Bleacher Report - Articles by David James

So Many Unanswered Questions at Real Madrid

David James — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:33:56 -0400

It's that time again, that's right it's time for another round of Real Madrid elections. Or is it?

Cause this time around there only seems to be one clear candidate, and he'll be a familiar face to some. That man is Florentino Perez, the original founder of the Galacticos era at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In his first spell in charge Perez sanctioned world beating transfers for the world's top stars, whilst continuously breaking world-wide transfer records. Before Chelsea and Manchester City could even dream of spending 30 million on one player, Perez's Real Madrid were spending 30, 40 and sometimes close to 50 million on a single player.

Every year for five straight seasons another superstar of world football joined Real's multiple million euro club.

First there was Luis Figo, controversially signed from Real's biggest rivals Barcelona for around 56 million euros, only bettered by the deal that took Zinedine Zidane away from Juventus and into the Bernabeu for in a figure, quoted in total to be around 64 million euros the following year.

Then in the next two years those transfers were followed by the modest in comparison deals for Ronaldo from Inter Milan for 30 million euros, and David Beckham's transfer the following year from Manchester United to Real Madrid for a mere 25 million euros.

These four superstars joined a star-studded team along with the like of Roberto Carlos and the club captain and only remaining galactico Raul Gonzalez Blanco.

The elections are scheduled for July 5th. This is because of Perez's successor Ramon Calderon resignation, due to allegations of vote rigging in Real's general assembly in January. The club at the time had just sacked head coach Bernd Schuster and were over ten points off leaders Barcelona in the race for the La Liga title. Vicente Boluda was made interim president, until elections could be held at the end of the season.

Boluda did a good job steadying the ship. He first hired former Seville and Tottenham manager Juande Ramos to oversee the first team until the end of the season. Ramos then signed Lassana Diarra from Portsmouth and Klaus-Jan Huntelaar from Ajax, both of whom helped the Madrid club to consolidate second place in La Liga and closed the points gap, if not slightly on now champions Barcelona.

The candidates announced for running were former presidents Perez, Calderon as well as Eduardo Garcia and Juan Onieva, who was vice president to Lorenzo Sanz in the late nineties.

Ramon Calderon was the first to remove his name from the race. Many questioned why Calderon would want to regain the reins, after relinquishing them only a matter of months earlier. Coupled with the fact that Calderon could find himself behind bars as a result of an investigation, into the scandal that saw him resign in the first place.

Calderon claimed to have an 80 million euro agreement with Manchester United for their Portuguese winger Cristino Ronaldo. The deal was reportedly brokered last summer, before the world player of the year opted to stay at Old Trafford.

Juan Onieva also pulled out of the race, within days of submitting his name, due to his disastrous official presentation, that was said to have severely damaged his creditability. This added to the fact that his vice president Carlos Gonzalez also withdrew his application citing "personal reasons."

Onieva had also claimed to have an agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo in place, which he later denied. Onieva wanted to place current Almeria manager Hugo Sanchez, the former Real Madrid striker and Mexico manager, in charge of first team duties next season.

Lastly Eduardo Garcia had to pull out due to problems getting a bank guarantee for the estimated 50 million euros that candidates needed to provide, to enter the candidacy race in the first place.

Garcia had pledged to bring Chelsea's Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba to the Bernabeu, as well as claiming to having agreements to sign two more players.

So Florentino Perez is the overwhelming favourite to be the next Real Madrid president at the July 5th elections, with no competition in sight, or even on the table.

Perez has pledged to bring the glory days back to Real, and plans to do this by overhauling most of the squad and sanctioning a massive 200 million euro spending spree.

The surviving members of the current team are rumoured to be club captain Raul, Sergio Ramos, Lassana Diara, Pepe, Iker Casillas and perhaps Marcelo. Thats means a complete exodus of the strong and indifferently performing dutch contingent currently occupying the changing rooms.

Whilst the likes of Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, and Ruud van Nistelrooy will feel harshly done by, to be culled, they'll be no short supply of admirers when the transfer window opens. Whilst the same can not be said for Royston Drenthe, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart. Sneijder is being linked with Liverpool, while there is also talk of an immediate move to Chelsea for Van Der Vaart.

Rumoured to be arriving in there place are FC Porto's Bruno Alves to rekindle his defensive partnership with Pepe, Valencia's David Silva and David Villa, Bayern Munich's Frank Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan's Kaka. Any deal for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is likely to include Wesley Sneijder as a possible makeweight.

Managerial wise, Perez's number one target is Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Wenger is reportedly said to be hurt by the recent criticism he has suffered from the gunner's hierarchy and fans due to another trophy-less season at the Emirates.

Although Wenger is unlikely to leave due to the amount of power that he enjoys in all aspects of the club. Regardless, its said that he's never been more interested in the Real Madrid job, than he is right now.

Other targets include Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho. Benitez is definitely not interested in leaving Anfield after just signing a new five-year contract at the club and being promised more power in the running of the Reds.

Although the Mourinho situation is harder to read, after the Portuguese tactician admitted he isn't hundred percent certain to be at the San Siro next season, and that he now regrets turning down the Real post in 2006 while he was at Chelsea.

The more likely appointment is likely to be former Getafe and Spartak Moscow manager Michael Landrup who was recently sacked by the Russian capital club. Or departing AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti who is also interesting Chelsea.

Unless some freak act of God happens, Florentino Perez will return as president after the elections, and with him he'll bring back Zinedine Zidane to work under him in a possible director of football role.

It's going to be an interesting summer in Madrid. But will Perez's return be good for Real Madrid? How bad is it that he'll probably walk straight into the job completely unopposed? While also who will stay, leave, or sign for the galacticos in the summer?

Expect a follow up piece when we know the answers!!

Don't Give a Carlos About Tevez

David James — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:56:28 -0400

I was reading the gossip columns the other day and I read an interesting story about Liverpool bringing Carlos Tevez to Anfield, my immediate thought after reading this was why?

Don't get me wrong Tevez is a good player, but I see him in a similar mould to Dirk Kuyt, who is currently excelling on the right of midfield. Both players work hard and know where the goal is, but neither player is the first choice up front. Tevez is even third maybe fourth choice behind Rooney, Berbatov and Ronaldo.

The other glaring problem with Tevez is MSI's 20-30 million pound value of the Argentine striker. Tevez on current form is worth 10 maybe 15 million, definitely no more.

Tevez for me is not a flair player, the only way to play him is right up front either on his own or with a partner that can link up the play and provide him with the chances he needs to score.

If Tevez joined Liverpool he would be on the bench, the reason is becasue of Fernando Torres.

Torres has made the lone striker role his own this season, and by doing this has become arguably the best striker in the world today. Although he starts up front, he can often switch positions with Gerrard and also turn provider to anyone playing behind him.

If Tevez needs a reason to see why he's wrong for Liverpool, look no further than one of his opposing players yesterday evening, a certain Ireland captain that is back playing his trade in north London again.

Robbie Keane found to his cost that if you can't play with Torres or do Fernando's job when he's injured, then you're going to have a hard time at Anfield.

To all Robbie Keane's credit I think he has much more to his game and is a much better player than Tevez, he just didn't fit into Liverpool's system, and suffered from fighting it out two world class players in Gerrard and Torres for a start in the team.

Liverpool need a striker, there is a definite case for that. David N'gog is one for the future and Kuyt is much better on the wing than in a central attacking position. While also Ryan Babel is better suited starting on the left.

With Benitez's old club Valencia in such dire financial trouble, it's hard to look past bids for either David Villa or David Silva. Torres and Villa have worked well in the past for the national team and Silva could definitely do a decent job in Gerrard's role behind "El Nino," or even become a more goal scoring alternative to Albert Riera on the left.

Both players would probably cost Twenty million a piece, but with Benitez rumoured to have been promised a thirty million transfer kitty for signing his new deal, signing one of the pair is a distinct possibility.

Especially with Liverpool's rumoured interest in Silva being confirmed in a press conference early last week.

However stumbling blocks in a deal for the pair would be that neither player wants to leave the Mestalla although i'm sure there heads would be turned for pastures new, when the Valencia board fail to pay their wages again.

Both players on a Barcelona and Real Madrid's wish lists for next season. With both clubs having the capability to easily out bid Liverpool for either player.

Barcelona will definitely make a move for Samuel Eto'o if the Cameroonian striker decides to leave the Nou Camp this summer. Eto'o has also ironically been linked with a move to Anfield.

With Real Madrid's political elections rumbling on again, the Presidential Candidates are lining up there transfer promises, and the favourite for the position Florentino Perez has talked up a complete team overall at the Bernabau.

Rumoured to be safe are Pepe, Raul, Casillas, Higuain, Sergio Ramos and Lassana Diarra. With the entire Dutch contingent at Real Madrid up for sell and being used as make weights in future deals.

I mention this because Villa, Silva and Tevez are all on the rumoured pledge list. Other more concrete targets are Kaka (AC Milan), Crisitiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Bruno Alves (FC Porto) and Xabi Alonso (Liverpool).

Any Alonso deal i is rumoured to be unlikely, but could include Wesley Sneijder going the other way.

I'm a transfer junkie and the rumour mill is starting to whir, as we get closer and closer to the summer and new hopes and dreams for all the supporters of all the clubs in the world.

Premier League Transfer Central 2008

David James — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:04:36 -0400

Welcome to the English Premier League Transfer Central. The transfer central will document all transfers relating to all twenty Premier League clubs, including arriving and departing rumours and speculation, as well as the transfers that have actually happened.

The page will be regularly updated, and I’d appreciate it anyone wants to drop me a comment to tell me your news and rumours that I may have missed.

Stay tuned to the FIFA Rumour Mill to hear the latest transfer news, gossip and fantasy.

Enjoy!

Arsenal

In:

Possible: David Villa (Valencia), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Torric Jibril (Heart of Oak), Mahamadou Dabo (St Etienne), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Ruben De la Red (Real Madrid), Dani Guiza (Mallorca)

Out: Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan), Jens Lehmann (Stuttgart)

Departing: Alexander Hleb (Real Madrid, Barcelona or Inter Milan), Gilberto Silva, Emmanuel Adebayor (AC Milan) Justin Hoyte (Aston Villa)

Cuckoo Nest: Aaron Ramsey (Manchester United)

Aston Villa

In: Curtis Davies (West Brom)

Possible: Diego (Werder Bremen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Scott Carson, Peter Crouch, Jon Arne Riise (Liverpool), Nelson (Benfica), Stephen Carr (Newcastle), Marco Caneira (Valencia), Justin Hoyte (Arsenal) Joe Mattock, Richard Stearman (Leicester), Hugo Campagnaro (Sampdoria), Giorkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid), James Milner (Newcastle), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Brad Cuzan (Chivas USA), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), Brad Friedel (Blackburn)

Out: Olof Mellberg (Juventus), Thomas Sorenson (out of contract), Patrick Berger (Sparta Prague), Luke Moore (West Brom)

Departing: Gareth Barry (Liverpool), Shaun Maloney (Sunderland), Marlon Harewood (Stoke, Fulham, QPR or Rangers)

Blackburn Rovers

In:

Possible: Anthony Annan (IF Start), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United), Owain Fon Williams (Crewe Alexandria), Marc Torrejon, Ferran Corominos (Espanyol), Hossam Ghaly (Tottenham), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Michael Kightly (Wolverhampton), Sam Allardyce (Out of Work), Paul Ince (MK Dons), Steve McClaren (Out of Work), Alan Shearer

Out: Mark Hughes (Manchester City), Stephane Henchoz, Bruno Berner, Peter Enkelman (all released)

Departing: David Bentley (Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City), Roque Santa Cruz (Arsenal, Manchester United or Manchester City), Jason Roberts (Bolton or Fulham), Andre Oojier, Maceo Rigters, Brad Freidel (Aston Villa)

Bolton Wanderers

In:

Possible: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Jerome Alonzo (PSG), Simon Vukcevic (Sporting Lisbon), Ben Watson (Crystal Palace), Emile Mpenza (Manchester City), Brian Howard (Barnsley), Zoltan Gera (West Brom), Jason Roberts (Blackburn), Michael Dawson (Tottenham)

Out: Ivan Campo, Andranik Teymourian, Stelios Giannkopoulos (released)

Departing: El Hadji Diouf (Atletico Madrid), Jussi Jaskelainen (Aston Villa), Ricardo Gardner.

Chelsea

In: Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto)

Possible: David Villa (Valencia), Robinho, Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Roberto Mancini (Out of Work), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Luis Felipe Scolari (Portugal National Team), Kaka (AC Milan), David Bentley (Blackburn), Roy Keane (Sunderland), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Luciano Spalletti (AS Roma), Cesare Prandelli (Fiorentina), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto)

Out: Avram Grant (sacked), Henk Ten Cate (contract terminated)

Departing: Ricardo Carvalho (Real Madrid or Inter Milan), Tal Ben Haim (Feyenoord), Didier Drogba (AC Milan), Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan or Fenerbahce), Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa, Middlesbrough or Sunderland), Florent Malouda , Frank Lampard (Inter Milan), Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Valencia, Villarreal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Tottenham or Portsmouth), Steve Clarke (Leicester), Michael Essien (Inter Milan), Ben Sahar (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (PSG), Ashley Cole (Inter Milan), Khalid Boulahrouz (Marseille)

Cuckoo Nest: Mark Hughes (Manchester City)

Everton

In: Steven Pieenar (Borrusia Dortmund)

Possible: Louis Saha (Manchester United), Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Jonas Olsson (NEC Nijmegen), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Edu (Valencia), Dudu (CSKA Moscow), Joaquin Sanchez (Valencia), Michael Kightly (Wolverhampton), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff), Joe Lewis (Peterborough), Stephen Hunt (Reading)

Out: Lee Carsley (Birmingham), Thomas Gravesen (Loan return), Stefan Wessells (Released), Aidan Downes (Yeovil Town)

Departing: Andy Johnson (West Ham)

Fulham

In: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), David Stockdale (Darlington)

Possible: Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Marlon Harewood (Aston Villa), Bernard Mendy (PSG), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Gaby Mudingayi (Lazio), Zheng Zhi (Charlton), Jason Roberts (Blackburn), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Daniel Cousin (Rangers), Roland Linz (Sporting Braga), Joe Ledley (Cardiff)

Out: Carlos Bocanegra, Jari Litmanen, Bjorn Runstrom, Simon Elliot, Ian Pearce, Philippe Christanval (all released)

Departing: Danny Murphy, Steven Davis (Rangers), Chris Baird (Southampton), Brian McBride (Columbus Crew or Chicago Fire), Anti Niemi (Fulham), Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolfsburg), Hameur Bouazza (Osasuna, Espanyol or Wigan)

Hull City

In:

Possible: Frazier Campbell (Manchester United), Ryan Taylor (Wigan), Craig Fagan (Derby), Ivan Campo (free agent), David Nugent (Portsmouth), Bernard Mendy (PSG), Anti Niemi (Fulham), Magnus Troest (FC Midtjylland)

Out:

Departing:

Liverpool

In: Phillip Degen (Borussia Dortmund), Andrea Dossena (Udinese) Sammy lee

Possible: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Bentley (Blackburn), Rafinha (Schalke), Ricardo Queresma ( FC Porto), Albert Riera (Espanyol), Michael Johnson (Manchester City), Steve Harper (Newcastle), Ulrich Rame (Bordeaux), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Liam Fontaine (Bristol City), Marcus Johansson (Hagahojden), Alastair Mackintosh (Manchester City), James Milner (Newcastle), Sulley Ali Muntari (Portsmouth)

Out: Harry Kewell (released)

Departing: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth, Newcastle or Aston Villa), Jon Arne Riise (Newcastle, Aston Villa or AS Roma), Andriy Voroin (Stuttgart), Scott Carson (Aston Villa or West Brom), Jack Hobbs, Sebastian Leto (Espanyol), Xabi Alonso (Juventus), Charles Itandje (Lens, Rennes or Portsmouth), Jermaine Pennant (Blackburn), Steve Finnan (Fulham), Adam Hammill (Aberdeen or Wolverhampton), Rick Parry

Cuckoo Nest: Aaron Ramsey (Manchester United)

Manchester City

In: Mark Hughes (Blackburn)

Possible: Ronaldinho and Giovanni Dos Santos (both Barcelona), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Jo (CSKA Moscow), Jean Makoun (Lille), Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Hidetoshi Nakata (Out of Retirement), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), David Bentley (Blackburn)

Out: Sven Goran Erikkson (Mexico)

Departing: Georgios Samaras (Celtic, Werder Bremen or Fenerbahce), Paul Dickov, Richard Dunne (Sunderland, Tottenham, Portsmouth or West Ham), Micah Richards (Manchester United), Joe Hart (Tottenham or Aston Villa), Andreas Isaksson (Galatastaray), Rolando Bianchi (Monaco or Wolfsburg), Javier Garrido, Kasper Schmichael (Coventry), Valeri Bojinov, Sun Jihai, Geovanni, Stephen Ireland (Sunderland or Celtic), Michael Johnson (Liverpool or Everton), Ched Evans (Cardiff), Emile Mpenza (Bolton), Alastair Mackintosh (Liverpool)

Cuckoo Nest: Giovanni Dos Santos (Tottenham)

Manchester United

In: Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff)

Possible: Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Dimitar Berbartov (Tottenham), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Wilson Palacios, Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon),Karim Benzema (Lyon), Klaus-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

Out: Gerard Pique (Barcelona)

Departing: Louis Saha (Everton), Mikael Silvestre (Bordeaux), Johnny Evans (Sunderland), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Patrice Evra, Tom Heaton (Cardiff), Frazier Campbell (Hull), Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff), Manucho Goncalves (Deportivo La Coruna)

Cuckoo Nest: Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)

Middlesbrough

In:

Possible: Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen), Anthony Annan (IF Start), Simon Vukcevic (Sporting Lisbon), Ben Watson (Crystal Palace), James Milner (Newcastle), James Beattie (Sheffield United), Roland Linz (Sporting Braga), Sean Davis (Portsmouth), Nicky Maynard (Crewe Alexandria), Madjid Bougherra (Charlton)

Out: Fabio Rochemback, Gaizka Mendieta, Lee Dong-Gook (All Released), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Jason Kennedy (Darlington)

Departing: Gary O’Neil, Chris Riggott (Stoke), George Boateng (Celtic or Rangers), Adam Johnson (Rangers, QPR and Tottenham), Stewart Downing (Liverpool)

Newcastle United

In:

Possible: Johnny Evans (Manchester United), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Ardan Turan (Galatastaray), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Stephane Sessegnon (Le Mans), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Armara Diane (PSG), Achilles Emana (Toulouse), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Kieran Westwood, Gary Madine (Carlisle), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza), Roland Linz (Sporting Braga), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona), Didier Digard (PSG), Madjid Bougherra (Charlton)

Out: Peter Ramage (QPR), Emre (Fenerbahce), Joey Barton (Jailed)

Departing: Michael Owen (Manchester United), Obafemi Martins (Arsenal), Steve Harper (Liverpool), Shola Ameobi (Toronto), Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan), James Milner (Middlesbrough, Aston Villa or Liverpool), Steven Taylor (West Ham, Everton, Portsmouth or Aston Villa), Damien Duff (Sunderland), Jose Enrique (Valencia)

Cuckoo Nest: Luka Modric (Tottenham)

Portsmouth

In:

Possible: Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham), Gael N’Lundulu (PSG), Harry Kewell (Liverpool), John Mensah (Rennes), Emile Heskey (Wigan), Luisao (Benfica), Khaleem Hyland, Sidney Govou (Lyon), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), James McFadden (Birmingham), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Ben Sahar (Chelsea), Marcelo Mattos (Panathinaikos), Zoltan Gera (West Brom), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), Madjid Bougherra (Charlton)

Out:

Departing: David Nugent (Hull), Niko Kranjcar (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Villarreal), Sean Davis (Middlesbrough), Lassana Diarra (Tottenham)

Stoke City

In:

Possible: Abeslam Quaddou (Valenciennes), Jay Bothroyd (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Marlon Harewood (Aston Villa) Guiranne N’Daw (Sochaux), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton), Lee McCulloch (Rangers), Daniel Cousin (Rangers), Anthony Gardner (Tottenham), Marton Fulop (Sunderland), Magnus Troest (FC Midtjylland), Jon Walters (Ipswich)

Out: Russell Hoult, Dominic Matteo, Marlon Broomes, Robert Garrett (Released)

Departing: Steve Simonson

Sunderland

In:

Possible: Johnny Evans (Manchester United), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Kevin Doyle, Stephan Hunt (Reading), Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland (both Manchester City), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United), Damien Duff (Newcastle), Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Michael Mifsud (Coventry), James McFadden (Birmingham), Paul Scharner (Wigan)

Out: Andy Cole (Retired), Stanislav Varga, Ian Harte, Stephen Wright (released)

Departing: Graham Kavanagh (Sheffield Wednesday), Michael Chopra (Cardiff), Ross Wallace, Liam Miller, Roy Keane (Chelsea), Marton Fulop (Stoke or PSV), Roy O'Donovan (Dundee United)

Tottenham Hotspur

In: Luka Modric (Dynamo Zagreb), Giovanni Dos Santos (Barcelona)

Possible: Albert Riera and Carlos Kameni (both Espanyol), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nicolas Anelka (both Chelsea), Diego Capel (Sevilla), John Bostock (Crystal Palace), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Heurelho Gomes (PSV), Giovanni Dos Santos, Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), David Bentley (Blackburn), Hugo Campagnaro (Sampdoria), Goran Pandev (Lazio), Ruben De la Red (Real Madrid), Alan Mcgregor (Rangers), David Villa (Valencia), Sergio Garcia (Real Zaragoza), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth)

Out: Radek Cerny (QPR)

Departing: Dimitar Berbartov (Chelsea or Barcelona), Younes Kaboul (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Middlesbrough), Lee Young Pyo (PSV), Danny Murphy (Fulham), Hossam Ghaly (Blackburn, Derby or Feyenoord), Aaron Lennon (Blackburn), Anthony Gardner (QPR, Stoke or Rangers), Chris Gunter (Wolverhampton), Michael Dawson (Bolton, Newcastle or Aston Villa)

Cuckoo Nest: Jaime Moreno (Shaktar)

West Bromich Albion

In: Roman Bednar (Hearts), Kim Do-Heon (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Luke Moore (Aston Villa)

Possible: Radoslaw Majewski (Groclin), Marc Antoine-Fortune (Nancy), Ibrahim Sonko (Reading), Kevin McDonald (Dundee), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Graham Dorrans (Motherwell), Kevin Thompson (Rangers)

Out: Curtis Davies (Aston Villa), Kevin Phillips (Leeds, Stoke or QPR)

Departing: Zoltan Gera (Benfica, Bolton, Celtic or Portsmouth), Jonathon Greening (Rangers), Kevin Phillips (Leeds, Stoke or QPR)

West Ham United

In:

Possible: Nicky Shorey (Reading), Steven Carr (Newcastle), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Andy Johnson (Everton), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Michael Kightly (Wolverhampton), Giles Barnes (Derby), Roland Linz (Sporting Braga), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona)

Out:

Departing: Anton Ferdinand (Tottenham), Dean Ashton (Tottenham or Newcastle), Bobby Zamora (QPR)

Cuckoo Nest: Davide Lanzafame (Palermo)

Wigan Athletic

In:

Possible: Hassan Yebda (Le Mans), Socratis Papastathopoulos (AEK Athens), Charles N’Zogbia (Newcastle), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham), Ross McCormack (Motherwell), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Carlo Costly (GKS Beltchatow), Hameur Bouazza (Fulham), Madjid Bougherra (Charlton)

Out: Salomon Olembe (Kayserispor), Josip Skoko (Released) Julius Aghahowa (Kayserispor)

Departing: Ryan Taylor (Hull), Henri Camera (Marseille), Wilson Palacios, Luis Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Paul Scharner (Fulham or Sunderland)

World Soccer: FIFA Rumour Mill For May 30

David James — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:35:17 -0400

Atletico Madrid are looking at signing Barcelona’s Mexico captain Rafael Marquez, so the defensive player can join compatriot Javier Aguire and fellow defensive recruitments Johny Heitinga and Thomas Ujfalusi. (Sky Sports News)

The Spanish club have also abandoned plans to sign a host of players, such as Porto’s Lucho Gonzalez, Hamburg’s Rafael Van Der Vaart, Werder Bremen’s Diego and Juventus’ Thiago. This is because the players’ signings would disrupt the wage structure at the Vicente Calderon. (Sky Sports News)

Bristol City have had a bid for Nottingham Forrest striker Nathan Tyson turned down. The offer was believed to be around three quarters of a million. The former Reading player has one year remaining on his current deal, but he has been offered a two-year extension. Forest have also completed the signing of Wales striker Robert Earnshaw from Derby County for two and a half million. (Sky Sports News)

Tottenham are set to sign Crystal Palace’s 16-year-old first team player John Bostock subject to a tribunal agreeing a fee for the England youth International. (The Times)

Finland striker Mikael Forssell has left Birmingham and signed for German Bundesliga side Hannover 96 on a free transfer. (The Times)

Wolves and old firm duo Rangers and Celtic are battling it out for the four million pound signing of Burnley’s Northern Ireland International Kyle Lafferty after the player announced his intention to leave Turf Moor this summer.

Derby County have completed a double raid on championship rivals Watford, by signing striker Nathan Ellington for one million and full back Jordan Stewart on a free transfer. (Sky Sports News)

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will get a four million pound pay raise to his current contract to stop interest in the Spain International from Chelsea. (The Sun)

Everton will bid eight million for Manchester City’s England International Michael Johnson this summer. (The Sun)

Wolsburg and Monaco are keen to take Manchester City’s Italian striker Rolando Bianchi away from Eastlands this summer. (The Sun)

Another striker on the brink of leaving Eastlands is Belgium International Emile Mpenza, who is being chased by Bolton, Leicester, Reading and Ipswich. (The Sun)

West Ham could be on the verge of signing Reading’s England left back Nicky Shorey, after five million was quoted by the royals. (The Times)

Sunderland hope to pip rivals Portsmouth and Aston Villa to the signing of Reading’s Ireland winger Stephen Hunt for five million pounds. This is despite fact that the former Brentford is currently on his honeymoon, and negotiations not expected to be completed until mid-June. (The Times)

West Ham are willing to listen to offers of around five million for centre half Anton Ferdinand. Tottenham are rumoured to be readying a bid. (Daily Mirror)

Crystal Palace will make a third bid for Sheffield United striker Danny Webber, after having two bids for the former Manchester United and Watford striker turned down in January. (Daily Mirror)

Former Scotland cap Kevin Kyle could be set to sign for Southend United to try to resurrect his fledging career. (Daily Mirror)

The old firm are both interested in Middlesbrough’s captain and Dutch International George Boateng. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa and Tottenham will go head to head with eight million pound bids for Manchester City’s England keeper Joe Hart. (Daily Star)

Juventus have signed Brazilian striker Amauri from Palermo for around 18 million, with Italian midfielder Antonio Nocerino going the other way. (The Guardian)

Wigan will sign Zamalek attacking midfielder Amr Zaki on loan if the Egyptian club can find a replacement. (The Guardian)

Southampton will try and resign Chris Baird from Fulham. The Northern Ireland right back would be available for a knock down price. (The Guardian)

Barcelona may seek out Inter Milan with a trade; The Catalans want to exchange their player Samuel Eto’o for Inter striker Zlatan Ibramovich in a straight swap. (Various)

Although apparently Barcelona are lining up a move for Thierry Henry’s International strike partner David Trezequet from Juventus. (L’Equipe)

Rangers want to sign Juventus’ Italian winger Raffaele Palladino for five million. (Daily Star)

Manchester United will allow reserve keeper Tom Heaton to join Cardiff City on loan in the hope of stealing a march on their rivals in the race to sign teenage prospect Aaron Ramsey. (Daily Mail)

Espanyol have turned down a 9.5 million pound bid from Liverpool for their former Manchester City and Spain winger Albert Riera. (Various)

Werder Bremen, Villarreal, Valencia and Bayern Munich are all interested in signing out-of-favour Peru striker Claudio Pizarro from Chelsea. (Bild)

Tottenham could sign both Giovanni Dos Santos and Richard Dunne in a 17 million pound deal, five million for Dunne and 12 million pounds for Dos Santos. (Various)

FIFA Rumour Mill—May 23, 2008

David James — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:01:44 -0400

Brazilian defender Edmilson has left Barcelona and joined Villarreal on a free transfer; the player turned down advances from Newcastle to say in Spain.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Bournemouth’s teenage striker Sam Vokes for an undisclosed fee.

Leeds United have signed Wales international Andy Robinson from Swansea City on a free transfer. The Swans have signed Stockport County defender Ashley Williams for a club record fee of 400,000 pounds.

Celtic’s Japanese winger Shunsuke Nakamara has denied he is about to leave Parkhead for the J league to sign for Yokohama Marinos. (Kyoda News)

World cup-winning fullback Gianluca Zambrotta could to set to finalise his switch from Barcelona to AC Milan, if the Catalan’s valuation of 7 million euro is met by the San Siro club. (tribalfootball.com)

Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested in signing Deportivo La Coruna’s Argentinian defender Fabricio Coloccini. The former AC Milan player had a move to River Plate fall through last summer. (Marca)

Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, and Aston Villa are all fighting it out for Tottenham’s English goalkeeper Paul Robinson in a 5 million pound deal. (Daily Star)

Fulham have signed Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer on a free transfer. The Australian international turned down moves from European giants Bayern Munich and Juventus. (Sky Sports News)

Everton are the latest club to be interested in Birmingham City keeper Maik Taylor. The toffees want the former Farnborough man to be a reliable backup to first choice, Tim Howard. (The Times)

Chelsea will beat Manchester City to the signature of Barcelona’s Mexico International whiz kid Giovanni Dos Santos, by offering Florent Malouda in exchange. (Daily telegraph)

Manchester City will use the sale of Ireland internationals Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland to fund a move for Zenit St. Petersburg captain Andrei Arshavin. Roy Keane’s Sunderland are interested in the pair as well as Newcastle. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea are prepared to sell Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba after the forwards petulant display in the Champions League Final. (Daily mail)

Cardiff City are set to release veteran strikers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank and Robbie Fowler in the summer. (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester City are also on the verge of signing CSKA Moscow’s Brazilian striker Jo, despite reported interest from Everton. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool have upped their bid for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry by 2 million to 12 million pounds. (The Sun)

Tottenham have reportively made a 2.5 million pound bid for Lyon’s France keeper Gregory Coupet. (The Sun)

Derby County have signed Nottingham Forrest winger Kris Commons on a free transfer from the City Ground.

It’s reported that Real Madrid will use Robinho as a make-weight in a 64 million pound move for Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo. (Daily Mail)

Mark Hudson is set to leave Crystal Palace and sign for former boss Iain Dowie at QPR, after the former Fulham player turned down a new contract. (Sky Sports News)

Newly Promoted Premier league side Stoke City are interested in Senegalese midfielder Guirane N'Daw. The player currently plays for Sochaux in France. (Sky Sports News)

FIFA Rumour Mill: May 19, 2008

David James — Mon, 19 May 2008 04:31:57 -0400

Derby and Birmingham are on alert after Everton midfielder Lee Carsley
turned down a new contract, so he can move back to the Midlands. (Press Association)

Real Madrid are on the verge of signing Racing Santander’s Argentine centre half Ezequiel Garay for eleven million Euros (eight million pounds), after Barcelona president Joan Laporta vetoed a move for the player. (Sky Sports News).

Aston Villa are rumoured to be tracking nineteen year old Real Valladolid keeper Sergio Asenjo. The Spaniard has a buyout clause of about 3.3 million pounds. (Sky Sports News)

Ex England boss Steve McClaren is in line for taking the reins at FC Twente next season. The Dutch side qualified for the Champions League through the playoffs beating Ajax in the final. (The Sun)

Arsenal are in talks with AS Roma’s highly rated Italian international Alberto Aquailani over a move to the Emirates. (Setanta Sports News)

Everton are interested in Bordeaux’s former Liverpool midfielder Alou Diarra, has a replacement for the departing Lee Carsley. (Various)

Although they missed out on Garay, the Catalans have agreed a six million pound fee with Manchester United for Gerard Pique to take the Spanish defender back to the Nou Camp. (Daily Mail)

Hungary captain Zoltan Gera could leave West Brom for Portuguese giants Benfica, after the midfielder’s agent received an offer from the Reds. (The Times)

Paul Jewell has put the entire Derby County squad up for sale, following the Ram’s relegation from the Premier League. (Daily Record)

Arsenal could turn to Blackburn’s Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz if Emanuel Adebayor leaves for AC Milan, although the Gunners are confident that the Togo captain will stay in North London. (The Times)

Arsenal will also sign Portsmouth’s Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar for ten million, if the south coast club sign former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell, who is a free agent after leaving Anfield. (Daily Mirror)

Celtic will try to sign West Brom captain Paul Robinson if Lee Naylor leaves for Portsmouth. (The Herald)

Fulham saviour Brian McBride is considering returning to the States this summer with former club Columbus Crew and Chicago Magic interested. The former USA international is out of contract this summer. (The Times)

Lassana Diarra has a gentlemen’s agreement with Portsmouth that will let him leave the south coast if a top Champions League club comes in for the France International. (Daily Mail)

QPR hope to bring West Brom Striker Kevin Phillips and Wolves’ Striker Freddie Eastwood to Loftus Road as the club’s first choice strike partnership next season. But the hoops will face competition from four other championship clubs for Eastwood’s signature. (Daily Mirror)

Derby have had a half a million pound bid for Swansea’s Dutch midfielder Ferrie Bodde turned down. (Sky Sports News)

Daniel Alves says that he feels the time is right to leave Sevilla for another challenge, Barcelona are the favourites for the match winning right back. (Sky Sports News)

Hearts winger Neil McCann has left Tynecastle and signed for Falkirk. He joins fellow veterans Lee Bullen and Jackie McNamara in making the move to Falkirk Park. Hearts have also released French centre half Ibrahim Tall. (Sky Sports News)

Shaun Wright-Phillips has denied that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge, despite his lack of first-team chances with the Blues. (Chelsea.com)

While highly rated striker Karim Benzema will stay at Lyon despite the French international being chased by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. (Sky Sports News)

FIFA Rumour Mill: May 18, 2008

David James — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:30:15 -0400

Celtic is interested in Croatian International Ognjen Vukojevic. The Hoops are preparing a four million pound bid for the Dinamo Zagreb player. (Sky Sports News)

Gretna keeper Craig Fleming is set to snub Crewe Alexandria and sign for Oldham Athletic instead. (Sky Sports News)

Aston Villa will come back in for Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, after the Villains were priced out of a move for England captain Scott Carson. (The Sun)

Lewes manager Steven King was sacked after getting the team promoted to the Blue Square Premier. (The Guardian)

Tottenham has registered an interest in Valencia striker David Villa and Real Zaragoza Striker Diego Milito, although moves for the players depend on whether the club sells Dimitar Berbartov. (The Guardian)

Barcelona wants Sevilla players Seydou Keita, Christian Poulsen and Daniel Alves for next season, and are prepared to spend big to get them. (ATP)

Thierry Henry may be ready to leave Barcelona for the MLS and sign for the Seattle Sounders. The Frenchman would be entitled to a $5.2 million per year salary. (Various)

Newcastle is close to signing Turkish winger Arda Turan from Galasteray, right under the nose of arch-rival Middlesbrough. But any deal for the winger could result in the departure of Damien Duff from St. James’ Park. (Sunday Star)

Arsene Wenger is keen on replacing Mathieu Flamini with any of his fellow countrymen; high on the list are Marseille’s Samir Nasri, Lille’s Jean Makoun and St. Etienne right-back Mahamadou Dabo. (Sunday Telegraph)

Liverpool’s John Arne Riise will snub a move to Newcastle for Champions League football with Schalke 04 next season. (News of the World)

Everton are tempted to bid 11 million pounds for Spanish winger Joaquin Sanchez, after news of Valencia’s financial problems hit the continent. (News of the World)

Tottenham will declare their interest in West Ham striker Dean Ashton or Newcastle Striker Michael Owen if their bid for Barcelona’s Cameroon International Samuel Eto’o fails. (The People and the News of the World)

Spurs boss Juande Ramos is close to tying up an eight million pound deal for one of his former charges at Sevilla, defender Adriano Correira. (News of the World)

Liverpool will turn to Middlesbrough’s English winger Stewart Downing, if Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry doesn’t sign. While the reds are also preparing the finishing touches to a combined thirteen million pound deal for Espanyol winger Albert Riera and Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena. (The Liverpool Echo)

Celtic, Portsmouth, and Sunderland are all interested in signing Birmingham’s Scottish striker James McFadden, despite his insistence that he’ll stay at St. Andrews and help with promotion back to the Premier League. (Sunday Express)

Aston Villa are back in the hunt for Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte, after a 4.5 million pound bid was rejected by the full-back last summer. The Villains are also keen on wrapping up a seven million pound deal for Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell. (News of the World)

Roy Keane will try and take advantage of the unrest at the City of Manchester Stadium with an eight million pound bid for Ireland native Steven Ireland. (News of the World)

Chelsea has already had enough of former Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka and are prepared to cut their losses with the Frenchman this summer. Anelka just signed with the Reebok in January for 15 million. (Sunday Mirror)

Inter Milan Coach Roberto Mancini is desperate to become the new Chelsea manager this summer. (Various)

Manchester City could perform a U-turn and ask Sven Goran Erikkson to stay at Eastlands. But the former England manager has already started talking to Benfica and Mexico about their managerial vacancies. (Sunday Express)

FIFA Rumour Mill- May 16, 2008

David James — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:19:35 -0400

Falkirk sign Sheffield Wednesday captain Lee Bullen on a Bosman transfer. The thirty-seven year old defender played every position for the Owls last season, he even played in goal.

Wigan are keen to sign out of contract Le Mans midfielder Hassan Yebda. But will face competition from a host of clubs throughout Europe for the Frenchman’s signature.

AC Milan were the mystery club that bid, close to thirty million for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech last month. (Corriere dello Sport)

Tottenham are expected to return for Bolivian striker Marcelo Moreno with a six million bid to the player’s club in Brazil, Cruzeiro. (Press Association)

Liverpool are interested in Manchester City and England U-21 midfielder Michael Johnson in a six million pound move. (The Sun)

The reds have also completed the double signing of Swiss right back Philip Degen on a free from Borrusia Dortmund and installed ex Bolton manager Sammy Lee as assistant manager to Rafa Benitez. Lee has already played and been first team coach at the club before he left to concentrate on his role in the England set up.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Carvalho have shocked Manchester United and Chelsea respectively by both admitting that they could leave for Spain in the summer, just five days away from the Champions League Final. Both players have been linked to Real Madrid in recent weeks. (Daily Star)

Rio Ferdinand has signed a new five year contract with Manchester United until 2013. (The Mirror)

West Ham have bid six million for Manchester city defender Richard Dunne. (The Times)

The Irons have also made Anton Ferdinand available for transfer, after manager Alan Curbishley finally lost patience with the former U-21 star. (The Times)

However Alan Curbishley’s job may not be safe with new Italian Sporting Director Gianluca Nani earmarking Foligno manger Pierpaolo Pisoli as a future Upton Park manager. (The Times)

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra will unload the “deadwood,” at Eastlands. With Paul Dickov, Darius Vassell, Rolando Bianchi, Giovanni, Javier Garrido, Georgios Samaras, Valeri Bojinov and Andreas Isaksson all set to be allowed to leave in the summer. (The Times)

If Gareth Barry leaves for Liverpool, then Martin O’Neil will bid five million for Chelsea outcast Steve Sidwell. But Werder Bremen’s Brazilian playmaker Diego and Bayer Leverkussen’s German international Bernd Schneider remain other alternatives. (The Guardian)

But Middlesborough boss Gareth Southgate is also interested in bringing Sidwell to the Riverside. (Daily Mirror)

In the bidding war for Ronaldniho, Manchester City have bid twenty four million while AC Milan have bid only twenty, although the Brazilian sees the San Siro as his preferred destination. (Gazzette dello Sport)

Samuel Eto’o is also available for thirty million, to fund a big name signing in the summer. (Marca)

Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre would be interested in a move to Bordeaux to rejoin former club team mate Laurent Blanc, who is the Grondin’s clubs manager. (L’Equipe)

Newcastle may rival Sunderland for the signature of Manchester United and Northern Ireland defender Johnny Evans if the Red Devils make him available for transfer. (The Journal)

Wolverhampton Wanderers want to sign Leicester City striker Steve Howard for one million. The Scotland B international only joined the club from Derby County in January. (Daily Mirror)

Feyenoord want Chelsea’s Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim. (Daily Express)

Gary Johnson will attempt to bring Reading striker Leroy Lita back to Ashton Gate if Bristol City win the playoffs and are promoted to the Barclays Premier League. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal want experienced Barcelona and France defender Lillian Thuram next season to shore up their defence. (Daily Star)

Nottingham Forrest will attempt to bring both, Wales Striker, Robert Earnshaw from Derby County and England cap, James Beattie from Sheffield United to the City Ground. (Various)

However Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell is also interested in signing Earnshaw, and unite the pair at Bramall Lane instead. (The Star)

Aston Villa will bid four million for Reading’s Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle. (The Mirror)

At Anfield, Portsmouth are in talks with Peter Crouch over a possible fifthteen million pound deal and Scott Carson wants his ten million pound price tag lowered so he can leave Liverpool. (The Times)

Cardiff are ready to cash in on seventeen year old wonder kid Aaron Ramsey after the FA Cup Final, with bids of one million being muted as enough to prise the youngster from Ninian Park. Liverpool and Manchester United are interested. (Daily Telegraph)

Another Cardiff star that may leave the welsh club is semi final hero Joe Ledley, who is considering his future, after a failed bid from Wolves for the winger in the winter. (BBC Sport)

Portugal international Deco has confirmed that he will leave the Nou Camp this summer with Serie A and the Premier League his preferred destinations. (Sky Sports)

FIFA Rumour Mill: May 15, 2008

David James — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:51:37 -0400

Hello and welcome to the first ever issue of the DJ Contraversal's Rumour Mill. Each week I'll round up all the rumours and transfer talk that has been coming out of the British newspapers and tabloids. Hope you enjoy.

Arsene Wenger is considering a 20m pound swoop for Argentine striker Mauro Zarate from Al-Sadd, after his successful loan spell at Birmingham City, and the brum clubs option to sign was terminated after their relegation. (The Sun)

Rafa Benitez is having preliminary talks with Florent Malouda's representatives in the hope of wrapping up the 10m pound signing of a player who snubbed Liverpool for Chelsea last summer. (The Sun)

Liverpool are prepared to let Andriy Voronin leave to either Stuttgart or Bayer Leverkussen. The Ukrainian only signed in the summer and is contracted till 2011, but the Reds are willing let him leave on the cheap. (Various)

Didier Drogba has stunned Chelsea by telling them that he wants to leave the club and realise his dream of playing for AC Milan. (Various)

Gareth Barry wants Martin O'Neil to at least let him talk to Liverpool, after the Reds lodged a 10m pound bid for the England International.

The villans are also interested in Valencia's Portuguese player Marco Caneira after the defender admitted that he would be interested in a move. (Sky Sports News)

Other Barry's possible arrival would not mean the end of Xabi Alonso's Anfiled career, as the Spaniard wants to stay and play alongside the departing Aston Villa captain. (The Times)

Iain Dowie will be appointed as the new head coach at Queens Park Rangers after Luigi Di Canio left last week. The Loftus road club are also on the verge of signing Chievo midfielder Matteo Alberti. (Virgin Media)

Six Glasgow Ranger's supporters were arrested for stabbing a Russian fan in the City of Manchester Stadium during yesterdays UEFA Cup final between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg. (BBC News)

60 percent of a poll in the Mirror asking what club Samuel Eto'o should sign with said that the Barcelona star should end up at Bristol City. The Ashton Gate outfit beat Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Inter Milan. (The Mirror)

Barcelona and Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure would love to play alongside his brother Kolo Toure at Arsenal. (The Mirror)

West Ham have made an inquiry to Palermo about Aussie player Marco Bresicano. The player was a target for Manchester City last summer. (The Mirror)

Out-of-favour Chelsea striker Andriy Shevcenko is a target for Fenerbahce after AC Milan cooled their interest.

Zenit St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat has warned the Russian club that they need to keep hold of their star , playmaker Ardei Arshavin, if they to avoid becoming another Monaco. (The Mirror)

Barcelona may give Arsene Wenger the pick of Eidur Gudjohnsen, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o, and Carles Puyol plus cash, in an attempt to prise Cesc Fabregas away from the Emirates. (Daily Sport)

PSV Eindhoven are reportively interested in re-signing Korean fullback Lee Pyo Young from Tottenham. (Sky Sports News)

Barcelona will offer AC Milan 16 million plus Ronaldinho and Deco for Kaka this summer. (Gazette dello Sporta)

Coventry City, Derby County, Crystal Palace, and Norwich City all want to sign Wolves' Welsh international striker Freddy Eastwood. (Daily Express and Daily Star)

Cesc Fabregas wants fellow compatriot David Villa to join him at the Emirates from Valencia for next season. (The Guardian)

Who Should Be the PFA Player of the Year?

David James — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:58:52 -0400

This year's PFA player of the year shortlist has been announced, and there are a few surprises.

The obvious contenders include Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard (who has been on the shortlist for five successive seasons without a win), and teammate Fernando Torres (who has scored twenty nine goals in an astonishing debut season in England).

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese winger, who is clearly the best player in the world on attacking ability alone, is the obvious favourite to take a clean sweep this year.

Also on the shortlist are Arsenal's diminutive goalscoring Spanish playmaker Francesc Fabregas, and his team mate Emmanuel Adebayor.

But the big surprise is the identity of the sixth player on the shortlist: Portsmouth and England number one David James. The stopper is there purely on merit of his breathtaking saves and ultimate professionalism, which sees him being the best in his field at the age of 38.

The surprise isn't that he is actually on the list, its that the PFA has actually waranted putting a player from outside the traditional top four and over the age of thirty to claim the prize.

The other surprise revolving the man with the best name in the world (Check the author's name) is that not one person would begrudge him this win. That is saying something, when he's put up against other players that repeatively pit themselves against the world's finest in the champion's league. James has only seldomly appeared in that league with Liverpool back in the nineties.

But what about the arguments for the other players.

It is very hard to look past Cristiano Ronaldo winning it, but Torres is the bookies' second favourite for the prize which usually accompanies the football writers award.

The cases and arguments:

David James

He is still going strong, and is undoubtedly keen to add a FA Cup winner's medal to make up for the Spice Boys final he lost as a Liverpool player to Manchester United. The current England number one is being considered by Tottenham to replace former England keeper Paul Robinson.

Emmanuel Adebayor

The Togan has had far and away his best season since signing from Monaco two years ago. Over twenty goals in all competitions, and two goals in the semifinal of the champions league against Liverpool, means Adebayor has his best goals return ever.

A master of the art of heading the ball, his fast, good feet and eye for goals helped Emmanuel to carry the brunt of Arsenal's goalscoring duties since Christmas. But his goals have seemingly dried up in the league leading to Arsenal's collapse across the competitions. He is also considered only the third or fourth best striker playing in England, after Ronaldo (if you call him a striker), Torres and Drogba.

Francesc Fabregas

The Spaniard who signed a new seven year contract with the Gunners last summer is growing into the complete attacking midfielder. His goal return of close to 15 goals this season is over double the amount of goals he managed in all of his previous seasons since he joined from Barcelona in 2003.

He is a tailsman and a constant threat for Arsenal with his glorious range of passing and now shooting aswell. When he is injured, the Emirates club really misses him. I don't think Cesc will win this year, but will probably finish in the top three if not win the young player of the year award (Fabregas is still only twenty), but he definitely will be a future winner.

Steven Gerrard

The Liverpool captain is the red's heartbeat and the ultimate, most complete midfielder in the world. He scores, creates, tackles and inspires others. It says something for the quality of the list this year that I think that Stevie G will finish third.

A one man club player, he'll be at Liverpool until they don't want him anymore (which is unlikely). He's been the archetect of many a win for the Anfield club, including in the champions league final of 2005 and the FA cup final of 2006. Gerrard already has over twenty goals in all competitions this seasons and is one of the reasons that his newest team has been such a hit.

Fernando Torres

The player that has probably had the best debut season of any foreign import. Almost thirty goals in not many more appearances, makes this player the second highest score scorer this year (after Ronaldo).

Torres' main asset is his blistering pace and the way he can cast the ball under his spell at his feet. Torres is also strong, good in the air, and a hard worker, always tracking back and helping out his team mates whenever he can. Torres' consecutive hat tricks against Middlesborough and West Ham has statisticans loking through the History books. But the youth of the list this year means that Torres, Fabregas and Ronaldo are all in the running for the young player of the year award too. And finally....

Cristiano Ronaldo

What is there that i can say about the Portuguese trickster? He has over thirty goals this season! He is absolutley brilliant! He never gives opposing defences a minute to think and he can score so many different ways. He can take it round four players and the keeper, from long range or with his head.

Ronaldo is also becoming a very unique free-kick specialist with his special manipulation of the ball during flight and the way he hits the ball from dead. Ronaldo will win for sure, he is everything that is good about United, and that pains me to say coming from a Liverpool supporter.

But for once, the list includes no players from Chelsea, the premiership's richest club accustomed to having at least two players on the list every year. The rest of England breathes an emphatic breath of fresh air in the Stamford Bridge direction. Haha.

Will Samoa Joe Really Leave TNA?

David James — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:38:50 -0400

The Main event of this Sunday’s Lockdown is billboarded as the making, or the breaking of the career of the “Samoan Submission Machine,” Samoan Joe in TNA wrestling. The result of the six sides of steel match against Kurt Angle for the NWA (TNA) World Championship. Will either signal the beginning or the end of Samoan Joe’s TNA career . Two weeks ago on Impact, Samoan Joe announced that if he didn't win the World Championship at Lockdown, then he would leave TNA for good. This revelation won’t come as a massive surprise to the TNA faithful, with Joe stalling on a new five year contract for weeks, a contract that he is still yet to sign. This in turn has fuelled long time rumours that Joe could become the first wrestler to make the jump from TNA to the WWE. Joe's arrival in WWE would be heralded as a signifiacant coup for WWE CEO Vince Mcmahon, considering the amount of superstars that have made the jump the opposite way for better contracts. Mr Mcmahon would be keen to even up the scale and secure a dominant and at twenty-nine a still young superstar for either his Smackdown or Raw brands.

Joe has always expressed his fondness for the TNA faithful and in turn, he has become a crowd favourite. The crowd has followed his deput at Samiversary 2005 to head liner in the space of three years.

Joe would obvisiously prefer to stay in TNA, due to him having a cult status in the imapct zone that he wouldn't guanteed at another brand, but after holding every title in TNA except the world championship (The one championship that has continually escaped his grasp) he will probably feel that, with the momentum of his win over Team Angle last month at Destination X, that this Sunday is probably the best chance he will ever have to become NWA World Champion, and finally getting one over on the “Olympic Champion,” Kurt Angle.

The last time Joe had a shot at the title against Angle was at Hard Justice, when Joe was tricked and betrayed by Angles’ wife Karen, when she hit him over the head with a steel chair. His loss in that match wasn't down to Joes’ in ring ability, but Joe's ability to play the game.

The Samoan Submission Machine's main weakness is that he is too honourable. All the top wrestlers today know how to get under their opponents skin, how to exploit their weaknesses, play mind games or hurt their opponents emotionally. Joe is an in ring expert, but outside the ring, Joe has struggled with not having any obvious allies or anyone to watch his back. Although recently that seems to have changed with Joe enlisting the help of Angle’s former adviser Kevin Nash.

Nash has a reputation in TNA for being able to get the best out of some of the roster’s Superstars. Under his guidance Kurt Angle won the world championship, Jay Lethal won the X Division Championship and he also helped to form the Motorcycle Machineguns. Joe managed two more masterstrokes by first convincing Nash to come out of retirement to wrestle with him at Destination X and also convincing long time rival Christian Cage to join the team to take on the newly formed Angle Alliance. The win has in turn cleared the way for a fair title shot between the Samoan Submission Machine and the Olympic Champion at Lockdown.

But even after weeks of training with some of the world's best fighters will Joe's physical, and surprising agile style be enough to overcome the in ring nous and technical genius of Kurt Angle.

We only have two days to find out, and if this indeed the last time we see Samoan Joe wrestle in a TNA arena! You can bet he won't go down without a hell of a fight.

Good luck Joe and wherever your future may take you.