There Is Only One Sinnacle

Barcelona are ready to launch a £20m bid for Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor in the summer and the Spanish giants are also plotting a move for Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas. (Daily Star)

All of this is stemming from Barcelona and Samuel Eto’o being at odds over a new contact. Barcelona would be wise to keep their options open with Adebayor just in case Eto’o keeps asking for the moon.

New Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink wants to bring CSKA Moscow winger Yuri Zhirkov to Stamford Bridge and the player could arrive even if Hiddink does not stay beyond the summer. (Daily Mirror)

Maybe Zhirkov can join Roman Pavlyuchenko and possibly Andrei Arshavin (his girlfriend anyway) in recent Russian imports who struggle adapting to life in London.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is keen to sign 23-year-old Real Mallorca full-back Jesus Gomez for £4m, but he will face competition from Tottenham and Real Madrid. (Daily Mirror)

Always annoys me when teams like Blackburn are linked with players on Real Madrid radar. Let’s be serious, if Real Madrid was serious about Jesus Gomez there is no way Blackburn will sign him.

Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos has questioned Rafael Benitez’s decision to sell striker Robbie Keane back to his old club Tottenham in January, saying he could have been a success at Liverpool. (The Sun)

A nice shot by Ramos against the coach who would be high on the list to replace him at Real Madrid.

Sacked Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has missed the chance to lead Saudi Arabia in the 2010 World Cup after demanding too much money. (Daily Mirror)

Scolari has coached in the middle east before many moons ago but at this stage of his career, Scolari is beyond coaching the likes of Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City striker Robinho has clubbed together with fellow Brazilians Elano, Glauber Berti and Jo to have a huge shipment of sand delivered to his Cheshire mansion so they can play beach football. (The Sun)

Considering the amount of money Robinho, Elano, and Jo make how much will Glauber Berti have to pitch in for this beach football field?

Bayern Munich Star Franck Ribery Could Make Juventus Move – Agent

The representative for the French star has revealed that the Bianconeri’s dream of landing his client is achievable.

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Of course an agent would say such a thing. If Juventus fall even further back of Inter Milan the rest of the way look for them to open up the vault next summer. Personally Ribery is a pipe dream for Juventus. While they could afford him, Werder Bremen’s Diego would be a more economical option.

Hiddink could turn to Chelsea’s youngsters

Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink said he could turn to promising young players to get the London club’s Premier League title challenge back on track.

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Chelsea has been awful with developing youth players into the senior side. While this threat would be used to shake up the senior members of this club I’d be leary of trusting the likes of Michael Mancienne and Franco Di Santo.

Donovan unlikely to extend stay with Bayern

MUNICH — Landon Donovan is unlikely to stay with Bayern Munich on a longer contract once his loan expires in mid-March, according to the club’s chairman.

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This quote from the article pretty much says it all regarding Donovan’s future with Bayern Munich.

“Donovan is an interesting player,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the Munich newspaper TZ in an interview published Tuesday. “But when you have Klose, Toni and Olic already under contract, we think the fourth player [striker] should really be a young player with perspective.”

Manchester City look set to fail with a £50m bid to sign Spanish superstar David Villa as the striker’s agent says he does not want to move. (Daily Mirror)

Don’t really know how David Villa could make his stance more clear. Here you have David Villa who went through a miserable year last year under Ronald Koeman with Valencia and he didn’t leave then. This is also the same David Villa who played a major role in Spain’s Euro 2008 run. Finally, even with Valencia behind on player wages Villa commitment to the club is still strong.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is wanted by his former club Marseille, who say they will do everything they can to re-sign him. (Daily Star)

Drogba may need a fresh start to get his career going again but returning to Marseille would be taking two steps back.

Aston Villa’s Stilian Petrov believes the club will be able to hold on to midfielder Gareth Barry if they can qualify for next season’s Champions League. (Daily Star)

It would be ironic that if Aston Villa do qualify for the Champions League they deem Barry surplus to requirements and try to sell him over the summer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has conceded the title to Manchester United who he has branded “untouchable”. (Daily Mirror)

Fulham may say something about that today. A team well organized at the back like Fulham may be able to hold United at bay.

Everton’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta has not ruled out playing for England when he becomes eligible for British citizenship next January. (Telegraph)

Good player, it’s bad luck he is shut out of the Spanish national team but there is no way Fabio Capello is going to take on such a distraction heading into the 2010 World Cup.

Arsene Wenger Delighted Following Eduardo’s Successful Arsenal Comeback

Arsene Wenger has hailed Eduardo as mountain-like following his comeback double against Cardiff City on Monday evening…

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It was great to see Eduardo grab a couple goals upon his return to the Arsenal lineup. Hopefully this positive will carry over as Arsenal race to grab a Champions League spot.

Juventus confirm interest in Samp’s Cassano

Juventus have confirmed their interest in signing Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano this summer, after the player was told he could leave the club for €20m.

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Juventus is not going to risk 20 million on a hot head like Cassano who is the Italian Craig Bellamy, albeit a better player. Despite that Juventus badly needs a player next season who can link the midfield with Alessandro Del Piero and Amauri up front.

Aston Villa will make another £8m transfer bid for Manchester City defender Micah Richards in the summer. (Daily Mirror)

Most likely will lead to the same answer. Considering Aston Villa paid 8 million for Curtis Davis two summers ago Manchester City by the off chance they’d sell would want 10-12 million for Richards.

Juventus have joined Inter Milan in the chase for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. (The Independent, Daily Mail)

Agger is struck between a rock and a hard place at Liverpool. Agger is too good to be a 3rd central defender but he doesn’t have the physical presence Martin Škrtel and will not displace local boy Jamie Carragher anytime soon.

Tottenham want to sign Serbian playmaker Darko Lazovic after the 18-year-old impressed on trial at White Hart Lane. (Daily Mail)

I’m sure Lazovic and Luka Modric will become fast friends.

Newcastle’s injury-plagued striker Mark Viduka looks certain to move to Melbourne Knights at the end of the season. (Daily Mail)

Always have a soft spot to see players finish up their careers back at home.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is ready to end the impasse at Anfield by finally signing a new contract – but only after going public with his frustration at the club’s hierarchy. (Daily Mirror)

Still stand by my original theory that neither Benitez nor Liverpool really want to see a deal get done before the summer.

Everton youngster Jack Rodwell is to disappoint the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United by agreeing to a new five-year deal. (Daily Telegraph)

Rodwell didn’t hurt his stock by scoring on the weekend against Aston Villa. The cynic in me only believes David Moyes played him on the premise Rodwell wraps up a new contract with the club.

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko says he is struggling with certain aspects of life in Britain following his move from Spartak Moscow. The 27-year-old Russian has expressed his dislike for British food, women, referees and television commentators. (The Sun)

Certain aspects? Food, Women, Refs, and Press better sums up the entire life of a footballer. Only beer is missing from that list.

Beckham Admits Returning To MLS Would Be Difficult

The Englishman was nowhere near his best tonight, as his new team were defeated in the Milan derby.

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You just have a feeling as the loan deal comes to a close that David Beckham would become even more vocal about his desire to stay in Italy.

Daniel Parejo Pleased With Real Madrid Debut

Having been recalled from loan in England, Dani Parejo did not have to wait long for Juande Ramos to give him his chance in Spain, making his debut for Real Madrid on Sunday against Sporting de Gijon.

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Training and playing for Queens Park Rangers earlier this year must seem like a different world compared to training with the superstars Real Madrid currently employs.

Miller hits out at ref over Old Firm penalty denial

Rangers striker Kenny Miller hit out at referee Calum Murray for failing to award him a second-half penalty during yesterday’s goalless Old Firm derby against Celtic at Parkhead.

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Unless you are mugged in the penalty box few referees will call a 50/50 challenge a penalty during an old firm game. The intensity in the crowd yesterday game made up for the 0-0 scoreline.

Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner does not believe Andrei Arshavin’s arrival will dislodge him as the club’s top striker. The Dane said he never watched the £15m Russian in action during Euro 2008. (Daily Mirror)

Wait, does Bendtner actually believe he Arsenal’s top striker? Once Eduardo returns to full fitness he won’t even be the second best striker at Arsenal. Also, if Bendtner watched Arshavin at Euro 2008 maybe he’d be more worried about his fragile place in the current Arsenal set up.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate believes Stewart Downing does not want to leave the Riverside – despite handing in a transfer request in the January transfer window. (The Sun)

Stewart Downing = a left footed David Bentley. Sure Downing is talented but with only one goal this season and Middlesbrough near the bottom of the table, some team is going to over pay for Downing and regret it soon afterwards.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has taken a swipe at former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari by insisting he can play as a second striker alongside Didier Drogba. (Various)

They would only now start to play well together thanks for Scolari comments. When both did play together previously neither lifted a finger to help the other out. Ask Andriy Shevchenko how well Drogba played off him during his time in England.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has urged owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to offer new contracts to his backroom staff, as well as sort out his own future at Anfield. (The Guardian)

Benitez has revealed his ambition to return to Spanish giants Real Madrid at some time in the future. (Daily Star)

I think it’s pretty clear that Hicks and Gillett are waiting for any misstep from Bentiez in order to give them enough ammo to fire him without causing a fan uproar.

Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant says he wants to return to English football and would happily fill the vacant Portsmouth role. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth could be plunged into a £25m financial crisis with the club’s bankers ready to pull out of football. (Daily Mirror)

Are you really sure you wish to sign up for this Avram Grant?

What is the hold up here? How many more flops such as last weekends 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth does Manchester City have to put up before the message is sent? Here you have a coach who must be looking for revenge after getting the shaft at Chelsea with a team desperate for the right coach to turn this team from a laughing stock into a serious player. Would Kaka have signed with Manchester City if Scolari was in charge? Ok, it’s still doubtful but I can ensure you it would of been a much tougher decision. Players would actually desire to play for Scolari unlike the case now where players will play for Manchester City if the money is right. The final piece to this puzzle is Robinho who would be firmly on board with anything Scolari wishes to do. The same can’t really be said with regards to the relationship between Robinho and current boss Mark Hughes.

Michael Mancienne Hails Guus Hiddink’s Immediate Impact At Chelsea

The Blues’ young stopper has revealed that ‘Tsar Guus’ is already pulling the tactical strings at Stamford Bridge…

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Simple translation here. “Look boss I’m saying nice things about you to the press, please play me in the near future.”