According to Spanish Sports paper "AS" Spanish Club ATLETICO DE MADRID has decided to accelerate its attempts to sign 24 year old PSV EINHOVEN midfielder / forward IBRAHIM AFELLAY. Atletico has communicated to PSV its intention to begin negotiations & attempt to have the player shut & tied for this upcoming "Winter Market".

For the first time in his career, Afellay truly adds something to the Dutch team. The multifunctional midfielder (24 years old) dribbles out of the shadow of his more famous team mates, who play their weekly games in England, Spain, Italy or Germany. "Ibi is doing great," Van Persie concurs. [read more]

There are a few more Arsenal transfer rumours around this morning, and we have even found yet another goalkeeper to add to the ever-lengthening list. Kaspar Schmeichel is to be released from his contract at the cash-challenged Notts County at the end of the season, and therefore the son of Man Utd legend Peter Scmeichel [.

There is still lots of Arsenal transfer rumours about, and it certainly looks like Laurent Koscielny will be the first target to arrive at the Emirates since the window opened. I have already covered what Koscielny's agent said so it certainly looks nailed on. The latest on the sulky William Gallas is that he is close [.

Por Guido Plotnik
Holanda 1 - Japón 0
Holanda venció 1 a 0 a Japón en el duelo de punteros del grupo E y con la victoria de Dinamarca sobre Camerún, es el primer clasificado a los octavos de final.
Formaciones:
Holanda: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, De Jong, Sneijder (Afellay, 83 min), Van der Vaart (Elia, 72 min); Kuyt y Van Persie (Huntelaar, 88 min).

Por Guido Plotnik
Holanda 1 - Japón 0
Holanda venció 1 a 0 a Japón en el duelo de punteros del grupo E y con la victoria de Dinamarca sobre Camerún, es el primer clasificado a los octavos de final.
Formaciones:
Holanda: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, De Jong, Sneijder (Afellay, 83 min), Van der Vaart (Elia, 72 min); Kuyt y Van Persie (Huntelaar, 88 min).

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos, Dani Alves, Felipe Melo, Silva, Kaka, Robinho, Luis Fabiano.

Subs: Gomes, Luisao, Thiago Silva, Gilberto, Josue, Julio Baptista, Kleberson, Nilmar, Grafite, Doni.

The combustible Felipe Melo in for the more cool, calculating Elano.

The schizophrenic ramblings of Cesc Fabregas yesterday has reignited the Arsenal transfer rumours suggesting a replacement. Carlos Puyol's outburst has suggested that Fabregas is being kept against his will, and if he demands a move when he meets with Wenger next week, Arsenal will be put in a no-win situation.

The Euro 2012 bandwagon continued on it's merry way tonight with mixed results. Shock of the night was Azerbaijan beating Turkey. Below are all the Results and Scorers from tonight's important ties.

Group A

Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Turkey
Sadygou '38

Belgium 4 - 4 Austria
Vossen '12 Schiemer '14, '63
Fellaini '47 Arnautovic '30
Ogunjimi '87 Harnik'90
Lomberts '89

Kazakhstan 0 - 3 Germany
Klose'48
Gomez '76
Podolski '85

Group B

Armenia 4 - 0 Andorra
Ghazaryan '4
Mkhitaryan '16
Mousisyan '33
Pizzelli '52

Macedonia 0 - 1 Russia
Kerzhakov '8

Slovakia 1 - 1 Rep.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.... . O PSV não fez por menos e aplicou "chapa 10" aos rivais do Feyenoord. O brasileiro Jonathan Reis foi um dos protagonistas da partida, com um hat-trick. Afellay, Toivonen, Lens (2), Dzsudzsak (2) e Engelaar marcaram os restantes golos. Os actuais líderes beneficiaram ainda da expulsão de Leerdam aos 34', para arrancar para uma segunda parte em grande estilo.

I am amazed to find that there is enough Arsenal gossip around to make an article, despite there still being another ten weeks until the window opens. But I think we can blame Arsene Wenger for encouraging them as he said last week: "We have still resources available to bring one or two players in [.

Over the regular morning coffee today, I was reading that Liverpool's new multi-millionaire owners NESV have told reporters that come January, the board will be spending-smart, and not splashing out on any big-money signings. Now, although this may sound like the complete antithesis to what the Liverpudlians had been hoping for, I cannot help but back John W Henry's decision.

Tumbleweeds. Tumbleweeds everywhere.

In all seriousness, it's really quiet on the Liverpool news front right now, but here are a few interesting links and pieces to distract you before you turn to licking toads to pass the time:

* Rory Smith says the club is looking at Defour, Afellay, and Hazard as possibilities for the January window.

The 24 year-old Dutch international Ibrahim Afellay has worked his contract with PSV Eindhoven to a T, and will become the hottest property on the market during the summer transfer window. Like Joe Cole last summer, Afellay will be able to sell himself to the highest bidder, but it is being reported today that the talented [.

By Dominic Vieira, writing from Lancaster

FC Barcelona are on the verge of completing a January move for PSV's Ibrahim Afellay, who's contract expires next summer. According to MARCA a €3m deal has been agreed and all that remains for the transaction to materialise is an agreement between the player and La Liga champions.

The Dutch people are impressed with Twente's performance in the CL. Despite their loss in Milan.

Wesley Sneijder: "Inter is impressed with Theo Janssen. He's clearly ready for a big move. Afellay is going to Barcelona, Janssen will be ready for a big club too. I can't say it's Inter, it's [read more]

With most games canceled due to the cold, it was a warm farewell for Ibi Afellay, who said goodbye to the fans after the 3-1 win over Roda JC. According to PSV coach Fred Rutten, the Eredivisie will lose a player of the extraordinary category. Afellay highly enjoyed the game. [read more]

(Summary is not available.)