Can Blackburn build on their 6th place finish last season? They’ve already sold Bellamy (and at 6 mil it has to be the bargain buy of the summer for Liverpool), and with Lucas Neill wanting away, all bets are off on what the Rovers can do this season. Hughes has helped mould Blackburn into a strong, talented outfit, but finishing in the top 6 is one thing – staying in them is quite another, as Everton and many others have found out over the years.
Lucas Neill is being courted by Tottenham, while Rovers are also looking to hijack Boro’s bid for Chelsea’s Huth. Considering how far things went between Huth and Boro, I doubt that Huth would go anywhere else.
The Gallas-Chelsea saga could be winding to a close, with Mourinho publicly stating that they had received no offers for the centre-back (not even from Milan). Not only has Gallas been fined 80K, he’s also been asked to do extra training on his own. A public apology to the club and the fans would be next on the cards. At this moment it looks like Chelsea are now willing to sell (speculation on my part) but it would take a 10-15 mil offer to prise him away from their grasp.
The rumours surrounding Ashley Cole’s 30 mil price tag are baseless. It may make for good news but Arsenal know that Chelsea will abandon their pursuit of Cole if the price is set too high. Myles Palmer has reported (quoting his sources) that there is NO buyout clause in Cole’s contract, but the Sun and other trashy media keeps raising the point because it sells (and because people will believe anything you tell them.
Chelsea have probably bid in the region of 10, 12 mil. For a left-back, that’s good money. A straight swap of Gallas and Cole is possible, except that Gallas doesn’t want to play at left-back where he might be asked to depute (as he has been at Chelsea).
Will Reyes and Cole play for Arsenal against Zagreb? I’m betting that they won’t.
Speaking of Chelsea, this Guardian article talking about a job opening at Chelsea is a fun read. An accountant would be an excellent insider source 🙂
Tottenham – They may have turned from Chimbonda to Neill (although signs are that Wigan may relent), and still don’t have a solution to their left-wing troubles. Considering how their players woo the fans by counting the number of clubs they’ve turned down (mainly because they would’ve been benched there), look for another glory-seeker to join their ranks.
That was bait – please don’t take it 🙂
Aldo Duscher is being linked with the Premiership again, but who will buy him? I’ve suggested earlier that Newcastle should look for another holding midfielder instead of Gravesen, and Duscher could be their man. West Ham are also rumoured to be after him, so maybe Reo-Coker is moving on (please, please, United?)
Steve McClaren claims that he knows who the next England captain will be. Neville is too injury prone and Rooney is too red-card prone, so the candidates are Terry, Ferdinand and Gerrard. The head votes for Terry / Gerrard, the heart votes for Ferdinand seeing that the Manchester United defender relishes responsibility. McClaren will probably not spring us a big surprise on this one, so think of Terry and Gerrard.
Martin O’Neill – he of Celtic fame – is the new manager of Aston Villa. Good luck, and hopefully you’ll be available should Ferguson depart.
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