With Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou nearing the end of their contracts, the Chelsea boss has said that he 'sees room' at Stamford Bridge for a new, 'explosive' wing player like the Brazilia. Andre Villas-Boas: I see room for an explosive player like Hulk on the wing at Chelsea. The 34-year-old believes that the Brazil international would fit right in at Stamford Bridge and spoke of his relationship with Porto president Pinto da Costa. Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that he is interested in bringing Porto striker Hulk to London in the summer. The Portuguese trainer is well aware of Hulk's qualities after coaching the Brazilian forward during his treble-winning 2010-11 season at Porto. Villas-Boas acknowledged that some of Chelsea's players may leave in the summer, which will create room for the club to bring in new faces, with Hulk at the top of his wish list. "We have [Salomon] Kalou and [Florent] Malouda, both of whom are nearing the end of their contracts, while Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge are the future," he told TSF. "As such, there will surely be a place to fill and I see room for an explosive player on the wing, someone who is strong in one-on-one situations and Hulk fits that profile." The 34-year-old coach was also asked about a potential approach for Alvaro Pereira and Joao Moutinho, who have also been linked with Chelsea in recent times. "They could surely play in the Premier League and at Chelsea," he asserted. Villas-Boas sat next to Porto president Pinto da Costa during the Portuguese club's 4-0 Europa League defeat at Manchester City last week after reports had suggested that the duo had an icy relationship since the coach left for Chelsea in the summer. "I was very proud to be invited by Pinto da Costa to sit next to him," he said. "Returning to Porto will always be a huge source of pride, but right now I am completely motivated with my work at Chelsea."

Controversy struck Saturday night's 1-1 draw between AC Milan and Juventus as Muntari had a header for the hosts seemingly cross the line, but Buffon says he felt at the time he had kept the ball out. 'I was watching the ball, not the line' - Buffon after ghost goal in Juventus' draw with AC Milan. Sulley Muntari appeared to have scored for the hosts with a header but the Italy goalkeeper believed that he had kept it out, though he admits that he would not have spoken up. Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has claimed that he was watching the ball and not the line and so did not realise that a mistake had been made in the 'ghost goal' incident against AC Milan on Saturday. A Sulley Muntari header for the Rossoneri appeared to be comfortably in the net, but the Italy international scooped the ball clear and a goal was not awarded, the game eventually finishing 1-1. The 34-year-old stated that he was unsure whether the effort had crossed the line and was only interested in helping his team, adding that, if he had known that the goal was legitimate, he would not have corrected the officials. "I was watching the ball, not the line," Buffon told La Repubblica. "I didn't realise it had gone over the line, and even if I did I wouldn't have lent a hand to the referee. "Taking a point and continuing the unbeaten streak makes it a special evening, where we played against most successful team to win the Scudetto.

"In the end what counts is that we were ready to adapt to whatever happened in the match. Milan had greater freshness, lucidity and technical skill.

"In the second half we tried to change and in the last 25 minutes we were better because in the first half AC Milan had control of the game," he admitted.

The draw means that Milan are still top of Serie A by one point, though Juventus have a game in hand. 

 

Balotelli, Aguero & Dzeko fire hosts five points clear at top of Premier League after convincing victory, with Steve Kean's side once again back in the relegation zone. Three-goal City breeze past Blackburn Goals from Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko extended the Citizens' lead at the top of the Premier League to five as Steve Kean's men failed to score at the Etihad Stadium.

Ramzan Kadyrov spents his Country's money for Anzhi !! Blackburn's Christopher Samba in £9m move to Anzhi Makhachkala. Blackburn centre-half joins Guus Hiddink at Russian club. Samba deal could bring in additional £2m in add-on fees. Christopher Samba has joined Anzhi Makhachkala after becoming unsettled at Blackburn Rovers. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images The Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba has swapped Lancashire for Dagestan after completing a £9m move to Anzhi Makhachkala. The deal could bring Rovers a further £2m depending on appearances and other factors. The transfer window in Russia did not close until Friday and the Russian side, who recently appointed Guus Hiddink as their coach, have taken advantage to add Samba to their growing list of stars. The 27-year-old made a transfer request in January after becoming unhappy at the direction Rovers were heading under Venky's but remained at Ewood Park after the winter window closed when a move to QPR or Tottenham failed to materialise. Anzhi, based in Makhachkala on the Caspian Sea, have made a number of notable signings, funded by the billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov. Their squad already boast the Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, the Russia international Yuri Zhirkov and former Brazil defender Roberto Carlos. Samba told Sky Sports News: "They have brought in Eto'o and Hiddink to transform the club. I know Anzhi is a little club that wants to become a very big one."

Fernando Torres has been dropped from Spain's squad for next week's friendly against Venezuela. The Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup-winning striker has been struggling for form at Chelsea, netting just four times in all competitions this season. With Barcelona forward David Villa still absent with a broken leg, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has opted to include Valencia hitman Roberto Soldado and highly-rated Athletic Bilbao youngster Iker Muniain in his 24-man squad for Wednesday's match in Malaga.

Arsenal - Tottenham Preview: Visitors looking to complete first Premier League double over Gunners in 19 years In, arguably, Arsene Wenger's toughest derby in his entire reign at the club, Spurs will be looking to complete a league double over their rivals for the first time since 1993. First XI ARSENAL Szczesny Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs Walcott, Arteta, Song, Gervinho Ramsey Van Persie TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FriedelWalker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale Van der VaartAdebayor   One side have recently been knocked out of two cups and look likely yet again to finish the season without silverware. The other are flying high in the Premier League, still in with a shout of the title, and looking to advance into the quarter-finals of a cup competition. You could be forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were the form team heading into this fixture, and based on many a season gone by you would be right. Not this season though. This season it is Tottenham’s turn to shine. The rivalry between the two sides has rarely been fiercer, and Sunday’s north London derby could cement the long speculated ‘turning of the tide’ in the Lilywhites’ favour. After going 20 games without a victory against theire neighbours, Spurs have won three and drawn once in their last four Premier League games against Arsenal. Harry Redknapp’s men go into a game at the Emirates Stadium as favourites for the first time and confidence will be high. If they play the same way they did in the 5-0 victory over Newcastle, this could well turn out to be a harder pill for Wenger to swallow than the humiliating 4-0 defeat away to AC Milan 11 days previously. The Frenchman must raise a team bereft of confidence, otherwise he will taste the bitterness of a Spurs double over Arsenal for the first time in his managerial career, the Gunners having not suffered such a fate since 1993 - three years before Wenger arrived at Highbury. Speculation over Wenger's continued hold on the Gunners' reins has never been more intense, but he can look towards star striker Robin van Persie to save the day. With 22 Premier League goals already this campaign, the 28-year-old has been the sole shining light in an otherwise dark and dingy season for his side. Without the impact of the league's leading goalscorer, Arsenal would find themselves, amazingly, in a relegation scrap. But if the Dutchman is on song, then he has the ability to drag his team to victory and, potentially, save his side's season with Champions League qualification. Gunners’ defenders Laurent Koscielny (knee) and Kieran Gibbs (groin) and midfielder Aaron Ramsey (ankle) all face fitness tests ahead of the game, but are expected to pull through. Francis Coquelin (hamstring) and Sebastien Squillaci (groin) are, however, sidelined. Defender Carl Jenkinson recently returned for the reserve team, but is not ready for first-team action, while centre-back Per Mertesacker (ankle) joins the ever-expanding list of long-term absentees after being ruled out for the remainder of the season. Harry Redknapp confirmed on Friday that Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor (knee) and Rafael van der Vaart (calf) are expected to be fit after training during the week, along with Benoit Assou-Ekotto (groin) and Luka Modric (ill).