thursdays gossip

[paddy 17]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made Bolton's Nicolas Anelka his number one target as a replacement for striker Thierry Henry, who has joined Barcelona. (Daily Express)

 

Portsmouth striker Lomana LuaLua is a target for Wigan. (The Sun)

 

He is also being lined up by West Ham. (Daily Telegraph)

 

Bolton are closing in on Sweden winger Christian Wilhelmsson, who plays for Nantes. (The Sun)

 

West Ham are lining up a £5m swoop for wanted Reading defender Nicky Shorey. (Daily Express)

 

 

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is ready to fork out £10m for Olympiacos and Mexico forward Nery Castillo. (The Times)

 

Manchester City have made an inquiry about promising Romanian striker Ciprian Marica. (The Independent)

 

Birmingham have made an approach for West Brom's £2.5m-rated left-back Paul Robinson. (Daily Mail)

 

DJ Campbell is set to choose Watford over Leicester when he leaves Birmingham City. (Various)

 

Fulham have signed Lee Cook from QPR for £2.5m and have handed the 24-year-old a four-year deal. (Various)

 

Everton will sign South African Steven Pienaar and Swiss Johann Vogel in the next 48 hours. (Daily Mirror)

 

Pienaar, 25, is already a Toffees player after signing for the club on Wednesday night. (Daily Mail)

 

Sunderland are preparing to table a £9m bid for Hearts' Craig Gordon - which would be a British record fee for a goalkeeper. (Daily Telegraph)

 

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has turned to West Ham's Bobby Zamora in his search for a new striker. (Daily Mirror)

 

Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro turned down the chance to join Chelsea. (Daily Telegraph)

 

Chelsea are prepared to up their offer for Spurs full-back Pascal Chimbonda to £8m. (The Times)

 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he wants Arjen Robben to stay, despite the attentions of Spanish giant Real Madrid. (Daily Mirror)

 

Jose Antonio Reyes fears that a Robben move to Madrid will scupper his hopes of landing a permanent switch to the Spanish capital. (Daily Express)

 

Championship side Hull will attempt to sign Andy Cole, who may be leaving Fratton Park. (Daily Telegraph)

 

Cardiff are closing in on Robbie Fowler after chairman Peter Ridsdale improved his offer. (Daily Mail)

 

Falkirk will find out by the end of next week whether they will get on-loan keeper Kasper Schmeichel back from Manchester City for the new campaign. (Daily Record)

 

Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson last night dropped his interest in Thomas Gravesen after running out of patience with the Celtic flop. (Daily Record)

 

Roy Keane has slapped in a £2m bid in an attempt to prise Bobo Balde away from Celtic. (Scottish Sun)

 

 

 

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea captain John Terry has agreed a new £6.8m contract with the Premier League club, which will make him the highest paid player in England. (Various)

 

Terry has given the Blues an injury scare after breaking his toe on the pre-season trip to the United States. (Various)

 

Mourinho has welcomed Tottenham into the Premier League's big time, saying they are one of five title contenders, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. (The Sun)

 

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has hinted that he may quit at the end of the season if he repeats the mistakes he made towards the end of the last campaign. (Daily Express)

 

Sheffield United have been approached to manage operations at struggling Hungarian side Ferencvaros. (The Guardian)

 

Michael Owen has put himself in the frame to become the next Newcastle captain, following the departure of Scott Parker. (Various)

 

Dimitar Berbatov's long-term future at Tottenham depends on the North London club qualifying for the Champions League next season. (Daily Star)

 

 

AND FINALLY

Ipswich have ordered prankster Gavin Williams to pay £3,000 in costs after he trashed a team-mate's car. He also signed himself as Pele on first-team shirts to be given to charity. (The Sun)

[Barney 0]

Anybody reckon it's the calm before the storm in relation to us not being linked to any players since Fanni(merchandise sales through the roof) and Quedrue? Sam maybe working behind the scenes and the press not getting a sniff of it?

[paddy 17]

alan oliver not getting sniff of fanni

[khay 10]

Anybody reckon it's the calm before the storm in relation to us not being linked to any players since Fanni(merchandise sales through the roof) and Quedrue? Sam maybe working behind the scenes and the press not getting a sniff of it?

 

That's what I'm going for. Hope this happens as would like the new left back and centre back(s) to be in by the end by end the month and anything extra added before the window shuts.

[Kid Dynamite 7027]

He must have an idea about a LB. Beye and Qeudrue were all over the press as RBs but id put Carr down as more reliable than Babayaro atm. He did himself no harm on Tuesday night.

[Guest alex]

Carr's actually done ok of late (back end of last season anyway) imo.

[Ken 119]

Anybody reckon it's the calm before the storm in relation to us not being linked to any players since Fanni(merchandise sales through the roof) and Quedrue? Sam maybe working behind the scenes and the press not getting a sniff of it?

Yep. I agree. Sam is being canny. Good on him!!!