Chelsea target made available for sale
Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu has revealed that star player Willian will be allowed to leave if any of the interested clubs meet his valuation.
The 23-year-old has been earning rave reviews for his performances over the last two years and he has been linked with a move to Chelsea on numerous occasions.
The Ukrainian club are ready to cash in on their prized asset, but only if Chelsea meet their valuation of the player.
“Chelsea only need to pay us what we want and he will go,” Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mirceal Lucescu said in comments passed on by the club’s press service.
“If they don’t, Willian will stay, because he has a contract with our club.”
The Romanian coach says he is not surprised by the growing interest in Willian and his compatriots.
“For me it is no surprise they are the targets for European top clubs.
“All these players cost us a lot, even though we took them to our team at the age of 19-22.”
Willian is one of eight Brazilian players in the squad, all of whom play in midfield or attack.
Hamburg confirm Kuyt interest
Hamburger SV have confirmed their interest in signing Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt at the end of the season.
The Dutch forward has a contract until June 2013 at Anfield, but he is widely tipped to leave the club in the summer.
Kuyt is no longer part of the starting line-up at Liverpool and he could decide to leave the Reds in search of a first team football.
According to Bild, Hamburg have emerged as favourites for the player’s signature and club sporting director Frank Arnesen has now confirmed the speculations.
“We like Kuyt as a player, he is still very fit and can give the club a lot,” Arnesen told Bild.
“He is a true team player with an excellent mentality.”
The Bundesliga side have a long history of signing Dutch players, with Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Joris Mathijsen all spending some time in Hamburg.
Should Kuyt agree to join HSV, he would be welcomed by compatriot Khalid Boulahrouz, who is an indispensable member of the starting line-up.
Roma readying summer shopping spree
AS Roma are planning to sign at least four quality players in the summer, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.
The Giallorossi failed to fulfill their ambitions this season in spite of the heavy summer recruitment and the club chiefs are determined not to let that happen again.
Backed by the UniCredit Corporation, the Serie A giants will have considerable transfer funds available in the summer and they plan to use the hefty transfer kitty on four quality signings.
Roma officials want to reinforce the back line with two new signings and Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Nicolas Otamendi and Ezequiel Garay are high on their wish list.
With Gabriel Heinze and Juan set to leave the club at the end of the season, Simon Kjaer is also expected to stay, although Roma will try to extend his loan deal from Wolfsburg rather than paying €7 million to buy him outright.
As far as centre of the park is concerned, the Giallorossi have prepared an interesting surprise for their fans, seeing they are expected to enter the bidding for Japanese midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake.
The Serie A outfit also plan to sign another forward and they believe the good relations with Barcelona will help them acquire the services of Pedro, a player who has lost his place in the side with the arrival of Alexis Sanchez.
For more news about football transfers and rumours, visit our Transfer News section. To view all football transfers for 2011/12 season, visit our Soccer Transfers section.
