Tuesday's B*ll*x (updated)


BREAKING BOLLOX
Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro says five European clubs have contacted him to try to sign young Brazil striker Neymar. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Anzhi Makhachkala of Russia are willing to pay the €45m (£40.4m) buyout clause in Neymar's contract. (Brazil football website http://www.globoesporte.com)
Michael Essien's agent Fabien Piveteau says "there's absolutely no chance of the midfielder leaving Chelsea". (African football website http://www.MTNFootball.com)
Arsenal are expected to move ahead with a deal for Bolton's England defender Gary Cahill, with unsettled Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner a possible makeweight to help bridge the gap between the clubs' differing valuations. (Press Association)
Arsenal midfield target Juan Mata insists he is happy at Valencia and is not thinking about a potential £20m move to the Gunners. (Superdeporte)
Birmingham have rejected Stoke's £16m bid for Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome. (Sky Sports News)
Marseille are interested in re-signing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba - but only if the club can afford to meet the Ivorian striker's wage demands. La Provence
City have hired Williams to 'take out the rubbish'
Manchester City have hired John Williams to be their super salesman and bring in money in exchange for their fringe players.
City have hired former Blackburn supremo Williams on a six-month contract, and his brief is to find buyers for the men manager Roberto Mancini no longer needs.
Ironically, two of City’s least wanted are Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy - both of whom were bought and sold by Williams in his time at Ewood Park - but altogether there are around a dozen misfits for him to dispose of.
While Garry Cook and Brian Marwood head up City’s push for expensive new faces to join City in the Champions League, it will be left to Williams to ‘shift the rubbish’ from Eastlands.
Williams is a skilled and experienced operator, but even he might find it hard to find new homes - and bring in fees - for so many players who are on sky-high wages.
Santa Cruz is the biggest white elephant.
The Paraguayan striker is on around £90,000-a-week and the best chance of shifting the forward Williams’ Rovers sold to City for £17million is a loan deal.
Bellamy is in the last year of his contract and on close to £4million-a-year.
The Welsh striker would like to decide where he goes next - with Celtic, Stoke and possible Everton in the hunt.
City may have to pay the pair off in part to pave the way for their exits - the same applies to Wayne Bridge, who is back from West Ham to resume collecting a monster salary that comes in at close to £5m-a-year.
Shaun Wright-Phillips can go too, with his asking price bound to be cut to help clubs accommodate the former England winger’s salary.
Given will want to move for the chance of regular football, but there are signs the Republic of Ireland international may be given a chance to reclaim the jersey from Joe Hart.
But City have told James Milner he is going nowhere, despite several rival clubs, including Aston Villa, being prepared to offer him an Eastlands exit.
Milner, 25, joined City last summer in a £26million switch after a brilliant season in Villa's central midfield but struggled to establish himself as a first choice in Mancini’s side last term.
He scored only once - at Leicester in the FA Cup - and was an unused sub in the FA Cup Final win over Stoke.
Milner was also frustrated at not getting many opportunities in his favoured central role.
He is aware he needs more games to maintain his place in Fabio Capello’s pecking order for England.
In total, SIX Premier League clubs are chasing Milner.
The star is considering his future as he wants regular action, including Champions League games, to retain his England slot.
But City are insisting Milner must stay and do not wish to even consider selling him to an English top-flight club.
Liverpool to Bridge gap at back?
Liverpool FC are thought to have given up hope on Newcastle United left-back Jose Enrique and will make enquiries into the availability of Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United.
The Merseyside club are deseprate to fill the vacant left-back spot as soon as possible and have so far scouted Bayer Leverkusen’s Kadlec, Newcastle’s Enrique and Arsenal’s Gael Clichy to fill the position. Although Enrique could still be available Newcastle United are playing hard ball as are Arsenal with regards to Clichy, preferring to sell him abroad that to a Premiership rival, Wenger also still believes that he will be able to keep hold of the defender this summer.
For a Liverpool side that are looking at investing in British players, Bridge will not be over priced, his lack of first team action for Manchester City suggests he could be available for under £7m and his impressive form for West Ham United from January showed that he can still do the job.

OTHER BOLLOX
Craig Gardner is set to end his 18-month spell with Birmingham in the next 24 hours and complete a £5m move to Sunderland. (Press Association)
Arsenal are eyeing £15m-rated Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Arturo Vidal as a possible replacement for Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Daily Mirror
Barcelona will offer £35m plus incentives for Fabregas as they look to reach a successful conclusion to their long-running pursuit of the Spain midfielder. Daily Mail
Or, Barcelona want Fabregas to go on strike in order to force a cut-price move from Arsenal to the European champions. the Sun
Arsenal themselves have opened talks with Bolton defender Gary Cahill, while Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is also interested in Birmingham's Scott Dann, Blackburn's Chris Samba and Everton's Phil Jagielka. Times
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will sell four or five players in order to bring in any new signings. Metro
And Spurs have stepped up their interest in Stuttgart's Germany defender Serdar Tasci. the Sun
Blackburn manager Steve Kean is considering a renewed bid for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, having had a £2m offer rejected. Daily Telegraph
Sunderland have agreed a £13m fee with Ipswich for striker Connor Wickham. Liverpool are still interested but must match Sunderland's bid. Daily Mirror
The Black Cats are also set to make a £7m offer for Reading striker Shane Long. Daily Mail
Real Madrid are planning a bid for Chelsea defender Ashley Cole after it emerged that new Stamford Bridge boss Andre Villas-Boas wants to sign Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao. caughtoffside.com
Liverpool are giving up on signing Jose Enrique from Newcastle and will instead look to experienced Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge, who was on loan at West Ham last season. footybunker.com
Liverpool are ready to send youngsters Jonjo Shelvey and Stephen Darby to Blackpool as part of a deal to land midfielder Charlie Adam. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa are expecting midfielder Stewart Downing to hand in a transfer request but are determined to hold out for their £20m valuation of the player, who is wanted by Liverpool. Daily Star
Barcelona claim they have already rejected a £27m offer from Chelsea for striker David Villa. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa and Fulham are locked in a battle to sign highly rated Monaco goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.talkSHIT
Stoke have made a £3m offer for West Ham striker Carlton Cole. Daily Mail
Spanish side Valencia will make a £14m offer for Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov, who looks to be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer despite being the club's top scorer last season. (Footy Bunker)
United have already made enquiries for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani as a replacement for Berbatov. (Footy Bunker)
Wolfsburg playmaker Diego has revealed he is in talks over a "dream" move to the Premier League. The 26-year-old is thought to be one of Liverpool's top summer targets. talkSHIT
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Tottenham winger David Bentley, who is also wanted by Fulham. Daily Star
Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina has backed David De Gea to be a hit in the Premier League with Manchester United, and has ruled out replacing the youngster at Atletico Madrid. talkSHIT
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has interviewed candidates to be his new number two after his initial choice, Vitor Pereira, was appointed his replacement at Porto. the Guardian
Cesc Fabregas's days at the Emirates look to be numbered after he was left out of promotional material for the launch of Arsenal's new away kit. Daily Mirror