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The Oddly Sniffly Gossip
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON SPURS
With £55m-odd transfer fees expected to come in from the sales of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, all of which will apparently go into Juande Ramos' transfer kitty, the London side intend to both replace the duo and fill that troublesome hole in defensive midfield.
Only joking! What that last sentence should have read is, of course, the London side intend to both replace the duo...and sign more attacking midfielders. Hurrah!
Strikers first. 'First on Ramos' wanted list is Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito, a 29-year-old Argentine international recommended by assistant boss Gustavo Poyet,' says The Sun, as if Ramos won't have bothered watching Milito in Spain.
'Milito scored 15 goals last season and is seen as the perfect replacement for Berbatov - despite Anfield boss Rafa Benitez claiming he is not quick enough for the Premier League.'
Milito is available on the, well, relatively cheap after Zaragoza's relegation, and will set Spurs back £10m.
And his partner in attack will be Darren Bent. No, of course it won't, we're just joking again! 'Ramos plans to team him up with Roman Pavlyuchenko, the man who scored both of Russia's goals when they beat England in a Euro 2008 qualifier last October,' The Sun continues.
Spartak Moscow are believed to have turned down £10m for the striker, but with Spurs' new big pile of extra cash, a deal is expected to be done at around £15m.
Spurs will also apparently match Blackburn's £17m for David Bentley and just pay the money - around £15m - for Sevilla's Diego Capel. Their initial bid, says The Sun, 'included the proviso the Spaniards dropped their £3m compensation claim for Ramos.'
TALKING OF ROBBIE KEANE
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool's players have started talking about one of their transfer targets.
"Robbie is a great player. He's sharp around the box and is a great finisher," says Jermaine Pennant of Keane.
"With Torres up front as well, it will be a great partnership. They could be as good as anything in the Premier League."
Earlier in the summer, Steven Gerrard announced to the press that he was "desperate" for Liverpool to sign Gareth Barry...a deal that could finally go through this week for £16m plus Steve Finnan.
AND ALSO LEAVING SPURS...
The Times is still predicting that Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio could all find themselves on the way to Sunderland for something over £20m.
INS AND OUTS AT CHELSEA
Peter Kenyon saying a deal for Kaka is unlikely has reopened the Robinho speculation, with The Sun reporting that the Brazilian has told Real Madrid he wants to head for Stamford Bridge.
Going the other way (to Spain, if not to Real Madrid) could be Didier Drogba. He was left out of Chelsea's pre-season tour of China, and the Daily Express thinks Barcelona are ready to offer £22m for his signature.
However, as you can see here, we're not convinced that one's going to happen at all, with Scolari keen to keep the moody Ivorian.
Claude Makelele, though, is on his way to Paris St-Germain.
FULHAM WANT AJ BACK IN LONDON
Fulham are ready to take Everton's Andy Johnson back to the capital - and pay £10.5million to do so.
The Sun thinks a deal for the striker will be concluded this week, insisting 'The Cottagers are close to finalising a deal with the Toffees for the Goodison favourite.'
'Johnson, 27, has been linked with big-money moves to Wigan and West Ham and told pals he would prefer a move back to London.
'Now he is set to become the second striker Fulham have signed in a week. Bobby Zamora joined from the Hammers in a £7m joint deal with defender John Pantsil.'
Everton are themselves ready to start spending. "We must get busy," said David Moyes after seeing his side lose 4-2 to Cambridge. "Numbers are short and we have injuries."
If you believe the Daily Express, that will take the form of an £18m bid for Portgual midfielder Joao Moutinho, as well as moves for five other players.
HE'S BRAD, HE'S BRAD, YOU KNOW IT...
Brad Friedel is definitely on his way out of Ewood Park - the only question is whether he ends up in Manchester or Birmingham.
'Manchester City will slug it out this week with Aston Villa in a two-way battle to sign Blackburn's American goalkeeper Brad Friedel,' says the Daily Star.
'And that is despite the Ewood Park club breaking the bank in a desperate bid to hold on to their long-established No.1, who has served them loyally for eight years.'
Blackburn have apparently offered Friedel £50,000 a week to sign a new deal, but the goalkeeper has turned the deal down and asked permission to speak to both chasing clubs, who will match or top that wage.
'Villa begin the week as clear favourites, even though Friedel would love to link up with his old Blackburn boss Mark Hughes at City,' continues the paper.
'Villa supremo Randy Lerner is a fellow American and owns Cleveland Browns. Friedel has set up a football academy in Cleveland and already has strong links with Lerner.'
At Villa Park Friedel would also have the chance to act as tutor to Brad Guzan, the USA's hottest young goalkeeping property, who will complete a move to Villa if his work permit is approved.
Meanwhile, Villa are back on the trail of James Milner, according to the Dailt Telegraph. Newcastle have said they will not sell the winger but the papers aren't convinced they'll turn down a big bid.
SWP WORTH SEVEN?
Not seven million - seven players.
Harry Redknapp, says the Daily Telegraph, 'is reportedly willing to let Sean Davis, Noe Pamarot, Martin Cranie, Richard Hughes, Djimi Traore, Lauren and David Nugent leave the club to finance any deal.'
"You would like to have him for sure, but he's good money and at the moment we haven't got that. We need to find the money if we're going to finance a deal," said 'Arry.
AND THE REST
Michael Essien has reportedly agreed a new £20million five-year deal to stay at Chelsea...Leeds are set to make a £100,000 bid for Hull striker Dean Windass...Birmingham will call off their £575,000 move for Derby's Stephen Pearson because he has a groin injury...Liverpool are set to sign teenage striker David Ngog from Paris St Germain...Hull are poised to sign Wigan striker Marlon King for £3million...Hull have agreed a fee with Borussia Dortmund for their midfielder Delron Buckley...Bordeaux have told Celtic they are wasting their time with any move for striker Fernando Cavenaghi.
