Football Wonderkid Scout

Palermo club president Maurizio Zamparini has set a €70 million price tag on Argentina wonderkid Javier Pastore as the race continues for his signature. With only two days before the El Classico, its no secret that Real Madrid and Barcelona will fight it out for arguably one of the greatest young talents in the game. Time and again Zamparini has received and rejected offers. He said the latest to be tabled was from "a foreign club" who had tried to sweeten his hand with "€50m" but it "was rejected." He has told both Spanish giants that no less than €70 million for the 21-year-old will be accepted. "Pastore's new contract is ready and we just need to shake hands with his agent and it will be signed when he returns," Zamparini told Sky Sport Italia. "I can confirm the rescissionary clause will be €70m and his wages will rise over the next two to three years."

The Sicilian club have reportedly turned down bids from a number of Premiership teams with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all registering an interest in the player, along with Italian powerhouses Inter Milan and Juventus. Described as the next Kaka, many believe he will go on to become the best player in the world. While any potential suitor will rule out a move in January things will certainly be hotting up in the summer, with a move inevitable.

27/11/10

You would think that Zezinho was a very unusual name, and Arsenal were linked with a Brazilian of that name for well over a year when he was with Juventude, but he moved to the Brazilian giants Santos instead of Arsenal. Well now Arsenal are being linked with another player of the same name, but this one is from Guinea-Bissau who is currently playing for the youth team at Sporting Lisbon. The 18 year-old has been favourably compared to a young Ronaldo in Portugal, and due to him being granted a Portugese passport last year he is free to play anywhere in Europe. TalkSport reports that Man City and AC Milan have also been scouting Zezinho for some time, which means that Sporting are hoping that the price will increase if a bidding war develops. Talented players from Portugal used to come quite cheaply, but since Ronaldo moved to Man Utd the Portugese clubs try and squeeze as much as possible out of Premiership clubs.

Sporting are believed to have put a ridiculous 20m euro price tag on Zezinho, which will probably put Arsene Wenger off bidding for him, but if he really is as good as Ronaldo then Wenger will want to act quickly, especially when he was convinced that Cristiano Ronaldo was heading for the North London club before being pipped to the post by arch rivals Manchester United

27/11/10

Arsenal, well-known for unearthing stars of the future in the football world, have failed in their latest attempt to add to their highly-rated academy by having a £16.9 million bid for Dinamo Zagreb's Croatian starlets Sime Vrsaljko and Mateo Kovacic, according to the club's vice-president. Zdvravko Mamic has claimed that the Croatian club, who sold Eduardo to the Gunners in 2007, rejected the North London club's advances for their prized assets, stating that the club are in a good financial position and have no need to sell. Vrsaljko, 18, is highly regarded as one of the world's best defensive prospects after impressing for Dinamo. After catching the eye, Slaven Bilic is being urged to include him in the senior squad after his 4 caps for the Under-21s. Kovacic at just 16 is already being hailed as Croatia's version of Wayne Rooney in terms of his fast development. He scored on his debut in a 6-0 win to become the league's youngest ever scorer. In the U-17 games for Croatia he has largely caught the eye with impressive passing and vision, similar to Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal are just one of many clubs interested in the pair, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and the Milan clubs all looking to take the youngsters from under each others' noses. However, Arsene Wenger will be hoping to make an early move, similar to when he took Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona's famous La Masia academy as a youngster.

28/11/10

Arsenal and Manchester United are about to be pipped by Real Madrid in the chase for talented Lille midfielder Eden Hazard after the player’s agent refused to discuss terms with both English clubs. Hazard has been linked with a move to England for several months, having impressed in the French league. His talents are believed to have alerted both the Gunners and United during the summer, but approaches for the player were dismissed out of hand. Nevertheless, he has now been made available for transfer – but his representatives have snubbed both Premier League outfits because a deal is believed to have been agreed with Madrid already. Jose Mourinho has had scouts watch the Belgian 19-year-old, who is considered one of the continent’s rising stars with 17 international caps already.

It is believed Los Merengues are in advanced talks over the finer points of a contract, ahead of completing the move when the transfer window re-opens on January 1st. Jose Mourinho will have been in a deep depression last night following his side’s appalling performance against rampant Barcelona in the El Clasico but the Real Madrid boss is set to seal the deal to bring in one of the hottest prospects in European football. Arsenal have been chasing Eden Hazard for the best part of 18 months and Sir Alex Ferguson has also been looking to sign the young Belgian playmaker but both will seemingly miss out on the teenager.

29/11/10 Source: Caught Offside

AC Milan have a secret weapon in their bid to sign Brazil centre half David Luiz ahead of Manchester City and Chelsea. The Italian giants are reportedly using the Benfica defender's compatriot and close friend Thiago Silva to tempt Luiz into a move to the San Siro. It is believed that the Portuguese champions are ready to cash in on the 23-year-old this winter after failing to progress in the Champions League.

Bids are expected to start at about £25million - an amount City were prepared to pay in the summer - but Milan hope more than money will turn the player's head. Silva chose Italy when there was interest from Chelsea last year and the former Fluminense defender has been bending Luiz's ear on Milan's behalf, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. Serie A's most decorated side already have a good relationship with Benfica, especially as former Rossoneri midfielder Rui Costa is the club's sporting director. Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has also confirmed his admiration for Luiz, who is believed to be unhappy at the Lisbon club and refusing to discuss a contract extension.

30/11/10 Source: Daily Mail