EPL Gossip Sunday January 4th
Aston Villa are in talks with West Ham to sign Matthew Upson for £10m, but the Hammers want £15m for the defender. (News of the World)
Villa has been great with their transfer dealings the last couple of years but 10 million for a defender near 30 I’d question.
Manager Martin O’Neill is also ready to splash £5m to bring Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to Villa Park. (Sunday Express)
Sunderland paid 5 million to sign Jones and he has been far from a bust so it would take at least double that amount before Sunderland considers selling.
Glen Johnson will complete a £9m move to Liverpool this week. The Portsmouth right-back was apparently given a tour of the Merseysiders’ Melwood training complex in the build-up to Christmas. (The People)
Johnson would be a solid piece to the puzzle as Liverpool look to stay on top.
Manchester City continue to pursue midfielder Arteta and are willing to offer Everton £12m for the Spaniard. (The People)
With Everton on a good run of form they are not going to be selling any of their core players mid season.
Juventus join the growing queue of clubs chasing Newcastle striker Michael Owen. (News of the World)
Uniforms look about the same. While I think Owen should look outside of England next season something tells me he will end up at Manchester City or Tottenham.
The Serie A club are also rumoured to be willing to pay £20m for Portsmouth’s Jermain Defoe – sparking a massive bidding war for the England striker. (Daily Mirror)
I’m sure Portsmouth loved hearing this news. Don’t think it’s anything more than a rumour however. A.C Milan already have a bunch of strikers, and Inter/Juventus would most likely spend that type of money elsewhere.
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes he can beat the ‘Big Four’ to the signing of Leeds United youngster Fabian Delph. (The Observer)
However, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sees the Leeds midfielder as the long-term replacement for Paul Scholes and is putting together a £10m deal for the England Under-21 player. (Sunday Express)
Hughes is right provided he can come up with the cash and the playing time for Delph.
Aaron Lennon could be leaving Tottenham and the England winger may be on his way to Liverpool if Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso is sold. (Sunday Times)
Lennon is another player who isn’t a typical Redknapp player. Lennon has long been rumoured to be moving on but come this summer look for it to happen.
On-loan striker Carlos Tevez is putting a permanent move to Manchester United at risk by demanding pay parity with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Mail on Sunday)
Enjoy Tevez’s last couple of months United fans.
Manchester United’s Gary Neville has claimed a kinder fixture list in the second half of the season makes United red-hot favourites to retain their Premier League title. (The People)
United do face Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal at home so Neville makes a valid point.