DEFOE ON HIS WAY
The consensus in pretty much all the papers this morning is that Jermain Defoe is on his way back to White Hart Lane, a little under a year after leaving for Portsmouth.
You probably knew that though. And if you didn't, firstly get your eyes sorted and then click here.
However, what you probably didn't know was that 'Arry Redknapp apparently wants to bring another recently-departed Spurs man back to the Lane. And we suspect if you're of a Lilywhite persuasion you're not going to be happy.
The Sun claims 'Arry wishes to bring Pascal Chimbonda back on loan. Yikes.
Also rumoured to be in Redknapp's sights is Matthew Upson, who will apparently cost around £12million. And all this from a club who apparently aren't going to make any significant moves in the January window.
SO IS DOWNING ON HIS WAY?
The Middlesbrough board seem pretty keen to keep Stewart Downing at the Riverside, with both Keith Lamb and Steve Gibson insisting that he is going precisely nowhere.
Still, the papers still seem pretty convinced that Spurs are still chasing their man like bloodhounds.
The Daily Mail (and just about everyone else really) claims Downing will hand in a transfer request to try and force through a move, but The Daily Mirror reckons a £12million offer will not be enough after Gibson sent them away with a flea in their collective ear.
The Gossip Column has now reached the stage where, after what seems like twenty years of this bloody saga rumbling on and on, we'd just like it all to be done and dusted. Please?
WALCOTT TO GO FOR A SONG?
Interesting stuff about young Theo this morning.
Both The Daily Mirror and The Daily Express claim that Walcott could leave Arsenal for a mere £400,000 next January.
How come? Well, it's those Euro pen-pushers apparently, who have introduced a rule that states clubs are only entitled to compensations amounting to the training costs of whipper-snappers who are out of contract.
That would tot up to the magic £400k figure for Walcott, whose contract runs out next summer.
Interesting.
WHO ARE CITEH BUYING TODAY?
The usual names are doing the rounds for Manchester City this morning. You know the form - Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, Roque Santa Cruz ya da ya da.
What's slightly more interesting is the word that Scott Parker was on his way up north.
However, West Ham have jumped and acted swiftly to deny such whispers, insisting that Parker is not for sale.
Clicketh here for more on that bad boy.
AND THE REST...
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants France international Gael Givet in a loan deal...Stoke boss Tony Pulis wants to sign Wigan striker Henri Camara...Jason Brown is wanted by Sheffield United as Paddy Kenny's long-term replacement...Burnley boss Owen Coyle is trying to rush through a deal for Celtic central defender Darren O'Dea...Millwall goalkeeper David Forde is a target for Sheffield Wednesday...Dietmar Hamann, Darius Vassell and Michael Ball could be on their way out of Manchester City...Joe Kinnear is trying to sell Spanish flops Xisco and Jose Enrique in a bid to hang on to Shay Given...Sunderland are poised to see off Portsmouth and Blackburn in the race for Marseille's Modeste M'bami...Kasper Schmeichel is ready to quit Manchester City for the asking price of £1million...Portsmouth and West Brom have joined Stoke in the race for Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane...Fulham and Hull could find themselves in competition for the services of Sheffield United striker James Beattie.
The Workie 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
gers942
"Bridge isn't worth half of that 12m!!! Hes no better than Ball!!! Its silly money. Whats next, Ferrera for 12m?"
AusJim
"Treeman you must have conveniently forgotten (or are ignoring, methinks) the incredibly overinflated prices Chelski have been stupid enough to pay post-Abramovich-takeover... you're right about johnson, parker and kezman, but considering their sale prices (Johnson sold at a loss of 2M, parker at a loss of 4M, kezman they managed to get a whopping 300,000 profit) i can see the point thisisoutCITY was trying to make.. the only shrewd piece of business seems to be the sale of Robben to madrid (profit 12M), and bridge to citeh (5M profit).. the rest? well here's the definitive list: Makelele bought 16M, let go for free.. Sheva bought for 30M, sold for... fk all... SWP bought 21M sold 9M.. duff bought 17M sold 5M.. del horno bought 8M sold 4.8M/.. crespo bought 16.8M let go for free... geremi bought 7M let go for free.. veron bought 15M sold for... did they ever actually sell him?? mutu bought 15.8M let go for free.. boulahrouz bought 7M let go for free...
excuse me while i go laugh my arse off.."
lpdonnel
"I agree.More from dehya.Is Glen gonna stay?"
digmoor_jim
"clubs are chasing the best of a bad bunch at best.all average ,nothing outstanding and resulting as almost panic buys.bridge,downing alone are over rated.not one thats on offer would attract a buy from the top four,that alone shows their value"
gramps
"leave mark hughes alone he s doing a great job at city just watch how they have improved under him the results dont do justice just give him 1 billoin pounds and he will get them into the top 3 serious he needs time the time sven didnt get so lets wait and see what he realy can buy remeber chelsea they did it why not city "
treeman
"The post below was clearly sponsored by "WRONG". I won't go through all of those signings, but off the top of my head, Kezman was £5m, Johnson was £6m, and Parker was £10m. It's a shame, because you actually had some sort of point there, but you chose to try and back it up with inaccuracy. Idiot. "
lumpsofcoal
"If i was shay given i would be jumping ship from the toon. they are useless and he is too good for that shower of wasters. but is going to citeh being ambitious i thinks not. arsenal would be a good club for him. i am a liverpool fan and if pepe wasnt between the sticks at anfield it would be given there. given got man of the match against liverpool after leaking 5 goals says it all really.
Plus cesc bomb raised a good point which i didnt even notice is the quality of the outfield player that are linked with citeh after the media circus at the start. kaka messi henry gerrard now its parker and bellamy. wouldnt be surprised if they tempted remi garde out of retirement "
thisisourCITY
"These posts where sponsored by guiniess.
Cos what is like without bitter top four fans that someone else has more money than them!
City will get held to randsom just like chelsea did so chelseafanrsp tell me how well; Crespo (20m), mutu (17m), Matajer Kezman (14m), Duff (17m), Glen johnson (8m), Geremi (8m) and parker (16m) actually ever did for you?"
EssexLad1985
"Nice to see a Spurs fan talk some sense 'treeman'. Unfortunately the average Spurs fans i speak to are alot like 'YidArmyDan'. Deluded is an understatement. The facts are while you probably wont go down you are in a relegation battle atm but the majority of Spurs fans will still go on about a top 4 finish in the summer for next season. Its the same every single year when a top table finish would be a much better target. Changing the subject i gotta say 100k a week for Wayne Bridge, shocking absolutely shocking"
gers942
"Bridge isn't worth half of that 12m!!! Hes no better than Ball!!! Its silly money. Whats next, Ferrera for 12m?"
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