latest news
The Soo Is Indifferent Gossip
SWP ON THE MOVE
Big Phil Scolari really is clearing out the deadwood at Chelsea.
Having got rid of Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Andriy Shevchenko, it looks like Shaun Wright-Phillips could be next out of the door.
The Sun reports that Chelsea are prepared to let the pint-sized winger leave Stamford Bridge, and furthermore are prepared to take a significant hit on the little chap.
They claim he'll be allowed to return to Manchester City for just £9million, a few years after making the opposite journey for closer to £24million.
However, they might have some competition, with Everton and Portsmouth skulking in the wings and thumbing their chequebooks, should the City move not materialise.
JUST WHO IS GAZUMPING WHO HERE?
First Liverpool wanted Albert Riera, then the increasingly-desperate Everton thought that might be a mighty fine idea, and now it looks like Liverpool are interested again.
Perhaps this is a little bit like a child just wanting a toy because his brother has it, but several papers report that a £12million bid from Anfield for Riera will result in success in the next few days.
The Guardian claims that Rafa Benitez will raise some of the required cash by selling Jermaine Pennant and Sami Hyypia for a total of £7million.
The papers also claim that Riera himself would prefer red to blue when it comes to a Merseyside move, leaving David Moyes more frustrated than a teenager with short arms.
Small comfort for Moyes will come with the news that they've all but tied up a deal for Danish full-back Lars Christian Jacobsen, and various reports also claim he's close to bagging Guinea defender Kamil Zayatte, who will cost £2.5million from Young Boys of Berne. Also, talk of Nikola Zigic arriving on loan makes an appearance in The Guardian.
ROBINHO, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH
Couple of rags this morn report that Robinho is close to finally making the move from Real Madrid to Chelsea for £27m (The Sun) or £31m (The Daily Mirror).
We also have the usual quotes from Robinho's agent/verbal diarrhoea merchant Wagner Riberio, who reckons a deal - and his juicy cut - is close.
If you insist on reading them, those quotes are here, but forgive us if we can't get too excited about this one anymore.
ARSHAVIN TO CHELSEA NOW?
Interesting line in The Daily Express, who report that Zenit St Petersburg want to get rid of Andrei Arshavin, but are bored of Spurs' stubborn refusal to stump up the required cash.
However, they've glanced across London and found another team with more pots of gold.
Yep, that's right, it's Chelsea. What a great big galloping shock.
DOYLE TO VILLA
Quick line from The Daily Star, who claim that Aston Villa are close to wrapping up the signing of Reading striker Kevin Doyle for around £7.5million.
Seems a bit much to us, but what the hell do we know?
AND THE REST...
Stoke want to sign Besiktas defender Gokhan Zan...Fulham are the latest club to show an interest in Valencia striker Nikola Zigic...Sheffield United left-back Chris Armstrong will have a medical at Reading today...Reading's £2.5million move for Southampton midfielder Andrew Surman has fallen through...Portsmouth hope to replace Sulley Muntari with Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta...Fulham are set to sign South African midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi...Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes has been told he can join Sheffield Wednesday on loan...Blackburn boss Paul Ince wants to swoop for Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland...West Brom have agreed a £2.5million fee with Charlton for Zheng Zhi...Stoke are set to sign Lens winger Kanga Akale on a season-long loan...Bolton flop Blerim Dzemaili will join Torino for £750,000
