Madrid and Mourinho
New Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is already whispering sweet nothings into more ears than Ashley Cole. His prime targets seem to be Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. However, unlike John Terry, the English duo may not be easily tempted to play away from home. Lampard is very loyal to Chelsea and Gerrard will stay at Anfield if they get a cash injection. If the Lampard deal does come off it could see Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite – or Kaka to you and JOE – come to Chelsea.
If Mourinho does swap the 28-year-old the former World Cup, Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year winner for ‘Fat’ Frank, he will certainly be ‘special’ in JOE’s eyes.
Ashley Cole is now being linked with Mourinho and Madrid rather than a string of beautiful women. The ‘Special One’ has the woman who holds a special place in any red blooded males heart, Cheryl Cole, to thank for the left back’s desire to flee England.
A host of papers claim Cole’s fears of being public enemy number one on the terraces next term will affect his game. Because there wasn’t a lack of terrace love for Cashley already? Yeah right.
Fab and Arsenal
Cesc Fabregras seems to have changed his mind on his future ‘like a girl changes clothes’, as West Ham fan Katie Perry might say. Fab firstly claimed he would leave his future in the hands of Arsene Wenger, who’s unbiased, like.
A heart to heart between the pair prompted him to let the French professor decide whether he should stay and play an influential part in the Premier League or watch Iniesta and Xavi strut their sensational stuff from the Nou Camp bench next year.
The Arsenal captain was then reported to be “50-50†about his future after a bust up with the Gunners Chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
Arsenal have also reportedly turned down two bids but the London club’s ‘just say no’ policy hasn’t deterred a determined Barca. Since then, Barca director Joan Oliver has revealed that his club has tabled a formal bid for the Spaniard. Remains to be seen if Arsenal will bite.
Staying on the Arsenal theme, they have also been linked with a £10million move for Hugo Rodallega, Mark Schwarzer, Gary Cahill, Kevin Doyle, Kieren Westwood, Stephen Ireland, Lorient centre back Laurent Koscielny and Bordeaux ace Yoann Gourcuff.
There was a time when the Gunners were regularly linked with the best players in the world. Then again we also remember Arsenal used to be half decent and previously challenged for titles! Things are so bad, it seems, that grand old Sol Campbell is considering a possible move to Celtic.
On a more positive note Gunner fans may be saved the horrible sight of Nicklas Bendtner, who is as prolific in front of goal as Dirk Kuyt in a night-club, in action next season. Wenger has secured the services of Marouane Chamakh, a player who could prove a great foil for the brilliant Robin van Persie.
Liverpool enter the unknown
Whilst Arsenal’s transfer shortlist has depreciated significantly Liverpool’s is decidedly worse. Rafa Benitez’s targets are more “who’s that” than “who’s who”.
Along with Tottenham the ‘Pool are believed to be leading the race to sign Croatian goalkeeper Marijan Antolovic.
And whilst Rafa and the Anfield fans’ wish-list may consist of quality players like David Villa, Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Tevez the real list holds the likes of unknown 19-year-old Danny Wilson. Benitez has reportedly had a bid knocked back for the Rangers full back.
The fact Liverpool have been linked with long term Benitez target Simao Sabrosa may give the Liverpool fans some hope. However the Athletico Madrid winger has expressed a desire to stay in Spain.
Spurs swaps
Harry Redknapp trades players with the same excitement as kids do their Merlin Premier League stickers. And the Spurs boss has been in the playground all week trying to trade a number of his regulars for rare gems. By red-top accounts, wheeler dealer ‘Arry has been looking to use Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas as bait for the signature of Curtis Davis (who has also been linked with Liverpool) and James Milner.
The former Bournemouth, West Ham and Portsmouth boss has also asked David Moyes what Spurs stickers he wants for South African Steven Pienaar.
Micah Richards and Joe Cole are also reportedly on Harry’s radar whilst one player he wouldn’t swap is the magical midget Luka Modric. The Croat signed a six-year deal this week.
City slickers
Uefa this week rubber-stamped new rules aimed to bring an end to uncontrolled debt. One club who didn’t even bother to glance at the new governing body law is Manchester City. The Blues are in the black and are trying to buy every high profile player available it seems.
Valencia’s David Silva was the first to be linked to Eastlands but was quickly followed by Mikel Arteta, Gonzalo Higuain, Fernando Gago and Edin Dzeko to name but a few!
Boringly, every goalscorer in the upcoming World Cup is expected to be splashed across the back pages as City-bound.
One man who could be on his way out, however, is Emmanuel Adebayor. He has once again been linked with AC Milan.
Healthy hammers
One side supposedly at the opposite end of the financial table to Man City are West Ham, but that hasn’t prevented them from being a rumour mill regular this week.
The Hammers are not as financially ill as they have made out. They may have yet to name a new manager but their football know-it-all owners are actively pursuing the likes of Frederic Piquionne, Jamie O’Hara, Yakubu, Joe Cole and burst Golden Balls himself David Beckham.
Buy Guaranteed Irish
Stephen Ireland looks destined to be playing his football away from Manchester City next year. It’s Manchester United, Aston Villa or Spurs for him, apparently.
Keiren Westwood, who played twice for Ireland last week, has been linked Sunderland. And with Steve Bruce at the helm he will be the first Irish player at Sunderland not to be part of Roy Keane’s buy guaranteed Irish, but not guaranteed quality. The Coventry netminder has also been linked, albeit to a lesser extent, with Arsenal who are looking for someone with stickier and safer gloves than their calamitous trio.
Twinkle toes Aiden McGeady could be dancing down the wingers at Fulham and Birmingham next year, while fellow Irish winger and Trap favourite Liam Lawrence may be his replacement. The Stoke winger could rid himself of any Plastic Paddy tag if he chooses Celtic over Mick McCarthy’s Wolves.
Rumour regulars Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle could be club leading the line together at Wolves as well as Ireland. Wexford man Doyle, however, has been linked with a move to London with Arsenal and Irish captain Keane has expressed a desire to stay at Spurs.
Meanwhile, flavour of the Irish month left back Greg Cunningham has expressed a desire to do a Seamus Coleman and go out on loan next term.
Best of the rest
Nikola Zigic will be hoping to tower over Peter Crouch in the goal scoring and height charts next term. The 6foot 8inch lank, who will be in the World Cup with Serbia, has signed for Birmingham. Now having secured Zig the Brummies are chasing the signature of Zog, Charles N’Zogbia that is.
Public enemy number one for most fans, Craig Bellamy, has surprisingly become Cardiff City’s number 1 target.
Chelsea are willing to let 28-year-old Joe Cole leave for free and will replace him with 30-year-old Yossi Benayoun for £6 million.
Wigan captain Mario Melchiot is set to join Qatari club Umm Salal. Rangers goal machine Kris Boyd is a Blackburn target. Kasper Schmeichel has signed for his Dad’s old team’s big rivals, Leeds, on a free transfer.
Villa, Sunderland and Birmingham all want big Bobby Zamora, who this time last year was being linked to League One sides, and Real Madrid midfielder Guti is correctly set to snub a move to Blackburn in favour of staying at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Jonny Stapleton
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