Freddy Adu seems to have been around for years, as have his countless links with coming to Europe, but amazingbly he is still only just turned 18!. (i don't even remember when i turned 18, do you?).

It appears that a queue of clubs are making a renewed attempt to attract the attacking midfield US international. Premiership duo Spurs and Everton as well as SPL champions Celtic have apparently all been in contact with Adu's MLS club Real Salt Lake (various). Portuguese source Maisfutebol claim that Lisbon club Benfica have the best chance of luring the youngster as apparently he won't require a work permit to continue his career there.

However, I'm sure he would much rather try his hand in either the Premiership or SPL, with Celtic having the added bonus of being able to offer Champions League football. Other sources have suggested that Arsenal may also be monitoring the situation. Sir Alex Ferguson has also admitted to being a fan and indeed Freddy took part in a trial at Manchester United last year. He's got youth and time on his side and may benefit from a gradual climb to the top in much the same way as Brazilian's Ronaldo and Ronaldinho did at supposed 'lesser' leagues in Holland and France.

'I think it's safe to say that come next season Gabriel, if still a member of Sir Alex's squad, will still be behind Patrice Evra in the full-back queue'


The whole Gabriel Heinze affair continues apace, but it now seems that he is more likely to remain at Man United (The Times). Leading law experts are convinced that the whole transfer saga hinges on the alleged letter from United's chief executive David Gill which purports to tell the Argentine he can go if he the valuation of £6.8m is met.

A leading sports lawyer is quoted as saying: "It could come down to a question of integrity and credibility for Manchester United and David Gill if he has signed this letter. It is open to Gill to say, 'It was a promise, but I didn't know the circumstances in which you were going to rely on that, and it is not a contract and you cannot hold me to it.' " So that clears that up then! I think it's safe to say that come next season Gabriel, if still a member of Sir Alex's squad, will still be behind Patrice Evra in the full-back queue.

Chelsea and Man United are both keeping tabs on Lokomotiv Moscow defender Branislav Ivanovic (tribalfootball.com). Who's he? I here you shout in unison. Well let me tell you somethings about him, all of which is research driven and not gleaned from my knowledge of the Russian football league. Ivanovic was instrumental in leading his Serbian side to the final of the Under-21 European Championships a few weeks ago and has been part of the Lokomotiv side's last two disappointing third place league finishes. Not much weight to this speculation to be honest, and United may figure only because they have one talented Serbian defender in the shape of Nemanja Vidić.

Atletico Madrid winger Martin Petrov has been given permission to fly to London to hold talks with Spurs (The Sun) adding more scope and width to this ongoing rumour. Will he join Martin Jol? I didn't think so at first, but the flying winger has many admirers, and given the rate of spending at White Hart Lane, coupled with the clear-out of deadwood, it seems a very real possibility that Dimitar Berbatov will have a fellow Bulgarian to chat to.

Juventus left-back Giorgio Chiellini and midfielder Manuele Blasi are targets for Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson (The Guardian) This rumour holds water, in as much as their shared agent, Davide Lippi (son of former Juventus and Italian manager Marcelo) has confirmed the pair would be interested in a move to England and in particular interested in playing for SGE. If this is the case then Man City's stock coujld be on the rise and there'll be many happy Blues in Manchester.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has dismissed reports linking defender Sol Campbell with Everton and Newcastle United (tribalfootball.com) and Harry, never one to mince his words (not even in that half-baked BBC bungs programme), has added defiantly: "What could Everton or Newcastle offer him that we can't - nothing!" I'll leave fans of Everton and Newcastle to answer that one. I can guess at a few things they might want to say to Mr Redknapp!