Javier Mascherano allegedly wants to leave Liverpool for Barcelona and the club is apparently desperate to keep the player. If he wants to go then let him go - there are two inexpensive, readily-available players out there that Rafael Benitez could sign with the money who would instantly improve the club's chances of landing a first ever Premiership title.

Gameweek 17 is fast approaching, and for the unprepared may cause something of an issue as four teams do not play. And as the four teams represent some of the more popular value players, there is a risk your team may contain several players who earn no points that week. Now is the time to make some strategic use of transfers to plan ahead.

Hi, back from a weekend in the countryside, back to the SpanishFootball posting & the FC BARCELONA news last Friday that withZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC both were close to commencing a newrelationship. Here is the latest situation: FC BARCELONA & INTERMILAN has agreed to the idea of 45M€ + SAMUEL ETO ´O + a oneyear loan (with buying option) of ALEXANDER HLEB.

AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO

FC Barcelona this evening completed a blockbuster move bringing Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Nou Camp in exchange for Samuel Eto'o plus 40 million euros and Alexander Hleb who will be with Inter on a one year loan.

More details to come

Graham Alexander is Burnley's captain, is £4.5m, and best of all is likely to line up in front of his stated position. Alexander is listed in the game as a defender but he's really Burnley's defensive midfielder. While he likely won't be earning clean sheet points every week, every little bit helps.

Cristiano Ronaldo spoke of his joy at getting off the mark for Real Madrid but again insisted the most important thing is for the team to continue improving in the build up to the new season.

Playing in his third match since his world-record £80m move from Manchester United, Ronaldo netted his first goal for Madrid after slotting home a second-half penalty during tonight's Peace Cup match with Liga de Quito.

Fingers crossed here for another good NFL day for the bird teams.  The Ravens I had with a win.  But the Cardinals?  Wow.  I just hope they didn't steal the Eagles' mojo.  (Nah ... an unworthy thought to be having this snowy NH Sunday.)  If Ravens can bring down Titans, certainly Eagles can bring down [.

During the last month, Arsenal's Alexander Song has become more and more of a favourite amongst supporters, but according to coach Arsene Wenger, it's not always been like that.

The Frenchman said:

I read articles that stated Song was the worst signing I ever made since I am at Arsenal.

Splinters are very painful. Ask Alexander Hleb's arse. He sits on the bench so often at Barcelona his arse gets splinters all the time.
The six minute cameo he had tonight gave his arse a welcome break from the ninety minute splintering it usually receives. And what a six minute cameo it was.

League One Playoff Final: Scunthorpe 3 - 2 Millwall
Scunthorpe prevailed over Millwall in an outstanding playoff final, and are back in the Championship for next season. Matt Sparrow put the Iron in front with a goal in the sixth minute, but Gary Alexander responded with two goals in a three minute span near the end of the first half.

Why oh why do they bother! Alexander Hleb warned Arsenal last night that they will continue to lose many of their best players every year because of financial reasons. The Belarus midfield player left the Emirates Stadium to join Barcelona last summer because he was dissatisfied with the club's contract offer, .

Via La Prensa - Alexander Da Silva
El enganche de la selección de Panamá Nelson El Russo Barahona seguirá en el fútbol colombiano.
Según informaciones publicadas ayer en el Diario del Huila y en la página oficial del equipo colombiano Atlético Huila, Barahona seguirá y cumplirá con su contrato por un semestre más.

The Belarus international Alexander Hleb may be able to end his Catalan nightmare. Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb is a transfer target for Aston Villa, according to Daily Star Sunday. The Belarus international has been enduring a tough time at Camp Nou, as first team opportunities are proving to be very elusive.

FBL-WC2010-CONFED-ESP-USA-MATCH13
Originally uploaded by katnguyen2 Aunque usted no lo quiera creer o aceptar el equipo de las barras y las estrellas va ganando a los brasileños al medio tiempo de la gran Final de la confederaciones.
Landon Donovan y Dempsey pusieron arriba a los norteamericanos, Luis Fabiano acorto distancias apenas empezando el segundo tiempo.

If you own a Zlatan Ibahimovic Inter Milan jersey, or if you have a Samuel Eto'o Barcelona jersey, it's time to hang those in the closet for good.

According to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, his club and Inter have agreed to a blockbuster deal involving a swap between Ibrahimovic and Eto'o.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

On Saturday Barcelona continue their race for the La Liga title when they travel to Madrid to take on 14th place Getage. The team will arrive on gameday in order to remain near home as long as possible to rest up for the busy week ahead.

Coach Pep Guardiola announced today the team that will travel to take on Getafe.

This just in, Alexander Hleb is not happy at Barcelona. The Belarus international left for the Camp Nou last summer but failed to make much of an impact at the Champions League winning club. All signs point to Hleb heading...

Via La Prensa - Alexander Da Silva
El delantero actualmente se encuentra en Granada, donde hoy jugará un partido amistoso con el equipo panameño.
El técnico del equipo Tigres, Daniel Guzmán, aseguró ayer que el delantero panameño Blas Pérez no está en sus planes para la próxima temporada del fútbol mexicano.

Cesc Fabregas last night shocked Arsenal by admitting: "My family would understand if I signed for Real Madrid." In a heart-rending interview he talks about the frustration and pain of four barren years in North London and brands the Gunners "impotent". Real Madrid's huge summer spending spree to attract the world's best players to the Bernabeu sits [.

Image via BIG Pictures UK/KEYSTONE Press

It's a £4,000 Alexander McQueen dress. The shoes are Louboutins. The hair is from a freshly-shorn foreigner who now has enough money to buy groceries this week.

We kid. Hair extensions are every diva's best friend and it was wrong of us to even acknowledge them, let alone make an ill-timed joke.

Lee Chung-Yong 이청용, Korea's brightest soccer prospect, is contemplating a Bolton Wanderers move. His football pedigree is clear for all to see. In January of 2009, Lee was named as one of the top 50 rising stars in football by the British daily, The Times. -WikiCurrently plying his trades with FC Seoul, who currently top the Korean K-League, Lee Chung-Yong is compared to Alexander Hleb by many in

REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta along with Txiki Begiristain were in Milan negotiating the possible transfer of Inter´s star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Inter president Massimo Moratti confirmed today that in fact the meeting did take place. The discussion surrounded a possible swap of Ibrahimovich for Samuel Etoó with also a possibility of Alexander Hleb being included.

Here's the latest European Tranfers News, including Samuel Eto'o accepting a move to Inter and Ibrahimovic moving to Barcelona.

Eto'o to Inter, Ibrahimovic to Barcelona - Samuel Eto'o's agent has announced that the Barcelona striker has agreed personal terms with Inter Milan.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has been officially presented as an Inter Milan player at the team's training centre in Appiano Gentile. Eto was part of a trade and cash deal that saw Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic move to FC Barcelona for Eto, 46 million euros and Belarus winger Alexander Hleb on a one year loan.

Via prensa.com - Alexander Da SilvaFoto: www.dim.com.co
El atacante panameño Brunet Hay Pino debutó ayer con el Independiente de Medellín en el empate 1 a 1 ante el Once Caldas por la Copa Colombia.
Hay entró de cambio al minuto 72, en lo que fue su primera acción con el DIM desde que llegó a préstamo al club la semana pasada.

Good news for pubs and bars in and around Cardiff. Russian football fans have been told to drink whisky on their trip to Wales for next month's World Cup qualifier to ward off the virus, the head of the country's supporter association (VOB) said today.
"We urge our fans to drink a lot of Welsh whisky as a form of disinfection," the VOB president, Alexander Shprygin, said.

Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb, now with Stuttgart, again declared he made the wrong decision in leaving the North London club for Barcelona.

In an interview published by ESPN Soccernet, the Belarus International said:

Of course I regret leaving Arsenal. I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe, a team which was always in the top-four in the Premier League and were Champions League contenders.

Here's to you, Sky Blue!

Too bad a red card played into the mix and overall I wish the officiating, all year, in the WPS, had not been quite as 'obtrusive' as it's tended to be but that takes nothing away from the Sky Blue story.

Christie Rampone gets my vote for League MVP. (Oh, and in noodling around on the net last night, I saw that Ian Sawyers and Kelly Lindsey are both working at Julie Foudy's Leadership/Soccer Camp.

The third round of fixtures is in the book for the 2009-10 Barclays Premier League campaign. Alexander Caulfied, Kartik Krishnaiyer and Laurence McKenna break down all the action.

Included in the discussion is Jermain Defoe's hot start, Martin O'Neil's mastery of Anfield, William Gallas' sudden goal scoring prowess, Chelsea's Italian styled football, and much much more.

Liverpool's squad has clearly been weakened by Rafa Benitez's failure to adequately replace Xabi Alonso over the summer. As a result, the team is struggling. It didn't need to be this way though - there were players available Liverpool could have (and should have) signed. Here are three of the best candidates, all of whom were within the club's budget.

Ivan Rakitić's 24th minute goal sealed the deal for Croatia as they played Belarus in Zagreb on Saturday. Vedran Runje produced an excellent string of saves to ensure that the score stayed 1-0; it was a wonderful game on his part. As Croatia were without Luka Modrić and Belarus Alexander ...

Oh yes, he's at it again!

"I regret leaving Arsenal," Alexander Hleb lamented.

"I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe. I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.

REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

Thierry Henry looks to be doubtful to take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu tomorrow. Henry suffered a blow to the head this past Tuesday in Champions League action against Chelsea. The blow happened when Henry went up for the ball and was struck by Chelsea defender Alex with an elbow.

Zak Whitbread's Millwall will take a slender lead into their League One play-off semi-final second leg after beating Leeds 1-0 at the Den today.Lions veteran Neil Harris rifled home the only goal in the 72nd minute with the Leeds defense in shreds following a lightning raid by Millwall's Nadjim Abdou and Gary Alexander.

Via prensa.com - ALEXANDER DA SILVA
Jugó todo el partido que terminó empatado a tres goles, con el número 25 en su camiseta, el equipo del Coco marcha tercero.
El panameño Luis Coco Henríquez anotó ayer su primer gol de la temporada en Polonia en el empate 3 a 3 de su equipo el Lech Poznan ante el Polonia Warsaw en las instancias finales de la liga polaca.

A rare WAG lookalike to mix things up a bit: Sarah Alexander is a comedienne/actress best known for her roles in Green Wing and Smack the Pony. Sylvia van der Vaart is - of course - the wife of...

The deal which almost beats the Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid saga as the deal of the summer, was completed today.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a five-year contract at Barcelona in a deal equivalent to a €66m transfer from Internazionale, which includes Samuel Eto'o moving in the opposite direction.

Head coach Pep Guardiola announced the 26 players that will be making the trip to the United States for the US Tour. Two names missing from the list are Alexander Hleb and Martín Cáceres both who are rumored to be going out on loan for next season.

The 26 players are:
Valdés, Jorquera, Jorquera, Puyol, Alves, Sánchez, Piqué, Márquez, Henrique, Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Touré, Keita, Busquets, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Henry, Pedro, Messi, Bojan, Ibrahimovic, Muniesa, Font s, Jonathan dos Santos and Jeffren.

The UEFA Champions League Qualifying has begun with teams looking to make the group stage. Wednesday's feature match was Scottish club Celtic FC taking on Russian side Dinamo Moscow. Here's the recap and video highlights of the match.

Dinamo Moscow tops Celtic 1-0 Video Highlights

Celtic struggled at home against Dinamo Moscow as they fell 0-1 in the first leg of UEFA Champions League Qualifying.

AP Photo/Daniel Maurer

After one year with FC Barcelona and limited playing time, Alexander Hleb has signed a contract with his former club VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. Hleb had become frustrated with his lack of playing time last season and made his feelings known with comments to the media.