First Roma signs Barcelona B coach, Luis Enrique, as their new boss and it looks like 20 year-old striker Bojan is next to sign with the Italian side on a five-year deal.

While Barcelona says no agreement has been reached yet, they have stated that there is indeed a chance Bojan will depart from Camp Nou.

“We have received an offer but it is still being studied and evaluated,” Barca’s board spokesman, Toni Freixa, told the club’s official website.

“Obviously, if we were prepared to receive this offer and consider it, it is because there is a possibility we could go through with it.”

Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini, on the other hand says that the deal is set in place to be signed.

“The negotiations are going well and we hope to conclude the deal soon,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We reached an agreement with Barcelona and with the player last night.”

Bojan has climbed his way through Barcelona’s youth academy, but has seen limited time on the pitch due to the number of attacking options Barca has.

Currently, Bojan is on duty with the Spanish national team at the European U-21 Championship in Denmark.

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Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been linked with a move out of Anfield for months now, with reported interest from both Manchester United and Arsenal.

The 28 year-old goalkeeper just signed a six-year agreement in April.  However, there has been a lot of chatter than an exit clause just may exist in contract terms.

“I’m tired of rumours linking me with many teams in England and abroad,” he said in the Daily Star Sunday. “I am a man of my word and commitment. I will honour my contract with Liverpool.

“Stories of these offers are not true. I have not spoken to anyone – ever – and I am 100% a Liverpool player.”

He added: “Since I’ve been here, I’ve found an incredible passion – more than I thought from Spain.

“Liverpool as a club is sacred, it is something special. Being Liverpool’s goalkeeper is a privilege. For now, I just want to win trophies for them.”

Defender Paul Konchesky is set on improving during the second of the season.

“The fans have not seen the best of me yet,” he said. “Hopefully, I can kick on in the new year. Liverpool are a big club with a great history. We must try to get the club back to where it belongs.”

The Sunday Mirror reported that West Hamare now looking at Konchesky.  However, due to FIFA rules, the defender in not able to play for three clubs in a single season.

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As of late, Brazilian international playmaker Ronaldinho has been linked to a number of clubs including PSG, Blackburn, Gremio, and the LA Galaxy.  Well, ow you can add Flamengo to the list.

Flamengo president Patricia Amorim has expressed interest in locking down the 30 year-old midfielder.

These comments have hit the media only after Ronaldinho’s brother/agent revealed that there is still a ways to go financially if the Brazilian were to return to his former club Gremio.

“There are a lot of monetary issues to be resolved with Gremio if the club are to close out a deal for ‘Dinho,” the agent told Tuttomercatoweb.

“Every detail in regards to the player’s wage has been worked out,” Amorim declared. “All we need to understand is what Milan want to do with the remaining six months of the player’s contract.”

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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has welcomed back his playmaker, Kaka, who has been sidelined following knee surgery.

Mourinho also touched on the disappointing end to hit-man Gonzalo Higuain’s season, who is set to undergo surgery.

“Against Getafe, Kaka will not be a starter,” the ‘Special One’ affirmed in a pre-match press conference. “For the moment, I will give him 15-20 minutes.

“He is a fantastic professional, who has worked incredibly hard with a trainer who has been close to him throughout the journey. When he returns, we will welcome him.

“There is no doubt Gonzalo will need to be operated. Some people had spoken about a recovery without surgery. Now, he has changed his mind and he will need to undergo an operation.

“It is a shame because Higuain is a fantastic person and we will lose him for the remainder of the season.

“Kaka was missing from our side for six months, and we were able to create a certain squad. Now, we must create another minus Higuain. The formation must adapt to the circumstances, and we must create an equilibrium knowing that we have many matches still to play.

“Certain players will need to provide cover in roles that are not their own, with another system of playing. For me, it is a new challenge with little time to teach it.

“Between now and our match in Lyon [against Lyon in the Champions League Round of 16], we will play 14 times,” he concluded.

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After a vicious attack on the Togo national soccer team earlier this year that left two people dead and eight others wounded, an Angolan court has sentenced a man to 24 years behind bars.

ESPN Soccernet has reported that Jean Antuan Pwaty, 42, a Congolese citizen, was convicted of murder, armed rebellion and attempted murder, local radio reported Wednesday. His lawyers said they would appeal the sentence.

Togo was in route to the African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola last January when the bus was shot up in the Cabinda region.

The Togo national team coach and a media official were killed during the attack.  Goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, who suffered severe spinal injuries, says he doesn’t expect to return to soccer but does hope to walk again one day.

If you ask us here at SJ, this sentence seems a bit light due to the extent of the damage done last January.  Don’t you think?

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On Thursday night, the LA Galaxy announced the signing of experienced defender Frankie Hejduk on a one-year deal.

The Galaxy landed the 36 year-old Hejduk, who participated in two World Cup tournaments ['98, '02], in a trade with Kansas City.

The veteran defender has been with the Columbus Crew for the last eight seasons, and has served as team captain for the past five years.  Hejduk has tallied 12 goals, 25 assists, and an MLS Cup during his time in Ohio.

Hejduk, who is originally from Southern California also competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

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It has been reported by Federico Macheda’s agent than any loan from Manchester United will likely include and option to buy the 19 year-old Italian hit-man.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will allow Macheda to part ways with the club on loan with intentions of bringing him back to the club with six more months of experience.

Macheda’s agent Giovanni Bia has revealed that he expects and loan deal to include the option of a permanent stay, however.

“I can say that Inter, Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio are all clubs that potentially could take the player,” he told tuttomercatoweb.

“However, at this moment in time, this is all speculation and there is nothing concrete. Now that Sir Alex Ferguson has given his okay for an eventual departure, we’ll see what happens.

“I don’t think the player will simply arrive on a pure loan, though. I think any deal would at least be a loan with the option to buy.”

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Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong says his club in keen on winning some hardware, whether that be this year’s Premier League title, the FA Cup, or the Europa League crown. 

De Jong believes that taking home a title or two will simply add confidence and help begin establishing a brighter City future.

“If you win a cup, it doesn’t matter which one it is, it makes guys hungry and they then want even more success,” the Holland international told the club’s official website.

“That’s what we are trying to do. Win some silverware and go step by step.”

In order for City to reach some of their goals, it’s necessary that they capitalize on their upcoming home matches, including Saturday’s game against Blackpool.

“It was really important for us to beat Aston Villa 4-0 [on Tuesday],” he said.

“It can set the tone and it will only give us confidence for the next game. We need points away, but we need to pick them up at home, especially.

“We now have Blackpool at home on Saturday, so we have to keep the momentum going by winning that one too. It’s all about seeing what each game brings us.”

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Manchester United we’re linked heavily with the 22 year old attacker before he decided to move to Italy to improve his game.

And the rising star told Gazzetta dello Sport ”I don’t think about the transfer market but only about playing.

“I look to my progress and I am pleased as I am maturing, even if I’m only at 40 per cent of my potential.

“I know that my future depends on me, and I know I am on the right track.

“The interest of Inter and Manchester United? It’s nice to know that I am valued and I’d like to play in a big club but another season with Udinese should be good for me because I still lack a final piece for the final leap.

“My preferences? I like English football more because they go a thousand miles per hour, never stop, like me.

“But for now it is a problem that I pose, the contract (with Udinese) expires in 2015. It is necessary that I score more goals, assists are not enough for me. Then I have to learn to control better myself.

“I hope to score 10 goals, so maybe I’ll help Udinese to qualify for Europe. Also the Champions League is a possible achievement. And if we finish in the top four you can be sure that I won’t move.”

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Arsenal striker Carlos Vela, who has struggled to see action as of late, is set to leave Arsenal on loan in January with a return of Aaron Ramsey who has been at Nottingham Forest on loan.

Vela has had past stints with Celta Vigo, Salamanca, and Osasuna with a potential return to Spain.

“Some offensive players don’t play games like Carlos Vela. If he can get games somewhere else we will loan him out,” Wenger said. “Not sell him, loan him out because he needs to play. He is a top quality player and at the moment we have too many strikers.

“He does not get the games he deserves. He has an opportunity that I let him go somewhere.”

Ramsey is set to return to Arsenal on January 3rd after his loan at Forest is up.  The midfielder hasn’t been in an Arsenal uniform since suffering a broken leg last February.  There is no doubt that following an Abou Diaby calf strain, Wenger will need to strengthen his midfield play.

“We did not get the number of games we wanted from him because of the snow,” Wenger said. “He is a snow victim and we are as well consequently.

“But I am not tempted to do it [extend his loan]. If Abou Diaby was not injured I would certainly have considered it but not now.

“Aaron is not completely ready yet [for the Premier League] but he has been practising every day with the group for two months. I hope that when he comes back he should be ready in February.”

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