11.40: Gareth Southgate has dismissed that
ridiculous rumour about getting Phil Neville in as a player
coach.
11.25: A signing! Well, the permanent signing of a
loan 'star'. Blackburn have signed Gael Givet, who they had on loan
from Marseille last season.
09.46: One for fans of idle, European speculation
(we all are, surely?) now, and 'reports in Spain' suggest that
Everton are in talks with Atletico Madrid about signing Jose
Antonio Reyes.
This would be the same Reyes who didn't like the cold in
London.
09.43: Here's an interesting one. A very
interesting one, in fact.
The Birmingham Mail reports this morning that Brum have been
trying to tempt a mystery player to the West Midlands, and that
player is....Patrick Vieira.
Blimey.
However...: 'Vieira gave the transfer some thought but
eventually admitted he wasn't keen, even though Blues were quite
prepared to meet his massive wage demands.'
Ah well. Fun while it lasted, eh?
09.23: The Gossip Column is
here now - and it claims that ManYoo are closing in on Karim
Benzema and City are closing in on Samuel Eto'o. So there.
09.21: Another quick line on that Maicon story.
Reports in Italy suggest that City will offer Elano and £19m for
the right-back.
09.17: Now Cesc may only have said last night that
he is committted to Arsenal, but that hasn't stopped those wags in
Italy from linking him with a move to AC Milan.
The Corriere dello Sport claim that Milan will sell Andrea Pirlo
to help fund a £30m move for Fabregas.
08.35: Marc-Antoine Fortune is on the move, and it
seems he has two options.
"It's a straightforward choice - Celtic or Hull City," Michael
Manuello told The Daily Record.
"We're in discussions with both over personal terms. I expect a
decision by the end of the week.
"Marc doesn't have to meet Tony Mowbray to know what it is like
to play for him at Celtic because he already knows the manager very
well and trusts him.
"But he does have a choice to make. He has to weigh up all his
options."
08.08: Quick line from last night, and Maicon's
agent reckons one side of Manchester want his man.
"Real are interested and I think Manchester City too, but not
United" said Antonio Caliendo
"However, it is up to Massimo Moratti to decide. I would be
happy if Maicon stayed here to try and win the Champions
League."
08.05: Roger Johnson completed his move from
Cardiff to Birmingham for the somewhat beefy fee of £5million
yesterday, but as one might expect he isn't admitting to being
intimidated by the amount of noughts.
"The fee in a way does add a bit of pressure, but I will just do
what I do" said Johnson.
"It is a massive fee but I take pressure in my stride and just
crack on. Hopefully I will do as well as I did at Cardiff and do
the same for Birmingham."
08.02: Pip pip, and top of the morning to you.
Hmmm. Not much around this morning, so we'll kick off with a
rumour from the Press Association last night, who claimed
Manchester United are sniffing around Real Madrid striker Klaas Jan
Huntelaar.
Stick around though - we're sure we'll come up with something
better than that soon.