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Transfers - Gossip Shop: Inter eye Obi

Eurosport - Wed, 13 May 10:50:00 2009

The problem with managers who leave a club where they were held in high regard is that they invariably come back to haunt their former employers at one time or another.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Chelsea John Obi Mikel - 0

Take Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho as a case in point. The Portuguese tactician was loved in the Chelsea dressing room during a successful (on the pitch) and entertaining (off it) spell at Stamford Bridge.

So much so that several of his former charges would be willing to once again link up with him, given half a chance.

At least the ever-egotistical Mourinho thinks so, and we've already seen him linked with moves for the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba.

Of course, none of the above have been tempted by a move to Italy - although Drogba reportedly flew to Milan at the weekend, for a dinner date according to his people - but the latest name to be thrown into the hat could well be set for a reunion with his former mentor this summer.

The player? John Obi Mikel. The Nigeria international has been targeted by Inter to breathe life into their ageing midfield, with £15 million lined up to lure him to the San Siro district of Milan at the end of the season.

Mikel is far from a favourite with Blues fans and with funds needed to be found from somewhere if Chelsea are to invest in their own squad, £15m could be enough to tempt Guus Hiddink to sanction his departure.

One man who won't be leaving West London this summer though is Nicolas Anelka.

The France striker has been linked with a summer move - his 10th of a nomadic career - but his agent has poured water on the fires of speculation by insisting Anelka will not be moving anywhere.

Over to one of Anelka's former clubs, Arsenal, where the inquest into their disappointing campaign has begun in earnest, even before the season is over.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on who Arsene Wenger needs to bring in if the Gunners are to arrest their worryingly long run of trophyless years.

Gossip Shop believes a defender and a striker are priorities, and there can't be many out there who disagree.

Certainly the Daily Mail recognises the need for a top-class stopper, with a hit list of four stoppers put forward for consideration.

So, how about Everton's Joleon Lescott (£15m) or Lucio of Bayern Munich (£12m)? Or Paris St Germain's Mamadou Sakho (£12m) and Cristian Zapata of Udinese (£12m)?

The Star offers another suggestion in the shape of Gary Cahill . But considering the £20m price tag slapped on his head by current employers Bolton - not to mention Arsenal's thriftiness in the transfer market - a move for that kind of money seems unlikely. He's no Andrei Arshavin, after all.

In other tittle-tattle, Martin O'Neill has been suitably impressed by West Brom striker Marc-Antoine Fortune and the Aston Villa boss is currently leading the race to sign the on-loan Nancy ace.

Indeed, anyone who is any good at West Brom will be fair game if, as expected, the Baggies go down this season. And fitting neatly into that category is winger Chris Brunt, who Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is ready to splash £3m on.

And finally, it would be remiss of Gossip Shop not to mention Carlos Tevez today, despite most people having become terribly bored by the uncertainty over his future, such has been the saturation coverage since his revelations to the Sunday newspapers

The question of where the Manchester United striker will end up next season is already threatening to become this summer's biggest transfer saga, and with two further possible destinations suggested in today's papers, the story is not going to disappear anytime soon.

The Sun reports - although there are no quotes to back the claim up, not even a made-up one from a 'close friend' - that Tevez will go back on his promise to United fans not to join bitter rivals Liverpool by actually heading down the M62 and signing a deal at Anfield.

And the Star claims Milan have offered £20m for the Argentine's services, with a further £20m set aside for his wages over four years.

So that's who Kia Joorabchian was talking to on the phone during Sunday's Manchester derby.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 16 of 56

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  1. scott s tevez will stay at united if we can sort a deal­ with his owners he is pissed off which i can understand­ and wants it sorting but i think he is on his way would­ you have him in your team plus who would you pair him­ with as i think you should ditch drogba what do you­ think

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Tue 12 May 9:10PM
  2. ITS FUNNY WHEN THE MEDIA ALWAYS LINK CERTAIN PLAYERS TO­ THE MILAN CLUBS AT RIDICULOUS PRICES.WHO DOES NOT KNOW­ ABOUT CASH PROBLEMS FACING THOSE CLUBS OR THEY HAVE­ UNLIMITED CASH TO BURN.TEVEZ TO MILAN FOR 40m?MIKEL FOR­ 15m? YOU MUST BE JOKING.

    From valach, on Tue 12 May 9:06PM
  3. This column has always got itself into a logjam because­ it focuses upon gossip on the newspapers. The problem­ is that, while it is easy, it is vulnerable to becoming­ stale and suggesting as much by covering upon­ oft-repeated rumours.

    would it be possible to simply­ extend the coverage a little by covering gossip from­ other websites including football365 when the mill runs­ dry?

    From Sameen, on Tue 12 May 9:05PM
  4. Brunt won't leave and I hope Foortune satys­ permanently

    From andrew.s.roberts, on Tue 12 May 9:04PM
  5. It's not up to united. They only have him on loan­ so unless they stump up the cash to sign him­ permenantly he is free to go anywhere that can afford­ him.

    From keeganandrew, on Tue 12 May 9:01PM
  6. put your hands down from Obi Mikel

    From genata_92, on Tue 12 May 8:59PM
  7. its really telling stupidity on Roman's army if we­ go ahead to sell one of the best holding midfielders we­ have in Chelsea. Its obvious Mikel will deputise for­ Ballack in 1 or 2 more seasons. We can maybe sell­ Drogba, Anelka or Deco instead. These guys are dead and­ gone as far as I'm concerned

    From steph, on Tue 12 May 8:52PM
  8. TEVEZ is a good player but not worth 30m. SAF knows­ what he is doing.

    I can't see him allowing Tevez­ to go to LFC - Torres, Tevez and Gerrard - pretty­ frightening for any defence.

    From N, on Tue 12 May 8:51PM
  9. the thing people are fogetting about tevez is that he­ has said he doesnt want to stay on at utd.

    From yip, on Tue 12 May 8:37PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Oh whats that, benitez trying to out n steal players­ and only wanting players other teams are after? he has­ to try copy utd and chelsea all the time because he­ doesnt know how to suceed himself. I hate the guy.­ he's useless.

    I wouldnt sell mikel, Im a chelsea­ fan and I like him. he was our most consistant­ performer earlier in season and now with no players­ actually playing a completely sitting role(yes you need­ to have 1 of your centre mids more defensive but noone­ is completely sitting back the whole game) his game can­ improve to his strengths. plus he's 1 of our young­ players.

    Anelka staying could be good but we still­ need 1 world class younger striker and we need to start­ player a partnership up front. that would give young di­ santo a chance and let kalou play in a striker­ position.

    Im confussed on what chelsea need to do with­ their squad as when used propoerly it is great but it­ is ageing, yet I think the older players have proven­ they are fit enough.

    From yip, on Tue 12 May 8:35PM
  11. Has anyone considered this scenario:
    Man U have an­ option for Tevez.
    They dicide not to exercise that­ option.
    But they invite Mr Jorbachian to come back with­ another option, that they may consider.
    Then when Mr­ Jorbachian tries to sell Tevez, Man U can then decide­ to match any offer or pull out.
    It makes no difference­ to Carlos.
    All he has to do is to keep his mouth­ shut.
    This is between Mr Greed and Mr Glazer!

    From Maurice, on Tue 12 May 8:28PM
  12. dapfash, please pay more attention in future. they­ clearly highlight that he was only entertaining OFF the­ pitch, but on the pitch, the play was extrememly boring

    From joebourke2001, on Tue 12 May 8:02PM
  13. Im putting my money on Tevez staying at united - Im­ sure fergie has something up his sleeve.

    From stevekittner, on Tue 12 May 7:56PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discovered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl from US,­ I-- am Waiting 4 u

    From , on Tue 12 May 7:48PM
  15. Gossip shop, you now refer to JOSE time as­ entertaining, when all your song then was boring­ boring. Short memory. Who will pay £15m for Lescot?

    From dapfash, on Tue 12 May 7:46PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    CARLOS TEVES TO LIVERPOOL, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO­ SEE......

    From austin, on Tue 12 May 7:41PM
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