September Football gossip 2007

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Sunday 23rd September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Real Madrid have moved swiftly after Jose Mourinho's Chelsea departure in a bid to sign striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Michael Ballack. (Various)

But Roman Abramovich will give new boss Avram Grant the money to move for Barcelona ace Ronaldinho. (Mail on Sunday)

Avram Grant will have a war chest of £100m to bring both Ronaldinho and Kaka to Stamford Bridge. (News of the World)

Sam Allardyce wants to bring Wigan's Emile Heskey to Newcastle to team him up with Michael Owen. (News of the World)

Manchester United will sign Burnley superkid John Kofi for £1m. (People)

Middlesbrough will bid £5m for Bolton's Kevin Nolan in the transfer window. (People)

Aston Villa forward Shaun Maloney has told Celtic fans he is desperate to return to the Glasgow club in January. (Sunday Mirror)

Rangers will allow veteran defender Ugo Ehiogu to leave Ibrox in January if he can find a new club. (Scotland On Sunday)

Former Manchester City midfielder Karim Kerkar says he turned down St Mirren because the SPL club was only willing to offer him a short-term contract. (News of the World)

Motherwell will allow summer signing Simon Mensing to leave on loan after he failed to impress new manager Mark McGhee. (Scotland On Sunday)


OTHER GOSSIP
Jose Mourinho's relationship with John Terry has broken down completely over the Chelsea captain's role in Mourinho's departure from the club. Mourinho holds Terry responsible for rumours that the Portuguese had lost the support of the dressing room. (Observer)

Chelsea face a ban from European competition because new coach Avram Grant lacks the correct Uefa coaching licence. (Sunday Telegraph)

Jose Mourinho's severance deal from Chelsea means he is not allowed to manage another Premier League club this season. (Various)

Russia boss Guus Hiddink is on stand-by to replace Avram Grant if the Israeli's appointment is not a success. (Sunday Express)

Hiddink will be on the Chelsea pay-roll by the summer. (Mail on Sunday)

But Marco van Basten could also be the man to take over if things go wrong. (News of the World)

On the other hand it could be Marcello Lippi that Chelsea call on. (People)

Jose Mourinho could be in line to take over from Frank Rijkaard as coach of Barcelona very soon. (Sunday Express)

But he has also vowed to come back and manage Chelsea again at some point in the future. (News of the World)

David Moyes is in line for a new £15m five-year contract as Everton hope he will create a dynasty at Goodison. (News of the World)

Thierry Henry has told Arsene Wenger that Arsenal are better off without him. (Sunday Express)

Gretna head coach David Irons insists he made the decision to take the team captaincy from Chris Innes and not director of football Mick Wadsworth. (News of the World)

Former Scotland boss Berti Vogts says he deserves some credit for the improvement in results since he was sacked from the post. (News of the World)

The Scottish FA is close to clinching a new multi-million pound sponsorship, with Scottish Power in the running. (Sunday Times)

Scotland have jumped two levels and will be in the second pot of seeds for the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. (News of the World)

Police have thwarted attempts to hold Scotland Under-21 games on Friday evenings. (News of the World)

The SPL has joined with the French and German leagues to oppose Michel Platini's plan to reorganise the Champions League. (Sunday Times)


AND FINALLY
New Chelsea boss was nicknamed "the man from the BBC" during his days at Portsmouth. BBC stood for "balls, bibs and cones", because Grant was seen on the training ground acting as a porter, carrying out the training equipment, rather than offering expert technical views as director of football. (Sunday Mirror)

Avram Grant's wife Tzofit has drunk urine and bathed in a tub of chocolate on TV. (Observer)

 

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Monday 24th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Brazil star Ronaldinho wants to discuss a move to Chelsea after a fall-out with Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard. (Various)

Chelsea are set to make a controversial move to lure Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson to Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho's successor. (Daily Express)

Striker Jermain Defoe's future at Tottenham is again in doubt. (The Sun)

Reading boss Steve Coppell would like to take Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell back to the Madejski Stadium on loan. (Various)

Blackburn are set to sign highly rated Costa Ricans Celso Borges and Kendall Waston, who play for Recreativo Saprissa. (Daily Mirror)

Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson is trying to capture Wigan midfielder Josip Skoko for about £1m. (Daily Mail)


OTHER GOSSIP
Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez wanted Martin Petrov before the midfielder's summer move to Manchester City - until he learned the Bulgarian's wage demands. (Daily Mail)

Stoke chairman Peter Coates is ready to hand manager Tony Pulis a massive transfer kitty in a bid to reach the Premier League. (Daily Mirror)

Stefan Moore may have saved John Gregory's job as QPR boss with his goal in the 1-1 draw with Watford. (Various)

Chelsea's preparations for the game against Manchester United were thrown into chaos after it emerged former manager Jose Mourinho left last week with his scouting reports on the opposition. (Daily Mail)

Blues captain John Terry texted Mourinho three times in 24 hours before the game against United to reassure his former boss that the defender did not betray him. (Daily Express)

England midfielder David Beckham has a rival in his bid to establish football in the United States because Brazilian superstar Denilson plans to set up a rival youth academy. (Daily Star)


AND FINALLY
Manchester City captain Richard Dunne believes his team can become the best outside of the top four in the Premier League. (Daily Express)

 

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Tuesday 25th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Ronaldinho has already agreed a five-year deal worth £58m to join Chelsea - but has yet to decide if he will move to Stamford Bridge. (The Sun)

Middlesbrough will send out an SOS to Australia striker John Aloisi - a free agent after leaving Alaves - to solve their striker crisis. (Daily Mirror)


OTHER GOSSIP
Under-pressure Spurs boss Martin Jol has already negotiated a £4m pay-off from White Hart Lane after accepting the board want to replace him. (Various)

Chelsea and England captain John Terry faces censure from the FA after attempting to snatch the red card from referee Mike Dean's hand as he showed it to Mikel Jon Obi at Old Trafford. (Daily Mail)

Michael Owen will miss England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia after scans revealed he needs surgery on his groin problem. (Daily Mail)

But Newcastle actually hope he will be ready to play again after just 10 days rest. (The Sun)

Everton have warned £11.25m record buy Yakubu to work harder or stay on the sidelines. (Various)

Former Israel star Eyal Berkovic says it is "disgusting and disrespectful" that Avram Grant - the man who ended his international career - has been handed the job as Chelsea coach. (The Sun)

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is ready to risk Fernando Torres at Reading in the Carling Cup after leaving him out of his starting-line up for their last two Premier League games. (Various)

Lyon skipper Juninho apparently insists his side will not get "caught short" in the Champions League against Rangers - despite admitting he hid in the toilet during a bust-up with coach Alain Perrin. (Daily Record)


AND FINALLY
Former Tory heritage minister David Mellor was lampooned and his appearance ridiculed on breakfast television in Israel after criticising Roman Abramovich and questioning Avram Grant's credentials to coach Chelsea. (The Guardian)

 

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Wednesday 26th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS & OTHER GOSSIP
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is keen to buy Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes for £3m in January. (The Sun)

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton is tracking Hibs centre-back Rob Jones. (Various)

American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke is considering making a public show of support for the current Arsenal regime by attending the club's annual meeting on 18 October. (Daily Telegraph)

Newcastle were days away from 'folding like a pack of cards' before Mike Ashley rescued them with a £133m takeover. (Various)

Senior Bolton players have had a series of meetings with under-fire boss Sammy Lee to discuss the current crisis. (Daily Star)

Everton have lifted the club suspension on Andy van der Meyde to give him one final chance to prove himself in Wednesday's Carling Cup tie at Sheffield Wednesday. (Daily Star)


CHELSEA RUMOURS
Holland coach Marco van Basten will replace Avram Grant as Chelsea's boss after being offered the job by Roman Abramovich. (Daily Telegraph and The Sun)

Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri is set to take advantage of the instability at his former club Chelsea with an inquiry for Brazil defender Alex. (Daily Mail)

Jose Mourinho has been offered a £10m-a-year deal to manage the United Arab Emirates for their World Cup campaign. (Daily Mirror)

Jurgen Klinsmann has signalled his availability to Tottenham and Chelesea by saying he is ready to return to management. (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester United will fight Chelsea's request to the Premier League to allow boss Avram Grant special dispensation over his Uefa Pro licence. (Guardian)


AND FINALLY
Billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will have 10 bodyguards with him at Wednesday's Carling Cup tie against Hull at the KC Stadium. (Various)

 

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Thursday 27th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
West Ham are interested in Cruzeiro's £5m-rated 19-year-old Brazilian striker Kerlon Moura Souza. (Daily Mirror)

Hull defender Sam Collins is poised to join Swindon on loan. (Daily Star)

Bristol City striker Phil Jevons is set to join League One side Crewe on a month's loan. (Daily Star)

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson will step up his attempts to sign Stoke's Andy Wilkinson after losing Ian Evatt until Christmas. (Daily Star)

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has signed a lucrative deal to join Qatar Sport Club. (Daily Star)

Gretna boss Davie Irons has told striker Kenny Deuchar - on loan at St Johnstone - he still has a future at the club. (Daily Record)

Angolan winger Jose Quitongo has been given three games to prove he is worth a deal at Livingston. (Daily Record)

Birmingham chairman David Gold has declared war on Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner's right-hand man General Charles Krulak, who likened him to a "pig in the mud". (The Sun)

Gold, meanwhile, is considering investing in League One Brighton once he sells the rest of his Blues shares to Carson Yeung. (Daily Mirror)

Ex-Aston Villa and Leicester boss Brian Little is favourite to take over at managerless Port Vale. (Daily Express)

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is facing a showdown with New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert over the availability of injured captain Ryan Nelsen. (Daily Star)

Southampton boss George Burley is on the brink of quitting after holding crisis talks with some of his squad. (The Sun)

Colchester assistant boss Micky Adams has dismissed reports linking him with the vacancy at Gillingham. (Independent)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed French midfield sensation Lassana Diarra cost just £2m from Chelsea in the summer. (Daily Star)

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg, 30, says he is in no rush to sign a new deal even though his contract runs out next summer. (The Sun)

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce says injury-hit Michael Owen will be out of action for at least a month. (Daily Star)

Scotland will discover their seeding fate for the qualifying stage of the 2010 World Cup on Thursday. (Daily Record)


CHELSEA RUMOURS
Chelsea could sign unsettled Barcelona forward Ronaldinho for just £14m next summer. (The Sun)

Roman Abramovich has put Guus Hiddink on the spot and asked whether he wants to stay as Russia coach or join Chelsea. (Daily Express)

Abramovich and his supposed army of minders were nowhere to be seen as Chelsea thrashed Hull 4-0 in the Carling Cup on Wednesday. (Daily Star)

Roman Abramovich compared Jose Mourinho to a meal at the opening of a new eaterie at Stamford Bridge: "You like it or not, but it doesn't stay on the table for long." (Various)


AND FINALLY
Cheeky Kevin Denny, 31, spurred on Crawley Town to win after he streaked across the pitch. He is now the club's unofficial mascot. (Daily Star)

 

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Friday 28th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS & OTHER GOSSIP
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has increased his stake in Arsenal to over 22% and is still targeting a "blocking stake" of 25%. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says English football has lost its soul because of speculators buying the Premier League's top clubs. (The Sun)

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry believes the club have their best chance in a decade of winning the Premier League. (Express)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is set to sign former Manchester City winger Kiki Musampa. (The Sun)

Newcastle want Bolton keeper Jussi Jasskelainen. (The Sun)

Under-pressure Tottenham boss Martin Jol says he is better than Jose Mourinho. (The Sun)

Russia and Spain are expected to join England in competition to host the 2018 World Cup. (Daily Mail)

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is disappointed with how £17m summer signing Anderson has performed since joining the club. (The Guardian)

Sir Trevor Brooking believes West Ham striker Dean Ashton is the answer to England's problems up front ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifiers. (Mirror)

Or, Brooking has warned England not to expect Ashton to be their Euro 2008 saviour. (Daily Star)

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson considered buying Michael Owen but was put off by his price-tag, wages and injury record. (Daily Mirror)

Ex-Manchester United No.2 and former Blackburn boss Brian Kidd is on an eight-man shortlist for the vacant Gillingham manager's job. (Various)

Former Leicester boss Martin Allen and Graham Rix are also in the running to take the Priestfield job. (Various)

Swindon have put a £2m price tag on Slovakian keeper Peter Brezovan, who is on trial at Everton. (Daily Star)

Nottingham Forest still want Birmingham midfielder Neil Danns. (The Sun)

Dundee boss Alex Rae says it will take big money to persuade him to part company with the club's talented kids. (Daily Record)

Dundee United are close to signing Berwick winger Danny Swanson (Record)


CHELSEA RUMOURS
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has performed a U-turn and pledged his full support to new Chelsea coach Avram Grant. (Daily Express)

Jose Mourinho left Chelsea after daring Blues owner Roman Abramovich to sack him in a chance meeting. (Independent)

Mourinho says he will not show his face at a football stadium until he is back in management. (The Sun)

Roman Abramovich has warned new Chelsea boss Avram Grant not to slate referees in the way Mourinho did. (The Sun)

Mourinho's return to Portugal on Thursday brought his homeland to a standstill. (Daily Mail)


AND FINALLY
Scotland keeper Craig Gordon says Sunderland fans have reacted to his good form by chanting "Gordon for England" at games. (Various)

More than 20,000 Rangers fans will invade Barcelona for their Champions League game in November after tickets appeared on the internet. (Record)

Aston Villa's new £10m defender Curtis Davies admits his performance against Leicester on Wednesday was "not worthy of a pub team". (The Guardian)

 

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Saturday 29th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Manchester United are set to make a £6m bid for Sporting Lisbon's Portugese international defender Miguel Veloso. (The Sun)

Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson wants to raid former club Middlesbrough for midfielder Lee Cattermole. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he would turn down the chance to sign Brazlian ace Ronaldinho. (Daily Mail)


OTHER GOSSIP
John Terry is furious at claims he was behind former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's departure. (Daily Mirror)

Didier Drogba insists Jose Mourinho's departure has wrecked the harmony in the Chelsea dressing room. (Various)

Arsene Wenger was set to walk out on Arsenal after former vice-chairman David Dein's exit. (Daily Express)

Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov insists he will continue buying Arsenal shares and take over the club within a year. (Daily Mirror)

Former Aston Villa boss Brian Little is at the centre of a tug of war between Gillingham and Port Vale. (Sun)

Thierry Henry hopes he never has to play against Arsenal in the Champions League for Barcelona. (Daily Mirror)

Mark Hughes reckons Roy Keane has joined him in the race to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United. (Daily Star)

Iain Dowie claims he would have kept Charlton in the Premier League if they hadn't sacked him. (Daily Mail)

Celtic striker Scott McDonald is hoping Mark Viduka will stay on with the Australian national side so they can forge a striking partnership. (The Sun)

Rangers defender David Weir says he is having too much fun to plan his retirement despite being 37 years-old. (Various)

Gretna owner Brooks Mileson insist all team decisions are down to coach David Irons and not director of football Mick Wadsworth. (Various)


AND FINALLY
Newcastle striker Alan Smith is a big moto-cross fan and on his Sunday's off often gets up at 6am and heads off to meetings. (Daily Telegraph)

 

[McFLY]

Sunday 30th September gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Manchester City are preparing a £6m move for Atletico Madrid's Argentine World Cup star Juan Riquelme. (People)

Liverpool and Arsenal are locked in a £10m battle for Marseille's French sensation Samir Nasri, hailed as the new Zidane. (News of the World).

Harry Kewell is facing a battle to win a new Liverpool contract after struggling with a groin problem. (People)

Aston Villa and Everton are both chasing 19-year-old Ipswich midfielder Danny Haynes. (People)

Sir Alex Ferguson has won the race to sign Irish wonder kid Rob Brady, hailed as the new George Best. (People)


OTHER GOSSIP
Jose Mourinho is still being lined-up to replace Martin Jol as Tottenham manager next season. (Sunday Mirror)

Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke could be heading for the door in another clear-out at Stamford Bridge. (People)

Steve Bruce is to be handed a new three-year deal by potential new owner Carson Yeung. (Sunday Mirror)


AND FINALLY
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is a massive XBOX fan and has been connecting to the internet and playing football anonymously. (People)