Wigan Athletic – Bank Holiday Paper Talk

Vital Wigan takes a quick look at the stories making the headlines of the sports pages this Bank Holiday Monday

The Sun

Roy Keane axed Pascal Chimbonda just hours before Sunderland’s win at Spurs because the full-back turned up late for a pre-match walk around the hotel.

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is ready to pay about £10m for Colombian striker Radamel Falcao after sending spies to his Argentine club River Plate.

Daily Mail

Tottenham have been told they must pay £23m if they want to prise Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid.

Portsmouth are weighing up a move for Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta, but could face competition from Everton.

Aston Villa are set to abandon their £9m bid for James Milner unless Newcastle are prepared to sell the midfielder – who is demanding a new contract – immediately.

Middlesbrough will resist any offers – thought to be about £14m – from Liverpool for winger Stewart Downing.

Daily Star

Portsmouth are bracing themselves for an £8m bid for Nico Kranjcar from Hamburg, and Harry Redknapp may be pressurised to sell the midfielder.

Daily Mirror

Manchester City are tracking Wolves midfielder Karl Henry after being impressed by his outstanding form for the Championship side.

Sunderland are keen to sign Spain left-back Mariano Pernia from Atletico Madrid. The club may be forced to sell because of cash problems.

Daily Express

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan may wait until January to sign Alexander Madlung from Vfl Wolfsburgand instead recruit a defensive midfield player before the close of the current transfer window.

Meanwhile, Strachan’s move for West Bromwich Albion left-back Paul Robinson has stalled over wage demands.

IFK Gothenburg defender Matthias Bjarsmyr claims he is a target for Rangers.

Manchester United will only sign Dimitar Berbatov if Spurs chairman Daniel Levy drops his claim that the club made an illegal approach.

The Independent

Dimitar Berbatov could finally be on his way from Tottenham to Manchester United for a transfer fee of between £25m and £28m.

The Guardian

Espanyol have accepted a £12m offer from Everton for winger Albert Riera, but the player’s preferred move is to Liverpool.

Midfielder Stephane Mbia could yet end up at Everton, if the Merseyside club and Rennes can agree on a transfer price between £7m and £10m.

The Times

Jimmy Bullard has not been offered a new Fulham contract because manager Roy Hodgson is concerned he does not pull his weight in midfield.

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has confirmed he will appear on Joey Barton’s behalf at the FA disciplinary hearing on 5 September.



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