Transfer Gossip

'MICKEY AGREES TO JOIN CITEH'
If we were Manchester Citeh with their stacks and stacks and stacks of cash, we would probably be looking for players in the prime of life. Young, vital and unlikely to fall over and snap something if someone looks at them funny.

From that you can deduce that we would not want Michael Owen, but according to The Daily Express, moneybags Citeh already have a 'gentleman's agreement' in place with the wee man.

As you'll know, Mickey refused to sign a new contract at Newcastle before Christmas, preferring to keep his options open for the summer.

The paper claims: 'Owen has held talks with City officials, including manager Mark Hughes, in the last few weeks and told them he will join the Abu Dhabi-owned club, on the condition that they remain in the Premier League.'

And going on current form, that's quite a significant caveat.


HESKEY TO POOL IN THE SUMMER
And while we're on the subject of strikers who like to fall over moving on a free in the summer, The Daily Mail claims Emile Heskey will be staying at Wigan in January.

However, don't get too excited pie eaters, because the Mail reckons he will be doing on in the summer.

The paper reports: 'Emile Heskey is certain to rejoin Liverpool in the summer but Steve Bruce will resist any bid to hurry his England striker's leaving date as £4.5million Colombia star Hugo Rodallega gets used to life in Wigan.'

It looks like the footballing world has resigned themselves to this fact as well, with various suitors calling off their hunt for the big man.


JOHNSON'S CLAUSE
You might think that Glen Johnson signing a new contract would stop stories about him moving to Liverpool, but apparently not.

As pondered in the hallowed F365 halls yesterday afternoon, The Daily Telegraph claims there is a clause in the deal that will allow him to leave Fratton Park for £10million, a price that Liverpool might find acceptable.

Insert own 'Pompey's chances going down the toilet' gag here.


A FEW ARSENAL BITS AND BOBS
Another quick line from The Daily Telegraph, who claim that Arsenal are 'closing in' on Andrei Arshavin, who will set them back around £20million.

They also carry some quotes from Arsene Wenger, in which he sort of cleared up his intentions for the transfer window, but sort of didn't at the same time.

On Arshavin: "The situation from our perspective is to keep everything secret and quite and not to talk too much. Tactically the selling club is always more interested to getting things public than the buying club. I cannot confirm or deny anything."

On Kolo Toure: "That (Toure story) is finished. We will not sell any players this month."

And on Matthew Upson: "I like him personally but again I wouldn't like to come out on that. We are not looking to buy defensive side."


BELLAMY PREFERS SPURS
Interesting line in The Guardian about Craig Bellamy this morn.

The paper claims Bellamy is holding out for a move to Tottenham, rather than succumbing to the temptation of Manchester Citeh's millions.

It seems Bellamy is pretty sure to leave West Ham as they continue their clear-out of high earners, but the Welshman is apparently fearful of being lost among a sea of expensive strikers at Citeh, while he would get more of a stab at first-team action at White Hart Lane.

Whether Spurs will even make another bid for Bellamy is an interesting point, what with them just splashing £15million on Jermain Defoe and some rather more pressing concerns elsewhere in their squad.

Indeed, The Times claims West Ham will expect around £14million for their man.

Also in The Guardian, Sam Allardyce will reportedly insist that Citeh will either have to stump up more than £18million for Roque Santa Cruz, or include the promising Daniel Sturridge in the deal.

And they seem to base their story on the following quotes from the big boned manager:

"I don't think it is fair to say we are playing hardball," said Allardyce. "Our evaluation is that Roque is worth more to us playing here than any money we might get for him. If we do sell, that money has to be spent very quickly. If you ask me whether I can find a player to replace him, the answer will be that I wouldn't be able to find one between now and the end of the transfer window."


RIISE TO TOON
Quick line that can be found today in those two likely bedfellows the The Daily Mirror and The Times today.

Apparently Joe Kinnear has decided he wants John Arne Riise again, after being knocked back by Roma earlier in the season.

Indeed The Times reports: 'Newcastle United are confident of signing John Arne Riise, the former Liverpool left back, from Roma on loan for the rest of the season.'

So there.


BREAKING NEWS!
Big EXCLUSIVE story in The Daily Express this morning, which apparently took two journalists to write.

The scoop is that West Ham will have to sell lots of players in January, then essentially start from scratch in the summer, what the Carlos Tevez nonsense and the threat of administration still hanging over them.

No s**t boys.


AND THE REST...
Stoke have made a £3million move for James Beattie - and hope to sign him over the weekend...West Brom scouts will watch Udinese midfielder Christian Obodo for a second time tomorrow...Portsmouth manager Tony Adams has been told he can spend just £5million this month...Manchester City have failed with a £14million bid for Marseille star Taye Taiwo...David Beckham insists he will return to LA Galaxy after his two-month loan at AC Milan...Steve Bruce is praying Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega will not be his only new-boy as Wigan face a month from hell...Wigan are ready to let their Republic of Ireland midfielder Kevin Kibane make a move to Premier League rivals Hull...Everton's bid to get Nigeria striker Peter Odemwingie on loan is doomed as Locomotiv Moscow want a £12million permanent transfer...Roy Hodgson has refused to rule out a shock move to become Norway's new boss...Former Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands is joining Newcastle.