Transfer Gossip

KAKA...CHELSEA...THE STAR
The Daily Star are at it again with the Kaka to Chelsea rumours.

The 'paper' claims that AC Milan are willing to sell the Brazilian genius, friend of Jesus and all-round good egg to Chelsea, but they want a pretty hefty £70million for their man.

They claim that a bid of that size would be too good to turn down, and Milan have told Roman Abramovich as much.

However, apparently Luiz Felipe Scolari would much prefer to bring Robinho in, and given the other Brazilian has a much more reasonable price tag of a bargain £35million, it's probably more likely to happen. This summer anyhoo.


NEW DEAL FOR MICKEY
As we know from Mike Ashley's interview last week in which he admitted he'd not taken a look at the books before buying the club, there is scant regard for fiscal responsibility and conservatism on Tyneside.

And if you believe this morning's Sun, they're carrying on that fine tradition in some style, by laughing in the face of the global financial worries and offering Michael Owen a new contract.

And the weekly wage for the man who can't even go down the bookies without twanging a hamstring? £140,000-a-week. Cripes.

According to The Sun, the increase from his currently piffling £100,000 will be over a three-year deal, which by their maths (can't be bothered to check them) tots up to £21million.

Cripes again.


RABBIT, RABBIT, RABBIT
As well as chucking oodles of cash at Mickey, the complex Newcastle management structure are busy trying to sign another striker.

The Guardian reckons that Executive Director (Football) Dennis Wise is sweet talking Real Madrid's Javier Saviola, in the hope of tying up a loan deal for the child known as 'The Rabbit'.

Also, they're apparently still hot on the heels of Blackburn's Stephen Warnock.


NOTHING TO SEE HERE
The Sun claims this morning that Manchester United are going to make a new bid for Dimitar Berbatov, and if that fails then Roque Santa Cruz will be their man.

So nothing new to add at all then.


ONE GOES MAD ON WEARSIDE
Roy Keane seems set to go absolutely bonkers with Niall 'Disco Pants' Quinn's chequebook any day now, if you believe the papers.

The Sun claims that he will splash £15million on Benni McCarthy (yep), Anton Ferdinand (fine) and Michael Ball (eh?).

An £8million bid has apparently already been accepted for the lovely Anton, and they're just waiting for his yay or nay, while they will have to stump up a little more than £5million for McCarthy. As for Ball, just the £1million will do.

Meanwhile, The Daily Mail chucks the name 'Kevin Doyle' and the figure '£6million' into the mix.


SWP TO POMPEY?
In case you hadn't realised, Portsmouth are a little short apparently.

We'd like the rumour in The Daily Star to be true - if only because there's a small chance it will shut 'Arry Redknapp for five minutes - the rumour being Shaun Wright-Phillips possibly on his way to Fratton Park on loan.


AND THE REST...
Everton want to sign ex-Chelsea midfield star Tiago on a season-long loan from Juventus...Manchester City striker Nery Castillo is being off-loaded with Roma and Real Betis making offers for the featherweight Mexican...West Brom boss Tony Mowbray is set to table a new £5.3million bid for Mallorca midfielder Borja Valero after their initial offer was rejected...Preston boss Alan Irvine is closing in on a shock £500,000 deal for Derby defender Dean Leacock...Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has made a £1.25m swoop for Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham...Ipswich boss Jim Magilton is trying to sign Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi and Moritz Volz...Sheffield United defender Chris Armstrong is on the verge of joining Championship rivals Reading in a £750,000 deal...Barnsley have signed Scotland midfielder Gary Teale, 30, on a month long loan from Derby...West Brom and Fulham are both hoping to land unsettled Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead for £3million before the transfer window closes...Hull boss Phil Brown will step up his bid to sign Manchester United striker Frazier Campbell.