TRANSFER RUMOURS: Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Real Madrid, and Luton!

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Sportingo’s Mark Apostolou again brings us the latest transfer.

All the latest news, gossip and rubbish – sorry, that should say rumours – from the back pages. And how about Carrick wanting Berbatov to join him at Manchester United? Does that sound like a bloke who’s on his bike?

Another day and another tussle between the two north London giants for a couple of players. First up for grabs is Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick (Various). It has been widely reported that the 26-year-old Geordie wants out of Old Trafford and both Tottenham and Arsenal are showing an interest.

Carrick has found himself coming off the bench in recent weeks rather than starting Premier League games. Juande Ramos is reportedly keen on taking the former Spurs man back to White Hart Lane and £18million is a figure that has been mentioned. The Daily Telegraph, one of the papers touting Carrick for Tottenham, rather shoots itself in the foot by also claiming that Carrick would be happy to see Sir Alex Ferguson sign Dimitar Berbatov from Spurs in January!

Arsene Wenger is said to be a Carrick fan, but would he really make a move for a player not good enough for Fergie’s team and only on the England fringes? I think not, but what do Lilywhites and Gunners supporters think?

Player number two is a far more likely recipient of bids from both the red and white halves of north London. That player is Real Madrid’s long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas and according to sources he could become the subject of a £25million bidding war (El Mundo) between the two rivals.

Spurs have apparently already drawn up a potential contract for the keeper and it would involve an astronomical £4million a year. Clearly, in light of recent high price moves for goalies, clubs are realising just how important having a solid last line of defence can be and are willing to pay top dollar for a great custodian.

Paul Robinson and Jens Lehmann have made more high-profile errors than most in recent months, and whilst Manuel Almunia is adored by the Emirates faithful even Gunners fans would find it hard not to covet Casillas who has won just about everything there is to win in the club game.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is desperately trying to avoid losing Matt Taylor to Sunderland or West Ham (Independent). The highly-rated Pompey stalwart has been linked with a move away from Fratton Park for a number of months now and other sides, including Spurs, have shown an interest in the former Luton man.

The kind of player that every club wants – one who gives his all every time he pulls on the shirt – Taylor might feel that a place in the England reckoning could be easily secured with a move away from the south coast. Redknapp knows how important Taylor is but at the same time his high flying side have done pretty well this season without calling too much on the 25-year-old’s services. After all, he has only started three games this term and Redknapp’s side are in the top six so maybe they could cope without the left-sided player. What do Portsmouth fans think?