Thursday's B*ll*x
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:06 amMANCHESTER CITY and Tottenham have joined the race for Brighton’s £5m-rated defender Lewis Dunk.
Centre-half Dunk is just 19 but has established himself as a first-choice pick for Seagulls boss Gus Poyet after coming through Brighton’s academy.
And his form has brought him to the attention of a host of Premier League clubs. London rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham have all hadDunk watched regularly this season along with Aston Villa.
And City and Spurs have joined the list of clubs tracking the highly-rated youngster.
City sent scout Kevin Hunt to Millwall on Tuesday night to make a personal check on Dunk in Brighton’s 1-1 draw.
And Spurs coaches Joe Jordan and Clive Allen were also at the New Den to run the rule over the Seagulls star.
But Poyet has warned Dunk’s suitors it will take a big-money bid to tempt him to sell one of his prized assets.
He said: “They will have to pay. Everybody has got a price and Dunky has got a price, because he is in the team and because of the way he is playing.
“Sometimes you can’t keep players forever.
“If that happens and he is going to play in the Premier League that is something I cannot control.”
De Jong: Money important, but players at Man City to achieve something
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong denies the players are at Etihad for the money.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed this week that players join City just for the money.
But De Jong, 26, insists the chance to go down in folklore is more important.
He said: "You have to be honest, they pay good wages and everyone can earn a good living here — but it's not about that.
"This side can be part of history as well because it's been so long since we won the title.
"So if we can be part of the history here at City that would be a really good thing. That's the main reason myself and other players signed here."
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool look set to win the race to sign South American Universitario striker Andy Polo. talkSHIT
Hamburg have stolen a march on a host of Premier League sides, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City in the race for Basle midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri. Metro
Chelsea look set to battle it out with Arsenal and Liverpool to sign Lille winger Eden Hazard. Caught Offside
Fulham face competition from Atletico Madrid in their bid to land Ajax striker Mounir El Hamdaoui. talkSHIT
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has joined the race to sign Valencia striker Roberto Soldado. Inside Futbol
Newcastle defender Danny Simpson expects to be sold in January. The right-back does not think manager Alan Pardew will offer him a new contract beyond the 18 months he currently has left. Daily Mirror
Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel's agent has played down talk of a possible move to Manchester United. talkSPORT
The Football Association is expected to interview Patrice Evra in the next 24 hours as the governing body steps up its investigation into the race row involving the Manchester United defender and Liverpool forward Luis Suarez. the Times
Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck has reportedly been offered a treble-your-money pay rise at Old Trafford. Daily Mail
England coach Fabio Capello will select Wayne Rooney for Euro 2012, even if the Manchester United striker misses the entire group phase. Daily Mirror
Goalkeeper Petr Cech's long-term future at Chelsea has been thrown into doubt - by the Blues' 19-year-old rookie stopper. Thibaut Courtois says the club have fears over the fitness of Cech. the Sun
Wigan's highly-rated assistant manager Graeme Jones is believed to be wanted by St Johnstone to replace Bristol City-bound boss Derek McInnes. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are giving away 1,500 tickets for their Europa League game against Rubin Kazan to local tradesmen and businesses worst affected by August's London riots. Daily Mirror
Strictly Come Dancing's Robbie Savage combined his two passions for dance and football with a performance in front of Derby fans with dance partner Ola Jordan. Metro
After being battered by the Delapidator, Stoke's opponents can now expect to be blasted by the Shottgun. Rory Delap's throw-ins are one of the most feared weapons in the Premier League, and Potters manager Tony Pulis has now identified Ryan Shotton to take over siege-gun duty from the veteran midfielder when Delap eventually calls it a day. Daily Mirror
Tottenham have been stretched to the limit with an entire team on the sidelines, undergoing treatment - or Pilates classes. Brad Friedel, the 40-year-old goalkeeper, introduced weekly sessions of Pilates and yoga when he joined the club in the summer. the Times
Centre-half Dunk is just 19 but has established himself as a first-choice pick for Seagulls boss Gus Poyet after coming through Brighton’s academy.
And his form has brought him to the attention of a host of Premier League clubs. London rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham have all hadDunk watched regularly this season along with Aston Villa.
And City and Spurs have joined the list of clubs tracking the highly-rated youngster.
City sent scout Kevin Hunt to Millwall on Tuesday night to make a personal check on Dunk in Brighton’s 1-1 draw.
And Spurs coaches Joe Jordan and Clive Allen were also at the New Den to run the rule over the Seagulls star.
But Poyet has warned Dunk’s suitors it will take a big-money bid to tempt him to sell one of his prized assets.
He said: “They will have to pay. Everybody has got a price and Dunky has got a price, because he is in the team and because of the way he is playing.
“Sometimes you can’t keep players forever.
“If that happens and he is going to play in the Premier League that is something I cannot control.”
De Jong: Money important, but players at Man City to achieve something
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong denies the players are at Etihad for the money.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed this week that players join City just for the money.
But De Jong, 26, insists the chance to go down in folklore is more important.
He said: "You have to be honest, they pay good wages and everyone can earn a good living here — but it's not about that.
"This side can be part of history as well because it's been so long since we won the title.
"So if we can be part of the history here at City that would be a really good thing. That's the main reason myself and other players signed here."
[spoiler]
[/spoiler] OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool look set to win the race to sign South American Universitario striker Andy Polo. talkSHIT
Hamburg have stolen a march on a host of Premier League sides, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City in the race for Basle midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri. Metro
Chelsea look set to battle it out with Arsenal and Liverpool to sign Lille winger Eden Hazard. Caught Offside
Fulham face competition from Atletico Madrid in their bid to land Ajax striker Mounir El Hamdaoui. talkSHIT
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has joined the race to sign Valencia striker Roberto Soldado. Inside Futbol
Newcastle defender Danny Simpson expects to be sold in January. The right-back does not think manager Alan Pardew will offer him a new contract beyond the 18 months he currently has left. Daily Mirror
Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel's agent has played down talk of a possible move to Manchester United. talkSPORT
The Football Association is expected to interview Patrice Evra in the next 24 hours as the governing body steps up its investigation into the race row involving the Manchester United defender and Liverpool forward Luis Suarez. the Times
Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck has reportedly been offered a treble-your-money pay rise at Old Trafford. Daily Mail
England coach Fabio Capello will select Wayne Rooney for Euro 2012, even if the Manchester United striker misses the entire group phase. Daily Mirror
Goalkeeper Petr Cech's long-term future at Chelsea has been thrown into doubt - by the Blues' 19-year-old rookie stopper. Thibaut Courtois says the club have fears over the fitness of Cech. the Sun
Wigan's highly-rated assistant manager Graeme Jones is believed to be wanted by St Johnstone to replace Bristol City-bound boss Derek McInnes. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are giving away 1,500 tickets for their Europa League game against Rubin Kazan to local tradesmen and businesses worst affected by August's London riots. Daily Mirror
Strictly Come Dancing's Robbie Savage combined his two passions for dance and football with a performance in front of Derby fans with dance partner Ola Jordan. Metro
After being battered by the Delapidator, Stoke's opponents can now expect to be blasted by the Shottgun. Rory Delap's throw-ins are one of the most feared weapons in the Premier League, and Potters manager Tony Pulis has now identified Ryan Shotton to take over siege-gun duty from the veteran midfielder when Delap eventually calls it a day. Daily Mirror
Tottenham have been stretched to the limit with an entire team on the sidelines, undergoing treatment - or Pilates classes. Brad Friedel, the 40-year-old goalkeeper, introduced weekly sessions of Pilates and yoga when he joined the club in the summer. the Times