BLANC TO REPLACE FERGIE...OR WILL IT BE JOSE?
The old chesnut that is the question of who will replace Alex Ferguson when he eventually hangs up his chewing gum is in the papers again this Sunday morn.
The Sunday Mirror go big with a 'shock' candidate, in Laurent Blanc, who they claim has 'emerged to top the Manchester United short-list' of possible replacements for Sir.
Fergie is expected to stay where he is for the rest of the season at least, and Blanc's success at Bordeaux has apparently persuaded the Old Trafford top brass that he will be the man, nosing ahead of Carlos Queiroz and and Jose Mourinho.
Speaking of the man in the Matalan coat, The Sunday Times claims that he has 'targeted Manchester United as the ideal venue for a return to English football'.
Jose was quoted as saying t'other day that he wanted to come back to England, but has clarified his position, saying he's perfectly happy at Inter Milan and wishes to stay until the end of his contract. 2012, since you ask.
Think that will stop the speculation? Not on your nelly.
UNITED TO SPEND IN JANUARY
Back to the present now, and the Sunday tabs have a few ideas on the cash Fergie will be spending while he still has his hands on the United tiller.
The News of the World goes with a rumour that has been knocking around for a bit now, namely that United and Chelsea are duking it out with a couple of massive piles of cash for Jack Rodwell.
The paper reports that Chelsea have made a £14million bid for the youngster, and United reckon he's worth a couple of mill more.
However, Everton are apparently of the opinion that he is worth around £20million, and they won't take a penny less.
Over to The Sunday Mirror now, and that paper reports that Fergie has his beady eye on Bayern Munich full-back Philip Lahm.
The German can play on either side of the back four, but the Mirror claims Ferguson has Lahm marked out for the right-back slot, as the long-term replacement for the Neviller.
Lahm is mulling over his future at Bayern after a series of diagreements with boss Louis van Gaal, but it will still take around £15million to persuade the Teutons to sell.
MASCH AGREES BARCA DEAL
Bad news for Liverpool fans in The Sunday Express.
That paper claims that Javier Mascherano is on his way out of Liverpool after agreeing terms with Barcelona.
The Express claims Masch has shaken on a £100,000-a-week contract with the Catalans, but it might not be as simple as all that.
Barca will make a £30million bid for the midfielder, but Liverpool will apparently 'play hardball' and go for £36million for their man.
Barca are also confident of signing Robinho - if not in January, at the end of the season - making a £60million spending spree.
Could be interesting.
LIVERPOOL IN FOR EDUARDO
Really cracking slice of nonsense from The News of the World now.
They claim that Liverpool are 'ready to poach' Eduardo from Arsenal. Yep, you read that right.
The paper reports that Liverpool will make a £10million bid for the Croatian, who has a year and a half left on his present contract.
Could be some 2+2=5 stuff going on here. The paper claims that because Liverpool need a striker and Eduardo is not getting much football at Arsenal, it seems to be a perfect match. Erm, sort of.
Anyway, there's some slightly more sensible stuff in The Sunday Mirror (which is a worrying thing to write), with that paper reporting that Rafa will try and raise funds by selling Ryan Babel and Andrea Dossena.
And these funds will apparently be spent on Hamburg's Dutch winger/forward Eljero Elia, on whom Hamburg hope to make a profit on the £8million they paid last summer.
AND THE REST...
Adam Johnson has been told he can't leave Middlesbrough in January...Arsenal plan to bid £5million for Brazilian ace Maicousel...Portsmouth are eyeing a double January swoop for Loic Remy and Hatem Ben Arfa...Roberto Martinez may raid old club Swansea again for Ashley Williams...Darius Vassell hopes Bolton will end his Turkish nightmare in January...Birmingham could make a £7million move for Aiden McGeady in January...Leeds are in talks with versatile Argentinian defender Walter Garcia...Sunderland are keeping tabs on FC Schalke's Kevin Kuranyi...Notts County are trying to persuade Elliott Ward to drop down to League Two...Lee Carsley is being lined up by West Brom...Swedish star Rasmis Elm wants a move to the Premier League...Sheffield United targetman Darius Henderson is wanted by Cardiff...Nottingham Forest and Scunthorpe both want to take Owen Garvan away from Ipswich.
The Double Shift 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
bradmaung06
"don't want and don't need Barbel as we won't let go or Eduardo..period.."
spence
"You're not wrong there Mike_Christie, we are in desperate need of some quality in the middle."
mike_christie
"I can't see Lahm going to United, as many have already pointed out the RB position is particularly well covered, with 4 more than decent options there, and if you include Hargreaves who can play there with distinction there is no shortage of options. United desperately need more quality in the middle of the park though, Carrick isn't good enough, Scholes and Giggs are good for the odd cameo, Anderson is showing potential, Nani has failed to develop, Park is a willing worker. Perhaps the most damning thing that can be said is that Darren Fletcher, who is a decent, tidy hard-working player, is now seen as our best option in midfield. Improved as he is he wouldn't have got near the team when Scholes and Keane were at there peak."
weepyking
"I dont think Utd will go in for Lahm, he is good but not needed. Rodwell would ba a fantastic buy though, the only position we lack is 1 winger and a creative centre midfielder. "
cheekyscouse
"mourinho must be favourite to get old red nose job theyll want to go like for like and hes a horrible arrogant b*stard so ready made for the job then."
Fred_k
"if liver wants eduardo let them give us babel in exchange."
Eric_The_King
"I agree Poolster, Treeman's analogy is brilliant, or it would be if it was used in an appropriate situation.
Is RB a problem for United? An assumed weakness? Are opposition sides attacking United down their left flanks to punish whichever mediocre player is resident? No, thought not.
Who in the Premier League is better? Glen Johnson isn't, and he certainly isn't worth 20million. Bosingwa is talented but Chelsea have hardly struggled in recent weeks without him. Sagna is competent but then you slide into the steady pros, out-of-position midfielders and general trophy-less dross. United, by comparison have Gary Neville, the most accomplished fullback of his generation. Granted he's knackered but worthy of a squad place for at least another year. Wes Brown, a dual-Champions League winning full back and centre half. John O'Shea, a Champions League winning fullback and centre half. And then you have the Da Silva twins, already representing Brazil at age-group level, with Raphael clearly groomed to inherit Neville's Number 2 when he decides to call it a day.
United could benefit from improving plenty of other areas. GK (post VDS), possibly CB depending on injuries, all midfield positions, particularly a holding midfielder, and a new creator either in midfield, wing or attack. If Ferguson is going to spend (which his statement today indicates is possible) it will definitely not be fullback.
Why don't you give me an example of another position at another club that is equally as well-covered as RB is at United? Or, for perhaps the first time in your collective desperate anti-United lives, actually think for more than the time it takes to pull your fingers out of your arses to type your nonsense and realise your perception and appreciation of football is so polarised as to render your opinion redundant. "
sodoff
"wenger is the only man good enough to take over from S`ralex"
mancunian4life
"I'm not saying that Lahm wouldn't be a good signing, because he would, what I meant was that Fergie already has 3 or 4 options at full back.
If he is going to spend big in January (and I mean IF) it would be in the middle of the park, or possibly up front."
reddevil1972
"united wont win the league with this team, i think fergie made an error not buying a 25 goal a season player."
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