Karl-Heinz Rumour Mill

[crowie]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

I think Milan would probably have him back if he decides to move on.

Milan chairman said something along the lines of "We are keeping a place in the squad open for Sheva for next season". They would have him back in a shot.

[crowie]

Fridays RM

TRANSFER RUMOURS
West Ham want £8m-rated Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy to replace Carlos Tevez. (The Sun)

Chelsea skipper John Terry will decide on his future this summer - but will not hand in a transfer request. (Daily Star)

Chelsea's Claude Makelele will join Villarreal this summer. (Daily Mirror)

The Blues are lining up a swoop for Brazil defender Alex - for the princely sum of $1. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle's Steven Taylor has told the club not to mess him about and give him a new contract. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp wants to make Freddie Ljungberg his next signing. (Daily Star)

Pompey are also keen to snap up Titus Bramble after the defender was released by Newcastle. (Daily Mail)

Spurs have overtaken Man Utd in the race to sign highly-rated Southampton youngster Gareth Bale. (The Guardian)

West Ham are set to lose striker Bobby Zamora to Atletico Madrid. (Daily Mirror)

Rangers will have to stump up at least £2m to land Osasuna defender Carlos Cuellar. (Daily Record)

Eddie Lewis could quit Leeds and make a shock return to former club Preston. (Daily Star)

Aston Villa are chasing Portugal Under-21 left-back Antunes. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp will ask owner Alexander Gaydamak for funds to sign Jermain Defoe, if the striker is put up for sale by Spurs. (The Times)

West Brom's Jason Koumas has told the club he will snub Celtic and stay at the Hawthorns - if the club are promoted. (Daily Mirror)

Dundee United boss Craig Levein is closing in on a deal for Polish keeper Lukasz Zaluska - and will unveil three more signings next week. (Daily Record)




OTHER GOSSIP
Angry Arsene Wenger could leave Arsenal over the boardroom row which saw David Dein leave the club - and will take Thierry Henry with him. (Various)

Frank Lampard, John Terry and Arjen Robben have been offered 'take it or leave it' deals by Chelsea - which will mean all three are earning less than misfiring Andriy Shevchenko. (The Sun)

Bryan Robson is poised to replace Neil Warnock as Sheffield United manager. (Various)

Meanwhile, Sheffield United number two Stuart McCall is poised to quit the Blades to become the new Bradford manager. (Daily Star)

Derby insist they will keep boss Billy Davies despite interest from Manchester City. (The Sun)

A Dubai-based consortium is leading the way to take over Leeds with a £40m bid. (Daily Star)

Wigan supremo Dave Whelan and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore have agreed to calm down over the Carlos Tevez affair. (Daily Star)

Clarence Seedorf claims AC Milan deserved to beat Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final. (Various)

Claudio Ranieri remains top of Man City's wish list for their new manager - despite the Italian telling BBC Sport on Thursday that they were yet to make contact with him. (Various)

Preston boss Paul Simpson has admitted that former assistant Dennis Booth is refusing to speak to him after being released. (Daily Mail)



AND FINALLY
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has a good cry when his side loses a big match. (The Sun)

Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka had mixed feelings about his surprise call-up to the England B squad - because it means he will miss a holiday to Halkidki in Greece for which he has already paid. (Daily Express)

[crowie]

Some belters today

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp wants to make Freddie Ljungberg his next signing. (Daily Star)

Pompey are also keen to snap up Titus Bramble after the defender was released by Newcastle. (Daily Mail)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp will ask owner Alexander Gaydamak for funds to sign Jermain Defoe, if the striker is put up for sale by Spurs. (The Times)

Why does the words two steps forward one step back keep on entering my head?


Villareal are adding Makelele to compliment Sheva from Chelsea as well. Thats some side they are building....

West Ham are set to lose striker Bobby Zamora to Atletico Madrid. (Daily Mirror)

Sounds like West Ham and Athletico Madrid are playing a game of cards. Still West Hams gain is Athletico Madrids loss....


This is the best of the lot though IMO

Angry Arsene Wenger could leave Arsenal over the boardroom row which saw David Dein leave the club - and will take Thierry Henry with him. (Various)

I have visions of Wenger speeding away from the Emirates, probably in a mini, laughing manically, with Thierry Henry locked in the boot of his car.

Really, what a pish story. So Arsene Wenger leaves Arsenal, take Henry with him and what happens if he doesn't get another job. Does Henry become his butler or something??!!

[all_funkt_up]

Manchester United are trailing Heerenveen's Brazilian striker Alfonso Alves who has scored 34 goals in 31 games this season. (Sunday Mirror)

Chelsea have targeted Everton defender Joleon Lescott but will have to find £10m to get their man. (Sunday Mirror)

Milan are planning a £28m swoop for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. (News of the World)

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to splash £20m on Carlos Tevez. (Sunday Express)

Spurs are preparing a bid for Manchester United striker Louis Saha. (The People)

Spurs boss Martin Jol hopes to bring in Morten Gamst Pedersen, Leighton Baines, Darren Bent and Nigel Reo-Coker. (Sunday Mirror)

And that means Jermain Defoe, Mido and Hossam Ghaly will be shipped out of White Hart Lane. (Sunday Mirror)

Djibril Cisse has told Liverpool to slash their transfer demands so he can finally leave the club. (Sunday Mirror)

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce is hoping to sign Arsenal centre back Johan Djourou. (Sunday Mirror)

Bruce also wants Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka. (Daily Star Sunday)

Alan Curbishley will axe 12 of his West Ham squad in a £40m summer shake-up, including Nigel Reo-Coker, Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora. (Various)

Manchester United have switched their attentions to Porto winger Anderson after Sporting Lisbon demanded £20m for Nani. (Daily Star Sunday)

Charlton will win the race to sign Crewe striker Luke Varney. (People)

Roy Keane wants to make Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen his first signing after leading Sunderland back to the Premiership. (Daily Star Sunday)

Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are in a three-way fight for £15m-rated Manchester City defender Micah Richards. (Daily Star Sunday)

Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim will see his salary rise from £8,000 to £50,000 a week when he signs for Chelsea. (Daily Star Sunday)

Everton are leading the race for Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka, likely to cost £6m. (Independent)

Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell will join Chelsea this week - despite a last-ditch bid from West Ham. (News of the World)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger fears Thierry Henry has played his last game for the club. (News of the World)

Real Betis are leading the chase for Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez. (News of the World)

Manchester United are planning a £12m swoop for Ajax striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar. (News of the World)

Celtic will table a £5m bid for Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton this week. (News of the World)

Rangers will make a £100,000 move for Coventry full-back David McNamee if they fail to sign Steven Whittaker from Hibernian. (News of the World)

Goalkeeper Jamie Langfield has rejected a transfer to Rangers and will sign a new deal with Aberdeen. (Sunday Mail)

Hibernian aim to sign Dunfermline goalkeeper Dorus De Vries this summer. (Scotland On Sunday)

Tell us your transfer rumours

Back to top

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City are on the point of appointing Dutchman Co Adriaanse as their new coach. (Sunday Mirror)

Jose Mourinho insists he wants to stay on at Chelsea after they won their sixth trophy in his three years at the club. (Sunday Mirror)

Tottenham are the target of a £250m bid from US consortium. (News of the World)

Multi-millionaire businessman Sheikh Samir Mirdad is heading up a Dubai-based consortium interested in taking over Leeds. (Daily Star Sunday)

Back to top

AND FINALLY

Carlos Tevez is set to be the subject of a new film in which he may star as himself. "It will have to be four or five hours long because so many things have happened to him," says Javier Mascherano. (Sunday Mirror)

Spanish football's disciplinary committee had to annul 100 yellow cards given in Spain's top two divisions as referees hit back in a row involving David Beckham. Becks recently saw yellow for time-wasting, officially noted as 'unsporting behaviour', but had it rescinded on appeal. But referees demonstrated their anger at that decision by marking down the next 100 bookings as 'unsporting behaviour', meaning the committee had to follow the example they set with Beckham

[all_funkt_up]

Here's a few wee tit bits that caught my eye:

Real Betis are leading the chase for Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez. (News of the World)

Aye fair enough. If they want him then they're welcome to him. Fast player but I think we need to loan him out until he is big enough and intelligent enough for the Premiership. He certainly has the pace to do well, but doesnt have enough in his bag of tricks for me.

Alan Curbishley will axe 12 of his West Ham squad in a £40m summer shake-up, including Nigel Reo-Coker, Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora. (Various)

Good. All the big time charlies axed with one fell swoop. There's some gang/clan thing going on there and it needs sorting. "You cant drop my mate or I'll sulk" type association. More interested in their Bentley's and their slags than getting their heads down and grafting for the club.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to splash £20m on Carlos Tevez. (Sunday Express)

Get in there my son. Really really like Blanka - I think he'd fit in really well down on the Costa Del Mersey

[all_funkt_up]

Today's offerings from the rags

Manchester United will offer £27.5m plus £11m-rated Louis Saha for Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov. (Sun)

Liverpool's summer transfer hitlist includes Samuel Eto'o, Carlos Tevez, Daniel Alves and Gabriel Milito. (Sun)

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia's move to Fulham has fallen through over his wage demands. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland have made a £2m bid for Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who has a year left on his current contract. (Various)

The Black Cats also want Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen - but face competition from West Ham, Portsmouth and Newcastle. (Daily Star)

Real Madrid are planning a £15m bid for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle will bid £5m for Leighton Baines - who believes he must leave Wigan to further his England ambitions. (Daily Star)

Chelsea have engineered an option to sign 20-year-old PSV defender Manuel da Costa before next May. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool will listen to offers for Craig Bellamy - who is wanted by Aston Villa and Blackburn. (Daily Express)

Chelsea have lodged a £10m bid for Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham are in talks with Sporting Lisbon about signing £13.5m-rated winger Nani. (Times)

Arsenal have held talks with Atletico Madrid as they try to offload Jose Reyes. (Daily Mail)

West Ham are preparing a £5m bid for Reading defender Nicky Shorey. (Sun)

Watford are poised to sign Arsenal keeper Mart Poom. (Daily Mirror)

Rangers boss Walter Smith is looking to bolster his squad by signing PSV Eindhoven winger DaMarcus Beasley. (Sun)

Jean-Joel Doumbe says he is likely to sign a two-year deal with Celtic as the prospect of Champions League football is a big incentive. (Sun)

Kilmarnock have offered Ivory Coast star Aime Koudou a one-year deal to remain at Rugby park. (Sun)

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies says he has not received any offers for striker Steven Naismith - despite speculation linking him with a move to one of the Old Firm clubs. (The Herald)

Tell us your transfer rumours

Back to top

OTHER GOSSIP

The Glazer family are ready to listen to offers for Manchester United less than three years after completing their takeover. (Daily Mirror)

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is in the frame for the Man City job. (Sun)

Freddy Shepherd will be ousted as Newcastle chairman in the near future by prospective owner Mike Ashley. (Independent)

Ashley intends to complete his takeover by the start of next season. (Guardian)

Gretna are in talks with Motherwell about offering a joint season ticket next season. (Daily Record)

Back to top

AND FINALLY

Shrewsbury have had to have a new kit made for Saturday's League Two play-off final after their players threw their shirts and shorts into the crowd following their semi-final win over MK Dons. (Daily Star)

[all_funkt_up]

Various sites are saying that Liverpool are about to ship out Gonzalez, Hyypia, Fowler, Zenden and Bellamy. That's some clear out there isnt it.

[all_funkt_up]

GONZALEZ SET TO LEAVE REDS
Jimmy Rice in Athens 24 May 2007
Mark Gonzalez is set to leave Liverpool for Real Betis after one season at the club.
Rafa Benitez today confirmed the two sides had "almost" reached an agreement over the Chilean winger.

Bolo Zenden, whose contract expires in the summer, has also been told he can talk to other clubs.

Benitez said: "I was talking with him before and I said he could talk with other teams. He knows the situation.

"It's clear some players will leave. We almost have an agreement with Real Betis for Mark Gonzalez."

[all_funkt_up]

Here's a story originally from L'equipe

According to L'Equipe, Barcelona are closely tracking Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Sissoko's future at Liverpool is shrouded in doubt following the signings of Javier Mascherano and Gremio starlet Lucas.

Barcelona could be keen on the Mali international, who is unlikely to have any qualms about returning to La Liga.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have reportedly joined the list of clubs interested in Lyon's French winger Florent Malouda.

Arsenal and Chelsea have both previously shown a desire to sign Malouda, but Juventus and The Reds now head the chase.

Malouda has a contract until 2011 at Lyon so Rafa Benitez is likely to have to pay in the region of €20million (£13.5million) to land his man.

I firmly believe we have too many midfielders and that 1 or 2 of our big names will be on the way out this summer. You look at the 2 places (assuming we still go 4-4-2) up for grabs in the centre and ask what our budget is for those players. Realistically, can Liverpool keep paying Gerrard (on a new improved deal by the way), Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko and Lucas?

I reckon Rafa will look to sell either Momo or Xabi this summer, maybe both if the price is right. The club simply dont have the money to pay them all top dollar for just 2 places. I think Rafa would sooner sell one of them and then off set that saving against bringing in a top quality front man.

[all_funkt_up]

Looks like smiling Sami is off to Newcastle. I thought Sami would be off this summer, what with the introduction of Agger into the first team and all. I have had a call from a mate who reckons Hyypia is going to the Toon.

Great acquisition IMO. Organises the defence well, good leader and the right man to show Steven Taylor how it's done.

[FC Basher]

It was a rumour know its fact.
Spurs completed the signing of Gareth Bale 5m now plus future payments rising to upto 10m.I guess im happy they bought a left back,hope he turns out to be a good player.

[all_funkt_up]

Basher - indeed I heard on the radio this morning that the young Mr Bale has signed for Spurs. I read a comment from Southampton in Thursday's paper that he definitely would not be leaving for a deal worth around £6m in cash with around a further £4m based on performance bonuses.

I hear today that he has left for a deal worth around £6m in cash with around a further £4m based on performance bonuses.


Must have been *ahem* crossed wires there or something, given the rapid change of heart.

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by BBC

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is confident of completing the signings of Middlesbrough strikers Mark Viduka and Yakubu. (Daily Mail)

Sunderland are set to offer £5m plus Stern John for Preston striker David Nugent. (Star)

West Ham have joined Blackburn and Aston Villa in the race to sign Liverpool's Craig Bellamy. (Daily Mail)

Good. I said when we bought him he was a no-risk buy. He might have a serious personality flaw, but for £6million we were always guaranteed to get our cash back at least. We have had a season with him, dont like the look of the lad and now pass him on for around £6m-£8m. There will always be another manager who looks at Bellamy thinks he is worth the risk or that he is the gaffer to get the most out of him. One born every minute as they say.

Sheffield United have told Everton they will have to pay £6m if they want to sign midfielder Phil Jagielka. (Star)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is confident of completing the signings of Middlesbrough strikers Mark Viduka and Yakubu. (Daily Mail)

It would suprise me if the Evo's signed Jagiekla for anywhere near that much. Moyes is a shrewd customer and has never spent large amounts of cash on average players before. Im sure he can do better than that for £6m.

OTHER GOSSIP

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is 'keen' on the Manchester City job. (Daily Telegraph)

[all_funkt_up]

Fuck me, this would be a good bit of business wouldnt it:

Liverpool set Bellamy's asking price at £12m


Striker set to leave Anfield after just one year
Aston Villa and West Ham possible destinations

Dominic Fifield
Saturday May 26, 2007
The Guardian

Liverpool have warned rival clubs hoping to take advantage of Rafael Benítez's desire to reshape his squad that Craig Bellamy, one of the players for whom the manager would listen to offers, will only be sold for around £12m.

The Wales international moved to Anfield from Blackburn Rovers last summer for half that amount but, despite Bellamy struggling to adapt to Benítez's squad rotation system, Liverpool hope for a significant profit on his sale. Blackburn are keen to re-sign the forward but could now be priced out. West Ham and Aston Villa have expressed interest and could make formal bids.

Bellamy has scored nine goals in 42 appearances this season but was involved in an ugly fracas with his team-mate, John Arne Riise, on a mid-season training camp in Portugal and was an unused substitute at the European Cup final in Athens.

Benítez said in the wake of the 2-1 defeat to Milan that he would listen to bids for his players - "The number we bring in depends if we get big offers for the players or not," he said - with the Spaniard intent upon spending substantial sums.

It remains to be seen whether the manager will be given the money he desires, having issued a warning to the club's American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that they must act quickly and lavishly in the market if Liverpool are to displace Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the Premiership.

He would like to sign the likes of Valencia's David Silva and, possibly, Sevilla's Daniel Alves having made improvement of the supply-line to his existing forwards his priority. However, should Bellamy join Robbie Fowler in leaving the club then he would also need to add to his strikers.

Benítez's demand for transfer funds prior to the team's departure from Athens was aimed at kick-starting a summer of spending at Anfield, and Hicks and Gillett remain intent upon liaising extensively with their manager in the next few weeks to discuss and secure his targets.

Asked last week whether he would be spending significant sums in the summer, Hicks told the Guardian: "It depends upon the player. What we have said to Rafa is that if there is really somebody he thinks can change the team, then let's go get 'em.

"But let's don't just spend money to say we spent money. We have really got to use his judgments. He will say we have got this talent, we have got these areas covered, we need this to help compete better in the Premiership. We need this young guy to help us continue our progress. It's that kind of conversation we will have."

Gérard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager, has resigned as Lyon's head coach after guiding them to a record sixth, and his second, successive league title.

Jlloyd Samuel will become Sammy Lee's first signing as Bolton manager after agreeing a free transfer from Aston Villa.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Just when we were talking about silly asking prices eh?

Makes no sense to me. They bought him for how much? £7 million? He has been a bit part player and now they are trying to flog him for nearly double how much they paid?

Fair enough if he had set the EPL alight etc then they would be in a position to do this but this is taking the piss.

Like you say though - good business for Liverpool if they manage to get that price.