There Is Only One Sinnacle

Good job BBC for allowing me to embed this.

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs is to be offered £200,000 a week to finish his career in Dubai. United midfielder Paul Scholes and defender Gary Neville can also expect lucrative deals from Middle East clubs. Top outfits in the UAE League, including Al Ahli, have already discussed signing the trio next summer. the Sun

Provided Sir Alex still wants all three around can’t see them leaving even for 200k a week.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to bolster his central midfield options and has put Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich and Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone at the top of his wish list.
Full story: Daily Star

Meanwhile Ferguson is considering an audacious double swoop to bring Napoli’s attacking pair Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani to Old Trafford. caughtoffside

First choice Schweinsteiger and a close second would be Hamsik. Tom Huddlestone, not so much considering the price tag Tottenham will put on him.

Sunderland have put a £20m price tag on midfielder Jordan Henderson, who is being tracked by Manchester United. Daily Express

Can’t blame Sunderland for slapping on that price tag. Still can’t see Henderson playing for Sunderland in two years time at this pace.

Liverpool are ready to offer Roma’s want-away striker Mirko Vucinic an escape route in January.
Full story: TalkSport

And Liverpool have been offered Lyon’s Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez. Daily Mirror

Lisandro Lopez has scored against Liverpool in the Champions League for both Porto and Lyon but Mirko Vucinic would be the better choice between the two.

Spurs are also continuing to monitor Karim Benzema’s situation at Real Madrid but fear being priced out of an impending auction for the French striker. Full story: Daily Mail

Spurs are loving the Rafael van der vaart signing so it would make sense for them to try and sign a player rotting on the bench at Real Madrid.

Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel is set to play into his forties with the club ready to offer the 39-year-old American a new contract. Daily Mail

Well deserved.

Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar, who turns 40 today, has set his sights on another Premier League and Champions League double before calling time on his career. Daily Mirror

Guess van der Sar won’t be hanging them up for awhile.

Striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina are ready to quit Liverpool in January because of escape clauses in their contracts. Daily Mirror

I know Liverpool fans love Fernando Torres and with good reason but you can say he has quit on them long before the January transfer window opens up. Still can’t see either leaving til at least the summer.

Chelsea are facing intense competition from Real Madrid for the signing of 17-year-old Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian sensation has been described as “the next Didier Drogba” and his club have already turned down a bid of £17.5m for the player, rumoured to be from Tottenham.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Lukaku would be a perfect 3rd striker for Real Madrid. What he losses in playing time he would gain just training with the first time.

Bayern Munich have launched a £40m bid to rival Manchester City for the signing of Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko in January. Daily Mail

You can’t say no to 40 million if it happens. Not many clubs currently are throwing around that kind of money.

Blackpool midfielder and captain Charlie Adam is at loggerheads with his employers over an unpaid £20,000 payment in his contract and could walk out on the club for nothing. Daily Mirror

Considering Blackpool are due 50 million in TV money cut your best player a cheque and move on.

Blackburn could bring Birmingham City winger Sebastian Larsson and Manchester City striker John Guidetti to Ewood Park if Venky’s group buys the club. Daily Mirror

Not exactly names that will send your fans into a fever pitch. I do like Larsson however.

Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz intends to leave the club in January – and suggests fellow City forward Carlos Tevez could follow him through the exit door. the Guardian

Can’t picture Carlos Tevez going anywhere unless he rasies a Wayne Rooney like stink. It does suit the pattern however with Tevez never staying very long with one club.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes will try to bring Santa Cruz to Craven Cottage during the January transfer window. Hughes signed the Paraguay frontman while in charge of Manchester City and Blackburn. Full story: Daily Mail

Santa Cruz has to go somewhere if he wishes to play football again.

Manchester City may make a move for Lazio’s Romanian defender Stefan Radu, who is eager to leave the Italian club in the January transfer window. talkSPORT

One of the key reasons for Lazio’s turn around this season is selling Aleksandar Kolarov to Manchester United. With that money they then went out and brought Hernanes who is pulling all the right strings in the Lazio midfield.

The Eastlands outfit are also interested in Sporting Lisbon defender Daniel Carrico. Juventus and Atletico Madrid are among those eyeing the Portugal Under-21 star. Daily Mirror

Portuguese football can’t produce a striker but boy can they develop defenders and midfielders.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will not target any marquee signings in the January transfer window as New England Sports Ventures, the club’s new owner, looks to put a stop to the profligate spending the company believes has hampered the club’s progress in recent years. Daily Telegraph

All that doom and gloom aside, January is an awful time to try and remake the club anyway.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he is under pressure to bring the club’s five-year wait for a trophy to an end this season. Daily Express

If Mourinho goes so much as one season without a trophy calls for his head are made. Even when he won the Carling and FA Cup double they still wanted him out. Wenger has it good with Arsenal and to be fair he’s been good to the club as well.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has denied whipping up the frenzy that led referee Willie Collum to receive death threats following Sunday’s Old Firm defeat by Rangers. (Daily Record)

Neil Lennon didn’t help matters with his comments after the match.

Manchester United fans flocked to the club’s Old Trafford megastore on Tuesday. However, it was not striker Wayne Rooney’s name they wanted on the back of their replica jerseys – it was that of Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, the new United hero who has his nickname Chicarito emblazoned across his number 14 shirt. Daily Star

I’ve said it before but I know I’ll be eating my words when this transfer was announced for along time.

Let me just say much like the rest of the football world I am sadden about the sudden loss of Paul the World Cup octopus.

Manchester United are targeting Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina in a sensational £12m swoop.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Everyone knows these Liverpool to Manchester United rumours can’t happen in real life.

Inter Milan are ready to reopen talks with Wesley Sneijder over a new contract as they fear Manchester United will make a January bid for the midfielder. talkSPORT

Can’t picture Wesley Sneijder staying fit playing in England. On Inter’s side it’s not like Sneijder contract is coming due anytime soon. There is no panic and I’m sure everyone will be happy when it’s done.

Tottenham have joined Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign striker Romelu Lukaku from Belgian club Anderlecht. Daily Mirror

I say it every two weeks or so but if Romelu Lukaku were a stock I’d be running out to buy it.

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko may be heading to Manchester City in a £40m deal.
Full story: Daily Mail

Just recently Dzeko said he preferred Italy over England but in the end money talks.

Everton have been told by Burnley there is no chance of landing their midfielder Chris Eagles in January. Daily Mirror

Then they will land Eagles when he is a free agent this summer.

Newcastle United are ready to challenge Everton for the loan signing of Landon Donovan in January. Donovan spent time on loan at Goodison Park last season. goal.com

Rescept for Donovan if he goes out on loan but you would think at some point he’d want a rest.

Italian side Juventus are considering a move for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, who had a spell with Inter Milan in the 2000/01 season. insidefutbol.com

Not happen and it’s easy to say clubs are considering signing so and so. If means nothing until a phone call is made.

England coach Fabio Capello has warned Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney that he cannot consider himself an automatic choice for the national side. Daily Star

Yeah he can. I’m sure Capello would love having to deal with questions asking why Rooney is on the bench.

Former Southampton player Matthew Le Tissier has hit out at today’s footballers, suggesting that “money goes to their head and they think they can do whatever they please”. Daily Express

Le Tissier is one of the few players who can say that and have it mean something.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina says that his Liverpool team-mates are to blame for not assisting striker Fernando Torres to score more goals this season. “We know he is the type of player that can win a game just like that but we can’t expect him to keep doing it on his own,” said Reina of his fellow Spaniard.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Reina may be right but it isn’t smart to say it in the press.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to launch a bid to sign Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes. caughtoffside.com

Now that Manchester United are rumoured to have 100 million to play with look for a host of players to be linked with them. I’ll give credit to Bayern Munich they either sell players they want to move or if a player wants out they dig in their heels til they get every last dollar for the player. Owen Hargreaves being the perfect example of this.

United’s pursuit of Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has been dealt a blow after Massimo Moratti, the president of the Italian club, said the Dutchman would be staying with the European champions.
Full story: imscouting.com

The only person who should be happy with Jose Mourinho going to Real Madrid is Samuel Eto’o who is scoring goals for fun. Everyone else has seemed to take a step back.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway says he could struggle to hold on to Charlie Adam if the Premier League’s big clubs make offers for the in-form midfielder in January. the Sun

The former Rangers midfielder has done enough to deserve a new club and a raise. Blackpool wouldn’t cry about getting a 5 million plus offer for the player.

Liverpool are reportedly considering an audacious swoop for Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, whose contract at Goodison Park expires this summer. caughtoffside.com

The whole Liverpool-Everton thing aside, In the EPL marketplace Steven Pienaar is a 10 million player. If you can get him on a free transfer you’d at least have to think about it.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is planning a big-money move for midfielder Gareth Bale from London rivals Tottenham this summer. caughtoffside.com

Chelsea and big time do not go hand and hand anymore. I also loved reading the story on the weekend about Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck wanting a salary cap.

Atletico Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores has emerged as a potential candidate to manage Liverpool, who are ready to sack Roy Hodgson following the club’s poor start to the season. caughtoffside.com

Quique Sanchez Flores didn’t do anything for me in his year year at Benfica. He has had success with Valencia and Atletico Madrid but considering Liverpool need a manager who has won league titles I’m not sure Flores would be the right man.

Redknapp has offered his support to Peter Crouch in the face of criticism from fans over the striker’s lack of goals. “He gives you something else,” said Redknapp of Crouch, who has not scored in the Premier League since May. “You take Crouchie out of there and you’ve got to play perfect football to break teams down.” Daily Mail

In other words Peter Crouch is playing like Emile Heskey.

Manager Walter Smith has told Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon, who complained about the referee, it was the Rangers side and not Willie Collum that defeated the Parkhead outfit in Sunday’s Old Firm derby. (Various)

An old coaches trick. Blame the referee when your players came up short. Takes the focus away from them.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher became the second-highest scorer of Premier League own goals after putting into his own net during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Blackburn. The centre-back has now scored seven own goals, one behind Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne, who had also scored at the wrong end this weekend in his side’s 1-0 loss at Sunderland.

Never been the biggest fan of Jamie Carragher but hard to blame him for that own goal. His defensive partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos, not too shaby lately.

Hopefully this news puts everything to bed. In a stunning turn of events Wayne Rooney has signed a new five year contract with Manchester United after saying he wanted to leave. This reminds me of the Steven Gerrard saga many years ago where he signed a new Liverpool deal after many felt he was days away from joining Chelsea. All things considered wonder if Gerrard has second doubts about staying given everything that has happen. Wonder if Rooney will feel the same way in five years time but til then all is well in the world of Manchester United as the golden boy decided to stay after having a wandering eye there for a bit.

I’m picturing Sir Alex and Wayne Rooney listening to this song right about now.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has rubber-stamped a deal to take Wayne Rooney to Stamford Bridge, making him one of the world’s richest players. Abramovich could compete with Manchester City’s £250,000-a-week package for the Manchester United striker but might offer only £20m for him.
Full story: Daily Mail

This isn’t 2006 and Chelsea are rolling quite along nicely at the moment. Buying Wayne Rooney may throw off the balance in the dressing room and on the field.

Chelsea captain John Terry has invited Rooney to join him at the south-west London outfit after calling him “the best player in the world”. Daily Mirror

Almost as dumb as saying John Terry is the best defender in the world.

Rooney’s wage demands are deterring Spanish giants Real Madrid from making a move for the player.
Full story: imscouting.com

More than Kaka less than Ronaldo. Rooney’s people would have some balls asking for more than what Ronaldo makes if those stories are true.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen to sign Roma’s French defender Philippe Mexes, who has fallen out of favour with coach Claudio Ranieri. imscouting.com

I think a lot of players have been falling out of favour with Claudio Ranieri with the way Roma are playing this season.

Joe Januszewski, the Boston Red Sox executive who persuaded John W Henry to buy the club, has been appointed chief operating officer – replacing Christian Purslow after he stepped down as managing director on Wednesday. Daily Mail

Boy I wish I had the ear of someone who can buy a soccer club.

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has spoken to Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney about joining him at Australian A-League club Perth Glory. (AP)

I must admit I couldn’t stop laughing over this.

‘A LACK OF RESPECT’: Manchester United are already preparing for Wayne Rooney’s possible exit in January and have made inquiries about unsettled Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. the Independent

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer and Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff could all be on Manchester United’s shopping list if they sell Rooney. Full story: caughtoffside.com

What an interesting press conference Sir Alex Ferguson had yesterday. If your 21 and older I can understand Manchester United fans being upset. They have seen at somepoint in their lives Manchester United teams built with players who were the root of that club. Players who bleed red and all that. It’s a tough pill to swallow the fact most players look at the club they play for like we do the companies that we work for. The previous sentence however is a fact. Wayne Rooney didn’t grow up just outside of Liverpool of all places wanting to win the Champions League for Manchester United. Wayne Rooney just wanted to win the Champions League. It just happened at the time he left Everton, Manchester United were the best team to accomplish that.

Top players like Wayne Rooney are made well aware by agents that they are a commodity with only a certain life span before a club does away with you. Loyalty stopped being a word in football along time ago. At best you can only hope to be professional like Ronaldo was in his final Manchester United season when it was clear he wanted out. This is the world of football now, unless you are playing a bunch of players who grew up in the area don’t except any player not to look elsewhere if something better comes along.

Spurs are two players away from being serious challengers for the Premier League title, says manager Harry Redknapp. Daily Mail

If Harry Redknapp can find two more players like van der Vaart who are top class players in need of a fresh start he could be right.

Palermo striker Javier Pastore has tried to silence reports linking him to Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona by insisting he is in no rush to leave the Sicilian club. Daily Mail

Different players but Javier Pastore is having the same type of season as Angel Di Maria had last year where everything just came together and everyone is noticing it.

Real Madrid’s 2-0 Champions League win over AC Milan on Tuesday means Jose Mourinho became the first coach in his club’s history to remain unbeaten in their first 10 games. the Guardian

Nice way to end this post I feel.

Striker Wayne Rooney is ready to contemplate a move to Manchester City after Manchester United refuse to match his £200,000-a-week wage demands. Daily Telegraph

Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson have not spoken since falling out after allegations about the striker’s private life became public in September. the Sun

Talk about overkill with so many pieces in play from Cheslea, Manchester City and Real Madrid. Don’t think this story will die down anytime soon.

Chelsea may make a new bid for Liverpool star Torres in January. A £25m offer was rejected by the Anfield outfit last summer. (the Times)

John Herny and his boys wouldn’t be getting off to the best of starts with Liverpool fans if they sold Torres, or Gerrard for that matter.

West Brom are set to offer striker Tuncay a way out of Stoke but the Baggies will face competition from Turkish sides Galatasaray and Besiktas. Daily Mirror

I still like Tuncay who is a very poor man’s version of Carlos Tevez. He needs to get out of Stoke A.S.A.P.

Inter Milan winger Wesley Sneijder has called on PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, who is a target for Arsenal, to join him in Italy. imscouting.com

Afellay can take Sneijder place when he gets hurt every couple of months.

Shakhtar Donetsk striker Eduardo da Silva insists he will not celebrate if he scores against former club Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday night. the Independent

But he will dive in the penalty box if given the chance.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is planning a £55m swoop for AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato next summer. caughtoffside.com

Ancelotti better be perpared to spend most of that 55 million himself. The big boss isn’t spending that lavishly anymore.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unlikely be welcomed back at Barcelona once his loan spell with AC Milan ends after suggesting Barca coach Pep Guardiola has it easy. “In Barca, anyone can be the coach,” said the Swede. “For me, even, it would not be difficult to do it.” talkSPORT

Don’t see these two exchanging Christmas cards this year.