Tag: set to

Out-of-favour Super Eagles striker and Montpellier forward John Utaka may soon be plying his trade under Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

Indications to this effect emerged when Montpellier President Louis Nicollin, disturbed by the dwindling fortunes of the club, declared he wants to engage Diego Maradona to replace Coach Rene Girard.

Nicollin’s desire for Maradona is aimed at serving two purposes; return the team to winning ways, and checkmate Paris Saint -Germain in the French league.

Montpellier, who are the reigning Ligue 1 Champions, have endured a disappointing campaign and sit in the sixth spot on the table 10 points behind Les Parisiens, a setting that is giving the club president grey hairs and forcing him to opt not to extend Girard’s stay beyond the summer.

“To annoy PSG, I want to bring in Diego Maradona,” the 69-year old president told RMC Sport.

“If I have this guy, I do nothing, this is a film all by himself! With him, we all would make the newspapers!”

However, the outspoken president admitted acquiring Maradona would prove difficult as a result of financial constraints, but did admit an interest in former France boss Raymond Domenech. “Domenech, that I would not mind. We will think, Montpellier is not any club.”

Maradona (52) who won the World Cup for Argentina as a player in 1986 and made it to the second place in 1990 vetured into coaching on retirement.

Apart from handling the Argentina National team from 2008-2010, Maradona last coached Dubai Club Al Wasl FC in the United Arab Emirates, a team he took over in May 2011 but got fired in July 2012. Other teams he had coached include Mandiyú de Corrientes and Racing Club.

Super Eagles duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses are likely to get a new team manager at the end of the 2012/2013 English Premier League season.

Mirror Sport reported how former Chelsea favorite Gianfranco Zola has emerged as a serious contender to become full-time Blues boss next year and Benitez appeared to hint that he is prepared to accept what fate brings.

Chelsea were forced to 2-2 with Southampton, who recently sacked the Nigel Adkinson the night and the current manager of the blues Rafael Benitez admitted that he knew he was not going to carry on with the team when the season comes to a halt in May 2013.

When I signed we knew I was signing until the end of the season. If we were doing well maybe it would be easier for people to be interested, like the owner saying let’s stay longer, Benitez he said.

Zola was a former Chelsea player who had a measure of success with the club and it is thought that just like former star Roberto Di Matteo achieved some level of success with the London club, the former Italian footballer will replicate the same feat of winning the Champions League for them alongside some other trophies.

Sky Sports sources understands that Peter Odemwingie could hand in a formal transfer request as a last resort.

Queens Park Rangers have lodged an offer for the West Bromwich Albion striker – who insist they do not want to sell the Nigerian international.

But QPR remain keen on sealing a deal for the 31-year-old striker and the player is believed to feel that the offer made for him is ‘adequate’ for his services.

If nothing else materialises then it is understood that, as a ‘last resort’, Odemwingie is prepared to hand in a formal transfer request to try and push through a move to Loftus Road.

Meanwhile, QPR boss Harry Redknapp remains keen on a raid on FA Cup opponents West Bromwich Albion.

Redknapp has not ruled out renewing his interest in West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie.

The Nigerian did not start in Albion’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of QPR in an FA Cup third round replay at the Hawthorns yesterday evening.