Monday's football rumour mill
Zaki to return to the Premiership
Monday, 16, Nov 2009 10:25
By Darren Estwick.
Controversial Egyptian striker Amr Zaki could be on his way back to the Premier League via Portsmouth, the rumour mill understands today.
Zaki, who spent last season at Wigan, is on the radar of the south coast club despite his reputation for disruptive behaviour.
Former Manchester United player Laurent Blanc has emerged as the favourite to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson once the great man decides to retire.
Blanc, who has performed well with Bordeaux over the last season, has emerged as a shock candidate, pipping Jose Mourinho for the favourite tag.
United goalkeeper Ben Foster has spoken of his unhappiness at being third choice at Old Trafford. Foster, who started the season in goal before a series of high profile mistakes meant his stock plummeted, is worrying about his World Cup finals spot in the summer.
Foster said: "I'm third choice for Manchester United at the moment, yet I'm playing for my country. I can't go saying that I want to leave or anything like that, I'll see what happens. You never know in football, do you?"
The saga involving Benfica winger Angel di Maria continues to rumble on.
Following the reported news yesterday that a deal had been wrapped up between the winger and Manchester City, the Portuguese club have stated that the player is not for sale in a bid to stop the rumours.
"The Benfica fans can be calm. Di Maria will not leave the club in January," Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira stated.
"We know there is interest in the kid from big clubs but we need his help for many objectives, like the Portuguese league."