OWEN TO LEAVE ON A FREE?

Owen's current contract expires next summer, and is in talks to extend his deal at St James' Park.

However, The Guardian reports that Newcastle are reluctant to match or increase his current £105,000-a-week wage as they look to cut costs.

Owen and his representatives know that he could get a better deal elsewhere should he not sign a fresh contract, and could begin negotiations with other clubs from January.

The paper claims Owen would rather stay at Newcastle, but is negotiating from a position of considerable strength considering the offers he might receive from elsewhere.

MAN U AGREE TEVEZ DEAL

Hopefully you'll have spotted the news that Manchester United have agreed a deal for Mr Carlos Tevez.

If not, firstly I'd pay more attention, but secondly, click here.


VILLA OPEN TO SPURS MOVE
And you also may have seen those juicy quotes from David Villa's agent saying he might be interested in moving to Spurs.

No? Click here then.


KEANE SET FOR LIVERPOOL MEDICAL
Speculation continues apace about Robbie Keane's impending move to Liverpool.

The Daily Mail claims Keane is due at Anfield at the start of next week for a medical, ahead of a move that will cost £18million intially, but could rise to £20million should Liverpool win the Premier or Champions League. No sniggering at the back.

The Sun reports similar news, and goes on to claim that Rafa Benitez will turn his attention away from Gareth Barry, and instead make a bid for Valencia's David Silva.

With Los Che in oodles and oodles of debt, Silva will apparently be a smidgen cheaper than Barry, and will provide a hell of a lot more hassle.


NEW SUITORS FOR XABI?
However, should Liverpool find someone else to stump up for Xabi Alonso, they might come back in for Barry.

And The Daily Mirror reckons they have found someone, and that someone is Fenerbache.

Now, whether it's another textbook piece of 2+2=5 rumour-mongering we're not sure, what with Luis Aragones being Fener's new boss, but hell - we're just the messenger.


ROBINHO 'DESPERATE' TO JOIN CHELSEA
The Independent reports that Brazilian party-boy Robinho is 'desperate' to leave Real Madrid and sign for Chelsea.

They claim a deal is more or less in place to take the 24-year-old to Stamford Bridge in exchange for the meaty sum of £25million.

The paper quotes a 'source' (him again) as saying Robinho will do whatever it takes to secure the move, including making a - gasp! Shock! Horror! - statement against the Spanish champions.

That's right kids - you read right - a statement.

If you listen carefully, you can probably hear Ramon Calderon quaking in his boots.


POMPEY TO NICK KABOUL?
Who thought that Younes Kaboul's transfer from Spurs could be so very interesting?

Sunderland thought they had their man on Thursday, only for him to ask for more time as Aston Villa came in with a late bid.

Now, The Sun claims that Portsmouth will gazump the pair of them and take the French 'defender' to Fratton Park.

The cheeky scamps.


CITEH TO NICK FRIEDEL?
And in more cheeky news, The Independent reports that Manchester City will nip in ahead of Aston Villa to sign Brad Friedel from Blackburn.

The big American was given permission to speak to Villa on Friday as Paul Robinson completed his move from Spurs to Ewood Park.

However, if Citeh fail then The Sun reckons they will go for Fulham's Antti Niemi instead.

Complicated it may be, but at least something is bloody happening.


AND THE REST...
Everton boss David Moyes will use the Andy Johnson transfer cash to buy Sporting Lisbon's Joao Moutinho...Middlesbrough have blocked Rangers' bid to sign Adam Johnson...Hull have signed Tottenham's Anthony Gardner on a six-month loan...Michael Mifsud's £1m switch from Coventry to Bristol City has hit a snag...Portsmouth have snatched Younes Kaboul from under the noses of Sunderland and Aston Villa...Leicester have signed Liverpool centre-back Jack Hobbs on a season-long loan...Birmingham are lining up a new £2m bid for Crystal Palace's Ben Watson...Nottingham Forest have signed Carlisle striker Joe Garner for £1.2m...Roque Santa Cruz wants clear-the-air talks with Blackburn after being linked with a £15m move to Manchester City...Sulley Muntari's £12m move to Inter Milan means Portsmouth can go for Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nickey Shorey...West Brom are in talks with Bolton to sign Abdoulaye Meite...Andy Johnson's £10.5m move to Fulham has moved a step closer...Rangers inability to agree terms with Fulham's Steven Davis could signal a move for him by Blackburn.

Your Comments

THFC6061

"I think it's a huge mistake for Spurs to off-load Younes Kaboul. He was brought-in last year for his potential, not as the finished article, and due to unforseen circumstances he was thrown-in at the deep end and played almost the entire first half of the season. It takes time to develop as a good centre-half - the best don't reach their prime until their late 20s or early 30s - which is why I believe Spurs are being unduly hasty in getting shot of Kaboul. The fact that at least three other Premier League clubs are vying for his services must say something about the lad. "

mnet idols

Eric VS. Nicolette
whoz it gonna be?

Arsene Wenger believes Aaron Ramsey is the key to resolving Arsenal's midfield problems

Arsenal could turn to summer recruit Aaron Ramsey to solve their central midfield quandary. Manager Arsene Wenger admitted he fought off fierce competition to sign Ramsey, 17, from Cardiff City and following the departures of Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva, there is an urgent need for a midfielder.

Ramsey, ordinarily, is a winger, but Wenger, talking exclusively in the official Arsenal magazine, revealed that he believes the Welshman could be the answer.

"We watched him throughout the whole season," said Wenger. "We were always on the case, but unfortunately we weren't the only ones because Liverpool, Man United and Everton were strongly behind the case."

Ramsey is set to make his first-team debut in a friendly at Barnet today and Wenger added: "It was a big satisfaction for us that we were able to beat these teams to signing him.

"Overall he can play wide, he can play centrally. I think in the future he will be a central midfielder. How is down to him and down to us on how well we work with him. In my mind though there are no restrictions on his development, because he has played a lot already."

Wenger, who has signed only one other player, Marseille's Samir Nasri, has also criticised the way some clubs have conducted their transfer business in the open, with particular mention of Real Madrid and their courting of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"If you don't show respect to other clubs football is moving in the wrong way. You cannot come out like [president Ramon] Calderon has done at Real Madrid with Manchester United and tell them you cannot stop a player from leaving."

From Liverpool Fans On Their 'Grotesque' Club

To Jan de Clare; no, you might not be the only one who thinks Liverpool have been 'grotesque' in their half-arsed (and half-funded) pursuit of Barry, but you are certainly the only United fan who would dare to criticise another club for tapping up players!

Sir Red Nose literally invented manipulation of the media for the benefit of himself and his club, to the extent that he now cherry picks who he will talk to based on whether or not they will toe his party line. It is utterly disgraceful and has contributed to the current environment where the media has far too much influence.

Apart from your hypocrisy Jan, there is also the fact that you appear to be brain dead: 'Clubs complain about lack of loyalty and player power but they are all hypocrites and whenever it suits them they try to envoke player protest etc to force moves' - your words. This tirade seems to acknowledge that all clubs use the media, although perhaps you meant 'red clubs on merseyside' instead of 'all', in the same way that you meant 'invoke' instead of 'envoke'? Muppet.
Morgan (United fans. Can't live with them, can kill them. Food for thought) Goford
P.S. Do not compliment Robert Melia on his sinister pursuit of Kelly Brook - I used to go to school with him and can report that he is definitely not joking.


...Someone might want to point out to Jan De Clare what 'tapping up' is. Liverpool have approached Villa and Spurs about signing their players, and in the case of Villa, a willingness to do business was expressed by them, therefore the term 'tapping up' is completely erroneous. While the whole Barry saga has been embarrassing for all, Villa have said they are willing to sell, and all Liverpool have done wrong is being unwilling/unable to meet the exorbitant fee demanded by Villa. In the Keane case, Liverpool made a bid for the player and mentioned to the press that they had and that it was rejected. Perhaps a little underhanded, but a tactic that's used by clubs all over the world, so hardly 'grotesque'.

The real reason we're interested in Barry and Keane is because, shock of shocks, they're both quite excellent players. And delightfully, they both qualify for home-grown status with the new regulations for Europe next year, where Liverpool are caught short, after letting Crouch and Kewell depart and with reports of Carson and Pennant heading for the exit door as well. It's also a sign that, in a year that Benitez must challenge for the Premiership if he wants to stay in the job, he doesn't want to take risks on foreign imports who may take time to settle and instead wants to bring in proven Premiership class and experience.

Finally, I wonder was Jan De Clare quite so outraged with United's public courting of Owen Hargreaves for over a year, or the delightful timing of Alex Ferguson declaring he would quite like to sign Karim Benzema the week before a crucial Champions League clash with Lyon, and that he liked the look of Antonio Valencia and Wilson Palacios the week before a rather important League clash with Wigan last year. People on glass houses shouldn't throw stones, the pot calling the kettle black, do as I say not as I do etc. etc.
The (first three-paragraph compliant mail) Geek


...I don't think I can agree with Jan de Clare that Rafa Benitez has been out of order in his attempts to sign Gareth Barry. Liverpool have put in FOUR offers for Barry, and Villa have never moved an inch in their valuation. Does Jan think that Liverpool should pay Villa's "grotesque" over-valuation for the player when they don't think he's worth that much?

To my mind, it's Martin O'Neill that has acted the most unreasonably. He didn't want to sell Barry at all so he set the asking price artificially high and expected that to be that. I'm certain he didn't expect Liverpool to get as close to the asking price as they did. So now it's become a pride thing. He thinks if he gets the asking price it will prove he has the biggest bollocks in the Premier League. Well good for him, but don't expect Barry to be impressed as he watches his chance of Champions League football receding into the distance.
Vaughan Davies


...I know it's a wind-up, but having a ManYoo fan tell us we've behaved 'grotesquely' in terms of tapping up players is bloody hilarious.

Also, and I may be wrong, but wasn't it the lovable Martin O'Neill that highlighted our first Barry bid - criticising us for publishing in the press our intent when no-one could actually find a statement from the Pool actually doing so? Even after our first bid he seems to have spoken to the press more than Rafa.

And surely you should be allowed to say whatever the heck you like (especially if actually asked about it first by some hack) as long as you continue to put in reasonable bids.

As for your suggestion that we should sell first, then bid, that makes so little business sense it barely warrants a comment, but I'm bored so I will. What happens if you want a player, but before making contact ensure you've the money by selling a central squad player. Then make first contact and he goes 'actually mate I'm happy being the perennial understudy to Fat Frank and have no ambition to dislodge him...' You'd be a bit stuck wouldn't you. Muppet.
Tom (still think Rafa should keep it down a bit, and leave the soap-boxing to Carra) G


Blame Barry, Not Benitez
I think it is a little unfair to label Liverpool's behaviour over the Gareth Barry affair as 'grotesque'. Lets be fair, they did actually back up their interest with a number of bids and if one of those bids had been accepted I'm sure Barry would be a Liverpool player regardless of whether Alonso had gone to Juventus or not. In the end the two clubs failed to reach an agreement and now Liverpool are turning their attentions elsewhere. I don't see the problem.

The reason Barry is now in limbo is because he opened his big mouth and slated O'Neill before a deal was done. If he had kept his mouth shut there would be no reason why his Villa career couldn't just carry on as normal, Ok he may have been privately disappointed a bid was not accepted but that's life! Even now I don't hear him coming out saying 'of course I would have been interested in playing Champions League football but if it doesn't happen I'll continue to give my best for Villa' I really do feel that Barry has created this situation he finds himself in on his own.
Martyn, Loyal Royal


Villa Fans Should Not Diss Barry
I cant believe the treatment being meted out to Gareth Barry by Aston Villa fans. I am an Arsenal fan and can understand when people get angry with Adebayor as he is completely motivated by monetary reasons. He has hardly been at Arsenal a couple of seasons and the first good season he has he starts thinking of himself as the best striker in the world.

Barry on the other hand has been a very loyal servant of AVFC for a decade and his reasons for moving to Liverpool is all about progressing in his career as a footballer. He will get to play Champions League football (if AVFC had gotten that, I am sure Barry wouldn't have left). I cant see why someone who has served you so well and helped AVFC get where they are right now being slated so badly by his fans. All of us would do exactly the same, or even worse, in our day-to-day jobs.

No wonder footballers dont care about fans nowadays. If footballers know you are going to slate them for leaving, for any and every reason, why the hell should they care about what fans think. Might as well make all the $$ you can. Aston Villa fans could have done a lot worse than having a Barry who served them for a decade before leaving to fulfill his career ambitions (and not for money).
Shantanu


Villa Fans: Not All Stupid
To Conor Byrne in this morning's mailbox; it's unfortunate that you seem to be the most consistent Villa supporter to write into 365 to bang on about the club, as you seem to have an unenviable propensity for talking utter bollocks - "It has made my day, now lets keep his valuation at 18mil so nobody will buy him and let him rot in the reserves, then maybe let him be a squad player if we get some injuries". What on earth are you talking about? This is shaping up to be a nightmare scenario for the villa - Barry wants to leave but unless wenger has a punt (very unlikely) or Benitez wrings out some transfer funds from somewhere (again unlikely unless alonso goes, but even then their interest in Keane might scupper it), we are stuck with a prize asset to the club, worth 15-18million quid, who doesn't want to play and can't be sold! Barry leaving could have funded the transfer of someone like David Bentley, or the big-name signing we're all crying out for (which Sidwell, ahem, is not).

Also, the greediness of Gareth's behaviour in the last three months does not (for me at least) tarnish the last ten years of service he has put in, from floppy-haired left back to tenacious midfield dynamo, and your delight in the idea of him sitting on the bench shows you have neither any concept of what is best for the club or any appreciation or knowledge for the career Barry has had as a player. Unless you forgot that when we were s**t (not so long ago) - Barry and Mellberg were the only bright sparks in an otherwise bleak few seasons. Or I suppose being before our 'billionaire' takeover it may have been before your time...
Jim (just realised ludicrous notion of Villa 'glory' hunters! whoops.), AVFC


Competition? What Competition?
So Rafa's trying to destabilise his rivals for 4th spot right? If my undrerstanding is correct, over the past five seasons Everton, Spurs and Villa have trailed the Reds by an average 14, 15 and 18 points respectively. Last season the nearest of these so-called rivals was 11 points adrift, the Reds were just as close to the top as the Toffees were to the Reds. So please help me understand just why Rafa's quaking in his boots at the prospect of these rivals and has gone on a crusade to destabilise them?
AfricanScouser


Barca Should Have Held On To Ronnie
So today's news in the wacky world of pre-season sees arguably one of the brightest lights of this century, Ronaldinho, depart Barçelona for, if Gazetta dello sport are to be believed, a mere £14.6million. And as fate has it, his replacement has finally stumbled through the revolving door on the same day: Alex Hleb, an £11.8million signing from Arsenal.

Now, the extent of the little Ronnie's downfall cannot be understated: with countless reports of the Brazilian being spotted out in the nightclubs of Catalonia until very late; which, in Catalan terms is probably lunchtime the next day. Even the rosiest-tinted Barça fan will admit that, aside from the odd flash in the pan, his performances have not been anywhere near the stellar heights that himself and Barça were treading over 2004-05 and 05-06.

But I can't help feel that, despite all this, the powers-that-be at the club are giving up on him a little too easily. After all, form is temporary, class is permanent. As a United fan, I remember the reasonably vociferous backlash against Ryan Giggs' place in the side in 97-98, and look what happened shortly after. I know it's not like-for-like, but having faith in a player, particularly one of your greatest, doesn't always turn out to be foolhardy.

And in his place will be Alex Hleb, who hasn't exactly drawn out the kind of 'b*stard for leaving' or 'better off without him anyway' responses that you might expect from fans of a club losing one of their better players. I know which I'd rather have anyway.
Andy Suggitt


Dissing Dating365
With all respect to Pam/Mrrion (not having a go at you), I always thought this was a football website, not a dating one. Are most of your readers that sad, ugly or desperate that they can't find a girl? If your trying to find a gf, go on a dating website, go out to a nightclub, etc. Get out! It's not impossible to find someone of the opposite sex who likes football. It's like setting up a date for your ugly mate with an ugly bird who you know because you feel sorry for your ugly mate.

I support Wolves and my gf (bless her) supports Forest. Living in Nottingham, most of my mates support Forest. Last season, watching Forest against Southend (on a Tuesday night and tickets being a fiver) with my mates I managed to start chatting to this girl next to me who was with her girly mates. After chatting to her during the game, she gave me her number. Get in! Since then, met up with her few times and started going out with her. It's not difficult and it's not as sad.

I don't need a football website to set me up with someone.
Martin (Football365 Reader, Not Blind Date contestant) Brez, Nottingham


...You know what? I think I prefer the vapid, mind-numbing transfer sagas to the bilious whoring by the mailbox's male audience to the women who have written in of late. A distraction to a boring close season it might be, but then so too is Boris Johnson's barnet. Or the new season of Top Gear. Hell, even the credit crunch fits the bill.

So men - and I use the word liberally - re-read your messages and have a word with yourselves (not with the mailbox... ever). I wonder how many of these boring, stodgy sycophants would continue writing in with their pathetic pleas for any kind of female contact if were it known that Marion and Pamela were complete mingers?

Actually...don't answer that.
Daniel Parncutt, North London


A Warning About Gooner Sex
A word to the Wise for Marion and Pamela...

If you're thinking of hooking up with any Arsenal fans, be warned, if their love making is anything similar to how they support their team, they will turn up after you've started, leave before you've finished, and then when you dump them for someone better, despite being madly in love with you, claim they never thought much of you in the first place.

That is all.
Gary Sargent


Pam Is Back...
If I had known (and being quite a clever girl, I certainly should have thought of it) that a footballing website could yield such rich pickings, I certainly would have at least feigned an interest in the beautiful game some time ago (or at least taken the time to find out what the off-side rule is).

Albeit as someone who knows absolutely nothing about football (except what Marion has taught me!) - and has nary a sensible cardie to her name (think Ibiza, think Mustique, think music biz chick) - so there, Miss 'I'm-not-being-mean-honest!' - Marion and I would be delighted to accept all your lovely offers of a drink or two.
Pamela, London (NO, NOT BIRMINGHAM)

German/ Chealsea football skipper Ballack weds

Chelsea and German soccer ace Michael Ballack married Simone Lambe in a small register office ceremony in Germany on Tuesday.

They are due to exchange vows again on Wednesday in front of about 400 guests at a church near Munich.

According to The Sun , the couple would be holding two days of celebrations at an exclusive yacht club on idyllic Lake Starnberg, where German captain Ballack, 31, had a house when he played for Bayern Munich.

He now lives in Wimbledon, South West London, with Simone, 30, and their three young sons.

Hleb targets Barca success

The Arsenal midfielder is expected to complete his move to Camp Nou within the next 24 hours and is having a medical on Wednesday.

He is looking forward to a new challenge after recently admitting he had become 'tired' of living in London.

Hleb has spoken to Pep Guardiola to discuss the Barca coach's plans for him next season and is determined to be a success in the Primera Liga.

Giving his best

"I love this club," the Belarussian told the club's official website.

"I spoke with Guardiola and it's good to know that he wants me.

"I will give my best to this team and I want to win everything with Barca."

When asked about the qualities he will bring to the Barcelona team following three years at Arsenal, Hleb sidestepped the question.

He added: "I cannot speak for me. I will give my best on the pitch, but it is better that people and the coach talk about me."

Ronaldinho 4 AC

The Barcelona president was locked in talks with the Rossoneri's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, on Monday and Tuesday before emerging with a deal finally sealed.

Manchester City's offer had been much higher, but Ronaldinho had always wanted to go to Milan and from then on it was a case of negotiating with the Serie A side.

Barca appear to have lowered their demands from earlier in the summer after new coach Pep Guardiola stated that the player was not part of his plans.

From then on it was difficult for the Blaugrana to consider holding out for their highest valuation and in the end a deal was struck with Milan that suits all three parties.

Satisfied

"We have reached the principle of an agreement and Ronaldinho will go to Milan to have a medical with the club," Laporta told reporters.

"I want to thank the effort made by Milan and the player in order for us to be able to reach this agreement. Everyone has done what we had to do."

Blatter - Let Ronaldo leave

"The important thing is, we should also protect the player," he told tell it like it is news.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

"I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave.

"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contacts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

Forget '39th game'

Meanwhile, Blatter has reiterated his stance over the Premier League's proposal to play a '39th game' overseas.

He said: "The 39th game as presented will never happen. To my knowledge what they (the Premier League) want to do is perhaps to play some of the League Cup matches somewhere outside of England. That's the last information I got.

"They should just forget about that."