Fantasy Football Management

Looking for the latest gossip? Then look no further. The press are always looking for a story, and most of them can be found here. Player unrest, transfer gossip, stories. Most of what you read in here has been heard on the grapevine. It's up to you to decide whether or not you are going to believe everything you read.

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Hedley finally pushes board too far
Wimbledon manager DJ Hedley has finally pushed the patience of his board too far when he swore during a radio interview last night. The Wimbledon manager hit out at anybody who doubted him by telling them to f*** off. Bosses at Talk sport capital immediately had to end the interview whilst thousand's of listeners listened in horror.
A spokesman for Talk sport radio said, "We were as shocked as our listeners at the outburst, we have never had anyone swear live on air."
Wimbledon's executive board held a meeting late last night to discuss the matter and are rumoured to have fined Hedley £10,000 for his outburst. The PFM board were also not happy with Hedley after the outburst and although saying they wouldn't take action against the Wimbledon manager, they said they would be monitoring Hedley's future conduct very closely.
Hedley has been warned several times in the past few weeks regarding his outbursts to the press and the Wimbledon board will be hoping they will no longer have to deal with these matters again.

Driscoll and Rix sacked
Sunderland's James Driscoll and Barnsley's Damien Rix became the latest managerial casualties today when they became the latest PFM managers to be axed by their clubs. Sunderland have failed to light up the PFM league in recent months and supporter pressure seems to have won the day at The Stadium of Light as the Sunderland board finally announced that Driscoll had been released.
Rix's release was also announced today after Barnsley's dismal start to the reserve league last weekend. It is thought that both clubs will announce new managers before the weekend.

Blowter and Danko could also be on their way out
Middlesbrough manager Bryan Danko and West Ham United manager Brian Blowter have been told by their chairmen to get more involved in their new jobs or face a quick return to the dole queue.
Neither manager has made an impact on their new clubs and their respective clubs are already becoming concerned with their new managers lack of commitment.
A spokesman for West Ham United said this morning, "I think the club have made a huge mistake in appointing Blowter, if he doesn't respond to today's warning from the chairman then he could find himself out of work before next weekend.
Neither manager have yet to comment.

Wise and Hamann receive PFM bans
Leicester City's Dennis Wise and Sunderland's Dietmar Hamann were handed both a fine and a ban yesterday when they faced the PFM disciplinary board after their actions at the weekend. Wise was given a four match ban and received a £10,000 fine for head butting Hamann whilst challenging the Sunderland midfielder for a header. Hamann's punishment was a lot more severe as he was handed a seven match ban and a £20,000 fine for his role in the incident.
Hamann acted angrily to Wise's head butt and punched the Leicester midfielder to the floor. Both men received red cards for their actions.
A PFM spokesman said last night, "We felt that Dietmar deserved a more severe punishment as he reacted in totally the wrong way to the situation and punching a fellow professional is unacceptable."
Foxes manager Ruud van Basten is said to be furious with his Leicester midfielder and many are already suggesting that Wise's career at the club could now be over.

Baggio, "Thank god he's gone"
Italian legend Roberto Baggio last night breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that Jim McSwigen had been sacked as manager of Chelsea. The attacking midfielder spoke of his relief that Chelsea can now start to move in the right direction with a new manager.
Baggio said, "I think I only met McSwigen on two or three occasions, I'm not surprised we were relegated last season. With the quality we have here at the club we should be competing for trophies not fighting relegation."
A number of managers have been linked with the vacant position at Stamford Bridge, although Alain Borl looks favourite to step into McSwigen's shoes at this time. Although Bates has apparently told Borl not to stall too long on signing a contract as he wants a new manager in place as soon as possible.

James labels Danko a joke
Middlesbrough goalkeeper David James has labelled his new manager a joke. Bryan Danko, who was appointed manager at The Riverside last week angered James just days after joining the Hammers when he made a hash of his team sheet and left his number one keeper out of his 16 man squad.
James was furious with his manager and has now stated that his manager has not even spoken to him since Saturday's game. James said, "I can accept being dropped if I am not playing well, but to be dropped from the first team and then not even be told about it or not being spoken to about it since is very unprofessional. Personally I think the manager is a joke." The England keeper added, "He sold three of our players yesterday and he hasn't even taken a training session since he arrived, how can he know how good a player they are."

West Ham players confused with new set up
A number of West Ham players are said to be puzzled by the current set up at Upton Park. West Ham appointed new manager Brian Blowter last week after losing Tommy McConnell to Newcastle United, but as yet the club have yet to announce their new manager to the press and many of the West Ham players are confused as to who is actually running team affairs.
An unnamed squad player said this morning, "We haven't a clue who is running things here at the moment, none of us have even met the new manager yet, It is an absolute joke. You would think that someone at the club would let us know what is happening."
In the meantime we await news from Upton Park.

Wimbledon chairman blasts Hedley again
For the second time in two days the Wimbledon board have blasted their manager. This time the board are unhappy with Hedley for comments he made during a club press conference today. Jody Morris is said to be furious with Hedley's comment that he is 'Arrogant and over-rated'. And it is thought that the Wimbledon board are to have another serious word with Hedley about his conduct in public.
Hedley is still sweating on whether his board will take action against him for apparently turning up drunk for training last week and this will come as another headache for the manager.

Stewart's Ipswich career over?
Marcus Stewart has told the national press that he may never play for Ipswich Town again. Stewart blasted his manager last week stating that he felt the club had no chance of success under Tiberio. Tiberio was furious with his striker and immediately placed a 4 match club ban on Stewart.
Stewart told press outside his home this evening, "We have hardly seen the manager since he was appointed and he has not once issued a rule on us not to talk to the press. I gave my honest opinions to the newspapers and he bans me for 4 matches, there is even talk that he will fine me... it is ridiculous when a person is punished for speaking his mind, nothing I said was libelous, I just gave my opinion."
Is Stewart's Ipswich Town career over?, well only Tiberio knows that, but one thing is for certain... neither men are happy.

Butt's career continues to slide
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt completed a £2.5m move to Wimbledon today from Middlesbrough. Butt has seen his form plummet since the PFM league was formed and that was confirmed today when Wimbledon were only willing to pay £2.5m for the midfielder.
Butt has only started four games in the PFM league whilst making three appearances as a substitute and in that time has picked up three yellow cards. The new Wimbledon man has seen his England career disintegrate in that time as he has failed to perform at the highest level.
Butt will be hoping that a move to a lower division will help resurrect his career.

Bartlett on the up
Shaun Bartlett took a massive step towards his dream of playing in the top flight today when he completed his £6m move from Wimbledon to Middlesbrough this afternoon. The striker scored four goals in eight appearances last season and new Boro manager Bryan Danko wanted to make Bartlett one of his first signings. A Boro spokesman said this evening, "Shaun has proven that he is at the top of his game at the moment, his scoring record in PFM is excellent and we believe that he can reproduce this form in the 2nd division. £6m is excellent value for a player in such good form, we are delighted that Shaun has decided to join us."
One Boro fan said today, "It's fantastic that we have bought such an in form player for such a small amount. Villa paid £25m for Joe Cole and he has yet to do a thing in this league, £6m for Bartlett is a steal."

Hedley in hot water?
Wimbledon manager DJ Hedley is rumoured to be in hot water with his chairman. A Wimbledon insider has revealed that Hedley turned up drunk for training last Monday morning and a Wimbledon players is thought to have spoken to the Wimbledon board about the situation.
It is not known what action is going to be taken against Hedley but we understand that the manager could receive a substantial fine for his actions last week.
Neither Hedley or the club have yet to issue a statement at this time although both are expected to do so sometime this week.

Goalkeeping crises for Aussie
Everton manager Aussie Jones is facing a crises just days before the PFM transfer deadline. Both Everton's keeper's, Mark Bosnich and Steve Simonsen are injured until at least mid November, leaving Jones with no recognised first team keeper.
Jones has been forced into promoting 19 year old youth team keeper Andy Pettinger into the first team squad, whilst also sending out a plea to every club in England for a keeper before transfer deadline day.
The transfer deadline arrives at midnight on Thursday 31st October, and time is running out for Everton to sign a keeper.

Hamann and Wise to face disciplinary action
Sunderland's Dietmar Hamann and Leicester City's Dennis Wise are almost certain to face disciplinary action after both men were sent off during the reserve league clash at The Stadium of Light today.
The two players clashed during the first half of the goalless draw this afternoon when Leicester captain Dennis Wise head butted Hamann after both men went up for a challenge. A furious Hamann reacted strongly and amazingly punched the Leicester midfielder to the floor. The referee immediately sent both men off but the PFM authorities and the PFM board have said they will take further action.
It is likely that both men will receive a ban and almost certainly a fine from the PFM for bringing the game into disrepute, and it is also possible that police may want to question both men for violent behaviour.
Neither club have yet to comment on the situation and we wait to see whether Sunderland and Leicester City will also fine their red carded players.

Reserve league kicks off
The much awaited reserve league kicked off this afternoon at 16 grounds around the country. After the PFM's second season was put on hold a few weeks ago the reserve league was created to give clubs a chance to keep their players match fit as well as a chance to view their untried players.
More than acceptable crowds around the country witnessed some fine displays today, most notably from 4th division Watford, who shocked Ani Palat's multi million pound Manchester United squad by twice coming from behind to snatch a point at Old Trafford.
In group B 3rd division Coventry City also did well to earn a point at last season's 1st division runners-up Newcastle United. Whilst PFM newcomers Burnley earned a credible point at home to Southampton.
The day wasn't all rosy though as Hamann and Wise were sent off for violent conduct at The Stadium of Light, with both men looking certain to face disciplinary action.

James gives new manager first headache
New Middlesbrough manager Bryan Danko may have only just settled into his new office chair but it seems David James has provided him with his first headache in the job. Danko was only appointed manager on Wednesday afternoon and it is believed that he has not picked the Boro team sheet for this weekend's opening reserve league game at The Riverside.
There has apparently been a mix up with the Boro team sheet being submitted to the PFM authorities and James is said to be furious with the outcome. Middlesbrough have yet to comment on the team sheet fiasco as yet, but rumours from the Riverside believe that James' anger boils down to the possibility he might not be in the starting 11.
The Boro keeper said recently that he was delighted to be at the club, although he has apparently told team mates that he would leave as soon as he was no longer the first choice keeper.
It is not known whether Danko had any say in the final match squad for tomorrow's match, but if James feels he is no longer a part of his new managers plans he may be the first high profile Boro player to hand in a transfer request.

Figo - I will never play in England
Portuguese attacking midfielder Luis Figo, who will be 30 next month has stated that he will never move to an English club and wishes to stay in Spain. A number of PFM clubs have been rumoured to have been tracking Figo's situation for months now and it was thought that the Real Madrid star was considering finishing his career in England. But yesterday Figo put an end to that speculation by saying, "I considered playing in England for a while, maybe if the chance had arose a few years ago I would have gone. But I am nearly 30 now and I think it's too late in my career to uproot my family to a country I have never lived in before. I am happy in Spain at the moment and cannot see a future anywhere else."

Driscoll under fire
Sunderland fans voiced their anger at manager James Driscoll yesterday whilst a PFM TV camera crew were filming at The Stadium of Light for a future programme for the channel.
A number of Sunderland supporters gathered outside the main stand yesterday afternoon to watch the camera crew at work, but many began to voice their anger at Driscoll after one man began accusing the manager of lack of ambition.
He said, "I cannot understand what Driscoll is playing at, we havn't played any pre season games and I certainly cannot see us being prepared for the start of the reserve league. I think we need a new man to come in if are to have any hope of doing well in the future."
The man's comments then sparked off a chant of "Driscoll out", which went on for over an hour as more supporters gathered at the ground. Driscoll was nowhere to be seen, but ex Sunderland striker Eric Gates said, "I don't approve of the fans chanting outside the stadium like that, but I understand their frustrations. Sunderland is not being run the way it should be at the moment, something needs to change."

McSwigen's number could be up
Chelsea chairman Ken Bates is rumoured to have had showdown talks with Jim McSwigen. Bates is notoriously impatient with his managers and club officials have said that McSwigen could be replaced if he doesn't hurry up and buck up his ideas.
Chelsea were relegated from the first division last season after a string of bad results, and Bates will be desperate to see that Chelsea don't drop down another division.
The Chelsea board see the reserve league as an ideal way to sharpen up the squad in time for the second PFM season, but McSwigen has apparently been missing training sessions and important meetings with the board.
One supporter said last night, "The worst thing we ever did was appoint McSwigen, I quite often come down here to watch the players train but I haven't seen him for weeks. I don't think he can do the job for us." The supporter added, "I just hope he proves me wrong."

Gazza wants out
Veteren midfielder Paul Gasgoigne has apparently told close friends that he wants to move away from Norwich City. The Geordie is rumoured to be annoyed at the club for not arranging any pre season friendlies in recent weeks and fears that the club don't stand a chance in the reserve league due to lack of match practice.
If Gazza gets his way and is placed on the transfer list then it will surely alert a number of PFM clubs who will be keen to sign the former England International. Gasgoigne may be past his prime but showed last season that he can still produce the goods. He scored 3 goals in 10 matches last season, which is a fine return for a midfielder who many believe is not fit enough anymore.
Jaz Henri will surely have a fight on his hands to keep the unpredictable Gasgoigne at the club.

Stewart furious with his manager
Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart has told the press that he is furious with his manager Antonio Tiberio. The Ipswich marksmen was asked by the press what he thought his clubs chances were in the up and coming reserve league. He said, "We have no chance. We haven't played a single pre season game since Tiberio's arrival and to be honest I'm not even sure if he is running the club or his assistant is." Stewart added, "I scored 8 goals in 12 games last season and felt I had a great season, but at the moment I am not even playing any football. Myself and the rest of the squad need match practise if we are to do anything in the reserve league. The way things stand I just don't think we are prepared enough to face anyone."
Despite his apparent anger at his manager, Stewart refused to say whether he was hoping for a move away from Portman Road, only saying "I may have to consider my options if there is not a dramatic turn around at the club."

It is believed that Newcastle United manager Alex Walker has resigned his position at the 1st division club. Walker apparently said his goodbye's to his now former players and staff yesterday afternoon, although it is still not clear why Walker has called it a day at St James Park. Walker hasn't been at St James Park for long and many within the club are rumoured to be baffled by his sudden departure. Newcastle United are expected to issue a statement soon, but one thing is clear and that is they will now be looking for a new manager.

A Manchester United official has caused a stir in Manchester just a week before the start of the new PFM reserve league by commenting that the club may pull out of the league in favour of a trip to Singapore. The unamed official was apparently overheard making the comment yesterday afternoon. United have spent an amazing £90m on players during the close season and it is rumoured that manager Ani Palat has been told to recoup some of the money he has spent.

A PFM spokesman said late last night, "As far as I know this is only a rumour, we havn't heard anything from Manchester United at all, this is just gossip." He added, "The PFM reserve league is mandatory for all PFM clubs and a club couldn't pull out even if they wanted to. I'm quite sure that someone has gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick here, and we very much doubt we will be hearing from Manchester United about this matter."

Leicester City manager Ruud Van Basten yesterday accused Bradford City manager Marcus Larsson of making racial remarks towards him. Larsson was quoted as calling the City boss Van Biscuit, and this seems to have been the comment that Van Basten is so upset about. Coventry City manager James Brady added fuel to the fire also by hinting that the Leicester manager should inform the authorities about the situation. When asked for his comments former England manager Buck Hysen said, "I can understand Van Basten being angry at being called Van Biscuit but he really cannot go around calling someone a racist because of that, Larsson may have been rude but he certainly wasn't racist. I have been called a lot worse than that in my time in PFM and SAS, my advice to Ruud is to just concentrate on his team and forget it."

Buck Hysen's former England assistant Jonni Jinkin added, "A racist remark is when someone makes a comment about the colour of your skin or about your nationality, racism does not involve calling someone a biscuit".... He joked "At least I don't think it does..... I'm sure that the PFM Board would be the first to react to any manager in the league making racist comments."

All Whites Wave Goodbye to Taylor
New Zealand football was thrown into turmoil today when the country's FA decided to sack boss Cori Taylor just a week out from the OFC Nations Cup, to be held in New Zealand. An FA spokeswoman said "Taylor has continually refused to meet with our advisors, so we have no choice but to relieve him of his position, effective immediately". Taylor, who 'failed to win the teams trust' according to an inside source, will be replaced by Oceania's "Player of the Century" Wynton Rufer for the upcoming tournament, in which New Zealand are seen as rank outsiders to their cross-Tasman rivals Australia.

All's Not Well at Turf Moor
It could be expected that a team just promoted from the non-leagues into the lucrative PFM league, and with little threat of relegation due to league restructuring, would be happy. But life isn't rosy at Burnley's Turf Moor, where three senior players are said to have slapped in transfer requests. Reports indicate that Paul Merson and Dean Sturridge 'want out' without having pulled on the Burnley jersey, while Jacob Burns - so influential in their promotion - wants to follow suit. Manager James Sweeney has apparently refused their requests though, and expects showdown talks with their agents in the near future.

Transfer Deadline Passes
The final influx of international transfers invaded the PFM league yesterday, as clubs were forced to wrap up transfer negotiations early. The league-imposed ban on transfers came into effect on Wednesday, leaving some clubs sadly hours short of wrapping up big-name deals. The PFM Board have yet to confirm when they will re-open.

Byrne Settles Future
The Des Byrne saga got its final seal today when the youngster signed a two-year contract with Division 1 hopefuls Aston Villa. The left-sided defender, who had his contract annulled at Wimbledon last week - the first player in the history of PFM to do this - signed the contract early this morning, and is expected to be a key part of Villa's reserve side this season, alongside fellow signings Marco Brancati and Duong Thach.

Bolton Struggling in Pre-Season
Bolton Wanderers manager Rich McRich is reportedly 'very concerned' with his side's performances in recent pre-season friendlies. Following an embarrassing 6-2 thumping by Borussia Dortmund, Bolton returned home to face easier opposition, only to forfeit the lead in a 2-1 loss to lowly Stockport County. Not all is bad for Wanderers though, as new signing Phil Babb said "the entire squad is behind the gaffer, we really believe in him and the system he has us playing, we'll come good in the end".

Byrne's contract annulled
The row between Des Byrne and Wimbledon Football Club ended today when the PFM Board accepted Byrne's application to have his contract annulled. The decision was reached after the PFM Board obtained evidence that Byrne had been denied from using the Wimbledon training facilities which, in accordance with FIFA mandates, prevented him from partaking in his professional career. Byrne is now eligible to sign for any other club on a free transfer.

Viduka bid rejected
An offer of £19 million for Mark Viduka by Inter Milan has been rejected, according to Everton boss Aussie Jones. The Australian manager responded angrily to the offer, but it is believed that the Toffees may negotiate with the Italian giants. Names linked with the Toffees include Mohammed Kallon and Marco Materazzi, who could join as part of an exchange deal.

Zhang 'takes easy option' say China fans
Chinese football fans are today ridiculing national squad striker Zhang Yuning for 'taking the easy option' and leaving PFM champions Liverpool. The striker joined French club FC Nantes Atlantique for a fee of around £500,000, despite impressing in his few outings for the Merseyside club. Li Xiao, president of the Sino-Liverpool Fan Club, said "Zhang has given up and taken the easy option. He had a chance to be a star for a massive club, but is happy to go and play for a smaller club". Zhang joined Liverpool from bitter rivals Everton after a massive transfer scandal involving the Toffees management.

Augustin leaves Wimbledon
The first - and likely last - player from the Turks & Caicos Islands to play professionally in England, goalkeeper Alenus Augustin, has left Wimbledon. Augustin, who let in one of the clangers of all time from Laurent Blanc last season on his debut, joined Guatemalan club CD Azucareros today for an undisclosed fee.

Sunderland's Butler to walk?
Sunderland defender, Thomas Butler, today revealed that he is looking to move on with interested clubs including Preston North End and Scottish Premier Leaguers, Partick Thistle. The player has stated that unless he gets games with the Black Cats this year he will have no reason to renew his contract with the side.

Marseille, FC Kobenhavn chase Bakke
Eirik Bakke's agent has hinted that the Leeds player has been approached by Olympique Marseilles and FC Kobenhavn. The player is believed to be unsatisfied by the club's ambition and is looking to the continent to revive his career. Louis Saha however in a candid interview with 4-4-2 magazine remarked that he is looking forward to improving his goals tally and believes the side is capable of 'great things'.

Olisadebe happy at Filbert
Emmanuel Olisabede of Leicester City is believed to be delighted with his new side. The Polish international has quickly adjusted to life at the club and is believed to have struck up a strong friendship with Enrique De Lucas, another new player at the club.

Stonebridge staying put
Plymouth Argyle are reputed to have turned down a bid of £500,000 for starlet, Ian Stonebridge. The club have called him a "highly promising player who is key to [their] plans for the future". The youngster is being touted as a player with the potential to do well at the highest levels.

Bolton lose out on Torricelli
Bolton Wanderers boss Rich McRich today failed in an attempt to sign former Italy international Moreno Torricelli. The midfielder, released from Fiorentina over the summer, said no to the club after he refused to play in Division 4. Earlier in the season, Torricelli also turned down a move to DJ Hedley's Wimbledon. McRich was successful in snapping up another free transfer target, released Norwich striker Paul McVeigh joining the club today.

Byrne walks out
Des Byrne officially walked out on Wimbledon today, ending rumours that he would look to patch things up with the club. The young Irish player was found guilty in court of serious charges earlier in the month, and was immediately banned from club premises. Byrne has terminated his contract, and will now consider legal action against his former club.

Chelsea fans delighted with free transfer signings
Fans from Chelsea are apparently delighted by the prospect of seeing recent signings Carlos Roa and Ivan De La Pena on the Stamford Bridge pitch next season, after both players were signed on a free transfer this week. Roa, released from Mallorca, is set to battle with Carlo Cudicini for the number 1 jersey, while the talented De La Pena will look to slot straight into the first team.

Red Star slam Dons' Acimovic bid
Red Star Belgrade have slammed Wimbledon for what they call an 'embarrassing' offer for Slovenian international Milenko Acimovic. The London club had been led to believe that the midfielder was available on a free transfer, and faxed the Yugoslav champions with their offer. But the chairman said 'they need to get their sources right, Milenko is happy here and has signed a new contract since the World Cup'.

Red Devils Struggling
There are early signs of Manchester United struggling this season, after they could only manage preseason draws against Wimbledon and West Ham. They were held yesterday to a 3-3 draw with West Ham, conceding some soft goals, while a few days before could only manage a draw with struggling Wimbledon. Manager Ani Palat has yet to comment on this dip in form, but there are some worrying signs for the Red Devils.

Brady and Hedley at war
James Brady of Coventry and DJ Hedley of Wimbledon are set to engage in a verbal war this week after Brady criticised Hedley's handling of the Dons. He said the club had "real problems", and that Coventry "runs a hell of a lot better" than Wimbledon. The media world awaits Hedley's response.

PFM managers lose out on international jobs
A number of PFM managers have applied for international jobs recently, but all have been sadly rejected. Jaz Henri, of Norwich, moved for the Chinese national job vacated by Bora Milutinovic, but the Chinese FA were unwilling to hire a manager part-time. Igor Krancjar of Aston Villa also went for the Guinean job in Africa, but the FA there decided to stay with local talent.

Everton to go with five up front
Everton manager Aussie Jones yesterday sensationally claimed that the Toffees would field five players in attack for next season. It is apparently his intention to score more goals than they concede, which will make for some very exciting games in Division 1.

Wimbledon rocks Byrne's world
Wimbledon FC today passed final judgement on the dramas surrounding club bad boy Des Byrne, announcing that he would "never play for Wimbledon again". The youngster from Ireland, who was only awarded a full-time contract last month, is said to be devastated by the decision. He has been placed on the transfer list at the club, with a number of clubs apparently ready to offer him trials.

Nesta Says No to PFM
Sad news for PFM today, as Alessandro Nesta turned down a move to the league to sign for Juventus. The Lazio defender said no to £110k per week offers from Manchester United and Newcastle, while also rejecting a cheeky bid from Barnsley, and took a reported £100k per week package - including a house on the plush outskirts of Turin - from Juventus.

McMaster's Job on the Line - Official
An unnamed official from Nottingham Forest FC told PFM News today that manager Jim McMaster's job may be on the line if they don't achieve promotion this season. The Reds were unlucky last season, pipped to the promotion post despite often outplaying better opponents, but rumoured financial problems have kept the club quiet on the transfer market. The official said that McMaster had pinpointed some transfer targets, but fiscal problems prevented bids being made.

Nesta Set to Decide
Exciting news for fans of Manchester United and Newcastle tomorrow, as Alessandro Nesta is set to decide between those two and Serie A suitors Juventus. The Lazio defender, touted as a £20m+ transfer to one of the three, told PFM News that "I will make my decision tomorrow (Wednesday)." Favourites for his signature at this stage are Juventus, although Newcastle have emerged as dark horses after offering to decimate their wage structure to sign the Calcio defender.

van Basten Causing Unrest at Leicester
There is a mixture of pleasure and unrest from Fiilbert Street this week, as manager Ruud van Basten continues his aggressive transfer market tactics. Latest to arrive is Croatian striker Davor Vugrinec, with van Basten having signed eight players in the past week or so. Rumours are spreading that several members of the squad are becoming restless by the constant activity, with veterans Tim Flowers and Frank Sinclair being forced out this week to make way for new signings.

Elland Road Fans Demand Action
Leeds United fans are demanding some transfer activity, after the club's pre-season silence continued today. No news has been heard from Elland Road at all since their 3-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City in the PMF Cup Final last season, and fans are becoming restless at the lack of new faces. Said one fan, "if we don't get some transfer action soon, (Peter) Ridsdale (chairman) will have to look at another manager".

Klose Signs for Liverpool
Liverpool manager Frank Harboe pulled off another great coup today, when he signed towering German striker Miroslav Klose for £27m from Kaiserslautern. The international star agreed terms and passed a routine medical today, and will complete formalities with the club this evening.

Nyarko Criticises Jones
Alex Nyarko has launched a blistering attack on club boss Aussie Jones after the Everton supremo transfer listed him on the weekend. "It is unbelievable, he talked me out of a move to Paris Saint-Germain last season to get me back into the team, then he tells me I'm not needed and offers to sell me," said Nyarko to Italian newspaper Gazzetto della Sport today. "It has been the worst time of my life here at Everton, and the sooner it ends the better. He (Jones) has just been a lucky manager, and he will be found out this season, without players like me in his team."

Hedley Unhappy with Torricelli
It is believed that Wimbledon boss DJ Hedley is angry with former transfer target Moreno Torricelli, after the Italy international turned the club down today. Apparently Torricelli had led the club to believe he would sign for them, before turning down a 'generous' offer. Although Hedley hasn't commented officially, a club source said "he's quite upset with Moreno".

Chiesa Reveals Reason for PFM Snub
Enrico Chiesa today revealed why he said no to PFM. "I love Italy too much to want to leave now," he told Reuters. "PFM was a very attractive option, and I had some big clubs chasing me with good offers, but I am happy to stay here". He is currently mulling over contract offers from Inter Milan and Sampdoria after being made available for free by Fiorentina.

Farina Now Linked with Barnsley
Former Socceroos manager Frank Farina has now been linked with the vacant assistant manager position at Barnsley, after having a job application turned down at Everton. Farina confirmed today that he had applied for a coaching role with the Toffees, only to be turned away before the final round of interviews. He is now set to join the Tykes' new Aussie boss Damian Rix.

Le Tallec and Sinama-Pongolle Told No for Chelsea Switch
Sensational news from Anfield today, as young French players Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle were both denied from joining Chelsea by Liverpool CEO Rick Parry. Manager Frank Harboe had agreed a £100,000 fee for the two to join Chelsea, but Parry vetoed the deal. The pair - the best of friends on and off the pitch - joined the club from Le Havre last summer, but spent last season on loan to their former club.

Two PFM Players go AWOL
Some shock news for fans of Middlesbrough and West Ham United today when it was uncovered by PFM News that two of their players have refused to return to the clubs. Middlesbrough's giant goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has reportedly turned down the chance to return to the Riverside after being accused of assaulting manager Mike Moss at the end of last season, while West Ham's Ragnvald Soma has refused to report for training after heavy criticism of him by Hammers fans.

Transfers Go Mad
Being the only league in the world that is economically viable has seen the transfer activity go off the charts in the last three days. Over £150m has been spent on player talent, with the highlights being Ronaldinho to Man Utd for £22m, Anelka to Man City for £13.5m, and Gallardo to Everton for £9.5m.

Liverpool Expand Anfield
Liverpool CEO Rick Parry is set to unveil the expanded Anfield to the public next week. Work on the stadium increased the capacity by a whopping 25,000, making it the biggest stadium in England outside the PFM National Stadium. It now out-seats Manchester United's Old Trafford, and is believed to have cost around £30m.

Hysen steps down from England role
Buck Hysen today ended his reign as England manager after his 1 year contract came to an end. Hysen announced earlier this year that he would step down as England manager after this years World cup in Japan and South Korea, despite the PMF association wanting him to stay on a further 2 years. English authorities have said that they will not rush into making an appointment, although it is believed that Manchester City manager Matt Hansen is favourite for the job. Hysen has yet to announce his future plans and it is thought that the former England International will take a few months away from football before making a decision. It has been said though that Hysen will either take up a minor role on the PMF board or return to club management.

Red Devils Smash Transfer Record
Manchester United are today celebrating the signing of mercurial French striker Thierry Henry for a cool £30m from rivals Arsenal. The Gunners were unable to hold onto their French star after relegation to Division 2 last season, and decided to cash in on him. United boss Ani Palat is said to be delighted with the deal after swift negotiations between the two clubs. Henry is expected to be unveiled to the public within the next few days.

Fiorentina Bankrupt
The fate of struggling Italian club Fiorentina was sealed this week when they were demoted to the lower depths of the Serie C. The Florence-based club were denied entry to Serie B after being relegated from Serie A, and must now give away their star players. Already PFM clubs have been alerted to the potential of signing players such as Enrico Chiesa, Nuno Gomes and Angelo Di Livio, with all three rumoured to be coming to England within the next week to discuss terms with different clubs.

Money Shortages Cripple Europe
Money shortages following the collapse of TV deals has affected all leagues in Europe, bar one. PFM continued to thrive on its own financial backing, and clubs are set to reap rewards as major players go under the hammer cheaply on the continent. Rumour has it that, to follow up his record £30m acquisition of Thierry Henry, Ani Palat is targeting Alessandro Nesta and Ronaldinho, whose respective clubs Lazio and Paris Saint-Germain are struggling financially.

Olisadebe Set to Say Yes to Foxes
Nigerian-born Poland international striker Emmanuel Olisadebe is on the verge of agreeing a three-year deal with Leicester City, according to club officials. The Panathinaikos star, whose going price is around £3m, was seen at the club's training ground today meeting prospective teammates and checking out the scenery.

Gate Receipt and World Cup Money Due
The PFM Board is set to divide gate receipts and World Cup appearance money between its 32 member clubs this weekend. It is expected that Division 1 clubs could be looking at a cash injection of around £15m each, with Division 4 clubs expecting around £4m. Relegated Sheffield United will be paid £1m.

Blades Sucked Dry
Sheffield United will have a tricky task on their hands in the non-league next season after their best players left the club earlier this month. Among them were Alpay Ozalan, David Ginola and Robert Page, who all left to join PFM clubs during the summer. To make matters worse, talks with a new manager have stalled, with the club now not expected to name their new boss until next week.