Sunday gossip

[DeeGame]

VILLA TARGET CRAIG
EXCLUSIVE O'Neill poised to tempt Liverpool with £8m bid for striker Bellamy
By Ken Lawrence 29/04/2007

MARTIN O'Neill will splash £12.5million on Craig Bellamy and Artur Boruc this summer as he continues rebuilding at Aston Villa.

O'Neill has won the race for Bellamy, who could finish the season with a Champions League medal but will still be sold by Liverpool for £8m.

Mark Hughes would love to take him back to Blackburn, having been forced to sell him for £6m last summer due to a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for that figure.

But Rovers are way behind their Midlands rivals in terms of how much they can offer the Welshman in wages. By moving to Villa Park and working again with the manager who took him on loan from Newcastle to Celtic, Bellamy will keep his current £60,000-a-week salary rather than take a pay cut by returning to Ewood Park.

What is more, Bellamy credits O'Neill for revitalising his career after his troubles with Graeme Souness at St James' and is privately delighted at the prospect of playing under him again.

O'Neill, meanwhile, will go back to his old club for Boruc, the Polish goalkeeper he has identified as the man to replace Thomas Sorensen next season. He is confident that a £4.5m offer will land the 27-year-old.

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/...name_page.html

[DeeGame]

BENITEZ PLEA
29/04/2007

RAFA BENITEZ has told Liverpool's owners to put contract talks with five firstteam stars on hold so they can focus on European glory.

He has stressed to George Gillett and Tom Hicks the importance of tying down Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso to longterm deals. Benitez also cleared negotiations to begin with Pepe Reina and Steve Finnan.

But Benitez said last night: "I have told the club to stop the negotiations because I want total concentration for the rest of the season."

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=benitez-plea--%26method=full%26objectid=18983895%26siteid=98487-name_page.html

[nigecardiff]

here's the general one from BBC

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Chelsea want to sign Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov in the summer. (Various)

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has changed his mind and now wants Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell at St James' Park. (News of the World)

Liverpool are favourites to beat Chelsea in the race to sign Manchester City defender Micah Richards. (The People)

Everton are close to agreeing a new deal with teenage star Victor Anichebe. (Sunday Mirror)

Arsenal are interested in PSV's Ivorian striker Arouna Kone, who is rated at around £4m. (News of the World)

Sunderland are ready to make a £4m bid for disgruntled Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton. (The People)

Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell's wage demands could see him leave the club. (News of the World)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp wants Argentine World Cup defender Fabricio Coloccini. (The People)

Everton goalkeeper Richard Wright is wanted by his former club Ipswich. (News of the World)

Aston Villa will spend £12.5m this summer on Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy and Polish goalkeeper Artur Borac. (Sunday Mirror)

Middlesbrough are chasing Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davies for £2.5m. (News of the World)

Cameron midfielder Achille Emana could be on his way to Aston Villa from Toulouse this summer. (News of the World)



Tell us your transfer rumours

Back to top

OTHER GOSSIP
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce may have made a massive blunder by deciding to leave the Reebok Stadium in the mistaken belief that he would be guaranteed the Manchester City job this summer. (News of the World, Daily Mail)

West Ham received clearance to pick Carlos Tevez against Wigan on Saturday by tearing up their deal with his owners, a move which could lead to legal action. (Sunday Mirror)

And if the Hammers do manage to stay up, the clubs that are relegated from the Premiership could start legal proceedings as West Ham escaped a points deduction over the Tevez/Javier Mascherano affair. (Sunday Express)

Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he is determined to turn Manchester City into a world force. (News of the World)

Meanwhile, City bidder Ray Ranson wants to bring former chairman Francis Lee into his camp as he tries to gain control of the club. (The People)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hinted that he may not renew his contract in 2008 if his side fail to win any trophies next season. (Various)

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he had sleepless nights after the loss to Portugal in the World Cup. (Sunday Times)

Leeds, set to drop into League One, are being targeted by consortium led by former Sheffield United chairman Mike McDonald. (Sunday Express)

Former Spurs striker Jurgen Klinsmann could leave America and coach in England next season. (Daily Mail)




Back to top

FERGIE VS MOURINHO
Delighted Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he would give Sam Allardyce a kiss or "maybe two" after Bolton held title rivals Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. (Various)

A dejected Jose Mourinho admitted the title race is almost over Chelsea side after they went five points behind United, adding that Ferguson's squad "won't feel any pressure now". (Various)

However, he is not giving up just yet, adding: "It's not over. Practically, there is a chance and when the chance is there you have to believe." (Various)

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba admitted United winger Cristiano Ronaldo deserved to win Player of the Year but says he would rather have success with Chelsea than pick up awards. (News of the World)



Back to top

AND FINALLY...
Newcastle players are angry with boss Glenn Roeder as he is planning to cut short their summer holidays even if they do not get into the Intertoto Cup.

Roeder wants to play in a South African tour in order to get the squad ready for the new season. (The People)

[tsb]

8m? Thank you very much.

Micah Richards would be a class signing - would really like to believe it's true.

[Shaggy]

Micah Richards

[machiavelli]

£8mill....I though City would be demanding at least double that!

Quality player tho...would love him for that price

[nigecardiff]

that's £8m for bellamy, £15m for richards
£25m if chelski get involved!!

[Harv]

Micah is a cracking player...he's only gong to get better aswell

[tsb]

that's £8m for bellamy, £15m for richards
£25m if chelski get involved!!

Would he want to go to Chelsea after seeing what's happened to the career of a certain gifted City player who went to Chelsea recently...

[ARIMAN]

Looking at other LFC websites, the other player we are linked to M Jansen (German LB) - dont know if anyone knows the German press, if this being reported and thats where its been picked from

We definetly need a new left side next season

[AFII]

Looking at other LFC websites, the other player we are linked to M Jansen (German LB) - dont know if anyone knows the German press, if this being reported and thats where its been picked from

We definetly need a new left side next season

He will leave Mönchengladbach at the end of this season. All the big german clubs want him, Schalke is thought to already have agreed a fee.

[REDSCOUSER]

Micah Richards

[samo]

VILLA TARGET CRAIG
EXCLUSIVE O'Neill poised to tempt Liverpool with £8m bid for striker Bellamy
By Ken Lawrence 29/04/2007

MARTIN O'Neill will splash £12.5million on Craig Bellamy and Artur Boruc this summer as he continues rebuilding at Aston Villa.

O'Neill has won the race for Bellamy, who could finish the season with a Champions League medal but will still be sold by Liverpool for £8m.

Mark Hughes would love to take him back to Blackburn, having been forced to sell him for £6m last summer due to a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for that figure.

But Rovers are way behind their Midlands rivals in terms of how much they can offer the Welshman in wages. By moving to Villa Park and working again with the manager who took him on loan from Newcastle to Celtic, Bellamy will keep his current £60,000-a-week salary rather than take a pay cut by returning to Ewood Park.

What is more, Bellamy credits O'Neill for revitalising his career after his troubles with Graeme Souness at St James' and is privately delighted at the prospect of playing under him again.

O'Neill, meanwhile, will go back to his old club for Boruc, the Polish goalkeeper he has identified as the man to replace Thomas Sorensen next season. He is confident that a £4.5m offer will land the 27-year-old.

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/...name_page.html

Anyone know anything of this Journo and his record?

this is the same Bellamy that's on 45k a week at Liverpool (not 60k) and was offered 60k at Blackburn, who now for some reason can no longer afford 60k. I reckon this is one is to take with a pinch of salt - Bellamy may well end up at Villa, but the facts in this story suggests the jounalist knows about as much about that as me ma.

[Maestro]

Didn't see this anywhere else:


Prem interest in Cisse
Djibril Cisse is keen to return to Liverpool, but says he has also been attracting interest from other clubs in the Premiership.

The forward's loan spell at Marseille is drawing to a close and the French side have so far failed to give any indication as to whether they will look to make his move permanent.

Cisse, who has found form again after returning to fitness following a broken leg, is keen to forge a career at Liverpool.

However, he is aware that he may no longer figure in Reds boss Rafa Benitez's plans and may be better served heading for a fresh challenge.

"I've had a good season at Marseille and 10 goals since January proves I am back to full fitness and top form after my leg break," Cisse is quoted as saying in the News of the World.

"I'd love to be back playing for Liverpool, but four other Premiership clubs have enquired about me."

[Red_Polo]

So there is interest. Thank ****!