Aalborg's Michael Jacobsen (L) could be Rubin's future left-back
–Fire up the Cristian Ansaldi rumor mill, as Rubin Kazan are showing interest in Aalborg BK (Denmark) left-back Michael Jacobsen. The Danish international was under the scrutiny of Ruby scouts while in Thailand participating in the Queen’s Cup.
While no formal proposal has been made for the 24-year-old player, it is believed that the Aalborg club is willing to part with Jacobsen for €2 million. The player, however, seems reluctant to leave Denmark, according to Sport-Express.
Jacobsen began his career as a central defender, but now currently operates at left-back. He debuted for the Denmark national team last year, to date being capped five times.
–CSKA’s formidable opponents.
Lyon midfielder Ederson has long been targeted by major clubs in Italy—Internazionale and AC Milan, most specifically—but CSKA Moskva have joined the consideration party. The 24-year-old Brazilian winger has rumored to be rumored on his way out of France for the last month, as he searches for first-team time.
While AC Milan seem the front-runner in this race, CSKA’s attachment to Ederson’s story seems motivated by the eventual departure of Miloš Krasić and the surety of a starting spot in their line-up, something the Milan club may not be certain to offer with as much conviction.
–Sergei Kornilenko’s future still remains uncertain, as the Zenit St. Petersburg striker, for now, will not be joining West Ham United.
Kornilenko is said to have gotten on well with Hammers coach Gianfranco Zola, who apparently gave the player some valuable one-on-one time during some recent training sessions. Instead the distaste for the Belarusian appeared to come from the club’s ownership, which refused to cough up the £8 million for his transfer.
Oleg Artemov—who, incidentally, is also Roman Pavlyuchenko’s agent–kept open the possibility of a loan spell with West Ham for Kornilenko, but for now talks have ceased.
Vincenzo Grella the latest former Spalletti-ite to be linked to Zenit
–Another entry into the Zenit St. Petersburg rumor archive concerns Blackburn Rovers midfielder Vincenzo Grella. Zenit have apparently offered €5 million for the Australian international.
Formerly of Empoli, Parma, and Torino, Grella has been with Blackburn for two seasons. The central midfielder hasn’t received a start since mid-December, perhaps suggesting that he is eager to look elsewhere for playing time in the run-up to the World Cup.
Grella is neither the first Aussie to have been connected to Zenit this off-season, nor—of course—the first former player of Luciano Spalletti. Galatasaray’s Harry Kewell had a look from the St. Petersburg club a few weeks ago. And, concerning Spalletti’s former players from Empoli, Udinese, and Roma . . . well, the most succinct way of putting it would be to say it’s been a cavalcade.
–A Scottish sensation?
Over the weekend The Daily Mail designated three Russian clubs—Zenit St. Petersburg, Rubin Kazan, and Lokomotiv Moskva—as interested parties in the acquisition of Rangers’ striker Kris Boyd. The tabloid is predicting a yearly payout for the Scottish international to be somewhere in the region of £1.3 million a year—amounting effectively to a £7,000 a week pay raise.
If he could maintain his current work-rate that would be money well spent. Boyd is averaging one goal a match, netting 19 in 19 appearances this season.
–More Loko motifs
While Lokomotiv president Nikolai Naumov could be amused by the Boyd rumor, he appears deadly serious of some other possibilities for the striker position that his club feels the need to fill. He has gone so far as offering up knowledge that there are several alternatives beyond the tabloid-news stealing Roman Pavlyuchenko.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Naumov revealed his club was still considering Pavlyuchenko as an option but were currently in negotiations for the transfer of a Brazilian striker who he would not name. In addition, Naumov confirmed Loko’s interest in an Argentinean. Interestingly, the deals were not exclusive; Naumov claimed the purchase of either South American did not preclude the transfer of the unhappy Spurs striker.
19-year-old Maicon linked with Loko
While it has already been discerned that Joaquín Boghossian is the Argentinean striker in question—but, it should be said, he is actually Uruguayan, he only plays in Argentina–there is some mystery behind the identity of the Brazilian.
Sports.ru is reporting that the striker in question is Fluminense’s Maicon. The speedy 19-year-old forward has not developed a strong reputation in Brazil as of yet—appearing mostly as a substitute in 36 appearances with club, scoring 5 goals overall—though he did have flashes of brilliance alongside Fred near the end of last season. His good showing with Brazil’s U-20 team in Egypt last year did allow him to gain some recognition—particularly his 2 goal outing against Germany. But, like some of his fellow U-20ers—his value could be inflated.
Even still, given the indeterminacy of the young Brazilian’s prospects, he presents Loko with a cheaper option up-front should the other deals not materialize.
–In other, more concrete, Loko news: the club has decided to temporarily part ways with Baye Djiby Fall, sending him on a one-year loan to Molde FK (Norway).
It was earlier reported that the 24-year-old Senegalese striker was being considered by Brøndby IF (Denmark).
Fall was goalless for Loko in his 12 matches in 2009.
–Also, following up on a previous story, Lokomotiv has decided to sign 19-year-old Kyrgyz striker Mirlan Murzaev.
The Railroaders staff was pleased with the young Dordoi-Dinamo player during the squad’s camp in Turkey. First the time being Murzaev will play with the reserve squad, but should his progress continue he, of course, could see some time with the first team.
Mihăiţă Pleşan is the RPL's latest Romanian recruit
–FC Steaua Bucuresti midfielder Mihăiţă Pleşan has shown up on FK Tom Tomsk’s off-season wish list, according to CISsoccer.com. The Tomsk club is ready to part with €100,000 for the 26-year-old Romanian.
According to a Steaua officials, “many teams from Russia are interested in [Pleshan],” claiming that the midfielder could be leaving the club’s training camp in the very near future.
Pleşan has seven caps and one goal for Romania.
–In other Tom Tomsk news, the club has decided to keep 35-year old Alexsei Polyakov onboard for 2010.
The veteran keeper’s contract with the Siberian club is set to end at the end of the year, leaving some to speculate earlier that he’d be looking for a new employer.
–Amkar Perm may bestow a senior squad spot upon Marius Papsys.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been toiling away with Amkar’s reserve squad, in the process catching the eye of Amkar’s coach Rashid Rakhimov. Rakhimov will continue to monitor the player’s potential as he joins the senior squad’s training camp.
–Krylia Sovetov Samara, currently struggling for personnel due to financial difficulties, appears to have found some enforcement from former Yugoslavia.
23-year-old midfielder Mahir Karic from NK Celik Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and 26-year-old Serbian striker Stefan Račić will apparently be joining the Feathers. On Sunday, both players took part the team’s practice. It remains uncertain whether either player will sign a contract with the club.
Krylia also announced they will be playing their first match of this off-season against FK Metalurh Donetsk (Ukraine) on 27 January.
–Dan Petrescu still has the heartstrings of some Italians.
It has been reported that Livorno owner and president Aldo Spinelli has tried to persuade FK Kuban Krasnodar’s new coach to come take the helm of the Amaranto after Serse Cosmi walked away this weekend.
The former Foggia and Genoa player, however, rejected the proposal and seems determined to stick with the Russian First Division club.
[...] Tomsk is also close to signing another Steaua player. Recently the club was linked to midfielder Mihăiţă Pleşan, who has struggled to secure a spot in Steaua’s main [...]