There Is Only One Sinnacle

Juventus have emerged as strong rivals to Tottenham in the race to sign Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who is free to talk to foreign clubs from 1 January. Daily Mail

This makes more sense than Pienaar going to Tottenham. Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri loves attacking wide players and Pienaar would fit that bill to a tee.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has made Liverpool striker Fernando Torres his top target for the January transfer window, while Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko are also options. Daily Star

Sadly we are going to deal with Fernando Torres to Manchester City rumours all year long.

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier must decide by January if he wants to write off £16m-worth of talent. That is when midfielders Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell and striker John Carew enter the final six months of their contracts and can talk to foreign clubs about moving on a free transfer in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Task Task…..don’t let players enter the final year of their contracts. Either sell them in the case of Reo-Coker and Sidwell or sign them like they should of done with Carew.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has warned Liverpool fans it could be “three to six months before you see improvements” in manager Roy Hodgson’s side. Daily Mail

Which is going to feel like three to six years for Liverpool fans.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has told the club’s fans to wait another year before judging him.
Full story: Daily Star

A manager these days get six months if that. With all the money Bruce has got to spend he has done a very average job with Sunderland.

An advert for Asda offering free eye tests to people from Uruguay after England crashed out of the World Cup has been cleared. Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda failed to spot that Frank Lampard’s shot was well over the line in the 4-1 defeat by Germany. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the ad would be seen as “banter rather than malice”.

Or sour grapes if you ask me.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says he tried to sign Juventus’s Serbia international winger Milos Krasic on two separate occasions. IMScouting.com

Krasic proving to be the anti Diego so far with Juventus. Not often a wide player bags a hat trick like Milos Krasic did on the weekend.

AC Milan are planning to make a £35m bid for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard during the January transfer window as they look to close the gap on arch-rivals Inter. Caught Offside

Nothing against Steven Gerrard but it’s highly unlike A.C Milan will offer Liverpool 10 million more than what they paid for Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Spanish club Malaga are considering a bid for out-of-favour Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva in January. Talksport

I like the fact talksport wrote it as Lucas Leiva. Only good Brazilian players should be on a first name bases. Arsenal’s Denílson should also be forced to add a last name.

Arsenal are targeting Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez and will offer the error-prone Manuel Almunia in part exchange. Caught Offside

I’m sure Villarreal are just jumping at the chance to get Manuel Almunia.

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas said he had been close to quitting Tottenham because he could not get a game under manager Harry Redknapp. the Sun

It’s been almost two years now. Jenas should get the picture by now and leave.

Former manager Glenn Hoddle says Chelsea’s obsession with the Champions League may stop them winning Europe’s top competition. Daily Express

More like Bracelona will stop them from winning the Champions League.

West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is working with running coach Ayo Falola – who has trained British Olympians Donna Fraser and Marilyn Okoro – to improve his performances. the Sun

Robert Green’s legs aren’t the problem.

Manchester United are monitoring the progress of Italian international Claudio Marchisio, with a view to potentially making a move for the 24-year-old Juventus midfielder next summer. Caught Offside

With Manchester United giving up goals in bunches it shouldn’t shock anyone to seem them interesting in a defender. Mind you it’s not like Marchisio is helping Juventus keep many clean sheets either.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is considering a January move for Newcastle United winger Wayne Routledge – if he gets enough funds from the Anfield board. Caught Offside

If I’m a Liverpool don’t know if I would laugh or cry reading a headline about Wayne Routledge who Aston Villa pretty much gave away two years ago.

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross is a January transfer window target for Serie A side Juventus.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Talk about a culture shock going from Stoke to Juventus. Won’t be happening mind you.

Former England and Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan believes Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has no right to complain about media intrusion into his private life following his extended run of poor form. Daily Mirror

Keegan is right. Besides Rooney has brought most of this on himself.

Former Gunners manager and forward George Graham believes his old club Arsenal will not win anything if error-prone Manuel Almunia remains as the first-choice goalkeeper at the Emirates. the Sun

Classic example of Wenger stubbornness coming back to bite him in the ass. Almunia is not a starting goalkeeper for an elite club.

Tottenham defender William Gallas has been ruled out for at least three weeks with an abductor muscle injury sustained in training on Friday. In the same session, central defender Ledley King suffered a groin strain but the extent of the problem is not yet known. Daily Mail

Wenger could of seen this coming with Gallas getting hurt mind you.

Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara believes the Cottagers are playing more stylish football under current manager Mark Hughes than they did under his predecessor Roy Hodgson. Daily Mail

Unless your name is Gary Megson any manager would be more stylish than Roy Hodgson.

Everton club captain Phil Neville has urged fans to blame the players, and not Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright, for the club’s bottom-of-the-table predicament. Daily Mail

Neville is right…..well it’s Moyes fault too. Look at the Everton lineup and you’ll see they have spent a fair amount on players over the years. The talent is there in this current lineup plus, it’s not like players who can be had at an affordable price like Ozil are dying to link up with Everton.

Manchester City are plotting a £50m January bid to lure Fernando Torres away from Liverpool, with the Spain superstar dismayed by the Reds’ current lack of progress this season. Daily Star

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are looking at the prospect of buying a Liverpool player too, in their case goalkeeper Pepe Reina, and are set to offer £17m. Footylatest

I’m almost feeling sorry for Liverpool fans with the sharks smelling blood with all these rumours.

Liverpool are apparently looking at buying too – with Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and midfield team-mate Giovani dos Santos targeted. Caught Offside

Roman Pavlyuchenko may be lazy but he would still be a 15-20 goal scorer in the EPL.

And it is not just Torres catching the eye of Manchester City. The Eastlands outfit are set to spend £55m to land AC Milan’s Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato next summer. Caught Offside

Pato is hurt way too much for such a young man and this is playing in Serie A. Playing in England would cause Pato to spend even more time in the trainers room.

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted for the first time that lurid off-the-field stories that have turned the spotlight on Wayne Rooney have affected the form of Manchester United’s star striker.
Full story: The Guardian

The fact Wayne Rooney had an awful World Cup doesn’t help matters either.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson looked at 19-year-old Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea while on a trip to Spain to check on Valencia, the next Champions League opponents for the Red Devils. Daily Mirror

Some would say it’s a disgrace to the Carling Cup to head to Spain and watch a game but hey I’d want to get out Valencia anytime I could as well. Regarding David de Gea there is a big difference between keeping an eye on a player and making a move for a player.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is to make a new cut-price move for Everton’s South African midfield dynamo Steven Pienaar. Daily Mirror

Steven Pienaar would spend a lot of timing sitting next to David Bentley and Niko Kranjčar if he leaves Everton. Which he will.

Manchester City are ready to make a fresh approach for Real Madrid’s 22-year-old French striker Karim Benzema. Footylatest.com

Why? So Manchester City can have 10 strikers and Real Madrid one?

Celtic midfielder Efrain Juarez says he is hurt by the six-month international ban imposed on him by Mexico following a late-night party but does not want to comment further. (Daily Express)

Former Mexico players have criticised the behaviour of Celtic’s Efrain Juarez and Arsenal’s Carlos Vela after the pair were banned for six months from the national squad for an alleged late-night party. (the Herald)

Really don’t think it’s too much of a punishment not having to fly half way around the world for six months. Considering there isn’t any big games for Mexico coming up I’d be throwing more parties if I was Juarez and Vela.

Newcastle are weighing up a £12.5m move for 28-year-old Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino, according to reports in Italy. Full story: TalkSport

Newcastle pulled a rabbit out of the hat when they got Hatem Ben Arfa but despite Fiorentina’s awful start don’t see Gilardino moving to England.

Roma want Manchester City keeper Shay Given – and Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni ­Trapattoni has encouraged him to consider a move to Serie A. Daily Mirror

A year ago Claudio Ranieri could do no wrong fast forward to this year and already the pressure is on the former Chelsea coach to turn his team around.

Manchester United are considering a move for Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone in the January transfer window. Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to be a big fan of the £16m-rated midfielder. caughtoffside.com

I for one am not as big fan of that £16 million price tag.

Nigeria striker Victor Obinna wants to make his loan move from Inter Milan to West Ham permanent because he likes the style of Premier League football. Daily Mirror

Or because he actually likes playing football which he never got to do with Inter.

Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland and Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg could be on their way to Arsenal in a £22m double swoop in January. caughtoffside.com

Arshavin aside Arsenal isn’t the type to make big moves in January. Plus Fulham won’t sell Hangeland mid season and the player himself has never said a peep about leaving with all these bigger clubs looking at him. It also makes no sense to sign Stekelenburg because he is already cup tied.

Liverpool pair Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres could be on their way out of Anfield as co-owner Tom Hicks plots a £280m buyout of partner George Gillett’s shares in the club. caughtoffside.com

Not saying this can’t be true but it’s quite easy to cause a panic by saying Hicks may sell players if he gains control of the club.

New Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has admitted that he wants to sign Manchester United striker Michael Owen. (Daily Star)

The problem with Michael Owen is that he was worn more suits than jerseys ever since leaving Liverpool. Michael Owen should also look at Louis Saha and realize there is life after Manchester United.

The agent of Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan, who currently plays for Norwegian club Rosenborg, has claimed that the 24-year-old, who has previously been linked with Manchester United, wants to play in the Premier League. imscouting.com

I’m shocked that a someone playing in Norway would love to play in England.

Spurs have joined Newcastle and Liverpool in the chase for 21-year-old FC Utrecht forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who made his international debut for the Netherlands in August. footylatest.com

Who also ripped Celtic apart in getting FC Utrecht into the Europa League.

Everton manager David Moyes is vying with Wolfsburg boss Steve McClaren for USA defender Jay DeMerit, who is a free agent following his release by Watford. talksport.co.uk

Jay DeMerit sure is taking his sweet time finding a new club. Would be hard to believe clubs weren’t calling after appearing in the World Cup.

Crystal Palace are set to step up their efforts to make striker James Vaughan’s three-month loan deal from Everton into a permanent signing. talksport.co.uk

Scoring a hat trick against Portsmouth doesn’t hurt your stock with a new club. It’s clear Vaughan’s career isn’t going anyway staying with Everton.

Co-owner Tom Hicks has launched a last-ditch attempt to retain control of Liverpool by looking to secure another refinancing deal against the club during talks with bankers in London. the Guardian

If your a banker and you see Tom Hicks walk into a room do you laugh in front of his face or wait til he leaves to do so?

Paul Ince wants to become manager of West Ham one day despite the abuse he has received at Upton Park since leaving the Hammers for Manchester United as a player in 1989. talkSPORT

Considering he is out of a job right now im sure Paul Ince would love to coach for any club.

Former Chelsea boss and current Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has been offered the Portugal job on an interim basis following the sacking of Carlos Queiroz. Daily Mirror

I’m sure Jose Mourinho loved having the Portuguese FA on their hands and knees begging him to take charge for two games. It’s not going to happen however. While Jose Mourinho is one of the few coaches who can call his own shots he’ll sure Real Madrid won’t allow him to leave and that will be that.

Manchester United are tracking Sporting Lisbon’s 20-year-old forward Wilson Eduardo, currently on loan at Portugal’s newly promoted side Beira-Mar. Daily Mirror

No way comparing Eduardo to you know who but Manchester Untied do have a great track record of buying players from Sporting.

Tottenham are monitoring the £5m-rated Hoffenheim striker Peniel Mlapa. The Togo-born 19-year-old has been dubbed the new Emmanuel Adebayor. talkSPORT

Being dubbed the new Emmanuel Adebayor isn’t what it once was.

United are also lining up a move for Tottenham’s Wilson Palacios, with Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson seeking a defensive midfielder in the continued absence of the injured Owen Hargreaves. caughtoffside.com

This is where the business of English football rubs me the wrong way. Tottenham ponied up £12 million to sign him from Wigan 18 months ago. Is Palacios worth 12 million? No, he is not. Will Tottenham sell him for the price they paid for him? No, they would not. Not that I’m convinced United have any real interest but if they did the price tag would be over 20 million which is silly money to spend on a player who three years ago you could of had for next to nothing.

The Gunners have joined Manchester United in tracking Werder Bremen winger Marko Marin.
Full story: footylatest.com

Marko Marin would of made a great plan B for the teams who failed to sign Ozil. Have a feeling both Arsenal and Manchester United have waited to long. Come next summer Werder Bremen will want Diego type money in any deal.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is planning a January move for Romanian side Cluj’s 20-year-old Ivorian striker Lacina Traore. caughtoffside.com

If Roy Hodgson was interested in Peter Crouch then the six foot eight Lacina Traore would make for an interesting plan B.

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia will be sidelined for six months following the horrific ankle injury he suffered against Rangers on Tuesday. talkSPORT

Former Manchester United forward Alan Smith has given his support to Valencia, having experienced a similar injury in 2006 that ruled him out of the sport for eight months. Smith, now at Newcastle, said: “There’s no getting away from the fact it is a hard road back from an injury like that but with determination, you can do it.” the Sun

Says the player who has never really made it back from his own injury.

Steve McClaren’s job as Wolfsburg boss is safe for the time being, despite his side losing the first three games. The ex-England manager received a vote of confidence and the German club’s managing director Dieter Hoeness said: “I won’t get the hammer out and start smashing things. The situation isn’t critical.” the Sun

If there is any positives to take from Wolfsburg awful start is the fact Louis Van Gaal didn’t exactly have the best of starts with Bayern Munich last year.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been lambasted for criticising Werder Bremen’s goalkeeper. The ex-Germany international turned television pundit questioned Tim Wiese’s positioning as Tottenham opened the scoring in Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw. Wiese responded by saying: “He [Lehmann] belongs in the Muppet Show, on the couch or in a mental institution.” Daily Mail

I remember saying when Jens Lehmann retired he should take up a career as a TV pundit. Good for Tim Wiese for his nice little shot back at Lehmann’s comments.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has earmarked Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta as the man he wants to replace Cesc Fabregas – if the Arsenal captain moves to Barcelona in the future. talkSPORT

Talksport must be gasping at straws linking Arteta yet again to Arsenal. While a very good player everyone know Wenger looks to spend money on younger players.

New Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier looks set to make fitness coach Robert Duverne – who was involved in a heated training ground altercation with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra during France’s disastrous World Cup campaign this summer – his first signing at Villa Park. imscouting.com

I loved how their termed it Houllier first signing. He is a fitness coach for crying out loud. Is the tea lady going to be the next big signing?

Former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi has ruled out a return to the Premier League, saying he wants to remain in Spain with Villarreal. The Italian was a reported target of Tottenham this summer. talkSPORT

Rossi didn’t exactly get a shot playing for Manchester United and he hated his time with Newcastle. Besides most people already know that if Rossi were to leave it would be for Serie A.

Blackpool are plotting a January transfer window move for Portsmouth striker David Nugent after narrowly missing out on the former England international this summer. Daily Mirror

David Nugent who played all of one game for England.

Kilmarnock are set to snap up Portuguese striker Rui Miguel on a one-year deal. The former CSKA Sofia player has been training with the Rugby Park outfit. Daily Record

Must suck for Rui Miguel to know that his claim to fame will always be this miss below. Frédéric Piquionne miss on the weekend against Chelsea wasn’t far off.

City are to reopen talks with Shaun Wright-Phillips over a new £70,000-a-week contract. The England winger has two years left on his contract but initial negotiations broke down over the length of a new one. the Sun

Even when the transfer window is shut it’s nice to see Manchester City throwing away money.

Aston Villa have opened contract negotiations with England winger Ashley Young but the 25-year-old, a target of Tottenham during the summer, first wants to see how the club performs under new manager Gerard Houllier before being rushed into a new long-term deal. Daily Mirror

Can’t blame Aston Villa for trying to lock up Ashley Young, Can’t blame Ashley Young for taking a wait and see approach.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has once again called for officials to protect his players after a tackle from Bolton’s Paul Robinson resulted in an injury to midfielder Abou Diaby, ruling him out of the Gunners’ Champions League game with Braga on Wednesday. Daily Mail

I’d love to see the kind of fit Arsene Wenger would of had if Antonio Valencia had been an Arsenal player going down with a broken ankle.

Tottenham could make a £6m move for Newcastle striker Andy Carroll in the January transfer window. The powerful 21-year-old has scored four league goals this season. talkSPORT

It’s not like Newcastle have a ton of strikers so they can afford to sell Andy Carroll, esp for £6 million. One good thing about bringing up local talent is unless Newcastle go down or a top tier club like Arsenal, Manchester United come along Carroll should be happy being the man with boyhood club Newcastle.

Spurs have also been linked with a move for Lazio’s Argentine striker Mauro Zarate. imscouting.com

I liked Zarate when he was playing with Birmingham but he hasn’ exactly taken the next step up since joining Lazio.

Everton remain keen to bring striker Landon Donovan to Goodison Park permanently after he enjoyed a successful loan spell at the club last season. His club Los Angeles Galaxy have put an £11m asking price on the United States international. talkSPORT

When you give up three goals a game Landon Donovan isn’t the answer to your problems.

Fulham striker Andrew Johnson, who has been plagued by shoulder and groin injuries, is targeting a return to action in October after what he describes as “the worst year of my life”. Daily Mirror

First Andrew Johnson and now Bobby Zamora. Fulham strikers haven’t had the best of luck staying fit.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that he was interested in signing Spain international David Villa from Valencia in the summer, but was thwarted by Barcelona, who bought the striker for around £35m. Daily Express

Worth every penny.

West Ham striker Benni McCarthy has been fined £80,000 for missing the club’s deadline to lose weight. The South African shed two stone after being treated at a clinic in Austria and is finally under the limit imposed on him by the Upton Park outfit. Daily Mail

McCarthy has never been the same after Blackburn didn’t sell him to Chelsea three years ago. Still no excuse for being fat.

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan is turning to John Lydon, who was the lead singer of punk band the Sex Pistols, to kick-start the team’s season. Strachan recently met Lydon and has been inspired by the words “Anger is an energy” in his 1986 hit Rise. “I hope we are angry because anger is an energy. We are angry with ourselves – there is no one else to blame,” said Strachan, whose team lost 3-0 at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Nothing like a 25 year old song to motivate a bunch of 25 year old players.