The Netherlands international has been a bit-part figure this season at Anfield, and reports in the British press yesterday indicated that he could be on his way out of the Merseyside club when the transfer window reopens.

With speculation continuing, Rob Jansen confessed that Kuyt was keeping his options open.

“Kuyt is considering his future,” Jansen told pagineromaniste.com, translated to English by Sky Sports.

“He still has a contract with Liverpool which expires in 2014.

“AS Roma could be an option for Dirk. They are a prestigious club that is fighting for important objectives. With (Roma’s sporting director, Walter) Sabatini there is an excellent relationship.

“I can say that Roma is part of the list of clubs that Kuyt would take seriously into account,” the representative concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

Newcastle United will face stiff competition from Italian giants Roma to sign Manchester United’s highly rated, wantaway midfielder Ravel Morrison according to talkSPORT.

The Magpies had a £500,000 bid rejected by the English champions last week and are set to increase their offer in order to bring one of the hottest prospects in European football to the North East. But Serie A club Roma have been informed that Morrison would be open to a switch to Italy and are set to approach him and his representatives this month.

The 18-year-old is out of contract in the summer and Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that the player demanded ‘unrealistic’ contract demands and although Morrison claims otherwise, the two parties are still miles apart. With the player’s contract expiring in six months, clubs are allowed to discuss a possible move in the summer with the player on a free but Sir Alex is confident it won’t come to that.

Morrison has made just three first team appearances for United; all in the League Cup; and is growing more and more concerned with his lack of action, even though Sir Alex has had horrific selection problems in the centre of midfield, it seems he feels the England-under 19 playmaker is not ready.

AC Milan and Roma are both interested in signing Spurs midfielder Sandro next summer, according to reports in Italy (Talksport)

The 22 year old Brazilian has impressed many since moving to White Hart Lane from Internacional last year. An £8 million fee was involved then, and it is believed a bid almost double that would be needed for Spurs boss Harry Redknapp to even consider allowing Sandro to leave.

AC Milan are said to be considering a £13 million bid, as the Rossoneri look to freshen up an ageing midfield that contains Mark Van Bommel, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini. Whether such a bid would be enough to persuade Spurs to sell remains to be seen.

Roma are not set to rival Milan with a cash bid, however they are set to propose a swap deal with Spurs. The Italian club are looking to offer striker Mirko Vucinic in exchange for Sandro, with Roma said to value Vucinic at around £15 million.

Harry Redknapp is desperate to add to his forward line, and with Emmanuel Adebayor’s long term role uncertain, Vucinic, a player who has interested the club in the past, would fit the bill perfectly.

If contract talks break down, De Rossi is ready to consider a move abroad

Roma’s Daniele De Rossi is a transfer target for Manchester City, should the 28 year olds contract talks break down. (Daily Mail)

Rumour has it that the midfielder is aggravated at the lack of progress in negotiations, with just one year remaining on the Italian’s contract.

A world cup winner in 2006, De Rossi has long been coveted by Europe’s finest, with Roma director Bruno Conti earlier this week claiming that the capital club previously turned down a £60 million bid for the Italian from Chelsea.

While many expect De Rossi to thrash out a deal with Roma, if talks do break down the player is now open to the prospect of a move abroad.

Roberto Mancini has pre-empted any such breakdown, opening the door to a possible move to City next summer by stating, ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in Rome, but if he doesn’t sign, City will be ready.’

Mancini went on to clarify that he would expect competition for the combative midfielder, ‘if one day De Rossi is on the market, Manchester City will try – like Real Madrid, Chelsea and all the big clubs.’

De Rossi himself has kept a philosophical, if slightly frustrated outlook on the ongoing proceedings, with the Italian quoted as saying, ‘Things are at a standstill. There’s no hectic rush to get things sorted, but it is a little frustrating to be getting to January like this.’

‘If I was to leave Roma then my first choice would be to go and play football abroad. But if such a move couldn’t be agreed then I’d have to look to Italy. I couldn’t just quit football.’

10) Ajax v Feyenoord

The most heated fixture in Dutch football is one spurred on between class differences of two cities a mere 30 miles apart.

Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan image is reflected in Ajax’s fluent brand of football whilst near neighbours Feyenoord carry the look of its port district labour image.

Ajax and Feyenoord have dominated Dutch football alongside PSV Eindhoven, yet ‘Der Klassieker’ is by far the most fiercely contested match in the Eredivisie.

The contrast in image is illustrated by the contrasting homes of each team, with Ajax’s uber-modern Amsterdam Arena in stark contrast to the traditional and hostile atmosphere of Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium, yet both clubs grounds have been littered with scenes of crowd trouble for years.

In 1997 an Ajax fan was killed after pre-arranged ‘battle of Beverwijk’ – an Amsterdam suburb -  which led to a banning order of away fans from the fixture.

Once the ban was lifted, incidents continued to occur and in 2004 Feyenoord’s Jorge Acuna was hospitalised after being attacked by an intruding Ajax fan.

Last season the Dutch authorities agrees to once again impose an ban on visiting support but those measures are unlikely to dilute the hatred of these two sworn foe’s.

9) Roma v Lazio

The Italian capital’s two clubs not only share a city but a stadium meaning meetings between the pair become tribal, with each claiming spiritual ownership of the site.

Again, the tensions were pre-cursed by supposed divides along political and social lines with Lazio apparently the club of the social elite, whilst Roma were the team of the Romany’s.

The Derby della Capitale is notorious for being Italy’s fieriest clash with Lazio’s notorious fascist ultras regularly bearing arms to Roma’s far-right facets.

Like so many city derbies, the proximity of one another’s support lends to widespread conflict outside of the ground and the spacious nature of the Stadio Olimpico does nothing to temper tensions inside.

The first ever recorded fatality in Italian football came about thirty years ago during the Rome derby and scores of incidents since have marked this out to be one of Europe’s most fractious encounters.

During a game in 2005, Roma’s ultras forced a game to be abandoned midway through after rumour spread that police had killed a supporter and the two sets of ultras became involved in a barbarous brawl which resulted in almost 200 police officers being injured.

The Derby della Capitale remains arguably Europe’s most vicious mainstream derby.

8. Manchester United v Liverpool

These two are England’s most successful clubs and the fate of the cities football teams significantly plays its part in an inter-city rivalry which has been brooding since the Victorian industrial age. Manc’s don’t like Scousers. Scouser’s don’t like Manc’s. End of.

Both clubs claim to be the greatest English club and both have had ample opportunity to taunt the other during periods of success and failure.

Liverpool outshone United for large parts of the 70’s and 80’s much to the envy of United and United’s subsequent success during the 90’s and beyond has caused similar resentment on Merseyside.

The clashes between the pair are by far and away the most feverish of the English top flight calendar and even thought the safety and segregation of grounds limits terrace trouble, the hostilities frequently are taken out on the turf.

Those complainants, though, are missing the point. To a football romantic, away trips to Malta or Slovenia (sorry, Rangers fans) are what European football is all about – playing football around Europe. Tell me, how boring and hypocritical would it be to stage a European Champions’ League just for the clubs of England, France, Holland, Spain, Germany and Italy? Ask some of the biggest names not in Europe this season: Liverpool, Roma, Sevilla, Galataseray, Rangers. They’ll all tell you they’d rather be making the trip to Legia Warsaw than watching it on TV.

For Tottenham Hotspur, this year’s Europa League was clearly initially viewed within the club as a distraction, an obstacle on their path back to fourth place in the more important Premier League. And while everyone appreciates their need to force their way back into the Champions’ League if they are to advance, Spurs themselves are waking up to the beautiful opportunity the Europa League has presented them with.

Harry Redknapp stated at the start of the season that the Europa League was not a priority for Spurs, and re-affirmed his stance by leaving both first-choice ‘keeper Brad Friedel and star playmaker Rafael van der Vaart out of his 25-man senior squad. Although clubs are required to select a 25-man squad from which they are to choose their Europa League teams, they may also register a B-list of players under the age of 21 who have been with the club more than three years. Redknapp’s extensive B-list has so far provided the bulk of the players he has used in Europe.

Spurs’ youngsters are benefitting massively from this precious opportunity. The team which featured in the second leg of the playoff with Hearts was built around youth-team players. Young striker Harry Kane somewhat outperformed his disinterested strike partner Roman Pavlyuchenko. Andros Townsend was a bundle of energy down the left flank. Jake Livermore and Ryan Fredericks controlled the midfield. There were opportunities for several more of the next generation in the away tie with PAOK, in which Giovani, Iago Falque and Tom Carroll started.

Tonight’s clash with Shamrock Rovers at White Hart Lane will see this trend continued, although this time Redknapp will seek to gain two advantages from the game – not only will he give his starlets more invaluable European experience, he will also use the game to give some fringe senior players, and a few returning from injury, a chance to show themselves worthy of a place in the squad for the North London Derby on Sunday.

Steven Pienaar, Aaron Lennon and Danny Rose are all set to feature alongside the likes of Kane, Townsend et al as Redknapp checks their progress in their return from injuries. Pavlyuchenko and Sebastien Bassong are also expected to appear, having played alongside the youngsters in both the Hearts and PAOK games.

The Europa League may be viewed as a distraction by many, but at Spurs, it is starting to be seen as a more important competition than the club had expected. Redknapp can rotate his squad, evaluate promising talents and reserve players in competitive scenarios, while still bringing in some extra revenue from gate receipts and prize money. Perhaps being part of Europe’s second-tier tournament isn’t such a drag after all.

“Roma was at the end of a cycle and now I’m here (at Juventus), in the most loved and best-known Italian team throughout the whole world,” Vucinic said.

“The name of the team is enough, as I’ve already said before. Juventus is the most famous team, the best known and the one Italians love most, so when my agent said the word, ‘Juventus’, I had no doubts about it.”

Despite finish last season in seventh spot – some 24 points from champions AC Milan – and not having won a domestic title since 2003, Vucinic said Juventus should always be considered a threat to win the Scudetto.

“Our position in the championship is the Juventus position: we are a great team and I’m not saying anything new, you already know that very well. We are a great team, made to win,” he said.

Vucinic also expressed his delight at getting to work with Juventus boss Antonio Conte at the Juventus Arena.

“I already know my team-mates, I’ve played against them many times, so let’s say they are kind of friends already,” he said.

“Antonio Conte didn’t call me until I had signed the contract. He phoned me after the signature and the impression he gave me was excellent.”

A statement on Juventus’ website read: “Juventus Football Club S.p.A. communicates to have perfected the agreement with AS Roma S.p.A. for the permanent transfer and the sporting rights of the footballer Mirko Vucinic. The contract states €15m will be paid over three seasons.”

“Juventus have also signed a contract of four years with the player.”

The Montenegro international scored 11 goals in 36 appearances for Roma last season.

Javier Pastore is another Serie A player who looks to be on the move, with Paris Saint-Germain general manager Leonardo revealing the French club were close to securing a record 40 million-euro deal for the Argentine.

It appears PSG have beaten English Premier League outfit Chelsea for the 22-year-old Argentina internatonal’s signature, with Pastore expected to complete his move early this week.

“Pastore is not officially our player yet,” Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But the good relationship with Palermo allows us to think positively. I count on being able to present Pastore in the first days of the week.”

Elsewhere in the Serie A, Bologna have reached an agreement with Brescia for the transfer of Alessandro Diamanti on a co-ownership deal.

Chelsea might have missed out on Pastore, but they could still secure unsettled Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric after Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond said the club would sell the Croatian for the right price.

The Blues have already had two offers for the 25-year-old rejected by Tottenham, but Bond said Spurs could be tempted by an increased bid.

“We desperately don’t want to lose him, but everyone has a price,” Bond said.

Chelsea also look set to keep hold of young striker Daniel Sturridge, with the 21-year-old – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton – pledging to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Alberto Aquilani’s transfer saga continues, with AC Milan the latest suitor for the unsettled Liverpool midfielder.

The Italy international spent last season on-loan at Juventus and is seemingly surplus to requirements at Anfield following the signings of midfielders Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam.

And AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani could be prepared to throw him a lifeline, telling La Gazzetta Dello Sport: “We could talk about Aquilani. He’s a midfielder with the characteristics that we are looking for so, like with other players in his role, he could be of interest.”

Swansea City confirmed they have agreed to personal terms with Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge, with the 26-year-old set to complete a medical on Tuesday ahead of signing a three-year deal with the newly promoted club.

A statement on Juventus’ website read: “Juventus Football Club S.p.A. communicates to have perfected the agreement with AS Roma S.p.A. for the permanent transfer and the sporting rights of the footballer Mirko Vucinic. The contract states €15m will be paid over three seasons.”

“Juventus have also signed a contract of four years with the player.”

The Montenegro international scored 11 goals in 36 appearances for Roma last season.

Javier Pastore is another Serie A player who looks to be on the move, with Paris Saint-Germain general manager Leonardo revealing the French club were close to securing a record 40 million-euro deal for the Argentine.

It appears PSG have beaten English Premier League outfit Chelsea for the 22-year-old Argentina internatonal’s signature, with Pastore expected to complete his move early this week.

“Pastore is not officially our player yet,” Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But the good relationship with Palermo allows us to think positively. I count on being able to present Pastore in the first days of the week.”

Elsewhere in the Serie A, Bologna have reached an agreement with Brescia for the transfer of Alessandro Diamanti on a co-ownership deal.

Chelsea might have missed out on Pastore, but they could still secure unsettled Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric after Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond said the club would sell the Croatian for the right price.

The Blues have already had two offers for the 25-year-old rejected by Tottenham, but Bond said Spurs could be tempted by an increased bid.

“We desperately don’t want to lose him, but everyone has a price,” Bond said.

Chelsea also look set to keep hold of young striker Daniel Sturridge, with the 21-year-old – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton – pledging to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Alberto Aquilani’s transfer saga continues, with AC Milan the latest suitor for the unsettled Liverpool midfielder.

The Italy international spent last season on-loan at Juventus and is seemingly surplus to requirements at Anfield following the signings of midfielders Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam.

And AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani could be prepared to throw him a lifeline, telling La Gazzetta Dello Sport: “We could talk about Aquilani. He’s a midfielder with the characteristics that we are looking for so, like with other players in his role, he could be of interest.”

Swansea City confirmed they have agreed to personal terms with Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge, with the 26-year-old set to complete a medical on Tuesday ahead of signing a three-year deal with the newly promoted club.

“Mirko Vucinic is in Torino. The Montenegrin player arrived in the Piedmontese capital on Sunday evening and spent the whole Monday morning undergoing the medical check-up,” a statement on Juventus’ website read.

The Montenegro international scored 11 goals in 36 appearances for Roma last season.

Javier Pastore is another Serie A player who looks to be on the move, with Paris Saint-Germain general manager Leonardo revealing the French club were close to securing a record 40 million-euro deal for the Argentine.

It appears PSG have beaten English Premier League outfit Chelsea for the 22-year-old Argentina internatonal’s signature, with Pastore expected to complete his move early this week.

“Pastore is not officially our player yet”, Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “And until the end of the negotiations you can never consider discounting anything.”

“But the good relationship with Palermo allows us to think positively. I count on being able to present Pastore in the first days of the week.”

Chelsea might have missed out on Pastore, but they could still secure unsettled Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric after Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond said the club would sell the Croatian for the right price.

The Blues have already had two offers for the 25-year-old rejected by Tottenham, but Bond said Spurs could be tempted by an increased bid.

“We desperately don’t want to lose him, but everyone has a price,” Bond said.

“If somebody came along and the money turns your head and he did go – although the chairman is adamant he doesn’t want to sell him – then we’d have to get on with it.”

Chelsea also look set to keep hold of young striker Daniel Sturridge, with the 21-year-old – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton – pledging to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.

“The manager has given me licence to express myself. I have never had that before with any manager,” Sturridge told The Independent. “He has given me a lot more freedom than I have ever had and I will enjoy my football a lot more.”