FC Porto

FC Porto have been banned from the UEFA Champions League after being found guilty of match fixing during the league season of 03/04. The games involved were in the Portuguese league but the main points of interest in the scandal are that Mourinho was managing at the time and that it was the season they won the Champions League.

I suppose the question in every-ones mind is this, "Should they lose the recorded honour of the trophy for illegal conduct elsewhere in the same season?"

This is a tough one because of the amount of individuals involved with a football organisation and the various reasons they would have for bribing officials. But then again in this case the club president has also been suspended for two years which means he was in some way involved. This is terribly incriminating for the club just because of who he is.

Now apparently Mourinho has been absolved of any liability in this particular circumstance but for him this must be extremely aggravating because of the time that the incidents took place. This was the club at which he had his finest hour and the very season in which he was elevated onto the level of some of footballing history's greatest managers.

To win the Champions League is a great feat but to win the Champions League in the same season as the club you are working for is charged with bribery is strangely embarrassing.

The question will inevitably come up "who else did they bribe?"

Until this question is answered perhaps it is actually possible to doubt the greatness of "The special one."

Then again he did progress on and win the EPL with Chelsea which as everyone knows is no mean feat.

But this entire incident basically calls the whole result of the Champions League in that season into doubt and once again the shadow of corruption falls across our beloved game. After the other high profile scandals in the last few years and now this you have to wonder what else will come out.

Atletico Madrid are looking at signing Barcelona’s Mexico captain Rafael Marquez, so the defensive player can join compatriot Javier Aguire and fellow defensive recruitments Johny Heitinga and Thomas Ujfalusi. (Sky Sports News)

The Spanish club have also abandoned plans to sign a host of players, such as Porto’s Lucho Gonzalez, Hamburg’s Rafael Van Der Vaart, Werder Bremen’s Diego and Juventus’ Thiago. This is because the players’ signings would disrupt the wage structure at the Vicente Calderon. (Sky Sports News)

Bristol City have had a bid for Nottingham Forrest striker Nathan Tyson turned down. The offer was believed to be around three quarters of a million. The former Reading player has one year remaining on his current deal, but he has been offered a two-year extension. Forest have also completed the signing of Wales striker Robert Earnshaw from Derby County for two and a half million. (Sky Sports News)

Tottenham are set to sign Crystal Palace’s 16-year-old first team player John Bostock subject to a tribunal agreeing a fee for the England youth International. (The Times)

Finland striker Mikael Forssell has left Birmingham and signed for German Bundesliga side Hannover 96 on a free transfer. (The Times)

Wolves and old firm duo Rangers and Celtic are battling it out for the four million pound signing of Burnley’s Northern Ireland International Kyle Lafferty after the player announced his intention to leave Turf Moor this summer.  

Derby County have completed a double raid on championship rivals Watford, by signing striker Nathan Ellington for one million and full back Jordan Stewart on a free transfer. (Sky Sports News)

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will get a four million pound pay raise to his current contract to stop interest in the Spain International from Chelsea. (The Sun)

Everton will bid eight million for Manchester City’s England International Michael Johnson this summer. (The Sun)

Wolsburg and Monaco are keen to take Manchester City’s Italian striker Rolando Bianchi away from Eastlands this summer. (The Sun)

Another striker on the brink of leaving Eastlands is Belgium International Emile Mpenza, who is being chased by Bolton, Leicester, Reading and Ipswich. (The Sun)

West Ham could be on the verge of signing Reading’s England left back Nicky Shorey, after five million was quoted by the royals. (The Times)

Sunderland hope to pip rivals Portsmouth and Aston Villa to the signing of Reading’s Ireland winger Stephen Hunt for five million pounds.  This is despite fact that the former Brentford is currently on his honeymoon, and negotiations not expected to be completed until mid-June. (The Times)

West Ham are willing to listen to offers of around five million for centre half Anton Ferdinand. Tottenham are rumoured to be readying a bid. (Daily Mirror)

Crystal Palace will make a third bid for Sheffield United striker Danny Webber, after having two bids for the former Manchester United and Watford striker turned down in January. (Daily Mirror)

Former Scotland cap Kevin Kyle could be set to sign for Southend United to try to resurrect his fledging career. (Daily Mirror)

The old firm are both interested in Middlesbrough’s captain and Dutch International George Boateng. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa and Tottenham will go head to head with eight million pound bids for Manchester City’s England keeper Joe Hart. (Daily Star)

Juventus have signed Brazilian striker Amauri from Palermo for around 18 million, with Italian midfielder Antonio Nocerino going the other way. (The Guardian)

Wigan will sign Zamalek attacking midfielder Amr Zaki on loan if the Egyptian club can find a replacement. (The Guardian)

Southampton will try and resign Chris Baird from Fulham. The Northern Ireland right back would be available for a knock down price. (The Guardian)

Barcelona may seek out Inter Milan with a trade; The Catalans want to exchange their player Samuel Eto’o for Inter striker Zlatan Ibramovich in a straight swap. (Various)

Although apparently Barcelona are lining up a move for Thierry Henry’s International strike partner David Trezequet from Juventus. (L’Equipe)

Rangers want to sign Juventus’ Italian winger Raffaele Palladino for five million. (Daily Star)

Manchester United will allow reserve keeper Tom Heaton to join Cardiff City on loan in the hope of stealing a march on their rivals in the race to sign teenage prospect Aaron Ramsey. (Daily Mail)

Espanyol have turned down a 9.5 million pound bid from Liverpool for their former Manchester City and Spain winger Albert Riera. (Various)

Werder Bremen, Villarreal, Valencia and Bayern Munich are all interested in signing out-of-favour Peru striker Claudio Pizarro from Chelsea. (Bild)

Tottenham could sign both Giovanni Dos Santos and Richard Dunne in a 17 million pound deal, five million for Dunne and 12 million pounds for Dos Santos. (Various)

Portugal right-back Jose Bosingwa will join Chelsea in the next 48 hours after Porto accepted a £16.2million offer from Avram Grant's side.

This news is very welcome following the end of a long, torrid-turned-great season. With United inevitably clinching the title yesterday, I turned my thoughts to two things. The Champions League final and next season.

When I woke up this morning, we had signed Boswinga from Porto, so I guess I was thinking aloud and I was heard by somebody.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa have all made moves for the 25-year-old in recent months, but it appears Chelsea has held them off.

This is the third player Avram Grant has signed, following Anelka and Ivanovic's arrival back in January, but this player is the first part of Avram Grant's rebuilding plans as Chelsea looks to strengthen its squad before next season.

Chelsea issued a statement confirming the deal on their official Web site.

It said: "Chelsea can confirm it has reached agreement with FC Porto for the transfer of Jose Bosingwa. The player is now in England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical."

16 million for a defender seems a lot of money and already I'm hearing rival fans slating this signing. One can never know whether he's worth that much until he starts playing.

The fact that he's "relatively unknown" to Premier League followers is not important because a lot of players have made it over here after being "relatively uknown" upon arrival.

Chelsea paid 16.8 million for Makelele in 2003, in a move that raised a lot of eye-brows because he was a defensive midfielder and ALL his attributes contributed to protecting the back four. After successfully completing five seasons at Stamford Bridge, its pretty safe to say that, it was money well spent. 

Whether Boswingwa is worth 16 million will remain to be seen but it shows that Grant wants to try and solve our right back problem "once and for all." 

United has long been in the hunt for a right-back and assistant coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed their interest in the player earlier in the season.

United saw him as a successor to Gary Neville, but Chelsea has moved swiftly to snap-up the attack-minded defender.

Bosingwa joined FC Porto in 2003, where he played under former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and has been a first-choice right-back for the last three seasons.

This casts a doubt over Belletti, as he has been continuously ignored recently with  Essien employed at right back and Belletti on the bench.

Bosingwa won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho and alongside current Chelsea defenders Carvalho and Ferreira. He has been a first team regular ever since, and has also overtaken Valencia's Miguel in the right back spot in the national team.

We should all get a real good look at his ability during Euro 2008, when he turns out for Portugal.

Roma came from a goal behind to secure a memorable 2-1 win over Real, their first victory in four attempts against the Spanish giants at home.

Raul gave the visitors an eighth minute lead but David Pizzarro equalized 15 minutes later to give Roma some hope. Mancini scored the winner early in the second half to give Roma a slender advantage.

Madrid came thundering back with Raul and van Ruud van Nistelrooy having good chances to score, but Roma held on.

It should be an exciting game when the teams meet next in the Santiago Bernabeu. Both have attacking flair in abundance. Perhaps there could be an upset in the making with Roma going through.

Shalke (1) FC Porto (0) , Arena AufShalke

2004 champions Porto succumbed to a fourth minute Kevin Kuranyi strike when right back Rafinah’s strike was partially parried.

Shalke were in control for much of the match but Porto rallied in the second half and could have snatched an equalizer. 

Kuranyi should have capitalized on Jermaine Jones’s 60th minute cross, but shot wide. Shalke might regret their squandered chances come the return leg. Porto will feel confident having conceded only the one goal away.

Liverpool (2) Internazionale (0),  Anfield

A deflected 85th minute shot from Dirk Kuyt and a Steven Gerrard injury time drive secured a well-earned win for Liverpool at home.

Inter’s Marco Materazzi was sent off after his second foul against Fernando Torres, leaving the visitors to defend manfully for the remainder of the game.

The Merseysider’s enjoyed much of the possession and territory. Sammy Hyypia, Ryan Babel, and Fernando Torres all had chances, but Inter’s organized defense and goalkeeper Julio Cesar kept them at bay.

With 25 minutes left, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant came in and the latter’s crosses directly lead to Liverpool’s goals.

With a two goal cushion Liverpool will hope to sit back, absorb, and counter Inter at home. Benitez’s European sensibilities seem to be working again.

Olympiacos (0) Chelsea (0), Gergios Karaiskakis Stadium

An unimaginative Chelsea failed to score against their less-fancied opponents who were content to counter attack the Blues and defend in numbers. Chelsea was without captain John Terry and midfield goal getter Frank Lampard for the encounter.

Playing as the lone striker, Drogba was starved for service despite Chelsea’s 4-3-3 formation, which had Malouda and Joe Cole playing as wingers.  

In the second period, Olympiacos had the better of the chances and went close with a Galleti volley that went over the bar.

Avram Grant should be happy with his team’s result and will feel confident of progressing when the teams meet at Stamford Bridge.

Group A: Liverpool, Porto, Marseille, Besiktas

Liverpool 

The Reds are renowned for their superb form in the Champions League, even if they've underachieved in the Premiership. 

They came out winners in 2005, and lost to Milan in the final last season. What can they expect this year?

 The club will probably hit the top of a weak group. The inspirational leadership of Steven Gerrard will be very, very crucial to Liverpool's destiny.

FC Porto

Having won the UCL back in 2004, Porto are not on unfamiliar ground. 

Unfortunately, the club is without magic coach Jose Mourinho, and is also missing star player Deco. 

Look for Ricardo Quaresma to be an indispensable player in this tournament; the 23-year-old winger will use his speed to make a huge impact. Porto can hope for a second-place finish, but I doubt they can do better than that.

Marseille

A powerhouse in Ligue 1, Marseille will make some impact on the European stage. 

Compared to the 1993 championship club, though, today's team is something of a flop. 

Marseille once boasted the likes of Eric Cantona, William Gallas, Robert Pires, Fabien Barthez, and, of course, Franck Ribery. Now, they rely on the attacking abilities of Djbril Cisse and the pace of Samir Nasri. 

Not to be pessimistic, but I don't see Marseille clearing the Round of 16 this year.

Besiktas

Although a household name in Turkey, Besiktas are just fairly new in the Champions League. 

The club can only hope to gain some experience here and give it their best shot. 

One player I admire in Besiktas is the Brazilian Richardinho; if any of the Boro fans remember, he had a short spell with the club.   

That sums up my prediction for Group A: Liverpool and FC Porto will advance. Comments agreeing or disagreeing with my viewpoint are welcome. Thanks a bunch.