03/07/07 The sorry it's late gossip
ONE IN, TWO OUT AT CHELSKI
Things are finally hotting up at Chelski (but not, alas, weather wise).
Three of the nation's newspapers carry Chelski-related stories on their back pages, and all three are different.
Let's begin with The Daily Mirror, which says that 'Chelsea are making a stunning £14million bid for Sevilla's brilliant Brazilian Daniel Alves - in their biggest move of the summer so far. Blues owner Roman Abramovich has sanctioned a deal for the speedy South American right-back who can also play as a winger'.
That's the good news.
The bad is to be found in The Sun which declares: 'Barcelona will bid £12million for Chelsea's Frank Lampard today. SunSport can reveal the Spanish giants plan to make formal contact for the first time about signing Lamps.'
Despite Chelski being determined to retain the midfielder, and his agent vowing on Monday that he would stay at Stamford Bridge, 'Barca will not be put off and are prepared for a hostile battle to win his signature.'
The paper also quotes Transfer Gossip's good friend, Mr Inside Source, saying: "We know the negotiation will be a complex one. But coach Frank Rijkaard has made his feelings clear on Lampard and it's now up to the directors to find a way to sign him.
"We don't expect it will happen quickly but we have time before the new La Liga season begins and we are prepared to do what is necessary."
And finally, The Times doesn't sound particularly sure that Chelski will retain Arjen Robben's services, noting: 'Robben has two years left on his contract, but Real Madrid are confident that they have been given the green light to sign him for about £15 million.
'Chelsea remain keen on Florent Malouda as a possible replacement for Robben on the left flank. Lyons have said they are willing to sell him, but Chelsea must increase their offer from £12 million to £17 million. The France player returned to training yesterday.'
RAFA WANTS HEINZE ALONG WITH TORRES
It is 43 years since a player moved directly from ManYoo to Liverpool but Rafa Benitez is said to be increasingly confident that he can lure Gabriel Heinze from Old Trafford to Anfield.
Predicting a formal bid this week, The Indy declares: 'Liverpool's manager has identified Heinze as the man to bring resilience to the left back role at Anfield and, despite overtures from Italy and Spain for the Argentine, plus the problems in a transfer between the fiercest rivals in English football, is confident a deal worth £6m can be struck.'
The Times agrees, reporting: 'Benítez is confident that he can seal Heinze's signature for about £4 million - £2.9 million less than United paid for the 29-year-old from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2004. Heinze would strengthen Benítez's defensive options on the left side and would also provide cover at centre back for Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia, 33.'
The interminable pursuit of Torres is slowly nearing resolution, and the player is expected to complete his £27m transfer from Spain later this week.
MORE SIGNINGS FOR ARSENAL
So what now for Arsenal after the acquisition of Eduardo? Is that it for the summer?
The Guardian says 'no': 'The signing of Eduardo does not signal the end of Wenger's attempt to rebuild Arsenal's attack and he is understood to still be interested in Bolton's Nicolas Anelka and Newcastle's Obefemi Martins.'
The Sun also says 'no': 'Eduardo's old side Dinamo Zagreb claim Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is plotting another raid - for £5m-rated midfielder Ognjen Vukojevic.'
And so does The Independent: 'Wenger, who was at Wimbledon yesterday, is now expected to step up his interest in Auxerre full-back Bakary Sagna.' An almost identical claim can be found in The Times, too: 'Wenger, who has returned after a holiday in Italy, will strengthen the squad further when he tries to complete the signing of Bakari Sagna, the defender, for about £6.2 million from Auxerre this week.'
Gawd only knows why the Gunners require another full-back.
Incidentally, somebody at Arsenal appears to have briefed the papers that Eduardo cost around £8m, rather than the £16m claimed by Zagreb.
BIDDING WAR FOR DEFOE AS NUGENT HEADS FOR POMPEY
Having grown tired of waiting for an answer from David Nugent, The Daily Mail's bombshell claim is that 'Sunderland have made an audacious £9million bid for Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe'.
As there seems little prospect of Defoe actually agreeing to the move, the Mail adds weight to their story by claiming that Sunderland's offer 'is likely to spark a bidding war among Premiership clubs for the former West Ham star. Portsmouth, Aston Villa and West Ham are also interested in the player and all three have funds available to trump Sunderland's offer'.
Nugent looks to be heading to Pompey after Everton failed to make a firm offer for the Preston striker.
'There was an increasing feeling that Nugent was using Sunderland's interest as a way of teasing out a bid from Everton, the club that he supported as a child. Everton are unwilling to offer more than £4million. Nugent, 22, has attracted interest from several other clubs and is also expected to hold talks with Portsmouth, possibly as early as today,' says The Times. The Guardian concurs, describing the south coast outfit as being 'left in pole position' to sign Nugent after Sunderland's withdrawal.
If Villa win the Defoe race, by the way, then they might actually look pretty good. Assuming the Daily Star are correct, and they do snap up Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nigel Reo-Coker and Jussi Jaaskelainen over the next couple of weeks as well.
The Reo-Coker deal is expected to go through by Wednesday, while Jaaskelainen could be available if Bolton manage to persuade Jerzy Dudek to head for the Reebok Stadium rather than the Bernabeu.
A NEW NAME ENTERS THE FRAME
Hurrah! A new name enters the merry-go-round, and it's one we've been waiting for all summer.
The Gossip Column has been shocked that no-on had yet been linked to Ghana and Fenerbahce's Stephen Appiah.
Well, the Daily Mirror says West Ham want him. Expect to see him linked to loads more clubs over the next eight weeks.
CITEH CONTINUE YAKUBU PURSUIT
Sven-Goran Eriksson is believed to have made Middlesbrough striker Ayegbeni Yakubu one of his top targets should he become Manchester City manager.
Yakubu, along with Bolton's Nicolas Anelka, is being linked with a move to Eastlands.
According to The Times, 'Gareth Southgate will have face-to-face discussions with Yakubu Ayegbeni today, but there is a growing acceptance that the Nigeria striker will be leaving Middlesbrough this summer. The manager will herald the beginning of preseason training by asking his leading striker for an update on his position, with Manchester City emerging as suitors for his signature.'
LET'S ALL LAUGH AT EVERTON
Having decided against signing Nugent, Everton's principal transfer targets have been named as Alan Smith and Kieran Richardson by both The Independent and Daily Mail.
The Indy claims that 'David Moyes, the Everton manager, is considering a joint £8m offer to Manchester United for Alan Smith and Kieran Richardson.' The Mail's report is slightly more sensationalist, announcing: 'Everton manager David Moyes is ready to make his mark on the transfer market with £17million-worth of deals for Phil Jagielka, Alan Smith, Kieran Richardson and Jason Koumas.'
Transfer Gossip can't stop laughing at the thought of Everton responding to Liverpool's capture of Fernando Torres by unveiling Kieran Richardson.
AND THE REST
Sven-Goran Eriksson is in talks with Spanish club Recreativo Huelva in case his move to Manchester City collapses...Robbie Fowler fears starting the season on the sidelines after admitting he hasn't had a single offer since being released by Liverpool...Charlton want Southend's Freddy Eastwood to replace Darren Bent...Newcastle will sign Geremi on a free from Chelsea, but will fail to persuade Eidur Gudjohnsen to swap Barcelona for Tyneside...Wigan are ready to up their bid for West Brom's Jason Koumas to £5m...Arsenal are one of 'a host' of Premier League clubs trailing Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon...