Latest transfers speculations Thursday 21.11.07

Latest transfers speculations Thursday 27.07.06

Latest transfers speculations Thursday 27.07.06

All the latest football gossip

Thursday's gossip column

Tottenham will offer Michael Carrick to Manchester United in a swap deal for Ruud van Nistelrooy - but want an extra £10m as well as the Dutchman.

United are set to make a £16m bid for Corinthians' Argentina World Cup star Javier Mascherano.

Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge wants to quit the club because of the possible arrival of Ashley Cole.

Chelsea target Ashley Cole says Arsenal have reneged on a verbal agreement saying he could leave the club for £15m.

Marseille hope to sign former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell - if they can afford his wages.

Watford have made a £2m bid for Fulham striker Collins John.

Liverpool will offer Jerzy Dudek and Jan Kromkamp as makeweights in their attempt to sign Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt for £10m.

Bolton are leading a posse of English clubs who hope to sign 6ft 8in Partizan Belgrade striker Nikola Zigic.

West Ham have targeted Newcastle goalkeeper Steven Harper to provide cover for Roy Carroll.

Birmingham City will offer Portsmouth £1.5m for Andy O'Brien.

Derby boss Billy Davies wants to sign Arsenal trio Ryan Smith, Arturo Lupoli and Mart Poom.

Birmingham want to sign young Gunners duo Sebastian Larsson and Fabrice Muamba on loan for the season.

Newcastle's hopes of signing Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel have been hit by the battle for power at Villa Park.

Charlton manager Iain Dowie is trying to land Newcastle midfielder Amdy Faye for £1.5m.

Watford are keen on Tottenham midfielder Wayne Routledge - but Charlton are also interested.

Celtic have launched a £3m swoop for Ukraine and Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Anatoliy Timoshchuk.

Other gossip

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to win three or four Premiership titles in the next five years to cement the club's status as the dominant force in English football.

Martin O'Neill will be installed as new Aston Villa manager if the consortium led by fan Michael Neville is successful in their bid to buy the club.

Former England and Villa boss Graham Taylor would become chairman if Neville takes over.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned whether new Chelsea signing Andriy Shevchenko is worth £30 by comparing him to Eric Cantona - who joined United for £1m in 1992.

Football fun

Injured Reading midfielder James Harper is desperate to recover from a groin strain so he can stop rowing with his girlfriend.

A life-size mannequin of former manager George Graham is among the items up for grabs at an auction at Arsenal's former home Highbury on Saturday.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Friday 28.07.06

Latest transfers speculations Friday 28.07.06

All the latest football gossip

Friday's gossip column

Tottenham's Michael Carrick will finally sign for Manchester United next week in a deal worth about £15m.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder wants to sign unsettled Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge.

Roeder is also preparing a player-plus-cash swoop for West Ham's Marlon Harewood.

Sunderland will sign former striker Kevin Phillips for £750,000.

Portsmouth are closing in on a £3.75m deal to sign Preston striker David Nugent.

Millwall are close to signing Hearts winger Chris Hackett.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is opening talks with Everton to sign midfielder Lee Carsley.

Chris Sutton could return to play for Birmingham after being released by the Midlands club at the end of last season.

Coventry want to sign out-of-favour Sheffield United forward Geoff Horsfield on a season-long loan.

Sunderland are close to signing Robbie Elliott, who has been released by North-East neighbours Newcastle.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is insisting that teenage winger Adam Johnson will be staying at the Riverside.

Wigan have swooped for Crystal Palace right-back Emerson Boyce for £1.6m.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is persisting with attempts to sign Coventry's Gary McShaffrey.

Bruce has also made a shock £1m move for Fulham striker Brian McBride.

Danny Higginbotham has been put on Southampton's transfer list after turning down a new two-year deal.

Blackburn will announce the signing of FC Porto striker Benni McCarthy for £2.5m.

Bulgarian left-back Ivaylo Petkov expects to join Celtic after the 30-year-old left Turkish club Ankaragucu.

Austria Vienna says striker Filip Sebo is likely to sign for Rangers next week.

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson is likely to miss the first five weeks of the season through injury.

Portsmouth are poised to end interest in Celtic's Stilian Petrov and instead bid for Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen.

Hearts are chasing Barcelona B midfielder Arnau Caldentey.

Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray says his club could not afford out-of-favour Rangers defender Marvin Andrews' wages.

Other gossip

New Liverpool signings Jermaine Pennant and Craig Bellamy have been told by manager Rafa Benitez that they are in Last Chance Saloon.

New England manager Steve McClaren has employed PR guru Max Clifford as his personal advisor.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Shaun Wright-Phillips he must prove himself before the transfer window shuts or risk being sent out on loan.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell is confident Emile Heskey can resurrect his career at the JJB Stadium.

John Terry is desperate to succeed David Beckham as the England captain.

Tottenham are looking into the possibility of moving into London's Olympic stadium after the 2012 Games.

Football fun

MK Dons manager Martin Allen hired a rickety old school bus for the squad's pre-season trip to Devon to test out his players' characters.

A radio journalist has been revealed as the saviour who came to the aid of a cashless Victoria Beckham when she wanted to buy some chips at half-time during an England World Cup match last month.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Saturday 29.07.06

Latest transfers speculations Saturday 29.07.06

All the latest football gossip

Saturday's gossip column

Tottenham are chasing Atletico Madrid midfielder Martin Petrov.

A boardroom split at Portsmouth could jeopardise manager Harry Redknapp's hopes of signing Nicolas Anelka.

Veteran midfielder Paul Ince could join Swindon.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew says striker Marlon Harewood is not for sale at any price.

Chelsea are hoping to swoop to beat Liverpool to the signature of Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt.

Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry has told the club he wants to leave.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce wants to sign Bolton's Radhi Jaidi.

Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United are not interested in signing Tottenham's Jermain Defoe.

Rangers are talking to Austria Vienna's Slovakian striker Filip Sebo.

Sunderland want to sign Tottenham winger Andy Reid and Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.

Dunfermline hope to wrap up the signing of former Middlesbrough and Aberdeen striker Noel Whelan.

Dundee defender Lee Wilkie is set to decide whether to stay at Dens Park, with a host of SPL clubs waiting on his next move.

Other gossip

Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is ready to pump his own money in Aston Villa as part of a Swedish consortium.

New Bolton signing Quinton Fortune says he was not surprised that Manchester United released him.

A legal expert believes Uefa's plans to boost the number of home-grown players could be unlawful.

Football fun

Reading's Steve Sidwell has posed for the cameras to show off the tattoo of his 100-word+ wedding vows that he had put on his back last year.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Sunday 30.07.06

Latest transfers speculations Sunday 30.07.06

All the latest football gossip

Sunday's gossip column

Real Madrid are set to make a cash-plus-player bid for Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes.

Reyes has told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he wants to quit the club to join Madrid.

A clause in Ashley Cole's Arsenal contract means he will cost Chelsea £30m - but any other club will only have to pay £16m.

Sol Campbell has contacted Newcastle United to say he is keen to move to St James' Park. (Various) Manchester United are hoping to seal a £4m deal for Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna.

Bolton are close to agreeing a deal to sign Jonathan Woodgate on loan from Real Madrid.

Manchester United are plotting a £27m move for Athletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.

Sunderland are considering a loan move for Manchester City's Ben Thatcher and also wants former Newcastle defender Robbie Elliott.

Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos is on the verge of joining Fenerbahce.

Tottenham could step up their interest in Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.

Portsmouth chairman Alexandre Gaydamak is in Turkey trying to complete a move deal for Fenerbahce striker Nicolas Anelka.

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is targeting £2m-rated Reading defender Ibrahim Sonko.

Other gossip

Frank Lampard thinks ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson should have included Jermaine Defoe in his World Cup squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been given personal security by Manchester United ahead of his return to training next week.

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis will offer the vacant manager's job at Villa Park to Martin O'Neill.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has ruled himself out of the running to be Villa's next boss.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has demanded £24m compensation from his old club Chelsea for teenages Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo following the duo's move to Stamford Bridge.

Football fun

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took his players to see Govan - the part of Glasgow he grew up in - on their way to Parkhead for last week's friendly, and warned them he would be testing them with questions about the area later.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Monday 31.07.06

Latest transfers speculations Monday 31.07.06

All the latest football gossip

Monday's gossip column

Chelsea hope to sign Arsenal defender Ashley Cole for £25m this week.

Tottenham are set to make a new bid for Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda - by offering a swap deal involving Danny Murphy and Andy Reid, plus cash.

Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos, who had been linked to Chelsea, is on the verge of a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Real Madrid are preparing a £14m offer for Spain international Jose Antonio Reyes.

Defender Robbie Elliott has edged closer to a move to Sunderland following his release by Newcastle by turning in an impressive performance as the Black Cats beat Carlisle in a friendly.

Portsmouth will make a fresh move to try to persuade former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell to join the south-coast club.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has admitted that he needs to strengthen his squad.

Bolton defender Radhi Jaidi is in talks with Birmingham after being told he can leave the Reebok Stadium.

Wolves are in talks with ex-Birmingham defender Jamie Clapham, who has appeared as a trialist with Sheffield United, over a possible deal.

Fulham have made a £2.5m offer for USA World Cup defender Oguchi Onyewu.

Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry has made it clear to representatives at the club that he wants to leave, though he has not made a formal transfer request.

Aberdeen will decide on Monday if they want to sign Zambian winger Christopher Katongo.

Other gossip

Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo has warned his family to stay away from England because of safety fears following his World Cup row with Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo, who sent off England's Wayne Rooney in this summer's World Cup quarter-final with Portugal, has hit out at the striker for being a whinger, saying that he was "complaining all the time".

Defender Jonathan Woodgate is desperate to stay injury-free at Real Madrid and put himself back in contention with England.

West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas, who has been fined three times for failing to return to pre-season training and who wants to join Cardiff, has been told by Baggies boss Bryan Robson he will continue to be fined until he returns.

Chelsea and England defender John Terry believes that the new boss of his national team, Steve McClaren, is the perfect person for the job.

It is becoming increasingly doubtful that the new Wembley will be ready for the 2007 FA Cup final.

Football fun

Scotland Under-19 coach Tommy Wilson has revealed that he was sent a text message on behalf of veteran rocker Rod Stewart after his side's 2-1 European Championship final defeat to Spain.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Tuesday 01.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Tuesday 01.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Tuesday's gossip column

Ashley Cole has told Arsenal he will never play for them again.

Chelsea have leapt to the front of the queue to sign Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.

Manchester United are considering a bid for £12m-rated Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt, who is a long-time target of Liverpool.

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd is preparing to table a club record £3m bid for Preston striker David Nugent.

Former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira has hinted he could be keen on a move to Manchester United.

Tottenham want Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and are ready to meet the Blues' £4m valuation.

Newcastle have turned down the opportunity to sign former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell.

Martin O'Neill will take over as Aston Villa boss and is even prepared to work alongside chairman 'Deadly' Doug Ellis.

Tottenham have offered Danny Murphy and Andy Reid in part exchange for Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda.

Wigan are demanding £5.5m in cash for Chimbonda, who was late for his first training session after handing in a transfer request in May.

Shaktar Donetsk have placed a £6.8m price tag on Anitoliy Timoschuk but admit the midfielder wants to join Celtic.

Rangers expect to complete the signing of striker Filip Sebo after putting in a final bid of £1.6m.

Charlie Mulgrew's Celtic career is over after a blazing row with manager Gordon Strachan.

Hearts are set to off-laon record signing Mirsad Beslija eight months after the midfielder arrived for £850,000 from Racing Club Genk

Christos Karapidis will become a Hearts player this week after they agreed a £200,000 fee with PAOK Salonika for the defender.

Falkirk have given a trial to trial for Togo midfileder Didier Paas and are negotiating red tape as they progress interest in Nigerian midfielder Udo Nwoko, presently in Malta with Hibernians.

Dundee United have signed Norwegian defender Christian Kalvenes on a two-year deal from Brann Bergen.

Messina midfielder Carmine Coppola is being considered as a target by Celtic.

Motherwell are considering taking Celtic midfielder Paul Lawson on loan.

Other gossip

New England boss Steve McClaren wants Teddy Sheringham, Paul Ince or Tony Adams to take up the role of 'conduit' between the players and the coaching staff - a role rejected by Alan Shearer.

A massive anti-riot operation is planned if Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Manchester United in a friendly at Oxford United next Tuesday.

Football fun

Fulham's German defender Moritz Volz is a massive fan of David Hasselhoff, describing the former Baywatch star as "like some higher spirit".

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Wednesday 02.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Wednesday 02.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Wednesday's gossip column

Manchester United will bid to seal a £4m deal for Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna after unveiling their new £18.6m signing from Tottenham Michael Carrick.

Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton looks set to join Middlesbrough.

Sunderland manager Niall Quinn has been told he must be patient if he is to lure Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips back to the Black Cats fold.

Crystal Palace boss Peter Taylor expects to make several signings before the transfer window closes on 31 August.

Sheffield United have rejected a £600,000 bid from Leeds for striker Geoff Horsfield.

Dundee defender Lee Wilkie is poised for a switch to Dundee United on a month's trial - once he agrees a pay-off settlement from his current club.

Newcastle are ready to splash out £15m on three new signings - Thomas Gravesen and Jonathan Woodgate from Real Madrid as well as a new striker.

Blackburn want to hijack Wigan's bid to sign defender Andy Webster from Hearts.

Birmingham will make a final £1.2m offer for Fulham striker Brian McBride.

West Ham will not receive a penny from Michael Carrick's £18.6m move from Tottenham to Manchester United because Spurs refused to include a sell-on clause when they signed him from the Hammers.

Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy is being lined up for a £2m switch to Bolton.

Nigeria international Kanu is poised to join Portsmouth after rejecting reduced terms with West Brom.

Other gossip

Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, who is expected to join Chelsea, has been banned from using official Gunners photos for his controversial new book.

Aston Villa are confident of unveiling Martin O'Neill as their new manager within 48 hours.

England defender Gary Neville gave Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo the cold shoulder on his return to training with Manchester United.

Ex-Everton star Thomas Gravesen was thrown out of a Real Madrid pre-season training session in Austria after brawling with Brazilian winger Robinho.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch says Liverpool's players do not want to set foot in Israel to play their Champions League qualifier with Maccabi Haifa because of the crisis in the Middle East.

Ex-England coach Terry Venables has agreed in principle to join new national boss Steve McClaren's staff and talks have started over his salary and title.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has written off Liverpool Premiership title chances.

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn wants the fans to banish sectarian chants at games - or risk Uefa punishment.

Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt needed stitches to a head wound after crashing into the post when warming up for the friendly with Barnsley.

Football fun

England midfielder Frank Lampard topped a Yahoo! poll of sports flops following his country's disappointing World Cup campaign, despite having more shots than anyone else. Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and striker Wayne Rooney were second and third.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Thursday 03.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Thursday 03.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Thursday's gossip column

Portsmouth are planning a £2m swoop for Manchester City goalkeeper David James.

Newcastle may attempt to hijack Middlesbrough's £3m move for Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen.

Wigan are set to try to sign Nathan Ellington from West Brom - a year after selling him for £3m.

West Brom's rebel midfielder Jason Koumas is confident of sealing a £2m switch to Cardiff before the start of the Championship season at the weekend.

Derby are preparing a £1m bid for Nottingham Forest striker Nathan Tyson.

Wolves striker Carl Cort has turned down a move to Crystal Palace - where he had the chance to link up with his brother Leon.

Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque has refused to discuss a move to Middlesbrough - despite a £4m fee being agreed.

Newcastle are targeting a £7m move for Empoli striker Francesco Tavano.

Liverpool are preparing to make a renewed bid for Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt.

Other gossip

Arsenal will name Ashley Cole in their squad for next week's Champions League qualifier, and if he plays he would be Cup-tied should any move to Chelsea materialise.

American billionaire Randy Lerner is on the brink of a takeover of Aston Villa.

Newcastle midfielder Scott Parker looks set to be recalled to the England squad by new national boss Steve McClaren.

McClaren wants to recruit a full-time manager for the England Under-21 side but it won't be Peter Taylor.

The publishers of Chelsea target Ashley Cole's autobiography are ready to delay its release in order to include the Arsenal defender's final bust-ups with the Gunners.

Everton defender Tony Hibbert will miss the start of the season after being struck down by a mystery illness.

Midfielder Luis Garcia has warned Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho that he will regret writing off the Anfield club's title chances.

Manchester United team-mates Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are photographed together for the first time since their World Cup bust-up in the match between England and Portugal but spent much of the training session apart.

Celtic forward Shaun Maloney faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the Champions League campaign in September because he will have a double hernia operation on Friday.

Southampton boss George Burley will not allow technical director Clive Woodward to take any first-team coaching sessions this season.

Football fun

Overheard in a Liverpool betting shop: "Ken Bates wants penalties at Chelsea." Response: "No chance, Frank Lampard will take them again this season."

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Friday 04.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Friday 04.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Friday's gossip column

Valencia have launched a £12m bid for Manchester United's want-away winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Michael Owen has contacted Thomas Gravesen to try and make sure the Real Madrid midfielder joins Newcastle in a £3m deal.

Derby boss Billy Davies is making a £1m move for Portsmouth defender Andy O'Brien.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is hopeful of signing Chelsea'a Robert Huth because Middlesbrough want to pay a lower fee.

Tottenham outcast Andy Reid could be set for a £2m move to Championship side Leeds.

But Reid's former Nottingham Forest team-mate David Prutton, now at Southampton, has failed a medical at Elland Road.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is still interested in Ghana captain Stephen Appiah.

Reading's £3.5m bid for Rennes defender John Mensah has been rejected by the French club.

St Mirren have failed in an ambitious attempt to sign former Scotland international striker Duncan Ferguson.

Other gossip

Martin O'Neill is set to be unveiled as the new manager of Aston Villa at a news conference on Friday.

Though the former Celtic boss must talk it over with his family before finally accepting.

Chelsea defender William Gallas has given up on his battle to quit the Blues.

But Gallas will be forced to make a humbling apology to his team-mates after missing the pre-season tour of America.

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Steve McClaren to be a successful England manager after his former assistant popped in to see United train on Thursday.

Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to take legal action in order to leave the Serie B side.

Goalkeeper Steve Harper is likely to remain at Newcastle despite interest from West Ham.

Theo Walcott is set to make his Arsenal debut in next Tuesday's Champions League qualifier.

Peter Taylor says Steve McClaren would be right to axe him as England Under-21 boss.

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas is on the brink of the sack after being involved in a furious bust-up with owner Vladimir Romanov.

Football fun

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce says he was forced to sell son Alex to save him from the "daddy's boy" jibes.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Saturday 05.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Saturday 05.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Saturday's gossip column

Chelsea will sell Shaun Wright-Phillips for £12m - a £9m loss on the player signed last summer.

Newcastle closing in on Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt with AZ Alkmaar's Joris Mathijsen and Inter Milan's Obafemi Martins also targets.

Manchester City are set to complete the capture of Ajax and Tunisia right-back Hatem Trabelsi next week.

Charlton will bring in Djimi Traore from Liverpool for £2m and Portsmouth's Amdy Faye for £2.5m.

Portsmouth will stop in their efforts to sign Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen if a £4.7m bid is rejecetd.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Sunday 06.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Sunday 06.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Sunday's gossip column

William Gallas will snub Chelsea's £80,000-a-week deal and move across London to Arsenal.

The Gunners will add to their attacking options with the £16m capture of Marseille's wantaway international winger Franck Ribery.

Arsene Wenger will raise the necessary funds by off-loading Jose Antonio Reyes. The winger will join Real Madrid for £16m this week.

Lens' £4m-rated midfielder Alou Diarra has also caught Arsenal's eye.

While Lyon's France left-back Eric Abidal is set for a move to the Emirates Stadium.

And Arsenal have made enquiries about Fiorentina striker Luca Toni, who has also interested Newcastle and Manchester United.

Manchester United are in secret talks - make that were - for Argentina striker Carlos Tevez. Brazilian club Corinthians want £15m.

And United are keen on Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves.

Marcos Senna has secured his £4m move from Villarreal to Manchester United, which will go through this week.

Sir Alex Ferguson will then turn his attention to prising striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.

Sol Campbell has agreed to join Portsmouth.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is set to sign midfielder Danny Murphy from Tottenham for £2m.

Portsmouth have made a £2m offer for Bolton's Tal Ben Haim.

Are Portsmouth the poor man's Chelsea? They will also throw cash at Manchester City to sign Sylvain Distin for £4m and David James for £2m.

Manchester City will sign Hatem Trabelsi if Ajax's Tunisian full-back, who has a heart condition, drops his £30,000-a-week wage demands.

Liverpool are also monitoring the Trabelsi situation - along with Monaco and Paris St Germain.

Stuart Pearce is also tracking Rennes goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. The Sweden international will cost City £2.5m and is also interesting Charlton.

Addicks striker Darren Bent has ruled out a move to Spurs after signing a four-year deal at The Valley.

Celtic are braced for a call from new Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill who is expected to sign former players Neil Lennon and Stilian Petrov.

Like Manchester United, Villa are keen on Owen Hargreaves.

Another of O'Neill's priorities is to persuade unsettled skipper Gareth Barry his future lies at Villa Park.

O'Neill wants to bring in Real Madrid's Thomas Gravesen.

And Everton boss David Moyes says he would welcome the Denmark international back to Goodison Park.

Back to Villa and O'Neill, Chris Sutton is hoping for a call from his former Celtic boss offering a deal.

If Villa do not come calling Ipswich are planning a swoop for the veteran striker and some-time defender.

Another player who could head to Villa and reaquaint himself with O'Neill is Celtic winger Didier Agathe, presently on trial at Blackburn.

Leeds are also leafing through the phone book for Celtic's number as they want left-back Mo Camara.

Blackburn are lining up a move for PSV Eindhoven's Dutch international centre-half Andre Ooijer.

Brett Emerton is heading for the Ewood Park exit door if he does not sign a new deal and Middlesbrough lead the chase to land the Australian.

Shefki Kuqi is set to leave Blackburn for Birmingham.

Crystal Palace boss Peter Taylor is back in for MK Dons striker Izale McLeod with a £1.35m deal.

Sunderland's desire to have an experienced custodian between the sticks will result in a loan bid for Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek.

Paul Ince has promised his old friend and new Swindon boss Dennis Wise a decision on joining the club after his holiday finishes this week.

Middlesbrough and Bolton both want Porto defender Ricardo Costa.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell hopes to talk combative striker Duncan Ferguson out of retirement. The Scot is thinking things over on holiday in Spain.

The Latics will let Pascal Chimbonda join Spurs for a cut-price compromise deal - £6m down to £5.25m.

Other gossip

New England head coach Steve McClaren will call up West Ham striker Dean Ashton for the friendly against Greece.

And McClaren is determined to persuade Paul Scholes to resurrect his international career, although he knows he has his work cut out with the Manchester United man.

England will unveil a £50m four-year sponsorship deal with the Nationwide Building Society this week.

In an extract from his autobiography, "Valley of Dreams", Alan Curbishley criticises Sven-Goran Eriksson and the FA's process of appointing a successor to the Swede, reveals he was offered a bung and says he will hold off returning to management until October.

The AV06 consortium looking to take over Aston Villa have pledged new boss Martin O'Neill a £50 transfer kitty - £30m now and £20m in January.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp reckons Sam Allardyce is the right man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager.

Emile Heskey has criticised out-spoken Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan following his move from the Blues to Wigan. "I think he'd do better to keep his mouth shut," the striker said.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is fuming at Fifa for not changing international dates at the start of the season after the World Cup was pushed back a month. It could jeopardise the club's Champions League campaign, Thierry Henry will play a friendly for France before donning Arsenal red this term and Wenger says it is "beyond ridiculous".

Michael Ballack snubbed advances from Manchester United as he feels the club's best years are behind them, while Chelsea have it all to play for now and in the future.

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov also turned down Manchester United.

Didier Drogba will sign a new four-year deal at Chelsea before the start of the season.

Bristol Rovers chairman Geoff Dunsford has joined Ken Bates in accusing Chelsea of tapping-up young players. The League Two club got £160,000 in arbitration for Scott Sinclair after the 17-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge. "That's absurd," said Dunsford.

England's World Cup defeat will scar John Terry for life. "The memory will stay with me forever. I'll never forget the pain, it was terrible," said the Chelsea skipper.

In the ongoing serialisation of Frank Lampard's autobiography "Totally Frank" the Chelsea man reveals he nearly quit the club when he was dropped by Claudio Ranieiri in 2003 and he might, one day, maybe, join Barcelona.

Football fun

In light of their financial problems down the years, advertising on Leeds United's huge East Stand seems apt. It read "Total Waste Management".

A Chelsea tradition for new signings is the initiation song. This year Michael Ballack won the praise - Songs of Praise anyone - from boss Jose Mourinho who described him as having "rhythm". But Salomon Kalou was booed off stage and Andrei Shevchenko's rendition of "We Are The Champions" was worth a "minus 10" according to Arjen Robben. The Ukrainian was booed off stage.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Monday 07.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Monday 07.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Monday's gossip column

Middlesbrough will step up their search for new faces on Monday after being snubbed by Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt.

Manchester United will hold talks with West Brom on Monday to try and agree a deal for goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Stuart Pearce is considering a £2m bid from Portsmouth for England goalkeeper David James.

West Brom boss Bryan Robson is to make a surprise attempt to sign Togo World Cup striker Adekambi Oluufade on a season-long loan from Lille.

Sol Campbell will complete his move from Arsenal to Portsmouth on Monday after agreeing terms with Harry Redknapp's side.

Middlesbrough will complete a £1m deal for Blackburn defender Brett Emerton on Tuesday.

Crystal Palace are closing in on a £200,000 deal for Ghana star Dan Quaye.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp will complete the £1.6m signing of Peru defender Juan Vargas on Monday.

Bulgarian left-back Ivaylo Petkov has arrived at Celtic for a trial and says he hopes to win a contract by Wednesday after leving Ankaragucu.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are holding out for £40,000 for midfielder David Proctor, while Dundee United have offered £30,000.

Celtic are poised to offload midfielder Stephen Pearson to Derby County for £600,000.

Dundee United striker David Fernandez is expected to move to Kilmarnock.

Troubled Dutch defender Fernando Ricksen will meet Rangers officials today to dicuss a strategy to find him a new club.

Other gossip

Defender Ashley Cole, who is expected to join Chelsea, will be left behind by Arsenal as they head for Tuesday's Champions League qualifier with Dinamo Zagreb.

Tottenham new boy Didier Zokora says he can become the Patrick Vieira of White Hart Lane.

Charlton new boy Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says he is not sure whether Andriy Shevchenko has what it takes to succeed in the Premiership.

Former Scotland boss Tommy Docherty has criticised Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson, saying that most of the deals he has struck in the past few years have been 'crazy'.

Joe Cole's damaged knee could rule him out of action until Christmas. (Various)

Terry Venables will be unveiled as England's number two on Monday after signing a contract with the FA on Sunday.

Chelsea's players want William Gallas to say sorry after the French defender missed the Blues' pre-season trip to the USA.

American billionaire is still hoping to takeover Aston Villa - and wants to build a Las Vegas-style super casino on land owned by the club.

Football fun

Porto boss Co Adriaanse says Man Utd are 'crazy' to spend £18.6m on Michael Carrick - and claims that sort of money should only be spent on a 'painting or a work of art'.

Martin O'Neill got frugal Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis to open his wallet within hours of taking over as boss - but only to pay for a Chinese meal.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Tuesday 08.07.06

Latest transfers speculations Tuesday 08.07.06

All the latest football gossip

Tuesday's gossip column

Arsenal will complete the signing of Marseille and France midfielder Franck Ribery for a minimum fee of £13.5m.

Real Madrid have insisted they will hold talks with Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes this week over a possible transfer.

New Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill wants to begin his reign with a £4m swoop for Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque.

Portsmouth are ready to make a £7m swoop for Ghana World Cup midfielder Sulley Muntari.

Marseille have made Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong their number one transfer target.

Rangers keeper Allan McGregor has pleaded with boss Paul Le Guen to be allowed to leave the club.

Blackburn are close to signing defender Andre Ooijer from PSV Eindhoven.

Watford are set to sign Hungarian international striker Tamas Priskin, 19.

Manchester City are targeting Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson as a replacement for David James, who looks set to join Portsmouth.

Ex-Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen moved closer to a £2m transfer to Newcastle after being left out of Real Madrid's tour of the United States.

Portsmouth are leading a host of Premiership clubs chasing Inter Milan's Obafemi Martins, who could leave the Italian club following Hernan Crespo's move to the San Siro.

QPR are lining up Fulham defender Zesh Rehman as a replacement for departed Dan Shittu.

Celtic's Mo Camara and Adam Virgo are set to leave Parkhead, leaving boss Gordon Strachan able to bring in new faces.

Other gossip

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in Tuesday's friendly at Oxford because of security concerns.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be hit with a three-match ban following his sending off during the pre-season tour of Amsterdam.

England boss Steve McClaren met with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard on Monday as he prepares to unveil the new national captain - with Chelsea's John Terry and Manchester United's Gary Neville also in the frame.

Wigan winger Gary Teale will miss the start of the season because of an ankle injury.

Everton winger Andy van der Meyde faces a carpeting from his club after breaking a club curfew and ending up in hospital over claims that his drink had been spiked.

Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips admits he would feel a failure if he quit Chelsea in search of regular first-team football.

Former Arsenal star Nigel Winterburn has hit out at Gunners winger Jose Antonio Reyes, who was photographed wearing a Real Madrid shirt before Arsenal played the Spanish side - who have been repeatedly linked to the player - last season.

Reading's Steve Sidwell could face action from Royals' boss Steve Coppell after branding the club's pre-season preparations as "a joke".

Football fun

Star players will be greeted by posters in the dressing room warning them to behave this season. The Premier League has introduced the move to "encourage an element of self-policing" in the game.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Wednesday 09.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Wednesday 09.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Wednesday's gossip column

Tottenham are favourites to sign Argentine World Cup defender Roberto Ayala from Valencia.

Everton are weighing up a swoop for Manchester City forward Antoine Sibierski on a free transfer.

Newcastle have reaffirmed their interest in strikers Dirk Kuyt of Feyenoord and Obafemi Martins of Inter Milan.

Liverpool are also set to renew their interest in Kuyt.

Reading are set to miss out on Ivory Coast midfielder Emerse Fae because he is not convinced about a move from Nantes to the Premiership club.

Celtic defender Mo Camara is to join Leeds on a season-long loan deal.

Tottenham are attempting to bring back Mido - three months after cutting their ties with him at the end of his loan period from AS Roma.


New Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is stepping up his bid to sign Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the green light to buy Villarreal's Marcos Senna after the Spanish club revealed they would be prepared to sell the midfielder.

Brighton have joined the race to sign Ipswich striker Sam Parkin.

Other gossip

Arsenal stiker Thierry Henry has warned the Gunners that losing defender Ashley Cole to Chelsea would be a massive blow.

Chelsea defender William Gallas, who failed to turn up to the club's training camp in the United States last week, has threatened to go on strike as his feud with Chelsea reaches a new level.

Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was pelted with chewing gum in his first match on English soil since the World Cup - a 4-1 friendly win over Oxford in which he scored two goals.

Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, who are facing suspensions after being sent off in a pre-season friendly against Porto in Amsterdam, will be free to play in the Premiership opener against Fulham on 20 August because the Dutch Football Association failed to send the referee's report to the English FA by August 8.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger axed Jose Antonio Reyes from the team that beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 in the Champions League because he believes his mind is already at Real Madrid, who have been repeatedly linked to the winger.

Hearts boss Valdas Ivanauskas has appealed for the whole of Scotland to back his side's bid for a Champions League group place.

New England boss Steve McClaren will turn to his former number two at Middlesbrough, Steve Round, as he looks to reshape the backroom staff for the national team.

Blackburn have offered midfielder Aaron Mokoena a new three-year deal to stop him leaving on a free transfer next summer.

Football fun

Referee Kevin Wright booked Mansfield's Stephen Dawson twice in the 2-1 win over MK Dons - but failed to send off the midfielder.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Thursday 10.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Thursday 10.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Thursday's gossip column

Arsenal have told Real Madrid that they want £16.5m for winger Jose Antonio Reyes.

Reyes has begged manager Arsene Wenger to let him leave Arsenal to join Real for the sake of the 22-year-old's family.

Manchester United are poised to bid for Brazil and Inter Milan striker Adriano as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement.

Chelsea will not be held to ransom by Arsenal over a deal for Gunners defender Ashley Cole.

Andy Reid looks set to leave Tottenham this summer, with Sunderland targeting the midfielder.

Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge is in talks over a £3m switch to Newcastle.

Newcastle are poised for a £13m transfer splash for Bridge, Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen and Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins.

QPR want to sign Fulham striker Tomasz Radzinski on a season-long loan deal.

Liverpool are closing in on Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt.

Moroccan trialist Abderrahmane Mssassi will be given another week to see if he has a future at Dundee United after impressing in a run-out for the reserves.

Derby want to sign Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson, Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli on a season's loan deal and Southend striker Freddy Eastwood before the weekend.

Other gossip

Defender William Gallas, who failed to turn up for a pre-season tour of the United States, has stunned Chelsea by asking for a £90,000-a-week wages deal.

Gallas will not be in the squad for Sunday's Community Shield game against Liverpool.

Everton striker James McFadden is stalling over the offer of a new contract because his place in the team is far from guaranteed.

Cameroon trialist Andre Bikey has been sent back to Lokomotiv Moscow after being dismissed for butting an opponent in a pre-season friendly.

Southampton boss George Burley has warned the Premiership big guns to keep their hands off left-back Gareth Bale, 17, who has scored two wonder goals in a week.

Ex-Arsenal winger Robert Pires has warned Villarreal team-mate Marcos Senna he will have to adapt to the battling atmosphere of the Premiership if the midfielder moves to Manchester United.

Oxford defender Eddie Anaclet, who faced Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, believes the Portugal star may become a target on the pitch this season for his part in England striker Wayne Rooney's sending off in the recent World Cup.

Former Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has questioned American billionaire Randy Lerner's motives for wanting to take over the club.

The battle to take over Villa will intensify this week when businessman Michael Neville is expected to raise his offer for the club a little above the asking price of £64m.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is confident the departure of Hernan Crespo to Inter Milan will not weaken the Premiership champions' ability to score goals.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has pledged his future to the club.

Arsenal striker Theo Walcott has been axed from the senior England squad by new boss Steve McClaren and put into the under-21s.

Football fun

Sky Sports football presenter and commentator Chris Kamara has a reputation for an overuse of the word unbelievable. However, he said: "I did not realise just how much I was saying it until the Christmas 'funnies' show we did a couple of years ago. Unbelievable really..."

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Friday 11.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Friday 11.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Friday's gossip column

Ashley Cole may have to give up £1m if he wants his transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea to go through.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol will turn his attentions to Belgian left-back Thomas Vermaelen as he looks set to miss out on Chelsea's Wayne Bridge.

Thierry Henry is making a last-ditch bid to try and persuade Ashley Cole to stay at Arsenal.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich could help wrap up the move for Ashley Cole by upping the offer to nearer Arsenal's asking price.

Andre Ooijer's move to Blackburn could fall through is PSV Eindhoven do not lower their asking price.

Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is a target for Manchester United.

Real Madrid have postponed talks over a news deal with David Beckham, whose current contract runs out at the end of the season.

Dundee United have signed David Proctor from Inverness.

Other gossip

David Beckham will be dropped by England manager Steve McClaren for the friendly against Greece next Wednesday at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney claims he is a target for referees.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has warned Peter Crouch against complacency.

Rangers fans have complained over Dunfermline charging their own fans £4 less to sit in the same stand for their game on Sunday.

Football fun

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has had his hospitality suite decked out with old car parts, including coat hangers made out of gearsticks, car seats for sofas and rear-view mirrors embedded into the walls. Fergie is hoping the changes will put United in the driving seat for the Premiership title. (The Sun). Wayne Rooney as England captain? He did ask England boss Steve McClaren if he could be the national team's figurehead but was turned down and admitted he was only joking - the little wag.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Saturday 12.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Saturday 12.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Saturday's gossip column

Chelsea have increased their offer for Arsenal defender Ashley Cole to £23m, which should clinch the deal.

Middlesbrough have launched an improved £4.5m bid for Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin.

Man Utd are keen to sign Bayern Munich and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, despite already shelling out £18m for Michael Carrick.

Darren Anderton is considering a move to Norwich after being released by Wolves in the summer.

Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli will join West Brom on loan.

Portsmouth want to sign Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins for a club record £9.5m.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder is also interested in the 21-year-old.

Sunderland will hear on Monday whether former Black Cats hero Kevin Phillips is to return to the club from Aston Villa.

Dunfermline have failed in their bid to sign former Hearts striker Mark de Vries, now at Leicester.

Hearts are poised to sign Lithuanian defender Marius Zaliukas.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has told Stephen Pearson he will not be allowed to leave the club.

Other gossip

Steve McClaren's decision to drop David Beckham from the England team could cost the FA £50m.

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will receive a further £3.4m from the FA because of his contract agreement.

Chelsea have released a history of the club which snubs both former vice-chairman Matthew Harding and ex-owner Ken Bates.

Sheffield United defender David Unsworth has been rushed to hospital for tests after complaining of severe headaches.

Football fun

Nigel Quashie is in for a surprise when he returns to Southampton with West Brom on Saturday - only two of the team he left are still at St Mary's following George Burley's mass clear-out.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Monday 14.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Monday 14.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Monday's gossip column

Chelsea will this week raise their offer for Arsenal's Ashley Cole to between £22m and £24m after being told their alternative left-back, Lyon's Eric Abidal, would cost almost as much at £21m.

Manchester United have scheduled further talks with Villarreal over the possible transfer of midfielder Marcos Senna to Old Trafford.

Portsmouth striker Benjani Mwaruwari, who joined the club at the start of the year, is ready for a move to St Etienne.

Birmingham are taking Celtic winger Ross Wallace on trial.

Arsenal are reported to be interested in Lyn Oslo striker Chinedu Ogbuke.

Middlesbrough hope to sign Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin and Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton in time for the first game of the season at Reading on Saturday.

West Ham are exploring other options for a winger after having a bid of £4.8m for Switzerland player Tranquillo Barnetta turned down by Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has pledged to further strengthen his squad before Sunday's Premiership opener with Chelsea.

Brazilian club Corinthians have denied that Manchester United have made a bid for Argentine forward Carlos Tevez.

Wolves keeper Tomasz Frankowski is up for sale.

But Wolves are hoping to ward off interest in their left-back Lee Naylor, who is in the sights of Celtic boss Gordon Strachan.

Goalkeeper Robert Green is set to join Charlton from Norwich this week, with Stephan Andersen going the other way.

Other gossip

Former England captain David Beckham, who was dropped by new national team boss Steve McClaren for Wednesday's friendly against Greece, faces starting the season as a substitute for Real Madrid.

Valencia have opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina international defender Roberto Ayala for his criticisms of the club last week.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped striker Louis Saha to step out of ex-Old Trafford star Ruud van Nistelrooy's shadow and help the club to success this season.

Winger Cristiano Ronaldo may play as a makeshift striker for Manchester United because the injured Wayne Rooney is set to miss Sunday's Premiership opener against Fulham.

New England boss Steve McClaren is keen to ensure what is said behind closed doors in the dressing room remains private and his decision follows the release of autobiographies by a number of the recent World Cup squad.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is angry that international fixtures have been scheduled in the first week of the Premiership season.

Football fun

West Ham striker Dean Ashton thought he was the victim of a wind-up when he was summoned to join the England squad for Wednesday's friendly with Greece.

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Tuesday 15.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Tuesday 15.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Tuesday's gossip column

Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes has revealed that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has cleared the way for the winger to join Real Madrid this week.

Newcastle want Wigan striker Henri Camara - only days before the two clubs meet in their Premiership opener.

Newcastle will tell Inter Milan to drop the £10m asking price for Obafemi Martins because the Magpies are looking into rumours from Nigeria that the striker is possibly six years older than his reported age of 21.

Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin is under pressure to give a quick decision over a possible £4m move to Middlesbrough.

However, Distin's hopes of a move may be hit by an injury to Richard Dunne, who only as a 50-50 chance of being fit for Manchester City's match with Chelsea on Sunday because of a hamstring strain.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell has warned Tottenham that the price of Pascal Chimbonda may rise if Spurs do not meet the £6m valuation of the defender before the transfer deadline on 31 August.

Ashley Cole's move from Arsenal to Chelsea looks dead in the water, with the Gunners refusing to budge from their £25m valuation of the left-back.

Portsmouth have completed the signing of former Arsenal striker Kanu, who was released by West Brom in the summer.

Czech star Marcel Licka, who until recently played for Polish side Groclin, had his chance to stake a claim for a Dundee United deal thwarted because he failed to receive clearance to play in a reserve match.

Derby boss Billy Davies is to make a fresh bid for Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson.

Other gossip

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday's Premiership opener with Manchester City after it emerged the hip injury that led to him limping out of last weekend's Community Shield game has been a problem for some time.

Meanwhile, Ballack believes goals from fellow Chelsea new boy Andriy Shevchenko will lead Chelsea to a third Premiership title in a row.

Randy Lerner has promised Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill a £50m transfer kitty and a five-year contract if the American billionaire takes over the club.

Former England captain David Beckham, who was dropped from his national squad for Wednesday's friendly with Greece, has been told by Real Madrid that they want him to stay and are keen for contract talks to begin.

Referee Graham Poll, who was sent home early from the World Cup after booking Croatia's Josip Simunic three times before sending him off, will take charge of Arsenal's first Premiership game at their new Emirates Stadium - against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Falkirk defender Craig Ireland, who missed the final three months of last season, will be sidelined for at least two months after a second knee operation.

Reading boss Steve Coppell has ordered the Reading boo-boys to lay off contract rebel Steve Sidwell, who was jeered by his own fans during Saturday's friendly with Feyenoord.

New England captain John Terry has told the Football Association he does not want to be treated any differently from the rest of the players in the national squad.

England and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has reiterated he would consider a move to the Premiership.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is expected to have his three-match ban lifted by the FA but team-mate Paul Scholes, who was also sent off in a pre-season friendly, is likely to have his three-game suspension upheld.

Burglars are understood to have broken into Everton winger Andy van der Meyde's house when he was taking part in Howard Kendall's testimonial against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday - and they escaped with a £12,000 necklace, eight Rolex watches, his Ferrari, his BMW Mini Cooper and his pet dog Mac. His Ferrari has since been found. The 26-year-old Dutchman was taken to hospital last week after claiming his drinks had been spiked on a night out and was fined by the Toffees for socialising two days before a match.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has vowed to be ready for the Premiership opener against Manchester City on Sunday, despite suffering a broken wrist in the Community Shield defeat at the hands of Liverpool last weekend.

West Ham striker Dean Ashton has vowed he will not become one of England's one-cap brigade after being picked for Wednesday's friendly with Greece.

Football fun

Plymouth boss Ian Holloway has vowed to stand a £2,000 round of drinks as a thank you to the 700 fans who made the 805-mile round trip to Sunderland on Saturday. He said: "Anyone who travelled up there please send me a letter. I would love to buy you a drink."

Regards Satdude.

Latest transfers speculations Wednesday 16.08.06

Latest transfers speculations Wednesday 16.08.06

All the latest football gossip

Wednesday's gossip column

Reading are poised to sign Cameroon star Andre Bikey on a season-long loan, despite his sending-off against Swedish side Orgryte IS.

Feyenoord and Holland striker Dirk Kuyt is ready to snub Liverpool in favour of Newcastle.

Derby have beaten West Brom in the race to sign Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli on loan.

Martin O'Neill wants to use striker Juan Pablo Angel as bait to land Celtic's Stilian Petrov.

Southampton have offered Fulham's former French defender Martin Djetou, who was released at the end of last season, a one-week trial.

Dutch defender Andre Ooijer has gone on strike at PSV Eindhoven in a bid to force through his move to Premiership side Blackburn.

Barnsley's bid for midfielder Lee Williamson has been rejected by Rotherham.

Bolton are in talks with Spanish striker Diego Tristan about a move from Deportivo La Coruna.

Manchester City are considering a bid for Tottenham winger Andy Reid, although they may be unwilling to meet the £3m asking price.

Newcastle are ready to sign Fulham's Dutch international striker Collins John for £5m.

Thomas Gravesen will tell Celtic in the next few days if he is willing to join them from Real Madrid.

Rangers want to unload four players in order to sign Bosnian defender Sasa Papac this week.

Manuel Fernandes is on the verge of joining Portsmouth from Portuguese side Benfica for £8.5m.

Other gossip

Ashley Cole's autobiography will be temporarily shelved if he is forced to stay at the club.

Sheffield United striker Steven Kabba could be out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Football fun
New England skipper John Terry wants to make new players sing in front of the rest of the squad.

Wycombe are to be fined £50 after they had to wear Bristol Rovers' away kit last week.

Regards Satdude.