The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Sulleyman Muntari to Tottenham
While Jose Mourinho tries to persuade Wesley Sneijder to come to Italy via text message, ‘Arry is keen to bring the midfielder to the Lane. He will offer Jermaine Jenas and £5m in return, say The Sun.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Redknapp wants to sign a former player? That can’t be true…

Arjen Robben to Bayern Munich
It seems that Manchester Utd have failed in their attempts to land the crocked Dutchman,

Which chosen few will jump ship?

With as many as four clubs still in the race to join West Brom in the Championship next season, Premier League vultures are already circling in preparation to pick off the relegated teams’ best players. The Spoiler has a look at 5 players who are likely to continue plying their trade in the top flight whatever the outcome on Sunday. Jeremie Aliadiere need not apply.

Sunderland: Kenwyne Jones

Kenwyne Jones’ importance to Sunderland has been underlined by his bagging 9 goals in the league this season, despite spending the first few months on the physio’s table. Although Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recently denied he was still interested in the 24-year-old striker after a failed transfer bid in January, speculation over Roman Pavlyuchenko’s imminent exit from White Hart Lane is rife, and a move could still be on the cards.

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Harry Redknapp plans to shuffle his striking options
The Daily Mirror are reporting that Redknapp is ready to sell Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko, scorers of a combined 29 goals this season, and replace them with Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Bent may go but Redknapp is unlikely to axe Pavlyuchenko after a respectable first season.

Sebastien Bassong to Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s haven’t looked anywhere near as solid at the back since Martin Laursen injured his knee in January so they may target Newcastle defender Bassong in the summer.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Newcastle may struggle to keep Bassong even if they survive and he would stand more chance of breaking into Villa’s first team than Arsenal’s.

Edison Cavani to West Ham
There are only about ten youngsters playing in Italy who haven’t been linked with a move to West Ham this season. Palermo’s Uruguayan striker Cavani is reportedly the latest player to intrigue Gianluca Nani.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: 33-year-old duo David Di Michele and Diego Tristan are currently leading the Hammers’ line so an injection of youth wouldn’t go amiss.

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

When he wasn’t steamrollering his way through Europe and America, Cristiano Ronaldo spent last summer trying to fulfill his “dream move” to Real Madrid. The saga just won’t die, and there’s fresh rumours surrounding the move today…

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid
The latest news in the never-ending saga comes from The Times, who say that Ronaldo has, via his agent Jorge Mendes, made a verbal agreement with former Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez to join the La Liga champs. The Spaniard will apparently use C-Ron as a basis for his re-election in 2010.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The bit where it says the deal was made “via his agent Jorge Mendes,” thoroughly discredits the rumour. Mendes is a notorious shit stirrer, who told us not so long ago that Ronaldo wanted to go to Italy.

Kenwyne Jones not going to Tottenham
The Sun believe Sunderland have rejected a £6m offer from fellow relegation rivals Tottenham for their prized striker.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Redknapp complains

Wantaway striker wants away yet again

For about the thousandth time in his Chelsea career, Didier Drogba has shown a desire to jump ship after being spotted in a restaurant with his agent, an Inter director and Jose Mourinho’s agent. However, for perhaps the first time, the Ivory Coast striker is no longer indispensible. Chelsea are top of the Premier League and the division’s top-scorers while Nicolas Anelka has managed eleven goals in twelve league starts. So if the Blues do finally decide to get shot of the striker, who should they bring in to replace him? Here are a few of the names that have been mentioned so far:

Adriano
The Brazilian striker was a surprise inclusion for Inter Milan in the starting line-up against Juventus, where he helped create the winning goal. There are big question marks over his attitude but former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has tipped him to move to Stamford Bridge, saying: ”Roman Abramovich has always liked him and I wouldn’t be surprised if Chelsea came knocking on Massimo Moratti’s door soon.”

Mario Balotelli
The 18-year-old is another Inter Milan striker who is linked with a move to Chelsea in a part-exchange deal for Drogba. Scolari is reportedly impressed by the youngster but it would be seen as a big gamble to replace Drogba with someone so inexperienced.

Lukas Podolski

The players who form the backbone of the top flight

On Wednesday, we brought you the Pepe Reina-free Big Four XI, and today it’s time to look at the best of the rest. The likes of Jo and Luka Modric have been excluded as we’ve yet to see how they adapt to Premier League football. Plus, there’s no Dimitar Berbatov because we’re assuming he’s off to Old Trafford, or maybe the Nou Camp.

Shay Given (Newcastle)
Why Given over James, Friedel and Howard, you ask? Well, the other three can always rely on their defence for support which is a luxury that the Newcastle goalkeeper has never been blessed with. The Irishman is the only man this century to twice wear the number one jersey in the PFA’s Team of the Year.

Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
The young left-back was one of Spurs’ only solid performers at the start of the last campaign before an injury in December ruled him out for the rest of the season. The Welshman also boasted an impressive scoring record with three goals in nine domestic starts.

Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Despite his error last night, the Irishman is one of the best defenders

In between lovely slices of mango and giant slurps of caffeine-free Diet Coke, The Spoiler has perused and foraged the transfers underworld, and these gems were lurking in the shrubbery. So to speak.

Tony Adams to Arsenal
Hey what’s wrong Arsene? Feeling a wee bit sensitive because your attacking team has problems defending? Oh stop weeping, man, just get Tony Adams in to help you out! (Or so it would seem, apparently).

Kaka OR Leo Messi to Chelsea
Clearly learning nothing whatsoever from the Shevchenko debacle, Roman Abramovich has apparently declared that this summer he wants to hurl around £100 million, preferably in the direction of Kaka, or Messi… or Pele… or Maradona…