Pandev nearing permanent Napoli switch

Italian TV station Mediaset reports that Napoli have agreed to sign forward Goran Pandev on permanent basis.

The Macedonian striker arrived to San Paolo on loan from Inter last summer and he enjoyed a promising campaign with the Azzurri.

He seems to have done enough to persuade the Napoli chiefs to try and make his loan deal permanent and Mediaset reports the transfer is close to being completed.

According to the source, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis and Inter owner Massimo Moratti have agreed an €8 million fee for the 28-year-old.

The Azzurri are already preparing for life without Ezequiel Lavezzi, who is set to leave San Paolo this summer, with youngster Lorenzo Insigne and Goran Pandev set to vie for a starting berth.

Goran Pandev has scored 6 goals and produced 5 assists in 30 Serie A games last term, but he could face a tough challenge from Insigne, who bagged 18 goals in 37 Serie B games while on loan at Pescara.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/pandev-nearing-permanent-napoli-switch/95566/

Inter hold Lavezzi hope

Inter have not given up hope of signing Ezequiel Lavezzi and are reportedly willing to offer Juan and Goran Pandev to Napoli in exchange.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is resigned to losing Argentina international Lavezzi but has repeatedly claimed that the player will only be allowed leave San Paolo if a club meets his 31-million-euro buy-out clause.

Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain appear willing to meet the asking price and Lavezzi’s agent has claimed that his client is bound for the Parc des Princes, but, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are now trying to persuade Napoli to accept a player-plus-cash deal.

The paper claims that Inter have offered the Coppa Italia winners 20-year-old centre-back Juan on loan for a season and ownership of Goran Pandev, who is scheduled to return to the San Siro this season after a nine-month stay in Naples.

Tuttosport, meanwhile, has revealed that Inter have already drawn up a list of alternative transfer targets and among them is Catania’s Alejandro Gomez.

Lavezzi’s compatriot, who also played for San Lorenzo, is coming off the back of a fine second season in Serie A, the midfielder having scored four goals in 34 appearances for his Sicilian employers.

It is believed that Catania could be willing to sell Gomez for seven million euros, making him an attractive cut-price option for the Inter.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/inter-hold-lavezzi-hope/95514/

Stramaccioni handed Inter deal World Soccer Shop

Inter Milan have handed a three-year contract to Andrea Stramaccioni after seeing him impress during a stint as interim coach.

Stramaccioni: Rewarded for his efforts

The 36-year-old was promoted to the senior dug-out from the youth team ranks in March following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

He oversaw a late-season revival in fortunes, but was unable to guide Inter into the Champions League.

He will, however, be given the opportunity to push for a top-three finish in 2012/13 after being handed the reins on a permanent basis.

"Yes, his contract was renewed earlier for three years," Inter president Massimo Moratti told reporters on Tuesday.

Stramaccioni has no previous top-flight coaching experience and had only been with Inter's youth team for less than year before being promoted into the top job.

He is, however, considered to be the man to guide Inter towards an exciting future.

Moratti expects his new boss to blood a number of Inter's successful youngsters into the senior set-up next term, after seeing them win the U21 Next Gen European Championship, but he will also be given money to spend.

Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi is understood to be a top target, but no discussions have been held as yet regarding a summer swoop.

"We said that we'd be in touch, but neither of us has been able to as we've both been busy," Moratti said when asked if he had spoken with Napoli counterpart Aurelio De Laurentiis about the Argentine playmaker.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17406/stramaccioni_handed_inter_deal

Ivory Coast name Lamouchi as coach

Ivory Coast have appointed former France international Sabri Lamouchi as their new coach.

The 40-year-old former Monaco, Inter and Marseille midfielder succeeds Francois Zahoui a day after the country lost 2-1 to Mali in an international friendly in France.

Lamouchi was surprisingly preferred to more accomplished candidates such as former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu and former PSG manager Antoine Kombouare.

Details of Lamouchi’s contract were not revealed by the Ivorian football body but he will likely lead the team through the qualifying campaigns of the 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Frenchman, who retired from football in 2001, is taking up his first coaching job with a national team.

Ivory Coast begin their World Cup qualifying matches on June 2 against Tanzania, followed by Morocco on June 9.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/ivory-coast-name-lamouchi-as-coach/95400/

Genoa dismiss Palacio reports World Soccer Shop

Genoa sporting director Stefano Capozucca has brushed aside rumours that a deal with Inter Milan has been agreed for Rodrigo Palacio.

Palacio: Linked with Inter Milan

Reports in Italy claim Inter have agreed an 11million euro deal, while Roma are also believed to the running to acquire the Argentinian forward.

But Capozucca told calciomercato.it. "He is a player that is not only monitored by Inter and Roma. Palacio asked to be transferred. In order for a transfer to be completed, you need three parties to work in the same direction: the buyer, the seller and the player. We are not ruling anything out.

"There are young interesting players at Roma that could interest us but they could also interest other clubs. We will wait a little bit.

"It's the [Genoa] president Enrico Preziosi that will make the decision and he will announce his choice in the coming days."

Palacio, 30, came close to joining Inter last summer but Genoa turned down all bids for the former Boca Juniors player. The South American, who scored 19 goals in 32 league games last season, is under contract with the Grifoni for a further two years.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/16909/genoa_dismiss_palacio_reports