Transfer Gossip

LIVERPOOL TO SELL MASCH TO PAY FOR COLE?
The papers still all seem absolutely convinced that Liverpool will be spending big in January, and The Daily Star comes up with a new target this morning.

And that target's name is Carlton Cole.

The paper reports that Rafa Benitez will 'try to solve his striker crisis' by making a £12million bid for Cole, who West Ham might have to sell given their financial woes.

While that might be good news for some Liverpool fans, there's bad news further down the story.

They report that Liverpool are 'not exactly flush themselves' (no s**t), and in order to raise the cash to move for Cole, they might sell Javier Mascherano.

They will want £36million from Barcelona for the midfielder, but in The Gossip Column's 'umble opinion, this all seems about as likely as Maggie Gyllenhaal giving us a ring and saying "You and me - how about it?"


ROBINHO ON HIS WAY OUT
The Guardian seem pretty convinced that Robinho's mind is made up - he wants out of Manchester City.

They report that City's 'attempts to placate' the Brazilian have failed, and 'is now so unsettled he has informed his advisers he does not "want another day in Manchester".'

So it's when, rather than if Robinho leaves, and City are not a side to let the grass grow under their feet.

The paper reports that Angel Di Maria has been identified as a replacement, and claims there is a £27million buy-out clause in his contract, a figure we reckon City could just about afford.

This is all despite Mark Hughes saying yesterday: "I am quite clear and Robinho should be quite clear that his future is very much with City.

"There is no reason to think that will change any time soon."


YAYA NOT GOING TO CITY, BUT...
One man who also doesn't look like he'll be playing for City next year is Yaya Toure.

The Sun quotes his agent as saying: "If he leaves he'll not go to City, where his brother Kolo said he would be welcomed with open arms. He would sign for a more important club."

Ouch.

As usual, The Daily Star gets a little carried away with those words, claiming that Arsenal and Manchester United 'face a summer battle' to sign the £15million Barcelona midfielder.

Inter Milan are also apparently interested, with Toure keen to leave Spain in January, although given that he'll be with Ivory Coast for the African Nations, The Star reports a move then is unlikely.


'ARRY MUST SELL BEFORE BUYING
It looks like the money men at Tottenham have puffed out their cheeks when looking at their 'spent' column and told Harry Redknapp that he can't have any more, no matter how hard he stamps his feet.

Spurs spent nearly £150million in the last year and a half, and The Daily Express now reports that Redknapp must sell players before he can buy any more.

However, according to the paper, this has not deterred our hero, who will apparently go to chairman Daniel Levy with a demand for more, more, more.

They claim/reheat some gossip from earlier in the week that Redknapp wants to buy Matthew Upson, Valencia winger Vicente, Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko and/or Brazilian midfielder Sandro. In addition, The Daily Mirror reckons Spurs are keeping tabs on Crystal Palace youngster Victor Moses, and The Daily Star says they're after Watford's keeper Scott Loach.

Presumably if you asked 'Arry about any of those names he'd say 'Yeah, he's a good player, I like him, but we've not...etc and so on and so forth'.

If he does have to sell to buy, a candidate to raise some funds seems to be Roman Pavlyuchenko, who The Daily Mail reports could be on his way to Zenit St Peterburg, who are apparently willing to pay £10million plus add-ons for the forward.


AND THE REST...
Cardiff are bidding to sign Hull's out-of-favour striker Daniel Cousin on loan...Benni McCarthy has admitted he is looking to leave Blackburn in January...Ipswich boss Roy Keane is keen on Barnet striker John O'Flynn...Wycombe are set to sign Bristol City striker John Akinde on loan...Cardiff hope to land Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan...Sheffield United defender Matthew Kilgallon's return to the Premier League with either Stoke or Bolton is in the balance after he picked up an injury...Everton are to offer Louis Saha a new deal after his flying start to the season.