Karl-Heinz Rumour Mill

[slick]

Well what a let down that was and ure right Kiko as Naismith has indeed gone to Rangers and the only other notable signing was Solano going to West ham.

What happend to all the big names the papers have been mentioning all week flocking into the Prem?

The only good thing about that is we now know where we stand as we've had a good glimpse into how most clubs are fairing and we should expect pretty much the 'same as' from here on into January.

[all_funkt_up]

Now the frenzy is over - there's fuck all rumours in the papers. What was a mad orgy of stories, rumours, here-say and nonsense is now all quiet. Its like the floods accross the plains in Africa. A dry, deslate moonscape is transformed into a lush oasis when the rains arrive. Life springs up from all quarters and the rain gives life where there was none.

The rumours bring life and vibrance to our newspapers for a short time. The pages ebb and flow with gossip and they come into bloom. Then all too quickly the dry season is upon us. Desolation, newspapers are sparse - there is no life to be seen. Vultures pick through the bare bones, the carcasses of transfer deals that never happened lie baking in the midday sun. Until that is the next silly season is upon us - 4 months and counting.

[all_funkt_up]

David Beckham wants a loan move to play in England after the American season has finished to increase his chances of reaching 100 England caps - he currently has 97 (Express).

Everton's Phil Jagielka could be on his way back to Sheffield United on loan (People).

Portsmouth will try and sign Eidur Gudjohnsen from Barcelona in January after a bid to sign him in August was scuppered by injury (Mirror).

Not sure about the Jagielka one myself. Dont see Moyes doing a u-turn that quickly. He's made a few sub appearances so far and for my money, hasnt done a great deal wrong - yet.

[all_funkt_up]

Sad cunt that I am, I was watching the Blackpool v Hull match last night. Good entertainment actually, Dean Windass is a legend. Actually, I would rather he be in the squad rather than Emile Heskey. Anyway, while I was watching the match, the cameraman picked out none other than JayJay Okocha in the crowd at Bloomfield Road.

Rumour has it that he will be signing for Hull on a free transfer shortly.

Get innn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isnt it Bolton's ex-assistant manager that's in charge of Hull at the moment? Big Sam's old deputy Phil Brown?

If Sheringham can play well into his late thirties, Okocha aged just 34, could be a revelation in the Championship.

Hats off.

[andeeeee]

the 20k aweek helps as well

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Jay Jay is one of those players who will still be able to cut it at his age. He was never one of those players that relied on pace and making run after run. His skill alone will keep him able to go for a few more seasons yet.

Great signing and one that catches the publics imagination in Hull for sure.

Hopefully he can deliver.

[mrmuzeman]

Not sure about the Jagielka one myself. Dont see Moyes doing a u-turn that quickly. He's made a few sub appearances so far and for my money, hasnt done a great deal wrong - yet.

- YET. What the hells that supposed to mean

He started last game replacing dodgy Hibbert hopefully for good. Story = total crock of shite.

I had a dream Yakubu scored an absolute corker against Spurs last night, was awesome

[all_funkt_up]

Its just me being the eternal realist muze.

I like Hibbert, you wont find a more committed player in the Prem. He's a close call for the ugliest player too, though GNEVILLE wins that hands down, every fucking time.

[all_funkt_up]

Yah, und ve are nearing ze transver vindow once more. Zis means only von thing - ze Karl Heinz Rumourmill is vonce again open for business.....

[all_funkt_up]

Your starter for 10

Valencia coach Ronald Koeman has expressed an interest in signing Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise.

Koeman is determined to add to his squad in the new year following Valencia's exit from the Champions League.

Los Che are also toiling in seventh place in La Liga and Koeman admits Riise is a player of interest.

"He is a player with experience and would offer some options for our game," said Koeman in the Daily Mirror.

Riise, who can also play in midfield, has made over 300 appearances during six years at Anfield.

And reports suggest Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will look to rebuff any January bids for the Norway international.

[all_funkt_up]

Tis the season to be jolly, but apparently where transfers are concerned its also the season to be cheeky as fuck.

United had an £18m bid for Dimitar Berbatov rejected in the summer. Apparently they've made a new bid for the striker which involves £6m in cash plus Wes Brown and Louis Saha. Brilliant!

So you reject an offer and they come back to you with one that comprises one crocked striker, one defender that United would be lucky to off-load for £4m given the current length of his contract and a third of the cash offered in the summer.

You have to laugh really dont you...

[all_funkt_up]

That Rangers right back, Alan Hutton has apparently rejected a move to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be around £8m.

I said in a previous thread that he'd earn a move to a big club soon enough and I was right.

Apparently he's holding out for Manchester United who I reckon will be offloading Wes Brown in the near future. £2m will be a fair price and I can see him going somewhere like Newcastle in the not too distant future.

[all_funkt_up]

Reports on the radio suggest Chelsea have stuck a bid in for Nicolas Anelka......

Oooooooooooooooooooooh

[all_funkt_up]

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has revealed his desire to quit the club in the summer. (The Times)

Tottenham are to revive their move for Rangers full-back Alan Hutton, with the Scottish club keen for the £8m transfer to go ahead. (The Times)

Spurs are also interested in former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse. But they face competition for the Marseille forward from Premier League rivals West Ham, Manchester City, Blackburn and Bolton. (The Times)

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is interested in Bayern Munich forward Lukas Podoloski. (The Times)

Chelsea and Tottenham are tracking Barcelona and Italy full-back Gianluca Zambrotta. (The Times)

Spurs may also move for Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson, who they bid £1m for two years ago. (The Times)

Norwich want to sign Bulgaria defender Valentin Iliev and have offered his club, CSKA Sofia £700,000. (The Times)

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov says he is not worth his club's £31m valuation and claims the speculation is getting to him. (The Times)

Meanwhile, Spurs right-back Pascal Chimbonda's future at the club is in doubt after he laughed when they asked him to play centre-back. (Daily Mail)

But Tottenham manager Juande Ramos is lining up an £8m move for Chelsea centre-back Tal Ben Haim. (The Sun)

Meanwhile, Ramos could soon be losing star striker Dimitar Berbatov, who is the subject of a money-no-object approach from Manchester City. (The Sun)

Derby want to sign Aston Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen. (Mirror)

Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor will decide this week whether to move to Sunderland or Bolton, who have both had a £3.5m bid accepted. (Daily Mail)

Bolton boss Gary Megson is lining up Real Madrid's Javier Saviola as a replacement for Nicolas Anelka, who looks set to leave. (various)

Chelsea are favourites to sign Anelka but they value the Frenchman at £11m while Bolton want £18m. (Express)

Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt is open to a move to Sunderland. (Mirror)

Liverpool boss Rafael Bentiez continues to plan for the future, despite speculation he could be sacked. He has his eye on Porto defender Bruno Alves. (Mirror)

Manchester City are ready to offer Rolando Bianchi in a part-exchange deal for Roma's £16m-rated striker Amantino Mancini. (Mirror)

Blackburn defender Bruno Pezzoni is set to quit the club, just after breaking into the first-team, to join German side Cologne. (Mirror)

Reading will spend £700,000 on Czech Republic international midfielder Marek Matejovsky. (Mirror)

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish wants to sign Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner and Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras. (Mirror)

Leicester boss Ian Holloway has agreed to sign Hungarian midfielder Gabor Bori for the rest of the season. (Mirror)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is to assess South Korea striker Cho Jae-Jin during a week's trial. (Mirror)

Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock is set to go back to his old club Sheffield Wednesday to sign midfielder Glenn Whelan. (Mirror)

Norwich's out-of-favour midfielder Ian Murray will reject a move to Brighton to join former club Hibernian. (Mirror)

West Brom's former England Under-21 midfielder Richard Chaplow is wanted by Burnley. (Mirror)

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock has tabled a bid for Aberdeen duo Michael Hart and Chris Clark. (Record)

St Mirren have upped their offer for Inverness midfielder John Rankin. (Express)

Celtic may offer Derek Riordan to Burnley in a bid to sweeten a deal for Kyle Lafferty. (Express)

Dundee United have rejected an offer from Blackpool for striker Noel Hunt. (Daily Mail)

[all_funkt_up]

Liverpool have apparently bid £6m for some Slovakian centre half from Zenit St Petersburg:

LIVERPOOL are set to break their transfer record for a defender by paying £6.5m for Slovak international centre back Martin Skrtel.

The Zenit St Petersburg star arrived on Merseyside last night ahead of a medical today and the club are confident the deal will be finalised within the next 48 hours.

Chief executive Rick Parry thrashed out a deal with Zenit officials during talks in Russia at the weekend.

Skrtel is rated as one of the most promising defenders in European football and Liverpool have had to beat off competition from some of the continent's top clubs to set up the deal.

Cant say I've seen much of the chap - has anyone?