Expected wholesale coverage of the UEFA report into European football in the Sundays, particularly now the Ballack and Shevchenko transfers are virtually through at around £80-£100m. But nothing.
Fans and followers of football have a right to ask: Is the Premiership title race now a stolen certainty? In years gone by, it was a national past-time to ask who will win the league? But now…
You don’t expect pundits on Match of the Day to tell that truth, because they’ll be lowering viewing figures. Their only line is how marvellous and powerful and consistent Chelsea are. Similarly Sky, whose coverage of the antidote – this European report – was hardly covered at all – except for a clip from Sports minister, Richard Caborn and an interview with Premiership ce Richard Scudamore who said he wouldn’t worry if Chelsea won the title two more years running – but would worry if they won it three times in a row. Bizarre.
But how Chelsea’s millions affect other clubs can be seen in a story in the Sunday tabloids about Kolo Toure, with Chelsea reportedly sniffing around – and Arsenal having to raise his wages just to fend off Chelsea’s interest.
Arsenal are linked with three youngsters this Sunday. The Star on Sunday says Arsenal are tracking Cologne star Adil Chihi, left sided 18 year-old midfielder who is about to burst into the Morocco national side – but has yet to feature prominently in the Cologne first side. He’s been likened to Theo Walcott.
John from South Korea emailed in after he heard rumors that an Arsenal board member has gone to Koln to negotiate for Podolski and hijack him from Bayern Munich. “I heard from a german guy that FC Bayern has offered Koln 6.5m-7.5m euros and Koln wants 10m and Wenger wants to sign him offering 10m euros”. Podolski is the great hope of German football – likened to Wayne Rooney and nearly a goal every other game in his 15 internationals. To guauge what he’s like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrEjK0W65qI&search=1.FCK%C3%B6ln%20K%C3%B6ln%20FC%20northside
The S.Mirror says Arsene Wenger is also expected to complete the free signing of Barcelona whizz-kid Fran Merida, 16, on a contract technicality, just as he did with Cesc Fabregas. If you get a chance watch his amazing skills on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x2gg7CsZuM&search=merida
The same paper says Arsenal’s latest target is Turkish 17-year-old Nuri Sahin. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is the youngest player to appear in the Bundesliga and Arsenal want to prise him away with a £2m bid. This video, although not such good quality gives you an idea of his ability: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3QlrorEOk&search=sahin
Plenty of rumours about Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell, with the People running a story that Vieira wants a return to Arsenal [Wenger scoffed at those rumours three months ago]. Another paper says Newcastle want him for £6m – along with Sol Campbell, who is wanted by Fulham according to another. And another says Man U may be interested in Vieira – although they are reported to have bid £18m for Lyon midfielder, Diarra.
Man U and Arsenal are linked in one or two places with Marseilles Franck Ribery, a brilliant livewire if there ever was one, who shone, along with Diaby in the u-21 French side last season. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMZ6SkzG5j8&search=Ribery
The Guardian says Manchester United and Arsenal want defensive holding midfielder, Anatoliy Tymoschuk of Shakhtar Donetsk. The club’s president Rinat Akhmetov said: “We are open to negotiations because we have enough Ukrainians in the squad.”
FINANCE
The Mirror says Arsenal have opened a waiting list after selling all the 7,000 club-level seats – which which can cost £4,750 a season – at the Ashburton Grove stadium.
Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman said: “We are delighted that both club level and executive boxes have sold out three months before the first competitive fixture.”
Also it pays to be a footballers’s girlfirend these days. Melanie Slade (Theo Walcott’s girlfriend) is set to earn £1.4m through beauty and fashion endorsements in the coming year.