Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal are said to have been alerted by the news that Manchester City’s in-form centre-back Richard Dunne is stalling over a new contract (Daily Mirror).

Sven Goran Eriksson’s defensive headaches are piling up as England star Micah Richards is also having second thoughts about the 50 grand-a-week offer presented to him in recent weeks. Dunne, 28, has been a great servant to City, racking up more than 250 appearances in his seven-plus years at the club. He is in the form of his life right now and has played a vital part in his side's run at the top four in the Premier League.

It is crucial that Eriksson gets both players signed up as they are the bedrock of a side that relies far more on solid defending than on their attacking prowess. I am sure that, like Richards, Dunne will remain loyal to the side that signed him from Everton in 2000.

‘It is crucial that Eriksson gets both players signed up as they are the bedrock of a side that relies far more on solid defending than on their attacking prowess.’


Juande Ramos is apparently on course to snap up a pair of defenders to ease his injury and form concerns. Given the number of goals Spurs concede, this couldn’t happen a minute too soon. So who are these two top-level defenders?

Firstly, we have much-maligned Man United defender Wes Brown, who has attracted contrasting news reports today.  In many papers and websites it is claimed that the 28-year-old England international is close to agreeing terms to stay at Old Trafford (Daily Star), but others are predicting that Ramos is about to put in a £3m bid for the multi-purpose defender.

Tottenham are also said to be closing in on Chelsea’s Israeli international Tal Ben Haim (Daily Mail), who has failed to catch the attention of countryman and boss Avram Grant. The former Bolton man will be further concerned about his lack of first-team chances following Chelsea’s signing of Serbian Branislav Ivanovic from Lokomotiv Moscow.

I think both players would be handy additions to the White Hart Lane squad and would certainly be good value for money as both are pretty solid, if not spectacular, experienced pros.

West Ham’s long-term target Giles Barnes seems nearer than ever to a Pride Park departure and it appears that Derby are ready to halve their original £5m valuation for the 19-year-old (The Guardian).

Aston Villa are also said to be keen on adding the flying attacker to their impressive front line and it seems inevitable that the talented youngster will leave Paul Jewell’s relegation-threatened side either this month or in the summer.