There’s just thirteen days to go before the window is opened

In the summer everyone was expecting Xabi Alonso to move to Juventus only for coach Claudio Ranieri to eventually decide that he was too slow. The Daily Telegraph today claim that Ranieri is planning another Anfield raid, with underused duo Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel, who have eight league starts between them this season, top of his wishlist. The former Chelsea coach is poised to offer £19 million to persuade Rafael Benitez to part with his favourite substitutes. Here are today’s other major rumours:

Slaven Bilic to Sunderland
Former West Ham and Everton defender Super Slav has been backed down from 12/1 to 6/4 favourite for the Sunderland job but don’t be fooled into wasting money backing him because The Times say he is still not a leading contender.

Niall Quinn’s optimistic goals look a little out of reach

Just before the start of the season, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn told us of a five step plan that would make the Black Cats the “second biggest club in England”:

“We had five steps planned when we took over as a board. Step one was going up, step two was staying up, step three, where we’re at now, was establishing ourselves in the Premier League, step four was competing for Europe and step five was aiming for Champions League football.”

“If we keep progressing, if we get to the point down the line where we are knocking on the door to the Champions League, I would have to go to the investors and ask them to commit to a 60,000-seater stadium, to make us the second biggest club in England.”

We’re interested in criticising someone with ambition, but it looks like the club are currently stagnating on step three, and in grave danger of sliding back to step one.

Can Sunderland one day reach the promised land of Champions League football and take a slice of the big four pie? Is Big Sam Allardyce the right man to get them there? Let us know below, folks.

Today’s gossip, rumours and damned lies

Following Niall Quinn’s announcement that the Black Cats are pushing for the Champions League, the Drumaville consortium have decided to strengthen the squad. This weekend, they have been spotted lugging a giant shopping basket in Lancashire and East London…

Benni McCarthy to Sunderland
Paul Ince chose to pick Jason Roberts over the South African on Saturday, so might be tempted to sell if Sunderland are able to raise the £9 million that Blackburn are thought to value the striker at.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: After a fantastic first season, McCarthy’s importance at Blackburn has fallen

Anton Ferdinand to Sunderland
Roy Keane’s spending isn’t going to stop there though as he looks to spend £8 million

Chairman Niall Quinn unveils five step plan for success

At the end of 2007, Sunderland found themselves in 18th place, and only after whipping out the chequebook were they able to assure another season in the top flight. Despite their tumultuous league status, chairman Niall Quinn insists the club are halfway through a masterplan that will see the Black Cats playing in the Champions League:

“We had five steps planned when we took over as a board. Step one was going up, step two was staying up, step three, where we’re at now, was establishing ourselves in the Premier League, step four was competing for Europe and step five was aiming for Champions League football.”

It’s rarely good to criticise someone for being ambitious, but this plan seems like it’s a rather long way from coming to fruition. Nevertheless, Quinn continued to raise the aspirations of his club thusly:

“If we keep progressing,