The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Maicon to Manchester United / City
Expect a lot of these over the summer. As soon as United make a move for anyone at all, City will come barging in flashing cash, purely to antagonise their neighbours.

Thespoiler truth-ometer: Both clubs need a right full-back, and Maicon is probably the best in the world right now (sorry Glen.) Another season of European failure for Inter could see one of these deals happen.

Cesc Fabregas to Real Madrid
Seething from the defeat against Seville, Madrid supremo Florentino Perez has swiftly identified the problem, and the solution - another lightweight creative midfielder. The Daily Mail no less, reports that Madrid may even make a move in January, so as to get in ahead of Barca who are unlikely to do any business before the summer.

Thespoiler truth-ometer: Cesc is a proud Catalan, and unlikely to want to join their fiercest rivals. It is also questionable whether Madrid can find the room to squeeze him in, with Diarra and Alonso having started brightly in the centre of their midfield.

Nilton to Liverpool
Having yesterday highlighted the brilliance of the young Vasco striker (see here), thespoiler is proud that Rafa Benitez has picked up the hint, and according to the Daily Mirror, is keen to bring him to Anfield in January.

Thespoiler truth-ometer: Rafa’s transfer policy is never the easiest to predict. One week its Nilton, the next Peter Shilton, the next Paris Hilton. We’re staying non-committal on this one.

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Picture of the Day: Raymond Domenech’s squad are now dying with frustration
[Dirty Tackle]

You’ll never guess what DC Utd are doing in ESPN’s naked issue
[Off The Post]

Cheryl Cole’s Elle photoshoot
[Kickette]

FIFA are killing football, says Giovanni Trapattoni
[Goal.com]

Arsenal track a pair of Bari defenders
[Daily Mail]

There is plenty more to life if I’m not picked in the England squad,” says Michael Owen, who is desperately trying to get into the England squad
[The Mirror]

Are Manchester Utd looking to sign Inter’s Maicon?
[Betfair Football]

A further helping of transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Andriy Shevchenko to Dynamo Kiev
Shevchenko could be set for a return to Dynamo Kiev, the club where he established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe. President Ihor Surkis claims that the 32-year-old was very interested in the Ukrainian club’s proposal, which would would see him offered a coaching role when he retires.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: It looks like even Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t want Shevchenko to extend his stay in England and with AC Milan looking elsewhere, a return home seems plausible.

Jose Bosingwa to Bayern Munich
Another player still linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge is Bosingwa, with Bayern Munich confirming that they have no intention of

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Manchester City reject Darius Vassell receives a surreal hero’s welcome at new club Ankaragucu - click the link for more amazing photos
[Blue Moon]

Maicon’s agent is expecting Real Madrid to make a move for the right-back
[Goal]

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking forward to playing with Kaka next season
[The Sun]

Sol Campbell is linked with Everton and Aston Villa after leaving Portsmouth
[Daily Telegraph]

Roque Santa Cruz joined Manchester City for the money Mark Hughes fans
[Sporting Life]

What business are Spurs planning to do in the transfer market this summer?
[Interestment]

A further helping of transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Ricardo Carvalho and Deco to Inter Milan
The biggest transfer news of a very slow day comes from Italy’s Sky Sport 24, who claim that Chelsea do not want Nicolas Burdisso or Maicon in exchange for Jose Mourinho’s good friends Deco and Ricardo Carvalho and are instead holding out for around £12 million for the pair.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon’s agent Antonio Caliendo says that he expects his client to stay put this summer so it would make sense for Chelsea to take as much money as they can and shop elsewhere.

Felipe Melo is staying with Fiorentina
Just a day after being urged by international teammate Gilberto Silva to sign

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Maicon to Chelsea
According to Sportitalia’s transfer “expert” Alfredo Pedulla, the Brazilian’s move to Stamford Bridge is “very probable”. He adds:

“It will be the week of the interweaving with Chelsea. Inter should be led to accept by having Deco and Ricardo Carvalho added in the negotiation.”

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon can’t seem to make up his mind and we don’t see any reason to take this guy’s word as gospel. (In other words, we have no idea if this is true.)

Karim Benzema to Arsenal
Real Madrid have reportedly offered Lyon £27m for their prized striker and Manchester Utd have also registered an interest, but Professor Wenger believes the presence of French team-mates William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Mikael Silvestre will tempt him to North London.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: We can’t see Arsenal offering

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Maicon to Manchester Utd or Manchester City
Roman football rag Corriere dello Sport today claim Utd and City are fighting it out for Inter Milan’s neglected wing-back, who wishes to ‘pursue happiness’ at a different club. Real Madrid have reportedly bid €20m, while Fergie has allegedly set aside €25m of his Ronaldo money to land the Brazilian, but both could be blown out of the water by Mark Hughes’ chequebook.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: One would imagine Maicon would aspire to play for Madrid or the Red Devils, but his agent says his €3.5m-a-year wages do not ‘reflect the worth of his client’, suggesting City and their bottomless pit of cash may be able to tempt him.

Richard Dunne to Sunderland
The Daily Mail says Steve Bruce’s side are close to capturing the City defender for the princely sum of £5m.

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Maicon to Chelsea
The tabloids have grown tired of linking every current AC Milan player - minus David Beckham - with a move to Chelsea should Carlo Ancelotti takes over. Instead, they have started identifying players at other Italian clubs, with 27-year-old Inter Milan’s right-back Maicon reportedly a £22 million target.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world but with the Blues’ ageing squad in need of an overhaul, they can’t really afford to spend that much on a position where they have three options under the age of 26 (Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Mancienne).

Brede Hangeland to Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has identified Hangeland as the standout performer in the Fulham defence that have conceded less goals than Arsenal this season and is