Today’s gossip, rumours and damned lies

While Manchester City have saved themselves a tidy sum of money by avoiding Ronaldinho, Chelsea appear to have finally folded their hand in regards to costly bench warmer Andriy Shevchenko. The Ukrainian is on the verge of being adored at AC Milan once again, as the Blues plan to shift him out on loan. They are so desperate to free up his place on the team coach that they will continue to pay his £130,000 a week wages in full.

Roque Santa Cruz to Aston Villa
Manchester City have tried and failed to prize Santa Cruz from Paul Ince, and now it seems that it’s Aston Villa’s turn to try their luck. Villa have reportedly launched a £16m bid for the Paraguayan in the hope that Blackburn will suddenly decide that selling their best striker is a good idea.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Blackburn really don’t want to sell

Robinho to Chelsea
Despite Real Madrid insisting that Robinho ain’t going anywhere yesterday, The Daily Mail are today reporting that Peter Kenyon is in Madrid ensuring a £25m deal goes smoothly.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Having been rocked/privately delighted by the news that the disruptive Didier Drogba will be sidelined until October, Chelsea would do well to quickly tie up this deal

Carlton Cole to Sunderland
Less than 24 hours after agreeing a deal for Djibril Cisse, Sunderland have offered West Ham £5million to take lumbering striker Carlton Cole off their hands. While Alan Curbishley is hardly blessed with an embarrassment of riches in the forwards department, he’ll be perfectly happy to send Cole on his way, providing the Hammers secure the services of Chilean Sebastian ‘The Tank’ Pinto.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: West Ham will be glad of the money