EPL Gossip Monday July 26th
Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli’s agent denies rumours that the teenage star has signed for Manchester City. Mino Raiola said: “Nothing has been signed and I doubt anything will be in the next few days.” (AFP)
Inter’s 19-year-old striker Balotelli could be on his way to Eastlands in a £24m deal.
Full story: Daily Mail
Rafa won’t cry to see Balotelli gone if he gets to spend the transfer money elsewhere. A new coach needs to make his mark and one of the ways to do so is moving a high profile player out.
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba, currently at Danish side Odense, has emerged as a target for Premier League newcomers West Brom. (Press Association)
Boy there is a name I never figured to read about again.
England midfielder James Milner, who is being courted by Manchester City, will hold talks with Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill on Monday over his future. the Guardian
Villa boss O’Neill fears he may also lose £30m-rated winger Ashley Young, who could be a target for Tottenham this summer. (The Daily Mirror)
After Martin O’Neill threw James Milner under the bus last week with his comments about the player wanting to leave it’s unlikely the talk will last very long. As for Ashley Young, two years ago I saw a supserstar. Last year I just saw another Shaun Wright-Phillips. Wonder if Ashley Young will be able to make the leap up to Superstar this season?
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is set to reveal that Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is at the top of his wish list of new signings. (The Sun)
However, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has reassured fans by insisting that Cole will not be swapping Stamford Bridge for Spain this season. (The Daily Telegraph)
I’m not sold these Ashley Cole to Real Madrid rumours but Carlo Ancelotti really has little say in this matter. It was Ancelotti as an example who kept saying Joe Cole wasn’t going to leave Chelsea.
Midfielder Stephen Ireland is on his way out of Manchester City after a bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini on the club’s trip to New York. Daily Mirror
Just about every EPL club should be picking up the phone trying to sign Stepghen Ireland. Clearly a case where a team can buy low and sell high later on.
Everton’s veteran defender Sylvain Distan has urged the Toffees to fend off bids for Phil Jagielka as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger looks set to up his efforts to land the defender with a £16m bid. (The Daily Star)
I like Phil Jagielka but this isn’t the player I’d be hoping Arsene Wenger spends big on.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Sinnacle – suprised you didn’t post on this – but congrats to Sporting Club du Portugal (not bad for a Yank!) on winning the Barclay’s NY Challenge. Got to see them play my boys Tottenham yesterday (Sun) and was mightily impressed. They held their shape well and passed beautifully. Don’t know why, but I was suprised at the number of fans decked out in Sporting jerseys. Great crowd overall and a fun game to watch. Ok, ok – I admit – Keane was offsides that first goal (at least from my vantage point).
Congrats too to NYRB for their win. I know this is the preseason and they were minus several stars, but the way MCY played both games leaves me wondering if they can gel & get results this season.
July 26th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
If Arsenal are willing to throw away £16m, it should be for Per Mertesacker. Fits exactly what Arsenal need.
July 27th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Agree, Mertesacker is in a different class. Have a feeling and this is just my opinion that Wenger likes to have a couple of players with the same background to help them get use to life in England. Arshavin breaks that mold just because he basically fell in their lap.
July 27th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Impressed you didn’t call them Sporting Lisbon (truthfully I even do it sometimes) I have a wait and see when it comes to Sporting. New coach, new upper maangement, new players to make fit in. I do like what they are trying to do and hopefully they can have a Benfica like run in the Europa League. Any team with Perdo Mendes and Maniche I’ll always have a soft spot for. Good to see the Portuguese people from New Jersey/New England turn out.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Tell us which club do you fancy to win the upcoming English Premier League ?