Today's Fairy Stories

[ianovthetoon]

TRANSFER GOSSIP

 

Manchester City have made John Terry their number one summer transfer target, and will bid £20m for the Chelsea skipper. (Sunday Mirror)

 

Arsenal are ready to offload striker Emmanuel Adebayor to AC Milan this summer. (News of the World)

 

Manchester City's wealthy owners are lining up a stunning double swoop for Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho and Barcelona winger Lionel Messi. (The People)

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has turned down a £40m offer to become Real manager and will sign a new deal with the Gunners. (News of the World)

 

Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy is set to become the subject of a £15m bid from Real Madrid. (The People)

 

Middlesbrough wing Stewart Downing is back on Liverpool's wanted list, and could move to Anfield for £12m. (News of the World)

 

Arsenal are chasing 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sakho, who is currently playing for Paris St Germain. (Sunday Express)

 

Tottenham are ready to make a £9m bid for Lille midfielder Michel Bastos. (News of the World)

 

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins will be offered a deal with Inter Milan should the Magpies suffer relegation from the Premier League. (The People) 

 

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure is a £25m target for Manchester City. (News of the World)

 

Manchester City defender Micah Richards will be the biggest name in Mark Hughes' summer clear-out, with Joe Hart, Darius Vassell and Benjani also included. (News of the World)

 

Aston Villa are again poised to bid for Richards as boss Martin O'Neill looks to replace Martin Laursen. (Sunday Mirror)

 

Villa will make a £10m bid for Fulham defender Brede Hangeland. (News of the World)

 

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has denied speculation that he is off to Real Madrid in the summer. (Sunday Mirror)

 

Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is wanted by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan. (News of the World)

 

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone could be on his way to German side Bayern Munich, who are set to name former Spurs boss Martin Jol as their new manager. (The People)

 

Newcastle are keen on West Brom midfielder James Morrison. (News of the World)

 

Bolton are ready to snap up Lyon striker Sidney Govou, who has refused a new contract with the French club. (Sunday Mirror, News of the World)

 

Everton are one of the clubs interested in signing Dynamo Kiev striker Ismael Bangoura. (News of the World)

 

Wigan are tracking Getafe winger Joffre Guerron as a replacement for Luis Antonio Valencia. (The People)

 

OTHER GOSSIP

 

Former England manager Steve McClaren is a leading candidate for the Sunderland manager's job. (The People, Sunday Express) 

 

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is set to be rested for the vital clash with Newcastle after picking up a hamstring injury during the week. (Various)

 

Newcastle forward Michael Owen will be dropped to the bench for the game with Liverpool even though manager Alan Shearer will play three strikers at Anfield. (News of the World)

 

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will quit the club whether they win promotion or not. (The People)

 

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne will be offered a new four-year deal in the summer. (News of the World)

 

Former Barcelona manager Louis van Gaal has revealed to his AZ Alkmaar bosses that Sunderland want him to replace Ricky Sbragia. (Mail on Sunday)

 

Portsmouth will appoint Paul Hart as their full-time manager after he guided the club to Premier League safety. (News of the World)

 

AND FINALLY

 

It is nearly 10 years since goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored the goal that kept Carlisle in the football league and a lot has changed for the now 35-year-old.

 

After spending time as a computer salesman and moving to France, he is now a taxi driver in Poole but admits he has left the world of football behind. "Most of my Saturdays now are spent running little old ladies from their care homes to the hairdressers." (The Independent)

[ianovthetoon]

3 May 2009

McClaren is cool for Black Cats

Alan Oliver

 

Former England boss Steve McClaren is a surprise candidate to manage Sunderland next season.

 

People Sport can reveal that McClaren is way ahead of his England predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson in the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.

 

As a result Eriksson is now likely to take over at German club FC Schalke.

 

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McClaren's brilliant season in Holland with FC Twente has not gone unnoticed by Sunderland's Dutch international business development director Chris Woerts.

 

The Black Cats' hierarchy of Woerts, major shareholder Ellis Short and chairman Niall Quinn are aware McClaren would not be popular with everyone on Wearside. That's because of his failure with England and the fact that he managed rivals Middlesbrough.

 

But McClaren has big supporters like his former Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson after his relative success at the Riverside Stadium, Derby and Manchester United.

 

It's no secret that Short would like a top foreign coach to allow current manager Ricky Sbragia to return to what he does best - coaching - next season.

 

But a big-name coach who has done well on the continent would be considered and McClaren certainly fits that bill.

 

Despite having limited funds McClaren has taken FC Twente into second spot behind new champions AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie and into the final of the Dutch Cup.

 

Az coach Louis van Gaal is also on the Sunderland shopping list but would be unlikely to swop Champions League football next season for Wearside.

 

McClaren is halfway through a two-year contract with FC Twente. They were shocked when they went to sign a player last week, only to be told by his agent he would not come because McClaren would not be there next season.

 

 

 

 

Mike Baldwin and the tramps - a match made in heaven. Wonder if he would start doing interviews with a Mackem Twang. His interview with the dutch accent was comedy gold!!

[joeyt]

Arsenal are chasing 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sakho, who is currently playing for Paris St Germain. (Sunday Express)

 

:-[

[joeyt]

Meanwhile, in the Scottish press, Newcastle, Town and German side Hannover 96 are all said to be interested in Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley.

 

The Glasgow giants are understood to have failed to trigger a clause in the former Hearts man’s contract which would have added a year to his current terms and the 32-year-old could now be available on a free transfer if no new deal is on offer at Parkhead.

 

Newcastle are said to be leading the chase for the Scottish international, who is believed to be keen to stay with his current club if at all possible .

 

Hartley started his career with home town club Hamilton before moving on to Millwall, Raith, Hibs, Morton (loan), St Johnstone and Hearts before joining Celtic in 2007.

 

[Optimistic Nut]

Probably a good signing if we go down.