Transfer Gossip

SHAY ON HIS WAY
In case you've missed it, it looks very much like Shay Given might be doing one from Newcastle, after his lawyer announced that all was not well in Chez Shay.

For more on this one, clicketh here.


AND WAYNE TOO
Our good friends at Sky Sports.com 'understand'. They're good like that. Go to them for advice, and they will provide it. Caring souls.

They 'understand' that Wayne Bridge is on the verge of a beefy move to Manchester City.

Details? This way.

Interestingly, The Daily mail claims Bridge's departure will pave the way for Russian flyer Yuri Zhirkov to jet in from Moscow to warm the Stamford Bridge bench.


MORE CITEH STUFF
Plenty more Citeh rumours around this morning, but very little that you won't have heard before.

According to various rags, Shay Given, Roque Santa Cruz, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy and David Villa are all in line for a bumper new year, cash wise.


DEFOE BEATING THE PATH MOST TRAVELLED
The consensus seems to be in the papers that Jermain Defoe will be returning to Spurs once the transfer window gets going.

We can't imagine where they got that from.

Oh, we suppose it could be from the interview by Portsmouth head honcho Peter Storrie yesterday, which suggested they would consider a bid for the striker....actually, scratch that - the interview was tantamount to stamping a dirty great 'FOR SALE' sign on Jermain's wee forehead.

"It looks like Jermain wants to go," he told the Portsmouth News. "That is something we will be speaking to him about.

"If Jermain goes it will be at our price and if there is an offer which appeals," added Storrie.

"We have always said we will not keep people who do not want to play for Portsmouth Football Club."

And those cunning 2+2 merchants of Fleet Street have put old 'Appy 'Arry's comments about Defoe together with Storrie's, and come up with the conclusion.

'Arry said: "If we could agree a fee with Portsmouth, then fine, he is a good player.

"They haven't got to sell him if they don't want to. If they say, 'no' then that is the end of the story."

Honestly, we've got no idea where they conjure some of these stories from.


UNITED IN FOR DELPH
The Sun claims Manchester United have made a bid for the latest wunderkind to come from the Leeds youth system, Fabian Delph.

The paper claims United have slapped £6million on the table as an up front payment, with a further £4million coming should things go well. Fergie is also apparently prepared to let one of/both Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon go to Leeds on loan to sweeten the deal.

Apparently Fulham have also stumped up £6million for Delph, but we suspect the wee lad would possibly prefer a move across the Pennines.

However, The Times reckons that the captures of Serbian pair Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade - moves that should be done and dusted post haste - will be United's only serious captures of the window.


AND FINALLY...
According to a couple of the rags, Lucas Neill's great big contract is so big that West Ham are prepared, nay desperate, to let him go on a free transfer.

Galatasaray are apparently interested in taking on his massive salary.


AND THE REST...
Portsmouth have launched a £2.5million bid to bring back Gary O'Neil from Middlesbrough...AC Milan have stepped up their interest in Chelsea's Alex...Sam Allardyce may turn to old favourite El Hadji Diouf to bolster Blackburn's survival bid...Olivier Dacourt is reportedly trying to engineer a move from Inter Milan to Bolton...David Moyes has been priced out of a move for CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love...Rangers are close to landing Portsmouth defender Hermann Hreidarsson on a free and also want Sunderland striker David Healy on loan...Hull are the latest club to move for Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant...Jimmy Bullard has been told by Fulham they won't meet his wage demands, but they will offer him an improved deal.