latest news
The Heartbroken Gossip
ONE WEEK TO GO: IS BERBATOV OFF TO MANYOO?
Apparently ManYoo have made a final £25m take-it-or-leave-it offer to Spurs for Dimitar Berbatov. Now, that should be no problem - Spurs can just decide whether they want to sell him at that and if they don't then we'll hear no more about it, right? Wrong.
Because, 'senior players at Tottenham have made clear their concerns to manager Juande Ramos that the protracted transfer of Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United is proving disruptive to the club,' according to the Telegraph.
'The Sunday Telegraph understands that a deputation of players met with Ramos last week to ask for the situation to be speedily resolved.
'While there has been no suggestion that Berbatov has been unprofessional, some senior players are worried that the situation is proving a distraction to a side that has been radically overhauled in the summer.'
The 'no suggestion that Berbatov has been unprofessional' line is interesting, given that it appears on the same day as the Press Association filed the following report:
'Juande Ramos will leave it to club officials to decide if Dimitar Berbatov should be fined for not being in the right frame of mind to feature in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Sunderland.
'Berbatov handed in a transfer request just over a week ago and met with Ramos on Thursday on his return from international duty with Bulgaria, and it was decided he would not face Roy Keane's men in the Barclays Premier League clash at White Hart Lane. The 27-year-old will meet Ramos again on Monday and could also face punishment from his club.
'"That is a decision the club has to make," Ramos said. "That is a very interesting question you should ask the club."'
EVERYONE WANTS WINGERS
So, the former greatest striker in the world (he really was, you know) is heading back to Italy having firmly failed at Chelsea. And he might not be the only man leaving Stamford Bridge in the next week.
The Mail On Sunday says Newcastle want to take advantage of Robinho's expected arrival by spending £12m on Florent Malouda, another man who has completely failed to deliver the goods in London.
Moving from north-east to north-west, as the player will be if it's true, the News Of The World has jumped on the Downing to Liverpool bandwagon, predicting a £14m move for a man who has actually performed very well indeed for Middlesbrough over the last year. But that hasn't been enough to stop him being labelled a one-trick pony, and the Gossip Column reckons there'll be some pointing and laughing if this one goes through.
And with a winger apparently coming in, Liverpool are going to let one leave. But the NOTW says Blackburn must stump up £6m for that lad Pennant. Not that he wants to leave. "I want to stay at Liverpool," he whines in The People.
"I have been given a fantastic opportunity to play for the team I supported as a kid and all I want to do is work hard and fight for my place in the team."
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are still being linked with a move for James Milner in the local press in both Newcastle and Birmingham. The latest story is that Villa must wait until Wednesday to find out if the winger will be sold - Kevin Keegan will apparently discuss his future with Toon bigwigs at the same time as he dicusses Mickey Owen's new contract. Which brings us nicely to...
MICKEY OWEN'S NEW CONTRACT (OR LACK OF)
According to the NOTW, Michael Owen is willing to let his Newcastle contract wind down and walk away on a free at the end of the season, because the board want him to take a pay-cut.
"The main thing at the end the day is that it will be sorted," says Keggy Keegle.
"I think I can honestly say that if it comes to January, the chances are he won't be staying, but I don't think it will get there."
We'll see, eh?
THAKSIN ON THE WAY OUT OF CITEH?
The News of the World reckons a 'mystery Arab group' is going to take control of Manchester City. The People doesn't think there's anything mysterious about them at all - they've got them pegged as long-time Liverpool suitors DIC, but think they're only investing in the club, rather than trying to buy it.
All of which is perhaps why there's not too much transfer gossip surrounding Citeh today, other than a claim in the Sunday Mirror that Spurs are still hopeful of signing Vedran Corluka.
FUN AND GAMES ON MERSEYSIDE
Both the Daily Star and Sky Sports think that Everton have launched a bid to try to snatch Albert Riera from under Rafa Benitez's nose.
'It is now understood that talks are at an advanced stage,' say Sky.
'Everton are ready to agree terms with Espanyol - something their city rivals Liverpool have been unable to do.'
That's not the only name linked with a move to Goodison Park today. The NOTW says the Toffees are keen to sign Egyptain striker Emad Meteb for £1.8m.
AND THE REST
West Ham are hoping to complete a deal for Ghana ace Stephen Appiah...Arsenal could allow Johan Djourou to go on loan to Rennes...Bolton are planning a fresh £4million move for Jimmy Bullard...Fulham are putting together a £2.5million bid for Jaroslav Plasil...Portsmouth face competition from Borussia Dortmund in their bid to land Nadir Belhadj...Tottenham defender Ricardo Rocha could quit England and join Spanish club Espanyol...Southampton and Plymouth are chasing Tottenham striker Tomas Pekhart...Swindon are eyeing Nigerian midfielder Adigun Salami...Leeds have circulated the names of ten players they will allow to leave Elland Road including Jonathan Douglas, Ian Westlake, Peter Sweeney and Seb Carole...Sunderland are chasing Wolves midfielder David Edwards...Sheffield Wednesday want to sign Dean Windass from Hull...Torino midfielder Vincenzo Grella wants to join Blackburn...
