Chelsea, Liverpool
and
Manchester
City
on alert as Kaka
eyes January move from Real Madrid
Down but not out: Kaka has a number of options
despite failing to shine at the Bernabeu
Kaka is set to be offered a January move to England
after failing to live up to expectations at Real
Madrid.
Inter Milan had looked the most likely destination for the
Brazil playmaker, but the Italians are ready to ditch their
interest for fears of intense competition from Barclays Premier
League sides looking to make an impact signing when the transfer
window reopens.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is a confirmed admirer of
the 28-year-old, while
Manchester City and
Liverpool have also been identified as potential
destinations.
Inter are instead likely to battle Juventus and Manchester
United for Karim Benzema - another out-of-favour Real Madrid
striker - and believe they can win the race by offering Brazil
right back Maicon in exchange.
Kaka will have no shortage of suitors despite a poor first
season at the Bernabeu following a £56million move from AC
Milan.
His former club are believed to be interested in taking him back
to replace Ronaldinho - who is wanted for a lucrative move to the
Los Angeles Galaxy - but they cannot compete financially with
English interest after already splashing out on Robinho and Zlatan
Ibrahimovic.
Chelsea may be best placed to sign Kaka because of the close
bond between the player and Ancelotti, who got the best out of the
midfielder during their time together at the San Siro.
However, it is unclear whether the Blues would be willing to
splash out a hefty transfer fee after considerable belt-tightening
at Stamford Bridge.
City have the resources and boss Roberto Mancini has indicated
he will re-enter the market in January. Relations between City,
Milan and Kaka were damaged by a botched bid to take him to
Eastlands in January 2009, but the landscape has changed.
The player’s standing has declined, while City’s status has
rocketed since then and a deal may now be attractive.
Off you go, son: Benzema is another player failing
to make an impact under Mourinho
Liverpool have also been mooted as a potential suitor by
sources in Italy, with Kaka tipped as the kind of signing that
would be a coup for the new Anfield owners.
Kaka is recovering from a knee injury which will keep him out
for most of the rest of the year, but the indications in Spain are
that he has already fallen out of boss Jose Mourinho’s plans.
Mesut Ozil was brought in from Werder Bremen in the summer to
occupy the same position and has already impressed.
Should Madrid opt to keep their patience with Kaka, who arrived
to much fanfare when Florentino Perez took over as president last
year, they could decide to send him back to Brazil on loan until he
regains form and fitness. Sao Paulo have already shown interest in
a short-term deal.
Benzema is being widely tipped for the exit as well after
struggling to get a start in his favoured centre forward position
under Mourinho.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has previously admitted
interest, but a move to Italy now seems more likely for the France
striker.
However, Mourinho will not sell unless he can bring in at least
one new striker in January, with Manchester City’s Emmanuel
Adebayor in his sights