There Is Only One Sinnacle

[picappgallerysingle id="9532763"]

Liverpool will move for Athletic Bilbao’s 6ft 5in striker Fernando Llorente, if they lose Fernando Torres in January. talkSPORT

The second someone makes a move for Llorente either Real Madrid or Barcelona will make theirs and that will be that.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is considering a January move for Tottenham’s out-of-favour winger David Bentley. caughtoffside.com

They better sign Bentley on the cheap. Werid seeing Liverpool linked to a player on Tottenham’s bench and not the other way around.

Real Madrid have joined the race for Liverpool and Arsenal target Ibrahim Affelay, who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven. IM Scouting

Real Madrid aren’t the type to sign players on a free transfers. Javier Saviola and Jerzy Dudek being the only other free transfer I can remember with neither making much of an impact.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insists he will not quit despite the club slumping to a third defeat in a row against Polish side Lech Poznan in the Europa League: “I will stay at City until they fire me,” he vowed. The Sun

Damn right, I’m sure the pay is pretty good on the 15th and 30th of every month. I wouldn’t be walking away from that over three losses.

Sorry that is all for now. Seems to be a quiet day.

[picappgallerysingle id="9928586"]

French midfielder Patrick Vieira has denied reports of a rift at Manchester City. “It’s wrong to say there is no unity among the players,” he said. “I’ve been at Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan and players argue. That is part of the game.” (1010 GMT) talkSPORT

In-fighting is not uncommon but it’s clear these Manchester City players don’t go the extra mile for Roberto Mancini.

Tottenham have put a £50m price tag on Gareth Bale – and would bank the entire transfer fee if he leaves after removing, following renegotiations, the 25 per cent sell-on clause that was part of the original agreement with Southampton. goal.com

Bless football fans who cheer on lower league clubs. If you are a Southampton fan I don’t know how you can sleep at night watching Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott star for Arsenal and Tottenham.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is interested in Santos’ 18-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar.
Full story: caughtoffside

Won’t be interested once Santos quotes the fee needed to buy him.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has warned the club’s new director of football strategy Damien Comolli that he has the final say on transfers and team selection. Daily Mirror

The noose is slowly tightening around Roy Hodgson neck. You have an owner who didn’t hire you and now a director above you.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that the players at the club are still behind him after the club was rocked by bitter rows and splits in the dressing room. the Sun

Behind him with a knife

[picappgallerysingle id="10118989"]

Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale has received a glowing report from Italian journalists in the wake of Inter Milan’s 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane on Tuesday. Corriere dello Sport declared: “Bale show, Superb Bale,” and Tuttosport enthused: “Frightening Bale, he sweeps away Inter.” (Press Association)

The difference between Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho besides 12 or so more titles is the fact Mourinho would never let Gareth Bale run wild like that after scoring a hat trick in the previous game. You would think Benitez would have a plan other than letting Maicon get beat time and time again.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is tracking Sampdoria and Italy’s 28-year-old striker Antonio Cassano.
Full story: Metro

Antonio Cassano needs a special kind of manager to bring out his talents. Roy Hodgson is not that man.

Manchester City are open to offers for their winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is seeking a deal in the region of £100,000 a week. the Independent

The diffenence between the Shaun Wright-Phillips of the world and Gareth Bale is the fact Bale’s last ball is often lethal. With Shaun Wright-Phillips everything looks good til the final ball which is usually off the mark.

Aston Villa striker John Carew looks set to be offloaded by boss Gerard Houllier, who axed the player while the two were at Lyon. (Daily Express)

That John Carew for Milan Baros deal work out for Lyon. Baros has had no problem hitting the back of the net for Galatasaray however.

Manchester United are in talks to bring Mexico international striker Humberto Suazo to Old Trafford from Monterrey. The 29-year-old is valued at £10m by his current club. talkSPORT

29 year old players who play outside of Europe are not the type Sir Alex spends money on.

Arsenal have moved ahead of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham and into pole position to sign Werder Bremen playmaker Marko Marin. footylatest.com

Werder Breman fans are going to end up wondering what a midfield with Ozil and Marko Marin could of looked like.

Juventus defensive midfielder Claudio Marchisio has caught the eye of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who may bid for the 24-year-old either in January or at the end of the season.
Full story: footylatest.com

Claudio Marchisio would catch the eye of a lot of managers. If Manchester United ever send Michael Carrick packing, Marchisio would be a great replacement.

West Ham will cash in on out-of-favour striker Carlton Cole in January, with the Hammers hoping Liverpool revive their interest. Daily Mail

Oh, now West Ham wants to sell Carlton Cole who has scored 1 goal this season.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, who watches DVDs of former Gunners striker Thierry Henry in a bid to emulate his hero, is not far off from becoming the club’s main target man, according to his manager Arsene Wenger. Various

Been hearing this for three years.

Former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari says the credit for improvements to Blues players such as Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole is down to him. Daily Mail

I don’t picture Drogba agreeing with this statement.

Carlo Ancelotti insists there will be life for him after Chelsea. The 51-year-old Blues boss says he would like to coach a national team. Various

When you are in your 60′s coaching a national team is the way to go. Ancelotti still has along way to go on club level.

Manchester United striker Michael Owen is considering leaving the Premier League and heading for the MLS in America. caughtoffside

No idea if Michael Owen still has the passion for football anymore but if he did MLS isn’t the worst option. There will be little pressure to live up to the past compared to playing in Europe plus he’ll play every week when fit.

Gareth Bale’s performances down Tottenham’s left flank have attracted the attention of Spanish giants Barcelona. Daily Mirror

Gareth Bale is saying and doing all the right things but come the summer he’ll be tempted to bolt for an elite European club.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will reportedly make a £25m summer move for Bale and is willing to offer a variety of players in part exchange for the Welsh international. caughtoffside

After the battles Manchester United and Tottenham have had in the past can’t see Tottenham selling Bale to United with the likes of Inter and Barcelona also possibly calling.

Barcelona may have a vacancy to fill at right-back because Brazil international Dani Alves has emerged as a target for big-spending Manchester City. Daily Mail

Only down side about having a club with so much talent is everyone wants to be paid. Dani Alves looks at what some of his team mates are getting and now wants his too.

Tottenham may snap up former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari from Inter Milan, although Pompey are still owed money on the deal that took the Ghana international to the San Siro. Daily Mirror

I know Harry Redknapp and Sulley Muntari know each other well but he is no better than what Tottenham already have.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is also hoping to sign Sampdoria attacker Antonio Cassano.
Full story: caughtoffside

I’m sure Cassano would fit in well at Liverpool and not cause any problems.

Galatasaray captain and Turkey winger Arda Turan has ruled out a move to the Premier League after being linked with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and, most recently, Liverpool. sport.co.uk

Turan didn’t strike after the fire was hot coming off his great Euro 2008 performance. Once he decided to stay at Galatasaray then you knew he was very happy at the club.

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is almost certainly out of the derby match against Manchester United on 10 November after suffering a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury. Daily Mirror

More like a setback in recovery from homesickness.

Dutch stars Rafael Van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder have been trading insults on social networking site Twitter ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game between Tottenham and Inter Milan. Tottenham midfielder Van der Vaart tweeted: “Oi…Wesley! Your defence is like a piece of our Dutch cheese – it’s full of holes.” And his Inter counterpart replied: “Oi…Rafael! Good news: I have found you a decent keeper – just go to eBay.” the Sun

Perfect way to end off today’s post.

Manchester United are ready to launch a £35m bid to bring Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko to Old Trafford next summer. caughtoffside

Like Dzeko but feel someone is going to pay way too much for him like Bayern Munich did with Mario Gomez. To be fair, Gomez is finally starting to produce.

Arsenal and Tottenham are considering a January move for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger.
Full story: caughtoffside

Agger has been frozen out. Doubt those Real Madrid rumours of a year or two ago were true but if so Agger must be kicking himself over that failed move.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is keeping tabs on Stuttgart’s Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Full story: caughtoffside

At 6’2 Pogrebnyak has the size to succeed in the English game. His strike rate of one goal in three games isn’t great but isn’t awful either.

Out-of-favour Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, who is wanted by Fulham, is on the verge of sealing a January loan move to Spanish side Getafe. Daily Mail

Manchester City isn’t going to do their old boss Mark Hughes any favours. Unless Fulham ponies up some big time cash (for Fulham anyway) can’t see Manchester City giving Santa Cruz away.

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra is eying a January move, with his club willing to sell him to England’s Premier League. Manchester United and Tottenham are expected to launch a bid. IMscouting

Won’t be the first time Mourinho has gotten rid of Diarra but can’t see this happening til the year of the season.

Manchester City players want manager Roberto Mancini sacked, believing they will never challenge for the Premier League title with the Italian in charge. the Sun

Mancini is not exactly a warm and fuzzy person but you still gotta feel bad when Manchester City lose one game and already the press are after his head.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is in line for an Football Association charge after he appeared to question referee Mark Clattenburg’s integrity following Manchester United’s disputed second goal at Old Trafford. Daily Mail

Clattenburg needed security guards at Old Trafford to protect him from enraged Tottenham players after the game, which United won 2-0. the Sun

Funny didn’t hear Harry Redknapp say anything about Heurelho Gomes not playing til the whistle.