Roman Midfielder Could Still Be a Main Target for Sir Alex Ferguson

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(Bleacher Report)AS Roma holding midfielder Daniele De Rossi has been on the Red Devils Radar for several months now. The player believed to be valued between £14 and £20 million is yet to be a formal target for United as there are no reports of an officially launched bid.

However, his skill set is something that the current United squad is lacking and has been without since Owen Hargreaves last fully fit season in 2008.

Rossi is a born and bred Roman but his recent negative personal experiences over the past several years have rendered him at times out of sorts in the Eternal city, and he could be looking for a way out with England his primary intended destination.

Chelsea have also looked at him as a possible replacement for Michael Essien who is becoming more and more injury prone which is threatening his ability to be the world class box to box midfielder that made him famous in a Blues kit.

Manchester City have also placed their name in the hat, but it looks like they are about to seal the deal for Arsenal's Samir Nasri.

Despite all the rumors AS Roma are not about to let the player leave if they have anything to say about it.

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Samir Nasri, and Cesc Fabregas Are Causing Transfer Holds Says Wenger

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(Bleacher Report)Arsene Wenger is accusing the transfer sagas of both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas as the reason for their not being more signings for the Gunners this summer. Two days ago he promised that a signing of "Super Quality," would be arriving next week.

Let us hope that he was not referring to the addition of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain because I will be horse laughing and most Arsenal fans will be cringing at the thought as they start calling for the Frenchman's head.

The under pressure manager had these words published in a recent ESPNsoccernet.com article:

"Ideally I would have finished all [our business], but it doesn't work like that,"

"We work very hard, we are non-stop working throughout the summer. It's all kinds of things you meet during the transfer market, but I can understand the impatience of people."

"We want to add not quality, but super quality."

"We hope to give you some good news soon. Next week, something might happen."

In all honesty it seems his desire to hold on to player desperately wanting out is causing the real problems with the summers dealings. He has been offered over £50 million between both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas wants to go so bad he is willing to use his own £4 million in bonuses to get out of London. How much more convincing to you need Mr. Wenger?

That amount alone could purchase which ever combination of defenders from amongst his targeted Gary Cahill, Scott Dann, Chris Samba, Phil Jagielka and Jose Enrique.

The signing of there of them at the most would have been worth the £35 million offered by Barcelona for Fabregas that was rejected once again. That still leaves another £22 million that Manchester City have on offer for Samir Nasri.

Out of that he could purchase a new quality keeper, he could have bought Maarten Stekelenburg for only £4.6 million which is what Roma paid for the 28-year old Dutchman. Then that would leave another £17.4 million to add an additional attacker to cover for the Robin Van Persie who despite is amazing talents will probably get injured once or twice this year. Wait actually RVP is already injured and the season has yet to start.

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Roma Keeper Alexander Doni the Possible New Back-Up to Pepe Reina

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(Bleacher Report) After failing to secure Brad Friedel last week with the American accepting a move to Tottenham over Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish is back in the market searching for a new full-time backup to Pepe Reina.

It looks like he has found the man he wants in Roma's Brazilian keeper Alexander Doni. After loosing his permanent place in the Roma line-up last season he is looking for an out from the Eternal City, and Liverpool could be just that.

Brad Jones whom was signed last season by Roy Hodgson to be the back-up spent more time in the reserves and on-loan than in that role and he is available for transfer and could be a possible make weight in the opposite direction or could be sold outright.

Doni at 31-years of age is still in his good days and would make an excellent experienced back-up as opposed to Jones whom has not seen competition at the high levels as Doni.

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UEFA Champions League Draw

Bayern vs. Inter, Spurs vs. Milan, Barca vs. Arsenal, What an Interesting Round this shall be.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
December 17, 2010
 
The Knock Out Stage of the 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League Draw is over and the results are in. The most startling match up to come out of the draw hands down goes to defending Champions Inter Milan, under new boss Rafael Benitez, whom will face Bayern Munich in a rematch of last year’s final. The Italians will look to fend off Bastian Schweinsteiger and company as the Germany giants surely will be out for blood after last year’s scintillating final.

Another match up that will have all eyes watching is Pep Guardiola's Balugrana of Barcelona vs. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. What looks to be a tie of epic proportions should the two side truly have a go at one another, which I cannot see Not happening, will most likely produce some of the fanciest footwork and passing artistry of the round. Cesc Fabregas, possibly the most coveted player by Barcelona, and his midfield partner Samir Nasri will be plying their trade against arguable the world’s best midfield duo in Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. The back-line of Arsenal is what I most likely foresee as the undoing of the London club and I expect Barca to send the Gunners packing.

The Special One's, Jose Mourinho's, Los Blancos of Real Madrid will take on Olympique Lyonnais of France. Although not league champions in several years the French Giants will be looking to upset the European Legends. Karem Benzema has finally started to stake a claim to his spot on the Real front line, and he will no doubt relish the reunion with his old club. The Spanish Giants look to continue their strong run of form and advance on to the next round.

Tottenham Hotspur were a revelation in the group stage with Gareth Bale helping to propel the Lily Whites forward. The London club may be new to the Champions League as of late but they made a statement early on with their dominance over Inter Milan and a Group A winning start to their UCL campaign. Harry Redknapp will be looking to continue the progress of his club and a victory over the Rossoneri in a two-legged tie would do even more to stamp Tottenham's ticket for success. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company will be searching for a renewed vigor after a mediocre group showing that only produced at the height a draw against Real Madrid thanks to a now injured Filippo Inzaghi. It will be an interesting tie to say the least.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United take on French side Olympique Marseilles. Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola feared the French club for their ability to be physically dominant. However, I have never seen Sir Alex Ferguson to fear anyone or anything, and I fully expect the wiring ole Scot to take the fight to the boys from the Mediterranean coast. It will be a hard fought battle but I look to see the Red Devils in the next draw.

Chelsea take on FC Kobenhaven from Denmark. The Danish side is through to the Round of 16 in their clubs second time in the Champions League. Their first foray into Europe was the UCL in the 2006-2007 season where they did not get past the group stages. With what was deservedly a winning performance, resulting in only a draw, against Barcelona at home in the group stages, the Danes hope to garner some confidence, and the poor run of domestic form of the Blues lately may just give the Lions the little they need to pull off an upset.

The Final two match-ups seem to be the least popular but could turn out to be two of the more highly competitive ties. AS Roma will try to continue their march by taking a bite out of Ukrainian Champions FC Shakhtar Donetsk. If the Wolves can get an edge on the away leg they should be able to hold of the Ukrainians at the Olimpico. Ranieri will have to buckle down and pull his squad together because they are in desperate need of some more results as a struggling league campaign is turning around as they find themselves only four points away from second place in a tightly packed group at the top of the Serie A table.

Germany's FC Shalke 04 has been falling to shambles in the league but have been dominant in the Champions League topping Group B with only one loss. Making the trip to the Veltins Arena will be Spain’s Valencia. Despite the loss of both David Villa and David Silva Los Che have their stride at the perfect time as they are dancing around the UCL spots of La Liga in fifth place, and are in the last 16 of the Champions League with the other Spanish giants. The Shalke strike duo of former Real Madrid front men Raul Gonzalez and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will look to use their knowledge of Valencia from the past in order to strengthen their clubs chances of advancement.

With the stage set for the next round it looks to be as exciting a knockout stage as ever. Their will be chants of glory, chants of rage, and tears of agony as the UEFA Champions League is now ready to return to action February 15, 2011.