A batch of yuletide transfer goodies for you to rifle through and squirrel over…
Fabio Capello is set to earn a pretty penny for sitting down in the legendary England hotseat, he’ll be the highest paid England manager ever, and at £6m-a-year he’ll be even more expensive than balding Swedish love-god Sven. And witnessing the powerful and forthright way Mr Capello harnessed Britains ramshackle transport systems yesterday on Sky News, we have no doubts he’ll be a success. (Various)
Harry Redknapp is organizing a mass January cull of players he deems surplus to requirements; among the detritus being flung onto the scrapheap are Matt Taylor, Lauren, Pedro Mendes, Djimi Traore and Richard. (Times)
And ‘Arry isn’t the only one with ‘cull fever’ – Tottenham boss Juande Ramos has had a slobbery lisping Spanish whisper in Teemu Tainio’s ear – telling him he is now surplus to requirements. (Daily Mail)
It seems that even when he’s happy Dimitar Berbatov still tries to hog the limelight – the Bulgarian goal king reckons that he won’t be leaving Spurs in Janurary – hmmmm. Methinks you doth protest too much Mr Berbatov. (Daily Star)
In what has to be the most tepid and boring rumour EVER associated with Jens Lehmann; the German ‘keeper has apparently declared that he is happy to stay at Arsenal – even as second choice #1. (Times)
Anyone for some James McFadden?
Birmingham’s Alex McCleish wants to swoop for former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Milan Baros, and wants to pair him up with equally-brilliant-at international-level-but-crap-for-his-club James McFadden. (Daily Mirror)
A large, and not so orderly, queue of clubs itching to ‘have a word’ with Scottish ‘God’ James McFadden is forming outside Goodison Park – Fulham, Wigan, Birmingham, and Celtic are all thought to be interested. (The Times)
…But those clubs will have a wait on their hands because Everton’s David Moyes is over in Swindon, queueing up himself to have a natter with Swindon left-back Ben Tozer. (Sun)
Geek chic Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has two aims this January, firstly to keep Olof Mellberg and Matin Laursen, and secondly to spend his pocket money on a striker and left-sided midfielder. May we suggest ‘Scot God’ James McFadden – he can do both. (Various)
Sunderland manager Roy Keane is planning some New Years’ transfer swoops, he faces the Herculean task of convincing Steve Sidwell that Sunderland is preferable to Chelsea, as well as trying to pry Wes Brown from Man Utd, and Jason Roberts from Blackburn. (Guardian)
…Meanwhile, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is apparently after Amiens’ French Midfielder Youcef Touati and is running the rule over him in a ‘secret trial’. (Guardian)
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