Football Rumours

We switch our attention to the European leagues this week. Marseille have continued their buying spree and have completed the €12m signing of defensive midfielder Stephane M’bia from Rennes. Mbia was a target of many Premier League sides, but he chose to remain in France. Nice midfielder Cyril Rool and Rapid Bucharest goalkeeper Elinton Andrade are also set to join Marseille. Didier Deschamps has already signed Lucho Gonzalez, Edouard Cisse, Charley Fomen and Souleymane Diawara. French defender Sebastien Puygrenier has agreed to join Monaco on a season long loan deal from Zenit St.Petersberg with the option of permanent transfer at the end of the loan. Puygrenier moved to Russia from Nancy but failed to make any impact.

In Spain now, Malaga have lodged a bid with Zamalek for their Egyptian striker Amr Zaki. Joan Laporta and Txiki Begiristain have landed in Milan to start negotiating with Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Inter president Massimo Morrati has accepted that a swap deal between Ibrahimovic and Eto’o looks likely. Brazilian left back Maxwell is on the brink of a move to Barcelona. He will join the Catalan giants subject to a medical.

Also, Brazilian defender Lucio has agreed to join Inter Milan on a free. He was a free agent after his contract with German giants Bayern Munich had expired while Lazio president Claudio Lotito has claimed the club never received any bids from Napoli or Zenit St. Petersburg for their Macedonian striker Goran Pandev.