The official close season non-World Cup football gossip/rumour thread

[Mal]

Link

Originally Posted by BBC Sport

Fifa is heading for a showdown with the Premier League over its 20-club size.

On Thursday Fifa's Congress endorsed a proposal for Europe's top leagues to be reduced to a maximum of 18 clubs by the start of the 2007-08 season.

[TheDaddy]

I like the quote, it will give four more days for international fixture's, I think he is forgeting who pays the wages, not only will clubs lose players to injury they will also lose revenue from gate receipts and prize money, I hope that they tell them to get stuffed or that FIFA can foot the bill, they want the four extra days that much then let them pay for them.

[TheDaddy]

Apparentley Portsmouth are in advanced talks over deals for Nicholas Anelka and Sol Campbell they have also made an opening offer of £10 000 000 for Jermaine Defoe, there is bad news for Pompy fans though, they are about to offer Tony Adams the assistant manager's job.

Telegraph

Tottenham are close to agreeing a £10 million fee with Manchester United for England midfielder Michael Carrick.

I suppose life goes on, even if there is a world cup being played atm.

[Legendary_PSR]

portsmouth have allegedly told harry he can go as high as 12 million for jermaine

[gazzae]

Legend.

Legend Keane announces retirement

Celtic midfielder Roy Keane has retired from professional football because of a long-standing hip injury.
The 34-year-old only joined Celtic in January from Manchester United, but he has decided to quit after receiving medical advice on his hip problem.

Keane said: "Having received advice from my surgeon and the Celtic doctor, my only option is to retire."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ic/5071440.stm

[sherer]

beat me to it.. what a legend and so glad i got to see him play so many times.. his retirement is a big loss to the game

hopefully it won't be too long before we see him back in a coaching role

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Legendary_PSR

portsmouth have allegedly told harry he can go as high as 12 million for jermaine

I actually sense the dark hand of Alex Ferguson at work here.

[akane1984]

For united fans, what you think of spending transfer budget on:

Carrick, Riquelme and Ribery?

[Legendary_PSR]

i'd take ribery, as he is younger than roman. roman has consistency problems too

and that's coming from an argentina fan

[gazzae]

He makes peter beadsley look attractive.

[TheDaddy]

I can see United going for Defoe, Carrick and Ribery, apparently he is as good a prospect as Ronaldo.

[Legendary_PSR]

he's hailed as the next zidane, but everyone seems to be the "next <insert name here> these days

[akane1984]

i think riquelme would shine at united but i would rather we signed carrick first. proven in prem and can only get better playing in midfield along side ronaldo, giggs, scholes, rooney. .

[TheDaddy]

Apparently Mohamedou Diarra's agent has told Man Utd he wants £100,00 0 per week, looks like that deals scuppered then.