SISSOKO HAPPY TO BE AT JUVENTUS

Momo Sissoko says he is happy to be at the Del Alpi and wants more opportunities to establish himself as a top player.Mohamed Sissoko is determined to help Juventus become of the most feared teams in Italy again when he makes his debut on Sunday at home to bottom side Cagliari.

The Mali midfielder recently completed his move to the Bianconeri from Liverpool to reinforce a side that is 10 points behind Internazionale in the Serie A standings.

"I am extremely happy to be in Turin," said Sissoko. "Juventus is a great club and has great players and it's truly fantastic to be a part of this group for a guy like me who is only 23."

Sissoko believes he will have no trouble adapting to Italy's top flight and is looking forward to working under Claudio Ranieri, who coached him at Valencia, again.

"I have seen many Serie A games," he said. "It's good football and there are many talents out there, many at Juventus. It will be great to play alongside them and to be able to return to work with Ranieri. I know his character and his concept of football, he is a great manager."

Sissoko's aim is to make an impact straight away.

"I am a fighter, who likes pressure," he said. "My aim is to become a great midfielder and I know at Juventus I can do that.

"For me this is going to be a crucial experience, a very important step in my career."

SISSOKO TO JUVENTUS?

Momo Sissoko is all set to become an Juventus player if everything goes right in the upcoming week.Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko could fulfil his dream move to Juventus by the end of this week.

The Serie A outfit hope to acquire the 23-year-old, who was signed by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez from Valencia in the summer of 2005 for a reported 8million euros.

"It's a matter of a few days," Sissoko told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Three days, a maximum of four, and then everything will be decided. I know there has been some movement but we have to wait."

The Mali international is currently with his national team at the African Nations Cup.

"I confess that wearing the Juventus shirt would be the maximum for me," he said. "I have been a Juve fan since I was a child because when I was young I was fixated with (Zinedine) Zidane. Then, having followed this team, I have become a fan of (Juve captain Alessandro) Del Piero, a great player."

Sissoko would also like to work again under coach Claudio Ranieri, his boss in Spain.

"I've known Ranieri since my time at Valencia," said Sissoko. "I did really well with him."

Sissoko has struggled to keep a regular starting place at Anfield and wants to have more playing time.

"My reason is a very simple one, I am young and I want to play," he said. "In Liverpool, I'm not playing.

"But I will also be grateful to Benitez for what he has given me. But in football, things change."

MELLBERG TO JOIN JUVENTUS

Juventus have confirmed they are close to reaching an agreement with Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg.

With the Sweden international out of contract this summer, the Old Lady are free to discuss a deal with the former Racing Santander defender with a view to him joining in July.

It had been thought Juve may be considering making an offer to Villa in order to land him now.

However, it now appears as though he will move on a free transfer at the end of the season.

"Mellberg is close to signing a preliminary agreement with Juventus," said the club's sporting director Alessio Secco.

"If everything goes well, the player will become a Juve player in July. There are still minor things left to discuss before he signs the preliminary agreement."

CAN JUVENTUS WIN THE TITLE?

Despite an eight-point deficit to Serie A leaders Internazionale, Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri still believes his side can win the Scudetto this season.

Speaking at the Bianconeri's return to training after a two-week Christmas break, the former Chelsea coach set out his plans for the remaining 21 games of the season.

"Our aim is still the first position in the league," he said.

"However, for a team who won Serie B last season, it is extremely difficult to repeat it in Serie A the year after.

"For this reason, I would be happy and satisfied in the event of finishing second.

"In any case, we have got to give it our best shot."

The Bianconeri have made a remarkable start to life back in the top flight after being condemned to a season in Serie B due to their involvement in the 2006 match-fixing scandal.

Even the change in coach last summer has not knocked them off course with Ranieri successfully building upon the work of his predecessor Didier Deschamps.

However, they are not yet as strong as Ranieri believes they can be.

He said: "We have had lots of injuries and have been without (Mauro) Camoranesi and (Claudio) Marchionni for a long time, not to mention the others.

"Now I expect a bit more during the second half of the season. We can still improve.

"We lost only two games in the first part of the season and we are just lacking that little bit to play with the personality of the true Juve."

Their first game of 2008 takes them to Catania next Sunday.