit of Robinho, of Kaka, of Zidane, of Ronaldo and of Romario. [But] I like being myself. I'm very happy with all this recognition," Neymar revealed.

"Playing football is what I enjoy doing, it's this that gives me joy. I've waited so long to get game time that when it comes you have to play with happiness. Being happy - that's how the moves come naturally, the dribbles. That's the secret."

After being told that he had been compared with Pele and Garrincha, the great Brazilian duo of the 1950s and 1960s, Neymar replied that he was humbled by the comparison.

"I am delighted to be compared with either one. They were excellent players and I cannot say anything more. They are two legends of world football," he replied, before moving onto his own start with the Brazilian national team and stressed the need not to become frustrated.

"I've scored a goal, a good start but nothing more. I have to keep looking for good performances in order to help the Seleção. In the heat of the game, when you get nervous and can't beat the centre back, you only want to get past him and score. But this is the defender's job in football, to stop the play. So the attacker needs to play further up.

"I'm not one for inventing dribbles, I copy others. Leave that to Ronaldinho or Robinho, who know how to do that very well. I just try to imitate them."