Henry scored both goals in the New York Red Bulls’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday night, but it was his second that is grabbing headlines around the world.

The veteran forward netted in the 88th minute using a bicycle kick. He had his back to the Impact goal but still managed to strike the ball powerfully and accurately. It is undoubtedly a leading contender for 2013 MLS’ “Goal of the Year” award.

Henry, 35, joined the Red Bulls in 2010 as a “designated player” — a distinction which allows MLS teams to pay star players (like David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Denilson) wages which exceed the salary cap. The former Arsenal and Barcelona star’s $4.4 million salary tops MLS. It’s not hard to see why.

Watch Henry’s wonder-goal in the video below.

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Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Thierry Henry

Wenger is reportedly a leading contender to replace Carlo Ancelotti as PSG’s manager. He could leave the Arsenal bench for PSG’s as early as this summer, according to the Telegraph.

“PSG’s most senior figures have been telling members of their circle that Wenger has been persuaded to leave north London after 17 years in charge of Arsenal.

“Their least optimistic scenario is that he will move to Paris in the summer of 2014 when his current deal at Arsenal expires. But PSG’s owners have sounded adamant in recent days that they can tempt him to cross the channel 12 months early.

“[French newspaper] Le Parisien has reported that Wenger will meet PSG owners next week,” the report says.

Wenger and Arsenal are synonymous with one another, with the Frenchman having lead the club since 1996. The Gunners have won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups under his guidance, making him one of world’s soccer’s most respected and influential managers. But Arsenal has not won a trophy in eight seasons, and some fans are calling for a new manager to end the barren run.

But Wenger and Arsenal are coming to a crossroads. His contract expires after next season, and there have been conflicting reports as to whether or not Arsenal has already offered him a new deal. If the club wants him to continue past 2014, he certainly has yet to agree to do so.

Managers are often loathe to lead a team into a new season with only one year remaining on their contract, as a “lame duck” status can undermine them in the dressing room in difficult moments. This summer is shaping up to be a “moment of truth” for Wenger and Arsenal, but Wenger says he will remain at Arsenal for at least another season regardless of his contract situation.

“First of all I don’t know too much about what’s been said about me,” he said. “Then I’m concentrating on the next game and the next season. At the end of my contract I’ll see what I can do. I’ve always respected my contracts. I can’t see at my age why that should change.”

PSG has become a leading destination for Europe’s top players, coaches and executives since the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) took over the club in May 2011 and began pouring money into it. PSG has spent over £170 million ($264 million) on new players, transforming itself from a club which targets domestic honors to one that aims for European and global titles.

Ancelotti has led the charge in the French capital since December 2011, when he replaced Antoine Kombouare. The Italian steered PSG to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 in his first six months at the club. PSG’s on-field fortunes improved this season, as it is reached the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League and is closing in on its first Ligue 1 title since 1994.

Domestic glory may not be enough to keep Ancelotti and PSG from parting ways after this season,” the Telegraph reports.

“Ancelotti is understood to have told PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi last week that he would not be staying in Paris.”

PSG is reportedly eyeing Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, but the Portuguese tactician is believed to be nearing a return to Chelsea FC. Meanwhile, Ancelotti has been tipped to replace Mourinho at Real Madrid.

PSG has a long-term goal of instilling more of a French identity (or public face) into the club, and Wenger is arguably the most respected French coach in the world. If the Arsenal manager decides it is time to leave North London for PSG, he would find himself at the center of one of the most exciting and ambitious projects world soccer has to offer.

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Less than two years later, a combination of personal and professional circumstances could see him leave his hometown for North London once again.

Barcelona would be willing to sell Fabregas for the right price this summer to raise funds for a rebuilding project, and Arsenal is the most likely destination, according to the Star.

“He does not want to quit his boyhood club — but has fired the exit rumours by trying to buy a £5.4 million ($8.4 million ) flat in London,” the report says.

“Fabregas’ girlfriend Daniella Semaan gave birth to the couple’s daughter Lia earlier this month and the pair are looking into bringing her up in England.

“He is under contract until June 2016 but has his World Cup place with the Spain team to worry about and could be tempted by the prospect of regular football in the Premier League.”

Fabregas was schooled in the Barcelona system before controversially signing with Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003. He spent eight seasons with the Gunners, rising from teenage prospect to club captain. His longstanding desire to return to Spain — particularly to play with Barcelona’s stars and for its former head coach Pep Guardiola – was the driving force behind his £30 million ($46.5 million) switch from Arsenal to Barca in August 2011.

But Fabregas, 25, hasn’t had the same impact at Barcelona that he had at Arsenal. He is not an automatic starter, as the presences of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi push him to the substitute’s bench or into unfamiliar positions — particularly in the biggest games. Tito Vilanova replaced Guardiola before the 2012-13 campaign, and Fabregas struggled to adapt to the new head coach’s tactical demands at the start of the season. He gradually worked his way into form, but his first two seasons at Barcelona have made him the subject of criticism from fans and the media.

Fabregas said he wants to stay at Barcelona for the rest of his career in February. Barcelona could have other ideas. The soon-to-be La Liga champion reportedly wants to sign either Mats Hummels or Vincent Kompany, as it looks to strengthen its creaky defense this summer. Both would command over £25 million ($38.7 million) in the transfer market, while Brazilian star Neymar could also join the club this summer for a fee that could exceed £50 million ($75.6 million). Selling a squad player (even one as talented and committed as Fabregas) to facilitate a key signing seems like a reasonable option.

Fabregas remains a devoted Arsenal fan. He reportedly watches his former team play every week. In January, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he could see Fabregas returning in four or five years. The star report accelerates that timetable, but Arsenal will likely look to add a world-class player to its ranks this summer and it should have the funds to do so. Arsenal reportedly has first rights of refusal in the event Barcelona puts Fabregas on the transfer market, which could suit both clubs and the player himself.

The final and most important consideration is Fabregas’ relationship with Semaan and the birth of their infant daughter. If the parents want to raise Lia (and do it together) in England, it only makes sense that Fabregas would consider returning to the Premier League in the near future.

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The 31-year-old Arsenal forward was spotted outside a London nightclub Saturday night engaging in a verbal altercation with one of the club’s enormous bouncers. Arshavin is 5′ 8.”

The confrontation was captured by cell phone camera. It shows Arshavin, dressed to the nines, spewing mean things in his native Russian tongue in a crowd of club-goers who were standing outside the front door.

Though Arshavin has plenty of talent — he was once captain of Russia’s national team – he failed to meet expectations throughout his stint with Arsenal.

When Arsenal signed Arshavin from Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2009, he was the Gunners’ most expensive ever signing , carrying a price tag of £15 million ($22.8 million).

Since 2009, Arsenal has had more than its fair share of talented attackers, leaving the underperforming Arshavin with few chances to regain his once impressive form. This season he’s made just two starts and has only seven appearances total on the campaign.

Fully aware of Arsenal’s plans to dismiss him at year’s end, Arshavin has voiced his willingness to join other teams in England, though this latest mishap probably won’t look good on his resume.

Have a look at a sloppy Arshavin voicing his discontent with someone in the video below (warning: it contains some foul language).

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Thumbnail image via Twitter/@AIS_BJM

Real Madrid has overtaken United to become the world’s most valuable soccer club. American financial magazine Forbes released the newest version of its annual list which ranks the most valuable clubs, and Real tops it for the first time.

“Real Madrid, which posted revenue of $650 million during the 2011-12 season, is worth $3.3 billion [£2.15 billion], more than any team in the world,” Forbes reports. “Los Merengues generated operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and player trading) of $134 million, more than any soccer team and second only to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys ($227 million) among all sports teams.”

United had topped the list every year since rankings began in 2004. Forbes estimates that the Premier League club is $3.17 billion (£2.07 billion).

Third on the list is FC Barcelona, which is worth around $2.6 billion (£1.7 billion). Forbes says the value of the Spanish club doubled in the past year because it was able to turn its on-field success into lucrative new sponsorship deals.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich round out the top five.

The remaining teams in the top ten come from England and Italy. Chelsea (ranked seventh), Manchester City (ninth) and Liverpool FC (10th) represent the Premier League, while AC Milan (sixth) and Juventus (eighth)  lead the way in Italy’s Serie A.

Forbes says the values of top soccer clubs are steadily increasing.

“According to this year’s soccer valuations, the top 20 teams are worth an average of $968 million (£634 million), an increase of 26 percent over last year.”

Real Madrid, United and Barcelona are the three most valuable teams in the world – in any sport. The New York Yankees ($2.3 billion) and Dallas Cowboys ($2.1 billion) trail the three soccer giants on that list.

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On Tuesday, Arsenal will remember the victims by observing a moment of silence at Emirates Stadium in London before its Premier League game with Everton. The tribute to the Boston victims will be held in conjunction with the observation of the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, according to the Mail.

Arsenal and Everton players will wear black armbands during the game, as will the referee and his crew.

Three people were killed and more than 140 injured when two consecutive explosions occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday.

On Monday night, moments of silence were held before sporting events around North America. The practice will continue at venues near and far, as the city and the world come to grips with the tragic events.

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Manchester City has reportedly already spoken to Gotze’s agents about a possible summer transfer, and it is willing pay Borussia Dortmund his £34 million ($52.4 million) buyout fee in order to sign him ahead of next season, according to the Mirror.

Meanwhile, Arsenal has a longstanding interest in the German playmaker. The Gunners could be ready to meet that fee as part of an expected summer spending spree.

“Goetze’s performances against City in the group stages of the [UEFA] Champions League have attracted the attention of sporting director Txiki Begiristain who is understood to have met with the player’s representatives,” the report says.

“[Arsenal manager] Arsene Wenger has been a long-term admirer of player in his search to replace Cesc Fabregas as the creative force in his team.”

Goetze, 20, has cemented his reputation in Germany as a top player who is only going to improve. The attacking midfielder has won two Bundesliga titles and one German Cup since breaking into Dortmund’s first team in 2010. He has also played 21 times for Germany’s national team, scoring four goals.

Dortmund hopes to keep him for the duration of his career, but that might not be possible. City, Arsenal and even Manchester United lead the contingent of English clubs that are thought to be interested in signing him. Leading clubs in Spain and Italy and France are likely monitoring his situation as well. Gotze even told FIFA.com that he wants to test himself in another country at some point in the future.

“I’m keeping my options open,” he said. “Clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are attractive, and playing in another top league would shape me and help me develop as a player. But I’m not thinking that far ahead at the moment. I’m happy in Germany and am delighted with the way things are going. Anything else is still a long way off. “

Gotze’s contract runs until 2016, so there’s little chance any interested club can buy him at a discount before 2014 at the earliest. Gotze himself would have to push for a transfer in order to convince Dortmund to sell him for anything less than his full buyout fee, and he has previously pledged to stay until at least 2014.

An expert sales pitch from Begiristain or Wenger could accelerate that timetable, but it’s more likely that Dortmund’s progress will do more to determine Gotze’s near-term future than anything. This season saw Bayern Munich reign supreme domestically, but Dortmund could win the Champions League. A Champions League winner’s medal just might convince Gotze that now is the time to leave his boyhood club.

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Photo via Facebook/Mario Gotze 

The standout goalkeeper for Real Madrid and the all-conquering Spanish national team has emerged as one of Arsenal’s transfer targets. The Premier League club is considering launching a £17 million ($26 million) transfer bid for Casillas this summer, the Star reports.

“The Spanish No. 1 has been a fixture at the Bernabeu for years but his future is in doubt after spending much of this season injured or dropped,” the report says.

“And he hinted at a possible move in an interview earlier this week, saying: ‘I want the fans to remember me as a player who wore the Real shirt with pride.’”

The idea of Casillas leaving Real Madrid was unthinkable until recently, as the 31-year-old has been Real Madrid’s starting goalkeeper for the better part of the last 13 years. He also serves as captain at his boyhood club — an honor which he has worn with great distinction over the years.

But Casillas has endured a difficult 2012-13 season.  He struggled with form and reportedly clashed with manager Jose Mourinho in the early months of the campaign. Mourinho even benched Casillas in December, marking the first time in over 10 years that the Real Madrid icon was healthy but did not start in goal. After recovering his starting spot, he suffered another setback. A broken hand he suffered in late January kept him out of action for two months and prompted Real Madrid to buy Diego Lopez near the close of that month’s transfer window. Club doctors have cleared Casillas to play again, but he remains on backup duty.

This season will most likely be Mourinho’s last at Real Madrid, and a new manager could conceivably restore Casillas to the status of undisputed starter. But Casillas’ problems at the Bernabeu could also extend beyond clashes with Mourinho. If those troubles are significant enough to make Casillas consider leaving the club, many clubs would jump at the chance to sign the star goalkeeper. His contract expires in 2015, so his transfer value will begin to fall after this summer, as he approaches the final year of his current deal.

Arsenal is thought to be in the market for a new goalkeeper, after starter Wojciech Szczesny struggled for much of the season. The Gunners reportedly want an experienced goalkeeper to challenge and mentor the 22-year-old. Casillas could provide that service, but it’s more likely that his arrival would end of Szczesny’s hopes of manning the Arsenal goal for the next decade.

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Photo via Facebook/Iker Casillas

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has made some costly errors this season, which have cost his club valuable points in the standings. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently benched the 22-year-old stopper, citing “mental fatigue.”

Earlier this week, Szczesny’s father criticized Wenger’s handling of his son. He said Wenger made Szczesny play through pain, then blamed the young goalkeeper for letting down the team, according to TalkSPORT.

“Wenger already started to look for the scapegoat,” Maciej Szczesny told Polish reportedly newspaper Przeglad Sportowy. ”It is not the way the boss should behave.

“Wojciech has had two serious injuries. He played with one in April and May [last year]. He shouldn’t have agreed to play that time, but the coach insisted.

“Wenger was playing with the young man’s good health and Wojciech agreed foolishly. In my opinion, Mr. Wenger messed up a lot in April and May. I don’t blame the young man who went along with his coach, his current lack of form is a result of those two months.

“Then in August there was a foot [ankle] injury after which he played almost instantly. After seven weeks out Wojciech trained for just seven days and played the match. How on earth can he be on his highest form?

“This last period has not been successful for Wojciech, the fact that Arsene Wenger did not take him to Munich shows something,”

Predictably, the elder Szczesny’s comments didn’t go over well in North London. Wojciech Szczesny told the Arsenal website that his father’s words were both unacceptable and disrespectful.

“I would like to apologize for the comments made by my father which have been used by both Polish and English media,” the younger Szczesny said. ”I’d like to make it clear that those were the views and opinions of my father and not mine, and although I respect his views I cannot accept them as I find them disrespectful to the club I truly love.

“I have been at Arsenal Football Club for seven years now and I have always shown my full respect to the club, Arsene Wenger, all the coaching staff, my team-mates and the fans.

Szczesny’s loss of form has sparked widespread speculation that Wenger is looking to replace the Polish goalkeeper in the summer.

The Szczesnys may disagree about Wenger’s role in Wojciech’s troubles, but both of them think his long-term future lies at Arsenal.

“I’ve always felt that I received great support from the manager and the fans and I am fully focused on getting back to my best,” Wojciech Szczesny said. ”I am proud to be a part of Arsenal and I see my future at this great club.”

The elder Szczesny concurred at the end of his attack on Wenger.

“However, I think my son can be the number one [Arsenal] keeper over 10 years, he just needs to come back to form and then a situation where we can stop to wonder who will stand between the posts.”

There’s a longstanding sports rule that says mothers must never run onto the field when their sons get hurt or injured. Maybe it’s time to amend it to include a prohibition on fathers blaming the coach for the athletic struggles of their kids. It’s good fun for fans and journalists, but it must make summer vacation a little awkward for the Szczesnys.

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Shepherd is only four years old, but his soccer skills have at least three Premier League teams vying for his services. West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea are helping to develop the talent of the kid locals are calling “Mini [Lionel] Messi.” The Premier League trio hope that he might join one of their youth academies on a full-time basis, according to the Mail.

Shepherd is from Grays, England (20 miles east of London), but reports of his exploits have already hit the capital city. He practices twice each week with West Ham’s U-6 academy team, once a week with Arsenal and spent part of last summer with Chelsea’s Summer School.

His father, Pat Shepherd, says young Archie eats, sleeps and breathes the game.

“He has played club football since he was three but even when he was a baby he didn’t want toys, he just wanted a football,” the elder Shepherd said. “He doesn’t stop playing and he doesn’t care if kids are bigger than him — he shows no fear.

“There are a lot of clubs monitoring him and just waiting for him to get a bit older really. He is a normal height for a four-year-old but his natural skills and footwork are way above average for his age.

“He is just football obsessed – I don’t know where he gets it from.”

There is no way to tell how far Shepherd will go in the game. For now, he’ll join Charlie Jackson and other prodigies who we allow to just be kids and enjoy the game for what it is — a game.

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Photo via Twitter/shannonmctague

The television journalist and famous Arsenal fan wants Arsene Wenger to immediately step down as Arsenal manager in order to salvage something from the 2012-13 season.

Morgan told BBC Radio 5 Live that the club is headed in the wrong direction and he called on fans to help pressure Wenger into leaving.

“Arsene Wenger was for eight years the greatest manager that Arsenal’s had,” Morgan said. “He brought an unbelievable array of trophies, he played magnificent football. But for the last eight years he’s won nothing, and the club is going backwards.

“I’m afraid that the Arsenal fans, who persist in looking at Wenger through these old rose-tinted spectacles as if somehow he’s the manager of eight years ago, are living in cloud cuckoo land.”

Arsenal currently sits fifth in the Premier League, trailing leader Manchester United by 21 points with 12 games remaining. Winning the league is a near impossibility, and the Gunners have been knocked out of both the FA Cup and League Cup. Barring a miracle comeback against Bayern Munich, Arsenal will exit the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16, which will make for an eighth consecutive trophy-less season.

Like most Arsenal fans, Morgan’s most pressing concern is where the Gunners will finish in the Premier League. They currently trail fourth-place Tottenham by four points and third-place Chelsea by five. Yet, Morgan believes Arsenal will finish outside of the top four and miss out on next season’s Champions League — something he thinks would have grave implications for the club’s future.

“My opinion is Arsene Wenger should resign, and he should do it now so that we have a chance at reinvigorating the team and we could come fourth and qualify for the Champions League,” he continued. “Because if we don’t, then we are not going to be able to sign any top-class players over the summer, it is as simple as that.

“This is the reality moment for Arsenal fans. Do they have confidence that Arsene Wenger is going to get us that last Champions League place with this team playing the way they are, or do they share my view that he’s run his course?”

Wenger has managed Arsenal since 1996, making him the longest-serving manager in the club’s 127-year history. He’s thought of as an omnipotent figure at the club who will only leave when he decides that it’s time to do so.  He reportedly has the full backing of the club’s board of directors, so Morgan concluded his with a plea for Arsenal fans to rise up and demand a change.

“So we’re in a situation which has to have dramatic change. We have a number of options in terms of potential managers or ownership, but it will have to be driven by Arsenal fans, and I appeal to them: Stop looking at Wenger through these romantic nostalgic glasses.”

The host of CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight is a frustrated fan who has reached a tipping point. It’s clear that there are deep divisions within the club’s fan base over Wenger, but it remains to be seen how many will heed Morgan’s rallying cry and join the anti-Wenger brigade.

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Photo via Facebook/Piers Morgan Tonight

City players have given Vieira their unanimous backing  in the race to succeed Mancini — should he be fired after the season, The Star reports.

“Mancini refused to speak to his flops and didn’t even go into the dressing room in the wake of the champions’ 3-1 loss that ruined their title hopes,” the report says. ”The fuming Italian left the post-match inquest to his coaching staff, but Starsport can reveal fed-up Blues stars have lost faith in Mancini and want Vieira to replace him.

“Blues stars have made him their ‘unanimous choice’ to take over on an interim basis should the club’s Abu Dhabi owners decide to make a change.”

Vieira, 36, is a popular and respected figure in the City camp. He currently serves as City’s football development executive, but he is taking steps to secure his coaching qualifications. He has already completed his UEFA ‘B’ licence and is in the process of earning ‘A’ and ‘Pro’ licences, which would allow him to manage a top-flight team for longer than 12 weeks. The former midfield general reportedly thinks his long-term future lies closer to the sidelines than the boardroom.

Vieira’s playing career was filled with success. He won one FIFA World Cup, one UEFA European Championship and one FIFA Confederations Cup with France. His club career included three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal. He left the English game for Italy, where he won Serie A titles with Juventus (one) and Inter Milan (four). He also won a Serie A title with AC Milan and one FA Cup title with City at the start and end of his career.

He retired after the 2010-11 season and went straight into his current role with City. But he may not remain in Manchester. Arsenal is considering offering him the position of head of youth development in an effort to bring him back to North London.

Vieira’s next step is intertwined with Mancini’s future. Should the club decide to part ways with Mancini, the support of City players could propel Vieria to the hot seat. If the club decides Mancini should continue in his current role, Vieria could seek opportunity at a new club.

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Photo via Twitter/OfficialVieira

Manchester City and PSG want to sign the Napoli striker in the summer transfer window, and both clubs are willing to spend at least £40 Million ($62.9 million) to do so, according to The Star.

“The French club [PSG] signed [David] Beckham, 37, on deadline day last Thursday and their next planned transfer coup is to land Napoli star Cavani,” the report says.

“But the Uruguay ace, 25, is also City’s top target for the summer.

“So it’s shaping up to be a battle of the Middle East money men — Abu Dhabi-owned City versus PSG, bankrolled from Qatar.”

Cavani’s goals have seen him become one of Italian soccer’s leading lights. They’ve also made him one of the most expensive and in-demand strikers in the world. City and PSG hope to sign the Uruguayan marksman and boost their chances of conquering Europe and their respective domestic leagues.

Last August, Cavani signed a five-year contract extension tying him to Napoli until 2017. The deal reportedly contains a £54 million ($85 million) release clause, and the Italian club could be willing to sell its prized asset for around £40 million. PSG and City are thought to be in pole position in the Cavani race, while Arsenal and Chelsea are rumored to be interested in him as well.

Although the January transfer window closed Thursday, it didn’t end the speculation surrounding some of the game’s top players. Instead, it refocused it ahead of the summer transfer window, which opens on July 1. Cavani could very well be on the move in the next window, but it’s not yet clear where he will land. Wherever he ends up, his transfer will likely be one of the most lucrative and high-profile moves of 2013.

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Photo via Facebook/Edinson Cavani

7:30 p.m.: Well it looks like there are no more deals in the pipeline, so we’ll leave it at that. Balotelli, Beckham, Samba, Graham and Monreal look to be the big signings of the day.

Check back with us early next week, as we’ll have analysis and opinion on some of the January transfer window moves, it’s winners and its losers.

6:45 p.m.: Earlier this week, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says showing restraint in the January transfer window fills players already at the club with confidence and belief.

A few days later, he went shopping for a new left back and landed a good one. Spanish international Nacho Monreal is on his way to the Premier League from Malaga. The 26-year-old will likely go straight into the Arsenal lineup, as regular starter Kieran Gibbs will miss three weeks with a thigh injury, and backup Andre Santos has shown himself to be a defensive liability in recent weeks.

6:15 p.m.: Highly rated goalkeeper Jack Butland has left Birmingham City for Stoke City in a £3.5 million ($5.5 million), but he’ll still play for Birmingham. Here’s how: Stoke will loan the 19-year-old stopper back to his former club where he will stay for the rest of the season.

Butland will then join the Potters in the summer. The real question is whether incumbant No. 1 Asmir Begovic will be there too. There are rumors that both Manchester United and City are looking to sign him in the offseason.

6:10 p.m.: Jermaine Jenas is heading to QPR from Tottenham to help old boss Harry Redknapp’s fight against relegation.

The 29-year-old couldn’t break into Tottenham’s team this season, so he spent a bit of time on loan at Nottingham Forest. It’s likely that Redknapp will give him every chance to cement a regular place in the QPR midfield.

6:05 p.m.: Everton has signed right fullback John Stones from Barnsley for an undisclosed transfer fee.

Stones, 18, was the rock in defense for the Championship club. The highly rated rookie will make the jump to the Premier League during his formative years.

5:30 p.m.: The deadline is fast approaching, so we should have news about late deals soon.

Meanwhile, Barcelona allowed one of its attacking players to leave. No, it’s not Villa. It’s young forward Isaac Cuenca, who will join Ajax on loan for the rest of the season. He’s only recently recovered from a serious knee injury, and he’s more likely to get regular games at the Dutch club than with a potentially all-conquering Barcelona team.

3:30 p.m.: Peter Odemwingie’s might get himself in trouble (if he hasn’t already). The West Brom striker has made it clear he wants to join QPR before the deadline, but the club doesn’t want to sell him.

Nevertheless, Odemwingie drove himself to QPR’s stadium and gave an interview with Sky Sports where he says how excited he is to start a “new chapter.” Watch it below.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports reports West Brom issued a statement saying Odemwingie has not received permission to speak to QPR, as the clubs have not agreed on a transfer fee.

“Albion have moved to clarify developments regarding Peter Odemwingie after the striker was filmed a short while ago arriving at Loftus Road.

“The club can confirm they have held further discussions with QPR today but those talks have so far proven fruitless and no agreement has been reached.

“Albion would also like to make clear that Peter has not been given permission to speak to QPR about a potential move.”

This saga is getting very strange, indeed.

3:10 p.m.: Fulham is going Dutch again … sort of. The Cottagers have landed defender Stanislav Manolev on loan from PSV Eindhoven. The Bulgarian international will grace Premier League fields for the rest of the season.

2 p.m.: Argentine champion Velez Sarsfield has signed Fernando Gago on loan from Valencia. The holding midfielder will play in his home country through June.

Gago, 26, has played for Boca Juniors, Real Madrid, AS Roma, Valencia and Argentina during his career. That pedigree will serve him well as Velez looks to win Argentine and Copa Libertadores titles in the coming months.

2 p.m.: Mohamed Sissoko for the Africa Cup of Nations as a PSG player. When he returns to club duty, he will do so as a Fiorentina player.

The Malian midfielder has joined the high-flying Italian club on loan until the end of the season. Fiorentina will have the option to buy the former Liverpool man in the summer.

1:40 p.m.: Major League Soccer is exporting talent on deadline day.

Sky Sports reports Brek Shea has been granted a work permit, clearing the way for him to sign with Stoke City. The 23-year-old reportedly cost around  £2.5 million ($4 million), which represents a good bit of business for both FC Dallas and Major League Soccer.

Also, Andy Najar has joined Anderlecht. The Belgian club paid D.C. United and MLS around $3 million, according to the Washington Post. Najar came through the D.C. United youth system and won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award in 2010.

Shea and Najar were groomed in the U.S. soccer system, became internationals with the U.S. and Honduras, respectively, and have now fetched multi-million dollar transfer fees.

12:30 p.m.: There’s been a lull in the transfer news for the last few hours. Our only guess is that this is when those last-minute deals are being hashed out. Expect a flurry of activity in the hours to come because … that’s how it always is.

We do have some more news on Beckham’s move to PSG. He is playing with the capital club for less than six months, but he hopes to be associated with it on a long-term basis.

He also told assembled journalists that PSG won’t pay him. Instead, he will donate his salary to charity, according to the BBC.

“One of the reasons I wanted to come to Paris was we decided on something quite unique,” Beckham said. “I won’t receive any salary. My salary will go to a local children’s charity. That’s one of the things we’re excited and proud to do. It’s something exciting and I’m not sure it’s been done before.”

9:15 a.m.: Danny Graham has completed a £5 million ($7.9 million) transfer to Sunderland from Swansea City. The striker lost his place in the Swansea lineup, so he’s moving on.

Graham arrives at Sunderland with some baggage. He was a boyhood fan of Newcastle — Sunderland’s bitter local rival — and fans of his new team reminded him of that on Tuesday. They booed him during Sunderland’s scoreless draw against Swansea. Maybe Graham will call Rafa Benitez for coping tips.

9 a.m.: Norwich City has been searching for a striker for some time now. It seems the Canaries got a man, Luciano Becchio from Leeds. The Argentine has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, but it remains to be seen how he’ll fare in the Premier League spotlight.

Norwich got a man but not its man. That would be Celtic striker Gary Hooper. The Scottish club has turned down two bids from Norwich for the Englishman.

Steve Morison is headed to Leeds as part of the deal. He’s been a regular substitute at Norwich, but he should be a starter at Leeds.

8 a.m.: Fulham will have the services of midfielder Urby Emanuelson  for the rest of the season. The Dutchman joined the Cottagers on loan from AC Milan.

Emanuelson fell out of favor at the Italian club in recent months, and he’ll be hoping to benefit from a change of scenery. He’s familiar with Fulham manager Martin Jol, who coached him at Ajax in 2009-10.

7:55 a.m.: Last  February, Christopher Samba bolted from the sinking ship that was Blackburn Rovers for Russia’s Anzhi Makhachkala. Well the towering defender is back in England for another relegation fight.

He’s finalizing a £12.5 million ($19.8 million) move to Queens Park Rangers (QPR), where he’ll join Harry Redknapp’s band of brothers in what should be a wild next few months.

His presence should shore up a defense which lost Anton Ferdinand and Ryan Nelsen in recent days.

7:40 a.m.: David Beckham looks like he’s on his way to Paris Saint-Germain. The former L.A. Galaxy star and England captain has been without a club since leaving Los Angeles at the end of 2012.

He’s been training with Arsenal in recent days, but his future lies in France, according to the BBC. He’s reportedly in Paris finalizing a free transfer.

Beckham flirted with PSG following the 2011 MLS season, but he chose to play one more season with the Galaxy before heading back to Europe. He’ll join a team which is competing for domestic and European glory this season and beyond.

7:30 a.m.: One move we knew about for the last couple of days is official. Mario Balotelli is an AC Milan player, having completed a £19 million ($30 million) transfer from Manchester City.

The Italian international returns to his homeland to play for his boyhood club. He scored 30 goals in 80 games for City, but his two-and-a-half years at the club were full of antics — both on and off the field.

6 a.m. ET: David Villa has lit up Spanish and international soccer with goals for the better part of the last decade. “El Guaje” (“The Kid”) could be taking his talents to the Premier League.

Villa has let it be known that he wants to leave FC Barcelona. The club says it will keep him until the end of the season, but that won’t stop the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City from launching deadline-day transfer bids. In normal times, Villa would cost around £15 million ($23.7 million), but suitors are hoping to land him for around half of that fee during silly season.

Villa, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, is just one of the high-profile players that could switch teams Thursday. The transfer window closes, leaving clubs in Europe’s biggest leagues just a few more hours to buy or sell players in an effort to boost their fortunes this season.

We’ll be following all the transfer action right here.

Join us at 7 a.m. for all the deadline-day deals as they happen.

Past transfer rumors: Jan. 21 >> |Jan. 16 >> | Jan. 15 >> | Jan. 14 >> | Jan. 10 >> | Jan. 9 >>

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

David Villa

During the friendly meeting, Villa suggested the possibility of him leaving the club in the coming weeks after the interest shown by many clubs, especially from the English Premier League. Sport said that “El Guaje” told Vilanova that he is going through a difficult time due to the fact he is continuously out the starting lineup. He’s been emotionally affected for not enjoying more playing time and thinks his contribution to the team could be bigger.

Villa has scored 10 goals in 22 games with Barcelona in all competitions this season, but he has come from the bench in 11 games and played a total of 956 minutes.

For more sports news, visit Terra.com.

4:40 p.m.: That’s all for Jan. 21. We’ll pick up the roundup later this week, so make sure to check NESN.com for the latest transfer news and rumors.

4:30 p.m.: Arsenal could be looking north and south in an effort to strengthen its midfield in January. The Gunners are eyeing Yoann Gourcuff and Victor Wanyama as potential signings, according to the Mail.

Gourcuff could move to North London on loan from French club Lyon. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admired Gourcuff for years, and Lyon wants his hefty salary off its book. It could work for player and both clubs.

Wanyama has excelled in Scotland for Celtic, earning plaudits for his intelligence and tough tackling. He could cost as much as £25 million ($39.6 million) — a fee Arsenal would probably be unwilling to meet in January.

12:30 p.m.: David Villa, Spain’s record goal scorer, has asked to leave Barcelona this month, according to the Independent.

Arsenal was thought to be preparing a £16 million ($25.4 million) transfer fee for the 31-year-old striker earlier this month. Barcelona was adamant that Villa was staying, but this news could alter the landscape.

Villa broke his leg in late 2011, and although he recovered after eight months, his role has been reduced to that of a squad player.

Barcelona wants to keep him until the end of the season and sell him for as little as £12 million ($19 million) in the summer. Arsenal hopes to get him in January for a fee in that region after he made it clear he’s ready for a new challenge.

The Gunners are in danger of missing out on next season’s UEFA Champions League, and manager Arsene Wenger thinks Villa could power them up the standings.

12:15 p.m.: West Brom will not allow Peter Odemwingie to leave in January. The Baggies turned down QPR’s £2 million ($3.2 million) bid for the 31-year-old striker last week, and they are determined to hold onto him.

West Brom manager Steve Clarke said Odemwingie hasn’t lost focus amid all the transfer speculation, according to the Birmingham Mail.

“I’ve spoken to Peter, I had a good chat with him and all he wanted to talk about was this game,” Clarke said. “He wanted to put on a good performance and I think you saw he was motivated to play.

“There was interest from QPR — Harry [Redknapp] told everybody! It doesn’t unsettle good professionals though. They understand that when it gets to January, it’s silly season. Clubs come in, teams are linked with everyone.”

11:55 a.m.: Martin O’Neil has been one of the busiest Premier League managers in this current transfer window. The Sunderland manager is set to clinch the signing of Mauro Zarate on loan from Lazio, talkSPORT reports.

The loan will include an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for £6.7 million ($10.6 million). Lazio hopes Zarate will stick at Sunderland, as he has reportedly fallen out of favor with head coach Vladimir Petkovic.

Zarate is no stranger to English soccer. The Argentine striker played 13 games for Birmingham City during a 2008 loan spell.

The 25-year-old has been linked with Arsenal, Stoke City, Fenerbache (Turkey) and Spartak Moscow in recent months.

11:40 a.m.: Manchester United striker Federico Macheda is wanted by German club Stuttgart and Spain’s Elche. The two clubs are interested in a loan deal for the talented Italian.

The 21-year-old is stuck behind United’s world-class quartet of strikers. He could be set for yet another loan spell or leave the club on a permanent transfer.

10:45 a.m.: Gary Hooper has been a big hit ever since he moved to Celtic FC in 2010. Norwich City now wants to repatriate him from Scotland and has put up money to do so.

The Daily Record reports Celtic has already rejected a £5 million ($8 million) offer for the star striker. Norwich intends to come back with a  £7 million ($11.1 million) bid, which could be enough to pry him away from the Scottish champion.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon is expecting a tense end to the January transfer window, as he looks to keep hold of his best players.

10:30 a.m.: Remember Flourent Malouda? The veteran Chelsea winger, last seen in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, has been banished to practicing with the Blues’ Academy team all season.

QPR wants to bring the French winger to the other side of West London, but his salary demands could hinder that effort, the Mail reports.

Chelsea didn’t register the 32-year-old to compete in the Premier League, nor has he appeared in Champions League game. His hefty contract expires this summer, so he’ll certainly be gone by the start of next season. It remains to be seen whether he’ll escape Chelsea in time to help (or hinder) another team’s fortunes this season.

10 a.m.: Yann M’Vila is the subject of a new-age transfer tug-of-war. The French midfielder wants to move to the Premier League, and QPR is just one of the English teams pursuing him. The problem is that his club, Rennes, has received the biggest offer from Russian club Rubin Kazan.

Citing a story in French newspaper L’Equipe, ESPN reports Rubin bid £9.6 ($15.3 million). That offer trumps QPR’s bid, and Rennes gladly accepted it.

“A four-year contract worth an initial €4 million after tax with hefty pay increases written in has convinced M’Vila his future lies in Russia,” the report adds.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp hoped to add M’Vila to his club’s relegation fight, but it appears that financial considerations will prompt the 22-year-old to head to Russia to get his career on track.

7:30 a.m.: Newcastle has some good news to ease its recent transfer pain. French defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will have a physical exam on Monday, as he looks to seal a £6.7 million ($10.6 million) transfer from Montpellier.

The 23-year-old is reportedly an Arsenal target, but it looks like he’s headed to Newcastle, the BBC reports.

Newcastle sold Demba Ba to Chelsea as the January transfer window opened. It had to watch in horror as QPR hijacked its move for Loic Remy, who was tipped to replace Ba. Captain Fabricio Coloccini could be headed back to Argentina after telling the club he wants to leave for personal reasons.

Capturing Yanga-Mbiwa will help soften those blows, but it may not save Newcastle from relegation.

7:15 a.m.: The L.A. Galaxy have offered Frank Lampard a contract worth £4 million ($6.4 million) a year, but the Chelsea star is waiting to accept or decline it.

Lampard, who will become a free agent at the end of the season, wants to see what offers come from Premier League or European clubs before making a decision, according to the Express.

“Frank is free to speak with other clubs. He is aware of strong interest from LA Galaxy and has expressed a desire to move to the United States,” the report says. ”But he still believes he can do a job for someone in the Premier League and wants to take his time and see if any other offers come up.

“This is a big decision for Frank. It is probably the last move he will ever make in his playing career and he wants to make sure that it is the right one for him and his family.”

It was reported over the weekend that the 34-year-old midfielder had already signed with L.A., but that’s not the case. Monaco, AC Milan and Manchester United have reportedly expressed an interest in signing the England international. Lampard will consider those options before choosing or declining to sign with the Galaxy.

6 a.m. ET: Those “Mario Balotelli to AC Milan” rumors gathered steam over the weekend. Milan is talking, Balotelli is acting, and it looks like he might make that dream move before the January transfer window closes.

Last week, Manchester City reportedly put a £31 million ($49.2 million) price tag on the Italian striker. Milan balked at that figure, saying it wouldn’t talk about a deal until that price dropped.

Well it did, according to Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport. City is now asking for around £23.5 million ($37.3 million). The same report says the defending Premier League champion will allow Milan to spread the payments over six installments to ease the financial burden during this age of austerity.

On Sunday, Football Italia reported that Milan vice president (and transfer supremo) Adriano Galliani said his club will “jump for Balotelli” if the price is right.

“It depends on them,” Galliani said. “I am waiting, they are there and if the price drops then we will jump for Balotelli. Otherwise, we will stay in Milan. They are his legitimate employers, so we wait, observe and see what happens.

“How much does it have to drop? We don’t know. Paying in installments is an option, but you still have to pay.”

The Daily Star adds momentum to this transfer rumor. The British tabloid reports Balotelli has not only purchased an apartment in Brescia, Italy (one hour away from Milan), but he also has started shipping some of his personal items back to Italy. That is not all.

“Now it is understood Balotelli, 22, has given notice on his Cheshire home where he has never settled since his £22 million switch from Inter in 2010,” the report adds.

“Milan are interested in rescuing the fiery star’s career but they will not pay more than £15 million ($23.8 million).”

Now we wouldn’t put it past Balotelli to jump the gun and start moving out of Manchester before its prudent to do so. But there are too many factors to suggest this is a rumor which lacks substance.

The two clubs are roughly £8.5 million ($13.5 million) apart on their respective valuations. It’s possible that they’ll bridge that gap with a combination of performance clauses, sell-on fees, player exchanges or forming a Tottenham-Real Madrid-style partnership. It’s more likely that a game of high-stakes brinkmanship has begun, and each club is waiting for time (and fan) pressure to make the other blink. Either way, it’s looking like Balotelli’s days in English soccer are numbered.

Past transfer rumors: Jan. 16 >> |  Jan. 15 >> | Jan. 14 >> |  Jan. 10 >> | Jan. 9 >>

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Check here throughout the day, as we’ll be following the moving targets that are January’s transfer rumors.

7 p.m.: The Guardiola appointment took up most of the afternoon, so we’ll finish the day with a David Beckham update.

Sky Sports reports AC Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani has no interest in bringing the former England captain to the Italian club for a third time.

“Speaking to Gazzetta.it, Galliani said he was ’99.9 percent’ sure the move would not happen,” the report says.

Beckham spent loan spells at Milan in 2009 and 2010, but a lot has changed at the storied Italian club since then. Austerity, not celebrity rules the day — not only in Milan but throughout Serie A.

That’s all for Jan. 16. We’ll pick up the roundup on Jan. 17, so make sure to check NESN.com for the latest transfer news and rumors.

12:25 p.m.: Guardiola’s appointment is official. Bayern said it has added an “expert” who will help the club find success in the coming years.

We’re working on some analysis that we’ll link to in this space.

In short, it’s a good move for him. Guardiola’s Barca experience showed that he can succeed at a club with a rich tradition, strong squad and money to spend.

If he plays internal politics properly, he shouldn’t have any problem keeping Bayern in contention for Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League titles in the coming years.

11 a.m.: Hours after telling everyone how much he wants to manage an English club, Guardiola is going to Bayern Munich.

The German club announced that Guardiola will take charge at the start of next season. He signed a contract which expires in 2016.

He’ll replace Jupp Heynckes, who will step down at the end of the season.

10:50 a.m.:  Peter Odemwingie is in Harry Redknapp’s sights. The West Brom striker is a QPR target, but his current club has no interest in selling him.

QPR made an offer that West Brom turned down. Odemwingie thinks it was good enough, and he’s ready to request a transfer to force a move, according to Sky Sports.

“If nothing else materializes then it is understood that, as a ‘last resort,’ Odemwingie is prepared to hand in a formal transfer request to try and push through a move to Loftus Road,” the report says.

The 31-year-old has four league goals to his credit this season. He would join Redknapp and Loic Remy at QPR, as the West London club fights relegation.

10:30 a.m.: Montpellier would like to sell Younes Belhanda in January, but the French club hasn’t received an offer from interested clubs such as Tottenham or Arsenal.

Turkey’s Fenerbache made a bid for the Moroccan playmaker, but Montpellier chairman Louis Nicollin didn’t think much of the offer, according to Sky Sports.

“Tottenham’s interest? There has been nothing official as yet, but I would like there to be,” Nicollin reportedly told L’Equipe. ”If a good offer arrives, he will leave. We can live without him and he can live without us.

“Nothing has evolved,” he said about talks with Fenerbahce. “They wanted to pay us in three installments. They can keep their money.”

The French club has had trouble repeating last season’s feats, and it is ready to cash in on Belhanda to fund a rebuilding project.

10 a.m.: Loic Remy’s transfer from Olympique Marseille to QPR is complete. The Premier League club announced the signing Wednesday, the Telegraph reports.

The 26-year-old reportedly cost a club-record £8 million ($12.8 million). He signed a four-and-a-half year deal which pays him around  £75,000 a week.

“He’s always been a player I’ve admired,” QPR manager Harry Redknapp said. “I’ve watched him on so many occasions throughout the last few years. I actually spent three or four hours with him last year so he knew what I thought of him, and I think that was important.

“He’s quick, can score goals and makes great runs. His movement is excellent. He’s got the potential to be a really outstanding striker.”

Last week, it looked like Remy would join Newcastle, but QPR swooped in and hijacked the deal. The developments heap more misery on Newcastle, as Remy was tipped to replace Demba Ba in the Magpies’ attack. The speedy French forward will now be central to QPR’s fight against relegation.

9:35 a.m.: Joey Barton is making a good impression in France. The on-loan Queens Park Rangers (QPR) midfielder has earned the admiration of new colleagues with his professionalism. Sky Sports reports Olympique Marseille is hoping to extend his loan, which runs through the end of this season.

“We haven’t started the discussions yet with QPR but he’s a likeable lad and we want to keep him, although we have no guarantees,” Marseille’s sporting director Jose Anigo said. ”We have very good relations with QPR and extending the loan could be in the cards.

“He likes it in Marseille, he loves this city, which breathes football. He has a good attitude. He’s a good professional in his work and in his day-to-day commitment. A lot of French players should take their example from him.”

Barton left England in shame after he melted down and tried to spark a brawl during the final game of the 2011-12 season. The FA hit him with a 12-game ban, which France’s Football Association (FFA) enforced. Barton went right into Marseille’s starting lineup once he became eligible, taking up a place in the central midfield.

8:30 a.m. ET: Pep Guardiola is in the process of choosing his next job, and all signs point to Manchester City. The former Barcelona manager expressed his desire to lead an English club Wednesday. He said English soccer presents a unique challenge he hopes to face during his managerial career, according to the BBC.

“As a player I couldn’t realize my dream to play there [in England],” he said. “But I hope in the future, I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there.

“It is unique, to play in that league. I want to feel the supporters, the environment, the media and the style of the players and everything. I am still young, just 41, so I hope in the future I could be able to train there and enjoy that.”

Guardiola is halfway through a one-year sabbatical he took after leaving Barcelona at the end of the last season. He is living in New York City with his family, but he and his agents have been in contact with some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Chelsea, AS Roma, AC Milan and Bayern Munich are interested in landing the most in-demand manager in the world, but City may have the inside track. In recent months, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano have joined City from Barcelona as director of football and chief executive respectively. They were directors at Barcelona when Guardiola was installed as manager, working closely with him to achieve great success.

Current City manager Roberto Mancini is in a tight spot. His club crashed out of the UEFA Champions League and now trails Manchester United by seven points in the Premier League. If City fails to retain its Premier League title, Mancini could pay for it with his job, paving the way for Guardiola to step into the breach.

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 15 >>

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 14 >>

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 10 >>

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 9 >>

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

5:30 p.m.: Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha is one of the Championship’s (England’s second division) hottest properties, but Manchester United isn’t treating him like one in the transfer market.

The Mail reports United will lodge a low-ball transfer bid of £6 million ($9.7 million) within the next 48 hours.

Palace originally wanted around £20 million ($32.2 million) for its prized asset, but it is thought that the club would accept a package totaling £12 million ($19.3 million).

If Zaha is sold in January, he’ll most likely be loaned back to Palace for the rest of the season. The club is hoping to secure promotion to the Premier League.

5: 15 p.m.: Shaktar Donetsk could be ready to sell Brazilian attacker Willian to Chelsea or Tottenham this month. The London Evening Standard reports the playmaker is available for around £20 million ($32.2 million).

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas likes Willian and considered buying him last year during his ill-fated tenure at Chelsea.

Shaktar signed Taison from Metalist Kharkhiv last week, so it may be willing to part ways with Willian ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund.

4 p.m.: Ajax star Christian Eriksen is not considering a January transfer, but won’t rule one out either. Eriksen’s agent acknowledges that the player is drawing interest, but he says the Danish midfielder is focused on the task of playing for Ajax, Sky Sports reports.

“For the last couple of weeks, and also because of the holidays, the press have kept their distance, which is something [Eriksen] does not regret.

“I’m not saying that this means no-one is interested as it would be strange for a player who has been followed by the biggest clubs in football since he was 14 years old to not be on their radar anymore.

“Christian just wants to concentrate on his football, but you never know what might happen in football.”

3:30 p.m.: Martin O’Neil is not done shopping, despite adding Kader Mangane and Alfred N’Diaye to Sunderland’s squad in recent days.

Sky Sports reports the Sunderland manager is hoping a couple more new faces will help his club steer clear of relegation, according to Sky Sports.

“On February 1, whatever you’ve got left, that’s it and we’re still short here on players,” he said. “Every side has had their injuries this season so we want to make some provisions for those things happening to us. They will be inevitable over the next few months.”

Sunderland doesn’t have much money to spend, so the players it adds will not be high-profile ones. That doesn’t mean they won’t end up making a name for themselves in English soccer under O’Neil.

11:20 a.m.: Robbie Keane is training with Tottenham, but that’s the extent of the L.A. Galaxy striker’s involvement with his former club, according to Sky Sports.

Keane said he wants to let lingering injuries heal ahead of the 2013 MLS season.

“It’s been a long season, with the Euros and what have you,” he said. “I’ve a few little niggles that need to be sorted out so I don’t think at this moment in time it would be right for me to go anywhere.”

Keane excelled during a loan stint with Aston Villa last season. With no major international tournament to prepare for, Keane thought it best to use a full and lengthy offseason to recover rather than play competitive games at a high level.

10:30 a.m.: Lucas Piazon, Chelsea’s 18-year-old Brazilian forward, is heading to Malaga on loan for the rest of the season.

The talented attacker will spend some time in La Liga, developing under the watchful eye of Malaga head coach Manuel Pelligrini.

Piazon joined Chelsea last January, but he’s only appeared in three games for the Blues’ first team.

10 a.m.: Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has seemingly bolted the door as far as striker David Villa is concerned.

Rosell said that the Arsenal target will not leave the club in January, Sky Sports reports.

“Villa will not leave,” said Rosell. “But coming back from a serious injury to play in this team is not easy.”

Rosell reinforces what Barca head coach Tito Vilanova said last weekend: Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer is not for sale, regardless of what club is willing to pay £16 million ($25.7 million) for him in January.

9 a.m.: David De Gea has been quietly silencing critics with his improved performances in goal for Manchester United. The 22-year-old is earning the trust of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and catching the attention of FC Barcelona.

The Daily Star reports Barcelona wants to sign De Gea after contract talks with current No. 1 Victor Valdes broke down recently.

There are whispers that De Gea is homesick in Manchester and wants to return to his native Spain. This could give him the chance to do so without going to Real Madrid, which would enrage his boyhood club Atletico Madrid.

De Gea himself denies the rumors of homesickness. He joined United in 2011 for £17 million ($27.4 million).

8:30 a.m.: Loic Remy sensationally turned down Newcastle on Monday, choosing to head south to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) instead.

The French striker looks set to join QPR’s relegation fight. Joey Barton, his Olympique Marseille teammate (who is also a QPR player) confirmed the move on Twitter.

Looks like I was right 2nd time about Remy going to QPR. Good signing. Good player Loic. And good lad as well. Wish him luck there…

— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) January 15, 2013

8: 15 a.m.: Kader Mangane will join Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season.

The Senegalese center back was playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Hilal, but he is more famous for the 10 years he spent in Switzerland and France.

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neil thinks Mangane will compete with Carlos Cuellar and John O’Shea for playing time in the center of the Sunderland defense.

8 a.m.: AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has apologized for calling Balotelli a “rotten apple” last week, according to FIFA.com.

“What I said was based on the fact that I feel positive people are useful in the changing room,” Berlusconi said. “I was not referring to Balotelli and I apologize if it is was taken as a slur against him.

Berlusconi, the former (and possibly future) prime minister of Italy, has pulled a classic “flip-flop” when it comes to Balotelli. But that doesn’t mean a transfer is imminent.

“Could he still come to Milan? No one from my club has held any talks with him, and neither [vice-president Adriano] Galliani or I has identified him as a transfer target,” he added.

6 a.m. ET: Rumor has it Manchester City is desperate to sell Mario Balotelli. AC Milan is Balotelli’s most likely destination, but the Italian club doesn’t want Balotelli as much as City wants to get rid of its misfit striker … for now at least.

On Jan. 14, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said  Milan would not be signing any strikers in the winter transfer window. There are already five senior strikers at the Italian club, and Milan doesn’t need another one, according to the official story.

Unofficially, Milan was hoping to sell Pato and Robinho in January to raise funds for a marquee signing. Balotelli would certainly meet that billing, but Pato departed while Robinho couldn’t seal a move to Brazil’s Santos.

Despite turning professional at Inter Milan, Balotelli was a boyhood Milan fan. Those same fans have watched star after star leave the club as Milan tightens its financial belt. Balotelli (of all people) could be the perfect tonic, but they’ll have to wait until the summer for the prodigal son to return.

Roberto Mancini, Balotelli’s biggest supporter at City, might be gone before the start of next season. Don’t expect Balotelli to remain at the club for too long if it happens.

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 14>>

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 10>>

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 9>>

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Check here throughout the day, as we’ll be following the moving targets that are January’s transfer rumors.

6:30 p.m.: That’s all for Jan. 14. We’ll continue our roundup on Jan. 15, so make sure to check NESN.com for the latest transfer news and rumors.

6:30 p.m.: The Mirror has added a bit of meat to the Remy story. Financial concerns and flexibility could be among the deciding factors that should see him head to QPR instead of Newcastle.

“Rangers, the Premier League’s bottom club and staring at relegation back to the Championship after two top-flight seasons, have offered Remy a salary of £70,000 a week — much more than Newcastle put on the table,” the report says.

“Crucially, the Londoners are also willing to give the France international a get-out clause to be activated if they are relegated.”

Remy’s transfer could be finalized as early as Tuesday. The player is in England speaking to both clubs.

4:50 p.m.: Loic Remy is set to sensationally turn down Newcastle in favor of a move to QPR, Sky Sports reports.

The Marseille striker and France international was supposed to travel to Newcastle to conclude a £8.3 million ($13.4 million) transfer Monday, but he has begun negotiating with QPR and will undergo a physical examination on Tuesday instead.

Central to the hijacking of Remy’s transfer was QPR manager Harry Redknapp. Remy was close to joining Tottenham last season when Redknapp was managing the club, but a move fell through.

Tottenham fired Redknapp last summer, and he was out of work for much of the season. He took over at QPR in late November, to help the club pull off one of the all-time great escapes (from relegation). He has some money to spend in January and a list of contacts; Remy was one of them.

Redknapp recently spoke of his personal connection with Remy.

“I was hoping for a meeting with him to encourage him to come,” Redknapp said last weekend. “I think he felt embarrassed coming to see me to say he wasn’t interested in coming to QPR.”

Things can change quickly in the transfer game. If we didn’t know it before, Remy’s transfer teaches us just that.

4:05 p.m.: AC Milan and Juventus are two of Italy’s biggest clubs, but don’t expect either of them to make a splash in the January transfer market. Football Italia reports neither club will spend big or sign big names in the coming weeks.

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said his club doesn’t need Mario Balotelli because there are already enough forwards on its books (and Robinho’s proposed move to Santos collapsed).

If Milan buys in January, it will be an emerging youngster.

“We have decided to target emerging youngsters,” Galliani said. “We’ve explained that to the fans and I think they understand. We’re investing in young players this January too and we are convinced that we’ll achieve great results.”

We should believe Galliani, as Milan is transforming itself during Serie A’s age of austerity.

Juventus has been linked with Didier Drogba, Fernando Llorente and just about every other top-class striker out there.

Juve’s director general Beppe Marotta says the club will not add any “important names” this month.

“The transfer window will close without any major signings,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “The January market is not offering important names for Juventus. We are looking around, evaluating, but in the meantime we want to recover those players who are absent with injury or participating at the African Cup of Nations.”

Juve and Milan are the two most likely Italian clubs to spend big money in January. One won’t do it because it can’t afford Balotelli. The other won’t because it hasn’t identified any available players that would make it better.

Transfer junkies are the ones who will suffer the most from this news.

4 p.m.: Rumored Arsenal target Lucas Biglia is attracting interest from the far corners of the earth, but his agent says he’d prefer to join a club in England or Italy, according to Football Italia.

“Given his valuation at the moment, he could be bought by Chinese or Russian clubs,” Enzo Montepaone reportedly told La Derniere Heure. ”But he does not want to go to either of those places. Italy or England would be his preferred destinations.”

The Anderlecht midfielder could be had for £8 million ($12.9 million).

3:40 p.m.: Inter wants Wesley Sneijder to make up his mind. The Dutch playmaker has an offer from Turkish club Galatasaray, and both it and Inter have given him deadlines, which have already come and gone.

Inter president Massimo Moratti told Sneijder that it would be “professional” (read: in Inter’s best interests) for him to decide his future by the end of the day Monday, but the attacking midfielder will wait and see what options come his way before the end of the month, according to the Mirror.

3:30 p.m.: Chelsea and Tottenham target Willian returned to his native Brazil on vacation during Ukraine’s Premier Liga’s winter break.

The Shaktar Donetsk star didn’t return in time for the start of his club’s training camp, and head coach Mircea Lucescu thinks it’s because he’s wants to force a move to a Premier League club.

Lucescu branded Willian’s actions as “unprofessional” and blamed them on the 24-year-old’s advisers.

Shaktar faces Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League’s Round-of-16 next month. It only makes sense that Willian would want to participate in that stage of the competition, right?

3:15 p.m.: We’ll stay in Newcastle for the next one.

Hatem Ben Arfa would consider a move to PSG, the Mail reports. The talented but injury-prone forward said moving to the French club would fulfill a “childhood dream.”

We wonder what fans at his former clubs, Lyon and Marseille, think about his words.

He adds that he would only move after he’s “saved” Newcastle from relegation.

3:05 p.m.: Still reeling from the sale of Demba Ba, Newcastle is looking to sign Loic Remy from France’s Olympique Marseille within a day or two, according to the Mail.

The two clubs have agreed to a £9 million ($14.5 million) fee. Newcastle and Remy are engaged in contract negotiations.

The 26-year-old’s move to Newcastle looks to be a done deal. Our favorite philosopher-player, Joey Barton, spilled the beans on Twitter.

Good luck to Loic in Newcastle. Don’t worry i’ve told him what to expect. Great guy. Perfect club for him. #toonarmy

— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) January 13, 2013

Remy was a key figure during his first two seasons at Marseille, but he’s fallen out of favor under new manager Elie Bop.

Also, Queens Park Rangers are still looking to hijack Remy’s move to Newcastle.

3 p.m.: Radamel Falcao, one of the world’s best and most in-demand strikers, professed his admiration for PSG and its Swedish superstar Zalatan Ibrahimovic, the Mail reports.

“France is a marvellous country,” he told Telefoot. “I’ve been there before, and I love it. PSG have a very ambitious sporting project and they’ve invested a huge amount of money to construct a competitive team. That will need time, but that could come very quickly.

“It’s not impossible that I could be meeting [the French media] very soon.”

Falcao has been linked with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea in recent months. Let’s add PSG to the list of suitors, as the French club is one of the few that can pay his reported £50 million ($80.4 million) transfer fee.

If Falcao goes to PSG, he would bring his lethal finishing and winner’s mentality to a club that has dreams of dominating European soccer and the financial muscle to turn that into a reality.

1 p.m. ET: We’ll start with a rumor that isn’t necessarily a January rumor, but it’s a hot one nonetheless. After revealing his “sadness” in September, Cristiano Ronaldo and his situation at Real Madrid have dominated headlines for most of the season.

It is thought that Paris Saint Germain (PSG) is preparing an offer for the Portuguese superstar. Leonardo, the sporting director at the French club, alluded to it last week saying his was one of only four or five clubs that could afford Ronaldo’s transfer fee and wages.

Ronaldo has also been linked with a return to Manchester United, the club he left in 2009 for a record £80 million ($131.6 million) fee.

Ronaldo reportedly rejected a contract extension offer from Real Madrid in December, signalling his intention to leave the club where he feels unloved.

Last week, Ronaldo said he wants to stay with the Spanish club a little longer. He told FIFA.com, “I want to see out my contract at Real Madrid; I’m very clear about that. After that, well, I don’t know what’ll happen in the future.”

This could be a political answer (i.e. lip service) or something else. It certainly contradicts most of the reports we’ve seen concerning his future. He won’t be leaving in January, but there’s a good chance Real Madrid will sell him in the summer, and he won’t be too unhappy about it.

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 10>>

Click here for transfer rumors from Jan. 9>>

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Police found a suspicious package in a parking lot near Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium about 90 minutes before the game was scheduled to kick off, according to the Mirror.

“Just after 2:30 p.m. [9:30 a.m. ET], Metropolitan Police officers prevented members of the public and press from approaching the ground and an officer used a loud speaker to inform spectators that police were looking into an incident,” the Mirror reports. ”However, at just before 3 p.m., police lifted the cordon and allowed access to the stadium.”

FOX Soccer reported that both teams left their dressing rooms at one point. They were allowed to return before the start of the game.

There were fears that the scare would delay the start of the game or that it would be postponed, but police gave the incident an all-clear and the game went ahead as scheduled.

Nevertheless, a few fans used Twitter to turn a nervous moment into a lighthearted one.

The package at the centre of the bomb scare at Arsenal been sorted-Just Man City’s ticket allocation being returned ‘cos of the silly prices

— Brendan Bradley (@brenb1971) January 13, 2013

Bomb scare at Arsenal ground , all spectators evacuated . Now charged £62 to get back in ground #twittboll

— Al Pitcher (@TheAlPitcher) January 13, 2013

Bomb scare @ Emirates area evacuated, Arsenal fans reported a strange & suspicious looking package, seems Citeh brought a Trophy with them!

— Andy Silverman (@ChelsLad66) January 13, 2013

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.