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The Three-Wicket Gossip
THE SUN REALLY ISN'T SHINING
Bizarre stuff in The Sun. Apparently blissfully ignorant of Rafa Benitez's cash shortage, the paper devotes its back page to the claim that Liverpool are 'willing to spend an incredible £20million on Robbie Keane this week' with the twist that this would make him 'one of the world's costliest players' in combined transfer fees.
Forget 'bizarre'. It's desperate, pathetically so.
To compound the sense of a newspaper out of touch with reality, their response to the news that Juventus won't be funding another bid for Gareth Barry by buying Xabi Alonso is to claim that - instead of nipping in to sign Barry - Arsenal will fund Pool's fifth bid for the Villa midfielder by buying Alonso themselves!
'Alonso's expected move to Juventus has fallen down although Arsenal are now on alert,' the paper assures its readers.
'A source close to Alonso said: "If the decision was down to Xabi, he would make the move because Arsenal's style is perfect for him."'
Riiiiigght.
ARSENAL TO BID FOR BARRY
Speculation is rife that Arsenal will make a move for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry in the wake of Gilberto Silva's anticipated departure from north London.
The Brazilian has agreed a three-year deal to join Panathinaikos and is due to arrive in Athens this evening for his unveiling. While Silva's value to Arsenal has diminished significantly in recent years, his exit leaves Arsene Wenger with a serious shortage of central midfielders.
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CITY MISS OUT AS RONALDINHO JOINS MILAN
Manchester City must look elsewhere for a big-name summer transfer after they were edged out by AC Milan in the battle to sign Barcelona star Ronaldinho.
Blues owner Thaksin Shinawatra had targeted the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year as the marquee signing that would kickstart Mark Hughes' first season in charge at Eastlands but despite reportedly offering more than the £19.8million Barca have accepted from the Rossoneri, they have lost out.
According to Milan, they have reached an agreement in principle to sign the 28-year-old Brazilian on a three-year deal, subject to passing a medical later today and finally ending City's audacious bid for his services.
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CHELSEA FRINGERS ON TRIAL
Chelsea are to use their four-match tour of the Far East as an audition for the fringe members of their squad to prove their worth, says The Times.
New manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed he intends on culling the bloated squad he inherited from the deposed Avram Grant by selling up to six players this summer. Even after selling Steve Sidwell to Aston Villa, Scolari is not short of options with Shaun-Wright Phillips, Juliano Belletti, Tal Ben-Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Andriy Shevchenko among those under threat. Wayne Bridge, however, will not be sold after signing a new four-year deal with the club.
TOTTENHAM: BERBATOV ISN'T FOR SALE
Tottenham Hotspur are so determined to retain Dimitar Berbatov that they have refused to enter into talks with Manchester United over the striker, according to reports.
Flatly contradicting previous claims that the two clubs are close to reaching an agreement to transfer Berbatov for a fee in the region of £30m, The Guardian claims that 'Tottenham indicated yesterday that they do not intend to negotiate with Manchester United or any other interested party.'
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LENNON WON'T BE LEAVING
Tottenham and England winger Aaron Lennon insists he will not be leaving White Hart Lane this summer.
With Spurs reportedly keen to sign David Bentley from Blackburn, it has been suggested Lennon, 21, might have to make way.
Newcastle and Aston Villa have been linked with the former Leeds man but he says manager Juande Ramos has given him no indication that he is not wanted.
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KAPO STILL HEADING TO WIGAN
Wigan are still hopeful of signing Olivier Kapo despite reports the £3.5million deal to take him to the JJB Stadium from Birmingham had broken down.
It is understood an issue has arisen between Kapo and Birmingham which has caused a delay, but the Latics are hopeful of signing the Frenchman in the next 24 hours.
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AND THE REST
Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is set to sign Argentine star Pablo Aimar in a £7million deal...Tony Pulis fears Stoke are losing the battle to sign Scott Carson from Liverpool...Hull are hoping to sign Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell for £5million...Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill wants to sign Brad Friedel in time for him to make his debut in the Intertoto Cup tie with Odense, but faces a race against time to agree the fee...Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim is set to accept an offer to move to Manchester City in a £5million deal...Phil Brown has broken Hull's transfer record to sign Plymouth's Peter Halmosi in a £2million deal...Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer is a shock target for Panathinaikos...West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is ready to make a second attempt to sign Leicester wonderkid Joe Mattock...
...Grimsby, Port Vale and Rochdale are all chasing Barnsley midfielder Simon Heslop...Ex-Derby midfielder Marco Reich is in talks with Walsall over a move to the Bescot...Stoke are poised to shatter their transfer record with the signing of Reading striker Dave Kitson for £4.5million. They also want Hayden Mullins...Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is holding talks aimed at landing Nigel De Jong for £3million...Rudi Skacel is set for a £1million move to Ipswich...Birmingham have vowed Sebastian Larsson is going nowhere...Newcastle are ready to launch another raid on Liverpool for Emiliano Insua...
...Sheffield United have joined Wolves in the race for Fulham's Lee Cook...Nottingham Forest are ready to bid £700,000 for Carlisle striker Joe Garner...Lucas Neill moved to a step closer to joining Manchester City after West Ham agreed a deal with Lazio right-back Valon Behrami...Everton and Aston Villa are closely monitoring Michael Johnson's situation at Manchester City...Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is considering a move for Quinton Fortune...Middlesbrough have stepped up their pursuit of Reading midfielder James Harper...Anton Ferdinand has pulled out of transfer talks with Newcastle.
