Transfer Gossip

SO, SIGNING JOE COLE MEANS...
Let's begin with a few excerpts from The Guardian's account of Joe Cole's decision to move to Anfield that the Liverpool fans will appreciate:

'Club officials are increasingly hopeful, however, that a transfer that has been well-received by senior players will serve as a statement of intent to Gerrard and Torres should they become the subject of bids from Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively.

'No offers have been received for Gerrard or Torres, despite long-standing interest in the pair...

'Liverpool's offer to Cole, who was available on a free following Chelsea's refusal to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge, is understood to have bettered the terms available in north London but was not the most lucrative deal on the table. West Ham United, one of Cole's former clubs, made the highest offer to the 28-year-old but the prospect of joining Liverpool, and regular first-team football under the new manager, Roy Hodgson, swayed him.'

But now let's find space for a few extracts from The Independent's rather contradictory report on the same matter:

'It is understood the question of whether Gerrard and Torres would still be at the club next season was raised during negotiations and the club were unable to give guarantees. Real Madrid were interested in Gerrard, although that has cooled, while Chelsea remain keen to sign Torres.

'Liverpool were the only club to meet Cole's wage demands...'

And according to The Times:

'There are, however, no assurances that either Gerrard or Torres will be at Anfield next season. Hodgson is desperate for both to stay, but Chelsea still have a bid in the region of £30 million on the table for the Spain forward and are believed to be willing to increase their offer.'

Make any or all of that as you will.


COULD JOL REJECT FULHAM?
Is Martin Jol having second thoughts about joining Fulham? The Times thinks he might be.

The paper says that the Dutchman was in talks last night with Ajax as the club try to convince him to stay. It also describes Jol as 'worried that Hodgson may have overachieved by making up for the squad limitations with good organisation, as Fulham finished seventh two seasons ago and reached the Europa League final last season' and 'concerned' that moving to Craven Cottage would be a 'step down'.

Jol himself is reported to have confirmed on Monday night that: "The Premier League is the best competition in the world and I like London very much. Fulham is a great opportunity. The way it is going at Ajax we cannot play for the title or the biggest prizes."


OR WILL HE JOIN TO CHASE KEANE, JAMES, SIDWELL AND IRELAND?
Elsewhere, however, Jol's appointment is being talked up as a done deal to the extent that the papers are already discussing his transfer targets.

'Martin Jol is likely to make a bid for the Tottenham striker Robbie Keane if, as expected, he takes over at Fulham this week. The Dutchman managed Keane at White Hart Lane and has been promised about £20m to spend on transfers should he accept the job at Craven Cottage,' says The Guardian.

A concurring Independent adds that 'Keane, 30, would be available for a fee of around £6m, although Fulham are likely to face competition from Aston Villa for the striker's signature.

'Jol could also have to find a new goalkeeper should Mark Schwarzer move to Arsenal, with England keeper David James a potential short-term option. Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell is another possible recruit, for a fee of £2m.'

And the Daily Mirror reckons that Jol is 'is keen on rivalling Aston Villa for Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland'.


HE CAUGHT HIS LEG IN THE GRASS, YOU KNOW
Eduardo's move out of Arsenal looks to be imminent after he underwent a medical on Monday.

According to reports, the medical was held at Arsenal's training ground but overseen by Shakhtar staff.

Presuming he passed the test, a £6m transfer is thought likely to be completed later this week.


MAN CITY DENY DROGBA INTEREST
A strange business this.

Manchester City have responded angrily to the claim of one of Didier Drogba's agents that the club are trying to say him.

"Today he's at Chelsea. Maybe there will be surprises before August 31," Thierno Seydi was quoted by the Sun as telling Radio Monte Carlo. "I haven't spoken to just anybody. The only contact I've had directly was with City."

However, those remarks have drawn the following 'clarification' from Vicky Kloss, Man City's director of communications:

"We can categorically state we have no interest in signing Didier Drogba and any suggestion of an approach is entirely without foundation."

Our favourite part of the whole episode, however, remains this line in The Times:

'The timing of Seydi's comments, while apparently made without the knowledge of Pierre Frelot, Drogba's main agent...'

You know you've made it big when you have a hierarchy of agents.


CITY BID BIG FOR BALOTELLI
Perhaps this explains City's insistence that they have no interest in Drogba:

'Manchester City have stepped up their bid to sign Mario Balotelli with an offer of £25.5 million, rising to nearly £30 million based on appearances,' reports The Times.

'The Inter Milan striker has been offered a five-year contract worth £50,000 a week after tax.'

We've no idea how much that is before tax but we guesstimate that it's quite a lot.


AND THE REST
Panathinaikos have stepped up their bid to sign Arsenal defender William Gallas...Blackpool are keen to bolster their squad by bringing in Francis Jeffers, who is on trial, and Israeli Dekel Keinan...Newlywed Sol Campbell is ready to to say 'I do' to Sunderland...Liam Lawrence expects to complete a £2million move from Stoke to Celtic...Sunderland and Bolton will fight it out for Algeria's £6million-rated World Cup midfielder Karim Matmour...Daniel De Ridder wants Wigan boss Roberto Martinez to let him go if he can't get a starting place...Marlon Harewood has been offered a two-year deal by Rangers after leaving Aston Villa...Sheffield United are close to signing Ipswich defender Alex Bruce...

...Notts County manager Craig Short is in talks with Portsmouth about signing Matt Ritchie on loan...David James is a Celtic target after Portsmouth withdrew their offer of a new deal for the goalkeeper...West Ham have turned their attention to Argentine striker Milton Caraglio after hopes of landing Loic Remy faded...Middlesbrough flop Didier Digard is ready to join Nice for good in a cut-price deal...Portsmouth's David Nugent is ready to reject a return to the Premier League with Blackburn...Burnley will finally land Newcastle goalkeeper Fraser Forster this week - after the Magpies tie Tim Krul to a new deal...Crystal Palace have made a £200,000 bid for Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan...Juventus are bidding to take Tottenham's Gareth Bale to Serie A.