Manchester United are close to securing the signature of talented Brazilian defender Dodo from Corinthians in a reported £6million deal. Dodo, whose full name is Jose Rodolfo Pires Ribeiro Dodo, is only 17, but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sees potential in the youngster, and will take him as a special guest to view the Champions League final between the Red Devils and Barcelona before putting pen to paper.
Dodo holds a Portuguese passport, which means he won’t have problems obtaining a work permit. According to reports, Dodo will play the first half of the 2009-10 season in his native Brazil, and return to United in February 2010 when he turns eighteeen. United already have three Brazilians in their set up- twins Fabio and Rafael da Silva and midfielder Anderson, and four if you count Rodrigo Possebon.
In other Premiership gossip, Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz wants a “big team” move. His most likely destination is Eastlands, where boss Mark Hughes spent the full January transfer window trying to persuade Blackburn to allow him to move.
Also, Arsenal’s Togolese international Emmanuel Adebayor is being linked with a move to Chelsea this summer. Carlo Ancelotti, who has been a long time admirer of Adebayor at Milan, is likely to take over the reigns from Guus Hiddink in the summer, and has identified Adebayor as a replacement for Ivory coast striker Didier Drogba.
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