QPR boss Harry Redknapp eyes MLS loan deals

QPR boss Harry Redknapp says he could look to the MLS in the January transfer window.

However, the 65-year-old may have a limited budget at his disposal after Tony Fernandes already invested large sums in former manager Mark Hughes' underachieving squad over the summer.

Redknapp will look at loan deals for MLS stars keen to return to England during the American off-season. Former Everton stars Tim Cahill and Landon Donovan are among those mentioned, but former Spurs striker Robbie Keane is top of the QPR manager's list.

"The MLS market is one that we've got to look at," Redknapp told Sky Sports.

"Robbie's a good shout. He probably would be an interesting player.

"I haven't spoken to him yet, no, but he would be an interesting player. He's a good pro and he would be the ideal type to have around for sure because he would give us something."

Another former Spurs man who could be avai lable is David Bentley. His loan deal at Russian side FC Rostov ends in January.

"Bentley's a good player," Redknapp added. "It shows that he must have wanted to play football to go to Russia so credit to him.

"He could have stayed and took his money but he's gone out to Russia. Dave's a good footballer - I haven't had problems with him."

The west London outfit are still without a win this season and are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Kaka laughs off LA Galaxy rumours

Kaka has reiterated his desire to stay at Real Madrid for the foreseeable future, and has insisted that there is no truth in the rumours linking him withLA Galaxy.

The MLS side supposedly see the Brazil international as the ideal replacement for David Beckham following the latter's departure, but Kaka is keen to remain at his current club.

"There's nothing going on with LA Galaxy or the MLS at the moment. We'll see what Real Madrid have in mind," Kaka was quoted as saying AS.

"I have always said I would be delighted to stay here. I'm fine and I have a contract to 2015.

"I hope to know the club's decision and its position shortly. In the summer we will find a solution. I will continue to train and do what I do."

Kaka featured from the start in Real Madrid's 4-1 Champions League win over Ajax on Tuesday, and netted once from outside the 18-yard box to help his side to a comfortable home victory.

Henry agrees to rejoin Arsenal for a third spell

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey Chief Correspondent

Thierry Henry has agreed in principle to make a sensational return toArsenal for a third spell in January, Goal.comcan reveal.

The club are aiming for their all-time leading goalscorer to begin his second loan in consecutive seasons on January 1.

Henry has told Arsenal that he wants to return to the Emirates Stadium and the Londoners are now thrashing out an agreement with his club, New York Red Bulls, on the terms of the deal. The key sticking point is the length of the loan, with Arsene Wenger keen to have the 35-year-old for as long as possible.

The MLS club have given the go-ahead for Henry to join for a similar six-week period to last season but they are reluctant for the Frenchman to be allowed an extension to his stay much beyond mid-February.

Henry is due back in New York to honour the final year of his contract with the Red Bulls, where the season runs from March to November.

However, discussions are more advanced than at this time last year and there should not be a repeat of the hitches which held up the deal in late December and early January in 2011-12.

As a result of medical and insurance issues, the forward's registration did not go through until January 7 and the first of his seven substitute appearances was in the 1-0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup two days later, when he came off the bench to score a late winner.

Arsenal and Henry are confident that he can make an even bigger impact than his output of two goals - a third strike was later chalked off retrospectively - in seven games last season.

Wenger decided to make a move for the club's 228-goal record scorer after being struck by his condition and sharpness during a few training sessions at London Colney in November after Henry had completed a third season at the Red Bulls.

The striker will train with Arsenal in December when he returns from holiday and should be back in the first-team squad and available for selection for the New Year.

Wenger has made no attempt to hide his desire to bring Henry back for a third spell, following his record-breaking eight years from 1999 to 2007 and then his loan last season.

Asked about his fellow Frenchman, Wenger previously remarked: "A loan [for Henry] is still a possibility but we will still try to strengthen for the long term.

"Henry is the talent that you dream to have. He has fantastic physique, fantastic technique, a fantastic brain, all built together in one man. At the start he was not confident enough but he has gone on to show what a great player he is."

Henry will offer a temporary solution to Arsenal's centre forward problem but Wenger is still keen to move for a long-term forward signing in January. As revealed by Goal.com, his top target is Atletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez.

The Londoners will lose Gervinho on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January for up to six weeks and doubt surrounds the future of Theo Walcott, even though progress has been made in his contract negotiations with the club.

Henry will return to Arsenal on the back of his best season for the Red Bulls. The former France international capped an excellent campaign, which yielded 15 goals in 29 games, by being one of the three players nominated for the MLS most valuable player of the year award. Graham Zusi of Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski are the other nominees.

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Jol: Fulham did everything they could to convince Dempsey to stay

Fulham boss Martin Jol insists he has "no regrets" over Clint Dempsey's summer departure to Tottenham, suggesting that the Cottagers did all they could to stop the midfielder from leaving.

The USA international was the club's top goalscorer last season with 23 goals in all competitions, but a desire to regularly play in Europe prompted a move to White Hart Lane on the last day of the summer transfer window.

And, ahead of Dempseys return to Craven Cottage with his new side, Jol has said he has no lingering regrets over the transfer saga and respects the American's decision to leave.

"We did everything we could do so there are no regrets, Jol told reporters.

"He wanted to be appreciated financially and he wanted a bigger club, a Champions League club, and that is what he probably got with Spurs.

"Even when I said in my last conversation with him that I loved him, it was not good enough to keep him here. If you feel appreciated, you would like maybe to stay at Fulham so there is a contradiction there.

"I think he felt loved but he still wanted to move, but of course I understand what he means.

Jol went on to suggest that Dempseys mind was made up about leaving Craven Cottage as soon as he returned for pre-season training in July, with Liverpool heavy touted as his initial destination.

"From the first day he came back from holiday he didn't want to play here. He wanted to move so of course you can force the issue and then come up with things," Jol continued.

"But hopefully he will get over it and hopefully he will feel loved at Spurs."

Keane wants long-term LA Galaxy stay

Robbie Keane did his best to dispel any notion that he is looking to leave LA Galaxy anytime soon ahead of Saturday's MLS Cup.

The Republic of Ireland international has been a major hit during his time in Los Angeles, so much so that his future in MLS has been called into question a number of times.

But, despite moves back to Europe being mooted, the ex-Tottenham and Liverpool forward plans to stay for the foreseeable future.

"I'm really enjoying my time here, and as long as I keep enjoying myself and as long as I keep letting my football do the talking I'll be very happy to stay," Keane told reporters at a press conference on Friday. "I look forward to a number of years here."

The Irish striker has not always spoken so definitively about his MLS future. Following a successful loan spell with Aston Villa at the start of 2012, Keane had hinted at a move back to England.

In 32 regular season games with the team this season, the striker has scored 18 goals and added 10 assists.

In five play-off games this year he has scored five goals. He was named to the 2012 MLS Best XI earlier this week, and will take place in his second consecutive MLS Cup on Saturday.

"I'm very happy and very content here," Keane insisted. "When you're playing in a team like this and getting to championship finals every year, for me this is the second year in a row, so that certainly does help."

With the January transfer window coming up for European clubs - and with Premier League sides such as Norwich, Everton and QPR reportedly interested - Keane says he has not yet decided on a if he will repeat last season's short-term return to England at the start of 2013.

"Regarding going back, it isn't something I've even thought about to be honest with you," the Irishman added.

"My main focus now is tomorrow's game and let's see how I feel, but for now my first prerogative is the LA Galaxy and that will always be the case."

Club World Cup 2012 Team Intros: Monterrey

PROFILE
By Eric Gomez

The 2012 Club World Cup kicks off in less than one week, and is set to cap off the year in football as the world's most well-known clubs vie to be named the best.

The tournament, which runs from December 6 to 16 in Japan, will see the top clubs from all the world's confederations battling it out, and, while most football fans are familiar with the likes of Barcelona and Santos, several of the other competitors are in need of introduction.

Goal.com presents to you all seven teams that will be taking part in this highly-anticipated competition. Here, we profile Monterrey.

LA Galaxy - Houston Dynamo Betting Preview: Expect a high-scoring match for Beckham's grand finale

The MLS reaches its climax on Saturday evening, as the glamour of LA Galaxy take on the graft of Houston Dynamo with the championship title up for grabs.

The fixture is a rematch of last years final between these two sides, when Los Galacticos came out on top in a tight game thanks to a goal from Landon Donovan.

The champions are favourites to retain their title this year, with Marathon Bet offering odds of 22/25 (1.88) on a win for Bruce Arenas men.

Houston Dynamo actually emerged victorious in the last meeting between these two sides, but are a long shot at 71/20 (4.55) to take home the MLS Cup for the third time in their short history.

Only four of the 18 encounters between this pair have resulted in a draw, but you can get odds of 5/ 2 (3.50) on them cancelling each other out this time.

Although this match has understandably been billed as a farewell to David Beckham, who is set to leave the USA for a new challenge after the final, there are a number of other excellent players on display at the Home Depot Center.

Robbie Keane and Will Bruin have scored a combined 37 goals for Galaxy and Dynamo respectively, and both come into this match in fine form.

With such attacking talent on display, it is worth taking up the odds of 59/20 (3.95) on any player to score two goals, especially considering Keane has hit two doubles in his last three games, while Bruin also scored twice in the play-off win over Colorado Rapids.

Aside from that pair, the likes of Donovan, Oscar Boniek Garcia and of course Beckha m, will surely guarantee a fittingly entertaining final, with plenty of goalmouth action at both ends.

With seven of Galaxys last nine matches having featured at least three goals, odds of 11/10 (2.10) seem like terrific value on over 2.5 goals being scored in this match, and are surely too good to pass up.


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Al Hain-Cole is a Liverpool fan, experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.

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