Reports are suggesting that the Premier League big guns are taking an increasing interest in the current contract dispute between Spanish star Xavi and his club Barcelona. The diminutive playmaker has just 18 months left remaining on his contract but his efforts to earn a pay-rise to push his wages into the same bracket as Carles Puyol. Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi have been rejected.

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West Ham are reportedly attempting to sign one if not the most highly-rated youngster in Italian football, the Juventus midfield man Sebastian Giovinco on loan. The diminutive star is a firm favourite of Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola after the pair worked together for the Italian U21 side. However, despite the interest, the player’s agent Claudio Pasqualini has suggested a move is unlikely.

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There’s been a vast array of strikers being linked to the Premier League in January but only in the past few days have we seen Inter Milan’s forgotten man Adriano Leite Ribeiro mentioned. The 26-year-old Brazilian was rated as one of the best in the world only a few seasons ago but after much controversy, a lack of form and falling out of favour with new coach Jose Mourinho, the striker could be available for a knock-down £7m fee.

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Manchester City are reportedly set to bid for Marseille’s powerful left-back Taye Taiwo in the January transfer window as Mark Hughes begins strengthening his squad. The 23-year-old Nigerian international has been linked to numerous Premier League clubs in the past year but with City’s new found wealth a move is looking more likely than ever.

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Tottenham have been linked to a move to Bordeaux’s Argentine international striker Fernando Cavenaghi this week. The interest has been met with a positive reply from the 25-year-old when he said, “I do not know if Tottenham are really interested in signing me. If it’s right, though, I will study this offer because they are a top English team.”"I must say I like the English league, I like it a lot.”

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Sevilla’s exciting Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano is a reported target of Man City in January according to his agent. Jose Fuentes claims that City are amongst a host of clubs tracking the player despite an indifferent season for his club. He is quoted as saying, “Manchester City have asked about Fabiano but that is not unique because they are just one of many.”

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Lens striker Aruna Dindane is seeking a move to the Premier League in the January transfer window now he is returning to full fitness following a cruciate knee ligament injury. The highly-rated African star is being targeted by the likes of Marseille and PSG but his agent has openly admitted that his client is eyeing a move to England.

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Arsenal legend Ray Parlour gave his forthright views on the William Gallas affair this week when speaking to The New Football Pools Podcast hosted by Radio One’s Chappers this week.

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Former Gunners star Ray Parlour gave his views to The New Football Pools Podcast hosted by Radio One’s Chappers this week. The topic of Arsenal’s Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner’s pink boots was high on the agenda and Ray didn’t pull any punches when telling the panel just what he thought of them.”In our day you had a pair of black and white ones as plain as you like and then you played. You’ve got to be playing really well, you’ve got to be banging in 3 goals a game to be wearing them”, he said.

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Former Manchester United star Paul Parker has given his forthright views on Manchester United this week including the form of Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez plus the his belief that the Red Devils may be missing Carlos Queiroz this season. The former QPR and England star was speaking on Chappers The New Football Pools Podcast.

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