Rafa Benitez apparently won't take no for an answer with regards to Gabby Heinze's much-talked-about move to Liverpool from Man United (Sportinglife.com). Apparently lawyers are now getting involved in this protracted row and  Sir Alex must be fuming about the whole debacle.

If, as it appears, the Argentinian full-back really wants to leave, then United would do better to get some cash return on him rather than disrupt their own pre-season with this whole affair. I have read that this would be the first move from Old Trafford to Anfield for a player in over 40 years, which is quite incredible.

Whether or not this will happen, I don't know. However, I am sure the next time Ferguson sees the manically smiling defender, he might not be quite so happy with himself. Is Gabby brave or just foolhardy for taking on Sir Alex? And where do you stand on the whole issue of buying out contracts?

'New owners, be they a combination of Bernie Ecclestone and Stan Kroenke or otherwise, could further unsettle what are already troubling waters at the Emirates'


The Daily Star reports that Arsene Wenger has warned that selling to a billionaire sugar-daddy could spell disaster for Arsenal. Whilst the Frenchman might be over-egging the pudding, if indeed he did make such a statement, he may also have a point. New owners, be they a combination of Bernie Ecclestone and Stan Kroenke or otherwise, could further unsettle what are already troubling waters at the Emirates.

There is always reluctance to new people coming into a club simply to make money, or indeed to sink debts into. We would all like our chairman to be cuddly lifelong fans with a penchant for throwing funds at new players and sprawling stadia, but in this day and age that cannot always be counted on. I am sure a lot more fun and games are ahead for the Gunners before the big kick-off; watch this space. Do Arsenal fans like the sound of a billion-dollar takeover?

Kieron Dyer is apparently to leave Newcastle, pending injury concerns over Joey Barton, and a queue of interested parties is lining up. These include Spurs, West Ham and Manchester City (The Guardian), the 28-year-old attacking midfielder has had a bumpy road in recent years what with injuries, loss of form and a series of publicised off-field antics, as well as that hilarious punch-up with teammate and bigot Lee Bowyer.

However, underneath all the controversy there is a very able player who could do well at any of the three teams linked with him. Given that Big Sam has taken a chance on similarly troubled midfielder Barton, then he would probably want to keep hold of England international Dyer. But Kieron might just see this as the right time to move on and start afresh. If you were Mr Dyer, who would you sign on the dotted line for?

Man City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is also after reportedly Sevilla's Serbian man-mountain of a defender Ivica Dragutinovic (Daily Mirror). I could pretend to claim a great deal about Ivica, that he has great stamina and doesn't shirk a challenge and can play at left-back as well as centre. But I know very little about him, whereas I am sure Sven does.

What I do know is that City need defenders like I need vast sums of cash, i.e. very badly. Also, any player who has spent two solid seasons building a relatively small club like Sevilla into La Liga challengers as well as two-time UEFA Cup winners, cannot be too shabby.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill Is continuing in his quest to bag Bolton stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen (Daily Telegraph). Sammy Lee has a big job to do following his appointment into the big shadow left by the departure of Big Sam (note the deliberate use of as many bigs as possible). Small Sammy Lee will at first have to prevent an exodus from the Reebok, which means keeping hold of the likes of Jussi, who is is one of the best keepers in the Premiership. He will then have to make sure to keep Nicolas Anelka and Kevin Nolan happy.

God help Wanderers should they find themselves in the thick of a relegation battle when the mid-season window opens as it may well signal snooping bosses looking to cash in on the fire sale. Are Bolton doomed to struggle this coming season or are we all just looking at Allardyce as too much of a saviour?