I have dropped a clanger. I rather foolishly baulked at the idea that Teddy Sheringham would be signing for Essex side Colchester, but it looks certain that I was way off the mark, and for that I am sorry, it won’t happen again. Well, to be honest, it could and I apologise in advance if it does.

Anyway, back to business: Transfer business!

Frank Lampard ain’t going anywhere! Chelsea have told Barcelona to ‘do one’ and insisted that the midfielder who likes to shoot and occasionally miss is not for sale (Daily Star) and have rejected their £12m offer. So Chelsea fans can rest easy now, or can they? I think so. 2/10 that Lamps will be on his way out at the Bridge.

'it is going to be hard to convince all four internationals (Defoe, Berbatov, Keane and Bent) that the rotation system is the way to go'


The Daily Mail do however predict that some business might be done at Chelsea. They claim that Sevilla are demanding £20m for their highly rated full-back Daniel Alves, which seems steep. Chelsea may not be deterred by the price, especially as they haven’t actually paid for a player yet in this window (but one can only wonder how much their wage bill must be these days!). Alves to leave Sevilla 9/10, Alves to come to the Premiership 7/10.

Jermain Defoe’s future at Spurs continues to be uncertain as he has apparently refused to begin talks on a five-year contract (Daily Star). You can kind of understand his reluctance to pledge his future at a club with so many other star strikers, and no matter how many Spurs fans point out just how many games they may get through next season (could be anything from 42 to 70, I guess) it is going to be hard to convince all four internationals (Defoe, Berbatov, Keane and Bent) that the rotation system is the way to go. Defoe to leave White Hart Lane 7/10.

Spiderman striker Peter Crouch has been assured that his future at Liverpool is safe (various sources). What they have probably failed to add to that sentence is, Peter Crouch’s future at Liverpool is safe, as long as he doesn’t mind sharing his workload with a couple of other quality forwards. At least it looks like ‘nut-case’ Bellamy is not going to be among his competitors for a place in the starting 11. The Welshman has been linked with a number of clubs who seem intent on paying this vandal/criminal to play football (something he does actually do quite well, in between court-cases and street brawls). Crouch to be at Anfield next month 10/10, Bellamy to not be 10/10, Bellamy to AS Roma (Daily Star again) 0/10!