Roma lining up bids for Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue and Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj

Roma boss Claudio Ranieri is ready to launch a double raid on the Barclays Premier League for Emmanuel Eboue and Nadir Belhadj.

• The Italians have made little progress in their attempts to woo William Gallas from Arsenal because of the France international’s high wage demands and are looking at other options.
• Former Chelsea boss Ranieri is unlikely to have much money to spend this summer and sees right-sided Eboue and left-sided Belhadj as versatile players. Both offer width in defence or midfield.
• Cash-straped Portsmouth are thought to be looking for about £5million for Belhadj, 27, who is likely to prefer a move to Italy rather than follow up interest from Moscow sides CSKA or Spartak.
• Eboue could be harder to prise from Arsenal because boss Arsene Wenger sees him as an important member of the squad, even though the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international has not always been a favourite among fans at the Emirates Stadium.