Football Corner

Liverpool are keen to offload midfielder Jermaine Pennant before the transfer window closes tomorrow night. The former England under-21 international has been linked with a possible £4 million move to Premier League new boys Stoke City in recent days. (News of the World)

The former Arsenal youngster has found it hard to nail down a first team place at Anfield in ever since signing for the club back in 2006. Stoke boss Tony Pulis is trying to rush through a deal now to sign the 25-year old but wheter or not he makes the deadline is going to be tight.

I think this would be a good deal all round. Good for Pennant because he will be guaranteed first team football every week. Good for Stoke because they will have a decent winger on their hands and finally, it will be good for Liverpool because they will get one of their many midfielders off their books and gain £4 million.

Jimmy Bullard has tonight been included in the England team to face Croatia and Andorra. The Fulham midfielder has received his first call-up to the national team after impressing Fabio Capello over the past few months.

Bullard, 29, returned from a serious knee injury at the back end of last season and made an immediate impact, scoring in his comeback game. I am personally delighted to see Bullard named in Capello's squad and I feel this is a great testament to the legend that is Jimmy Bullard.

Newcastle United are on the brink of capturing their third South American of the summer with Uruguay international Ignacio Gonzalez en route to Tyneside from Valencia. (setanta)

The midfielder has only just agreed to join the Che from Uruguayan club Danubio but will immediately be loaned to The Magpies for the coming season to join Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez in Kevin Keegan’s squad. The 26-year-old, who passed a medical with Valencia on Friday, is already on the move as coach Unai Emery has a number of alternative options at his disposal. Valencia vice-president Fernando Gomez has confirmed that the deal is close to being agreed with the Premier League club.

“We have many players who can play in midfield and this is an excellent solution for both sides,” said Gomez. “We expect the formalities to be completed on Monday morning.” Gonzalez spent a spell on loan with Monaco last season, making five appearances and scoring one goal in Ligue 1. His arrival in Newcastle is likely to be delayed as he will play for his country in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers on September 6 and 10.

This looks like a decent acquisition on loan. The Newcastle midfield is badly lacking some creativity and this may be just the spark in the middle that they need.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will undergo a scan to determine the severity of a hamstring problem, but Reds manager Rafa Benitez has hinted that the injury will only be a short-term one.(Setanta)

The Spain international lasted only 27 minutes of Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday as he was substituted for David Ngog after chasing a pass from Javier Mascherano. The sight of last season’s top scorer limping off the Villa Park pitch was a deeply unwelcome one for Benitez who has also seen captain Steven Gerrard sidelined due to a minor operation.

Liverpool are now anxiously awaiting the results of a scan on Monday but Torres appears almost certain to miss Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia.

"We don't know how long Torres will be out for yet," Benitez told the club’s official website. "We'll have to wait for the results of the scan on Monday. "It could be he is out for seven to ten days, but until he has the scan we won't know."

This could turn out to be a major problem for Liverpool. With Stephen Gerrard also out injured, I'm sure Liverpool fans will praying that the Spanish striker picked up isn't to serious. With important league and Champions league fixtures coming up they really need him fit.

Pablo Zableta admitted it was a dream come true to sign for Manchester City .The Argentina defender completed his £6.5million switch from Espanyol today.(the sun)

And Zabaleta, 23, said: "I am very happy to come here and play in the Premier League. "Playing in England has been a lifelong dream which has finally come true by moving to City. "I'd met Mark Hughes previously and was really impressed with him but having talked to him about Manchester City I had to come here and be part of his plans. "I'm very confident of helping the first team to achieve their goals for the season and after walking around the stadium I can't wait to play in front of the City fans there. It is very impressive."

Hughes was delighted to bring the star to Eastlands. He said: "We feel the addition of Pablo is another great signing for Manchester City. "He's young and a winner, with an Olympic gold medal to prove that, but more so he will provide us with great balance in the side. "I'm very happy to bring him here and hopefully we can get a good result at Sunderland to round off what has been a very satisfactory week indeed for us."

Somehow I doubt Zabeleta has ever even heard of Man city. I think a player of his calibere would have to be out of their mind to join Man city in their current state.

Tottenham are preparing a £12 million bid for Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra. The former Arsenal ace could be set to exit Fratton Park after Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp was told he needs to sell to lessen the club's financial problems. (The People)

Diarra, 23, has been one of Pompey's top performers in recent months and inspired the club to their first major trophy in 90 years, when they won the FA Cup last season. Spurs boss Juande Ramos is keen to add to his midfield options before the transfer window closes on Monday night and Diarra is high on his list.

Diarra has 14 caps for the France national team and It would be a real shame to see Diarra leave Portsmouth, so soon after joining them. Since his move to Fratton Park in January from Arsenal he has become a firm fan favourite and I am sure every Pompey fan will be devastated if he does join Tottenham.

Spurs want to sign him, but do you? If so, he only costs £4 million in this seasons "You the Manager" and at that price he must be a bargain. Sign-up now (below) to receive two teams for the price of one and be in with a chance to win the September prize of £10,000.

Manchetser City midfielder Michael Johnson is set to sign a new contract at Eastlands after a summer filled with speculation over his future. Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton were all keen to lure him away from the City of Manchester stadium but in the end he has chosen to stay with Mark Hughes' men.

The England under-21 international is set to sign a new £50,000 a week deal at the club at which he has progressed through the ranks. He has become an integral part of the Man City first team and I am sure this news will come as a huge relief to Mark Hughes who was extremely keen to hold onto the 20-year old.

As a City fan myself, I have to say I am thrilled with this news. Johnson has been superb the past 18 months and I feel it is crucial that we hold onto our best players. I think this is the right decision by Johnson because if he had of joined, let's say Arsenal, he would not of been guaranteed a first team place every week.

Could this be the perfect time to sign the highly rated youngster for your team. Then sign-up for the Daily Mirror's, "You the Manager" (below) and buy Johnson for just £3.5 million. Join now and enter your team to challenge for the September monthly prize of £10,000. When you sign up you receive two teams for the price of one.

Manchester United and Tottenham are set for another battle over a striker. This time it is about Newcastle striker Michael Owen who has today been linked with an possible exit from St James' Park and both Sir Alex Ferguson and Juande Ramos are keen to offer him that exit route. (Sunday Mirror)

The England international is apparently about to reject a new contract offer from Newcastle of £120,000 a week in favour of a move to Old Trafford or White Hart Lane. With Spurs and United both in the market for a new front man, it makes sense that Michael Owen's name is mentioned.

This possible transfer all depends on one man. Dimitar Berbatov. If Berbatov joins United, I feel Owen will sign for Spurs, but if Berbatov stays at Spurs then I could see Owen making the move south to Manchester. Will either of these players make it into your team? Sign Owen for just £6.5 million and Berbatov for £7.5 million below.

With the transfer deadline nearing a close, make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest gossip and deals to go through.

After yesterday's success with my Premier League Bet of the Day, I am hoping I will follow it up with another cracking bet today. The bet I have chosen today comes from the Aston Villa V Liverpool match which sees Gareth Barry face the side he was oh so close to joining.

With that in mind, I have gone for Barry to score at any time in the match at a very generous 13/2 @ Paddy Power. Be sure to watch Barry bang in a goal for Martin O'Neill's men at 4.00 on Sky Sports 1 today.

According to a recent poll run on Football Corner, we asked you wheter or not you think Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov will join Manchester United. With only two days to go before the transfer deadline, you the readers, feel Berbatov will indeed join United.

Here are the results of the poll:

Yes (Berbatov will join United) 55% (157 votes)
No (Berbatov will not join United) 45% (125 votes)

I would like to thank everyone who voted and I would urge everyone to stay tuned to Football Corner over the coming days where we will have in-depth coverage of the latest deals and rumours in the world of football.

Celtic are preparing a move for Tottenham midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng. The former Hertha Berlin midfielder has struggled since moving to White Hart Lane two years ago and it is understood that Juande Ramos is keen to offload him before the window closes on Monday.

The 21-year old has only made 13 league appearances since joining Spurs and he is also keen to exit the club as soon as possible. Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is hoping to sign the German under-21 international on a one year loan deal with a view to a permanent deal.

I would be extremely surprised to still see Boateng at Tottenham on Tuesday morning. I feel Ramos will ask for the move to be permanent straight away in order to get some money in to fund moves for other targets. On a funnier note, Boateng has 13 tattoos.

Arsenal cruised past Newcastle United at the Emirates today with Robin Van Persie bagging two of the goals. The Gunners came into the game on the back of a defeat to Fulham last weekend and it was clear from the off they were keen to make-up for last weekend.

Arsene Wenger's men could have had a penalty as early as the two minute mark when Fabrico Collocini brought down Van Persie in the box only for Rob Styles to wave to appeals away. Arsenal were awarded a penalty eighteen minutes in when Charles N'Zogbia deliberatly handled the ball, with Van Persie stepping up to slot the ball to the left of Shay Given.

Arsenal continued to impress and they bagged there second just before the break when, once again Van Persie firing home after a neat bit of play from Emmanuel Eboue. That goal put the game beyond Newcastle and Kevin Keegan's men never really threatened, if fact it was Arsenal who continued to impress.

Denilson netted the Gunners third fifteen minutes into the second-half, getting on the end of some terrific play between Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor. Newcastle' Joey Barton came on for the first time this season for the last few minutes and was not surprisingly booed every time he touched the ball.

Elsewhere it finished : Bolton 0-0 West Brom, Everton 0-3 Portsmouth, Hull City 0-5 Wigan, Middlesbrough 2-1 Stoke City, West Ham 4-1 Blackburn.

Maybe it's time to sign Robin Van Persie for your team. Sign the Dutch striker for just £6.5 million in the Daily Mirror's, "You the Manager" (below) and receive two teams for the price of one.

Alex Ferguson has saved Manchester United nearly £7million in wages by letting Louis Saha leave for NOTHING. Saha, 30, will sign a two-year deal with Everton if he passes his Goodison Park medical today. Despite shelling out £12.8m for Saha in January 2004, United have ripped up the final two years of the French striker’s £65,000-a-week contract after a host of injury problems.

But Everton boss David Moyes insists the former Fulham hitman can prove a hit if he ends his injury nightmare. Moyes said: “Louis is a good centre-forward who has a bit of everything. “He can run, head the ball and score goals and he has not cost us any money. “There will be some money after he’s played some games, but there is no initial outlay and he has to play before we pay.”

Saha started just 52 Premier League games at Old Trafford but still netted 28 top-flight goals. Moyes added: “If I can get Louis out there 20 times a season, that would give us a chance of winning 20 games.”

I think Man United did the right thing letting Saha go. They lost more money then they gained for the player. Its unfortunate that he was so injury prone but who knows a fresh start at Everton may be just what he needs.

Johnathon Woodgate has accused Dimitar Berbatov of betraying his team-mates. The Spurs striker is desperate to join Manchester United. And last night both clubs were inching closer to a £28million deal. (the sun)

But Spurs centre-back Woodgate rapped: “What he’s done doesn’t give out a great message to the supporters, if I’m honest. "The boys are working twice as hard for each other. If it was me, I would do it differently. “I would work hard for the club up until I actually left. I’d still be playing until I was leaving. "Even if I didn’t want to be somewhere I would still give 100 per cent because that’s the way I was brought up.”

The transfer looked deadlocked over the last few weeks, with United refusing to budge from their £25m offer and Tottenham refusing to accept anything below £30m. There were even reports from Germany yesterday that Bayern Munich were ready to exploit the stalemate with a late offer.

Tensions between the two clubs erupted when United boss Alex Ferguson gloated that Berbatov was on his way. That sparked Tottenham to make an official complaint to the Premier League. But United chief executive David Gill has spoken to Spurs officials over the last 48 hours in Monaco and a compromise seems to be on the horizon. The £28m deal being thrashed out looks likely to rise to £30m depending on how successful the Bulgarian is at Old Trafford.

I totally agree with Woodgate. I think Berbatov has betrayed his team-mates, the fans and most importantly the club that put him in the position he is in today. I think he has to go for the sake of both parties.

Roman Pavlyuchenko was granted his work permit yesterday after Spurs agreed a £12million fee with Spartak Moscow. The transfer looks set to go through if he passes a medical in London today.

Im fairly sure nobody cares about this pointless tournament, but just in case you do here is the third round draw. My tie of the round would be holders Tottenham away to Newcastle United. Somehow I don't see Spurs retaining the Carling cup.

THIRD ROUND DRAW

Arsenal v Sheffield United

Brighton or Manchester City v Derby

Burnley v Fulham

Portsmouth v Chelsea

Blackburn v Everton

Rotherham v Southampton

Swansea v Cardiff

Ipswich v Wigan

Stoke v Reading

Leeds v Hartlepool

Watford v West Ham

Manchester United v Middlesbrough

Liverpool v Crewe

Aston Villa v QPR

Sunderland v Northampton

Newcastle v Tottenham

(Ties to be played on the week commencing September 22.)

Hull City have today made a £7 million bid for Manchester United striker Frazier Campbell. The England under-21 international spent much of last season on loan at the KC Stadium but now City boss Phill Brown is eager to sign Campbell on a permanent deal.

The 20-year old started United's first game of the new season at home to Newcastle, stuggling to make a huge impact. It is understood that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will only let Campbell go if he finds a replacement for him before the close of the window on Monday.

With Saha already out the door at Old Trafford, I feel this deal will only go through if Dimitar Berbatov arrives at the club. If United were to let Campbell go they would only be left with Rooney and Tevez as their two recognised strikers.

I personally think Campbell and indeed Hull will benefit from this move. Campbell would be guaranteed first team football every week and Hull will have a top young striker to help keep them in the Premier League. One word of caution though, I think £7 million is a massive price to be paying for someone who hasn't got much Premier League experience.

This week's Premier League Bet of the Day is a bit different. Instead of just picking a first goalscorer or a correct score, I have decided to go for the game with the most goals in it (3 o'clock kick-off's).

I feel today's game at the KC Stadium has to potential to be a six-goal thriller so that is why I have gone for the Hull V Wigan match @ 7/2 @ Paddy Power. That's got to be worth a few quid. Be sure to stay tuned tomorrow's Bet of the Day.

This transfer saga has been rumbling on ever since the end of the European Championships in July. Tottenham's lengthy pursuit of Zenit St Petersburg striker Andrei Arshavin is now officially off after the Zenit boss Dick Advocaat admitted Spurs were £6 million short with their bid.

The Russian international claimed last week that he had agreed terms with Spurs and now it was just a case between the two clubs to agree a fee for his services. The 27-year old was valued at £22 million by the Russian giants but Spurs boss Juande Ramos was only willing to spend £16 million.

Advocaat was quoted as saying "Tottenham offered £16m and that's not enough, so that's the end of it.""They (Tottenham) had several weeks of time to buy him and they did not offer £22m like everybody has been writing, but just £16m,". "I think that Arshavin costs more than £16m."

This is obviously bad news for Spurs fans and even Premier League fans because I feel Arshavin would of been a tremendous addition to both. His skill on the ball is second to none and the way in which he runs at defences is top class. Maybe Spurs will now have to go out and sign an Ashton or a Huntelaar.

Paul Scholes tonight attempted the "Hand of God" and succeed in getting sent off. The former England international had already been booked at the time when he hand balled the ball into the Zenit St Petersburg net.

Manchester United were trailing at the time when Scholes attempted, what Diego Maradona did against England all them years ago, The Hand of God. It was simply stupid. The referee had a clear view of the incident and rightly gave Scholes his marching orders with his second yellow card.

Paul Scholes will now miss United's first Champions League group game against Villarreal next month. It was a good finished by the Ginger Magician but unfortunately he was sent off. Anyway, will you trust Paul Scholes to star in your fantasy football team. Sign Scholes for just £4.5 million in the Daily Mirror's "You the Manager" below.

Alex Ferguson has slammed Tottenham for dragging their heels over the sale of Dimitar Berbatov and admits: I’ve no idea if he will sign. Manchester United boss Ferguson has made three bids in a year for Berbatov, the last £25million, but Spurs are holding out for £30m.

A furious Ferguson told the sun: “I’m less optimistic today. I’ve no idea what is going on. "It is hard to communicate with some people in this life. We just have to get on with it.”

Spurs will be more likely to do business now having signed Roman Pavlyuchenko for £12m from Spartak Moscow. But the Londoners are determined to play hardball and have reported United to the Premier League for what they claim to be tapping up. Berba, 27, has handed in a transfer request. And last night White Hart Lane legend David Ginola insisted the striker should be allowed to leave.

The Frenchman said: “The problem for Berbatov is that he is playing for Spurs and they are not fighting for the title. They are not fighting for any place in the Champions League. “He is a young player who has propositions from big clubs and he wants to play at the top. “Players have more freedom nowadays. There is no point asking a player to play for you if he is not happy.”

I think Ferguson has every right to be angry with Tottenham for dragging this Transfer out. It is clear that Berbatovr does not wish to play for the club anymore, he has already signed a Man United shirt! I think Tottenham just need to let him go.

Phil Scolari is still waiting for the call to tell him Robinho is on his way to Chelsea.Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon is confident the Brazilian ace will move to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid before the transfer window closes.But Madrid are keen to keep hold of their man and Scolari admits he is powerless to do anything about it.(the sun)

Big Phil said: "I don't know about Robinho because it is not my job to enter into talks about players."I said something to Peter a month ago and they tried to bring Robinho here but my job is on the pitch."If they can bring him here it will be down to board meetings and I have to think about Tottenham on Sunday, not about whether players have come or have not come."I don't know anything because I have not spoken to Peter for the last two days."

Scolari has only signed Deco since succeeding Avram Grant but the Blues boss has always had his sights set on Robinho.He added: "Robinho is a very good player and it is not only me that wants him, all the coaches in the world do too."But at the moment what is happening on the pitch is the only important thing for me."For my players to play well against Tottenham is what matters."

Another very boring transfer saga that seems to have dragged on and on. I think it is inevitable Robinho will sign for Chelsea in a matter of days.

Manchester United have today been rocked by the news that midfielder Owen Hargreaves has aggravated a previous knee injury. The England international hasn't appeared this season for the Premier League Champions due to the injury and it would appear now he is set for a lengthier spell on the sidelines.

Hargreaves, 27, was due to play 45 minutes in tonight's European Super Cup against Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco. The former Bayern Munich midfielder joined United last summer for a fee believed to be £18 million and has since then won the Premier League and Champions League.

It is really disappointing to see Hargreaves pick up yet another injury. I personally feel he has been a tremendous signing by Sir Alex Ferguson and I am sure all United fans will be devastated to see him injured again. This also rules him out of England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Tottenham are eyeing up a possible £15 million move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. The Portuguese international has been linked with a move to the Premier League all summer, with Arsenal and Manchester United also believed to be interested. (The Guardian)

Veloso, 22, has been in the Sporting first team for the past two years after progressing through the club's highly aclaimed youth system, the same youth academy which Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo progressed from.

Veloso has seven caps for portugal and is widely regarded as one of Europe's most promising midfield players. Spurs boss Juande Ramos is keen to add one ore two more faces to his Spurs squad before the close of the transfer window on Monday and Veloso is understood to be one of his top targets.

I personally feel Veloso would be an incredible signing for Spurs. I have always thought Spurs lacked a quality holding midfield player, Zokora has done ok there, but the signing of Veloso would sure up the Spurs midfield. I think £15 million represents good value for money considering how much potential the player has.

Tottenham are on the verge of completing a £12 million deal to sign Spartak Moscow striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russian ace impressed during his country's run the the semi-finals of this summer's European Championships leading Juande Ramos to splash the cash on the 25-year old.

Pavlyuchenko flew into London this morning after receiving his visa to travel to the country, where he should tie up the loose ends of his deal to join the Premier League side. It had been speculated that his Russian team-mate Andrei Arshavin would join him at White Hart Lane but that deal appears dead in the water now.

I feel Pavlyuchenko will prove to be a tremendous signing for the North London club. With Dimitar Berbatov likely to join Manchester United, I think it was vital for Juande Ramos to have another striker lined up and I personally feel Pavlyuchenko will become a Spurs fan favourite within weeks.

Manchester United's chances of signing Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov today look greater than ever after the Premier League Champions got rid of Louis Saha to Everton. The French international has struggled during his five year spell at Old Trafford and he is now on the verge of signing for Everton.

This would seem to open the door wide open for Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov who has been linked with United all summer. Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday admitted he is in the dark over a possible deal for the Bulgarian but now that he has got rid of one his strikers, it leads many people to believe Berbatov is close to completing a £25 million deal to join the Reds.

I would be extremely surprised not to see Berbatov sign for United before Sunday and I would be even more surprised to see Ferguson not go out and buy a new striker at all. United now only have two main strikers at the club in Rooney and Tevez and I am sure United fans will be praying another one comes in the door before the close of the window.

Arsenal are closing on the signing of Feyenood midfielder Jonathan de Guzman after weeks of speculation about the player's future. The Dutch international has also been linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Everton in recent weeks but it would appear now Arsene Wenger has the upper hand over David Moyes.

de Guzman, 20, recently represented Holland in the Beijing Olympics and has admitted he would be interested in a move to the Emirates. "My dream clubs are Arsenal and Barcelona. If clubs of that stature are interested in you then you cannot say no," De Guzman told The Sun. "I'm certainly open to interest from Arsenal and from what I hear Feyenoord are happy to hear from them as well."

I have seen and heard great things about de Guzman and it comes as no surprise to me to see Arsene Wenger ready to splash £12 million on such a young player. de Guzman has made over 80 appearances for Feyenood during his three years at the club, scoring over a dozen goals in the process.

Liverpool are preparing a £10 million bid for Newcastle United midfielder James Milner. It was confirmed yesterday that the England under-21 international has handed in a transfer request at St James' Park after spending three years at the club. (Guardian)

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with Milner all summer as he looks to sign a new left-sided midfielder. The club has also been linked with Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera and Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing in recent weeks. Aston Villa are also said to be interested in signing Milner, but Liverpool look to have the upper hand.

Milner, 21, is believed to be very interested in a move to Anfield, however Liverpool must cough up Kevin Keegan's asking price of £10 million, a price which so far hasn't been met. I personally think Milner would be a decent signing for Liverpool, definetly better than Albert Riera.

Will Milner be in your team? Join the Daily Mirror's, "You the Manager" (below) and sign the highly rated youngster for just £4.5 million, now that's a bargain! And join the game quick to recieve two teams for the price of one!

Group A

Chelsea

Roma

Bordeaux

CFR Cluj

Group B

Inter Milan

Werder Bremen

Panathanikos

Anorthorsis

Group C

Barcelona

Sporting Lisbon

Basel

Shakhtar Donetsk

Group D

Liverpool

PSV Eindhoven

Marseille

Atletico Madrid

Group E

Manchester United

Villarreal

Celtic

Aalborg

Group F

Lyon

Bayern Munich

Steaua Bucharest

Fiorentina

Group G

Arsenal

Porto

Fenerbahce

Dynamo Kiev

Group H

Real Madrid

Juventus

Zenit St Petersburg

BATE Borisov

Tottenham are to re-ignite their interest in Manchester City defender Vedran Corluka. The Croatian international had been linked with a move to the North London side for quite a while until Corluka played in Manchester City's 1-0 defeat to FC Midtjylland, which saw the player become ineligible for a possible UEFA Cup campaign with Spurs. (The Times)

But now, Juande Ramos is keen to tie up a £8 million deal for the 22-year old who impressed during his first season in the Premier League. Mark Hughes has already signed two defenders in Vincent Kompany and Tal Ben Haim, which has fuelled even more speculation that Corluka could be on his way to White Hart Lane.

As a City fan myself, I would be devastated to see Corluka leave. He is a big part of the way City work and I feel if we were to let him go we would struggle to find a better right-back. With the transfer deadline drawing ever nearer this deal will need to happen soon, so be sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

Will Corluka make it into your team? Join the Daily Mirror's, "You the Manager" (below) and sign the Croatian for just £4 million, that's got to be a bargain!

Helsingborgs striker Henrik Larsson could be set for a return to the Premier League after it was revealed three unnamed sides have made an approach for the Swedish international. The former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United man is said to be considering his options at the present moment but it is widely believed he is keen on a return to England.

The 36-year old returned to his native Helsingborgs two years ago after spending two seasons at Barcelona, winning the Champions League in the process. His contract is set to expire at the end of November, which has led to intense speculation of a possible return to the Premier League.

During his spell at United back in 2007, Larsson showed the kind of form which saw him become a legend at Celtic Park. I personally would love to see Larsson back in England. He is a terrific charecter on and off the field and I feel he would be a great asset to several Premier League sides.

AC Milan star Kaka has responded to claims this morning that Chelsea are lining up a record bid for him by pledging his future to the Italian giants. has responded to claims this morning that Chelsea are lining up a record bid for him by pledging his future to the Italian giants.(the mirror)

Reports have suggested that Chelsea negotiated an option to buy him as part of the deal which saw Andriy Shevchenko return to the San Siro earlier this week.However, the Brazilian insists that he is focused solely on winning silverware with Milan, who are targeting a league and UEFA Cup double this season."Me going to Chelsea? I'm staying as a Rossoneri player," Kaka told Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport."I should help Milan to win the trophies we're up for this season. The club have made some great signings and Sheva will fit in without any problems.

"I can't say [if I've been included in the Shevchenko deal], because if someone has promised me to [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich, it wasn't me.“I've always said I'm happy at Milan and as long as my aims remain the same as Milan's I'll stay here. Until now it's always been that way."My goal is to win, Milan's is too. As long as we are like that, I'll remain at Milan."

I never really thought Kaka would move to Chelsea this season and this report confirms that. He seems to be happy and settled at Milan, however I wouldn't rule out a move to Chelsea at some stage.

Chelsea expect to unveil Robinho by Friday.The Real Madrid ace is set for a £28.4million move to Stamford Bridge after weeks of negotiations.And chief executive Peter Kenyon has revealed that the Brazilian should wrap up his switch in the next 48 hours.(the sun)

He said: "We're ever confident that it will be done. We hope that he'll join us at Chelsea.“Phil Scolari identified two targets when we appointed him as manager. One was Deco and the other was Robinho."Everyone has seen the impact that Deco has had on the Premier League.“I think the squad is capable of competing without Robinho but with him will give us an added dimension.”

I really hope this is true. It would be a great addition not just to Chelsea but to the Premier league. If Robinho joins Chelsea, they will have the best squad of players the premier league has ever seen, but the big question is can Scolari make them the best team?

Liverpool and Arsenal have today missed out on Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry after the player's agent admitted he will not be leaving the club this summer. The England international has been linked with a £18 million move to both Anfield and the Emirates but Villa boss Martin O'Neill would appear to have held onto his man.

Barry, 27, admitted at the start of the summer that given the opportunity, he would love to join Liverpool, comments which led to his demotion from the Villa first team. He has since been reinstated to the Villa full team and has appeared in his sides two Premier League fixtures to date.

In a statement released to Sky Sports News, Barry's agent Alex Black said: "After much speculation I can confirm that Gareth Barry will not leave Aston Villa before the transfer window closes. Gareth made the decision to stay two weeks ago and informed Aston Villa of his intentions."

"During this time discussions have taken place to decide the best way forward for all parties. Any talks regarding potential new contracts at Aston Villa will not take place until the end of the season. Gareth wants to concentrate on playing on the best of his ability for Aston Villa, and we hope this draws a line under the matter."

Although this would appear to be good news for Villa fans, I personally can see Barry leave the club during the January transfer, although I was one who thought he would leave this summer. He is a vital part of the way Villa work and losing him would be a big blow for the side, but at least they will have him until next year.

Real Madrid, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have today all missed out on Valencia striker David Villa after he signed a new deal at the club. The Spanish international has been linked with a move to the Premier League all summer after his magnificent displays at the European Championships.

Real Madrid were believed to be very keen on signing Villa as a possible replacement to the Chelsea bound Robinho but their hopes of signing him now appear dead. The 26-year old was originally told he could leave the Mestalla this summer due to the club's current financial situation but for whatever reason nothing ever materialised.

Valencia President Vicente Soriano told the club's official website: "The best striker in Europe is staying at Valencia. "We announce that David Villa and Valencia will remain together for many years to come." "It is a very happy day for me. In the last month and a half lots of things have happened around me that I have not experienced before," said Villa.

I am kind of happy to see Villa stay loyal to Valencia although I would of loved to see him come to England. He is a magnificent goalscorer who I am sure will do the business once again for the La Liga giants this season.

Manchester United midfielder Anderson has been the centre of attention at the club's Carrington training ground due to his hair-cut. The Brazilian international was unable to find a braider during his time in Beijing at the Olympics, thus leaving his hair looking like it is.

His United team-mates have apparently been giving the 20-year old dog's abuse in recent days. Anderson joined United last season and has seen his career light-up with a Champions League and a Premier League to his name. I don't know why the United players are only giving Anderson abuse now, he has had a dodgy barnet ever since he arrived at the club.

The United players don't think much of his hair-cut, but does he have enough quality to make it into your team? Join the Daily Mirror's "You the Manager" (through the link below) and sign the highly rated Brazilian for just £4 million.

Newcastle United midfielder James Milner has this afternoon handed in a transfer request at the club after reported interest from Aston Villa. The former Leeds United star is said to be keen on a move to Villa Park after spending a season on loan at the club two years ago.

Milner, 22, was also linked with Liverpool earlier this summer but it would appear now that Martin O'Neill is in pole position to sign the England under-21 international. It was rumoured in today's papersy that a possible £9 million deal could be complete as early as the end of the week and that would appear even likelier now.

I am personally not surprised by Milner handing in a transfer request. I think a move to Villa is highly likely now and I feel Villa fans will be more than happy to see Milner returning to the club. £9 million would be a fair price for such a talented young winger and I think this will see Kevin Keegan going out looking for a new winger to bring to St James' Park.

Liverpool are closing in on Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera after the La Liga outfit dropper their asking price. The Spanish international has been linked with a move to Anfield all summer after Rafa Benitez made his interest in the player public in June. (The Times)

The former Manchester City man has also been linked with Liverpool's arch rivals Everton this summer but for whatever reason, David Moyes hasn't made his interest known. It is now understood that the 26-year old could complete a £8 million move to Merseyside by the end of the week as Benitez looks to strengthen his midfield options.

I personally feel Benitez would be wasting his time trying to sign Riera. At Man City he was decent at best and I am sure many Liverpool fans will agree with me that they should switch their attentions to the likes of Valencia's David Silva or even Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing.

Manchester City are trying to land Brazilian World Cup-winner Ronaldo.City executive chairman Garry Cook revealed last week he was looking to sign a superstar.And contact has been made with the former Barcelona and Real Madrid hitman, who is now a free agent after being released by AC Milan in the summer.

Ronaldo, 31, is recovering from a severed knee tendon which he suffered last February.He is expected to be out until November and City are trying to find out the extent of the problem before making their next move.They also insist the player loses his excess weight and gets fit before any deal is done.

It would still be an incredible move by a club who have spent £70million in the last year.That includes a club-record £19m on Brazilian teenager Jo.City failed in a bid this summer to land Ronaldinho, who preferred a move to AC Milan.Now they have turned to his team-mate from the same 2002 World Cup-winning team. Ronaldo’s wages would be structured on a pay-per-play basis.

City boss Mark Hughes has been kept fully informed of the movements for Ronaldo.And Sparky has been assured he would have the final say.Hughes knew before he took the job that City wanted a famous name to boost the commercial side.Cook said: “We told Mark not to come if he thought we didn’t need a superstar.“Mark’s comment was: ‘We should all challenge ourselves. We should all challenge ourselves to do things differently as that’s what makes a difference.’“He wants to challenge himself to manage the best in the world.“He is a big character and is very good at taking young talent and bringing them on. He has never managed the big star.”City would be able to sign Ronaldo after the transfer deadline as he is a free agent.

I don't think Ronaldo is the type of player City should be looking for. I am sure Ronaldo will demand ridiculous wages. Ronaldo was a great player and an excellent goalscorer in his day but unfortunately I think that day has came and gone.

Roman Pavlyuchenko has claimed that he is set to complete a move to Tottenham Hotspur.The 26-year-old Russia international striker has been linked with a move to Spurs all summer.Now it appears that the North London outfit have sealed a deal with his club Spartak Moscow.

Speaking to Uefa's Russian website, Pavlyuchenko confirmed he had not travelled with the rest of the Spartak squad for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kiev as he was finalising the details of his move to Spurs."I am back in Moscow and I will not play in Kiev, and I can confirm I am going to Tottenham," he told uefa.ru."Everything happened very fast and I haven't had time to say 'goodbye' to my Spartak team-mates but I hope I will be able to do that then they get back from Kiev."I am waiting for a Visa and as soon as it is granted, I am ready to go to England and sign."

Pavlyuchenko revealed he was yet to discuss the move with Spurs boss Juande Ramos."Juande Ramos, I have not yet met, it seems like he will call me - but I know for sure he is very interested in my services," he continued.Pavlyuchenko also played down any worries there were about him not speaking English."I will work with a teacher, but also my wife knows the language a little," he added.

I feel Pavlyuchenko could turn out to be a very good signing for Spurs, he is strong, quick and tall. He proved in Euro 2008 that he can scores goals and that may be the missing link in the Tottenham team, someone who can score goals.

Zenit St Petersburg are to offer striker Andrei Arshavin to Premier League giants Chelsea after a move to Tottenham collapsed last week. The Russian international has been linked with a move to Spurs all summer after his magnificent displays for his country in the European Championships in June. (Daily Express)

Spurs boss Juande Ramos is still believed to be keen to sign the 27-year old but Zenit are still demanding too much for the player. Now the Russian side are prepared to sell Arshavin to Luis Phillipe Scolari's Chelsea after they completed the signing of Danny Miguel from Dinamo Moscow earlier this week.

I am of the opinion that Arshavin will eventually end up at White Hart Lane. I have no doubt that after Spurs end up selling Berbatov to United they will be forced to go out and buy a quality new frontman and I believe Arshavin definetly fits the bill. I can personally see Zenit letting him go for around the £20 million mark in the end.

Liverpool are to offload midfielder Jermaine Pennant for as much as £6 million. The former Arsenal youth player has struggled to nail down a first team place at Anfield since his arrival at the club two years ago from Birmingham. (The Guardian)

Pennant, 25, has been linked with a move to Paul Ince's Blackburn aswell as Tony Pulis' Stoke City but as yet nothing has been agreed. It is understood now that Rafa Benitez is keen to cash in on the former England under-21 international to fund moves for other players.

It would not surprise me one bit to see Pennant leave the Reds before the end of the month. I never thought he was Liverpool material and it was a big shock to me to see Benitez spend £8 million on Pennant. All in all, Pennant made 52 appearances at the club scoring three times in the process.

Steven Gerrard has to be a bargain at just £8 million. Yes, the England international costs just £8 million in the Daily Mirror's "You the Manager" and I know one things for certain, he is definetly in my team, but will he be in yours?

Gerrard has had a good start to the campaign, getting on the score sheet against Middlesbrough a the weekend and so far he has 10 points. After only two games gone in the league, there is still plenty of time to join "You the Manager" and with magnificent monthly prizes it is still a terrific time to enter.

Also, there is a special offer at the moment, enter two teams for the price of one. I would definetly have Gerrard in both teams. Enter your team know through the link below and see if you can beat my team, by entering the Football Corner Premier League. The password is footballcorner.

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is ready to make a £7 million move for Colombian striker Radamel Falcao.Spurs sent spies to watch the 22-year-old South American star score for his Argentinian club River Plate at the weekend and a fee has been discussed during the visit.

Falcao, nicknamed El Tigre, could be the ideal replacement for Robbie Keane and Ramos is poised to pounce - whether Andrei Arshavin's move goes through or not before the deadline.The fiery striker is a handful on the park but also a devout Christian away from the game. He is a charismatic player and could fill Keane's boots as a lively and skillful attacker.

I wouldn't be surprised if Falco did end up at Spurs. After losing Robbie Keane and inevitabley Dimitar Berbatov, Tottenham desperately need a new striker before the window closes at the end of the month.

Everton are closing in on £12 million Liverpool target Albert Riera. The Espanyol midfielder has been linked with a move to Liverpool all summer long after Rafa Benitez admitted his interest in the Spanish international, but not David Moyes is in the market for Riera. (Guardian)

The 26-year old has already tasted life in the Premier League with Manchester City a few years back, where he spent an unsuccessful year long loan at Eastlands. Liverpool were told by Espanyol they would have to up their bid for Riera to £19 million, a price which saw Benitez cool his interest in the player.

It is understood now that the La Liga club are willing to listen to offers for the player and Everton are now preparing a £12 million bid for the former Bordeaux man. I personally feel Riera would be a total waste of money. He was extremly average at City and I think Everton would be better off going for someone like Joao Moutinho.

Arsenal defender Phillippe Senderos is close to joining AC Milan after it was reported he is undergoing a medical in Milan today. The Swiss international has struggled to nail down a first team place at the Emirates over the past 12 months with William Gallas and Kolo Toure forming a solid partnership in the centre of the Gunners defence.

The 23-year old was also linked with a move to Newcastle earlier this summer but for whatever reason nothing every materialised. It is rumoured that Senderos could complete a a one-year loan deal to the Serie A giants and a move could be complete as early as tonight. Senderos has made 31 appearances for the Swiss national team, scoring 3 times in the process.

I am pretty surprised to see AC move for a player like Senderos. I personally feel Senderos is an no better than an average defender and I it doesn't surprise me one bit to see Arsene Wenger letting go of the former Servette man. It is thought that the deal could become permanent at the end of the season.

Tottenham are keeping tabs on Ajax striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar as a possible replacement to Manchester United bound Dimitar Berbatov. The Dutch international said last year he would not be at Ajax come the start of the 08/09 season but so far nothing has materialised in terms of an exit from the Amsterdam Arena. (Guardian)

The 25-year old has been linked with a whole host of clubs in recent months including Man United, Arsenal, Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid to name a few. It is understood Ajax will only listen to offers of £18 million and above and Juande Ramos is prepared to meet that asking price accoring to the Guardian.

I personally think if Spurs were to sign Huntelaar and Arshavin from Zenit they would be sorted. Huntelaar would be a tremendous signing and at £18 million would be good value for money. In 80 league games for Ajax, Huntelaar has scored 72 goals in the process, which in my eyes in very impressive and if he can produce anything like that kind of form at White Hart Lane it would be terrific.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has urged fellow countryman Xabi Alonso to join him at the Emirates. The Liverpool midfielder has been linked with a £16 million move to the Gunners in recent weeks after it became clear that Rafa Benitez may have to sell the Spaniard to sign Gareth Barry.

"Xabi is my friend of course, but apart from that he is a great player," Fabregas said in The People. "He has won the Champions League and won a European Championship - and he is only 26." Arsene Wenger is believed to be keen to bring in another midfielder after selling Alexander Hleb earlier this summer.

I personally feel Alonso would be a magnificent signing for Arsenal. I think he could form a superb partnership with Fabregas in the heart of the Gunners midfield and at £16 million would prove to be good value for money.

Tottenham's move for Andrei Arshavin and Manchester United's move for Dimitar Berbatov look to be taking shape tonight after it was confirmed that Zenit St Petersburg have signed Danny Miguel for £24 million from Dinamo Moscow.

Zenit's Arshavin has been linked with a £20 million move to White Hart Lane all summer long after his terrific displays for the Russian national team the the European Championships. Juande Ramos is keen to add to his striking options after losing Robbie Keane to Liverpool last month.

So if Spurs are to finally sign Arshavin that will inevitably see Dimitar Berbatov complete a £25 million move to Manchester United. The Bulgarian international is almost certain to leave the club this summer after being left out of the Spurs side which lost to Sunderland yesterday.

I am really happy these deals look to be finally going through. It has annoyed me, and I am sure it has annoyed you as well, the amount of speculation about the pair this summer. I think Spurs signing Arshavin could prove to be one of the signings of the season and I am sure he will become a Spurs fan favourite within weeks.

Liverpool are ready to make a £14 million bid for Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing. The England international has been linked with a whole host of exits from the Riverside over the past 12 months or so with Tottenham also said to be interested. (News of the World)

The 24-year old could finally solve Rafa Benitez' left-sided problems, which have existed for some time now. Downing is one of Boro's most influential players and there is no doubt Gareth Southgate will be doing everything he can to keep him at the club.

I believe Downing would be a superb signing for Liverpool. He has been by far Boro's best player for the past two years or so and I think in a better side he will prove to be a huge hit. I know several Liverpool fans and I get the feeling they wouldn't like Downing arriving at Anfield but I feel given the time he will be a huge asset for the club.

Newcastle United are preparing a £12 million bid for Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda. The French international has struggled at Stamford Bridge ever since his £15 million move from Lyon last summer. (Mail on Sunday)

The 28-year old arrived at the Blues as one of the most highly rated wingers in Europe but unfortunately for him and the club, it hasn't really worked out. Kevin Keegan is ready to make Chelsea a teasing offer which Luis Fillipe Scolari may well be tempted to accept.

I'm not really sure Malouda is the right man for Newcastle. At Lyon I felt he was a quality player who would make a great signing for anyone in the Premier League but I have since found that he is simply an average player who is worth nowhere near the £15 million Chelsea paid for him or indeed the £12 million Newcastle may pay.

BLACKBURN have tied down striker Roque Santa Cruz to a new contract.The Paraguayan was wanted by ex-Rovers boss Mark Hughes at Manchester City.But the ex-Bayern Munich ace has committed his future to the Ewood Park club by signing a four-year deal.It is a huge boost for Rovers boss Paul Ince, who has already lost England star David Bentley to Tottenham this summer.City had looked to be in pole position to sign Santa Cruz when they tabled a £12million bid last week.But Blackburn insisted their top scorer was not for sale and rejected the offer, even though it was three times the amount they paid for him just 12 months ago.

Rovers had gambled on Santa Cruz when they paid less than £4m for him despite a series of serious knee injuries.But the move paid off as he played 36 of 38 Premier League games last season and scored 19 goals.

This is really excellent news for Blackburn Rovers fans, Santa Cruz is an invaluable player to Blackburn and will be vital if they are to improve on last years finish.