BBC Gossip page

[Tom 14021]

With British record signing Andriy Shevchenko returning to former club AC Milan, Chelsea are also prepared to allow winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to re-join Manchester City for £9m, writing off an incredible £43m on the duo. (The Sun)

 

However, Everton and Portsmouth are also tracking Wright-Phillips. (Daily Express).

 

But Chelsea's spending spree is set to continue with Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Robinho joining the club for a fee of between £27m (The Sun) and £31m (Daily Mirror).

 

Uefa Cup champions Zenit Petersburg are attempting to offload striker Andrei Arshavin to Chelsea after his protracted move to Tottenham collapsed. (Daily Express)

 

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov could risk "rotting in the reserves" if his proposed £30m move to Manchester United fails to materialise. (Various)

 

Everton's bid to bring £12m-rated Espanyol winger Albert Riera to Goodison Park could be hijacked by rivals Liverpool, who have shelved plans to sign Aston Villa's Gareth Barry. (Various)

 

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could raise £7m through the sale of winger Jermaine Pennant and centre-back Sami Hyypia to Stoke, while Everton are also looking into Valencia's 6ft 8in Serbia international striker Nikola Zigic. (The Guardian)

 

Toffees boss Dave Moyes is close to adding Guinea defender Kamil Zayatte to his squad for £2.5m from Swiss club Young Boys. (Daily Mail)

 

After having a £7m bid for West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand accepted, Sunderland boss Roy Keane is turning his attention to Man City's £1m-rated full-back Michael Ball. (The Sun)

 

Arsenal centre-back Philippe Senderos is set to complete a year's loan to Italian giants AC Milan. (Various)

 

West Brom agree a £2.5m deal for Charlton's China international Zheng Zhi. (Daily Mirror)

 

Baggies manager Tony Mowbray is also lining up a £4m bid for Real Mallorca striker Oscar Trejo. (Telegraph)

 

Bolton's Switzerland international Blerim Dzemaili is heading for the Reebok Stadium's exit door - without making a single appearance for the club. (Daily Mirror)

 

Real Betis are ready to step in to take Manchester City flop Nery Castillo on a year's loan. (Daily Mirror)

 

Aston Villa have moved a step closer to landing Reading striker Kevin Doyle in a £7.5m deal. (Daily Star)

 

Rangers will send midfielder Dean Furman on loan to Bradford City so that the South African can gain more first-team experience. (The Sun)

 

Celtic have ruled out a move for German international defender Alexander Madlung, who is currently with Vfl Wolfsburg. (The Herald)

 

Hearts striker Calum Elliot is close to agreeing a loan switch to Livingston. (Daily Record)

 

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood hopes to make two or three loan signings before the close of the transfer window, one of whom may be trialist Quido Lanzaat. (Various)

 

Motherwell will give Slovakian international defender Maros Klimpi the chance to win a move to Fir Park from Danish side Midtjylland. (Daily Express/Daily Star)

 

OTHER GOSSIP

 

Everton boss David Moyes is close to signing a new five-year contract. (Daily Mirror)

 

Goalkeeper Shay Given has urged Newcastle to sort out a new deal for England striker Michael Owen. (The Guardian)

 

Inter boss Jose Mourinho welcomed Andriy Shevchenko's move back to rivals AC Milan, despite their fractious 16-month relationship at Stamford Bridge. (Telegraph)

 

Blackburn boss Paul Ince is prepared for a hostile reception when he returns to Upton Park for the first time as a manager when his side play West Ham on Saturday. (Various)

 

Falkirk manager John Hughes says his strained relationship with Scotland's referees may force him to quit his post. (Various)

 

The proposed Great Britain football team at the London 2012 Olympics may play fixtures at Scotland's national stadium, Hampden Park. (Daily Mail)

 

Back to top

 

AND FINALLY

 

Danny Shittu wants plenty of win bonuses with new club Bolton - to pay his enormous mobile phone bills. The former Watford defender said: "I spoke to a lot of clubs, including a few in France and Greece. I'll have a really big phone bill!"

[ohhh_yeah 2991]

Given tells Newcastle to sort out new contract for Owen

Louise Taylor

 

Shay Given believes that the sooner Michael Owen and Newcastle United can agree a new contract the better. The England striker is in the final year of his current agreement and, at a board meeting in London tomorrow, Kevin Keegan will urge the club's directors to make Owen an appealing offer to extend his current deal so he stays on Tyneside.

 

Owen's £120,000 weekly wage represents a considerable stumbling block to protracted negotiations but replacing him would not be easy and the Newcastle and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said: "In an ideal world we would all like Michael's contract sorted out sooner rather than later but it is his contract, it is nothing to do with me. It is between him and the club - but in an ideal world we would all like him to get it done."

 

Owen's importance to Newcastle was emphasised on Saturday when, having recovered from his latest injury, the striker stepped off the bench to head the winning goal against Bolton Wanderers at St James' Park.

 

Given is delighted to have the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker as captain. "Michael has got a presence about him," he said. "He is a world-renowned centre-forward and goal-scorer. When he leads us out it sends a message to other teams. It tells them that we have some real quality in our side.

 

"He is not a ranter and a raver in the dressing room but he doesn't have to be. His presence is enough and the aura that he carries with him.

 

"Michael has scored a lot of goals past me over the years so I know what it is like to play against him. If you are playing against Michael Owen you know you are playing one of the best in the world.

 

"We have some other good players as well at Newcastle but seeing Michael on our teamsheet sends out a message. He is the most world-renowned player we have. He has the knack of being in the right place at the right time. He is special."

 

Keegan can only trust that the Newcastle owner Mike Ashley takes heed of Given's message while Owen's representatives display a new-found willingness to compromise a little on the subject of a remuneration package their talented but injury-prone client would be highly unlikely to secure anywhere else.

[Tom 14021]

David Dunn could be set for a new deal at Blackburn. Paul Ince says he will talk to the midfielder after the transfer window closes. (PA Sport 1520)

 

Sunderland have rejected a bid from an unnamed club for defender Danny Higginbotham. Wolves are believed to be the club who have had a £1.5m offer turned down. (Safc.com 1515)

 

Andrei Arshavin's protracted move to Spurs could be back on after Zenit St Petersburg splashed out £24m for Portugal midfielder Danny from rivals Dinamo Moscow. (The Sun 1307)

 

West Ham have no intention of selling striker Craig Bellamy, thwarting Manchester City's hopes of signing the Wales international. (WHFC.com 1215)

 

Sunderland have rejected a bid from an unnamed club for Danny Higginbotham, but look set to let fellow defender Russell Anderson go on loan to Burnley. (Setanta Sports 1126)

 

Arsenal are likely to miss out on Switzerland midfielder Gokhan Inler after the Udinese midfielder's agent said a move to the Emirates "would be too early for him". (Metro 1123 BST)

 

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