Gossip Column Week 3 Damien Duff is in Valencia and is set to seal a £4.5million deal to the Spanish club. The Left Winger has found himself surplus to requirements under the new regime at Fiorentina and is said to favour a move away from Italy where he has struggled to settle. (Various) Duff looks like he will only be one of a number of exits from Fiorentina as Alessandro Gamberrini (Man Utd), Gaetano DAgostino (Sampdoria) and Christiano Lupatelli (Ascoli) suffer the axe. (Guardian) But Duffs agent had suggested a deal for the midfielder is up in the air and has called for English league clubs to declare their interest. (Daily Star) Young prodige Paulinho may be set for a reunion with Steve Davies-Evans, the manager who brought him to England, as the new Sheffield Wednesday boss carries on his spending spree. (The Sun) Meanwhile, It has been reported that Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Davies-Evans has now ended his long standing link with Arsenal manager and friend Simon Newcombe. It is reported that Davies-Evans wants to look at a number of loans in order to help his Yorkshire side gain promotion this season. (Daily Mail) Sources close to the Arsenal manager have suggested that it was infact the Arsenal boss who called off the arrangement, after being unimpressed with the utilization of his youngsters during last season. (Daily Sport) Rumors have already suggested that AC Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City are amongst those likely to be linked up with Davies-Evans next. (Daily Express)
The race for AC Milan wonderkid Alexandre Pato looks set to be surprisingly won by Crystal Palace. Luke Coakley has outwardly suggested he will make a decision after this weekends games, but a source close to the player has suggested Pato is looking for flats in the area. (Daily Star) Another source close to Pato has suggested the player wants a continental move however, favouring the warmer climates of Spain or Italy. (The Sun) Portsmouths new boss Jackie Yeo looks set to end his search for a left winger by signing Swedish international Tobias Hysen from Udinese. (Gazetto Del Sport) Spanish giants Barcelona are set to re-employ ex-captain Xavi . Adam Goble has identified the Seville star as the man to catapult his side into title contention. (Marca) However, Real Madrid are said to be monitoring the situation, but Xavis agent Telermo Rojas has suggested a move to his boyhood teams biggest rivals may be a step too far! (Marca) Sampdoria manager Mark Rollings will continue his reshuffle of the squad and sources close to the club have suggested a deal to bring Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate to the club are at an advanced stage. (Gazetto Del Sport) Meanwhile Brazilian Rinaldi is set to quit Sampdoria, and has instructed his agent to actively seek another club. Sampdoria are thought to value the left back around the £3.3million mark. (Sport Forza) Wolves have admitted they may be powerless to resist interest in their highly rated central midfielder Sodinha after a local press report suggested a deal was agreed for their prize asset. Manager Tyrone-Davies is known to be willing to sacrifice the youngster to develop his squad. (Sky Sports News) Leeds United manager Dave Davies-Evans is plotting a sensational swoop for Wigan and Brazillian striker - Ronaldo. It is not yet known how the former Reggina manager will fund the deal but it is reported that Davies-Evans is keen on the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker. (Yorkshire Post) Genoa Special New Genoa chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim looks set to follow up his capture of Juan Roman Riquelme with a host of big money signings. (Guardian) Top of the billionaires wishlist is said to be Frederic Kanoute, Dimitar Berbatov and even Fernando Torres as Chris Ratcliff stressed the need for a prolific marksman. (The Sun) Although Everton have denied that the Abu Dhabi group were in Merseyside trying to negotiate a double deal to take Gianluiggi Buffon and Thierry Henry to Italy. (Daily Sport)
