EPL Gossip Wednesday July 7th
Alan Curbishley has played down his chances of securing the job as Fulham manager: “I was told I was on the shortlist but that there were a couple of people ahead of me, so I knew that was going nowhere.” (Evening Standard)
Curbishley would be smart to not say anymore than this. Coaches who talk up a job opening rarely get it in the end.
Arsenal are on the verge of completing the £10m signing of French defender Laurent Koscielny from Lorient. (Press Association)
Arsenal fans should plan the parade route now but hopefully Koscielny has the same type of season as Thomas Vermaelen did last year.
Arsenal are ready to pay £20m for German playmaker Mesut Ozil, having trailed the 21-year-old for months. Ozil has one year left on his contract at Werder Bremen. Daily Star
Can’t see Arsenal playing 20 million for Ozil and beyond that talented as Ozil is Arsenal are not lacking in creative midfielders.
Manchester City have been linked with a £16.5m move for Cologne’s Germany forward Lukas Podolski. Daily Mail
The Lukas Podolski who plays for Germany is a lot different then the one who plays who his club sides.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is lining up a £13m move for FC Twente winger Bryan Ruiz.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Big Bryan Ruiz fan and think the Costa Rica International is ready to make the next step.
Manchester United have made discreet enquiries about the possibility of signing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who they were keen on recruiting before he moved to Spain from French side Lyon.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Can’t see the Special One letting Karim Benzema go until he has a real long look at him during pre season.
Sunderland are exploring the possibility of a season-long loan deal for Ghana’s young striker Dominic Adiyiah, who is at AC Milan. Daily Mail
Dominic Adiyiah didn’t let the pressure get to him during the World Cup. It he can handle that then Adiyiah can handle life in the EPL.
Manchester United are braced for a raid from Barcelona and Juventus for their left-back Patrice Evra. Daily Mail
Why anyone wants Evra now is beyond me?
Villa manager Martin O’Neill, who accepts he is fighting a losing battle to keep Milner, is ready to strike a £30m deal with City for the England international. He wants £15m and Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha in return. Daily Star
I’d make this deal in a second considering James Milner seems to have one foot out the door.
Injured onlooker Michael Ballack has been ousted from the Germany’s World Cup camp after a big rift with current captain Philipp Lahm, who insists he will not give the armband back to the former Chelsea star when he is fit again. The midfielder joined up with the squad last week to act as a cheerleader – but will not be present for the semi-final against Spain. the Sun
Ballack’s time is done. He should sit in the stands in a nice suit and not distract any of the players.
England Under-21 defender Dan Gosling has walked out on Everton for nothing because the club failed to put a new contract offer to him in writing. Everton made a verbal offer to Gosling but the Premier League sided with the player because of the club’s administrative error. Daily Mirror
Someone in the Everton office will be screamed out this morning.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists that he wants to retain the services of Robert Green despite the goalkeeper’s blunder against the United States at the World Cup. the Guardian
It’s not like the market is red hot for Robert Green’s services.
Germany’s Mesut Ozil has ridiculed England for saying they were bored between games in South Africa. Ozil said: “If you find the greatest tournament on earth boring, then you probably shouldn’t be there.”
Full story: Daily Mail
Perfect way to end this post.