Striker helps show rival to the door at Eastlands…

Is Roque Santa Cruz greasing up the wheels of Robinho’s winter transfer to Barcelona? Man City’s £18m striker put the jinking Brazilian right in it during a recent radio interview with Catalunya Radio, by announcing Robinho regularly reminds his teammates he’d rather being doing his jinking alongside Lionel Messi than, er, Roque Santa Cruz:

Of course he talks to us about it. And the players are cracking jokes about it in the dressing room.

In the English papers there’s a lot of interest about Barca and Robinho is also not hiding his desire to play for them one day. But I guess we’ll see.

Spanish press claim striker may not be back until December…

Diagnosis of Fernando Torres‘ recent trip to Spain, for a second opinion on his groin injury, proved fairly inconclusive in the English press this morning. The Spanish media, however, are confident the striker will be out until after Liverpool’s crucial Champions League clash with Debrecen.

According to AS, Torres hopped on a private jet to see Dr Ramon Cugat, a respected sports injury specialist, after medical staff at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground claimed surgery - which Benitez is desperate to avoid - was the only solution. Cugat is reported to have prescribed a ‘conservative treatment’ which will mean El Nino is laid up until the Reds’ game against Blackburn on December 5th.

Spoiler Bonus: El Mundo Deportivo are reporting a gentleman’s agreement is in place for Robinho to sign for Barcelona in the January transfer window now both the Man City chairman and Mark Hughes (who allegedly ‘has always been receptive to his departure’) are resigned to losing the Brazilian forward.

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Frank Ribery to Manchester City
Ribery was keen to leave Germany in the summer, but Manchester United swallowed hard and balked at the price tag. The owners of Manchester City by contrast, don’t balk at much, and could no doubt find a spare shekel or two down the back of the couch to pass on to Bayern. Robinho’s replacement in January perhaps?

Thespoiler truth-ometer: If Bayern get out of their qualifying group, Ribery would be unlikely to walk out on a Champions League campaign. Having kept his powder dry, the French hunk is surely most likely to wait an extra few months, and attempt to engineer a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Romelu Lakuku to Arsenal
This 16 yr old striker has been keeping Tony Adams off the streets of late, with the ex Arsenal skipper being dispatched to spy on the Anderlecht striker. (Thanks to Caughtoffside for bringing the link to our attention)

Thespoiler truth-ometer: Given Adams’ scouting reports back to Wenger regarding Thomas Vermaelen (”I think Thomas is a very good player but I don’t think he’s ready for the Arsenal,”) and Emmanuel Adebayor (”Adebayor was playing for Monaco against Lille and he said what do you think of the left winger and I actually said no!”), it’s unlikely the Arsenal boss would send Big Tone to watch anyone he wanted to sign. It might be a decoy.

Vadis Odjidja to Tottenham
Premier League commentators everywhere will be praying this transfer doesn’t go through, but today’s Sun reveals Spurs are monitoring the 20yr old from Brugge. Odjidja can play anywhere across the back line or midfield, so should be a suitable replacement for any of Spurs’ injury-prone defenders / midfielders.

Thespoiler truth-ometer: A signing more in tune with the imaginative Comoli regime, rather than Harry’s transfer plan of just bringing back old Spurs players or anyone managed by Willie McKay. The Current Bun quote Odjidja simply as saying, “I cannot rule anything out,” which is simply the Sun saying, “We need to fill some space here. Anyone got a quote?”

You heard it here first. Kind of

The biggest television station in Catalunia no less, is reporting that Barcelona will sign Manchester City passenger Robinho in January. TV3 are tonight reporting Barcelona have confirmed to their sources, that the Brazilian will join the European Cup holders on loan for six months, with a permanent deal to be discussed after the World Cup.

So if you like your stepovers, you know where to go in 2010.

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Robinho and Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona
Barcelona’s sporting director Txiki Beguiristain has revealed the Catalan giants are eyeing Robinho, with a potential January approach on the cards. The Brazilian of course has the advantage of being free to play in the Champions League. Cheeky Txiki also spoke of his desire to bring in Cesc Fabregas, brilliantly declaring that, “he was born suckling upon the teat of the football [we play] here.”

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Robinho would be tempted but how much would it take for moneybags City to agree to the deal? Fabregas could move next summer in what promises to be the most drawn-out transfer saga since Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

Emile Heskey to whoever will take him
Heskey has promised to readdress his current position at Villa as the England

Samba star admits his dissatisfaction to friends and journalists

Barcelona-based newspaper Sport today reveal Robinho’s unhappiness at Manchester City.

During his recent trip to Brazil, it is claimed that the player admitted to friends and journalists in confidence that he is deeply dissatisfied with the time he is currently having with the Premier League and the Brazil squad. (Presumably, he now realises that football journalists aren’t the best people to privately confide in.)

Apparently, Robinho has not found a favourable environment in which his skills and dribbling talent can thrive. Aditionally, he is said to be concerned by the competition from Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor at City, and his fight to win a place in the national squad is being hampered by strong criticisms from certain sectors fo the Brazilian press.

Naturally, Sport bring up the possibility of a January transfer window departure: 

Also appearing on a computer near you…

WAG Watch: Gemma Atkinson’s 2010 has arrived
[On205th]

Don’t South American footballers ever get tired of fighting each other?
[Dirty Tackle]

Wigan close in on defensive midfielder Modeste M’Bami
[IMScouting]

Will there be a Robinho/ Thierry Henry switch-a-roo in January?
[Caught Offside]

Slaven Bilic’s latest attempt to gain a psychological edge over England
[Daily Mail]

Why Jermain Defoe will not start on Wednesday
[The Mirror]

Also appearing on a computer near you…

LA Galaxy players bet Beckham he can’t hit window in stadium, Beckham hits window in stadium, viewer forced to listen to cameraman’s stoner laugh repeatedly
[Off The Post]

Darren Bent is back on Twitter!
[Tribal Football]

Robinho puts Brazil ahead of Manchester City
[Fox Soccer]

Adrian Mutu can’t afford to pay Chelsea £14.5m for breaching his contract - did somebody say karma?
[Daily Mail]

Herr Ballack to consider his future after the World Cup
[The Mirror]

Ruud van Nistelrooy explains why he didn’t move to ‘lesser club’ Tottenham
[The Telegraph]