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David Beckham was linked with Milan at the end of his time at Real Madrid, and it looks like he finally may don the Rossoneri shirt in January.

Becks is keen to maintain his fitness during the MLS off-season in order to cement a place in the England squad and what better place to do so than Fabio Capello's beloved Italy?

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is also open to the former Manchester United star training with them in the New Year.

"I don't see any downside," Ancelotti said. "We will get to know a true champion."

Vice-president Adriano Galliani was coy on whether it would result in a permanent transfer, saying: "You want to know if we will buy him? We'll talk about that in the future."

A full-time move is doubtful though, as the 33-year-old Beckham's huge commercial deal with LA Galaxy would not be replicated by Milan.

If it does happen, hopefully Beckham's notorious love of pizza can be kept in check. The East Londoner gorged on its doughy delights while injured at Manchester United and came back for the 2002 World Cup looking a touch tubby.

GS loves Wigan hit-man Amr Zaki. It also loves how commentators insist on mis-pronouncing his name as "Amir". What it does not love is that, eight matches into his Premier League career, he is already being told he must go to a big-four club, or Manchester City.

Whatever happened to players proving themselves over several seasons, or even just the one? Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is the latest person to encroach the burly Egyptian's tunnel-vision.

"Everybody will be checking his situation now," Benitez admitted after the on-loan Zamalek striker scored a brace against Liverpool.

Former Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has called for 'the other Zaki', Alan Shearer, to be given the poisoned Toon chalice.

Foul-mouthed ex-Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear is currently putting the fear of cod into players and fans alike, but Robson reckons Mary Poppins would give the spoonful of sugar required to kick-start their season.

"He knows what the club is all about, he knows the supporters, he knows how they feel and he'd be dedicated to it," Robson said.

"Alan will make a good manager. He has got clout."

Robson did, however, admit that Shearer lacks experience and that he would have to work alongside a senior coach who would not compromise his decision-making.

"He'd need someone else to coach for him or be a good liaison with him," he added. It would not be Kinnear though, who Robson accused of "taking the club down a peg or two".

Ambitious Serbian winger Milos Krasic has touted his availability to Premier League clubs as he angles for a move away from Russia, where he plays for CSKA Moscow.

"I think that the time has come for me to leave CSKA after several seasons which have been a fantastic success," he told Serbian newspaper Vecernje Novosti.

"Anyway I have personal ambitions and my wish is to play in England, I know that they [several English clubs] have been following me for a while.

"I am waiting until the end of the [Russian] season in November, when I hope to win a Champions League place with CSKA and after that we will have discussions.

Manchester United and Portsmouth are believed to have watched him play, as have Hamburg, Werder Bremen, Porto and Paris St-Germain.

Remember the good old days, when players would give interviews saying that they 'just want to play football'?

Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has done just that, refreshingly snubbing reported interest from Chelsea for a first-team place.

"I want to play football," he actually said.

"I don't want to sit on the bench somewhere and London isn't an exception.

"We agreed with Saturn's director to start contract talks next week."

Out-of-favour Barcelona full-back Sylvinho has gone on record as saying he would be keen on a move to Celtic.

"If there was an official offer and we could agree terms, I would be very, very excited about a move to Glasgow", he said.

Barcelona have had a working relationship in place with Celtic since Henrik Larsson moved to the Camp Nou four years ago: Marc Crosas has already joined the Hoops, while Barca youngster Jeffren Suarez has spoken of his desire to join the club on loan in January.

Young Bolton winger-forward Ricardo Vaz Te could be set for a loan move to Barnsley, according to the Daily Mirror.

The Portugal international has struggled to break into the first team this season and could be allowed to leave for some regular football.

Villarreal v Aalborg

Villarreal are unbeaten in La Liga and in Europe and have only conceded three goals so far this season.

Midfielder Sebastian Eguren and striker Nihat Kahveci are out with injuries, but Brazilian midfielder Edmilson looks set to return.

Kasper Risgard, Michael Beauchamp and Jacob Nordstrom are sidelined for the Danish side.

Reda Maher / Eurosport