Today’s gossip, rumours and damned lies

Whereas bit-part players like Wayne Bridge are being made to feel like superstars, Chelsea fans’ Player of the Year Joe Cole apparently doesn’t know where he stands with Luiz Felipe Scolari. Liverpool desperately need wingers and are thought to have expressed interest, although a transfer would appear highly unlikely, at least until that whole Gareth Barry kerfuffle is sorted out.

Stephen Warnock to Newcastle
Titus Bramble and Stephen Carr prove that Newcastle’s purchases of British defenders haven’t been too hot recently, but a move for Warnock could change all that. Warnock shone at Blackburn last season and received his first England cap this summer.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Ince would rather avoid selling a regular this close to the season starting

Stephen Appiah to Portsmouth
Harry Redknapp looks likely to beat former club West Ham to the signature of the headline makers dream. Look out over the next few days for the tabloid headline: “Pompey couldn’t be Appiah about new signing”.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Strong possibility

Spurs get angry
Tottenham are reportedly fuming after Manchester City pulled the plug on their attempts to sign Vedran Corluka at the last minute. Perhaps it was because Mark Hughes would have walked if City has sold the defender behind his back.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: A deal could still go through; it’s hard to tell with ‘Human Rights FC’

Roque Santa Cruz to Man City
And just to cheer Hughes up, Man City may take a break from trying to sell players behind the manager’s back and bring in Santa Cruz, his star pupil at Blackburn. It looked like the striker was staying put but the Daily Mirror claim he is ready to ask for a move.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Again, it would be dangerous for Ince to sell without time to replace adequately