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The Jim-Jams Gossip
SPURS FAILED WITH ASHTON BID?
Tottenham have reportedly failed in a £15m bid for West Ham striker Dean Ashton. According to The Guardian, Spurs have turned to Ashton as it becomes increasingly likely that Dimitar Berbatov will join Manchester United, leaving them with only Darren Bent in the striking department.
A bid of closer to £20m would probably tempt the Hammers, who have so far failed to get huge earners Lucas Neill and Freddie Ljungberg off their wage bill.
More on that little one here.
SAHA TO REPLACE HIM?
There's talk in The Times that brittle-boned striker Louis Saha would prefer to move to West Ham than Sunderland but also that the Hammers would struggle to match his £60,000-a-week wages. But that could soon change if they get a £20m boost from the transfer of Ashton to Spurs.
Why are we not the tiniest bit surprised that West Ham would buy someone who can barely get into his car without straining his back?
ADEBAYOR DOUBLES HIS MONEY
Well that worked then. After a summer of courting interest from Barcelona and AC Milan, Emmanuel Adebayor has agreed a new Gunners contract that will see him double his money to £80,000 a week. At least that's what The Sun says, and who are we to argue with The Sun?
THE RIGHT-BACK SEARCH GOES ON
According to The Times, 'Aston Villa appear to have narrowed down their options for a right back to Justin Hoyte, of Arsenal, Luke Young, of Middlesbrough, and Paulo Ferreira'.
Now this sounds like a scattergun approach to the Gossip Column, who would like to remind Martin O'Neill that Hoyte is pants. Our money (should we have any) would be on Young as Ferreira will play a fair few games at Chelsea next season as back-up to Jose Bosingwa. He'll be like a right-footed, better-looking Wayne Bridge.
TOON TO TAKE HIT ON SMITH
Just a year after buying jack of all trades, master of f*** all Alan Smith for £6m, they are now willing to sell him to Everton for just £3m in order to save themselves a massive £12.5m in wages over the rest of his contract. The Sun says that David Moyes 'believes Smith is the perfect partner for striker Yakubu', which is odd considering the Toffees usually play with one up front.
AND THE REST
Bolton will take Paul Robinson from West Brom in exchange for Abdoulaye Meite...Bolton are also closing in on Danny Shittu for £2m...Wigan could make a £3m move for Ipswich striker Danny Haynes...Blackburn have swooped to sign Julio Santa Cruz - younger brother of Roque...Sunderland and Aston Villa have had bids accepted for Reading's Nicky Shorey...Geremi has pleaded with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to buy some new players...Charlton are bracing themselves for bids for star midfielder Zheng Zhi...West Brom boss Tony Mowbray has approached West Ham to take James Collins on loan for the season...Dean Whitehead insists that his future lies with Roy Keane at Sunderland...Gary Megson is set to sign Watford defender Danny Shittu for £2million...Blackburn boss Paul Ince has taken Bordeaux defender Paul Baysse on trial...Hull have turned to David Nugent in a bid to solve their striker crisis at the KC Stadium...Paul Dickov is in talks with Milan Mandaric over a return to Leicester...Derby boss Paul Jewell hopes to conclude a loan deal for Latvian Andrei Pereplyotkin in time for the opening game of the season.
