There Is Only One Sinnacle

Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing’s transfer to Liverpool has led to talks opening up between the clubs over a move in the opposite direction for midfielder Joe Cole. Full story: Metro

After losing Ashley Young and Stewart Downing I don’t think Aston Villa fans need more bad news hearing Joe Cole is coming in.

Manchester United and Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez is finally set to end speculation over his future by signing for Barcelona this week. Both Manchester clubs had approached Udinese about signing the Chile forward. Full story: Talksport

The Copa America is holding up a lot of transfers this month.

Chelsea have agreed a £5m fee with Belgian side Genk to make keeper Thibault Courtois the first signing for new manager Andre Villas-Boas. Full story: Daily Mirror

Not exactly the first signing Chelsea fans were hoping for.

Stoke chairman Peter Coates may have wrecked the club’s £4.5m move for Carlton Cole by questioning the West Ham striker’s injury record in a TV interview. Angry Cole could now stay at Upton Park or move to QPR instead. Full story: Daily Mirror

Never been the biggest fan of Carlton Cole but the 4.5 million price tag is considering pretty cheap by English standards.

Tottenham are the latest side to express an interest in FC Basel midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri – who would cost about £5m. Full story: Talksport

Shaqiri is worth double that.

But Tottenham and Sevilla are at loggerheads over a proposed deal to take Giovani dos Santos to Spain. The Mexican midfielder has failed to establish himself at White Hart Lane and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to offload him this summer. Full story: Talksport

Real Madrid and Barcelona aside any other Spanish club should be tripping over themselves to sign Giovani dos Santos.

Wigan have increased the asking price for Charles N’Zogbia. They now want over £9m for the winger, who is being targeted by Aston Villa and Everton. Full story: Daily Mirror

As Wigan should. You can’t tell me N’Zogbia is hlf the player Downing is. Aston Villa would be smart to sign N’Zogbia for 10-12 million.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor says Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is a better manager than Arsenal’s Wenger and City’s Roberto Mancini. Full story: Metro

Adebayor knows where his bread is buttered. Even players with a bad rep fall in line quickly once the Special One gets a hold of them.

Manchester United will use Nani as bait in their bid to lure Sneijder to Old Trafford. Full story: Daily Star

Wesley Sneijder could join Manchester United from Inter Milan for £35m within the next 48 hours after agreeing personal terms of £190,000 a week. Full story: Daily Mirror

I don’t know why United would even considering giving up Nani. How many wide players can give you 10 goals and 10 assists in a season? If Downing is worth 20 million then you can easily claim Nani is worth 30 million alone.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish wants the club’s owner Randy Lerner to splash out £7m on West Ham midfielder Scott Parker – and is also eyeing Fiorentina winger Juan Manuel Vargas as a replacement for Stewart Downing, who is set to join Liverpool. Full story: Daily Mirror

Selling Downing for 20 million is good busines plain and simple. The key here is who Aston Villa is going to spend that money, sadly I don’t have faith in Alex McLeish to attach the right fix of players to make up for the losses of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. On the Liverpool side of things I like Carroll, Henderson, and Downing but I hate how much they have paid for them.

Diego Maradona’s problems during his playing days in Italy could give Manchester City the upper hand as they battle with Juventus over the Argentina legend’s £40m-rated son-in-law Sergio Aguero, who plays as a forward for Atletico Madrid. Full story: Daily Mirror

Interesting point. I do love the fact that everytime Maradona goes to Italy the Tax man comes knocking.

Midfielder Patrick Vieira is set to confirm he has accepted a coaching role at Manchester City and will call time on his playing career. Full story: the Sun

Great player, Arsenal have yet to replace him.

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has denied rumours that he wants to leave White Hart Lane.
Full story: Talksport

Why would he want to leave? It’s not like Manchester United or Chelsea are calling.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit back at Barcelona star Xavi for claiming Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas is “suffering” at the London club. Barcelona have refused to up their £31.6m offer for Fabregas. Full story: the Sun

Good on you Wenger. No one ever calls out Barcelona for being disrespectful when players like Xavi and Victor Valdes go on and on about Cecs Fabregas wanting to play for Barcelona so badly.

Midfielder Denilson may have played his last game for Arsenal after being substituted during a pre-season friendly in Malaysia when he had only been on the field for 20 minutes and then storming down the tunnel. Full story: Metro

I don’t think many Arsenal fans would care if Denilson left.

Inter Milan and Manchester United are “in talks” over a £35m deal for midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
Full story: goal.com

United chief executive David Gill is in Milan putting the finishing touches to a deal to bring the Dutch playmaker to Old Trafford. Full story: the Sun

Inter is in a tricky spot here. Wesley Sneijder is worth around 35 million but it looks bad on Inter if they sell one of their best players when they are trying to catch up to A.C Milan.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is poised to usurp Corinthians in the battle to land Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez. Brazilian club Corinthians have made a £37m offer for the Argentine.
Full story: Daily Mirror

I can’t see Tevez in a Real Madrid shirt but I’d love to hear the excuse how he moved to Real Madrid in order to be closer to his family.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola says he is “optimistic” about landing Cesc Fabregas as the Catalan outfit prepares to make a third bid to sign the Arsenal midfielder in a £35m deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror

£35m million for Fabregas and £35m for Alexis Sanchez and that would be quite a bit of spending for “poor” Barcelona.

Chelsea are hopeful that West Ham’s desire to trim their wage bill will mean a proposal to take Hammers skipper Scott Parker on loan for the season will be successful.

Interesting idea but have a feeling West Ham rather have the 8 or so million Parker would fetch right now.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to gazump Arsenal in the race for Bolton defender Gary Cahill – on the advice of Blues captain John Terry. Full story: Daily Mirror

This only makes sense to m if Gary Cahill replaces John Terry.

Tottenham have given the biggest indication yet that they are prepared to sell Luka Modric by making a £12.3m offer for Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero.
Full story: Daily Mail

One of the nicest things I’ve read Mourinho say about a player is that it hurts him leaving Granero out of the starting eleven when he does everything that is asked of him. You can’t go wrong with a player when someone like Mourinho says that.

Liverpool are ready to sign Lyon defender Aly Cissokho in a £10m deal after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his club were out of the running. Full story: caughtoffside

Cissokho won’t be missed by his Lyon teammates but he’d easily become a top five left back in the EPL.

Liverpool will move for Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge after their advances for Everton’s Leighton Baines were rejected. Full story: Metro

Liverpool just got out from under the rock that was Paul Konchesky. Why would they make the same mistake twice in signing Wayne Bridge?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Manchester City’s lucrative sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi government and has close links with City owner Sheikh Mansour, is a test of the credibility of Uefa’s financial fair play rules. Full story: the Guardian

Wenger may be right with his point but I loved how John W Henry jumped on the bandwagon. It bugs me to no end how he complains about the New York Yankees spending money when he has done everything he could do to whore out every last penny out of Fenway Park which he will be with Liverpool once he figures out to build a new stadium or not. If Etihad offered 400 million to John W Henry do you think he’d turn it down?

I wish Kenny Powers was my MFCEO….”What’s up dog, I just killed you.”

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder is poised to seal a £35m switch to Manchester United this week. The Netherlands international’s earnings will surpass striker Wayne Rooney’s £220,000-a-week wages at Old Trafford. Full story: the Sun

Which I’m sure will go down well in the Manchester United locker room.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is under consideration for a shock return to Chelsea because Michael Essien may be sidelined for six months because of a knee injury.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Poor Essien as Chelsea is a totally different team with him in the lineup. He is pretty much the only player Chelsea has which can’t be replaced. Scott Parker would love for this to be true.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have made an improved offer for Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric, with a bid of £27m lodged with the White Hart Lane club. Full story: Daily Mail

35 million, that is the number. I also don’t know why Modric was going on about this gentleman’s agreement. Him and his agent are fools for not putting a buyout clause in that contract.

Chelsea will target Real Madrid playmaker Kaka if Spurs continue to resist their approaches for Modric. Full story: Metro

Those pictures have a fat Kaka in a neck brace on vacation scared me.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Celtic are weighing up Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Full story: Daily Mail

After his then team record singing of 9 million from Hearts I expected more from Craig Gordon. You really wouldn’t put him in the top 5 EPL goalies, maybe not even the top 10.

Blackburn could make a move for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, possibly in a swap deal that would take defender Chris Samba to Spurs. Full story: Daily Mirror

Who wants to play for Blackburn? If I was Defoe I’m not exactly giving up London life to play for Chicken farmers.

Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega has emerged as a £10m target for Villarreal as the Spanish side look for a replacement for the Juventus-bound Giuseppe Rossi.
Full story: the Sun

You mean Jozy Altidore isn’t going to replace Giuseppe Rossi?

Arsenal have confirmed Nicklas Bendtner is “talking to other clubs”, with Aston Villa, Fulham, Bolton and Newcastle thought to be interested. Full story: Metro

Decent talent, awful attitude.

Defender Roger Johnson is set to leave relegated Birmingham and move to Wolves in a deal that could rise to £7m. Full story: Daily Mirror

Soild defender who I can’t blame for wanting to leave the mess that is Birmingham right now.

Rangers may offer former striker Kenny Miller a third spell at Ibrox because the 31-year-old is unsettled at Bursaspor after moving to Turkey in January. Full story: Daily Record

Shocking that an English/Scottish based player can’t seem to handle life outside the island.

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton believes the club will never follow rivals Manchester City in changing the name of their stadium as part of a sponsorship deal. “It’s not our policy to change the name of Old Trafford. It’s too important,” he said. Full story: the Sun

Apples to Oranges. Old Trafford has a long history. Manchester City was built like 10 years ago, change that name and pocket some extra cash I’d say.

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I’ve been rolled up in a ball at work and at home swearing at my teeth. The worst part about having a tooth ache is the fact it isn’t a manly injury. There is no bruise to show off so unless you’ve been through you most likely are going to think suck it up.

Thankfully tomorrow at 8am there are going to yuck these damn things out. My only experience with wisdom teeth was my brother crying for two days after he got his taken out. Not looking forward to that part but I am looking forward to being able to sleep at night and not having to drown 3 red bulls a day to keep me awake.

Liverpool will make an improved offer of £18m for Aston Villa midfielder Stewart Downing.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Aston Villa would be fools to hang on to Stewart Downing. Clubs should really focus on good business and getting ust about double what you paid for a player falls in that line. Sell Downing, then call Wolves asking how much for Matt Jarvis.

Meanwhile, the Merseysiders are to offer Lyon £12m for Brazilian winger Michel Bastos as boss Kenny Dalglish refuses to increase his bid for Downing. Full story: caughtoffside

Bastos seems like a player who needs to move on to his next challenge be it with Liverpool or Juventus.

Aston Villa want to tie up a deal for Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia as they seek a replacement for Downing. Full story: Daily Mail

Plus you know Wigan gets it when it comes to player values. If a club offers an above market price for a player they will sell.

Championship outfit Southampton have laughed off Arsenal’s £6m bid for winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – the Saints say they will not do business for less than £12m. Full story: Daily Star

Southamption aren’t the only ones laughing at Arsenal these days.

Tottenham must fork out £20m to sign striker Pablo Osvaldo from Espanyol.
Full story: the Sun

Osvaldo has turned around his carrer nicely in Espanyol after flopping at previous clubs which is why Tottenham should not even think about paying that price for him.

Spurs midfielder Niko Kranjcar is waiting to discover if Italian side Fiorentina have made a bid for him – the Croat remains unhappy at his club’s £12m asking price.
Full story: the Sun

Liverpool wants to pay 18 million for Downing yet you can easily make the case of Kranjcar being the better player.

Arsenal want £15m-rated Valencia winger Juan Mata – but to play alongside Samir Nasri rather than to replace him. Full story: Daily Mirror

Good luck convining Valencia Matais worth 15 million.

Barcelona are set to tempt the Gunners into accepting a cut-price transfer offer for Cesc Fabregas by throwing either Maxwell or Eric Abidal into the deal. Full story: Metro

Oh yeah I’m sure the two players Arsenal would want from Barcelona are Maxwell and Abidal.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is preparing an ambitious bid to sign Liverpool pair Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky. Full story: caughtoffside

Allardyce can have them for free as I’m sure Liverpool would love to clear their salary off the books.

Villa have also moved ahead of Tottenham in the pursuit of West Ham’s Scott Parker, because Spurs must sell before they buy. Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa will finally sign Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given for £4m by the end of the weekend.
Full story: the Sun

Both Parker and Given would be nice pick ups for Villa.

Fulham are set to sign Roma defender John Arne Riise for £2.2m. (The Times – subscription required)

Smart move by Fulham as Riise would still be better than half the right backs in England.

Liverpool legend John Barnes believes his former club’s summer spending spree could take them into the Premier League’s top four next season. Full story: Talksport

I realize you gotta take baby steps before you can walk but you know somewhere Rafa is throwing his hands up in the air with Liverpool’s goals now only being in the top 4. His goals were always much higher.

Arsenal will tell Samir Nasri he is going nowhere. Even a bid of £25m for the midfielder – who is a target for Manchester United, Manchester City and Inter Milan – is unlikely to be enough to change their mind. Full story: Daily Mirror

This is why Arsenal is dumb. You see Spurs can play hardball with Modric cause they have him under contract for along time. Does Arsenal really want or need Nasri mopping around the club for a year before losing him for nothing? They can’t sell him to Manchester United but it’s not like the previous players Arsenal have sold to Manchester City have come back to huant them.

Liverpool could turn to Valencia winger Juan Mata unless Aston Villa lower the asking price for Stewart Downing. Full story: Daily Mirror

I really don’t understand how Aston Villa could turn down 15 million for Downing. Even with the extra you are playing for in a British player Downing is worth no more than 15 million. Juan Mata is twice the player Stewart Downing is.

Manchester City are willing to sell Carlos Tevez – but only if someone pays £50m for the want-away striker. Full story: Daily Mirror

Carlos Tevez is the Dany Heatley of football. Carlos Tevez could of gone to any club he wanted to two years ago. What did he do? What this puppet always does and follows the money that his pimp Kia Joorabchian leads him too. I don’t care if his kids are in Argentina. Get an iphone and facetime with them unless he wants to cough up all the money Manchester City has paid him then take a paycut to return to Boca Juniors.

Porto striker Falcao says he would love to play in the Premier League next season, paving the way for Chelsea to make a £26.5m move. Full story: Talksport

It is what it is. Chelsea meets his release clause and Falcao will go. Still have no clue how he would fit in paired up with Torres not to mention Drogba.

Tottenham will swoop for Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole if Luka Modric quits for Chelsea.
Full story: Talksport

This would really soften the blow of losing Modric for Tottenham fans.

Inter Milan admit they need to sell before they can buy this summer, opening the door for Manchester United to bid for £35m-rated midfielder Wesley Sneijder. Full story: Daily Mirror

Poor Wesley Sneijder can’t seem to stick with one team for longer than 2-3 years.

QPR manager Neil Warnock thinks Adel Taarabt will quit the Loftus Road outfit club to join his ‘friends’ at Arsenal. Full story: Metro

Despipte him being a former Tottenham player Arsenal fans shouldn’t mind having a player like Taarabt on their books.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish may make a £3m offer for Tottenham’s former Rangers defender Alan Hutton, having previously tried to sign him for Birmingham.
Full story: the Sun

Steady player, I never had a problem with Alan Hutton.

Midfielder Niko Kranjcar has complained that Tottenham’s £12m valuation of him is jeopardising his chances of a move from White Hart Lane. Full story: Daily Mirror

Kranjcar is right, that is four million higher than what is he worth.

Tottenham captain Ledley King has given the club a major boost by returning for the start of pre-season training this week after missing the end of the last campaign because of a groin problem.
Full story: Talksport

He’ll be injured again soon don’t you worry.

My humble opinion. Too much Messi not enough Mourinho.

I’m not going to say anything about MLS but give credit where credit is due for Darlington Nagbe who scored a great goal over the weekend. Ok, I will say something about MLS I think anyone who watches the product can agree that the ref’s are awful. No other pro sports league has such bad officials.