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The Dr Spock Gossip
MANYOO CLOSE IN ON BERBATOV
Although Manchester United have denied reports that they have already reached an agreement to sign Dimi Berbatov from Tottenham, the Bulgarian striker is still expected to be unveiled as their player by the end of the month.
Berbatov has made no secret of his desire to leave Spurs this summer and is keen on moving to Old Trafford. United made a preliminary offer of £20m for the striker last week and are set to offer make an improved bid after Sir Alex Ferguson prioritised Berbatov's recruitment. Spurs' £30m valuation of Berbatov will not deter United, although it is thought likely that the Premiership champions will offer £28m up front with a further £2m dependent on appearances and various clauses.
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ARSENAL VOICE BARRY INTEREST
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed that Arsenal have registered their interest in signing Gareth Barry.
Although Liverpool's made their first offer for Barry two months ago, his transfer to Anfield has still not materialised and he remains in limbo after being barred from training at Villa after telling a newspaper that he wanted to leave the club.
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NEW DEAL FOR DROGBA
Here's some surprising news: The Sun says that Chelsea are to offer Didider Drogba a 'huge new deal to keep him at Chelsea for life'.
Hmm. We're not convinced, although it could be that Chelsea are minded to make the offer because they don't want to lose both Drogba and Frank Lampard in the same summer.
'Drogba, 30, is on around £70,000 a week and the new agreement could give him parity with Blues skipper John Terry - the club's highest earner with an estimated weekly salary of £130,000,' claims the newspaper.
The Sun also reckons that 'Drogba's fellow striker Claudio Pizarro is set to lead Scolari's Blues clear-out by quitting for Paris Saint-Germain. The Peruvian is one of seven players the new Blues chief wants to axe.
SPURS FIGHTING FOR BENTLEY
Tottenham are thought to have held talks with Blackburn Rovers yesterday over a deal for David Bentley but reports claiming that a £17million transfer has been agreed may prove premature after Rovers manager Paul Ince said he did not want to sign prospective makeweight Paul Robinson.
Although Ince confirmed in the aftermath of Rovers' friendly at Macclesfield - a game that Bentley missed due to a minor thigh injury - that Aston Villa had made a bid for the want-away winger, Spurs are at the head of the queue for the England international.
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CRUZ IN DEMAND
Arsenal and Tottenham are set for a tug-of-war over Roque Santa Cruz after the striker informed Paul Ince, the new Blackburn Rovers manager, that he wants to leave for a bigger club.
Cruz was absent from Rovers' pre-season friendly at Macclesfield on Monday night having indicated that he was ready to leave the club. While pledging to have a "better season with Blackburn" next season if he stays in Lancashire after scoring 19 times during his debut campaign in the Premier League, the Paraguay international confirmed he was "motivated by the interest of other clubs".
That remark is likely to alert Tottenham and Arsenal, with both north London clubs preparing to sell their current centre-forwards.
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BAGGIES IN FOR CARSON
West Brom could hijack Stoke's attempts to sign Scott Carson.
It was announced yesterday that the newly-promoted Premier League club had agreed a fee of £4m with Liverpool to sign the occasional England goalkeeper. However, Carson will meet with West Brom later today and may yet end up at the Hawthorns for the 2008/09 campaign.
KEANE KEEN ON NO-PRICE SAHA
Roy Keane is set to sign another of his former team-mates from Manchester United. According to the Mail, the Sunderland boss is poised to move for Louis Saha after the Premier League champions indicated they would let the forward go on a pay-as- you-play deal.
United are so keen on offloading Saha that they are reportedly ready to let him go for free, initially at least. 'The forward's £3.5m-a-year salary has scared off would-be suitors, but Keane believes the player would represent good value if he can be persuaded to take a pay cut to move to the Stadium of Light,' claims the Mail.
'The Sunderland manager is also weighing up a move for Tottenham's Steed Malbranque, and is keeping tabs on Andy Johnson. However, the striker favours a move to Wigan.'
BRIDGE TO FINALLY GO?
Is Wayne Bridge finally about to become a footballer again? After selling Steve Sidwell last week, Chelsea's shedding of deadweight could continue with the selling of the part-time left-back to Portsmouth.
Pompey continue to be the destination of choice for failed Big Four players, with Bridge likely to move for a fee of around £5m.
AND THE REST
Hull are in talks with former Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner...Manchester City are set to sell Georgios Samaras to Celtic in a £1million deal...Everton target Stephan Lichsteiner is trying to buy himself out of his contract at Lille...Charlton boss Alan Pardew is set to make a £1.25million bid for Heidar Helguson...Birmingham have stepped in to hijack Cardiff's move for Marcus Bent...Ipswich are set to clinch the signing of Kevin Lisbie from Colchester...Paul Dickov has been offered a surprise move to Leicester...Mark Hughes is ready to make an audacious bid to sign West Ham duo Lucas Neill and Craig Bellamy...Bristol City are on the verge of signing striker Emad Meteb for £1.5million...
...Birmingham have transfer-listed Olivier Kapo...Ben Thatcher is at Ipswich on trial...Birmingham have made a £1.5million bid for Ben Watson...Gilberto Silva is set to sign for Panathinaikos when he returns from his summer break....Brad Friedel is ready to agree a three-year deal to join Aston Villa from Blackburn...Romanian defender Dorin Goian is "determined" to join Sunderland...Bobby Zamora has had a medical at Fulham after they agreed a £6million fee with West Ham.
