EPL Gossip Thursday December 18th
New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce only agreed to take over at Ewood Park if Roque Santa Cruz stayed at the club. (The Sun)
However, the former Bolton manager is prepared to offload the 27-year-old striker for about £20m to held fund a January spending spree. (Various)
Really don’t see a way Allardyce could keep or even want to keep Santa Cruz. The second option appears to be the better option. Allardyce gets to spend the majority of the Roque Santa Cruz transfer fee on other transfer targets who may actually want to play for Blackburn. With the allure of playing in Europe again, I’m sure Santa Cruz wishes to move on but is too classy to say it publicity.
A director at Real Madrid claims the Spanish giants have a “secret deal” in place to sign Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo but clauses in the arrangement prevent the transfer being made public. (Various)
It’s not as if I couldn’t believe this to be true but it’s really a case where I’ve grown tired on the Ronaldo to Real Madrid rumors along time ago.
Tottenham have made enquiries about 28-year-old Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant and manager Rafael Benitez is interested in a swap deal involving Aaron Lennon. (Daily Mirror)
This is just silly, Pennant is not in the same league as Lennon and there is no way Tottenham would part with Lennon for a player warming up the bench at Liverpool.
Chelsea defener Alex, 26, will meet with owner Roman Abramovich to discuss his future after demanding to leave Stamford Bridge. (The Sun)
Can’t blame Alex for wanting to leave. He’ll never get the amount of games at Chelsea to make him happy. The two will meet, Abramovich should tell Alex to play out the year then promise to sell him during the summer.
Mark Hughes is still hoping he can persuade Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra to come to Manchester City, despite the 23-year-old Frenchman having agreed a deal to sign for Real Madrid. (The Sun)
I can’t see why a footballer would choose to play for Manchester City once Real Madrid comes calling.
Valencia defender Miguel, 28, has said he wants to leave the Spanish club with Chelsea thought to be his preferred destination. (Various)
Every transfer period Miguel is linked with a move to England. Chelsea has Jose Bosingwa so Miguel isn’t needed. Manchester United has never made a move for the player. Liverpool would be a fit but it’s unlikely to happen as I don’t see Liverpool spending come January.
Liverpool will offer Fernando Torres a new £6m deal to keep the 24-year-old striker at Anfield and fend off reported interest from Mancheester City. (Daily Star)
Heading into the final half of the season it would be wise making your star striker happy. It’s not like Torres hasn’t deserved a raise.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray wants to sign 23-year-old striker Leroy Lita on loan to help the Baggies avoid relegation. (Various)
Figured Lita to be a player when he helped Reading to a top of the table finish in their first year back in the EPL. The last two seasons however have seen Lita shipping out on loan multiple times after falling out of favour with head coach Steve Coppell.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said the club need to spend big in January if they harbour ambitions of a top-half Premier League finish. (Daily Mail)
Redknapp didn’t go to Tottenham without the promise of spending money I’m sure. Maybe this time Tottenham can get it right once they decide to spend big again.
Sunderland defender Danny Collins says that spirits have been lifted and communication improved since Roy Keane left the club. (Various)
Was only going to be a matter a time before a Sunderland player said it.
Spartak Moscow players have criticised the standard of Chelsea’s Cobham training ground after being lent the facilities to prepare for their Uefa Cup clash with Tottenham on Thursday.
Well that was rude, not exactly nice being guests and then trashing the place.