Sportingo.com’s Mark Apostolou brings daily coverage of the Premier League’s gossip and rumours.
Liverpool and Arsenal are weighing up moves for Heerenveen’s scoring sensation Afonso Alves (The Mirror & various).
Scouts from both sides were reportedly in town at the weekend to watch the Brazilian striker rattle in an incredible SEVEN goals against Heracles to set a scoring record in the Dutch League, which is mighty good timing from the 26-year-old who has now racked up a mind-blowing 41 goals from 33 starts.
Rafa Benitez is already said to have had enough of Peter Crouch and he may see Alves as the perfect addition to those hitmen already at the club. Arsenal could also be interested in bolstering their attack, which at present is firing on all cylinders but could possibly do with reinforcements in case of injuries or loss of form.
Another target of Rafa’s, PSG full-back Bernard Mendy, is nearing a move to Anfield apparently (Daily Mirror). The French international is only six months away from being out of contract so his club are looking to cash in before it’s too late. Apparently, £3m is all that is needed to secure the services of a player who has been a virtual ever present since he moved to Paris from Caen in 2000. However, Benitez faces competition from other clubs, including Inter Milan, Juventus, Tottenham and Manchester City.
West Ham defender Matthew Upson has insisted there is no need to panic following an average start to the season (various).
The former Arsenal and Birmingham City man said: “It’s no time to panic at all – we were really disappointed not to get something out of the game at Villa, as we were at Newcastle and against Arsenal. We need to be a bit more clinical and things just need to go our way a little bit more.”
I think that sums things up nicely – things have been a bit up and down at Upton Park but overall they look decent enough to be in or around the top six rather than the bottom six.