A REPLACEMENT FOR A BULGARIAN
So with Dimitar Berbatov seemingly close to his move to Manchester United (c. every paper on Fleet Street), attention turns to the replacement that Juande Ramos is so desperate to bring in.
Assorted papers claim Ramos will pay £10million for River Plate's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, after 'sending his spies' to South America to take a look. Presumably through a super secret and powerful telescope.
However, The Daily Mail, never ones to go with the crowd/sanity, reckon Diego Forlan is the apple of his eye, but will cost a pretty penny. £23million to be exact.
Of course, given that they've only got one forward at present, they could always get them both. Or someone else. Nobody has a clue really.
DOWNING FOR LIVERPOOL
So when Rafa Benitez was banging on about an Englishman who could play on the left, we all assumed he was talking about Gareth Barry.
However, was he playing a nasty, nasty trick on us all? Was Stewart Downing the real apple of his eye?
Probably not, but word is he's trying to buy the Boro winger anyway.
The Daily Mail claims that Boro will resist any attempts by Liverpool to buy Downing, even if they offer £14million.
ARSENAL BACK IN FOR XABI?
Having spotted that Arsenal are a little light on midfielders in their flop against Fulham on Saturday, The Times have come to the shocking conclusion that they need another.
And they've showed little imagination in picking the name 'Xabi Alonso' out of the hat, but the paper does seem pretty insistent that Arsene Wenger will go back in for the Spaniard, despite Liverpool wanting £16million for their man.
That might be because of the terms of Alonso's move to Liverpool from Real Sociedad, which The Times explains oh so clearly thusly:
'Liverpool signed Alonso from Real Sociedad for £10.5 million four years ago and the Spanish club are set for a windfall if he leaves Anfield. Under the terms of Alonso's transfer from Spain to Liverpool, Real Sociedad will receive about £5 million if Alonso is sold for less than £13 million and 20 per cent of the transfer fee if he leaves for more than £13 million.'
THE EVERTON SIX OR SEVEN
With David Moyes still claiming that he wants to bring in six or seven new players in before the end of the transfer window, he better get bloody busy, and bloody soon.
And the papers think he's got one or two people in mind.
The Guardian reports that Espanyol have accepted an offer of around £12million for winger Albert Riera, of course a reported target for Liverpool over the summer.
That paper also claims Stephen M'Bia could still move to Goodison Park if Everton and Rennes can agree a fee, probably between £7m and £10m.
Meanwhile, over in The Daily Mail, word is that Atletico Madrid's Tiago Motta could be a target, although Portsmouth are also keen on the former Barcelona midfielder.
AND THE REST...
Aston Villa will abandon a £9million bid for James Milner unless the Newcastle midfielder's future is resolved today...Robert Koren has agreed a new two-year contract with an option for a further year with West Bromwich Albion...Roy Keane axed Pascal Chimbonda just hours before Sunderland's win at Spurs - because he turned up late for the pre-match stroll...Newcastle have offered Michael Owen a whopping three-year, £21million deal...Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock admits he needs to add two or three players to his new-look squad before next week's transfer window closes...Portsmouth are bracing themselves for an £8million bid for Nico Kranjcar from Hamburg.
The Logical Gossip
Now let's hear what you've got to say about this item... or anything else happening in the world of football. Send in your opinions, rants, praise or abuse to: theeditor@football365.com
Your Comments
sportylad1992
"I think Liverpool do need a new winger but not a english one. Just buy one from the Spanish league i say."
Nando9Torres
"Rob have you been a red for like 12 minutes?? Milner is appalling with no pace, Downing has a good delivery and is steady but I think Liverpool FC will be a little to overwhelming for him and there will never be a sharp intake of breath from the Kop when he receives the ball."
Lucas04
"man - again someone saying Mascherano is 10 TIMES THE PLAYER of someone else. Rob3108 - Mascherano IS a great DM, but Alonso is class too, and your just exaggerating. What is it with football fans that they're prone to emotional outbursts without any thought. The funny thing is you actually make a good point about David Moyes. I think he's done a great job too (at our bitter rivals), and I kinda like your idea of loaning out some players to the Toffees. He really hasn't had any luck in the market - any player he wants has chosen another club, and the players that would come won't add anything better than what's on offer. Here's hoping for an injury-free season to Arteta - he's one of the best in the league without doubt!"
we_8_mancs
"Rob3108 - what r u on about - did you say you were a Liverpool Fan? I can't tell if you r being sarcastic or not - but your three posts, if true, r crazy! what liverpool fan has never seen alonso play before? and more than that thinks he is poor and would rather sign Milner, Downing and Riera?!! then would loan out players to everton?!! you have to be kidding - think it's time for your medication mate! Please Rafa - do not spend £14 million on Downing he aint worth half that much and will not get us any closer to the title - I'm sure you could pick up someone magnitudes better on the continent or from south america for that kind of money. "
det66
"Oi Mutid we have Torres you have no-one !!"
agzdaredz
"where's that Villa fan from the other day who said the only difference between villa & liverpool was Torres YOU KNOB!!!! hahahahaha"
spurs5_ar5ena1
"wil ye post my f**kin comments "
Mutid
"rob3108 - You're only slating Shabby now coz he's off, any non-blinkered Red Scouse could've told you he's sh!te 3 or 4 seasons ago. "...expect to see Downing, Milner and Riera all come... Now wouldn't THAT conclude a brilliant summer in the transfer market!!??" yeah - for all LFC's main competitors - bring it on! Everton won't do loan deals with you coz they hate you and want to knock you off your comfy fourth place perch and would rather have syphilis than your bits and bobs players. Plus David Moyes ROCKS and is way too dignified to go cap in hand to the Mersey Trouts down the road. Rafa is as cunning as Baldrick in the transfer market. Thanks for the laughs - now go get yourself a lobotomy."
rob3108
"As a Liverpool fan I have to say that all Arsenal fans should get themselves a copy of our narrow win against Boro... WHY? Well it was the first time I'd seen Alonso play for Liverpool and actually thought he looked very average! His set pieces were terrible, so much so that Stevie G took over half way through, his passing was OK, but his positional play was terrible, perhaps I'm just spoiled with the brilliance of Mascherano, and see Alonso as a poor imitation. I love Alonso, or at least have done so since he came in with Benitez, but I can see plain as day why Rafa is willing to sell him. Mascherano is 10 times the player. As with all ex Liverpool heroes, I'd wish him well and watch his progress at Arsenal, but I now understand why Rafa is willing to let go his first major Liverpool signing, and to a title 'rival' no less..."
rob3108
"And that would mean Everton's 12 million pound bid for Riera would have been in vain. Really have to feel for Moyes, such a tremendous and consistent manager, yet has had the worst summer in transfer history... Why don't Liverpool loan some of the better fringe players out to Everton? Obviously they wouldn't be able to play against LFC, and the added strength in the Everton squad would give Moyes an improved chance of taking points off the other 3 'big 4' teams. Moyes, if anyone, has the nous to really take it to the big teams, and in doing so, assisting LFC in their quest for a 1st Premier league title. Not to mention the LFC fringe players getting ACTUAL PREMIERSHIP EXPERIENCE as opposed to the lower league rubbish they'd get if loaned out to those leagues... I know it would NEVER happen, but wouldn't it be a cunning plan!"
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