There Is Only One Sinnacle

Aston Villa’s determination to hang on to midfielder James Milner will be tested by a £24m bid from Manchester City. Express and Star

Martin O’Neill did say Aston Villa may have to sell one of their top players to fund there transfer targets. £24 million can go along way in the transfer market.

Cesc Fabregas’ father, Fabregas Sr, has denied meeting Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano at the weekend after reports continue to link the Spain international with a move to the Bernabeu. (Press Association)

Despite the Barcelona connection, Fabregas isn’t a perfect fit there. The same reasons he left in the first place are there today. If Fabregas did want to move Real Madrid would be a better option.

Everton are set to tie down midfielder Steven Pienaar to a new big-money contract to ward off interest from Tottenham and Manchester City. Daily Mail

Everton sold Andrew Johnson to Fulham for 10 million two years ago and no one at Everton has missed him since. Selling Pienaar for even more would have the same effect.

Manchester City have admitted an interest in Benfica duo Angel di Maria and Oscar Cardozo. It is believed release clauses in the pair’s contracts mean they could be signed for a combined £88m. Manchester Evening News

This has nothing to do with the rumour above but damn you Fernando Torres for not getting your knee surgery done sooner. With Torres being out it would of been Benfica in the Europa league semi finals. Still wishing Liverpool good luck in the semi’s.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has admitted that the club will not fight to keep striker Hugo Rodallega and midfielder Charles N’Zogbia should a big club make an offer for either of the sought-after pair this summer. Goal

Nor should he, It’s not like Wigan are fighting for European places with N’Zogbia and Rodallega.

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy’s relationship with manager Roberto Mancini has reached breaking point, with the Wales international wanting a move from Eastlands in the summer if the Italian remains in charge. Daily Mail

Going by Bellamy’s previous career paths he was due for a move around this time anyway.

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants to take Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster on loan next season. Daily Mirror

Smart back up plan with Joe Hart most likely not coming back for another season.

Al Pacino’s American football film Any Given Sunday and Invictus, which recounts South Africa’s win at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, were part of the entertainment on board Barcelona’s team bus. The European champions are travelling by road to the first leg of their Champions league semi-final againt play Inter Milan.
Full story: the Independent

I for one would love to be on this bus ride.

Last week it was A.C Milan cashing in by playing a friendly against D.C United now Juventus will also make a trip across the pond (If the ash clears up….thanks Iceland.) to face the New York Red Bull on May 23rd at beautiful Red Bull Arena.

No clue how many first team players from Juventus will make the trip but you know World Cup bound players won’t. Despite who makes the trip it will be interesting how the Juve players will perform. Pretty hard to get up for a friendly at the end of a long season having to travel half way around the world too boot.

Another interesting note is if Alessandro Del Piero will be taking a good hard look around the New York area if rumoured interest in Del Piero joining New York after the World Cup is to be believed.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has held a secret meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta in Morocco where he is on holiday recovering from a leg fracture. The Spanish champions have denied that they have an informal agreement with Arsenal not attempt to attempt to buy the 22-year-old this summer.
Full story: imscouting.com

Not so much of a secret is it?

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is a summer target for AC Milan. goal.com

Somewhere I can just picture a Manchester United fan saying Berbatov for Pato? Berbatov wouldn’t do too badly however in the slower pace of Serie A.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich. Lille winger Eden Hazard and Anderlecht forward Romelu Lakaku have also been earmarked by Bayern scouts.
Full story: imscouting.com

No offense to Carlton Cole by if I’m Bayern Munich I’m selling Luca Toni (won’t get much I know) and Franck Ribery then spend it on the likes of Hazard, Lakaku (who says he will stay at Anderlecht til he is 18 but we will see) and still have money left over.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic could be on his way to Juventus in a swap deal which would see goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon arriving at Old Trafford. Footylatest

Juventus are a mess, it doesn’t shock me to read about Buffon exit rumours even if this downfall has little to do with the player himself.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to make a £9m bid for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart after losing patience with current first-choice stopper Manuel Almunia. caughtoffside.com

You know Arsenal fans are begging for this to be true. Makes so much sense I’m shocked I didn’t think of this before. Almunia has been given enough rope to hang himself on. He is a number one on a decent team, you don’t want him to be a number one on an elite team.

The Gunners may also move for Bolton defender Gary Cahill to replace William Gallas, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Footylatest

Another smart move but unlikely to happen. Wenger will find a player with Cahill skill set but since this player won’t be English he’ll cost a lot less.

Tottenham could tempt Everton playmaker Steven Pienaar away from Goodison Park with a £14m summer bid. caughtoffside.com

Never pictured the day where I would see Pienaar linked with a £14 million dollar move.

Chelsea will make a decision on the future of on-loan defender Michael Mancienne this week but Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has warned that the England Under-21 star, who has been the star performer for the Molineux club this season, is not good enough to play for the London side yet. Daily Mail

Why in the world do they have to make a decision this week? Doesn’t make any sense, keep him for the summer then decide right before next season opens.

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will leave Inter Milan to replace Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the Old Trafford helm at the end of next season. Daily Star

Ferguson may not win a title and the media are already making plans to push him out the door? Mourinho may be the only manage who can fill the huge shoes Ferguson left behind but boy it’s a tough job to do. You want to be the manager who replaces the managers who replaced Ferguson (hope I didn’t confuse you.) Whoever replaces Ferguson will have the fans going show me what you can do. The second points stopped behind dropped the exit rumours will start. Fans will most likely be welcoming of the following manager in charge, one who isn’t taking over from a legend.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is relieved that the club rejected advances from both Manchester City and Inter Milan for Welsh international defender Gareth Bale last summer. Daily Mail

Bale did make Paulo Ferreira look like a school boy this weekend.

Manager Roberto Mancini insists Manchester City will clinch fourth spot and a Champions League place – despite their last-gasp defeat by Manchester United and Tottenham’s win over Chelsea. Daily Mirror

Somebody should call Sven Goran Eriksson who went 2-0 against United in his only season at Manchester City.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez claims it was unrealistic to expect the Reds to win the Premier League title this season, despite last season’s second-place finish. Daily Mirror

I know why they do it but hate it when managers have to make excuses to deflect the blame.

Former Leeds and Manchester City defender Danny Mills completed the Brighton Marathon in a wheelchair, making his way round the course in in two hours, 43 minutes to raise money and awareness for the spina bifida charity ASBAH. Daily Mail

Nice little story to end this massive EPL Gossip post off.

It’s not fair to be that good as a full back. What a goal to finally break the deadlock between Inter Milan and Juventus.

Real Madrid plan to make a stunning £90m bid for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney – not to mention wages of £250,000 a week for five years – and also have England boss Fabio Capello in their sights. The Sun

Would the Glazer cash in on Rooney? Would love to see the reaction from the Green and Gold club if they did. Never understood the Capello rumours. Been there and done that, besides he was fired even after guiding Real Madrid to a title.

United are keeping a close eye in James Milner’s contract negotiations at Aston Villa as Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson prepares to reshape his Old Trafford squad this summer. Daily Telegraph

Makes more sense then trying to go after David Silva. Milner is enjoying the type of headlines Ashley Young use to get last year.

Manchester United are monitoring £9m-rated Panathinaikos midfielder Sotiris Ninis. Daily Mail

Ninis broke into the Panathinaikos setup at age 15 so it doesn’t shock me that bigger clubs are now looking at him a couple of years later.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is a £15m target for AC Milan, who believe the Blues will bid for Inter Milan full-back Maicon this summer. Daily Mail

Just can’t see this happening, can’t put my finger on it however. Yes real insightful.

Fabregas and Wenger have been left incensed by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood’s claim that Fabregas “would not even get in” the Barcelona team. The Sun

It’s a stupid thing to say by Peter Hill-Wood but Fabregas wouldn’t be a lock to start every game.

Young Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere has told Wenger he wants to stay on loan at Bolton if he cannot get first-team football at the Emirates Stadium. The Sun

I’d want to stay at Bolton too if every second game my coach mentions that I should be on the England team.

Sunderland striker Darren Bent is to wed Sir Alex Ferguson’s former daughter-in-law Nadine Ferguson, who separated from Sir Alex’s son Darren in 2007. Nadine announced the news on social networking site Twitter. The Sun

Guess Darren Bent can nix any future move to Manchester United.

Barcelona deny they have promised Arsenal that they won’t try to sign Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas this summer. Daily Mail

Real Madrid said the same thing about Ronaldo last year around this time. That being said I do believe Fabregas will still be playing for Arsenal next season.

AC Milan are looking to sell Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato this summer, with Chelsea and Real Madrid expected to fight it out for his signature. Corriere dello Sport (In Italian)

I understand Pato is young and sometimes it just takes longer but I’ve been expecting more since he did cost 30 million. If I were AC Milan I’d pick up the phone and call Massimo Moratti about swapping Pato for Mario Balotelli.

Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has told a German television channel he hopes to decide where his future lies “in the next 10 days”. The Frenchman claims Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea are all interested in signing him. The Guardian

Bayern Munich are determined to keep hold of Franck Ribery and will snub any £40m bids for Franck Ribery from Chelsea and Real Madrid even if it means the France international leaves on a free transfer in 2011.
Full story: Daily Star

It doesn’t make sense to talk about moving Ribery right before the Champions League semi finals.

Manchester City are closing in on a £11m deal to sign Hamburg’s 6ft 3in Germany international defender Jerome Boateng, the younger brother of Portsmouth’s Kevin Prince. The Guardian

Manchester City should of made this signing inside of paying double for Lescott.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack could be heading for a reunion with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan after admitting there have been no talks over renewing his Stamford Bridge contract, which ends this summer. Daily Mail

Between Ballack and Guti leaving as a free transfer in the summer I’d lean towards Guti making the jump.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his bid to sign Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as his long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar. Daily Mail

No wonder Ferguson is rumoured to be asking for a 60 million pound transfer budget. He’ll be a good bit of that if he wishes to convince Lyon to sell one of the best young goalies to come through in along time.

Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque, wanted by Bordeaux and Marseille, has ruled out a return to France, with the former Lyon man intent on staying on Wearside. Daily Mirror

I wouldn’t be turning down Bordeaux or Marseille if I was Malbranque. If I was Bordeaux or Marseille I’d be turning down Steed Malbranque however.

Benfica are willing to sell highly-rated central defender David Luiz – a reported target for Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City – this summer and are hoping to secure a 30m euro fee. IMScouting

Benfica can and should use Pepe €30 million fee from Porto to Real Madrid as a starting point. It’s not like Benfica want to sell Luiz or Angel Di Maria but a combined 50-60 million pays a lot of bills.

The Premier League will deny FA Cup finalists Portsmouth their dream of playing in the Europa League next season, unless the south-coast club can come out of administration and pay off all their debts by the end of the season. Daily Mirror

I love the Portsmouth story but David Moyes is right. You can’t change your mind after not applying to play in Europe to then want to play after making it to the FA Cup final.

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has played his way into England boss Fabio Capello’s World Cup plans and will be named in the Italian’s provisional 30-man squad next month. Daily Mirror

Liked the Johnson transfer when it wrapped up and still love it how. Players on the rise from non elite clubs are the type of players Manchester City should go after. Mix them in with 1-2 older players with titles on their resumes and you have a legit title contender.

Real Madrid claim they have already recovered the £80m it cost them to buy Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United through sales of replica shirts bearing the Portuguese star’s name. Daily Mirror

Another thing I’ve been saying all along. The money Real Madrid paid to sign Ronaldo is going to end up being a bargain. Ronaldo has six plus years of prime football ahead of him. That is at least two jersey changes. Plus all the another stuff Ronaldo brings off the field to go along with his talents and the 90 million paid to Ronaldo is going to a steal. The 60 million for Kaka…..not so much.

Former England star John Barnes will reprise his legendary rap from New Order’s 1990 World Cup song ‘World in Motion’ for a TV advert. The Guardian

Great song

A couple of months ago I posted about Rogers Sportsnet being awarded EPL rights previously held by TheScore. In that same post mentioned how TheScore should now look to grab La Liga broadcast rights. Well, Real Madrid and Barcelona won’t be on basic cable yet but TheScore should announce shortly that they have acquired Serie A rights starting next year. The contract is believed to be for two years which includes full digital rights (Live streaming of games, mobile content etc.)

Great news to see TheScore still committed to football., (beats all the poker they show on the weekends) now hopefully they rectify one of my giant pet peeves about football broadcasters in Canada. For the love of god such a multicultural sport should have multicultural people talking about the game. If James Sharman and Kristan Jack are the only ones talking about Serie A in TheScore studio I’m going to shake my head in disgust. In other words give me a call. OK, pipe dream but I can be the Jimmy the greek of Canadian broadcasting, minus the racism comments he made to get him kicked off the air 20 plus years ago. Seriously however hire someone who has seen St Clair Ave more than once every two summers.

Truthfully I had no idea what I was going to title this post so boring Avram Grant it is.

Two years ago around this time I remember hating Avram Grant. He after all took over for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and around this very time had them within inches of first place in the league and marching to the finals of the Champions League. To be fair anyone who replaced Mourinho mid season especially after it seemed like he was pushed out I was going to hate.

Then came the Champions League finals and just remember that afternoon thinking how badly I wanted Manchester United. Not because I’m a fan of United but due to the Ronaldo factor and how I didn’t want to deal with living in a world where Avram Grant won the Champions League title that Mourinho was suppose to win.

Everything then changed soon after John Terry slipped and Manchester United went on to win the Champions League. Here you had Avram Grant who knew he couldn’t win over the press in comparison to Mourinho. After every dropped point Grant had to deal with questions about the safety of his job. He also must of known that come the end of the season anything less than the Champions League would get him replaced. Yet after John Terry slipped and hit the post there was Grant to support Terry after the game. Avram Grant had nothing but praise for Terry aftwards, Terry is on 125k a week and Grant was about to be shown the door. Even knowing that he kept his head up and handled everything about as classy as one could considering he was in a no win situation.

It took 18 months for Avram Grant to get another kick at the can, this time with troubled Portsmouth. It amazes me how loyal he has been to the club considering all the false promises he has had to deal with. No one could of blamed him if he walked away at any point in the season. Yet here he is against all odds who is taking the scraps of what is left over from the Harry Redknapp era and taking them to the FA Cup final against none other than Chelsea.

I truely hope this has a story book ending, you can tell those players respect and play hard for Grant each and every game. It would be a great story if Grant got a measure of revenge against the team who dropped him and took Portsmouth to the FA Cup title. He already got one over on former Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp in the semi finals, Here’s hoping there is one more trick up Grant’s sleeve.

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is confident that Steven Gerrard will quit Liverpool and join the Italian champions next season. The former Chelsea boss has made Gerrard his number one summer transfer target. Daily Mail

Wasn’t Cesc Fabregas Inter’s number one transfer target two weeks ago? The fact of the matter is who knows what will happen to Mourinho this summer. If he beats Barcelona in the Champions League, Real Madrid will come calling. If Inter loses to Barcelona and then drops the Serie A to Roma then he may leave or be pushed out. The only thing I can say is if Gerrard every decides to leave it has to be with a foreign club. Can’t picture Gerrard playing for another EPL club.

German giants Bayern Munich have no plans to sell France international Franck Ribery, despite the possibility of losing the midfielder on a free transfer at the end of next season when his contract expires. Bild (in German)

They didn’t sell Michael Ballack and life went on. Besides Bayern Munich has a great chance of being in the Champions League finals. Can’t get much better than that. Yes, I know this has little to do with EPL but feel like I haven’t been focusing enough on European football lately.

Arsenal and Manchester City are among the leading candidates to sign Ajax right-back Gregory van der Wiel, who is being tracked by “one or two” Premier League clubs, according to the player’s agent. Goal.com

Hate it when agents speak. With Thomas Vermaelen being a hit at Arsenal it wouldn’t shock me to see them go after another Ajax player.

Greek club Olympiakos could swoop for out-of-favour Liverpool full-back Fabio Aurelio, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Full story: Daily Mail

Greek clubs over paid for players like Aurelio who are in that mushy middle. While good players they just come up a bit short in terms of quality when talking about an elite European club. Besides life in Greece isn’t a bad way to wind down a career.

Manchester United could make a shock £14m move for midfielder Stephen Ireland from rivals Manchester City. Caughtoffside.com

Maybe if this was two years ago. It’s easy to like Ireland but Manchester City would never sell him to United. It just sends the wrong message. Besides it would then allow Manchester United to set up a welcome to Manchester billboard for Ireland.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will not change his training methods – despite claims from star striker Carlos Tevez that the players are “not happy” with his regime. The Guardian

It took Inter Milan players about three years to get sick of Mancini and within three months it seems some of these Manchester City are souring on Mancini who to be fair has done a fine job since taking over. Manchester City still score lots of goals but now give up almost half the goals they allowed under Mark Hughes.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists captain Cesc Fabregas will not be leaving the club amid speculation the midfielder is set for a return to Barcelona, where the 22-year-old started his career. Daily Mail

I still do a double take everytime I read about Fabregas being 22 years old.

West Ham have joined Wolves and Newcastle in the race to sign Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth. Daily Mail

Perfect player for all three teams and each of those teams know Tottenham will sell O’Hara to fund other transfer targets.

Been licking my wounds for the last couple of days. First it was Xavi tearing Real Madrid apart then Inter Milan dropping points again, this time to Fiorentina. Unlike A.C Milan who were unable to leapfrog Inter Milan when they were in the same spot last month, Roma took the Serie A lead by defeating Atalanta 2-1.

I still want Roma to lose but there is no denying Claudio Ranieri has done a stellar job since taking over from Luciano Spalletti back in September. Without a doubt if Ranieri can lead Roma to the Scudetto it would be his crowning moment as a coach. For a coach to take over at the start of the season without having an off season to train or being in his players and to take this same team that was slumping under Spalletti to the brink of the championship is almost unheard of. It also says a lot about Juventus who must have some regret now letting Ranieri go after there forgettable season this term.