Thread: [26/01/10] AHEAD OF THE GAME @ Times Online

AHEAD OF THE GAME

-------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 26, 2010. 1230 GMT
-------------------------------------------------------

THE NEWS: BENITEZ TOPS JUVENTUS WISH LIST

Rafael Benitez has been made the No 1 target to take over as coach of Juventus - and the Liverpool manager's agent has refused to rule out the move. Benitez has grown increasingly frustrated with life at cash-strapped Anfield and developments in Turin will test the Spaniard's determination to see out his contract, which runs until 2014.

Kenwyne Jones has been unsettled by talk of a move to Liverpool, according to Steve Bruce. The Sunderland manager conceded the striker did not look himself in the FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend. "With all the speculation and nonsense that is surrounding him, he has had his head turned by a ludicrous notion that we are going to let him out on loan," Bruce said.

Santos have asked Manchester City to pay about half of Robinho's wages as they prepare to make him the highest-earning player in Brazil. Details of the complex deal emerged last night that reveal the strength of the forward's desire to return to his former team, the lengths that the Brazilian club are going to to secure the signing and the scale of City's financial muscle.

Window watch: Benni McCarthy has edged closer to a move from Blackburn to West Ham, but the forward may not play when the teams meet at Upton Park on Saturday. Blackburn want £2.5 million for the forward, more than twice what West Ham are willing to offer as an initial sum.

Celtic have completed the signing of Morten Rasmussen from Brondby. The Denmark striker, 24, has penned a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

IS ROBINHO THE WORST PREMIER LEAGUE SIGNING EVER?

Russell Kempson lists five transfer "busts" from the top-flight's modern era, including Andriy Shevchenko, Massimo Taibi and Jean-Alain Boumsong, but does Manchester City's diminiutive Brazilian take the biscuit? Vote on it and then have your say.

CELTIC'S TRANSFER STRATEGY FILLED WITH RISK

Graham Spiers argues that the case of Danny Fox shows what a tough job Tony Mowbray has in creating "a quality football team" with limited funds and the constant scrutiny of the media and supporters alike. "You can spot the Celtic game-plan: scout widely, sign cheaply and hope for the best," he writes.

ASK THE EXPERT: GAGO WILL COST CITY £18M

Gary Jacob answers your questions on who is going where during the January transfer window every weekday. Ask him a question by e-mailing aotg@thetimes.co.uk

Jamie Oliphant writes: With Roberto Mancini pursuing Mathieu Flamini and Fernando Gago it doesn't bode well for Michael Johnson. Is he still injured? Any word on his future? Please tell me Fulham want him, he'd be class.

GJ: You're right. He has played just twice this campaign because of a knee problem that is likely to keep him out until pre-season, so there is no chance of a transfer until later in the summer. Last season, a pelvic problem limited his appearances. He signed a new contract in the summer of 2008 when there was interest from Newcastle and West Ham.

Real Madrid want £18 million for Gago. The defensive midfielder and his agent held talks with the Spanish club last night in an attempt to secure a transfer, emphasising that Real have several similar players. Madrid want him to stay until the summer.

John from London writes: Why did Philippe Senderos move on loan to Everton when his contract ends at Arsenal this summer? And why couldn't Arsenal have sold him, or simply kept him as a squad player?

GJ: The semantics did seem strange, but there are probably a few reasons why Everton did not just take over the rest of his contract at Arsenal. First, it may be by taking the defender on loan Everton will only pay his wage until the end of the season rather than the end of his contract on June 30. Secondly, he may be entitled to a bonus or loyalty payment if he fulfils his contract at Arsenal, which he would still do even by moving to Goodison Park on loan. Thirdly, a player is sometimes entitled to a severance payment when a club decides not to renew his contract. So that payment could have fallen on Everton if they had taken over his contract.

Arsenal will receive a loan fee for Senderos, probably about £500,000.

Tom writes: What is the story with Benni McCarthy? Despite scoring plenty of goals for Blackburn over the past few years Sam Allardyce clearly does not fancy him. What are his chances of signing for West Ham before the end of the transfer window?

GJ: Allardyce seems to have taken umbrage at his attitude, work-rate and the player's fluctuating weight. Last month, he was ordered in for fitness work after being booed by home fans. "Yes, I admit I've had issues with hitting the weight targets the manager has set and that's my fault, but I put 100 per cent in on the pitch and always try my hardest," McCarthy said. "It seems I'm being punished more than others."

He has been a starter in only half his 14 league appearances this season, scoring once. In addition, Allardyce needs to sell before he can buy and cashing in on the 32-year-old striker makes sense. Allardyce wanted £4 million for McCarthy when he found out that West Ham were interested, but his chairman is happy to sell him for £2.5 million.

There are also suggestions that the deal could a treated as loan because that would mean that McCarthy would not need to re-apply for a new work permit. He would not automatically qualify for one as he hasn't played 75 per cent of South Africa matches over the past two years.


PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEWS: LIVERPOOL WELCOME BACK CAPTAIN

Steven Gerrard could return for Liverpool at Molineux tonight and Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, has included new signing Adlene Guedioura in his squad. Plus all the rest of the team news ahead of this weekend's action.

LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE COMMENTARIES

Take your pick from one of the four top-flight matches tonight, including Owen Coyle's return to Burnley with Bolton, with our text coverage. Plus keep updated with the scores and stats from the Football League.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: aotg@thetimes.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


All copyrights and trademarks belong to News International
Article Reproduced from original email from Times Online Sport