Rumours and gossip

[MrMichael]

Amusing as always....

Guardian Rumour Mill
Scott Murray, Monday 15 June 2009

Football transfer rumours: David Villa to Manchester United?

Just like everyone else in the world with half a functioning brain cell, pulsating weakly, the Rumour Mill's spirit has been totally crushed by all these reports of the myriad ways Manchester United are going to spend that £80m. So we're so very sorry about much of the following. But what can you do?

Manchester United will make a £45m bid for Real Madrid and Barcelona target David Villa, who told Chelsea last week he wanted to stay in Spain. One way or another, someone's going to end up looking daft when it all comes down.

Zinedine Zidane is trying to convince Franck Ribéry to snub Manchester United and join Real Madrid, it says here. Except he's not, is he? He's just trying to convince him to join Real Madrid. That's all.

Now Cristiano Ronaldo's gone, it's the Carlos Tevez transfer that's boring the apertures off us. Manchester City and Liverpool are in for him, plus one other unnamed side on the continent – Myllykosken Pallo –47 is our guess – but let's face it, he'll probably re-sign for Manchester United. Even though he's categorically stated that he won't. This story has WASTE OF TIME running through it like a stick of rock.

Now Cristiano Ronaldo's gone, it's the Glen Johnson transfer that's boring the apertures off us. It looks like he's off to Chelsea, who have already ruined his career once. Liverpool and Manchester City can whistle.

Paul Robinson, who wowed the Premier League last season as part of West Bromwich Albion's amazing famous back four alongside Curly, Larry and Moe, wants to follow Tony Mowbray to Celtic. Borja Valero and Marc-Antoine Fortuné could also follow this route, as Gordon Strachan's reputation grows by the day.

Meanwhile Aidy Boothroyd, 2006's Mr Future O'Football, is in the running for the West Bromwich Albion job when Mowbray officially does one. Have these people not suffered enough?

Gary McAllister wants to return to Motherwell. "They are my club," he Sheringhamed yesterday, covering his Leeds United tattoo with one hand, and whipping off his Liverpool rosette.

Tottenham Hotspur want Luca Toni. You can't quite put your finger on what's going to go wrong here, can you, but the sense is there alright.

And Manchester United this, Manchester United that, Manchester United the other.

[dww]

Inter out to land Carvalho & Deco
[BBC]

Inter Milan have revealed they are hopeful of taking Chelsea pair Ricardo Carvalho and Deco to the San Siro.

The Italian club's former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho wants both 31-year-olds, who played for him in Porto's Champions League triumph against Monaco in 2004.

Inter president Massimo Moratti told Gazzetta dello Sport talks were under way with Chelsea about a double deal.

He said: "Mourinho has asked us for Deco and Carvalho and we are working towards making him happy."

Deco fell from favour after arriving at Chelsea in an £8m move from Barcelona in the summer of 2008 - and recently admitted he hoped to be reunited with Mourinho in Italy.

And Carvalho, a success at Stamford Bridge but restricted by injury to only 18 appearances last season, has revealed he wants to leave Chelsea after four years.

Moratti added: "Our wish is to sign both players and I have seen that the players' intention is to join us. We still haven't reached an agreement with Chelsea but I think we will do in a short time."

And Moratti is convinced Carvalho will bring crucial experience to Inter's defence and stated: "We are interested in Carvalho primarily for the Champions League. He has the right experience, he is calm under pressure and brings experience in the defensive line.

"Our coach has guaranteed quality and I have every intention to make him happy.

"Deco will have two tasks: to do well immediately and to help Brazilian player Philippe Coutinho mature as a player. Coutinho will arrive next season from Vasco de Gama and plays in the same role as Deco."

[dww]

Barca take Robinho's fancy
by Tom Kell , 10 June 2009 [Setanta]

Robinho has again fanned the flames around his Manchester City future by revealing his desire to play for Barcelona.

Robinho was condemned by many as having a poor first season in The Premier League following last summer’s last-ditch move to Manchester City, but a 14-goal season seems to suggest that he has settled to life in England better than some claim.

However, it has been far from plain sailing for the diminutive Brazilian who went AWOL midway through the campaign and subsequently incurred disapproving glances from manager Mark Hughes.

That fired up inevitable speculation surrounding his future which is once again likely to rear its head after the former Real Madrid man’s flirtation with Barcelona.

“So far, there have only been speculations,” he told Sport. “There is nothing concrete and I haven’t received any offers.

“The only thing I can say is that Barcelona are a great team and everybody would love to play for them.

Robinho did however concede that he remains comfortable with his decision to swap Madrid for Manchester.

“I left because I was not happy. I do not regret the decision and I’m comfortable at Manchester City.”

[lickedlollipop]

I'd love to see him play for Barca.. Real slagged him off rly bad.

[Craig_H]

Mirror reporting that Spurs Chairman bloke Levy is in Spain to sign Robben, Huntelaar and Heinze for £36m.

[red g]

Mirror reporting that Spurs Chairman bloke Levy is in Spain to sign Robben, Huntelaar and Heinze for £36m.

That's a lot of money for those 3 !

[dww]

Sid Lowe on the Guardian podcast reports that Heinze can barely be described as a footballer anymore - so he sounds like a perfect Spurs signing.

[Chrono]

Sid Lowe on the Guardian podcast reports that Heinze can barely be described as a footballer anymore - so he sounds like a perfect Spurs signing.

What does that mean? What's wrong with him?

[wiw]

Mirror reporting that Spurs Chairman bloke Levy is in Spain to sign Robben, Huntelaar and Heinze for £36m.

Good old Harry

Heinze is useless but the other 2 are great buys. Saves them going to our rivals at least

[lucas]

From Sky Sports web site:

12.47 Arjen Robben's father and agent insists the Real Madrid winger will not be joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer, and is even prepared to bet a bottle of wine on his son not moving to Spurs. The casino bosses in Las Vegas will be shaking in their boots.

[dww]

What does that mean? What's wrong with him?

I just mean that Spurs often seem to get players after they have become a bit ****. Supposedly he has been hopeless defensively and incapable of passing to players on his side this season - resorting to being a bit of a thug so maybe he would have been ideal for Newcastle fitting into the mould of Barton and Smith.

[Craig_H]

From Sky Sports web site:

12.47 Arjen Robben's father and agent insists the Real Madrid winger will not be joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer, and is even prepared to bet a bottle of wine on his son not moving to Spurs. The casino bosses in Las Vegas will be shaking in their boots.

A whole wine bottle? He must be certain.

[Craig_H]

I just mean that Spurs often seem to get players after they have become a bit ****. Supposedly he has been hopeless defensively and incapable of passing to players on his side this season - resorting to being a bit of a thug so maybe he would have been ideal for Newcastle fitting into the mould of Barton and Smith.

In Robbie Keane's case, they sold him when he was a bit **** and bought him back when he'd become a lot ****

[Reece]

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o is edging closer to a Manchester City move with wage demands of £192,000 a week, after tax, being weighed up by the Premier League club.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1193781/Thats-rich-Etoo-Manchester-City-target-asking-16m-year-pay-alone.html

[MrsB]

Gunners star Emanuel Eboue is set to reject a transfer to Italy and fight for his place. (Daily Mirror)

Star?