Karl-Heinz Rumour Mill

[rcgills]

According to today's Marca, Atletico Madrid are on the verge of signing Forlan from Villarreal, which presumably would mean Torres is on his way.

[all_funkt_up]

Indeed RC.

I have heard of a few potential hold-ups though in the deal and I believe the Telegraph reports that Liverpool are doubtful the deal will be completed before 31st August!!!!

Firstly there is the price, in that they want more than we're prepared to pay.

Next there's Torres' cut of the transfer. He wants 10% of the fee, the club say we should pay him this and we say it should come from the moneys we pay to them.

Next, I hear that young Fernando is on his Jollies until 10th July and will be unavailable to enter into negotiations until that date. Our players return from pre-season training that week and so that wouldnt give him much time to agree terms and bed in before the start of pre season.

Hardly ideal eh

[rcgills]

Certainly doesn't sound ideal, but then I can't imagine that Atletico would be looking to bring in Forlan without releasing Torres (or possibly Aguero, I guess, although Torres is the one attracting all the interest).

Still reckon you'd be better off trying to hijack that deal for Forlan myself. He's scored 54 goals in the past 3 seasons in Spain, compared to 44 for Torres. Much better finisher, and he'd be much cheaper too. OK, he looks like Sally Gunnell, but it's a small price to pay.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by rcgills

Certainly doesn't sound ideal, but then I can't imagine that Atletico would be looking to bring in Forlan without releasing Torres (or possibly Aguero, I guess, although Torres is the one attracting all the interest).

Still reckon you'd be better off trying to hijack that deal for Forlan myself. He's scored 54 goals in the past 3 seasons in Spain, compared to 44 for Torres. Much better finisher, and he'd be much cheaper too. OK, he looks like Sally Gunnell, but it's a small price to pay.

How many of those goals for Torres have been pens? Any idea?

Over £25 million....This is beginning to make Bents transfer to Spurs seem like value

[all_funkt_up]

Carlos Tevez will make a decision on his future after the Copa America. Four Premiership clubs are interested. (Independent)

Please be Liverpool, please be Liverpool, please be Liverpool.....

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will have to drop his £12m asking price for Craig Bellamy if he wants to offload the Welsh striker. (Star)

No shit Sherlock!

I think Bellamy will be out the dor as soon as we sign a new striker. I think Rafa is reluctant to let players out the door before he gets replacements in. Plus as well, West Ham were probably holding out for Darren Bent too. Now that they know they wont be signing him they will move on to their 'secondary' target in Bellamy. Wouldnt be suprised to see Manchester City coming in for him too. You heard it here first folks....

Liverpool are planning to hijack Juventus' move for Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze. (Various)

And the Reds will wrap up a deal for Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres in "days", despite reports Manchester City tabled a bigger bid. (Times)

Thaksin Shinawatra's takeover of City is in the balance. (Various)

Manchester United are leading the race to sign the Argentine. (Star)

Although Sir Alex Ferguson does not actually want to sign him, Michael Owen or Jermain Defoe. (Mail)

And Sir Alex will have to sell before he can spend on any more new players. (Mail)

Manchester United are the club that are set to beat Rangers to the signature of Bordeaux's Julien Fabuert. (Star)

Or maybe not. West Ham have offered £6m for the wantaway winger. (Express)

The Hammers could make a move for Tottenham striker Mido. (Telegraph)

Fellow Spurs striker Jermain Defoe features prominently on Aston Villa's list of summer targets. (Express)

But Defoe does not want to move to Villa or West Ham, while Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as Manchester United, do not want him. (Times)

Who does that leave? Sunderland, who put in an £8m bid for Defoe. (Express)

And Portsmouth are also interested in the diminutive striker. (Various)

Pompey are in the market for a striker as Bulgarian Svetoslav Todorov has turned down a new contract. (Various)

Villa are also still leading the chase for West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, although Manchester City hope to hijack that move. (Telegraph)

And Villa boss Martin O'Neill will splash some of his £30m transfer kitty - £10m to be precise - on Chelsea midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips. (Mirror)

Although Tottenham boss Martin Jol believes he will win the race to sign Wright-Phillips - if one develops - and he also wants fellow Chelsea player Lassana Diarra. (Sun)

Another midfielder heading for the exit at Stamford Bridge looks to be Geremi. Aston Villa - yup, them again - are vying with Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Everton and Sunderland for the Cameroonian. (Mail)

And then there's Frank Lampard. Jose Mourinho has warned that Chelsea have to sort out the England international's future before other clubs tempt him to leave. (Sun)

And Blues striker Didier Drogba has revealed he is weighing up offers from other clubs and will make a decision on his future next week. (Sun)

One player not leaving west London this summer is Arjen Robben. (Various)

And Kevin Nolan will not be leaving Bolton - news that will come as a blow to reported suitors West Ham. (Various)

Fulham want to make a £2.5m bid for Blackburn striker Jason Roberts, who has snubbed an approach from Charlton. Everton are also interested. (Sun)

Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage has turned down a move to Wigan. (Various)

And Rovers and Celtic are battling it out for Holland striker Maceo Rigters. (Daily Mail)

Mikael Silvestre was not in the team photo as Manchester United unveiled their new kit. (Sun)

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has earmarked Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen as a potential target. (Various)

Reports in Italy suggest Barcelona's Brazilian star Ronaldinho could be on his way to AC Milan. He is currently filming an ad in Milan. (Guardian)

Rangers are preparing a third offer for Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith. (Mail)

Sochaux have rejected a bid from Celtic for midfielder Guiranne N'Daw. (Sun)

Borussia Dortmund have told Celtic that striker Alexander Frei is not for sale. (Express)

West Brom have moved closer to the signing of Celtic striker Craig Beattie. (Mail)

David Marshall's agent says the Celtic goalkeeper will move to Norwich City for £700,000. (Mail)

Motherwell have signed Oldham Athletic striker Chris Porter. (Express/Sun)

Falkirk are poised to sign Stirling Albion goalkeeper Scott Christie. (Sun)

Dundee United will next week give a trial to Gorica striker Jani Sturm. (Mail)

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by Kiko

How many of those goals for Torres have been pens? Any idea?

Not as many as you might think, as he's fucking useless at them Of his 15 goals this season, 4 were penalties, but he also missed 4 more. Can't find stats for past seasons.

[all_funkt_up]

First off, there appears to be a wee bit of contract problems over at the bridge. For varous reasons, it appears that Chlelsea are unable or unwilling to agree deals with some of their top stars. I think this deserves a thread of ts own so I will bang one up:

Midfielder Frank Lampard has turned down Chelsea's offer of £121,000 a week sparking renewed speculation he will join Juventus or Barcelona. (NotW)

Chelsea will not buckle in their talks with players who want big bucks. That could mean Lampard and Arjen Robben will be heading to Spain. (Mail)

Image rights are the stumbling block for Lampard and John Terry. (Mirror)

Next this little beaut pops up from left field.

Midfielder Javier Mascherano has not yet signed a full-time deal with Liverpool and could make a surprise move to Manchester City. (The People)

Where that's come from I have no idea.

There was speculation last year as to how much javier cost us, whether it was a permanent deal and indeed how long he was contracted for. If the People are to be believed (I would sooner believe next door's cat) then Masch could be on his way out of Liverpool - for Manchester City. Fuck me, it truly is silly season.

Arsenal will table a £20m offer for Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o. (The People)

AC Milan have confirmed Eto'o is their number one target and say Arsenal do not stand a chance of signing the Cameroon forward. (News of the World)

The Gunners are also the only serious contenders battling Manchester United for the signature of striker Carlos Tevez. (NotW)

But Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested, while West Ham will match any offer Tevez receives. (Mirror)

Striker Didier Drogba says he is not hankering after a move to AC Milan and wants to stay at Chelsea. (NotW)

Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka has told 'friends' he is interested in rejoining Manchester City. (Mirror)

Middlesbrough forward Yakubu could join him at Eastlands. (Mirror)

And veteran Italian forward Christian Vieri is another City target, as are Newcastle's Michael Owen and West Ham's Nigel Reo-Coker. (News of the World)

Aston Villa want Reo-Coker as well as Chelsea duo Geremi and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy. (Sunday Telegraph)

Liverpool want £3m and Michael Johnson from Manchester City for Bellamy. (Daily Star Sunday)

The Reds are close to landing Athletic Bilbao 'wonderkid' Mikel San Jose. He is an 18-year-old defender. (NotW)

Liverpool turned down an offer from Besiktas for Sami Hyypia as they need to find a replacement first. (People)

Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta has his sights on a move to England with Chelsea, Manchester City, West Ham and Middlesbrough interested. (Mirror)

Newcastle are keeping tabs on Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnson. (Express)

Wayne Bridge, Lassana Diarra and Geremi could be in a job-lot move from Chelsea to Newcastle. (Mail on Sunday)

Magpies boss Sam Allardyce, who says he needs five years to sort the club out, is "100%" sure striker Michael Owen will stay at St James' Park. (NotW)

Charlton want West Brom's £4m-rated striker Nathan Ellington as a replacement for Darren Bent. (NotW)

Albion will in turn boost their attacking options with a move for Celtic's Craig Beattie. (NotW)

Rangers and Derby are willing to meet the £5m valuation West Brom have put on midfielder Jason Koumas. (People)

Derby also want Norwich striker Dickson Etuhu, West Ham winger Matthew Etherington and Sheffield United centre-back Claude Davis. (People)

Paul Robinson and Paul McShane will leave the West Brom for Sunderland in a £6m double deal. (NotW)

Sunderland will sign Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon for £4.5m. (People)

Manchester United midfielder Kieron Richardson is in the middle of a tug of war between Sunderland and Sheffield United. (People)

Sunderland hope to catch Chelsea and Manchester United on the back foot with an early move for Heerenveen's Brazilian striker Afonso Alves. (NotW)

Bolton want to sign Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy. (People)

Tottenham are lining up £3.5m bids for Celta Vigo's Borja Oubina and Hertha Berlin's Kevin Prince Boateng. (NotW)

Spurs have had a £6m offer for Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura turned down. Liverpool and Aston Villa are also interested in the midfielder. (NotW)

Arsenal are set to go head-to-head with free-spending Spurs. Both clubs have targeted £8m-rated West Brom defender Curtis Davies. (NotW)

Real Madrid want Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes but will only offer £6m, half the amount they agreed last summer. (NotW)

Birmingham will boost their ranks with Spartak Moscow's former Arsenal striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Dutch U21 star Daniel de Ridder. (NotW)

Midfielder Stephen Clemence will swap Birmingham for Southampton. (Various)

Chelsea are putting the finishing touches to a deal for Dutch U21 star Royston Drenthe. (People)

Everton want Preston's David Nugent but will not go above £4m. (NotW)

Blackburn will fend off Portsmouth's interest in Ryan Nelson by offering the defender a new contract. (People)

Colchester are the latest club to express interest in signing veteran forward Teddy Sheringham. (People)

West Ham have beaten Rangers to the signing of Bordeaux midfielder Julien Faubert. The fee is £6m. (NotW)

Middlesbrough are close to agreeing terms with AZ Alkmaar's Icelandic right-back Gretar Steinsson. (Various)

Fulham will renew their efforts to sign Leeds striker David Healy after missing out on Tottenham's Mido. (NotW)

[christianu]

Lol City are going sick

[crowie]

And veteran Italian forward Christian Vieri is another City target

I thought he was finished, dead, caput?? Sure he couldn't get a game for Atalanta last season.

Rangers and Derby are willing to meet the £5m valuation West Brom have put on midfielder Jason Koumas. (People)

If Rangers spend £5m on anyone I will be gobsmacked.

Paul Robinson and Paul McShane will leave the West Brom for Sunderland in a £6m double deal. (NotW)

Just the sort of players you need to keep you in the EPL......

Spurs have had a £6m offer for Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura turned down. Liverpool and Aston Villa are also interested in the midfielder. (NotW)

and some more

I like Naka but for £6m I would carry the fucker all the way to WHL myself (he's not likely that big and heavy being a Jap but you get the idea).

Liverpool want £3m and Michael Johnson from Manchester City for Bellamy. (Daily Star Sunday)

Michael Johnson? The athlete??

[all_funkt_up]

I wondered who he was Crowie. Last week Bellamy was £12m, yesterday he was £6m cash and now £3m plus some American 400m runner. Hardly a cohesive transfer policy is it?

[all_funkt_up]

Ans as for Vieri - I read last year that he was playing for Atalanta for the minumum wage, something like £200 p/w. He wanted to do it to show how keen he was and to get fit again. If he isnt good enough for them, well then he's a cert for city isnt he. Bet they offer him £50k a week and a 5 year deal.

[crowie]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Ans as for Vieri - I read last year that he was playing for Atalanta for the minumum wage, something like £200 p/w. He wanted to do it to show how keen he was and to get fit again. If he isnt good enough for them, well then he's a cert for city isnt he. Bet they offer him £50k a week and a 5 year deal.

This is the latest Wiki on him

In July 2005, Vieri and Inter Milan came to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract with the club. He was then signed by cross-town rivals A.C. Milan, but left the rossoneri - where he was not a regular starter - after just six months, joining French side AS Monaco FC in order to play regularly and gain a place on Italy's roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, he suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Monaco in 2006, which required extensive surgery and ruled out the possibility of playing in his third consecutive FIFA World Cup.

On July 6, 2006, Vieri agreed a one year deal with UC Sampdoria of Serie A. On August 10, 2006, an agreement was to terminate his contract with the club. Then he offered his services to demoted Italian giants and former club Juventus. But Juventus rejected his offer on August 22nd.

On August 29, 2006, Vieri returned to Atalanta and signed a one-year minimum wage contract worth 1500€ per month. In addition to his paltry salary, Vieri will earn another €100,000 for every goal he scores, leaving chairman Ivan Ruggeri to comment, "If things go well, Vieri will cost me two million euros".

On June 2007, Atalanta announced they chose not to offer a contract extension to Christian Vieri. His contract will therefore end on June 30, and he will be unattached since then.

Played 7, scored 2 for Atalanta.

[christianu]

Michael Johnson broke into the City midfield towards the end of last season, another academy product.

All city fans rate him highly, Pearce loved him and he was captain of the youth team that made the final against Liverpool and he plays for England under 19's.

Being linked with Liverpool shows that his talent has been noticed, Liverpool have been going mental with a bunch of youth players lately haven't they.

He also went to my high school and was in the year below me!

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

£6 million for Naka?

I would be delighted with that myself Crowie.

Is it just me or do you feel he is a bit overrated?

Obviously very talented but how many times did he go missing for Celtic, especially in away games?

Only a handful of games imo where he ran the show. Other games he wouldnt have much of an influence in but would have a telling ball which would result in goals.

Some good business by Celtic actually. Heard £1.5 million quoted for his move to WBA. £1 million for Marshall and just under for Pearson. Lawell is getting some top dealings it has to be said.

Shame that i have no idea wtf Strachans doing in regards to the number of strikers etc he has mind

[Bigkegman]

Arsenal sign da Silva

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal | Arsenal snap up striker Da Silva