What with Ruud van Nistelrooy being old and injury prone, it's no great surprise that Sam Allardyce has expressed interest in making him a Blackburn Rover. Today's Sun reports that the Allardyce is "desperate" to sign a big-name forward having lost Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire, and with 17 letters in his name, the 33-year-old Dutchman evidently fits the bill, although a move to Ewood Park would almost certainly mean he'd have to agree to a significant reduction in the £120,000-per-week he's currently trousering at the Bernabéu. But at least he'd get a game, eh?
Coincidentally, Van Nistelrooy isn't the only Dutch striker whose name boasts 17 letters being linked with a move from the Bernabéu to the north-west of England. Having slipped even further down the Real Madrid pecking order with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka, his compatriot Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has attracted the interest of Sir Alex Ferguson, who's ready to return £20m of Real's Ronaldo money in exchange the former Ajax star.
Considering 80,000 people turned out to welcome Cristiano to Real yesterday, one shudders to imagine how many more will squeeze in to pay homage to Alvaro Arbeola if the Spanish side's £5m offer for the Liverpool full-back is accepted. No doubt there'll be similarly raucous scenes at Eastlands if Manchester City improve their previous offer of £15m and bag Joleon Lescott from Everton, and at Villa Park when Brede Hangeland sashays down a hastily erected catwalk in Aston Villa colours once Fulham have accepted Martin O'Neill's bid for £9m. The centre-half isn't the only player currently lined up in Martin O'Neill's cross-hairs: Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso is also attracting overtures from the Irishman.
Meanwhile on Merseyside, Jo was among the ranks of slightly overweight Everton players to huff and puff their way around the pitch on the first day of pre-season training yesterday, fuelling speculation that the Manchester City outcast will return to the club for a season-long loan after impressing with five goals in three months last season.
The Sun also reveals that Everton boss David Moyes is also expected to complete the signing of American midfielder Anton Peterlin today. "I am not sure how often miracles happen but I will not squander this opportunity," said the 22-year-old, over-egging the pudding with a turn of phrase that's unlikely to be bettered by Richard Dunne if he moves to Sunderland for £4m.
"He is a player who is an excellent footballer but he is a Man City player until they say any different and we stand in a line but we are not the only admirers but if there is a chink of light we will get through it if we can," declared Niall Quinn, doing little to dispel rumours of a comma shortage on Wearside. Should Sunderland land Dunne, the Irishman will almost certainly be handed the captain's armband, as the incumbent skipper Dean Whitehead is expected to wrap up a move to Stoke or Hull City any minute now. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is also reported to have made an offer for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch, although the rumoured £14m bid seems outlandishly high for the big man, no matter how good a touch he happens to be blessed with.
Down the road in Middlesbrough, Gareth Southgate's woes continued to mount yesterday when Afonso Alves, Mido and Tuncay showed scant regard for his authority by failing to report back for their first day of pre-season training. Southgate needs to find buyers for all three in order to cut costs at the Riverside, but it seems his only chance of making any money on the seemingly troublesome Brazilian and Egyptian would involve mincing them and selling them by the pound. Getting Tuncay, plus England winger Stewart Downing, England Under-21 winger Adam Johnson and centre-half David Wheater off the pay-roll should prove far less difficult, should Middlesbrough be forced to sell what pass for their crown jewels.
And finally, as it would be a gross dereliction of journalistic duty to complete any Rumour Mill without devoting at least one short paragraph to the wheeling and dealing of Harry Redknapp, we'll wrap up today's effort by reporting the news that the Tottenham Hotspur manager is sitting in his office, drumming his fingers on the desk and waiting for his phone to ring with news that Manchester City have decided to dispense with the services of Craig Bellamy. In order to pass the time, Harry's keeping his hand in by negotiating the sale of midfielder Didier Zakora to La Liga outfit Sevilla.
Heard any transfer speculation of your own? Feel free to post it below.
