If you believe what you read in the newspapers, as reported by the Sportingo rumour mill, then Arsenal are poised to sign NINETEEN different players – including John Terry, Kaka, Michael Owen and Didier Drogba.

That’s why I take as much notice of transfer rumours as I do of those people who insist Martin Jol’s job at White Hart Lane wasn’t undermined by the devious dealings of those who run the club.

I’ve just been looking through Sportingo articles since late September and can reveal that our rumour mill has reliably informed us that the Gunners were either bidding for or keen on buying the following players (and the list is not complete):

'The only transfer stories I believe are the ones that are officially announced by the parties concerned AFTER the deal is completed'


Terry, Owen, Peter Crouch, Robert Green, Daniel Alves, Kaka, Drogba, Adel Taarabt, Luca Modric, Eker Casillas and Robinho. Other published headlines informed us reliably that ‘Arsenal chase centre-back’, ‘Arsenal launch record bid for Liverpool target’, ‘Arsenal want Dutch ace’, ‘Arsenal in battle for new Zidane ‘, Arsenal in for £25m French pair’ and (presumably a different player) ‘Arsenal want French superkid’.

Now if I was Arsene Wenger – or indeed any of his current table-topping team or the Emirates board, I’d have lost any lingering respect I might have had for the idiots who manufacture these ‘rumour mill’ stories. Because they clearly ARE made up – and why anyone even bothers to read them astonishes me.

I don’t believe that these so-called ‘expert’ reporters have the slightest idea what is going on in the board room or in the manager’s mind either at the Emirates or anywhere else. If there is any basis whatsoever in Owen, Kaka, Drogba, Robinho or the rest ever having been targeted by the Gunners, the ‘stories’ will no doubt have emanated from those with a vested interest – aka the players’ agents and hangers-on.

As far as I am concerned, the only transfer stories I believe are the ones that are officially announced by the parties concerned AFTER the deal is completed.

In the meantime, I am reliably informed that Sir Alex Ferguson is the new manager of Spurs. Well, it’s more likely than any of that mass of Arsenal rubbish.

Apart from anything, why does Wenger need ANY players when he’s probably got the best team in this or any other land?

Do YOU believe any of the transfer rumours you read in the press? Post your comments below or submit an article of your own to Sportingo.