Search the Community

The prolific centre-forward is at a crossroads in his career and may have to leave Ibrox to prove his worth Walter Smith's probable team selection for Rangers' Champions League group stage opening fixture in Stuttgart may have been a subject for pre-match debate but one thing was plain. Again, on the big occasion, there would be no place for Kris Boyd. And so it proved ââ?¬â?? the prolific marksman was left among the substitutes for the entire 90 minutes in the Mercedes-Benz Arena. It was folly to imagine Smith would alter his approach of deploying only one striker for European games but, in his defence, the midfield presence of JÃ?©rÃ?´me Rothen and Steven Naismith offered a more attacking edge than has been witnessed in the past. The manager was perfectly vindicated by a rousing second-half performance. The Glasgow club could even have won a match whose 1-1 result they would have gleefully accepted before a ball was kicked. So what of Boyd and, more pertinently, how many times will the striker accept being deployed as something of a specialist ââ?¬â?? utilised and apparently deemed reliable only in domestic matches? Even then, the former Kilmarnock striker is frequently left out of the side for Rangers' bigger Scottish Premier League matches. There is no doubt, however, that he will feature when Rangers visit Rugby Park tomorrow. Boyd has toyed with Kilmarnock since leaving in a Ã?£400,000 deal, averaging more than a goal a game against his former employers. To the untrained eye, this is a curious situation. Boyd's Rangers strike-rate is hugely impressive. In 93 league starts ââ?¬â?? and 23 appearances from the bench ââ?¬â?? he has scored 81 goals. He is equally prolific in domestic cup competitions. The devil, though, is in the detail. Why has the 26-year-old made fewer than 100 SPL starts since moving to Ibrox in January 2006? His limitations are clear, even if Boyd continues to produce what many argue is the most crucial commodity in football ââ?¬â?? goals. His movement and link-up play is poor, he is not particularly impressive in the air for someone who is 6ft 1in and he lacks the kind of pace which you would expect players at the top level to possess. Yet it would be harsh to suggest Boyd lacks a canny football brain. His knack of being in the right place at the right time proves the absurdity of that theory. In simple terms, if you merged the respective talents of Boyd and his club-mate Kenny Miller, you may come up with the finest striker Scotland has produced for years. But for all that Boyd's decision to exclude himself from international duty while George Burley remains in office is silly. The simple reason for this, after all, is that Boyd was not deemed a first choice for the starting XI. If he adopted the same stance at his club, presumably he would currently be on strike. Boyd is unlikely to start when Sevilla visit Glasgow in under a fortnight. With under a year left on his contract, there will come a time when the player must ask himself how he can realise his ambitions of playing at the top level. Boyd is a Rangers supporter, he showed no willingness to leave the club last month amid lucrative interest from Turkey. He was similarly dismissive of a move to Birmingham City in January. Rangers' financial troubles have been well publicised, yet their eagerness to accept offers for the centre-forward illustrates that they regard him as a disposable asset. The level of the teams which have come in for him ââ?¬â?? there has not exactly been vigorous interest ââ?¬â?? provides tacit admission of his failings. In January Boyd would be sensible from both a personal and financial point of view to rebuff any transfer opportunities. Rangers, conversely, will surely seek to cash in on him at the last available opportunity. There is, after all, no current suggestion at all that Boyd will be offered a new deal at Ibrox. Comparisons have been made between Boyd and two of his prolific predecessors in light blue. Jim Forrest, the only player to reach 50 Rangers goals quicker than Boyd, four decades ago, was basically drummed out of Ibrox after the infamous Scottish Cup defeat by Berwick Rangers. Forrest scored an amazing 57 goals in the 1964-65 season, but was dispatched to Preston North End almost entirely because of that Berwick debacle two years later. Another analogy, more crucially, is made with Ally McCoist. It is often forgotten that the club's record goalscorer also had his share of critics during his 15 years at Rangers because of his supposed lack of interest or ability outside the penalty area. Boyd, too, openly frustrates an element of his team's own support. His bad games are seriously bad and last Saturday at Motherwell was a prime example. McCoist and Boyd are inextricably linked now. McCoist is widely tipped to step up from his current position as assistant manager in the near future. Such a move will mean his assessment of Boyd is crucial to the player's future. As more nights such as Wednesday pass him by, it becomes more and more likely that his future will be away from Rangers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/sep/18/kris-boyd-rangers

Falkirk complete the permanent transfer of winger Ryan Flynn from Liverpool after a successful loan spell. More...

Top flight clubs could face a transfer ban if they fail to adhere to new financial rules brought in by the Premier League on Monday. Under the proposals the Premier League Board has the power to punish clubs who fail to meet certain criteria. "The whole purpose of this is to protect the viability and sustainability of the clubs", said Premier League chief Richard Scudamore. In addition, clubs have also agreed to new rules on "home grown" players. From next season, each club will, at the end of every transfer window, have to name a squad of up to 25 players, at least eight of which will have to be "home grown" - registered for at least three seasons at an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21. NEW FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS Clubs must submit independently audited accounts to the Premier League by 1 March each year with requirements to note any material qualifications or issues raised by auditors Clubs must submit future financial information to the Premier League by 31 March each year as early warning for any club taking undue financial risk An annual requirement to demonstrate to the Premier League Board that a club does not have outstanding debts to other clubs An annual requirement to demonstrate to the Premier League Board that a club is not in debt with regard to income tax or National Insurance and payroll taxes Squads can be boosted beyond the 25 limit but only by players under the age of 21. The Premier League's new financial rules are similar to Uefa's current licensing guidelines, but differ in that they are compulsory to clubs and punishment takes the form of sanctions as opposed to outright exclusion from competition. Each club will have to provide its annual accounts to the Premier League by 1 March every year, and show that it does not have outstanding tax debts, or debts to other clubs. Clubs will also have to prove they can fulfil all fixtures and contractual obligations, and meet all payments due during a season. As well as denying clubs the right to acquire new players, the Premier League can also prevent them improving contracts with current players. "It is absolutely essential that these clubs are run as viable, going concerns," said Scudamore. "We would far rather intervene than risk a club going into administration." Earlier this month, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie admitted that the club almost went into administration, having lived "way outside its means". At the end of August, Sulaiman Al Fahim completed his takeover at Fratton Park but prior to that Pompey were forced to rely on other clubs, agents and the Inland Revenue agreeing to allow a delay on payments owed to them to keep the club afloat. But the new rules do stop short of Uefa president Michel Platini's "Financial Fair Play" proposals, which are due to be approved by Uefa's Executive Committee this week. It's a rule which we think will give clubs an extra incentive to develop players, and to make a better return from their investment in youth Richard Scudamore These seek to limit clubs to spend only what they earn from football-related income such as ticket sales and television deals and punishments could include the banning of clubs from European competition. However, the new Premier League rules do not prevent clubs from amassing large amounts of debt, serviced by wealthy owners. Last year, Football Association chairman Lord Triesman warned of the potential danger posed by what he cited at the time to be over �£3bn worth of debt owed by English clubs, a third of which was accounted for by Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. Chelsea reported losses of �£65.7m up to June last year, while Red Football, Manchester United's parent company which is owned by the Glazer family, recorded a �£21m loss last year to increase their total debt to �£575m. Liverpool's American owners recently renegotiated the club's debt with the Royal Bank of Scotland, believed to be �£290m, and have extended it for another year. But Scudamore defended the Premier League clubs' financial health. "Contrary to what many people think, the clubs from a financial point of view are well run," he said. "They all have qualified accountants running them. "These clubs are extremely well regulated both in company law and certainly when you add our criteria and Uefa licensing on top." In agreeing to 25-man squads featuring a minimum of eight "home grown" players from the beginning of the 2010-11 season, Premier League clubs have been guided by Uefa's interest in the development of young players. 606: DEBATE I think Chairmen, Managers, players and anyone else involved in professional football should take along hard look at the cash they earn from the game judaspart2 "It will encourage youth development and the promotion of young players," added Scudamore. "It's a rule which we think will give clubs an extra incentive to develop players, and to make a better return from their investment in youth. "Make, rather than buy, is our intention." According to a recent poll from the Professional Football Players' Observatory, English clubs employ the highest proportion of expatriate players, with 59.2% coming from abroad. Liverpool have the highest percentage in Europe of expatriate players within their squad, measuring 90%. In addition, Chelsea were recently found guilty by Fifa of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007 when he was 16 which has opened up the debate on the tapping up of young talent. Whilst Scudamore admits this ruling will not prevent clubs from recruiting young players from abroad, it will work towards reducing squad sizes and allow greater opportunities for young players to advance. "The clubs will always go abroad and look," he commented. "The important thing is are they looked after and is it done properly and I don't think we will stop that happening any more or any less because of this rule. "I think it will reduce squad sizes, and stop the warehousing of players, if that is really what is going on." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8255784.stm

Tottenham skipper Robbie Keane is a shock transfer target for Scottish giants Celtic - with a multi-million deal planned for the next window. Tony Mowbray's club are planning the sensational raid for Republic of Ireland hero Keane and hope to pull off one of the moves of the season in the New Year. Keane only went back to White Hart Lane from Liverpool at the beginning of 2009 but he could be on his travels again if the Parkhead club can pull off this massive coup. Celtic have already started the ball rolling and would buy Keane and pick up his wages in one of the biggest coups of their illustrious history - a move that works on many levels. Keane is 29 and would cost around �£7 million if Celtic bought him - so Spurs would look for that kind of cash in a straight deal or as part of an exchange. The Irishman is in the Spurs starting line-up just now but may be available down the line as Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch look like being their first-choice pairing. Keane has been squeezed out of the central positions in the last couple of games and that does not suit him. The arrival of Nico Kranjcar and the eventual return of Luka Modric would see him under pressure to play at all. Spurs took Keane back from Liverpool where he was unhappy at the lack of action and now history could repeat itself at White Hart Lane - with Celtic hoping it does. The major snag for Celtic will be paying Keane's wages, but their wealthy Irish backers would dig deep for such a popular capture and a player who would help them domestically and in Europe. Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond found the funds for namesake Roy Keane and would be willing to fork out to land Keane in one of the largest signings in recent times for the famous outfit. Mowbray also thinks Keane would light up his team with the kind of lively and thoughtful attacking he likes to play - it could be a master stroke to see off Rangers in the SPL title race. Celtic's interest in Keane could see Spurs revive a bid for their Scotland midfielder Scott Brown, who is a confirmed Harry Redknapp favourite. Brown was valued at �£12 million in the last window, a price tag that put off Redknapp and his money men because they would not meet the valuation. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Celtic-target-Tottenham-s-Robbie-Keane-article154495.html

SPORT BILD, the weekly German newspaper, had Pavel Pogrebynak under surveillance from the moment he touched down in Stuttgart airport. With a breathless enthusiasm, Bild's man on the ground tracked the Russian striker's every move on the day he signed for his new club, filing updates to the website, informing readers that Pogrebynak had arrived in the country just after 11am on 2 Au ADVERTISEMENT gust with nothing more than a Louis Vuitton wash-bag, whereupon he was met by Ralph Herkommer, a team liaison man. Apparently, the Russian was looking fit and well. He smiled at reporters and for the cameras, but didn't stop to chat. Pogrebynak arrived at Stuttgart's training centre at precisely 1pm where he was met by... well, who cares who met him, frankly? The point is that the capture of this rangy Russian, 6ft 2in and 25 years old, was a very big deal in Stuttgart. It was akin to a royal dignitary arriving in town rather than a footballer. The search for a replacement for the God-like Mario Gomez became an epic story of the German summer. Gomez, a goals machine in the Bundesliga, left Stuttgart for Bayern Munich for ?30 million, so money for a successor wasn't exactly in short supply. The list of names stretched out in front of the manager, Markus Babbel. Initially, he made a play for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but got annoyed at the player's dilly-dallying and pulled the plug on talks. He was also keeping tabs on the Brazilian, Vagner Love, and the highly- regarded Spaniard, Alvaro Negredo. But Pogrebynak trumped the pair of them. He is a man of many goals and many nicknames. He once posed in army combats and was dubbed the Russian Rocket. His running style, though quick, is a little wooden, so some took to calling him Pinocchio. The one that has stuck, though, is Pasha, an affectionate name given to him by his wife, Maria, who was also his childhood sweetheart. That was another thing that Sports Bild picked up on. They published his family photograph album online, from him and Maria goofing around as kids, to them walking up the aisle on their wedding day. They are Stuttgart's most wholesome couple. A bit like Allan McGregor and Leah Shevlin ââ?¬â?? only without the love rat allegations. And the loud parties. And the angry neighbours. And the vandalised motor... Stuttgart paid between ?5-?6m for Pogrebynak and they reckon they got a bargain. You can see their point. This is the guy, after all, who scored 11 goals in Zenit St Petersburg's path to the 2008 UEFA Cup final, who scored twice against Villarreal in the round of 32, who scored another couple in the last-16 tie with Marseille, who scored once in the quarter-final with Bayer Leverkusen and twice in the semi-final against Bayern Munich. The pity for him ââ?¬â?? and the mercy for Rangers ââ?¬â?? was that he was suspended for the final. But by then, everybody knew who he was anyway. Especially in Germany. He was the two-footed Bayern killer. A striker with a thunderbolt for a shot. His range of goals for Zenit was excellent, from 35 yards to 35 inches. He looked the complete striker and seemed destined for England or Spain. The huge transfer never happened ââ?¬â?? partly because of injury. Pogrebynak was due to lead the line for Russia in Euro 2008 but suffered damage to his knee shortly before the beginning of the tournament. His recovery developed into a soap opera. Guus Hiddink, the Russia manager, was desperate for him to play and said he was prepared to start him even if he wasn't fit. Pogrebynak resisted the pressure and left the squad. Roman Pavlyuchenko filled the role instead and he was the one who got the big move in the end ââ?¬â?? to Spurs. "If it wasn't for that injury, there is no way we would have been able to afford him," says Oliver Schraft, the media manager for Stuttgart. "Because of the injury, he was maybe not quite as effective the following season and clubs moved on to other targets. I know Arsenal were interested in him at one point. He was coming to the end of his contract at Zenit, so that was another reason why we got him for a very reasonable price. Nobody can replace Gomez, but Pasha is a very exciting player with a fantastic pedigree." There's no denying that ââ?¬â?? and there's no need to tell Walter Smith about him either. He knows his danger. He could probably trot out the stats if you asked him. Pogrebynak scored 23 goals in 45 starts for Zenit, winning a Russian League, a UEFA Cup and a Super Cup. Zenit beat Manchester United in the final. Pogrebynak scored the opening goal. He hasn't quite scorched the ground in the Bundesliga so far, scoring just once in his first three starts. But he's looking good, it seems. Looking sharper by the week. Rangers are going to have their hands full with this one. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Russian-Rocket-ready-to-justify.5642342.jp

Possibly should've posted it in Football Chat but I never. Would you go for any of these players? Personally, I'd stay well clear of them.

More to follow. They can't buy anyone in the next two transfer windows. SSN are saying that Chelsea induced a player to break his contracts with his club at the time. It's regarding some French dude they signed a few seasons ago who has been banned for 4 months by FIFA. Chelsea have been fined �£130k. Ha fuckin' ha Roman!

Aberdeen did no deadline day transfer business because the do not want to hamper the progress of their own young talent. More...

From the guy who first broke the Rothen story on FF last night:

Hibernian release defender David van Zanten and midfielder Jonatan Johansson on transfer deadline day. More...

I don't mean in general, I mean with our activity, whether it be the players who have left, the player who has signed or perhaps the lack of signings.

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned as it came from Bain after the Hamilton game.

Thought we'd have a sticky so we can keep an eye on the ins and outs over the summer. Will also have a section with linked signings. OUT - Christian Dailly (Freed) - Braham Hemdani (Freed - Ross Harvey (Freed) - Willie McLachlan (Freed) - Chris Craig (Freed) - Artur Vaiculis (Freed) - Lee Robinson (Freed) - Georgios Efrem (to Omonia Nicosia) - Dean Furman (to Oldham) - Graeme Smith (to St Johnstone) - Andy Webster (loan to Dundee Utd - 12 months) - Barry Ferguson (to Birmingham City - �£1.25million) - Charlie Adam (to Blackpool - �£500,000) - Alan Gow (to Plymouth Argyle - �£200,000) - Andrius Velicka (loan to Bristol City - 12 months) - Aaron (Loan terminated) IN - Jerome Rothen (from PSG - season long loan) Linked - Zak Whitbread (Bosman from Millwall) - Chris Brunt (�£2million + player from West Brom) - Gil Bluhmannstein (trial)

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati agrees a four-year deal with Bari, according to the Italian club's website. More...

Some of you may remember i put a post up about Honda last season when he was in the Dutch first division side VVV, and i sent an e-mail to Rangers asking them to scout him. VVV got promoted to the Ere division and who is top scorer in the ERE division, from midfield? Keisuke Honda. All the top clubs in Holland want him but VVV have put a 10mill euro's price on his head. PSV were the favourites to sign him but don't want to pay 10mill. A Business man and Feynoord supporter who lives in Japan is willing to pay the 10mill transfer fee to take him to Feynoord for the Japenese pay per view TV rights. Feynoord who are in principle bankrupt, are now looking to one of their sugar daddies who are keeping the club alive, to pay Honda's wages. This is a no brainer. Make a fortune in Japan and when he eventually goes to a Euro top club you still have a share of any transfer fee.

DANIEL Cousin's future looks far from assured after being dropped from the Hull City side which beat Bolton. The 32-year-old was not even in the 18-man squad at the weekend following his refusal to shake Phil Brown's hand when substituted early in the 5-1 defeat to Spurs last week. It is understood City are ready to listen to offers for Cousin and would not stand in the way of him leaving before the end of the transfer window. Asked if Cousin remained in his plans, Brown said: "That's up to him. He refused to shake my hand on Wednesday but that's his prerogative. "I told him it wasn't me that got him subbed, it was the players for not sticking to a game-plan." http://www.sporthull.co.uk/headlines/HULL-CITY-Cousin/article-1277730-detail/article.html what a shame

Manchester City and Everton have confirmed that an agreement has finally been reached over the transfer of defender Joleon Lescott. The fee has not been revealed but is thought to be about �£24m for Lescott, 26, and looks set to bring an end to bitter negotiations between the clubs. A statement on the Toffees website said: "After the earlier bid, there was a change in the player's attitude. "It was in the best interests of Everton if they allowed him to leave." The move is subject to a medical and Lescott agreeing personal terms with City. The Eastlands club offered �£15m for Lescott after John Terry decided to stay at Chelsea last month. This was increased to �£18m but rejected out of hand by Everton boss David Moyes, who insisted that Lescott was not going to leave. 606: DEBATE Will there be even more signings? mrfootballfanno1 Two weeks ago, Lescott made a transfer request but that was turned down by Moyes, who criticised City for the way their offers had been made in public, and for saying they would go over the Everton boss's head to secure the deal. Lescott was dropped for a poor attitude after Everton's 6-1 home defeat by Arsenal on the first day of the Premier League season, and the clubs revealed they had finally started negotiating on Saturday. The Everton statement added: "Chairman Bill Kenwright has worked tirelessly to get the best deal for Everton, achieving a substantial increase on Manchester City's original offer." It leaves Moyes with Joseph Yobo as his only fit recognised centre-back as Phil Jagielka remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury and just a week to find a replacement before the end of the transfer window. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8216645.stm

SOME look at it as the beginning of the end. They see it as a terrible state of affairs. It's viewed as a sorry situation which will spell disaster for Rangers in the months ahead. They've let a whole team of players go in the last year and not brought in one single signing. It's an amazing stat if looked at in isolation. It's also something Ibrox fans may feel will only have a detrimental impact to their hopes of making inroads at home and abroad. My inclination is to think the total opposite. For me, it's just what Rangers need - right across the board. Losing players hasn't weakened Rangers. On the contrary, it's strengthened them. First things first, Walter Smith's squad was too big. He had far too many players with the task of keeping them all happy a virtually impossible one. If anyone could do it, it was Walter. His man-management style is legendary having been there and done it with top class players for the majority of his career. He'll know better than anyone how to say all the right things to players on the fringes but it's not easy. Players look into every little detail when teams are picked and bibs are handed out during training sessions and practice games. Even the slightest hint they're not in the first 11 and they can be unsettled. All of a sudden the manager has a headache he doesn't need. That's a risk a club runs when they have a squad which is much bigger than it needs to be. Advertisement Simply because everyone can't play at the one time. I'm not just talking about the Saturday games when the squad list goes up on the board. It's day to day when training sessions can become a waste of time as there are too many bodies. The ideal number from a coaching point of view is 20 first-team outfielders and Rangers seem to be there. For me they're maybe just one player short of an ideal situation and that's because of circumstance. Kirk Broadfoot's injury has robbed them of cover needed in defence. It would amaze me if Walter didn't bring in another central defender before this transfer window closes. He'll also be keen to ensure he doesn't lose any of his key men. But if things stay as they Rangers are not in such a bad state. The current situation also does something for the club which can only help them in the long-term. It sends out a message to every youngster there which says: Now is your chance. Murray Park was built for the progression of youth and it's not done too badly in the last few years. Alan Hutton's �£9million move to Spurs virtually justified the place in one deal. Other lesser moves like Charlie Adam to Blackpool for �£500,000 and Ross McCormack to Doncaster for �£100,000 have helped. Now the boys in there have been given an incentive like never before. They don't need to bang on the manager's door to ask if they're going to get an opportunity. It's there in front of them. They need to grasp it and make sure it doesn't pass them by. In the past the accusation has been that Rangers have signed players instead of rearing their own. Those days are gone. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/2599339/Walts-playing-numbers-game-to-perfection.html

Hearts defender Jose Goncalves warns that Vladimir Romanov that manager Csaba Laszlo could walk if he is not given enough transfer funds. More...

Skysports.com understands Liverpool are closing in on a shock move for former Rangers defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos. Liverpool are in the market for defensive reinforcements and it is believed they have lined up a move for AEK stopper Kyrgiakos. The Reds have been linked with the likes of Stoke's Ryan Shawcross and Hull's Michael Turner, but Kyrgiakos appears to be a cheaper option for Rafa Benitez. With reports of Benitez having his transfer budget restricted Liverpool have switched their attentions to Kyrgiakos and they are believed to have agreed a ââ??¬3million (Ã?£2.5million) fee with AEK for the 30-year-old. Kyrgiakos is understood to have said his goodbyes to his AEK team-mates and is now thought to be travelling to England to hold talks with Liverpool officials and undergo a medical. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5498803,00.html

KRIS BOYD has been given a staggering �£50,000-A-WEEK lure to quit Rangers and accept a life-changing move to TURKEY. SunSport can reveal that TWO Super League clubs have expressed a shock interest in the prolific striker, who turns 26 today. Rival outfits Trabzonspor and Kayserspor are prepared to pay a �£1.5m transfer fee for the hitman. Boyd, who hit 31 goals last season, would earn that �£50,000-a-week - four time his current wages - if either deal went through. The amazing figures, confirmed to us by sources close to the deal, came to light last night with Rangers chiefs aware of the Turkish interest. Gers are in desperate need of funds and are ready to cash in on the striker, who is in the final year of his contract and hasn't been offered an extension, though they could hold out for �£2m. Boyd wants to stay. He rejected a deal to sign for Birmingham last season. But the cash on offer could tempt him to reconsider. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2593004/Turks-set-to-offer-Boydy-50k-a-week.html

SPURS boss Harry Redknapp is set to make Celtic a bumper offer for Aiden McGeady - and NOT Scott Brown. Redknapp and his No2 Kevin Bond headed north on Tuesday to run the rule over �£10million target Brown at Parkhead. But they left purring over the performance of McGeady in the 2-0 Champions League qualifying defeat by Arsenal. SunSport can reveal the White Hart Lane gaffer has been a long-time admirer of both players. Redknapp saw the Republic of Ireland ace dazzle while Brown failed to shine. It's understood the Spurs chief is weighing up a �£5m-plus bid for McGeady, 23. The transfer window deadline is 11 days away and Celtic - who face missing out on the �£12m group stages of the top Euro tournament - are bracing themselves for big-money bids for their best talents. Meanwhile, it's understood �£4m-rated right back Andreas Hinkel, wanted by Hull City and Cologne, is to have talks with Celts chief executive Peter Lawwell on Friday. The German and his agent Klaus Schaude want to know how the club sees his future. Hinkel, who is under contract until 2011, is happy at Parkhead but the chance to play in the Premier League could be too good to resist. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2597246/Arry-eyes-Aid-raid.html

Before I start just let me say this is totally without any foundation , it's just my own thoughts no sources or rumours behind it . The way we have approached this year from Jan 1st till the present has been almost scatter gun like , any decent or at least any offer for any player seems to have been accepted whether to take players on loan or for transfer , the initial figure of removing �£4million from the wage bill has more than been reached along with getting around �£1.6 million ( once the players cut is removed as no one asked for a transfer ) for players in fees . This has left me wondering why the desperation for this type of actions , we all agree last season though brilliant to win the league , was a disaster from the point of view of player recruitment , with the vast majority being brought in too late for europe and leaving us with far to big a squad , any sane fan would realise that there would need to be some sort of balancing act , and few would agree with the majority of players leaving in fact some would like a few more join the ranks of the departed . However and this is where this season so far has been very strange , with so much riding yet again on the league it is very unlike Walter to go with such a thread bare squad , without bringing in any players , indeed Murray's lapdogs are now infact telling all that infact we need more players out the door before we can even get a bosman or a loan signing on board . I can only hope that this is being done as part of a takeover deal , such as Portsmouth's where they are preparing the finances before the sheikh takes over , if not then what exactly are the figures on our finances going to read, possibly like a horror movie if barrybaldy is correct . Never can the hopes of so many be laid at the feet of so few , god bless them I really hope they succeed ...

Dundee United manager Craig Levein says a busy summer in the transfer market means Monday's SPL opponents Hearts are an unknown quantity. More...

I wrote this last weekend and posted in the writer's forum, but with Frankie busy the rest were too lazy to do anything with it. Perhaps the timing of this is not so great now, but I wrote it so it's getting posted.