Rumours and gossip

[cadmium]

A whole wine bottle? He must be certain.

I assume it was soemthign half decent like a Chateneuf du Pape and not a bottle of blossom hill or soemthign equally awful! (Oops wine snob moment there)

[dww]

Luis Garcia to be loaned out to West Brom

Exclusive by James Nursey 19/06/2009 [Mirror]

West Brom are trying to set up an ambitious loan deal for former Liverpool star Luis Garcia.

Albion are managerless following Tony Mowbray's decision to quit for Celtic. But the relegated Premier League side have not stopped sounding out possible new players.

The Baggies have told potential replacements for Mowbray they believe they can get Spanish striker Garcia on loan with a view to a permanent switch.

The versatile 30-year-old has fallen out of favour at Atletico Madrid, who bought him from Liverpool in 2007. Albion hope to appoint a new manager next week once they finish interviewing.

Club officials have spoken to ex-Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd but Preston's Alan Irvine remains favourite.

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Mowbray, meanwhile, said sorry to fans who feel betrayed after they backed him through Albion's struggles last season. Mowbray said: "If they feel let down, I can only apologise."

Albion defender Paul Robinson could be on the move after Bolton last night offered £500,000 for him.

Robinson, 30, is desperate to leave the Hawthorns and wants to join exboss Gary Megson at the Reebok.

[lickedlollipop]

Mellberg goes to Olympiakos

[red g]

Mellberg goes to Olympiakos

didnt last long at Juve?

wonder what happened there.....i would have taken him as back up can play RB as well

[red g]

Pav looking for pastures new

Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent has declared that he is looking for a new club for the Tottenham striker ahead of next season.
The Russia international moved to White Hart Lane last summer but only showed glimpses of his best form and struggled to stay in the side under Harry Redknapp.

With Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane returning to Spurs and more new arrivals expected during the summer, Pavlyuchenko has been tipped to leave the club.

And his representative Oleg Artemov has now announced that he is looking at other options.

"I am busy with the search for a new club for Roman," Artemov said in the Daily Mirror.

Pavlyuchenko made a big-money switch from Spartak Moscow 12 months ago and Artemov accepts that it will take a considerable offer for Tottenham to part with the 27-year-old.

Stuttgart are considering a swoop for Pavlyuchenko but Artemov concedes there have been no formal discussions as yet.

He explained: "Earlier this week I received a phone call from the Stuttgart manager who officially confirmed their interest in Pavlyuchenko.

"But it is still too early to begin intensive negotiations. A lot is going to depend on the player's opinion and that of Tottenham.

"What I know for sure is that Tottenham are going to lose money and sell Pavlyuchenko just anywhere for any money.

"I talked to (Spurs chairman) Daniel Levy. He told me that he doesn't think Roman has become cheaper now.

"Forwards are always in short supply in football and their value shouldn't drop even in the credit crunch times."

I lthink Pavyluchenko would be good for us.

[red g]

Benzema is one of the world's hottest properties and speculation is rife that United are ready to use some of the money from the impending sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid to bring the young striker to Old Trafford.

Lacombe claimed recently Benzema would remain at the Stade Gerland, but has now revealed the 21-year-old could be sold if the price is right.

"He is with us, but no-one knows what will happen," Lacombe told regional daily Le Progres. "At the time we didn't think that Michael Essien would leave, but when Chelsea came with their cheque...

"If Manchester United, who we all know have come into a lot of money, present an offer for Benzema, what can you do?"

Ronaldo is set to become Madrid's second signing of the summer, following the purchase of Kaka from AC Milan.

The pair will cost the club around 160million euros in transfer fees and Lacombe has lashed out at the Spaniards for distorting the market.

He added: "The market is false because certain European clubs don't have official league bodies controlling how they are managed and can do what they want.

"I'm not bitter but how can Real Madrid, who are in debt, sign two players whose price is almost the same as Lyon's entire budget?

"It shocks we who are in the same environment, so I understand that people outside the football world are shocked.

"It's baffling, clumsy and disrespectful. Economically Spain is at a standstill. We can't support this."

United are likely to step up their interest in signing a new striker following Carlos Tevez's decision to leave today.

Benzema came through the ranks at the French giants and burst onto the scene in the 2007-08 season with 31 goals in 51 games, a streak that saw him named Ligue 1 player of the year as well as top the league's scoring charts.

This campaign was less impressive for both club and player, as Lyon ended the season without the Ligue 1 title for the first time in eight years, but the France forward nevertheless scored 23 goals in all competitions - an average of a goal every other game



I reckon this is nailed on.

[JohnDoe]

How are they going to play Benzema, Berbatov and Rooney in the same team? It just means more minutes for Rooney on the flank, which is a good thing.

What they need first and foremost is a top class winger. If they don't get one, I'll be very pleased.

[red g]

How are they going to play Benzema, Berbatov and Rooney in the same team? It just means more minutes for Rooney on the flank, which is a good thing.

What they need first and foremost is a top class winger. If they don't get one, I'll be very pleased.

picking the right player for the formation has never been fergusons strong point

[Leyton388]

**** em they can Buy Benzema he will never be a ronaldo and get 30 plus goals a year and have the same threat as the tranny.

[-V-]

Brazilian Denilson, once one of the world's most expensive footballers, has abruptly terminated his contract with a Vietnamese club, ending a three-week stint there. And to think I thought he'd go on to become a Haiphong Cement legend. Guess the foundations just weren't laid right.

[johnly]

Brazilian Denilson, once one of the world's most expensive footballers, has abruptly terminated his contract with a Vietnamese club, ending a three-week stint there. And to think I thought he'd go on to become a Haiphong Cement legend. Guess the foundations just weren't laid right.

Where did you hear that one fella? Maybe he was getting Nam flashbacks, I know I do
or are you taking the mick and I just Kurtangled myself?!

[-V-]

Sky sports story, im not taking the piss. Amazing how far he has fallen

[JohnDoe]

Apparently, Lescott is going to Citeh

[johnly]

Sky sports story, im not taking the piss. Amazing how far he has fallen

Nice one fella, it was your joke at the end that got me!

Shocking behaviour by him. 3 weeks? Come on!

[PTP]

bbc gossip reporting ribery would prefer madrid over the mancs and chelsea and madrid have also turned their attentions to benzema as villa looks to be staying at valencia

see can't remember the thread but it just goes to show, especially to all the manc ****ers, that it's not as strright forward for the mancs as they seem to believe, ok they lose ronaldo and tevez and bring in £80m with rumours they have £100m to spend! - but who on, madrid seem intent on beating them too all their targets I ain't writing them off as i am sure ferguson will bring some good players and get a comptetive squad out but it ain'tt going to be easy and it could just as easily go tits up as it will work out well!