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The Canterbury Gossip
CITY PROVE THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT RONALDINHO
Manchester City have made a £22million bid for Ronaldinho and are reportedly 'close' to reaching an agreement with Barcelona to sign the Brazilian superstar.
Following reports in Italy that AC Milan were on the verge of signing Ronaldinho, City are understood to have responded by making the 28-year-old an offer that would see him become the highest-paid player in the Premiership.
Yet, as The Times points out, 'although City are confident of concluding a deal with the Catalan club, Ronaldinho's arrival is by no means a formality. City fear that news of an impending deal may have been leaked by Ronaldinho's camp in an attempt to force AC Milan to bid for the player and match the contract offered by the Barclays Premier League club.'
And even the notoriously hard-to-please Daily Mail sounds impressed by City's attempts to sign the forward. 'The ambitious bid tabled for Ronaldinho, endorsed by Thaksin, is City's way of proving how serious they are about bringing in the Brazilian,' it reports.
'Their pay-as-you-play salary offer is being supported by at least one major sponsor, with Nike prepared to back the deal. Deal insiders say that Milan must still remain favourites, but City are refusing to give up the chase.
'They are refusing to be bullied out if it by Milan,' a source said last night. 'You have to admire their daring and their audacity. They still have hope that this could be possible.''
BENTLEY TO GET KEEPERS MOVING
David Bentley's proposed move to Tottenham could have a domino effect in the transfer market with the futures of Paul Robinson and Brad Freidel among those set to be determined whether or not Spurs and Blackburn can agree a fee for the England winger.
It's thought that Blackburn are demanding £17m for Bentley, a price that Tottenham will only meet if Rovers agree to accept Robinson as a £5m makeweight. Were the former England keeper to move to Blackburn then Friedel is expected to transfer to Villa after being offered a three-year deal by the Midlands outfit. Villa yesterday completed the signing of 23-year-old American 'keeper Brad Guzan, but he is expected to be Freidel's deputy next year. Scott Carson, who was between Villa's sticks last season whilst on loan from Liverpool, is thought to be heading to either Middlesbrough or Stoke.
ARSENAL DO BUSINESS ON HLEB
So is this why Samir Nasri's move to Arsenal took so long to complete? Just three days after the Frenchman was finally confirmed as a Gunner, Alex Hleb is expected to be unveiled as a Barcelona player. Anyone with a suspicious mind would wonder if the Nasri deal was deliberately delayed in order to soften the blow of losing Hleb.
According to The Sun, Hleb's £15m move to Barca has been finalised and the 'Catalan giants will pay the Gunners £12.5m up front for Hleb - with the remaining £2.5m based on appearances and trophies.'
With Nasri costing around £11m, Arsenal have effectively swapped the two players and used the surplus cash to recruit their only other summer signing - the £5m Aaron Ramsey.
SHEVA'S WAGES COULD HALT MOVE
Andriy Shevchenko's wage demands could scupper plans for him to move to Sampdoria on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.
How do we know this? Because Sampdoria's general manager has said: "Sheva would be happy to join us, but there are problems around his wages."
Never let it be said that Transfer Gossip would knowingly lie to you.
AND THE REST
Everton are making a shock swoop for Switzerland's Euro 2008 right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner...Out-of-favour Spurs defender Younes Kaboul is wanted by Portsmouth...Franck Queudrue has been put on the transfer list by Birmingham...Cardiff will today complete the £1million signing of Marcus Bent...Plymouth have flown in Slovakia goalkeeper Lubos Hajduch who is available in a bargain deal...Bolton have rejected West Brom's offer of £1.25million plus Paul Robinson for wantaway defender Abdoulaye Meite...Barcelona will this week offer Samuel Eto'o plus £15million for Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor...Newcastle want to pip Portsmouth to the signing of Pablo Aimar after the south coast club baulked at the £7million asking price...James Harper's move to Middlesbrough could be haltered by Arsenal's insistence on taking 40 per cent of the fee...
...Steve Coppell wants to sell his star players now at Reading. James Harper is wanted by Middlesbrough and Bolton, Nicky Shorey has been coveted by Portsmouth, Fulham are keen on Dave Kitson and Sunderland want Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt...Everton have been linked with a move for Tottenham striker Darren Bent with Fulham the latest club to show an interest in Andy Johnson...Rangers have pulled the plug on their £1.5million move for Watford defender Danny Shittu...West Ham are eyeing a £1million move for Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander.
