Guus Hiddink would consider Inter Milan says agent

Guus Hiddink's agent has suggested the Dutchman may be interested in becoming the next coach of Inter Milan.

The role is likely to be vacated by Leonardo shortly, with the former AC Milan boss poised to become Paris St Germain's new sporting director.

Inter have already made moves to find a successor for Leonardo but have met several obstacles with Porto's Andre Villas-Boas' release clause too steep while Sinisa Mihajlovic has reiterated his commitment to Fiorentina.

Former Argentina boss Marcelo Bielsa has also ruled himself out of the running.

But Cees van Nieuwenhuizen has said his client, currently in charge of the Turkish national side, "would evaluate" Inter's offer should the Nerazzurri reach an agreement with Hiddink's current employers.

"We have never spoken to (Inter president Massimo) Moratti," Van Nieuwenhuizen told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"Hiddink has a contract with the Turkish federation and therefore before any talks can begin, Moratti must contact the (Turkish) federation and say he is interested in Guus.

"He is contracted until 2012 so, for the time being, there is no possibility that he can coach Inter.

"If Inter reached an agreement with Turkey? Well at that point Hiddink would certainly evaluate the

Nerazzurri offer but he is a professional and he has never broken a contract in his whole career."

Hiddink has also been linked with a move back to Chelsea, with whom he had a successful caretaker spell in 2009, possibly in a sporting director role with the west London club reportedly targeting Villas-Boas to be their next coach.

Steven Gerrard hopes Liverpool can close gap with Manchester United

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is hopeful the club's transfer activity this summer will give the Reds the opportunity to redress the balance in their long-running battle with Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side edged one ahead of their arch-rivals in terms of championship titles with their 19th success in May.

By contrast, Liverpool have not won the league since 1990 - when Kenny Dalglish was in charge first time around - and their last trophy of any kind was the 2006 FA Cup.

With owners Fenway Sports Group willing to invest heavily in players for the long-term future - having recently signed England Under-21 midfielder Jordan Henderson in a £20million deal - Gerrard is optimistic they can match United and he will win more trophies before the end of his Anfield career.

"As a Liverpool fan and a player it's frustrating when you see your arch-rivals lifting trophies but you've got to give credit where it's due. They've won it, they've overtaken us," said the 31-year-old.

"Now the challenge for us is to equalise. We've got to make sure we've got a squad capable of going into the season and competing with Manchester United.

"It's a big statement by the club getting a big signing in early and now we're watching anxiously for a few more to follow. It's exciting times.

"It's important this team delivers very soon because we've been a number of seasons without putting a trophy in the cabinet and that's not what Liverpool is about.

"I want to play well, I want to score goals - but it's much more important that the team plays well and we all end the season happy."

Gerrard is currently undergoing a programme of rehabilitation - the club's physios have been working with him every day at his holiday home in Portugal - after groin surgery in March but he will be ready for the start of pre-season.

It is has been the longest spell on the sidelines of his career but the England midfielder is confident he and Liverpool will feel the benefit when the new campaign kicks off in August.

"I want to come back with a bang, I want to have a big season," Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv.

"It's been non-stop football for me since I started when I was 17. I've never had a period of more than four or five weeks out of the game, so it's been nice to rest mentally.

"You don't want to miss games but when you're watching them it gives you that edge, that buzz to get back.

"I'll come back hungry and hopefully there's a very productive season ahead for me.

"I've had a rest mentally, my injury's coming on well and I can't wait for the season to start.

"There's still a lot of time for me to achieve bigger and better things. I'd like to finish my career with a few more trophies.

"I always look at the 35 marker. If I get there and I'm still involved with Liverpool I'll be delighted but at the moment I'm feeling as good as ever.

"I've had time to get my body right, get my body strong. I'm still four or five weeks away from playing a game but I believe I'll come back in better physical condition than I've ever been."

Cesc Fabregas doing 'all he can' to join Barcelona

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has admitted the Catalan club are unwilling to pay Arsenal's £35million valuation of their captain Cesc Fabregas, but says the midfielder is doing "all he can" to join Pep Guardiola's side.

Fabregas' wish to join Barca - where he started out as a youth player - is no secret, although the midfielder claimed he was happy at Arsenal just last week.

But the Gunners captain, who left Barca at 16, also admitted he dreams of playing for the Nou Camp side and Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood revealed there had been contact with the Catalan club this week, saying Fabregas' desire to return home was "understandable".

In a similar stance to last summer, when Barca had two bids turned down for the player, Rosell claimed the Catalan club would not pay over the odds for the midfielder.

"He (Cesc) is doing everything he can to come (here)," the Barca president told Catalan station TV3 on Monday night.

"Guardiola knows the values of players and Cesc's is less than 40million (euros). Barcelona will offer less and if they (Arsenal) don't accept, then he won't come. Pep knows the club is not well-off in terms of money."

Meanwhile, Barca are expected to seal the signature of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez this week from Udinese, but Rosell appeared cautious.

"There is nothing closed with Alexis," he said.

Rosell also revealed that full-back Eric Abidal had rejected a new contract offer from the club and admitted relations with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez were "on standby" after their failure to act against doping allegations aimed at Barca last season by radio station Cadena COPE.

"I haven't spoken to Florentino Perez since the last game (against Madrid)," he said.

"My relationship with him is on standby because there are wounds that are still not closed and that need to scar."

COPE claimed the allegations came from a senior Madrid director and Rosell says Real's lukewarm denial has failed to convince him of the innocence of Barca's greatest rivals.

"Actions speak louder than words and it's not that I don't believe Florentino Perez, but I would believe him more if Real Madrid had taken COPE to court," he said.

Chelsea to take £13m gamble on Mourinho protégé as new manager

Hiddink's change of heart clears way for Villas-Boas, who is set to bring £26m striker Falcao with him from Porto

Guus Hiddink has told friends that he will not be joining Chelsea in any capacity this summer, which means the 33-year-old Andre Villas-Boas will have sole control of the club as its new manager.

Hiddink has indicated that he will now be staying with Turkey until the end of their Euro 2012 qualification campaign and possibly beyond to the tournament next summer, ruling him out of any potential director of football role. The club had originally turned to Villas-Boas as a coach to work under Hiddink but were so impressed by the Porto manager that they decided to offer him an all-encompassing manager's job.

An announcement on Villas-Boas, who worked at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho as an opposition scout, is expected in the next few days by Chelsea. It is a remarkable turnaround in the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti's successor, with the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, previously having intended to appoint Hiddink.

It emerged yesterday Chelsea will have to pay around £13.2m compensation to Porto for Villas-Boas, a huge sum for a manager. The club are also expected to sign Porto's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who has a £26m buyout clause in his contract – a move that is likely to infuriate the Porto president, Jorge Pinto da Costa further.

Appointing a manager with only one full season under his belt is a huge step – even though Villas-Boas achieved great success in his debut year with Porto. He won the Portuguese title going through the season unbeaten, picked up the two domestic trophies and also the Europa League with a win percentage of 84 per cent. His only other managerial job was eight months in charge at Academica de Coimbra.

The Russian oligarch is believed to be the driving force behind appointing Mourinho's protégé as Chelsea's sixth manager in four years. While it is understood he is ready to meet the buyout clause in Villas-Boas' contract, Chelsea are trying to pay less. Villas-Boas informed Porto yesterday of his intention to leave and was last night at home waiting for the deal to be completed.

The Portuguese coach, who wrote famously detailed dossiers on the opposition for Mourinho at Chelsea from 2003 to 2007, has been offered £5m a year on a three-year deal to take over at Stamford Bridge and replace the experienced Ancelotti, who was sacked on the final day of last season.

Provided Abramovich is successful in enticing Villas-Boas away from Porto, it will take the Russian's total spending in compensation to former clubs and sacked managers to £62m.

Porto yesterday issued a statement to the Portuguese stock exchange that they had not received the £13.2m required to release their manager from his contract. However, it is likely a deal will be reached by the end of the week. A Chelsea spokesman said: "We hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the new manager in the next few days or so."

Hiddink is understood to have been reluctant to take on the day-to-day responsibility of coaching the first team full-time at the age of 64. He wanted to appoint several coaches, allowing him to spend time in the Netherlands, which alarmed the Chelsea board and prompted a closer look at Villas-Boas.

Pinto da Costa yesterday admitted that he would be unable to prevent Villas-Boas from moving to England if his release fee is met. He said: "Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of €15m [£13.2m]. If someone deposits €15m into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything."

Sources in Portugal last night claimed that Villas-Boas had been told Chelsea would make funds available for him to take the prolific striker Falcao with him. The 25-year-old striker set a new coring record of 17 goals in 14 games in the Europa League campaign.

Villas-Boas, who at 33 is the same age as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, has become the most talked about young coach in world football despite only working as a manager for 20 months at two Portuguese clubs.

Porto are said to be extremely unhappy at the prospect of him leaving, having already brought in four new players – Djalma, Iturbe, Kelvin and Rafael Bracalli – that Villas-Boas identified. Pinto da Costa is also understood to be disgruntled at the timing of Chelsea's approach, as the man he would have wanted to replace Villas-Boas, the former Beira-Mar manager Leonardo Jardim, has just been snapped up by rivals Braga.

During his brief managerial reign, Villas-Boas has been keen to differentiate himself from his mentor Mourinho, saying: "We have different personalities and different views towards the game. I respect Jose, but don't want to be a Mourinho clone. I want to be able to work freely, without worrying what he thinks."

A key difference is that Villas-Boas places a greater emphasis on attacking football than his mentor. His Porto team scored 73 goals in 30 league games last season, and fired in 37 goals on their way to winning the Europa League.

Like Mourinho he has courted controversy in the past, clashing with Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard during his time working under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea and Arsenal in contact claims Adel Taarabt

Adel Taarabt claims both Chelsea and Arsenal have been in contact over a potential summer transfer - but admits staying at Queen's Park Rangers in the Barclays Premier League next season would not be a bad move either.

Having played an integral part in helping the west London club return to the top flight for the first time in 15 years, the Moroccan midfielder has been linked with a switch away from Loftus Road.

However, the former Tottenham man, 22, revealed helping Neil Warnock's men battle to retain their place among England's elite is also appealing.

Speaking to L'Equipe, Taarabt said: "QPR will demand £10 million pounds for me, and for now, the clubs do not move too much.

"I had contact with Arsenal and Chelsea, but it is a little muddled [difficult]. Arsenal have not yet sold [Cesc] Fabregas, and as for Chelsea, they do not yet have a coach, so we will see.

"I would like to stay in London - it is the best city in the world, and with Queens Park Rangers? Why not?

"When I talked with the coach, he told me the club would aim to be in the top eight."

Warnock is keen to bolster his squad ahead of the new campaign.

England striker Jay Bothroyd, who is a free agent after leaving Cardiff, is a potential target, along with Blackpool's DJ Campbell.

While the QPR boss has played down reports he is set to move for AC Milan veteran defender Nicola Legrottaglie, £3million-rated Real Valladolid striker Javi Guerra is another said to be on the radar.

Whoever Rangers bring in, defender Fitz Hall maintains the Premier League newcomers should have nothing to fear for the challenges ahead.

The 30-year-old - who has Premier League experience from his time at Southampton, Crystal Palace and Wigan - sees no reason why the west London club should not be able to hold their own next season.

"We can do well next season. The gap between the Premier League and the Championship is definitely closing," Hall told http://www.qpr.co.uk/.

"The sides that were promoted last season all did well and even though Blackpool got relegated, they were flying at the start of the season and surprised a few people.

"It gives everyone hope.

Chile will allow Alexis Sanchez to travel to Barcelona

Chile coach Claudio Borghi will allow star forward Alexis Sanchez to leave the national team's training camp ahead of the Copa America to sign for Barcelona.

Sanchez, who plays for Udinese, is close to joining the Spanish and European champions, but needs to travel to Spain in order to finalise a deal.

Borghi says Chile have no option but to allow the 22-year-old to fly to Barcelona as they could otherwise be liable to cover the cost of the transfer, reported to be around 30million euros, if Sanchez suffers a serious injury while on international duty.

"It's a very complicated matter," he told television station Chilevision.

"If we don't allow him to travel, and the sale goes through, we would be accountable for 45 million dollars in the event of anything happening to him.

"It's very simple. As soon as the confirmation of his transfer comes through, he will have the authorisation (to travel)."

Chile are currently preparing for the Copa America, which starts on July 1, and Borghi says Sanchez will not be able to travel during the tournament.

"If it happens in the middle of the Copa America, obviously not, but we have time and we know we cannot be responsible for that amount of money, so the ideal situation would be for him to travel and sign when the deal is confirmed," he said.

Borghi believes Sanchez is good enough to play for any side and reckons the youngster is remaining calm during the negotiations between Udinese and Barca.

"We have spoken about this possibility he has," Borghi said. "It's not easy. He's 22 and his transfer costs a lot of money, but he is ready to play anywhere.

"He is training to be the best. He has a little bit of anxiety but that will surely come to an end when he signs the contract."

Porto deny Andre Villas-Boas bound for Chelsea

Porto maintain the 15million euro release clause for manager Andre Villas-Boas has not yet been triggered, as their coach looked set to head to Chelsea.

The Blues are seeking to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who was unceremoniously axed at the end of last season, just 12 months after guiding the west London club to an historic double.

With Guus Hiddink - who enjoyed a successful spell as caretaker at Stamford Bridge in 2008/2009 - now appearing set for a sporting director role once a £4million compensation agreement from his departure as Turkey national team boss is secured, Chelsea seem ready to bring in a younger coach to oversee the first team.

Villas-Boas, 33, would certainly be no stranger to Stamford Bridge, having worked there under Jose Mourinho, and the Portuguese coach has seen his stock rise after guiding the Dragons to domestic and Europa League success last season.

However, the Dragons insist as yet no deal has been done for his departure.

"So far this club has not received any communication that this clause has been exercised, nor of the agreement of the coach that is desired," a Porto statement read.

Despite their determination to keep hold of Villas-Boas, president Pinto da Costa admitted the club could not prevent their manager from leaving should certain financial conditions be met.

"Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of 15million euros," he confirmed.

"If someone deposits 15million euros into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything because it is something that is contractually specified."

While there has as yet been no official comment from Chelsea, reports suggest a £4.4m-a-year salary is on the table for Villas-Boas, who could bring star striker Falcao to Stamford Bridge along with him.