Brazil: Santos Hope To Rescue Cicinho From Roma

Brazilian side Santos are set to launch a bid to sign Roma full-back Cicinho in January, following the much-publicised rift between the 28 year old and Giallorossi coach Luciano Spalletti.

Cicinho has struggled to hold down a regular first team place since joining Roma from Real Madrid in the summer of 2007 for €11million.

Despite recent claims from his agent Ricardo Sarti that his client has a future at the Stadio Olimpico, Santos are hopeful of clinching a deal for the former Sao Paulo right-back.

Delcir Sonda, the man who brokered and partially funded the transfers of Michael Quiñónez and Mauricio Molina at the start of 2008, is behind the move for Cicinho, although no mention has been made of the potential transfer fee.

Should the transfer materalise then Santos coach Marcio Fernandes would welcome such a quality addition to his squad, especially in a position which he struggled to fill during the 2008 season.

"He is a player that excels [at right back] and that is a position we need players for," Fernandes told Santa Cecília TV.

"For much of the Brazilian Championship, we had to improvise with either Wendel (midfielder) or Pará (left-back) in that position.

"Presuming that the deal does come off then it will be very good for us, because he is one of the few quality players currently available."

Thursday Transfer Gossip

Real Madrid have captured the signature of Gabriel Heinze, just days after a Premier League hearing decided that he couldn't move to Liverpool. BBC Sport report that the Argentine defender will sign a four year deal with the Spanish giants.

Julio Belletti looks set to snub Newcastle and instead move to Chelsea, according to Sky Sports. Chelsea have turned their attentions to Belletti after failing to agree a fee with Sevilla for Daniel Alves.

Roma have completed the signing of Cicinho from Real Madrid. Sky Sports report that a £6million deal has been agreed between the two clubs with Cicinho likely to be presented for the media this afternoon.

Sky Sports also report that AC Milan have resurrected their deal for Real Madrid's Emerson. A fee of £3.3million has been agreed and the player is expected in Milan today to agree a two year deal with the Italian side.

Finally, Wigan are interested in signing Diego Placente on a free transfer. The Daily Mail reports that the Argentine defender will fly to England today to discuss a possible deal with Wigan manager Chris Hutchings.

Tuesday Transfer Gossip

First off, Juan Riquelme's agent Marcos Franchi has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur have lodged a bid for the Argentine. Sky Sports report that Spurs have offered £10million for the playmaker, with Franchi describing their offer as the only 'serious negotiations' for the player.

Middlesbrough have made a £6.5million offer for Afonso Alves of Heerenveen, according to The Times.

Finally, it seems the deal to take Cicinho to AS Roma is now off. Marca (Spanish link) report that Real Madrid have ended negotiations after manager Bernd Schuster decided that the Brazilian fullback does now enter into his plans for next season.

Weekend Transfer Gossip

First off, Cicinho is expected to complete his transfer to Roma within the next 48hrs. The Gazzetta Della Sport (Italian link) reports that the Italian side will pay Real Madrid 8million Euros for the Brazilian fullback.

Gazzetta (Italian link) also reports that negotiations are continuing between Real Madrid and AC Milan over the transfer of Emerson to the Italian side. It was thought that a one year loan had been agreed, but Madrid now want a permanent transfer and are asking for 11million Euros for the Brazilian midfielder.

Middlesborough look set to fill the gap left by Yakuba by signing Afonso Alves from Heerenveen. Sky Sports report that Boro currently lead the race for the Brazilian's signature, despite interest from sides in Turkey and Germany.

Finally, Manchester United are desperately trying to offload Gabriel Heinze to anyone but Liverpool. The Sunday Express reports that United have offered the defender to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Lyon, but Heinze has refused all of these proposals in favour of a move to Anfield. The Premier League hearing to decide his future will take place tomorrow.

Friday Transfer Gossip

First off, despite the Daily Mail's report a few days ago, it seems that Chelsea and Sevilla have not yet reached agreement over the transfer of Daniel Alves. BBC Sport report that the Spanish side have rejected Chelsea's initial offer and are holding out for £25million for the Brazilian.

If they sell Alves, Sevilla are looking to replace him with fellow-Brazilian Cicinho. Marca (Spanish link) report that the player is open to a move, but is also considering an offer from AS Roma.

Fabio Rochemback has been linked with a move to Benfica, however the player's agent Horacio Gagioli has told Sky Sports that a move is unlikely as Middlesborough are happy with the player.

Barcelona have sold Maxi Lopez to FC Moscow for 2million Euros. Marca (Spanish link) report that the Argentine striker has signed a two year deal with the Russian side.

Boca Juniors have signed Leandro Gracian from Mexican side Monterrey. Ole (Spanish link) report that Gracian has been signed to be the team's playmaker, as it looks increasingly unlikely they will be able to sign Juan Riquelme.

Finally, the Gazzetta Della Sport (Italian link) reports that Juventus are interested in signing Urguayan forward Alvaro Recoba from Inter Milan.

Wednesday Transfer Gossip

First off, Everton have failed in their ambitious attempt to sign Lucho Gonzalez from FC Porto. Sky Sports report that their £11million bid has been turned down by the Portugese club, who are determined to keep hold of the Argentine midfielder. They have signalled their intentions by buying the remaining economic rights to the player from MSI for a reported 6.5million Euros.

Liverpool have joined Roma in the race to sign Brazilian full back Cicinho from Real Madrid. Sky Sports report that Rafa Benitez will turn to Cicinho after giving up in his attempt to sign his compatriot Daniel Alves from Sevilla.

Almeria have secured the services of Julio Dos Santos for the upcoming season. Marca (Spanish link) report that the Paraguayan will join on a one year loan deal from German side Bayern Munich.

Negotiations continue between Villarreal and Real Betis over the transfer of Leandro Somoza. Marca (Spanish link) report that the talks broke down early on Tuesday, but had resumed by the evening, with the mode of payment thought to be the current stumbling block. The situation is described as 'complicated but not impossible'.

There is a length article in Ole (Spanish link) about the future of Juan Riquelme. Villarreal do not wish to loan the player out to Boca Juniors again for next season and are looking for a permanant deal. Their initial proposal was $6million along with part of the economic rights and the future transfer rights to Rodrigo Palacio and Ever Banega. Boca rejected this out of hand, but the same money along with the rights to Mauro Boselli and Jonatan Maidana seems more acceptable to them. The issue will have to be resolved in the next couple of weeks, with Boca hoping that by playing a waiting game, they will be able to secure Riquelme for well below his true market value.

Finally, Maxi Moralez has moved from Racing to FC Moscow. Ole (Spanish link) report that the Russian club have paid $5million for the young midfielder, who starred in the recent U-20 World Cup.

Saturday Transfer Gossip

First off, Blackburn have confirmed they have completed the signing of Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich. BBC Sport report that the Paraguayan striker has signed a four year contract, with the transfer fee thought to be in the region of £3.5million.

The Daily Mirror report that Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Daniel Alves from Sevilla. Although Sevilla have said they are holding out for £20million, it is thought that a small increase on Chelsea's current bid of £13million will be enough to capture the Brazilian full back.

Despite previous interest from Arsenal, it seems Angel Di Maria is set to sign for Benfica. Sky Sports report that Di Maria, along with his Rosario Central teammate Andres Diaz, are due in Lisbon today to complete their medicals, before being unveiled to the press later. They will both sign five year contracts with the Portugese club for a combined transfer fee of £4million.

Benfica are also after Barcelona full back Julio Belletti, according to Marca (Spanish link).

Marca (Spanish link) also report that Uruguayan forward Fabien Estoyanoff will join Real Valladolid on loan from Valencia for next season, having spent last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna.

AS Roma are in negotiations to sign two Brazilians. The Gazzetta Della Sport (Italian link) report that Real Madrid right back Cicinho could join the Italian side on loan for next season, with Borussia Dortmund left back Dede in discussions over a permanant move.

Finally, Gazzetta (Italian link) also report that AC Milan have made a 17million Euro offer for Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Julio Baptista. Baptista is thought to have turned down a move to Villarreal as he wants to play in the Champions League, something that Milan can offer him.

Weekend Transfer Gossip

Not much Latin American transfer activity or even rumours this weekend. In fact, pretty much everything comes from one publication.

First off, Barcelona have offered 16million Euros for Zaragoza defender Gabriel Milito. Marca (Spanish link) report that Zaragoza are holding out for nearer 18million for the talented Argentine.

Real Murcia are close to adding Pablo Garcia to the signing of fellow Uruguayan Marco Regueiro according to Marca (Spanish link).

New Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster has told the Madrid board that Brazilian full back Cicinho is not to be sold to Roma. Marca (Spanish link) report that the Italian side are now likely to turn their attention to Julio Belletti of Barcelona in search of a solution to their right back problems.

In our final Marca (Spanish link) story, they report that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is only willing to discuss a move for Cesc Fabregas to Real Madrid if Brazilian wonderkid Robinho goes the other way as part of the deal. It seems unlikely, however, that Bernd Schuster would be content to sanction such a move.

Finally, the Gazetta Della Sport (Italian link) report, amongst other things, that Liverpool are interested in signing Roma's Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini, after struggling to agree deals for Portugese wingers Simao Sabrosa and Ricardo Quaresma with their respective clubs.

Tuesday Transfer Gossip

First off, various English papers are reporting that Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze is close to agreeing a move to Liverpool. Although Manchester United are reluctant to sell the player to a rival club, Heinze seems to favour staying in England rather than moving abroad, which may force United's hand into allowing the move.

There are also reports in various papers that Chelsea are to make a £14million bid for Sevilla's Brazilian fullback Daniel Alves.

We reported last week that Celta Vigo winger Nene has his heart set on a move to England. According to the Daily Mail, it seems that Tottenham Hotspur are going to renew their interest in the player they nearly signed in January. Blackburn and Birmingham are expected to battle it out with the North London club for the signature of the Brazilian.

Marca (Spanish link) report that Maxi Lopez, unwanted by both Barcelona and RCD Mallorca, has sealed a move to Sporting Lisbon for an initial one year loan period. The loan is thought to contain a clause allowing Sporting to purchase the player for between 3-4 million Euros at the end of the season if he is successful in Portugal.

Javier Saviola is expected to seal a move to Real Madrid once he returns from holiday and Bernd Schuster is appointed as their new manager, according to Marca (Spanish link).

Real Madrid have muscled in on Barcelona's attempts to sign Romanian full back Chivu from Roma and are though to be offering a couple of Brazilians as possible part exchanges for the deal. Marca (Spanish link) report that right back Cicinho and attacking midfielder Julio Baptista are the players likely to be offered.

Finally, Everton fans were rejoicing yesterday after their official website announced they had signed Juan Riquelme on a three year deal. It turned out that the club's web designers were just putting up some test data as they tried out a new layout and that there was no truth to the news, which was pulled from the website an hour after posting.