Football Dispatch

TuesdayFootball
16 October 2007
by Jerrad Peters

JOLEON Lescott is set to deputize for the injured Ashley Cole when England face Russia in a crucial EURO 2008 qualifier in Moscow, tomorrow. Cole, who will be sidelined for up to three months, tweaked his ankle in England's 3-0 win over Estonia at Wembley on Saturday. Phil Neville replaced the Chelsea left-back at the interval while Lescott relieved Rio Ferdinand. The 45-minutes represents the Everton defender's entire international career. Still, he has impressed manager Steve McClaren during training this week and has earned Wednesday's start ahead of both Neville and Reading's Nicky Shorey. John Terry, who will undergo minor surgery to remove floating bone particles in his knee at some point in the next few weeks, will also be fit to start at Luzhniki Stadium. Frank Lampard's role, however, remains up in the air. Rodblog reported, yesterday, that McClaren was poised to unleash an attacking 4-3-3 formation in Russia. And while the England boss tinkered with the 4-3-3 in training, he reverted to the tried and trusted 4-4-2 near the end of the session. Should he opt for the 4-3-3, Lampard will play alongside Gareth Barry and Steven Gerrard in midfield. Both Barry and Joe Cole would retain their places, however, in the event that McClaren stuck with the 4-4-2 -- relegating Lampard to the bench.

The Dutch revolution is begining at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea technical director Frank Arnesen has made overtures to Hamburg and Holland playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart. The former Ajax midfielder has already scored seven goals in seven matches this season and may be looking for a bigger club come January. Hamburg, currently fourth in the Bundesliga table, endured a disastrous 2006-2007 season but look to have rebounded this term. As it stands, they are a single point back of second-place Karlsruhe and automatic Champions' League qualification. Van der Vaart is not cup-tied at the German club and would be eligible to play for Chelsea in European competition. Still, with the Blues' season in tatters and Hamburg vying for a Champions' League place of their own, the 24-year-old may be hardpressed to leave his current club.

Manchester United will have to out-bid Real Madrid for the signature of Montenegrin youngster Steven Jovetic. Each of Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, Heerenven, and Sampdoria are also thought to be kicking tires at Partizan Belgrade; although none would be capable of outs-pending either United or Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been monitoring the 17-year-old for some while, will make an initial offer of 7M-pounds. Madrid's counter-offer will likely be in the vicinity of 10M-pounds. Montenegro's Football Association chief Dejan Savicevic believes that Jovetic could succeed anywhere on the continent. "Stevan could play in any of the biggest clubs in Europe," Savicevic stated, yesterday. "And I think that United would get him on the cheap, even for 7M-pounds."

Madrid, meanwhile, are also thought to be pursuing Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta. The 25-year-old, while considered to be among the pre-eminent playmakers in English football, has never been properly appreciated in his native Spain. In seven years of professional football, his only stint in his homeland came in the autumn of 2004 when he made 15 league appearances for Real Sociedad after completing a move from Rangers. In January of 2005, however, he made a loan move to Everton before completing a permanent switch to Merseyside in June of that year. Arteta has yet to receive his first cap for Spain.

Claudio Ranieri will offer a lifeline to stranded Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva. The Juventus manager, his side just two points back of Serie-A leaders Inter Milan, is hoping to strengthen his midfield in January with an eye to automatic Champions' League qualification. Gilberto, who nearly made the switch to Turin in the summer, has made just four starts for Arsenal this season and is languishing on the bench as Gunners boss Arsene Wenger proceeds with his youth movement at Emirates Stadium. The 31-year-old former Arsenal captain is contracted through 2009; but unless he regains a regular place in the squad, he will be unlikely to see out the duration of the agreement.

Rolando Bianchi and Andreas Isaksson are poised to bolt Eastlands after Christmas. Bianchi, acquired in a highly-publicized 8.8M-pound transfer from Reggina in the summer, has failed to adjust to English football and fancies a move back to Italy. "I have set a reasonable deadline of December for things to change," the 24-year-old was quoted as saying, yesterday. Isaksson, meanwhile, is manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's third-choice goalkeeper. Firmly entrenched behind Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart, the Sweden international will also be looking for a new club when the transfer window opens in two-and-a-half months.

Miguel Tevez, the 17-year-old brother of Carlos Tevez, has just completed a 2-week training period at Old Trafford. Manchester United's number-two, Carlos Queiroz, was impressed by the attacking midfielder and has recommended that Sir Alex Ferguson keep close tabs on his development.