By Chris Wright
Y’all come back y’hear? Here’s the round up…
Rumour No. 1: Manchester United are reportedly considering a shock £14 million move for Manchester City forgotten man Stephen Ireland.
After enjoying such a fruitful season last time out, a succession of niggling injuries and a dip in form has seen the 23-year-old restricted to only 16 Premier League starts this season – and his struggle to regain a place in the City first team has convinced the Irishman that his future may now lie elsewhere.
Rumour No. 2: Everton are in ‘advanced talks’ with Paris Saint-Germain over the transfer of their 23-year-old striker Mevlut Erding – nicknamed ‘The Turkish Tank’.
Everton initially tried to sign Erding whilst he was playing for Sochaux two years ago, but lost out to PSG, who eventually snapped him up in a €9 million deal.
The Best of the Rest: Arsenal are apparently chasing £6-million-rated Udinese defender Chrisitian Zapata and Paris Saint-Germain’s £9-million-rated midfielder Stephane Sessegnon.
Olympiacos are planning a bid for Liverpool’s Brazilian left-back Fabio Aurelio.
West Ham, Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and Newcastle are all interested in Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
Stoke and Blackburn are to go head-to-head in the race to sign £6-million-rated Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley.
Tottenham outcast Alan Hutton is desperate to join Sunderland on a permanent basis as he can’t bear thinking about returning to White Hart Lane.
Aston Villa are leading the chase to bring Real Zaragoza’s Jermaine Pennant back to the Premier League, but may face competition from Blackburn.
Newcastle will make summer moves for Portsmouth centre-back Marc Wilson and Swindon’s 20-year-old striker Charlie Austin.