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Jimmy Bullard….Legend. What a funny little Commerical.

Beckham suffers torn Achilles tendon

With his hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups shattered and his future in international soccer in doubt, Beckham was slated for surgery either later Monday or Tuesday morning with specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava.

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I remember when David Beckham’s first loan move to A.C Milan was announced saying how he is going to pick up an injury. Well, it didnt happen in his first loan spell but sadly It happened in his second loan spell. Football is a tough sport on the body at any age, even more so at 34. When you are flying half way around the world to play football for almost the entire year non stop I wasn’t shocked when something went wrong with Beckham’s body.

Still a sad piece of news as one of the world’s most high profile players will likely miss the World Cup.

Real Madrid will look to soften the blow of this week’s Champions League exit by launching a bid to lure striker Wayne Rooney from Manchester United, according to the Spanish daily ‘Sport’. imscouting

This “bid” would also soften Real Madrid’s bank account.

Manchester United target Igor Akinfeev will be offered a new contract by CSKA Moscow in a bid to ensure they don’t lose the goalkeeper for nothing. Daily Mail

Surprised Akinfeev is still with CKSA Moscow after being hyped out these last three years.

Zenit St Peterburg midfielder Danny wants to reignite a £25m move to Chelsea after recovering from a career-threatening knee injury. Daily Mail

I like Danny, I don’t like him for £25 million but that is the money Zenit had to pay in order to trigger his release clause. Point is Chelsea or any other club won’t come close to that amount for a player who has just recovered from a knee injury.

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham will be invited to become the figurehead of the United fans’ protest movement bidding to oust the Glazer family from Old Trafford. The AC Milan player donned a green and gold scarf – the symbol of the fans’ protest – after Wednesday’s Champions League match, which United won 4-0 to progress to the quarter-finals. (Various)

Stroke of genius by David Beckham to wear the green and gold scarf.

Despite overseeing a stuttering campaign so far with Liverpool, Reds manager Rafa Benitez remains the chief target for Real Madrid, who will sack current boss Manuel Pellegrini in the summer.The Sun

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told Real Madrid not to bother with their annual bid to poach him, warning: “Leave me alone.” Daily Mirror

Manuel Pellegrini would have a hard time avoiding the chop if Real Madrid don’t win La Liga. Pellegrini fate will most likely be decided the next time Barcelona and Real Madrid play.

Italian side Roma have apparently switched their attention from Arsenal defender William Gallas to his Gunners team-mate and fellow defender Emmanuel Eboue, according to Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport.
Full story: imscouting

I know the Roma people where there to watch Arsenal play Porto and saw Eboue’s goal but unless you are worried about Gallas age you would take him any day over Eboue.

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is set to quit the club on a free transfer in the summer. The Blues have reportedly offered him a one-year extension, incorporating a 40% pay-cut, to his current deal which expires at the end of the season. Daily Star

Good as gone. If the team and/or player were interested a staying a deal would of been wrapped up a lot time ago. Maybe Chelsea feel Joe Cole will never become the player he once was before his knee injury?

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has challenged striker Wayne Rooney to beat former United winger Cristiano Ronaldo’s United goal record of 42 during the 2007/08 season. The England man took his tally to 30 for the season with a brace in United’s 4-0 Champions League win over Milan on Wednesday.
Full story: The Sun

Rooney is right on pace to do it.

England boss Fabio Capello says Rooney is one of the three best players in the world; putting the striker on a par with Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo. The Sun

Hard for me to even argue this with Rooney’s form right now. He’ll need to win the EPL or Champions League if not both to truely be considered in that group at the end of the year.

Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, who started the season playing for League Two side Notts County, is eyeing a shock re-call to the England side. The Sun

Every other England defender seems to have issues. Upson is shaky, Terry well you know the story, Rio Ferdinand has health issues etc etc.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has called a crisis meeting of his players in an attempt to stamp out the discord that threatens the very fabric of the club. In recent weeks, the Spanish coach has been dismayed by what he sees as “negative body language” from his players as they struggle to keep themselves in the race for a top-four finish. Daily Mirror

Too little too late. This season started off badly for Liverpool losing to Tottenham on the opening day and aside from their win against Manchester United and gritty win over Everton have gone downhill from there.

Former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has agreed to manage Ivory Coast at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa – providing he can negotiate an early release from his contract as Russia coach, which runs until mid-July. After the World Cup, Hiddink will take over as coach of Turkey. Daily Mail

Please Russia, don’t let the man who didn’t qualify you to the World Cup join another team.

Manchester City are tracking Sporting Lisbon defender Daniel Carrico as cover for first-choice pair Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott but he is also interesting Atletico Madrid and Valencia. Daily Mirror

I don’t think Daniel Carrico is the greatest thing since slice bread but he would be a fool to go to Manchester City and become a 3rd defender. Carrico needs to keep playing week in and week out.

Manager Mick McCarthy has conceded that Wolves have little chance of keeping £6.5m striker Kevin Doyle if they are relegated from the Premier League. Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton and Sunderland are all set to battle to sign the Republic of Ireland international if his side slip into the Championship. Daily Mirror

If a player is on a team that got sent down a club should be open to selling him regardless. If a good offer comes along for Doyle in the summer and Wolves are sent down they should send him packing.

Wilson Palacios has stunned Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp by admitting he is using Spurs to get a move to Real Madrid. The Honduran midfielder has been a key player for Redknapp’s side following his £12million move from Wigan last January. But Palacios, 25, reckons he has bigger fish to fry. The Sun

Pretty stupid to admit this in such a way. Palacios is a good player but he isn’t the type of player who Real Madrid go for.

Four years after arriving at Chelsea on a £121,000-per-week contract, German midfielder Michael Ballack has been offered a new one-year deal at half that salary. The Sun

He plays half their games so it makes sense. Chelsea wouldn’t lose a thing if Ballack didn’t re-sign next season.

Birmingham are keen on signing Portsmouth striker Frederic Piquionne after failing to land the Frenchman in the January transfer window. Daily Mirror

Despite Portsmouth going down Frederic Piquionne has done enough to prove he is an EPL striker so it doesn’t shock me if he moves on this summer.

Sunderland are keeping tabs on Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who is on loan at Portsmouth, with a view to making a summer swoop for the 23-year-old. The Times

While simple it say, Good player pretty much sums up Jamie O’Hara. He’d be a good fit in Sunderland which his energy and box to box play.

Lokomotiv Moscow will resume their efforts to prise striker Roman Pavlyuchenko away from Tottenham in the close season. Daily Mail

With Roman Pavlyuchenko going from the outhouse to the penthouse in a couple of weeks there is very little chance of Tottenham selling him.

Everton are hoping to extend American Landon Donovan’s loan deal, which is set to expire after Saturday’s match at Birmingham but will not pursue the matter if it threatens to upset their good relationship with the forward’s team Los Angeles Galaxy. The Times

Unless you are a Los Angeles Galaxy fan, if you are American you are hoping Donovan stays with Everton.

Arsenal defender William Gallas could face another month on the sidelines after the former captain, out since mid-February, injured his calf muscle in training. Daily Mail

Gallas, meanwhile, will have to accept a drop in wages if he wants to extend his Gunners contract beyond the summer. The Times

Despite being a head case, Gallas is a player who plays well in big games. It shocks me more European clubs aren’t trying to sign Gallas away from Arsenal.

Harry Redknapp who is known from coming up with a headline or two recently said, “In the future there will be no English managers coming in the EPL.” I’m not here argue that nor I’m I looking to kick dirt on Rafa Benitez coaching future at Liverpool but what if Liverpool do sack him? Now I know what your saying, hey Liverpool isn’t a top four side right now. Yes, I know but they are one of the four major clubs in England even if they are down in the standings right now.

Now if your Liverpool and your searching for a new coach do you go the European route where the likes of Rafa Benitez, and Gerard Houllier have had success but in the end an EPL title is still missing or do you hire an English manager. It would be refreshing to see an English manager coaching a big club in England and you know who I think should be considered?

Tony Pulis

That’s right, Tony Pulis. He has taken a club who traditional hasn’t be a division one club and has them punching above their weight for the second season in a row. Sure the long ball approach isn’t pretty but he is working what he is has. I’d doubt Pulis would tell Gerrard to kick up 40 yards and hope Torres gets under it. Tony Pulis may not be a sexy name like Mourinho or Guus Hiddink but given a chance he may just be the right man for the job.

Arsenal may look to bring Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez in from Italian side Palermo this summer.
Full story: IMScouting

With Palermo being in the Champions League it doesn’t shock me more players other than Simon Kjaer are linked with a move away.

Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery admits Chelsea are “very interested” in him and expects his future to be decided before the end of March. Daily Mail

Sometimes players aren’t worth the trouble anymore. Much of Bayern Munich strong play hasn’t been due to Franck Ribery. They should sell Ribery like they did to Owen Hargreaves and move on.

Chelsea captain John Terry’s celebration of his goal against Stoke, in which he rolled up his shirt sleeve and pointed to his captain’s armband, dominates the back pages. Selections include: “Terry Up In Arms” (Daily Star), “Barmy Army” (Daily Mirror) and “Listen To The Band” (The Sun).

Terry has said he did it for the fans and really I can’t blame him. Those Chelsea fans have been behind him 100% since you know what happened.

Manchester United defender Wes Brown fears his World Cup dream is over after breaking a bone in his left foot. Daily Mail

Wes Brown could of had a bionic foot and it really wouldn’t of mattered.

Manager Rafael Benitez has assured Alberto Aquilani that he is not the “forgotten man of Liverpool”, despite having to sacrifice the Italian midfielder’s adjustment to English football in the race for a critical place in next season’s Champions League. The Guardian

Aquilani must be loving the decision to leave Roma.

AC Milan midfielder David Beckham believes the Italian club can cause a surprise at Old Trafford on Wednesday and knock Manchester United out of the Champions League, despite losing the first leg 3-2 in the San Siro. Daily Mail

Well, he isn’t going to say A.C Milan have little chance. They need to be at their best and even say they still need United to be on their worst to advance.

Joe Cole could leave Chelsea in the summer after negotiations stalled on a new contract with the 28-year-old demanding in excess of £100,000 a week. Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in taking the England midfielder on a free transfer. Daily Mail

Joe Cole isn’t exactly the perfect fit for Carlo Ancelotti style of play so it wouldn’t be a shock if he left this summer.

Juventus are targeting Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in exchange for Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo. The Turin club are open to a deal, but would be looking to land either Van Persie, Gael Clichy or Bacary Sagna as part of the transfer. Daily Mail

In the NBA you don’t trade a big man for a small man. In football you shouldn’t trade a striker for a defensive midfielder. Arsenal wouldn’t entertain giving up Robin van Persie for Felipe Melo.

Juventus will also move for Bayern Munich’s French winger Franck Ribery – putting Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid on alert. Full story: imscouting.com

German playmaker Mesut Ozil, 21, has rejected a new deal at Werder Breman, clearing the way for a £15m move to Arsenal in the summer – although Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested.
Full story: Daily Star

Insert good player and naturally the press will link them to the same five clubs.

Manchester United are lining up a £9m move for Croatia Under-21 star Milan Badelj. The Dinamo Zagreb playmaker has been labelled the new Luka Modric. Daily Mail

Big fan of Modric but it’s still a little too early in his career to have some kid labelled as the next Luka Modric.

Chelsea boss Carlo ­Ancelotti is considering a bid for ­Benfica’s £10m-rated Brazilian defender David Luiz. Manchester United and Real Madrid are also interested in the 22-year-old. Daily Mirror

David Luiz is one of a handful of Benfica players who is coming into his own this season. With the teams rumoured to be interested in him, doubt he’d be sold for only £10m.

Manchester United are tracking Dinamo Zagreb playmaker Milan Badeli. The 21-year-old Croatian is also attracting interest from German sides Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. IM Scouting

Tracking a player and making a bid for a player are two different things. I’d be worried for United’s transfer policy if they ended up making a run at Badeli.

Italian giants Juventus have joined Manchester City in the chase for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain. The 22-year-old is also reported to have a 150m euro release clause. IM Scouting

Higuain’s goal against Germany yesterday didn’t hurt his stock any.

Sunderland are in talks with Paraguay star Cristian Riveros. Manager Steve Bruce wants to sign the midfielder from Mexican side Cruz Azul before the World Cup. Daily Mirror

Hope Riveros avoids any Mexican bars.

Fulham defender Chris Smalling has admitted that his summer move to Manchester United came as a complete surprise to him. The 20-year-old was working as a waiter 18 months ago. Daily Mail

No idea how Smalling will do at Manchester United but in a era of million dollar teenage football players, it’s good to see a player make it through hard work before coming into millions.