Agent expects Borini stay

Fabio Borini is expected to stay in England despite being frozen out at Chelsea.

The 19-year-old Italian striker has been linked with a move back to his homeland after contract talks stalled in the summer.

He made eight appearances during the course of last season and despite some impressive form in the reserves, he is yet to feature this term.

The Under 21 international joined Chelsea from Bologna in 2007 and is out of contract in the summer.

Parma have been strongly linked with the youngster, who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, while Lazio and Juventus are also thought to be monitoring the situation.

But his agent, Marco De Marchi, is confident he will earn a new deal in England, either from Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti or one of their Premier Legaue rivals.

"At this time Fabio's just thinking about his rehabilitation from injury," he told calciomercato.com.

"The boy is disappointed by the behaviour of Chelsea, which put him out of the squad despite the excellent things he did last season.

"Parma are interested in Borini but it's not only them. That's normal for a player of the Under-21 national team, who has experience at international level and is out of contract in 2011.

"Ancelotti has great respect for him, and this affects a lot. He would return with pleasure to Italy but it is not necessary yet.

"The boy grew up in England and he loves English football. We will evaluate the offers that will come but I wouldn't be surprised if he stays in the Premier League."

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Murphy backing Reds boss Roy

Fulham playmaker Danny Murphy believes Roy Hodgson will be a success at Liverpool providing he is given the time at the helm.

The experienced tactician left the Cottagers for Anfield in the summer after guiding the West Londoners away from the drop zone and into Europe.

Hodgson replaced long-serving boss Rafa Benitez and while Reds fans initially welcomed the change, they are unhappy at the club's indifferent campaign to date.

The ex-Fulham manager is under pressure to turn around the club's fortunes and Murphy believes that if he has more than one season to stamp his authority then fans will be rewarded.

Murphy spent seven years as a player with the Merseysiders so knows the expectations at Anfield and he is backing Hodgson to bring success to the club.

"If I was a betting man, I would guarantee they are going to finish in the top four," said Murphy.

"The club is in a bit of a predicament, but you couldn't ask for a more humble gentleman to deal with that.

"The dilemma for me came when I was getting calls from people at Liverpool asking me about Roy. I knew I could say nothing and they would still probably employ him.

"But I was praising him because that's what he deserves, being honest and knowing that it would probably help them decide he was the right man.

"I didn't want to see him go, but football success generally means that people move on.

"The great thing for him was that he got to manage one of the great teams in Europe and Liverpool got one of the best coaches around.

"I hear positive sounds coming out of the club about him. The people up there don't suffer fools.

"You will get a more successful Liverpool there this season, but the fans are realistic at the moment about what's achievable.

"Roy wants to be a success and success for Liverpool is competing with Manchester United and Chelsea.

"He might need a bit longer than one season to do that, but he will bring them closer. I don't think the fans expect them to win the Premier League this season - they are more realistic than that.

"I think some stability, getting back into the Champions League and getting extra money in is what's needed. Roy will do that. He's a winner."

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Doumbia reveals Blues dream

CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia has admitted he would love to play in the Premier League and Chelsea are his favourite team.

The 22-year-old only joined CSKA from Swiss side Young Boys in January but he admits he is struggling to adjust to life in the Russian capital.

He is therefore keen to secure a switch elsewhere and has made it clear that his preferred destination would be Stamford Bridge.

Seydou, who was part of the Ivory Coast squad at this summer's World Cup, has always been a follower of English football.

And a move to the Blues would see him link up with compatriots Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.

"Chelsea have been my favourite team since I was a kid," Seydou, who is reportedly valued at around £5million by CSKA, said in The Sun.

"It's my dream to play in England - Moscow is too cold for me."

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Mancini thrilled with top spot

Roberto Mancini expressed his delight after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Juventus to finish top of the Europa League's Group A.

Jo's late equaliser ensured City were group winners ahead of Lech Poznan, which means they are seeded for Friday's draw for the last 32 and will avoid the clubs coming into the competition from the Champions League.

Mancini made nine changes and Nicolo Giannetti opened the scoring for the hosts in Turin on the stroke of half-time.

Lech were set to claim top spot as they were leading Red Bull Salzburg but the Blues battled back in the second half, with Jo atoning for an early miss by producing a cool finish from Adam Johnson's through-ball.

"I am very happy because we wanted this," Mancini said. "It was very important to finish top of the group.

"We have a chance to go all the way, but it is important to have a good draw for the next round, and after that we will see.

"Juventus have a good team, and we started very well. It was strange to concede the goal, but we played well, and for me this is important.

"I did not expect to play against such a strong Juventus team. Our players showed good character, and we hope to carry on like this. But in the end I think we deserved a draw, minimum."

It was Jo's second goal of the competition and third overall this season, and Mancini was pleased for a player who once seemed surplus to requirements at Eastlands.

City signed the Brazil international from CSKA Moscow in the summer of 2008 but the 23-year-old failed to live up to his £18million price-tag and went on loan to Everton and Galatasaray before returning in pre-season and earning a place in Mancini's plans.

"I have known Jo for five years," said the former Inter Milan boss.

"He played against Inter in the Champions League and scored two goals. He was young, but he was a good player, and he is still a good player.

"He played the last two games for us and did not score. But he has done very well, so I am pleased he has scored tonight."

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Bruce eyes Europe bid

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce believes his team are ready to challenge for a place in Europe.

Bruce's side could go fifth if they beat Bolton on Saturday after the Black Cats enjoyed a fine start to their Premier League campaign.

And the manager believes if his players can maintain their impressive form that could propel them into continental competition next year.

"I would say we have the nucleus of Sunderland's best squad for a long time," said Bruce. "But it is important that we keep improving.

"We haven't had the players here to handle the levels of expectation since the (Niall) Quinn and (Kevin) Phillips days.

"Our players have to overcome the big ground and big crowd. Being at a club like this comes with expectation and it comes very quickly.

"Bolton have been in this division for 10 years, while this club has been down three times in that space of time and in two of those seasons we finished with 19 and 15 points in the Premier League.

"How and why I just do not know. Even Blackpool and Wigan give it a go."

Sunderland endured a difficult campaign last season and flirted with a relegation battle before pulling away into mid-table safety.

But Bruce has assembled a team that is competing at the right end of the division this time out, aided by big money signings like Asamoah Gyan.

The 49-year-old reckons the next four weeks will be crucial to any European tilt, although he is confident Sunderland's time has now arrived.

"It is enough to get in the Premier League for most clubs and to survive, but not here," Bruce explained.

"That level of expectation is strange because there has not been much success in the North East over the years, but it is there because the area loves its football.

"It is everything to them. Whether can we can make a push for Europe, the next six weeks will tell us.

"The January period usually sorts out where you'll be. Those four games will be a huge part of where we will finish up. Can we get to the top 10 and compete for Europe? Why not?"

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Capello's City link rejected

England boss Fabio Capello has no plans to take over at Manchester City or Inter Milan, his representative has said.

Rumours had circulated that the Three Lions manager was wanted by the Eastlands outfit should they decide to part company with Roberto Mancini.

And reports coming out of Italy suggested the 64-year-old, who is due to remain with England until 2012, could replace under-pressure Inter boss Rafa Benitez.

However, Capello's son and manager, Pierfilippo, insists the suggestions are nonsense and promptly scotched the conjecture.

"I honestly don't believe he would sign an agreement with anyone without asking me about it," Pierfilippo told The Sun.

"I will be really honest and open with you. I know nothing about my father joining a club in Italy, in England or anywhere else and I speak with Fabio every day.

"And I do not believe he has agreed any secret deal with any club. He is not the kind of man who would make an agreement like that. If anything was happening, I would know.

"But I have not had a single call or any contact with whatsoever with anyone. And if someone had contacted my father then he would call me."

Capello is currently contracted to his Three Lions hot seat until 2012, when his £6million-a-year deal will expire.

The Italian had come under fire for his team's lacklustre performance in the World Cup in South Africa over summer.

But he clung onto his job, and his representative says his father is happy to continue managing England and has given no indication that he wants to secure an early exit.

He added: "If he was interested he would ask me to make contact with the FA and find out if he could leave right away, at the end of the season, in the next six months or in a year.

"That's the first thing he would do - and he has not done that yet. He would call me and say 'I have been called by say the New York Red Bulls and they are offering me £50million a year, how can I make that happen.

"Can you call the FA and see if I can terminate my contract, and see if they will agree to that?' But that's just fantasy. The truth is he has a contract with the FA until 2012."

Asked about his father's future following his England reign, Pierfilippo said: "That's a question I can't answer, that's a question for the future, that's a question for 2012.

"But I can tell you the smart money is on my father going nowhere."

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Almunia to decide fate

Arsene Wenger says Manuel Almunia will decide whether he remains at Arsenal, insisting the goalkeeper must fight for his place at the club.

Almunia has been out of the Gunners team since September after injuring his elbow against West Brom when saving a Chris Brunt penalty.

His absence has led to speculation the Spaniard could be on his way out of Emirates Stadium, with Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny now regarded to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Almunia has been ruled out for another three weeks after sustaining a further injury training with the reserves as Malaga and Atletico Madrid reportedly circle.

Wenger says the rumours will have no bearing on the 33-year-old's future, but maintained that his keeper must accept the competition in his ranks.

"I will listen to Manuel Almunia only," the Arsenal manager said. "We are in a fantastic job, but the core of our job is to fight to be competitive and to fight for your place.

"Nobody can be where we are in such a privileged job and think 'it is a shame we have to compete for our places'. That is the least we can do.

"I am surprised every time a player has to fight for his position that you think straight away he has to leave."

Wenger tried to sign Fulham stopper Mark Schwarzer in the summer and is also said to be keen on Manchester City's Shay Given and Middlesbrough's Jason Steele, according to reports.

But after Szczesny made his top flight debut against Manchester United on Monday, the Frenchman is content with the options at his disposal - meaning Almunia has two strong contestants vying for his slot.

Wenger added: "We want three goalkeepers at the top level and you have seen on Monday night we had Wojciech who made his debut in the Premier League and we had Fabianski on the bench.

"If something happens to one you need three world-class goalkeepers."

Arsenal were overtaken by United after the 1-0 reverse at Old Trafford and return to Premier League duty with a home clash against Stoke.

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