Football Corner

Tottenham have tonight completed the signing of Hertha Berlin defender Gilberto after hours of uncertainty about the transfer.

Gilberto had previously failed a medical at the club and doubts were raised wheter or not the deal would actually go through or not but it seems a though things have been sorted and the Brazilian international will move to White Hart Lane.

Gilberto is a quality left-back that I feel will be a big hit at Spurs. He is a Brazilian international and has scored in the World Cup so good signing by Juande Ramos in my view.

Jermain Defoe has passed a medical at Portsmouth although the deal is in the balance due to the delay in the deal which will see Benjani join Manchester City.

Pompey agreed a fee with Tottenham earlier on Thursday afternoon and the player has agreed terms and under went a medical at 9:15, which he is thought to have passed.

I would love to see Defoe leave Spurs and gain some more first team football at Fratton Park. I do feel the deal will go through and Pompey will be rather happy with their business for the day.

Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner has joined Everton on a six month loan deal according to reports.


Gardner has struggled to nail down a first team place under manager Juande Ramos since the managers arrival in October and he had spoken of his desire to leave for first team football.

Everton boss David Moyes was said to be interested in a new defender and Gardner looks to be the man for Everton although I forsee him struggling to gain a first team place at Goodison Park.

Sheffield United have completed the loan signing of Inter player Goran Slavkovski. The Swedish international joins the Blades until the end of the season.

Middlesbrough are close to wrapping up a deal to bring Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves to the Riverside after the Brazilian forward was granted a work permit.

The player has been at the centre of a lega dispute between AZ Alkmaar and Heerenveen in recent weeks but now Boro have stepped in and agreed a £14 million bid for the player.

Alves has an amazing goal scoring record at the Dutch club, scoring 45 times in just under 40 games. Alves also has 8 caps to his name for Brazil, scoring once in the process.

I feel this is a terrific signing for Boro and I am glad to see Alves coming to the Premier League. He is obviously a terrific goalscorer, in the Dutch League and I am sure all Boro fans he will be able to carry that kind of form to the Riverside. I just hope for Boro fans sake he's not another Dirk Kuyt!

Newcastle United defender David Rozehnal has this evening joined Serie A giants Lazio on a six month loan deal.

Rozehnal has failed to make a real impression at the Premier League side and Magpies boss Kevin Keegan is keen to bring in a replacement before midnight tonight.

Rozehnal made over 20 appearances for Newcastle since joining in the summer for £2.9 million. "David Rozehnal joined Newcastle only last summer, but has not been playing in his position in defence," Zika told Pravo. "The Lazio offer came shortly before the transfer deadline, but we managed to finish the deal."

This comes as no surprise to me. Rozehnal has been largely dissapointing and I am sure Keegan will be looking to make the deal permanent in the summer. The 27-year old has 40 caps for his country Czech Republic.

Liverpool have this evening signed Javier Mascherano on a permanent deal for a fee believed to be in the region of £18 million.


Mascherano has been on loan at the Merseyside club for just over a year now and has impressed the Liverpool faithful as well as manager Rafa Benitez.

The 23-year old has made over 20 appearances for the club although he is yet to score. He is currently keeping both Xabi Alonso and Lucas Leiva out of the Liverpool team.

I feel the signing Mascherano is a good one for Liverpool although I do think £18 million is a tad over priced. That should be it for Liverpool on deadline day but I still feel Rafa needs to invest in a new striker.

Tottenham are to launch a last gasp £8 million bid for Sevilla left midfielder Diego Capel, according to today's Daily Mirror.


The player has been linked with a move to Spurs for some time as current Spurs boss Juande Ramos looks to fill his left sided midfield slot.

Capel has played under Ramos before whilst the pair were at Sevilla and he has made over 20 appearances for the club although he is yet to score for the La Loga giants.

Capel is a quality midfield player who would be a good addition to Spurs squad. Ramos has been looking at left midfield players inclduing Stewart Downing but it is thought that he has a better chance of signing the 19-year old Capel.

Manchester City are closing in on the double signing of FC Basel striker Felipe Caicedo and Portsmouth top scorer Benjani.

City boss Sven Goran Eriksson has desperately been looking out for a new front man with the current set of front men misfiring.

Caicedo is set to join City for a fee of around £5 million. He has made over 40 appearances for the Swiss club scoring 12 goals. Benjani has scored 19 goals for Pompey in just under 70 games and will also complete a £5 million move to the City of Manchester before midnight.

As a City fan I am not overly happy with the signings. Benjani is, in my view, overrated and I have never really seen Caicedo play but in fairness he has been linked with several top European clubs so he must be decent.

Southend have completed the loan signing of Chelsea youngster Anthony Grant until the end of the season.

Manchester United are supposedly making a last minute attempt to capture the signature of Karim Benzema.

The French international has been linked with Europe's top clubs in the last few transfer windows and it appears now as though United will finally put a bid in for the 20 year old.

He broke through the Lyon academy in 2004 and has since managed to bag 21 goals in about 60 appearances for the Ligue1 champions. He has also made 8 appearances for France and netted 3 times in the process.

There is no doubt about Benzema's ability and I'm sure he is well worth his £20 million price tag

Norwich have completed the loan signing of Arsenal star Kieran Gibbs. The 18 year old is highly rated at the Emirates and could well be a part of Arsenal's future. He will return from Carrow Road at teh end of the season.

Newcastle United's bid for Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes has been rejected.

The player has been at the centre of intense speculation about his future with several clubs vying for his signature including Aston Villa and West Ham.

Derby boss Paul Jewell has stated that if a club come in with the right offer for Barnes then he can go but he won't be letting him go cheap. It was believed that Kevin Keegan bid only £2 million for the 19-year old.

I feel Barnes would relish a move to St James' and I do think that a deal will be done before midnight tomorrow. Barnes is a terrific talent and will inevitably be an England international and would be a good addition to an average Newcastle side.

According to several reports tonight, Middlesbrough are closing in on Inter Milan wonderkid Goran Slavkovski.

The Swedish born 18-year old has been linked with several moves to the Premier League with Manchester United also said to be interested in the player but it appears as though he wants a move to the Riverside.

"Middlesbrough are a perfect club," Slavkovski told Expressen. It is understood that the player will have a medical at Boro either today or tomorrow ahead of a six month loan deal.

Chelsea have a had a £15 million bid for Palermo striker Amauri rejected keeping the door open for fellow admirers, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus according to reports on tribalfootball.com.

Tottenham have this evening completed the signing of Rangers defender Alan Hutton and Spurs midfielder Wayne Routledge is on the way out of the club with Aston Villa close to agreeing a deal for him.

Hutton has long been a target of Tottenham manager Juande Ramos and after weeks of speculation the transfer has taken place. The fee for the Scotland international is believed to be in the region of £9 million.

"We are delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Glasgow Rangers for the transfer of Alan Hutton," said a statement on Tottenham's website.

Meanwhile, according to several reports today Wayne Routledge is close to joining fellow Premier League side Aston Villa. The 23-year old has been linked with several moves away from White Hart Lane after he was told he could leave the club and now it looks as though the former Crystal Palace player is on his way to Villa.

A good day at the office for Ramos. Hutton is a terrific player and I have no doubt will be a top quality signing by Spurs. Routledge wasn't ever really going to threaten to get into Ramos' first team plans so it's better to let him go now than to keep him in the reserves.

Barca have joined Liverpool, Tottenham, United and Lyon in the race to sign Racing centre half Ezequiel Garay according to reports on Sky Sports.com.

According to several reports this evening, Liverpool are to tie up the permanent transfer of midfielder Javier Mascherano as Momo Sissoko has left the club for Juventus.

Mascherano's future at the club had been in doubt for the past few weeks as Momo Sissoko's proposed transfer to Italian giants Juventus stalled at very stages but now it looks as though the deal could be done within hours.

Mascherano has struck up a good partnership with Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool midfield, keeping Xabi Alonso and Lucas Leiva out of the side and the majority of Reds fans were desperate to see him stay at Anfield.

I feel Liverpool were lucky to receive £8.2 million from Juve for the services of Sissoko. I am sure the majority of Liverpool fans will be delighted at the news and they will be hoping Mascherano keeps playing like he is because he has been impressive this season.

Newcastle are considering a move for Czech youngster Lubos Kalouda according to reports on Sky Sports today.

Denis Wise has this evening decided to leave Leeds United to go and join Newcastle United as some executive something or other and in my view he's made a bad decision.

He has led Leeds into the promotion places in League one despite a 15 point deduction and many Leeds fans had grown found of the ex-Chelsea star.

The decision to leave the club is a poor one. Denis should of stayed with Leeds at least until the end of the season and if they were promoted (which I think they would of been had Wise of stayed on) then great. He would be regarded as a possible Premier League manager.

Instead he has decided to join the backroom staff at St James' Park where he will have no influence in picking the first team squad and in my view Denis needs to be doing that kind of thing if he wants to be a top manager.

Yes Barack Obama is a West Ham fan. The (soon to be, in my view) next president of the United States admitted that he has followed the Hammers ever since he visited London a couple of years ago.

In five or six years. Carlos Tevez has today spoken of his desire to leave Manchester United in five or six years and then finish his career at Boca Juniors.

The Argentine striker has been at United since last summer after leaving West Ham. Tevez is currently United's leading striker this season with 13 goals in all competitions.

He told Radio Del Plata: "I would like to play four or five more years in Europe. I would love this to happen at Manchester United and then go back to Argentina.

"I know I will finish my career at Boca. No doubt about it. I do not imagine myself retiring without winning one more title there."

Spurs are supposedly set to add another defender to their January introductions as Alan Hutton is closing in on a move to White Hart Lane according to reports on Sky Sports. Tottenham have already signed Chris Gunter and Johnathan Woodgate so far in this transfer window.

Arsenal are considering a move for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko according to reports on Sky Sports this evening.

According to several papers today, Tottenham have missed out on the signing of Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing after failing to agree terms with Boro.

Downing has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane for some time now and many people predicted that he would join Juande Ramos' side before the end of the January transfer window.

Downing, 23, has 16 England caps to his name and although he hasn't shown great form of late he is widely regarded as one of England's best left wingers.

I personally felt Downing needed to leave the Riverside and have a fresh start somewhere else. I'm sure Ramos won't be too happy but he can still play Malbranque on the left of the Spurs midfield.

According to several reports today, Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko is very close top leaving the club after Juventus and Liverpool agreed an £8.2 million fee for the club.

Sissoko has been the centre of intense speculation throughout the January transfer window with several clubs including Inter Milan interested in the 23-year old.

Liverpool currently have an abundance of quality central midfielder players in Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva at the club and Javier Mascherano who is likely to sign on a permanent deal at the club when Sissoko leaves.

I feel it is for the best for Sissoko to leave Anfield. Liverpool need the money and Sissoko needs more playing time and I think Liverpool are receiving a very decent amount of money. Bye bye Momo.

Portsmouth have completed the loan signing of former Liverpool striker Milan Baros from Lyon.

Dinamo Zagreb midfielder, Luka Modric says he would prefer a move to Barcelona rather than City or Chelsea according to reports in the Daily Telegraph.

The 22 year old Croatian is a central midfielder and is very highly rated in Croatia and at his club Dinamo Zagreb. Reports came through this week also that he rejected a move to Arsenal last season.


He also has an impressive goal scoring record from midfield netting 24 times in about 80 appearances for Zagreb.



I have seen this guy play a few times and he definitely looks like a star for the future. It is likely that he will cost Barca about £10 million. But it is thought that he will not be making his move until the summer.

Arsenal right sider, Emmanuel Eboue could be set for a move to Italian giants AC Milan according to reports in the Daily Telegraph.

Celtic are targeting Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia according to reports in The Mail on Sunday.

According to Liverpool shot stopper, Pepe Reina, Reds manager Rafa Benitez supposedly fines his players if they are caught speaking any other language than English. The Spanish keeper said in a recent interview, "There are 12 Spanish speakers but we try not to talk in our language because if he catches us, Rafa fines us."...Pretty soon they might be saying Adios to Rafa if he keeps up their current poor run of form.

Tottenham are supposedly set to sign Middlesbrough defender, Johnathan Woodgate and Hertha Berlin left back, Gilberto.

According to reports in today's News of the World, Spanish giants Sevilla are planning to make a £7 million bid for Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda.

The player is supposedly unhappy at the club after Spurs boss Juande Ramos starting buying more full-backs and he has been linked with moves to several clubs since then.

The 28-year old has been at Spurs for a year and a half now after leaving fellow Premier League side Wigan. He has mad over 50 appearances for the North London side netting 3 times.

I wouldn't surprise me one bit if Chimbonda joined Sevilla. Sevilla are playing Champions League football at the minute and I feel Chimbonda would love to play in Europe's top competition although will Ramos sell?

According to reports in today's News of the World, Arsenal and Manchester United are keeping tabs on Everton defender Joleon Lescott.

The player has impressed this season, earning an England call-up and becoming a vital part of the Everton starting eleven.

The 25-year old has been at Goodison Park since 2006 after joining from Championship side Wolves. It is very clear that David Moyes wants to hold onto his star players but when the sides like Arsenal and United come knocking they often get their man.

It is not thaught that both sides will make bids in January but a summer move may be on the cards. Both Ferguson and Wenger are likely to start the bidding at around about £8 million but I feel they will have to cough up a lot more than that for Everton star.

Middlesbrough have tonight moved a step closer to signing Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves after Gareth Southgate admitted that a deal may be done within the next 24 hours.

Boro have been tracking the Brazilian striker for some time now and have been frustrated at the length of time taking to do the deal due to an supposed agreement between AZ Alkmaar and Herenveen for Alves' services.

Southgate told the club's official website: "We're still in talks with Heerenveen and we're hoping that within the next 24 hours we can conclude an agreement with them, and then of course there are things like work permits to get through."

I feel the signing of Alves would be a terrific one for Boro. Alves is a quality goal striker that scores bag fulls of goals. Alves is 26-years old and has scored more goals than he has played for the Dutch club and I'm sure Boro fans will be hoping he can produce the same at the Riverside.

Tottenham's turn around in this Premier League season is down only to one man and that man is Juande Ramos.

Ramos was appointed Spurs boss back in October after Martin Jol was sacked for a poor run of results (rather harshly in my view).

He had a terrific pedigree coming into the Spurs hot seat having led Sevilla to two consecutive UEFA Cup's and qualifying the club for Champions League football last season.

When Ramos took the reins at White Hart Lane everything changed. A new diet for all the players, a new assistant manager in Gus Poyet and ,most importantly, a better run of results. Spurs have won 12 of the 20 games Ramos has been in charge and are now within touching distance of the European places.

Spurs were in danger of relegation, no two ways about it, but since Ramos has come that sounds laughable. Spurs recently beat arch rivals Arsenal 5-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg to ensure they reached the final at Wembley in February. That was the clubs first win over the Gunners for nearly ten years.

Ramos is a very cool and collected manager. He doesn't make any rash decisions in games and remains motionless when his side score. There is no doubt in my mind he is one of the best managers in the league and next season Spurs will be real contenders for a Champions League place.

It looks as though tonight that Tottenham have won the race to sign Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate after Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan admitted that it was unlikely the player would be going to St James' Park.

Woodgate has been the centre of much speculation over the past week or so after it was confirmed that he would be aloud leave Boro if the asking price was met. That has been met by both Spurs and Newcastle and both clubs spoke with the player.

"At this moment I don't think he is going to come to Newcastle," Keegan told Sky Sports News. "In fact I am almost certain he isn't. I think he is going to go somewhere else. "It looks like we have lost him. I am very disappointed. I fully understand though. But I desperately want him to come."

It is clear to see that Spurs boss Juande Ramos is looking to strengthen his defence and I feel Woodgate will be a good addition to the Spurs side although I feel £7 million is a bit much for a player that is very injury prone.

A Yossi Benayoun hat-trick ended Havant & Waterlooville's hopes of progressing to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Liverpool ran out 5-2 winners but the non-leaguers put up an amazing fight, twice taking the lead. There was a huge 6,000 following for Havant that travelled up to Anfield and they certainly were given a lot to shout about.

The away side unbelievably took the lead after only nine minutes of the match when Richard Pacquette got on teh end of a Mo Harkin corner. Liverpool equalised soon after when Lucas Leiva struck a superb shot from outside the visitors box and many people felt the non-leaguers would just crumble, not the case.

Havant went 2-1 when Liverpool's new £6 million defender Martin Skrtel scored an og. Liverpool were level just before the break when Benayoun grabbed his first of the game after some neat play by Jermain Pennant and the same combination put the Reds 3-2 ahead.

Benayoun completed the hat-trick just three minutes later when he pounced on a loose ball after Ryan Babel had a shot saved by the Havant keeper. Peter Crouch finished the scoring after he was played in by captain Steven Gerrard.

All I can say is congratulations Havant. They put up a terrific fight against the Premier League side and were by no means disgraced.
Benayoun doubled his tally when

According to reports in today's Daily Mirror, Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is to sign a new deal at the club.

The player's future at the club has been thrown into doubt in recent weeks after it was reported that Spurs boss Juande Ramos told the player he could leave the club.

Aston Villa, Newcastle and Man City were all said to be interested in the player but it now appears as though their chances of signing the 25-year old are very slim.

The England international in my view is too good to be sitting on the bench every week. I still feel that Berbatov and Keane are better than him and he will continue to struggle to nail down a first team place at White Hart Lane.

According to reports on BBC, Newcastle United have taken a lead in the race to sign Middlebrough defender Jonathan Woodgate.

The player is currently holding talks with the club he spent to seasons at a couple of years ago after holding talks with Spurs on Wednesday.

Woodgate has apparently been told he can leave Boro after falling out of favour with Boro boss Gareth Southgate. It is believed that Boro have accepted two £7 million bids for the player from both clubs.

I personally feel he will pick Newcastle in the end, simply because he is already living up their. I think he will turn out to be a very good signing for Kevin Keegan, that's if he can keep injury-free.

Today's Bet of the Day comes from the FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Havant & Waterlooville. This is obviously going to be a very one sided game and I am pretty certain there are going to be goals... and lots of them. That's why I have gone for the game to have six or more goals @ 15/8 @ PaddyPower.

According to reports in several papers today, Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is interested in bringing David Beckham back to the Premier League.

Beckham has been away from English football since leaving Man United almost four years ago for Real Madrid. He is obviously now in the US with LA Galaxy.

Beckham has been training with Arsenal in order to gain match fitness to try and earn a England call-up for the friendly with Switzerland next month to earn his 100th cap.

According to the Daily Express, Newcastle United are the latest team to show an interest in Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes.

Barnes has been linked with several moves away from the Premier League strugglers with West Ham and Aston Villa said to be interested in the 19-year old.

New Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is apparently ready to bid £5 million for the midfielder and Derby boss Paul Jewell may be tempted by that kind of money.

I feel Barnes deserves to be playing at a bigger and better team, with all due respect to Derby. Barnes is capable of winning a game on his own but the only thing I'm worried about is that he may just be a great player in a average team.

According to reports on Sky Sports this morning, Celtic have snapped up Middlesbrough striker Ben Hutchinson on a pre-contract agreement.

Hutchinson has made eight substitute appearances for the Premier League side and scored on his debut against Manchetser City earlier in the season. Many sides were said to be interested in the 20-year old who joined Boro from non-league side Arnold Town last summer.

Boro boss Gareth Southagte is said to be deeply frustrated at losing the striker but Boro will receive some sort of compensation.

Spurs are targeting Barcelona defender Carles Puyol according to reports on Sky Sports last night.

According to reports in today's Daily Mirror, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is interested in bringing Real Zaragoza attacking midfielder, Pablo Aimar to Anfield.

The Argentinian international played under Benitez whilst they were at Valencia and Benitez is keen to bring him to Liverpool but will have to bid as much as £8 million.

The 28-year old has been linked with a move to the Premier League before when Liverpool were said to of made a £10 million bid for him before his move to Zaragoza.

Aimar has 47 caps for Argentina and in my view would be a quality signing. I personally feel Reds fans will want Benitez to spend his money on securing the signature of Javier Mascherano but you never know this transfer could happen in the summer.

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has today claimed he can get better.

Ronaldo has already had a terrific season with United, equalling his goal tally of 23 from last season and he is on course to retain his Premier League player of the year award.

"To be honest I am a bit surprised to have already equalled my total of 23 from last season," said Ronaldo."Now I want to improve, so I will continue to work hard in the hope of getting more goals.

"I am enjoying my career at the moment as we are playing some nice football. But I need to say thanks to my team-mates. They help me a lot."They give me great passes and give me confidence. I appreciate that. Maybe I score more goals than my colleagues but they also help the team.

Obviously bad news for fans of other Premier League teams who will have to face the magician that is Ronaldo.

Ashley cheats on Cheryl. Poor show Ashley!

Tottenham's move for Juventus midfielder Tiago Mendes has this evening collapsed after the club and player couldn't agree personal terms.

Tiago has long been linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester City, Bolton and Newcastle all said to be interested in the Portuguese international.

The 26-year old made over 40 appearances for Chelsea during his time in England and played a large part in Chelsea's title winning season three years ago.

It is believed Juande Ramos will now turn his attentions to Valencia midfielder David Albelda. The player has been told by Valencia manager Ronald Koeman that he can leave the club and Tottenham are believed to among the interested parties.

I believe the signing of Tiago would of been a good one for Spurs manager Juande Ramos. Tiago is a good midfielder that I feel would of been a good addition to the Spurs side, however I feel the signing of Albelda would be just as good for Spurs.