saturday's gossip includes west ham

[cockney hammer]

Chelsea are ready to make a £42million bid for Atletico Madrid superstar Sergio Aguero, while Liverpool have made a bid for James Milner.

THE SUN

Chelsea are ready to make a £42million bid for Atletico Madrid superstar Sergio Aguero.

David Moyes branded rival Mark Hughes "disgusting" in a shocking eve-of-season attack over the Joleon Lescott affair.

Liverpool have made a cheeky bid for Aston Villa's James Milner.

DAILY MIRROR

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola admits he is trying to presuade Eidur Gudjohnsen to join his side.

Newcastle want to re-sign defender Andy O'Brien from Bolton.

Middlesbrough are ready to sell centre-half Robert Huth to Stoke in a £2.5million deal.

Hull have opened talks with Sol Campbell about a shock move to the club.

THE TIMES

David Moyes, the Everton manager, has launched a scathing attack on Manchester City, accusing them of acting improperly in their pursuit of Joleon Lescott and indicating that he may complain to the FA once the transfer window has closed.

Paul Hart believes the proposed takeover of Portsmouth will not happen, plunging the club into yet more uncertainty on the eve of the new Premier League season.

DAILY STAR

Mark Hughes has sent a defiant message out to all bosses lining up to criticise big-spending Manchester City: The spending won't stop.

THE GUARDIAN

Manchester City's big-spending days are over, according to Mark Hughes.

DAILY EXPRESS

David Moyes launched a wide-ranging attack on Manchester City yesterday, warning them their "disgusting" pursuit of England defender Joleon Lescott has blown up in their face and cost them the chance of signing him.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Arsene Wenger has responded to incessant interest from Spain in the possibility of Cesc Fabregas returning to Barcelona by insisting that a deal is no more likely than Lionel Messi joining Arsenal.

DAILY MAIL

Roy Hodgson was last night hoping to be reunited with Damien Duff 13 years after giving the winger his big chance in the top flight.


Damien Duff moved closer to leaving Newcastle United when he said goodbye to his team-mates after training on Friday. Fulham are in talks to sign the Ireland winger, but his weekly wages of about £70,000 would be a problem to the West London club.

Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, said that he is confident of signing Duff, but ruled out signing Mark Viduka, the forward who is out of contract.

“Damien and I go back from when we worked together at Blackburn,” Hodgson said. “He wants to come back to West London [Duff played for Chelsea]. We know what we’d be getting with Damien — he’s an experienced and quality player.”

Dead certs

Wigan Athletic have signed Antonio Amaya, the defender, on a three-year contract from Rayo Vallecano, subject to international clearance, and continue to hold talks with the Spanish club about Mohamed Diamé, whose medical showed a heart problem.

Felipe Miñambres, the Rayo sporting director, is confident that the defensive midfield player will complete the move. “Wigan want him to have other tests,” Miñambres said. “We carried out analysis in pre-season and Diamé is fine.”

Lee Chung Yong has signed a three-year deal with Bolton Wanderers for about £2.2million from Seoul. The midfield player has made 15 appearances for South Korea.

Arsenal have changed their mind about allowing Fran Mérida, the midfield player, to move on loan to Levante after a deal had been agreed. “The fact that the coach [Arsène Wenger] wants be to remain gives me a lot of confidence,” Mérida said.

Notts County have signed Kasper Schmeichel, the goalkeeper, from Manchester City, for a record transfer fee that is believed to have eclipsed the £640,000 they paid for Tony Agana in 1991. The Dane has signed a five-year contract.

Decent bets

Hull City have spoken to Sol Campbell, the defender who is out of contract after leaving Portsmouth. Roma have requested to take on loan Álvaro Negredo, the Real Madrid forward, who is the subject of interest from Hull.

Borja Valero has said that he wants to leave West Bromwich Albion and return to Mallorca. The midfield player signed a four-year contract when he left Spain for £4.7 million last summer. “My main aim is to play in the top flight, but a loan back to Mallorca may be the best option,” he said. Portsmouth say they are in talks with Amr Zaki, the Egypt forward who was on loan at Wigan last season.


West Ham United’s offer of £4.3 million plus half of any future profit for Marouane Chamakh has been turned down by Bordeaux. The French club have also rejected Fulham’s offer of a part-swap deal with Diomansy Kamara, also a forward. “My representatives spoke to Bordeaux but Laurent Blanc [the manager] has not called me,” said Kamara, who has two years left on his deal and has already turned down a move to Celtic.

West Ham, who signed Radoslav Kovac for £1.8 million from Spartak Moscow, have turned down Fiorentina’s inquiry about Jonathan Spector, the defender.


Blues go for Aguero - The Sun

Chelsea are ready to make a £42million bid for Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero. Will the Argentina ace arrive at Stamford Bridge?

Huth set for Stoke switch - Daily Mirror

Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth will complete his move to Stoke this weekend. Will another club attempt to scupper the move?

Shearer D-day - Daily Mirror

Alan Shearer's chance of becoming Newcastle manager will be resolved on Tuesday night. Will the Magpies get their man?

Reds make Milner move - The Sun

Liverpool have made a cheeky enquiry about Aston Villa and England midfielder James Milner. Would Villa even consider selling the youngster?

Magpies turn to old face - Daily Mirror

Newcastle want former player Andy O'Brien, now at Bolton, to return to St James' Park to solve their defensive crisis. Are there other men the Magpies should target?

Trio chase Barda - Daily Mirror

Blackburn, Fulham and Portsmouth are trailing Genk's Israel international Elyaniv Barda. Who will win the race for the £5millio-rated winger?

[cockney hammer]

BREAKING NEWS: Iron to sign Hammers defender



SCUNTHORPE United have today signed West Ham defender Jordan Spence on loan.

The 19-year-old centre-back, who can also play at right-back, watched from the stands as the Iron got their season up and running with a 3-2 win over Derby County.

Manager Nigel Adkins moved to sign the youngster with David Mirfin still struggling with an ankle injury picked up during pre-season.

He missed the victory over the Rams and is also doubtful for Tuesday’s clash with Middlesbrough.

Spence is an England Under-19 international who spent the second half of last season on loan at Leyton Orient.

He is yet to play a first team game for the Hammers, but is highly-rated by the East London club.

[bobby moore lower]

hopefully he comes back like the other young uns from last season with a bit of confidence