Batch two of the day; our contribution to the rumour abyss of white noise that is the Internet. Arsenal's Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia could be England's next No.1 - in one year he'll be able to get British citizenship (various).

Everton and Man City are to launch an improbable four-way transfer tug-of-war with AC Milan and Juventus for FC Basle striker Felipe Caicedo. If they somehow manage to win aforementioned tug-of-war, they'll have to shell out £1.5m for the Ecuadorian star (a variety of rancid sources - including Tribal Football).

Two members of the Liverpool old-boy network are on the move - Lyon are ready to jettison Milan Baros, with Torino ready and waiting to scrape him up off the pavement, while clown-named wide boy Bolo Zenden has been so poor for Marseille that PSV Eindhoven are waiting to gobble him up on a free (Guardian). Meanwhile, former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is considering throwing his hat into the ring for the vacant Republic of Ireland job. He'll have to spar with old duffers Howard Kendall and Terry Venables for the position (various).

'The fact that Robbie Savage is fidgeting on the Blackburn subs bench has alerted Tottenham, who are in the market for a midfield nice-guy'

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has had talks with both Benni McCarthy (who reportedly sped away in a car after being subbed last week) and all-round nice guy Robbie Savage - as they are becoming increasingly unsettled with Sparky's selection policy (Daily Mail). And the fact that Savage is fidgeting on the Blackburn subs bench has alerted Tottenham, who are in the market for a midfield nice-guy (Guardian).

Chelsea are going to allow striker Andriy Shevchenko to leave the club on loan in January with lots of MLS clubs rubbing their hands with glee (Daily Mirror). Meanwhile, much-better-than-Shevchenko Didier Drogba is having a spat with his Stamford Bridge  paymasters because he wants his knee op immediately whilst Chelsea staff want him to wait (The Sun).

New Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is after Sheffield United left-back Gary Naysmith and wants to nab the Scotland 'star' and bona fide Scotland star James McFadden for part of his January rebuilding programme (various).