There Is Only One Sinnacle

AC Milan are ready to table a significant bid for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba this summer, according to reports in Italy. footylatest.com

Maybe if this was a couple of years ago this would make sense. Now it’s pretty much pointless. Drogba is happy at Chelsea plus like many elite strikers Drogba needs the supporting cast around him to be happy. At a new club who never know how a player is going to fit in.

Barcelona have joined Inter Milan in the race to sign Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna, according to Spanish newspaper Sport. imscouting.com

All things being equal you know the player and club who decide to deal with Barcelona.

Manchester City are on the verge of agreeing a deal to sign Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng for 12.5m euros, according to the Hamburger Abendblattes newspaper. (AFP news agency)

Hamburg must love Manchester City as they have pocketed close to 30 million between Boateng and Nigel De Jong if this happens.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be given a £45m transfer kitty to spend during the summer, which could allow him to recruit long-time targets midfielder Felipe Melo from Juventus and Inter striker Mario Balotelli. goal.com

I don’t care who ends up owning the team, just can’t see Wenger spending 45 million.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will try to persuade Old Trafford chiefs to allow him to splash out £60m this summer to sign striker Karim Benzema and winger David Silva from Real Madrid and Valencia respectively. The Sun

Would what would happen if the Manchester United bean counters say no?

Chelsea are also planning a raid on Valencia, with £50m-rated forward David Villa the target. caughtoffside.com

Another rumour which has been around for aslong as the Internet it seems.

Liverpool are ready to make a renewed effort to snap up promising Dutch winger Eljero Elia for £9m from Hamburg this summer. caughtoffside.com

Hamburg Europa League run aside Elia would be another player who has very little idea how to win. Hard to build a winning team when so few of your players have ever done it before.

Manchester City have put 26-year-old Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo on their list of summer targets after he caught the eye in Benfica’s Europa League quarter-final clash with Liverpool.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Very big on Cardozo but have a feeling he would sit next to fellow Paraguayan Rogue Santa Cruz on the Manchester City bench.

Cardozo could replace fellow Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz at Eastlands, with Tottenham considering a move for the out-of-favour 28-year-old. caughtoffside.com

Or not

Everton will try to sign Inter Milan’s former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari this summer. caughtoffside.com

Don’t think Inter would sell Muntari at a loss but if they don’t win the Serie A this season some heads will roll.

Manchester United are ready to sell striker Dimitar Berbatov at the end of the season. The Bulgarian has struggled to make an impact since his £30.75m switch from Spurs in September 2008 and it appears as though manager Sir Alex Ferguson has lost faith in him. The Sun

Who buys Berbatov and how much is the question? Can’t see any team playing more than 15-20 million for him.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could miss out on a return to his old club Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final on 22 April after being booked in for further treatment on his knee injury with a specialist in Barcelona. Daily Mail

Not saying Torres is faking an injury but it’s the second time he has missed a game against his former club. Remember him being hurt in the Champions League two years ago. I’m sure Torres would have a heavy heart if he had to face his childhood club.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wants to take England international Micah Richards from Manchester City, with Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini prepared to listen to offers for the 21-year-old defender. Caughtoffside.com

Richards stock has fallen like a rock these last two years but he’ll always be a player who coaches will love to take on a chance on.

Meanwhile, City are lining up bids to sign Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Mesut Özil and Roma forward Mirko Vucinic, as they prepare a series of raids on the Bundesliga and Serie A at the end of the season.The Times

Vucinic is a no go, Ozil is a young player on the rise who doesn’t play for an elite team. In other words exactly the type of player Manchester City should spend big on.

West Ham have joined the race to sign Jermaine Beckford from Leeds and hope to sign the 26-year-old striker on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer. Caughtoffside.com

Big win for West Ham this weekend but who knows what will happen to this club in the summer. Hard to believe any plans coming out of West Ham at the moment.

Birmingham want to keep Ecuadorian Christian Benitez on loan from Mexican club Santos Laguna for another season following an impressive first campaign for the striker in England. Daily Mirror

Makes a perfect 2nd or 3rd striker if Birmingham do decide to spend big on a striker this summer.

Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will finally announce plans to officially put the Reds up for sale this week. But fans who object to the duo’s regime at the club and are desperate to see them leave could still be in for a long wait as the Americans will also reveal details of a new refinancing package that effectively ends the need for a fire sale.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has conceded that his side’s hopes of securing a top-four Premier League finish this season appear to be over after they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Fulham on Sunday. They now trail fourth-placed Manchester City by six points. Daily Mirror

Shocked they didn’t blame it on ownership. I know Gerrard is a saint for Liverpool and deservely so but all I see is a player who has checked out this season. If Torres isn’t able to carry this team no one else has been able to set up game in and game out.

Hull boss Iain Dowie and his staff were called to a crisis meeting with Tigers chairman Adam Pearson following the 4-1 home defeat by fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Serves Hull right, They should of fired Phil Brown eariler in the season once a new chairman was appointed. After the first game, Phil Brown’s side went on a bit of a run to quiet those rumours. Pulling the plug on a coach after the transfer window is rarely a good idea.

Manchester City have denied making a £40m bid to Sporting Lisbon for midfielder Miguel Veloso and defender Daniel Carrico. Manchester Evening News

Sporting could only wish this to be true. Both Veloso and Carrico have a lot of talent but 40 million pays off a lot of debt.

Barcelona could turn to Aston Villa winger Ashley Young if their attempts to land Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery fail. imscouting.com

Not going to happen. Ok, to be fair the only way this happens is if Ashley Young makes it to the World Cup and does what Ribery did four years open.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sent his scouts to Valencia’s Europa League quarter-final to monitor playmaker David Silva’s form. Footylatest

Only a pipe dream for Arsenal fans. Besides with the likes of Narsi and Arshavin area Arsenal has plenty of depth in that area.

Manchester United turned down the chance to sign Valencia striker David Villa. With United burdened by debts in excess of £700m, the £40m fee quoted by the Spanish side will have to be lowered if a deal is to be done. The Guardian

Won’t be lowered, nor will a deal be done. Real Madrid paid Lyon 42 million for Karim Benzema. People should remember that David Villa was Real Madrid first choice. It stands to reason if Valencia turned down 40 million from Real Madrid they will also turn down 40 million from Manchester United.

Manchester City are planning a surprise move for Bayern Munich striker, and Manchester United conqueror, Ivica Olic after the Croatia star impressed boss Roberto Mancini. Daily Mail

Ivica Olic is Craig Bellamy without the off field drama. Don’t see this happening.

Mancini made the trip to Anfield on Thursday night to take a look at Benfica left winger Angel di Maria as he considers whether to bid for the Argentina international. Daily Mirror

Picked a wrong day.

Aston Villa midfielder James Milner is a summer target for Manchester United with Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema also in Sir Alex Ferguson’s sights. Daily Mirror

Maybe in 2007, things are different now. Speaking of Lloris you can easily make the claim that he is one of the three best goalies in the world right now.

Bordeaux striker Maroaune Chamakh’s move to Arsenal is all but done, with the Morocco international expected to sign a four-year deal at the Emirates. Daily Mail

I want this to happen for the sole reason that I like being right about these things.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson failed to accept defeat like a gentleman after his side’s Champions league quarter-final defeat to the German side. The Sun

Sir Alex Ferguson can learn a thing or two about class from Franz Beckenbauer. Still remember how him and Sir Bobby Robson were genuinely wishing the other luck prior to penalties at the 1990 World Cup.

Defeat against Hull at the weekend could spell the end of Brian Laws’ tenure as Burnley manager.
Full story: Daily Mail

They should of never hired him to start with.

Striker James Beattie has suffered another snub at Stoke, with teenage rookie Louis Moult ahead of him in the pecking order for this weekend’s clash with Wolves. Daily Mail

Beattie is good as gone come the summer. All this because of a christmas party.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie could make his return from a serious ankle injury in Wednesday’s derby against Tottenham. Daily Mirror

This would be good news to Arsenal and Dutch fans everywhere.

Wonder how many Manchester United fans were thinking boy if only we had Javier (Chicharito) Hernández we would been in the semi finals of the Champions League. In a move which came out of the blue Manchester United have signed Javier Hernández from Chivas de Guadalajara subject to a work permit.

Javier Hernandez does have four goals in four games for the Mexican national side including one last month against North Korea but for every Hugo Sanchez who makes it in Europe you get a Kikin Fonseca who don’t.

It’s funny how rumours of Karim Benzema to Manchester United are replaced with the reality that is the signing of Javier Hernandez. Kinda shows you what Manchester United transfer policy will be like the next year of so.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will try to lure Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema to Old Trafford with the prospect of more regular first-team football. L’Equipe (in French)

Or Benzema can sit on the bench as well right along with Dimitar Berbatov.

Wolfsburg coach Lorenz Gunther Kostner is desperate for striker Edin Dzeko to reject a summer move to Chelsea or Manchester City. The Sun

Good as gone considering the season Wolfsburg has had.

Sporting Lisbon will attempt to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario this summer. Abola

Only way Hilario goes to Sporting is if Chelsea doesn’t want him anymore.

Spartak Moscow manager Valery Karpin has hit out at Liverpool winger Albert Riera over his wage demands and ruled out signing the Spaniard before the Russian transfer window closes on Thursday. Daily Mail

What a gaint waste of time this whole Albert Riera-Liverpool mess was in the end.

Feyenoord’s £5m-rated midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum admits it would be a “dream” to move to Liverpool after catching the eye of the club’s scouts. Daily Mirror

It would also be a dream for Liverpool to sign Wijnaldum for only £5 million.

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Neo-Coker plans to see out the remaining year of his £2m-a-year contract at Villa Park despite the club’s desire to recoup some of the £7.5m they paid West Ham in 2007. Daily Star

Would be a big F.U for Neo-Coker to see out the final year of his deal before moving on as a free transfer.

Burnley manager Brian Laws is on the brink of being sacked, barely three months after he was appointed at Turf Moor, following a run of only one win in 14 games. Daily Mail

If you are Wolves, Bolton, Wigan and West Ham you love that Burnley and Hull have appointed managers who clearly can’t cut it in the top flight.

Arsenal will make significant changes on and off the pitch this summer, with boss Arsene Wenger ready to make central defence a transfer priority and Stan Kroenke poised to make a pivotal decision in the long-term battle for control of the club. Daily Telegraph

Central defender to replace Gallas and a real holding midfielder in the Patrick Vieira mold as Alex Song will not get it done against the games top players.

Benitez has admitted for the first time that he feels he has taken Liverpool as far as he can after six years of “wheeling and dealing”, insisting the club will not be able to compete for the Premier League or Champions League without the cash injection provided by fresh investment. Daily Telegraph

One more reason why ownership will close the chequebook this summer. Even if they do have money to spend are they going to trust Benitez to spend it now?

Must admit feel like a bit of a dumb ass for thinking this commercial would feature Arjen Robben. This spot is ok but I want more, after all this is the biggest event in the world. Also why is U2 the only band in the world that is played during these types of commercials? Is the next ESPN spot going to feature A Beautiful Day? ESPN should rip off SKY Sports and use Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap. Now that song can get you out of your seat.

Will now wait for a Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup Commercial. Get to it ESPN.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez remains Juventus’ number one target and they want to conclude contract negotiations with him by the end of April. IM Scouting

It may not be the Real Madrid rumours of last year but I’d be shocked if Benitez doesn’t at least listen to what Juventus has to say. The joke can already be made that Rafa Benitez is already well prepared for Juventus Europa League run next season.

Manchester City are ready to spark a cross-city battle with United for £24m-rated Roma striker Mirko Vucinic. The Sun

Vucini has been linked with United for years. It’s not going to happen nor at that price. Don’t even know why this rumour was even printed. Manchester City doesn’t have an issue scoring goals.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is making a move for £6m-rated Estudiantes striker Mauro Boselli as he plans for a new-look attack. Birmingham were chasing the Argentina international in January’s transfer window. Daily Mirror

Allardyce better not hope for production right away. For a striker it’s going to be culture shock going Estudiantes to Blackburn.

Tottenham are ready to splash out £2m on Notts County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and then loan him back to the League Two outfit. Daily Mirror

Spurs are also keen on £5m-rated Atletico Madrid keeper Sergio Asenjo to come in as back up Heurelho Gomes. The Sun

It’s silly to pay 5 million for a back up goalie. The Kasper Schmeichel rumours are more believable.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is keen to snap up Bolton’s South Korean winger Lee Chung-Yong for £8m to help provide extra creativity and more firepower for his strikers. Caughtoffside.com

This is what bugs me about Benitez in the transfer market. Lee Chung-Yong is a nice little player but there is no way he’ll ever be more than 8 million. Liverpool are already buying him at his highest point. Plus for a team who wants to win the EPL so bad they bring in players who never one a thing a day in their life.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has blamed the club’s failure to challenge for the Premier League title squarely at the feet of the Anfield outfit’s owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Daily Mirror

Oh yeah, little chance Torres stays if Benitez goes after this comment. Easier to blame Hicks and Gillett then the 10 other players he plays with.

You may not be the best player in the world right now be feat not Cristiano Ronaldo, Time magazine has put your name out there to make it to their most influential person of 2010 list.

You too can vote as I know you want too.

Link

Currently Ronaldo ranks 31st just behind Sandra Bullock (damn you and your cheating husband). The good news is Ronaldo is ahead of these important people.

Liu Xiaobo (Truthfully I’d have no idea who this person is without doing a google search, but it makes me feel good Ronaldo is beating Liu Xiaobo)

37th Taylor Swift (first and only time she is mentioned on my site.)
38th James Camerson
50th Bill Clinton
55th Kaká
58th Nicolas Sarkozy
66th Tiger Woods
74th Thierry Henry
86th Simon Cowell

To view the entire voting list the link is provided below.

Link

To continue signing Bruce Hornsby one and only hit…..Some things will never change.

Against any team losing 4-1 would get Wenger blasted in the media by the next day. Losing to Barcelona you just have to tip your cap in awe of the greatness that is Lionel Messi. Sure Silvestre was at fault for not clearing the ball on Barcelona’s first goal but Messi still had it all to do and had a split second to do it. That is sheer genius out there. Even down 1-0 if your a Barcelona fan you just know they will come up with a goal at home. This team is simply a joy to watch and while Arsenal can hold their head up high especially with their second half display in the first leg, Arsene Wenger knows that Barcelona sets the standard every club in world club will struggle to top. Quite simply they are the best managed football club in the world. They have the perfect mix and producing youth players and signing one big name transfer target every summer.

Congrats to Jose Mourinho for becoming the first coach to take three different teams to the semi finals of the Champions League. (Louis Van Gaal can also do the trick tomorrow.) If your Mourinho you have to image him reviewing the tapes of the Chelsea-Barcelona Champions League final of last year. No other club has come close to matching Barcelona like Chelsea did under Guus Hiddink. I’d even place a call to Hiddink to see if I can pick his mind as Chelsea came up just short of reaching the Champions League final.

Either way it’s still an uphill task defeating Barcelona over 180 minutes. In one game anything can happen, over two legs with the second leg being at the Camp Nou, it’s a tough ask for any club to defeat Barcelona. Inter have a small advantage in playing Barcelona twice already in the group stage. While they got smoked in the Camp Nou previously at least in the second leg these Inter players will know what they are about to deal with beforehand.

Arsenal could pair Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh with Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega after the Moroccan international striker signed a four-year deal at the Emirates. Metro

Don’t see Wenger paying the going rate for a striker currently playing in England, esp with Chamakh looking to come in as a free transfer. Can’t blame Chamakh for leaving, Bordeaux had him on the cheap for quite a while and didn’t give him a new contract. Now with Chamakh having all the leverage can see why he would leave if in fact this is a done deal.

Tottenham may face competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Fiorentina if they pursue their interest in Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. imscouting.com

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Fiorentina all have top class goalkeepers. It doesn’t make sense for them to bring in a player like Asenjo as all that would do is unsettle the current number one for each team.

Wigan are unlikely to make goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic’s loan move from Sporting Lisbon permanent at the end of the season. imscouting.com

This is because Stojkovic sucks. The fact he is a head case who once signed he was the best goalie in Europe doesn’t help matters.

Juventus are lining up a £12m bid for Tottenham’s Wales international full-back Gareth Bale in the summer. caughtoffside.com

With Juventus a big doubt to make it into Champions League football next season it’s highly unlikely they will spend that type of money on potential. A foreign player at that. It’s not like many Welsh players have even played in Serie A never mind done well.

Midfielder Boudewijn Zenden is not sure that he has done enough to earn a new Sunderland contract, despite his spectacular volleyed goal against Tottenham on Saturday. Daily Star

Zenden is a decent player who knows his role. By all accounts seems like a good locker room guy who has played for some big teams and won some big titles. Wouldn’t be the worst move in the world if Sunderland kept him on.

Roberto Mancini is in negotiations with his former club Inter Milan to bring striker Mario Balotelli, who has fallen out with Jose Mourinho, to Manchester City. caughtoffside.com

Balotelli may go but it surely won’t be to his former coach at Manchester City.

Martin O’Neill is planning to offer Tottenham £11m for striker Robbie Keane, who is currently on loan at the Aston Villa manager’s former club Celtic. caughtoffside.com

Tottenham would be packing Keane bags now if this offer becomes a reality.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says that midfielder Joe Cole will “definitely” sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge. The Sun

Funny what a goal against Manchester United can do for you. It was all quiet on the Joe Cole front for a couple of weeks til then.