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The Even Earlier Gossip
CHELSEA STILL BELIEVE THEY CAN SIGN ROBINHO
Chelsea reportedly believe that they will still be able to sign Robinho from Real Madrid this summer despite the player yesterday announcing that he wanted to stay at the Bernabeu "for years to come".
While Chelsea have denied making an offer for AC Milan Kaka, they have made no secret of their interest in his 24-year-old Brazilian compatriot. "Robinho is different," confirmed chief executive Peter Kenyon upon arriving in China for the Blues' pre-season tour. "We are interested in the player and we have had discussions with Real Madrid. We have not made a formal offer and we will see where it goes."
Judging by the remarks made by Robinho just a few hours later, the answer would be not far. "I want to stay at Real Madrid for a long time," Robinho said. "I'm very happy and I want to continue. My head is calm, I want to have a good pre-season with Real Madrid and continue here."
However, according to The Independent, 'that statement was taken with a large pinch of salt by Chelsea who know that the player is for sale at the right price and wants to leave - for the right price in terms of wages. Chelsea are aware that Robinho and his agent, Wagner Ribeiro, could be attempting to use them to negotiate a new contract at Real but are confident that a deal is likely if the Spanish club become more realistic over the fee.'
Meanwhile, the cull of Chelsea's bloated squad is nearing completion. Yesterday saw the departures of Claude Makelele and Khalid Boulahrouz, to Paris St-Germain and Stuttgart respectively, while The Indy also reports that City's executive chairman, Garry Cook, is hoping to tie up a deal for defender Talal Ben Haim when he returns to Britain today after promising Ben Haim the £60,000-a-week he currently earns.'
KEANE HOPEFUL OF SIGNING TOTTENHAM FOUR
The Guardian has described Roy Keane as 'optimistic' that his bold plan of buying in bulk from Tottenham will pay off.
After a £23m bid was accepted by the White Hart Lane hierarchy, four Tottenham players - Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio - held talks with Keane over the weekend.
"If anything is going to hold things up now it is a few loose ends between Spurs and the players," said Keane, "I was impressed with the four when I met them and I hope I made a positive impression on them. I enjoyed having the opportunity to speak to them and I think they were made some very good offers."
The amount of money on offer has prompted Kaboul to consider making a mockery of his agent's assertion that the defender wouldn't move to the north-east "even if there was an earthquake". But while Chimbonda said he was "excited" by what he heard from Keane, he reputedly 'remains much admired by Everton and Newcastle United.'
Other points of interest in The Guardian story are that 'Should Tainio, a defensive midfielder, move to Wearside, the way could be cleared for Dean Whitehead to depart for Stoke' and Keane's supposed interest in recruiting a fifth player from Tottenham in the form of Darren Bent.
BUT BENT COULD MOVE TO EVERTON IF FULHAM SIGN AJ
The general consensus is that Robbie Keane's move from Tottenham to Liverpool could occur as early as this week.
As well as ManYoo target Dimi Berbatov, another striker set to leave the club is Darren Bent. According to The Independent, Spurs expect a bid from Everton for Bent - but the Toffees may only make their move after selling Andy Johnson. It's thought that Fulham could be about to launch a £10m offer for the former Crystal Palace forward who, if we're honest, has gone backwards at Goodison Park.
ONE THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN
Staying with The Guardian and in the north-east, it's also claimed that Newcastle are 'pondering a bid for José Antonio Reyes, the former Arsenal forward now at Atlético Madrid, where he has fallen out of favour.'
There are no further details provided which is probably just as well. After all, if Reyes couldn't cope with living in London, what would happen to him if he was sent to the north-east?
POMPEY WANT LONDON PAIR
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Tottenham's Younes Kaboul both want to sign on at Fratton Park - but fears he may have to sell before he can buy.
Redknapp has already committed £11million to Liverpool in exchange for England striker Peter Crouch, fears he has no more money to buy his other two top targets and would have to sell up to six of his current squad to get them.
Redknapp also admits he fears Aston Villa will beat Pompey to recruit French defender Kaboul because of the midlands club's greater spending power.
GOOD TOUCH FOR A BIG MAN?
A few of the tabs this morning suggest that Aston Villa are scraping together the pennies for a big bid for a big man, namely Serbia's answer to Peter Crouch, Nikola Zigic.
However, The Guardian claims they will face competition from a mystery Premier League club for the Valencia beanpole, while The Daily Mail reckons Portsmouth and Newcastle have been linked with him in the past.
Whether or not Zigic has a good touch for a big man is yet to be confirmed.
AND THE REST...
Hull boss Phil Brown is in talks with Marlon King after agreeing a club-record £3million fee with Wigan...Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has put his £575,000 pursuit of Derby midfielder Stephen Pearson on hold - because he will not be fit for a month...Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has given up hope of signing Frank Lampard this summer...Manchester City want Espanyol's £6million-rated Pablo Zabaleta...Fulham's 'imminent' £1.5million deal for Fredrik Stoor will have to wait until next week...Hull have agreed a £300,000 fee with Borussia Dortmund for Delron Buckley...Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is ready to hand James Milner a new role to foil more interest from Liverpool...Wigan will not be dragged into an auction with Fulham for Andy Johnson...Kevin Keegan wants Charles N'Zogbia to stay at Newcastle...Blackburn will welcome £4million-rated Chile midfielder Carlos Villaneuva to Ewood this week...Bolton have failed in a £320,000 offer for Levante winger Mustapha Riga...Blackburn are resigned to losing David Bentley, but he won't be allowed to leave unless the club's asking price is met.
