PSG AVB S.O.S

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS has emerged as a shock candidate to succeed wantaway Carlo Ancelotti at Paris Saint-Germain. 

 

The French giants are lining up an approach to Spurs for AVB after top target Guus Hiddink extended his contract at Russian big-spenders Anzhi Makhachkala.

Ancelotti has yet to sever links with PSG as he gets ready to take charge of Real Madrid following Jose Mourinho’s move to Chelsea.

But news of PSG’s interest in ex-Chelsea boss Villas-Boas will come as a shock to Spurs, who are also bracing themselves for a world-record £85million bid from Real Madrid for Gareth Bale.

Portuguese coach AVB, 35, still has two years left on his current White Hart Lane contract, after signing a lucrative deal last summer.

He guided Tottenham to a club-record 72-point haul in finishing fifth in the Premier League last season plus the last eight of the Europa League.

Defender Younes Kaboul has been taking extra training sessions to end his injury nightmare and be ready for the new season.

Kaboul, 27, made only one appearance last season before breaking down with a knee injury then a thigh strain.

I’d be Mad to lose Ronaldo

REAL MADRID last night shut the door on Cristiano Ronaldo’s £65million switch to Manchester United.

President Florentino Perez is ready to offer Ronaldo more than £125million over five years to sign a new deal — and insisted it will be finalised this summer.

Ronaldo’s representatives have reportedly demanded a salary of £30million a year.

Madrid are confident they will seal a deal at around £25m a season — meaning the Portuguese star will earn about £250k a week NET as the new 50 per cent Spanish tax rate kicks in.

Perez said: “I would bet Cristiano will retire at Real Madrid because it’s the natural thing.

“We will negotiate the new contract before the start of La Liga and I am convinced that everything will come out well.”

United were ready to offer Madrid £65m and Ronaldo £15m a year — hoping he would accept less money in order to seal a return to the club that made him famous.

But Perez told the Spanish newspaper Marca: “To renew Cristiano before the start of the season is my desire and my ambition.

“We all want that he retires at Real Madrid. We will do everything possible to make it happen.”

Ronaldo has been key to Madrid’s astronomical £450m-a-year turnover.

Losing the winger could prove disastrous for Real’s finances, which is why they will break the bank to keep hold of him.

Ruud’s got the magic Dutch

RUUD GULLIT is favourite to replace Bert van Marwijk as Holland boss.

Van Marwijk, who had a four-year contract, faced a storm of protest over Holland’s dismal showing at Euro 2012.
The men in Orange finished rock bottom of Group B without a point, losing to Denmark, Portugal and Germany.

Van Marwijk, 60, quit on Wednesday after SunSport exposed his leaked post-tournament report to the Dutch FA.

That revealed the coach planned to banish top stars Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, Johnny Heitinga and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from the international squad.

Holland legend Gullit — a European champion in 1998 — is being put forward as the man who can resurrect the fortunes of the 2010 World Cup finalists in time for Brazil 2014.

The former Chelsea and Newcastle boss, 49, works as a TV pundit but would welcome a return to football management.

Balotelli is simply the chest

MARIO BALOTELLI was chest amazing last night — hitting a dazzling double to put Italy into the Euro 2012 final.

The Manchester City striker outmuscled Germany’s Holger Badstuber to head in the opener on 20 minutes.

And Balotelli was ABS-olutely unstoppable 16 minutes later, collecting Riccardo Montolivo’s pass to slam home a 20-yarder.

The Italian then ripped off his shirt to flex his pecs.

Balotelli said: “My team didn’t get angry because I was booked — but they saw my physique and got jealous!”

The Germans replied through a Mesut Ozil penalty, but it was too little, too late.

Italy now face Spain in Sunday’s final.

Balotelli dedicated the most beautiful night of his life to mum Sylvia.

The 21-year-old star grinned: “What image will I take of this game?

“When I went to mum and said ‘These goals are for you’.

“I’ve waited so long for this moment, especially since mum came all the way here. I wanted to make her happy.

“That was the most beautiful night of my life but I hope Sunday is even better.

“I don’t care if I play badly, as long as we give our all.

“We have to relax, not get frustrated with Spain’s possession and keep playing our football.

“Don’t forget we are the only side to have scored against Spain so far. We’ve proved that we are equal to them, if not more.

“We’re the two best sides in the tournament. Can we win? I’ll tell you on Sunday.”

AC Milan are reportedly interested in offering Balo a return to Serie A.

But the striker insisted: “I am in England and will stay there for the moment.

“The City fans still love me, even if we knocked England out.”

Mesut Ozil grabbed Germany a late consolation from the spot.

But skipper Philipp Lahm groaned: “It was a very, very bitter defeat — it was our own fault because we made some very strange errors.”