Close Season News Updates

[johntheclaret]

Thought it was about time for an update. Been a bit lazy this week.

Arsenal.
Strong rumours that Henry is going to Milan. Milan coach Anchelloti has played down the reports, saying Henry is under contract and that makes things difficult.
Aslo strong rumours that Henry will tell Gunners he wants a move to the Nou Camp, according to Barca.

Middlesbrough
Have signed Jeremie Aliadiere from Arsenal in the wake of Viduka's departure

Spurs
Have signed teenager Adel Taarbet on a permanent basis from Lens
Also fighting WHU for the £8m signature of Charlton striker Darren Bent

Liverpool
Xabi Alonso re-news contract and joins Gerrard and Carragher who signed 4 year deals, and Reina who just signed a 5 year deal.
Benitez has made enquiry over Charlton striker Darren Bent
But Italy U21 keeper Daniele Padelli has returned to Sampdoria after loan spell came to an end

Leicester
Completed the signing of striker Carl Cort from Newcastle.
Aslo signed defender Bruno N'Gotty from Birmingham and keeper Jimmy Nielsen from Danish league side Aalborg

Birmingham
Likely to make £4m bid for out of favour Spurs striker Mido.

Bolton
Have signed Gavin McCann for £1m from Villa.

West Ham.
Norwegian club Fredrikstad insist they have not had any contact over teenager Tarik Elyounoussi. Hammers strongly linked with a $3m move for the 19 yr old who trained at the Chelski academy last November.
Fighting with Spurs for £8M signature of Charlton striker Darren Bent

Wigan
Boss Whelan has sold his stake in sports outfit JJB for £190m. Former b4st4rds player bought JJB when it was a single sports shop in Widnes in 1971

Chelski
Arjen Robbens dad (yeah, like he knows who his dad is), has denied claims by Real Madrid, that they are close to signing the cheating little barsteward, saying the winger is close to signing a new deal at Chelski.

Charlton
Defender Sankofa has signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2008

Cardiff
Interested in former Rangers player Gavin Rae

Everton
Striker James Beattie could return to b4st4rds with Jason Roberts going the other way.
Will win battle to sign Sheff U's Phil Jagielka for £4m after Blades boss Robson admitted he expects him to leave.
Preston
Announce, any club interested in striker David Nugent, the bidding starts at £7m

Wolves
Boss Mick McCarthy has had a £1m bid for Southend hot shoy Freddy Eastwood rejected

Plymouth
Have made a 2nd offer for Oldham's Chris Porter after initial £700k bid was rejected

Millwall
Interested in Darren Currie after being released by the Rams

Derby
Target former Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao on a free transfer

Man City
PSV boss Ronald Koeman, who has been linked with the club, has been seen in the city.

Newcastle
Joey Bartons move to Toon outfit, has stalled over his £300k loyalty payment demand. WHU also oheld talks with Barton, who will cost the Magpies £5.5m

Man U
Left back Gabriel Heinze on brink of £7m move to Real Madrid
Also confirmed that defender Jonny Evans will not be returning to Sunderland on loan next season. Cats boss Keane, hoped Evans would return for another season but Fergie insists he wants Evans to fight for a place at Man U

Sheff W
Sign former Derby keeper Lee Grant

Blackpool
Have signed Huddersfield Town keeper Paul Rachubka ona two year deal after successful loan spell.

Burnley
In race with Saints for polish striker Marek Saganowski who had successful spell loan spell at St Marys club scoring 10 goals in 13 games.

Colchester
Look like losing another of their stars from last years successful CCC campaign after Kemel Izzet is demanding improved terms before committing himself to the club. The U's have already sold Chris Iwulemo and had a transfer request from Jamie Cureton

Watford
Have completed the signing of winger Jobi McAnuff from Crystal Palace for £2m

The Football League has closed the loophole that allowed Leeds to go into administration without suffering a 10 point deduction for next year. (Stabel Doors and bolting horses, spring to mind)

[devilsadvocate]

The Beckham to Galaxy deal is not 100% done as Real has an escape clause in his contract to hold on to him for 8m quid I think it was.

Still this is from the Brit press who have an unhealthy fixation on printing absolute shite about Becks, so who knows.

Plus Posho would crack it if she couldn't stay in Hollywood with hew new chums no doubt.

[Maddogmike]

He will definately go to LA.

[devilsadvocate]

EPL Fixture for August 2007:

My picks for the most interesting games of August in red highlights

Date 11/08/2007
Arsenal v Fulham
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Bolton v Newcastle Allardyce back to his old club
Chelsea v Birmingham
Derby v Portsmouth
Everton v Wigan
Man Utd v Reading
Middlesbrough v Blackburn
Sunderland v Tottenham
West Ham v Man City

Date 14/08/2007
Birmingham v Sunderland
Portsmouth v Man Utd
Reading v Chelsea
Tottenham v Everton
Wigan v Middlesbrough

Date 15/08/2007
Blackburn v Aston Villa
Fulham v Bolton
Liverpool v West Ham
Man City v Derby
Newcastle v Arsenal

Date 18/08/2007
Birmingham v West Ham
Blackburn v Arsenal
Fulham v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Chelsea Will show who's on the pace early
Man City v Man Utd Manchester Derby, always interesting
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Portsmouth v Bolton
Reading v Everton
Tottenham v Derby
Wigan v Sunderland

Date 25/08/2007
Arsenal v Man City
Aston Villa v Fulham
Bolton v Reading
Chelsea v Portsmouth
Derby v Birmingham
Everton v Blackburn
Man Utd v Tottenham
Middlesbrough v Newcastle
Sunderland v Liverpool
West Ham v Wigan

[devilsadvocate]

Spurs and England Defender Ledley King will undergoe surgery on his left knee next week after aggrivating it during the recent international.

Gee this bloke has bad luck with unjury.

Spurs also likely to up the ante for Darren Bent following West Ham's 17m quid offer. IMO, Spurs whould have tried harder to hang onto Carrick rather than spending all that coin for Bent.

Terry Henry still rumored to move to Spain despite his manager threatening legal action over such reports. Ronaldinho has come out saying he loves watching TH and would like to play alongside him.

[smithy]

Liverpool have left West Ham fuming after launching an "insulting" £1m bid for midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
West Ham are set to pay striker Darren Bent £75,000 a week when they sign him from Charlton for £16m to £17m.
West Ham and Tottenham will battle to land Darren Bent.
Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim will snub former Trotters boss Sam Allardyce at Newcastle and instead join Chelsea.
Allardyce wants to steal Ben Haim from under the noses of Chelsea.
Portsmouth striker Kanu is ready to move to Ajax on a two-year deal.
Chelsea hope to sign Hertha Berlin striker Marko Pantelic for £2.5m.
Manchester United will intensify their bid for a new striker after Louis Saha was ruled out for up to six months following knee surgery.
Manchester United are ready to bid £10m for Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella. Goalkeeper Ian Walker is ready to leave Bolton to revive his career.
West Brom are bidding to sign Celtic striker Craig Beattie for £750,000.
Rangers' bid to land Carlos Cuellar is back on after Osasuna caved in on the defender's demands to be allowed to leave the Spanish club.
Hearts have insisted they have no plans to sell injury-hit winger Mirsad Beslija.
Tottenham want Jermain Defoe to sign a new three-year contract but will sell the striker this summer if he does not commit himself to the club.
Bolton are heading the chase for Rangers winger Thomas Buffel.
Portsmouth want to lure back striker Yakubu by offering Middlesbrough a cash-plus-plus players exchange, with midfielder Sean Davis one of the fringe players who may be offered.
West Ham are willing to sell striker Marlon Harewood to Fulham if they raise their bid from £3m by £750,000.
Portsmouth have joined Sunderland and Everton in the battle to land Preston striker David Nugent.
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood and managing director Keith Edelman have held secret peace talks with American tycoon Stan Kroenke, whose acquisition of a 12% stake in the club sparked takeover talk.
Barcelona midfielder Deco will be glad to see the back of Real Madrid rival David Beckham, who is set to join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, because he believes the England star "has shown he is still among the best in the world".
Real Madrid midfielder Beckham is confident he will be fit to face Real Mallorca as his side aim to win the title on Sunday, despite an ankle injury.
Beckham has taken a pay cut in his basic salary to move to the United States.
Blackburn hope a takeover with American bidders can be agreed by August so manager Mark Hughes can splash out on players.
Manchester City's managerial target Juande Ramos has said he is likely to stay at Sevilla.
Manchester City's managerial shortlist consists of Ramos and Dutchman Co Adriaanse, who has managed Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, Porto and who left Ukrainian side FC Metalurgh Donetsk in May.
Oasis star and Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher is ready to rescue the Premiership club with a cheeky cut-price bid with M People founder Mike Pickering.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed he is unmoved by the £50m spending spree by rivals Manchester United.
Leicester want to sign midfielder Trevor Sinclair on a free transfer following his release from Manchester City.
Boston United, who have been relegated to the Conference North from the Football League, are in danger of folding after a proposed takeover collapsed.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich hopes to bring some unity to the club by attending captain John Terry's wedding on Friday but manager Jose Mourinho will not be there.
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson came on as a substitute to help Boro old boys' five-a-side beat German opposition, containing two of their Euro 96 team, to win a tournament in Singapore.
Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov has been named transfer of the season after Professor Tom Cannon and researchers from Buckingham University calculated the value to their clubs of last season's signings based on certain criteria. Chelsea forward Andriy Shevchenko was labelled a flop.

[devilsadvocate]

Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim will snub former Trotters boss Sam Allardyce at Newcastle and instead join Chelsea.

Just in, Chelski have officially signed Haim on a four year deal.

[devilsadvocate]

Darren Bent has turned down a move to West Ham. Bent wants to move to Spurs, however the club is yet to put forward an offer.

Joey Barton has moved from Man City to Newastle for a 5.8m pound fee.

And Chelski have released a flourescent yellow away strip for 2007/08.

Viduka has decided NOT to retire from international football, and will front for the Socceroos in the Asian Championship in July.

[Dogwatcher]

Oasis star and Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher is ready to rescue the Premiership club with a cheeky cut-price bid with M People founder Mike Pickering.

Music to some people's ears.

[Dogwatcher]

Any Sunderland news boys?

[devilsadvocate]

Any Sunderland news boys?

They will lose their first game!!!! HAHAHA!!!!

Roy boy has confirmed they have enquired about David Nugent, but terms haven't been agreed.

I'd like to see him make the move and see how he goes in the top flight, because I'm not convinced with him yet.

[brent]

the new chelsea away kit.... at least if any of them decide to ride a bike at night you'll be able to see them in other words i'm not yet convinced

[devilsadvocate]

the new chelsea away kit.... at least if any of them decide to ride a bike at night you'll be able to see them in other words i'm not yet convinced

HAHAHAHA.

I would have sleged it too, but Spurs wore a shocking canary yellow away shirt in the 05/06 season., so I'll sit the rest of the debate out!

[johntheclaret]

Official invesigation into EPL transfers has been concluded.

The report cites 17 transfers, including Chelskis Drogba and Essien, where they have not ben able to audit where the cash came from or went to.
Also named 5 clubs involved, Newcastle, Bolton, Chelski, Boro and Pompey. Also name two managers, Allardyce ans Redknapp, and two agents (can't remember their names).

EPL now to conduct a full investigation into the cash for players scandal. This is just the beginning.

DA, news is that Spurs have not even made an equiry over Darren Bent. Heard / read somewhere that Villa might step in with an offer.

[johntheclaret]

Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim will snub former Trotters boss Sam Allardyce at Newcastle and instead join Chelsea.

Just in, Chelski have officially signed Haim on a four year deal.

Got him on a free. That makes 3 free's and £7m for one. Looks like Roman the Russian's cheque book is well and truly closed.

As a sidenote Abramovich has been linked with one of the agents currently named in the cash for players scandal.

[Dogwatcher]

the new chelsea away kit.... at least if any of them decide to ride a bike at night you'll be able to see them in other words i'm not yet convinced

Which council are they working (or leaning on shovels) for?

[johntheclaret]

the new chelsea away kit.... at least if any of them decide to ride a bike at night you'll be able to see them in other words i'm not yet convinced

Which council are they working (or leaning on shovels) for?

Gold DW, er rephrase that, Yellow that DW

[smithy]

Barca wannabe's.

[devilsadvocate]

DA, news is that Spurs have not even made an equiry over Darren Bent. Heard / read somewhere that Villa might step in with an offer.
RE: Ben Haim: Got him on a free. That makes 3 free's and £7m for one. Looks like Roman the Russian's cheque book is well and truly closed.

As a sidenote Abramovich has been linked with one of the agents currently named in the cash for players scandal.

Spurs and Liverpool have reportedly been told Bents price is 14m+. Spurs won't pay that IMO.

I expect a last minute offer from Spurs around 10m for him.

Dodgy Russians!!! It was good business with ben haim though. They wanted him last year, but would have had to pay. Now they get him for free, and could possibly on-sell him later depending on how he goes.

[brent]

regarding the reduced spending, chelsea/abramovichs business plan from the start was to break even within 5 years. at the rate we were going it was going to be difficult to achieve but now it is looking likely

we have chopped and changed for 3 years, i'm actually looking forward to some stability in the squad rather than wholesale changes. last time i looked it wasn't such a bad squad, i hear those ballack and shevchenko fellas are reasonable footballers