Football Dispatch

Tuesday Football
11 December2007
by Jerrad Peters

FABIO Capello will be offered the England manager's job this week. The 61-year-old Italian has been keen on the position ever since outgoing boss Steve McClaren was sacked for failing to deliver a berth in the EURO 2008 finals. And with Jose Mourinho having rejected the offer, yesterday, the FA will move forward in pursuit of their number-two candidate. Capello, for his part, has been out of football since being shown the exit at Real Madrid in June. However, in two one-year stints at the Bernabeu, he delivered a pair of La Liga titles. In fact, over the course of a 16-year career in top-level management, Capello has won a total of 11 major trophies. The FA is mindful of his track record; and despite a reputation for playing dull, tactical football, will make him an offer of approximately 4M-pounds per-year to manage England. And they aren't wasting a single moment. Brian Barwick has already invited Capello to London for discussions and the latter is set to arrive at Soho square by tomorrow. If all goes according to plan, the former Madrid, Juventus, AS Roma, and AC Milan boss will be unveiled as England manager by Friday. England have two, winter friendlies at home against Austria and away to France and hope to have McClaren's replacement installed before then. At least one English assistant will join Capello's staff. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has been tipped for the job as has Under-21s coach Stuart Pearce.

Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, is being linked with perceived managerial openings at Barcelona and AC Milan. After spurning the FA's official offer over the weekend, the 'Special One' is thought to be closing-in on a top job with a big club. Each of the past two European champions seem to fit the bill. Barcelona are falling off the pace in La Liga and current boss Frank Rijkaard appears to be losing the dressing room. He has been in the job since 2003 and has, at times, sparred with top stars such as Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho. Milan, meanwhile, are solidly mid-table in the Serie-A this season. Carlo Ancelotti, at the San Siro since 2001, is mostly associated with the club's aging regime and will probably be out of a job come summertime. With the likes of Paolo Maldini, Clarence Seedorf, and Filipo Inzaghi well into their thirties and Ronaldo, Gennaro Gatuso, and Alessandro Nesta entering the latter stages of their playing careers, Milan will likely look to hire a new, young manager with an eye to re-building the squad. It would surely be an opportunity that Mourinho would relish. Over his six seasons with the Rossoneri, Ancelotti has won a single Scudetto, a Copa Italia, and two Champions' League crowns.

In the midst of a successful return to the Italian top flight, Juventus are hoping to bolster their squad when the transfer window opens in January. Manager Claudio Ranieri has introduced a flowing, attacking style of football at the 'Old Lady' and is targeting players who fit that mold. Portmouth's Benjani Muwaruwari is one. The 29-year-old Zimbabwe international has scored six goals so far this season and has provided an excellent return on Pompey manager Harry Redknapp's 4.1M-pound purchase from Ligue-1 outfit Auxerre. Chelsea's Frank Lampard has also been rumored to be on the cusp of reunification with his former boss. Ranieri plucked the attacking midfielder from West Ham in 2001 and is hoping to take advantage of the 29-year-old's contractual situation in order to secure a switch to Turin. Out of contract at season's end, Lampard will be free to open discussions with rival clubs after the new year.

Chelsea are following Vagner Love with an eye to bringing the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge after Christmas. The 23-year-old striker has had a superb goalscoring record at CSKA Moscow since moving to the Russian capital from Palmeiras in 2004. The 23-year-old has also tallied an impressive 8-goals in 20-appearances for his country and featured prominently in Brazil's recent Copa America triumph. CSKA would likely part with Love for approximately 8M-pounds.

London rivals Tottenham Hotspur will be attempting to enhance their striking corps as well. With both Jermaine Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov pondering winter moves, Spurs manager Juande Ramos is looking to Spain for replenishment at the position. The former Sevilla boss is an admitted admirer of Valencia forward David Villa and will make an offer for the Spanish international in January. Thought to be unsettled at the Mestalla, the 26-year-old would likely be permitted to leave the club for upwards of 25M-pounds. Villa's agent, Jose Luis Tmargo, commented that "Many clubs have contacted me to ask about the chances of a player who is guaranteed to score goals in England." He continued, "But I am convinced if Spurs present an offer, Valencia will study the subject." Each of Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea have previously made overtures regarding the highly-regarded striker.

Arsene Wenger will look to pre-empt any trouble caused by a mass exodus to the African Cup of Nations by going on the offensive in the winter transfer period. Already, the Arsenal manager is preparing an offer for AC Milan midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. Having narrowly missed out on the 21-year-old when he departed Rennes in 2006, Wenger will offer 15M-pounds for the 6-foot-1 prodigy. Having struggled to crack the first team at the San Siro, Gourcuff has scored just twice in 26-appearances for the Rossoneri.