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There was a time when the name Emile Heskey was the cause of much mirth among football fans.

The big striker was given a hard time during his pomp for Liverpool and England, as the average fan looked only to his low goal tally and failed to note the consistently gut-busting performances that gave Michael Owen such success for club and country.

Even John Motson couldn't hide the disbelief in his voice as he called Heskey's goal in Munich to make it 5-1 against Germany back in 2001.

But now it's that very same industry combined with a staggering lack of goals that have brought Heskey back into the England fold and made him flavour of the month again.

And with the man once nicknamed 'Bruno' - due to his propensity for hitting the deck all too easily - available to talk to other clubs in January as his contract at Wigan runs out in the summer, Latics chairman Dave Whelan has as much as admitted that it's in the club's best interests to sell him in the upcoming transfer window rather than let him walk out for nothing come June.

Aston Villa have joined the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle and former club Liverpool in registering their interest, with Villa boss Martin O'Neill saying: "We will be looking to do something in January in terms of bringing someone in and that is what happens when players run into the last months of their contract.

"They decide what is going to happen. I'm sure Emile Heskey won't be short on offers."

Didier Drogba's agent has finally moved to deny reports that the Chelsea striker met representatives of Internazionale last month.

Thierno Seydi said, in utterly convincing fashion: "Officially, I tell you firmly, Didier never met anyone from Inter. It is disrespectful to say that.

"His priority is to give his best for Chelsea, and he is absolutely not unhappy. To talk about a transfer is just not topical, despite everything you hear and read - there is nothing."

Manchester City have reportedly been left red-faced after their record-busting offer for Spain goalkeeper Iker Casilllas didn't even make it to the player's club, Real Madrid.

Reports from Spain are saying that City sent a monster £112 million offer to Casillas's agent, but the Real shot-stopper immediately turned it down, landing another blow for the fading credibility of City's owners.

Everton boss David Moyes has a crisis on his hands. Long-term injury to Louis Saha was predictable, even expected, but with Yakubu out for the season with a ruptured Achilles and young James Vaughan recovering from surgery, the Toffees' strike force is decidedly sparse.

To try and solve said problem, The Sun reports that Moyes will line up a £3 million bid for Portsmouth striker David Nugent - but only if he fails to bring in Henrik Larsson first.

Larsson scored 15 goals in 27 Swedish league games for hometown side Helsingborgs, who finished fourth when the season ended last month. Could the veteran striker be tempted into one final hurrah in the Premier League following his successful stint at Manchester United? Probably not.

Spare a thought for poor old Nugent who - despite being 23 - is behind Larsson, Dean Windass, Jan Age Fjortoft and Dixie Dean on Moyes's wish list.

Everton have let 19-year-old defender Lee Molyneux move to Southampton, but the Saints look likely to sell two of their most promising young players just to pay the wages.

The south coast side have a hefty £27.5 million debt on their doorstep and may have to sell 20-year-old striker Adam Lallana and 22-year-old midfielder Andrew Surman for around £2 million each just to stave off administration and the almost certain relegation that a resultant 10-point penalty would cause.

The same paper tells us that Spurs and Newcastle are both eyeing up Sporting Lisbon striker Liedson.

The Brazilian - who has been little short of prolific throughout his club career - could apparently fetch as much as £20 million if one of the Premier League's big-spending underachievers fancy forking out that much cash for a 30-year-old.

Liedson's agent, Gilmar Veloz, said: "People say Spartak Moscow is an option but English clubs are interested in him." By 'people', do you mean yourself, Mr Veloz?

In a rare break from the lacklustre sniping and cynicism that is the very life blood of GS comes the news that former Birmingham and West Brom striker Geoff Horsfield has been given the all-clear after surgery for testicular cancer and is set for a return to the game.

The veteran is now back in training and will resume his quest for a contract with Walsall, which he was hoping to secure in October before the shocking diagnosis forced him into retirement.

The Horse told The Sun: "Tests found the cancer had gone. I've started running and going to the gym. I'm trying to keep my fitness up and maybe even play and stamp my coaching badges in January.

"So I do want to stay in the game in some form, definitely. I'm definitely going to speak to Walsall as they were fantastic."

In other news, Hull are heading a pack that includes Blackburn, Fulham and Sunderland for £2.5 million-rated Monaco defender Nicolas Nikolou, Liverpool and Arsenal are fighting over the last Dr Who Cyberman mask in the shop in order to tempt 15-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba from Le Havre and former Anfield full-back Steve Finnan is finding life hard in Barcelona, poor dear, and is looking for a way out of Espanyol. Blackburn are monitoring the situation.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport