EPL Gossip Monday December 27th
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Real Madrid anchorman Lassana Diarra is an £11m target for Manchester United after falling out of favour at the Bernabeu.
Full story: IMScouting
If Lass is unhappy with life in Madrid there is a good chance he’d be unhappy with life in Manchester. It’s not like he would be penciled in to start every match.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has made his admiration of Newcastle striker Andy Carroll public, but admits the Magpies would be reluctant to sell. However he might find it easier to snare Wolfsburg forward Edin Dzeko whose price has dropped to about £25m. Guardian
I wonder if Andy Carroll sees Alan Shearer career as a great thing, playing for his beloved club or a bad thing, never winning a thing with Newcastle?
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to be given at least £50m to spend in January and has again turned his attention to Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Daily Mail
Boston Red Sox’s don’t plan on trading Carl Crawford to the Yankees and I’m sure Liverpool don’t plan on selling Reina to Manchester United. Time to move on now.
Although a possible alternative goalkeeper for Ferguson is Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler, who has an escape clause in his contract allowing him to join United if they meet the German club’s valuation, thought to be nearly £20m. Daily Mail
I’m sure Bayer Leverkusen wouldn’t be too sad cashing in 20 million for a goalie.
Manchester United could also be close to a £13m deal for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young. caughtoffside.com
Villa fans are pissed off as it is. Reading this won’t help.
Manchester City and Chelsea target David Luiz will cost either club £35m if they are to prise the defender away from Portuguese club Benfica. Daily Mirror
In other words leave us alone til the summer.
New Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean has revealed he is interested in signing LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham in January. Full story: talkSPORT
Who wouldn’t want to play for Blackburn in January? Lovely part of the world that time of year.
West Ham manager Avram Grant is hopeful of completing the signing of Aston Villa’s Steve Sidwell after hinting the midfielder passed his medical on Wednesday. talkSPORT
Pretty big hint I would say.
Out-of-form Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has emerged as a surprise target for West Ham. caughtoffside.com
Cole has been going downhill since his Chelsea days but I’m sure Roy Hodgson isn’t the coach to bring the best out of Cole.
Birmingham have held initial discussions with Tottenham over the possibility of signing striker Robbie Keane on loan.
Full story: Daily Mirror
This makes too much sense for it not to happen.
Wolves and Aston Villa are braced to battle each other for Middlesbrough pair Gary O’Neil and David Wheater.
Full story: Daily Mirror
I’m sure O’Neil and Wheater really want to go to Wolves and find themselves back in the Championship in the fall.
Former England manager Graham Taylor was so annoyed by the sacking of Sam Allardyce at Blackburn that he refused to eat chicken or turkey for Christmas dinner in protest at the decision by the club’s Indian owners, and chicken processing company, the Venky’s Group. (Daily Express)
What did he have to eat then?