Sylvain Distin has been touted to quit the south coast club after being disillusioned at the club’s inability to hold on to key players in the recent past. Portsmouth owner Alexander Gaydamak has put the club on sale and there could be a fire-sale in January to raise money. Pompey have already sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid and the sale of Glen Johnson, Jermaine DeFoe and Niko Kranjcar looks imminent.

Speculation is rife that Distin could rejoin former manager Harry Redknapp at Spurs. Also, Arsenal are believed to be in the race for the former Mancherster City star.

“Since last year a lot of things have changed,” he told French sports daily L’Equipe.

“The club have said that they are waiting until January to announce what direction they want to go in.

“We’re nearly there. We will see if the best players that have left will be replaced by players of equal standing or not.

“Once the club have shown what their choice is, I will make mine in consequence.”

“At the moment I’m waiting,” he added.

“I’ve read that I’m moving to Arsenal but neither me, nor my agent, have had any contact at all with them.”

Neven Subotic, one of the rising stars of the German Bundesliga has turned his back on the United States and has opted to play for Serbia in international games. Subotic has been capped by US at the U-17 and U-20 levels but now has switched allegiance to Serbia.

Subotic had until next Dec. 10, his 21st birthday, to chose his senior national team under rules by soccer’s governing body. He could have picked the U.S., Bosnia or Serbia.

The Borrussia Dortmund defender will form a formidable partnership with Nemanja Vidic at the centre of Serbia’s defence and would bolster their World Cup Qualification chances.

The Serbian soccer federation said on its Web site that Subotic, a Bosnian Serb, made the decision “to return to his roots.” He is expected to debut for Serbia during a tournament in Cyprus in February.

Lots of Brazilian players have turned up for their adopted countries in the recent past. Another big name to follow suit is Juventus striker Amauri.

Amauri has been a prolific goalscorer in the Serie A for a couple of years now - first with Chievo, then Palermo and now with Juventus but the 27 year old has not been rewarded with a single Brazilian cap.

Italy head coach Marcello Lippi said : “I confide in the fact that Amauri will join us. The formalities and procedures concerning his naturalization will be successfully finalized by the beginning of 2009″.

Amauri is expected to debut for Italy in February’s friendly match against Brazil in London. He joins the likes of Alex (Japan) , Deco and Mehmet Aurelio - all Brazilians who have turned up for other countries in international games.

In a rather surprising development, Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri has made Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric as his number one transfer target.

Modric has been an integral part of Tottenham’s side this season and scored his fsecond Tottenham goal agianst Newcastle this weekend. Juventus are offering Vincenzo Iaquinta and an undisclosed amount for the diminutive Croat. Juventus are also after West Ham full-back Valron Behrami and Leverkusen’s Renato Augusto.

Tottenham are in the market for a target man and Iaquinta would serve their purpose nicely. But making Modric as a makeweight for the deal would not be encouraged. Also, given the track record of Italian strikers in the Premier League, the swap deal seems far from fruition.

Tenacious midfielder Yaya Toure is wanted by Arsenal to fill the void in their defensive midfield position. After Matthieu Flamini’s departure to AC Milan, Arsenal have not been able to sign a defensive midfielder. Brazilian youngster Denilson has failed to step up to the job.

Arsenal will bid £ 6 million for Yaya Toure in the January transfer window. Toure has found it difficult to get into Barcelona ’s starting line-up in recent games and a move to England could boost his career. Arsenal are also on the look out for a striker and are keeping tabs on Batefimbi Gomis.

In some other news surrounding contract renewals at Barcelona, youngster Sergio Busquets is to be offered a new contact at the end of the season. The deal will keep Busquets at Camp Nou till 2013 and is likely to be finalised in few days.