The Rumour Mill � Spring 2005 (April May &
June)
Speculation, conjecture, whisperings, half-truths and outright nonsense. Disclaimer
[Note: most links in this section are to external media/internet
sources, where available.
If the link is recursive (ie, leading back) to this page, it means that
no external story exists � Editor].
Another goalie?
30 Jun - Sky, who seem to be linking us with anyhing that might move, say Everton are looking at former Milan goalie Christian Abbiati.
Two links re-surface
30 Jun - Midfielders Stephen Appiah of Juventus and Austrian Rene Aufhauser resurface as potential transfer targets of David Moyes according to The Mirror.
Haven't we heard this one before?
29 Jun - Olivier Thomert.
Yep; 17 May...
Next name off the grid: Ferrari
29 Jun - Yes, it's a green light for all the F1 puns you can imagine as Everton are linked with Roma's Matteo Ferrari.
Fighting talk from Arteta's agent
29 Jun - He said, she said, he didn't say... could we expect anything better from the summer transfer silly season?
Moyes makes Guti enquiry
28 Jun - Everton have contacted Spanish giants Real Madrid regarding the availability of midfielder Guti, according to Spanish paper, Marca and Planet Football. The player, however, says he is not looking to leave Spain at this time.
van der Meyde to Monaco?
27 Jun - Monaco have confirmed their interest in Internazionale's Dutch international midfielder and one-time Everton target Andy van der Meyde.
Hoddle is after Stubbsy
27 Jun - Glenn Hoddle wants Alan Stubbs to choose Wolves over their Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
Bellamy: Talks this week?
27 Jun - We have been informed that Everton have agreed a fee with Freddy Shepard along with Aston Villa for Craig Bellamy and it is now up to the player to make the next move when he returns from his holidays and meets his agent on Tuesday. Bellamy is likely to then have talks with both Villa and Everton. Celtic do not wish to sign Bellamy but might try and loan him again which is something Baz Shepard and his board aren't keen on.
Bellend: A good first impression?
26 Jun - According to our favourite 'make it up as you go along' jurno hack Alan Nixon in today's Sunday People, Craig Bellamy wants to know what other star players David Moyes is going to sign before he will consider a move to Everton � at �50k/wk!
Palace dismiss �6M bid for AJ
26 Jun - The Crystal Palace Chairman was not too impressed with a paltry �6M bid from Everton for his penalty-kick star and recent England player Andrew Johnson.
Attention now turns to AJ
25 Jun - David Moyes will finally turn his attentions to Andrew Johnson, who's transfer request was rejected by Crystal Palace in a show of great bravado against the inevitable.
Bellamy staying put
24 Jun - As the man says: "I have two years left on my contract at Newcastle United and at this moment in time I am not interested in moving." Famous last words...?
Everton battle City for Keano
24 Jun - Everton and Manchester City are vying for the signature of Spurs' Robbie Keane for �5M.
Emre makes a deal with...
23 Jun - Emre says he has already struck a deal with a Premiership club... that he is declining to name...
Newcastle set to sign Emre
23 Jun - Souness is flying out to Turkey with bags full of dosh to sign Everton target Belozoglu Emre.
Vaughan link denied
23 Jun - The speculation we linked to yesterday from some Walsall fans' website has been firmly denied by James Vaughan's agent.
Now Villa want Bellamy too
23 Jun - Villa could be in to rival Everton for the signature of Craig Bellamy.
Man United (H) opener?
23 Jun - That's the latest rumour, anyway. We'll find out for sure at 10 a.m. UK time today.
Villa chasing Stubbsy
23 Jun - David O'Leary will tempt Alan Stubbs to leave Everton using the cunning ploy of a two-year deal, says The Sun.
Walsall eye up Vaughan loan
22 Jun - Paul Merson may try to persuade David Moyes to release young star James Vaughan on loan to the Saddlers.
Change of mind for Allessandro?
22 Jun - Will Alessandro Pistone end up staying at Everton? It seems to be anyone's guess...
Leaked fixture list labelled a spoof
22 Jun - The list of first-day Premiership fixtures that has been doing the rounds on the Internet has been denied by the Premeier League, who release the real ones on Thursday 23 June.
Wright interests Midlands clubs
22 Jun - Richard Wright is a target for both the Baggies and Aston Villa according to FansFC.com
Arteta, Anyone?
21 Jun - In the next few days, Mikel Arteta's, agents are going to reinitiate negotiations for his transfer to Everton, considering that both Real Soceidad and Everton are keen for the player to reach an agreement. [Link in Spanish]
Keane's name still in the hat
21 Jun - David Moyes has asked Spurs about the availability of Robbie Keane but further interest is likely contingent on his quest to sign Craig Bellamy...
Next in line: Mondragon
21 Jun - Galatasaray keeper Faryd Mondragon has emerged as a possible target for Everton, despite David Moyes insisting this week that he is happy with his goalkeeping situation.
Moyes backs off �7M Distin
20 Jun - A fee of �7M slapped on by City for the signature of Sylvain Distin quickly cooled any interest David Moyes may have had in the defender.
Everton agree �5M fee for Kr�ldrup
20 Jun - David Moyes has agreed to pay Udinese �5M for central defender Per Kr�ldrup, after being priced out of his quest for Syvain Distin.
Toulouse an Emana?
20 Jun - Plenty of fun here for the pun-makers! Do Everton have a weakness for Achille Emana?
Alberto Lopo, Como No?
20 Jun - Polish up on your Esapanol before reading this one about Alberto Lopo of the Spanish club Espanyol, who has already played at Goodison... can you remember when?
Kenwright wants Bellamy
20 Jun - In The Mirror, Alan Nixon claims that Bill Kenwright is set to bring in Craig Bellamy for �5M and pay him upwards of �45k/wk as signs of desperation creep in to Everton's transfer strategy.
Moyes nixes Green move
20 Jun - David Moyes poured cold water on rumours that he is going to sign Norwich goalie Robert Green.
First game of the
season: a derby
19 Jun - Various radio stations have stated that a leak from the FA
has confirmed Everton's first game of the 2005-06 season will be against
Liverpool. It is unknown whether the fixture will be at Goodison or
Anfield but some reports say Anfield as Everton's first fixture last season
was at home. The fixtures, which are due for release on 23 June, have
already been computed and were supposed to be kept quiet. The FA have not
confirmed whether the leak was true or false but, if true, the fixture may
be changed... so we may never know! � Liam Gillespie
Another goalie?
19 Jun - Everton will make a bid for Robert Green of Norwich;
Richard Wright will be allowed to leave.
Newcastle will get Emre too
19 Jun - Everton's self-imposed salary cap of �34k/wk has been
laughed off by Emre and his agent, who will get �50k/wk at Newcastle.
van der Meyde: Toon or Us?
18 Jun - Andy van der Meyde has confirmed he will leave Inter Milan,
with Newcastle and Everton once again set to battle it out for his
signature.
Swap Bent for Distin?
17 Jun - David Moyes is going to offer Bent and money for Man City's
Sylvain Distin. That's what it says...
�7M for Brondby boys
17 Jun - From The Guardian: Everton have been told to find
about �7M by the Danish club Brondby for Johan Elmander and Daniel Agger.
Elmander, a 24-year-old Swedish striker once with Feyenoord, scored in the
4-0 win over Esbjerg last month watched by David Moyes. Agger, 20, who has
also inter ested Manchester United, made his debut at centre-half for
Denmark in a friendly win in Finland on June 2.
Just the merest hint of a link
16 Jun - Everton have supposedly had Strasbourg striker Mamadou
Niang "watched".... so what?
Placente to Spain or Italy?
16 Jun - Argentine target Diego Placente seems set on leaving Bayer
Leverkusen, but prefers sunnier climes...
Hemdani:
16 Jun - Everton's interest in Rangers' new-boy Brahim Hemdani dates
from a year ago, says David Moyes, who quickly decided then that the player
would not be right for Everton.
Now Emre wants �60k/wk!!!
16 Jun - Another mercenary may even price himself out of Newcastle's
range at this rate!
City want Benty for �1M
15 Jun - Stuart Pearce has made a �1M bid for "out-of-favour" Marcus
Bent!
Everton went after Hemdani
14 Jun - Everton tried to sign Marseille captain Brahim Hemdani,
according to this link.
Ivan Helguera
14 Jun - Real Madrid's Ivan Helguera is the latest European name to
be linked with Everton according to this
Icelandic
link.
Toon after Emre as well
14 Jun - Newcastle will also try to snatch Belizoglu Emre away from
Everton in a �4M tussle for the Turk's signature.
Parker set to sign for Toon
14 Jun - Scott Parker is expected to sign for Newcastle after David
Moyes refused to match his inflated �55k/wk salary demand.
Moyes turns attentions to Saha
14 Jun - David Moyes is, according to
The Sun, talking to Manchester United about the possibility of
signing French striker Louis Saha for �6m.
Moyes talking with Emre
13 Jun - David Moyes has had talks with Turkish midfielder Emre who
is expected to leave Inter Milan.
Time for the Johnson link
12 Jun - The WorldFootballers website think David Moyes will now
look to sign Andy Johnson of Crystal Palace.
Watson set for WBA
11 Jun - Bryan Robson will end his search for a right back with the
acquisition of Steve Watson on a free transfer from Everton according to
TeamTalk.
Placente link
10 Jun - Everton are being mentioned as potential suitors of Bayer
Leverkusen defender Diego Placente. The Argentine's contract expires next
month and has been warned that he may have to take a pay-cut at Leverkusen
due to their failure to make the Champions League.
His agent, Vincenzo Morabito, was quoted on the Sky Sports website as
saying that Roma are also chasing Placente: "Now there is some interest
from Roma," Morabito told Gazetta Dello Sport.
"In order to travel to Rome we must at least reach a principle
agreement.
"Diego appreciates the interest of Roma, but if an offer from Everton
arrived we could not ignore it.
"With all respect for Roma Everton will play in the Champions League
next season."
Arteta deal not dead yet
10 Jun - Real Sociedad are "studying" an offer from Everton to
complete the signing of Mikel Arteta.
Are we in for Edu?
10 Jun - Another stupid piece of journalism from the Mirror
regarding Brazil's Edu, who is with Celta Vigo.
Forssell to Brum; Parker to Toon
10 Jun - David Moyes's two high-profile transfer targets will go
elsewhere today, with Mikael Forssell joining Birmingham City on a
play-and-pay deal due to his injury-prone knee, while Scott Parker will
sign for Newcastle, who offered him a lot more money than did Everton.
Another Br�ndby player linked
9 Jun - According to sources in Sweden, David Moyes is looking at
Johan Elmander who currently plays in Denmark with Br�ndby.
Latest Name: Benjamin Mwaruwari
7 Jun - Reports in France suggest that both Charlton and Everton are
hot on the trail of Auxerre striker Benjamin Mwaruwari.
McFadden staying put
7 Jun - James McFadden will not be tempted by Rangers and a move
back to Scotland.
Tottenham join Parker race
7 Jun - Those opportunistic cockney chappies from N17 are hoping to
persuade Scott Parker to stay in his beloved London and play for the team
he supported as a boy and get some compensation from Chelsea for the
poaching of Frank Arnesen at the same time.
Chelsea are accused of what are becoming their usual under-handed tricks
and illegally approaching the former White Hart Lane director of football
and might prefer to "settle out of court" by selling Parker on the cheap.
Back in for Bellamy???
7 Jun - The tabloids now believe Everton will turn their attention
to Craig Bellamy after the deal for Forsell has all but collapsed.
Everton re-adjust Forssell deal
6 Jun - The latest speculation suggests that while Mikael Forssell
didn't fail his medical over the weekend, his lack of games since returning
from a long-term knee injury means that Everton are erring on the side of
caution. They are thought to be re-adjusting their offer initially to a
two-year deal and talks with the player will continue later this week after
Finland's World Cup qualifier with Holland on Wednesday.
Ferguson-Taylor swap
6 Jun - Duncan Ferguson to Tranmere Rovers with Ryan Taylor coming
the other way? Seems a bit far-fetched given the fact that Big Dunc was
adamant he would finish his playing career at Goodison but you know. Plus,
until Ferguson signs a new contract at Goodison, Everton have no power to
offer him to anyone seeing as he is a free agent.
No Parker; No Forssell!!!
6 Jun - Everton cannot match Scott Parker's wage demands, and Mikael
Forrsell has failed his Goodison Medical. That's what it says....
Arteta wants �40k per week!
5 Jun - [No Link] According to the Sunday Mirror, the
difficulty Everton are having over signing Mikel Arteta is his salary
request: �40k puts him well over David Moyes's salary cap.
No interest in Gabbidon
4 Jun - David Moyes has no interest in bringing Donny Gabbidon,
Cardiff City captain, to Everton, despite his "young defender" status.
Souness now sniffing out Parker
4 Jun - The odious Graeme Souness will apparently try to hijack the
impending transfer fo Scott Parker to Everton, offering the lad plenty of
filthy lure to join the barcodes.
Van der Meyde back in the frame
31 Jun - Everton are ready to test Inter Milan's desire to keep Andy
van der Meyde by opening re-opening negotiations for the Dutch winger.
Cardiff's Collins linked
31 Jun - Cardiff City defender James Collins is the latest player to
be linked with Everton as David Moyes seeks to bolster his aged defence in
time for next season. Collins' teammate Danny Gabbidon has been mentioned
as a possible Moyes target in recent days as well.
Arsenal looking at Taylor
3 Jun - Arsene Wenger may now be interested in looking at supposed
Everton target Ryan Taylor of Tranmere Rovers.
Danny Gabbidon link
2 Jun - Speculation on various Cardiff and Everton message boards
suggests that the Blues are set to offer the Welsh side �2.5m for defender
Danny Gabbidon.
Forssell to sign on Friday
1 Jun - The Mirror and the
Liverpool Echo speculate that Mikael Forssell will fly to
Merseyside this Friday to undergo a medical and complete the formalities of
his �3m move from Chelsea. The Finn is currently on international duty with
his country who play Denmark in a friendly this evening
Local Birmingham radio reports that both Everton and Birmingham City
have had bids accepted by the Londoners, so it's now up to the player to
decide where he wants to play his football next season.
Mixed Ryan Taylor reports
31 May - Norwich manager Nigel Worthington apparently let it slip
that Ryan Taylor will leave Tranmere Rovers to join Everton this summer,
but the player himself is believed to have told local radio this afternoon
that he has no plans to leave Prenton Park.
Moyes to bid �5M for Bellamy
31 May - [No Link] David Moyes is planning a �5M swoop for bad-boy
Craig Bellamy, who has no future at Newcastle, according to the Daily
Star.
Everton table Agger bid
30 May - Media sources in Denmark claim that Everton have offered
Bronby in the region of �4.5m for the services of 20 year-old central
defender Daniel Agger who impressed David Moyes on a recent scouting trip
to the Scandinavian country.
Cudicini bid imminent?
28 May - Everton are rumoured to be pondering a move for Chelsea
goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini. The 31 year-old has been kept out of the
Champions' first team by ex-Moyes target Peter Cech and with Nigel Martyn
coming up for his 39th birthday and Richard Wright looking shaky in the
games he played this season, the Blues are looking to add cover between the
sticks.
Cudicini would be a popular addition to the Goodison ranks with the fans
if chatter on the online forums is anything to go by. If the rumours
linking Moyes and the Italian, Scott Parker and Mikael Forssell are true,
it would represent a triple-raid on the West London club.
Blues join Hamann chase?
28 May - A worrying report in The Independent suggests that
David Moyes will test Bolton Wanderers' desire to sign Liverpool's Dietmar
Hamann. The midfielder is out of contract in the summer but, at 31 and
�30,000 a week, he doesn't quite fit the Moyes profile.
Watson in demand
28 May - Blackburn, Wigan, Leeds and Sunderland are all interested
in signing out-of-contract midfielder, Steve Watson, according to BBC
Sport. The 31 year-old has a contract offer from Everton but he is yet to
make a decision regarding his future.
�4m bid for Forssell next?
26 May - David Moyes will apparently battle it out with Birmingham
and FC Schalke for the services of Finnish attacking midfielder, Mikael
Forssell of Chelsea. He has spent two injury-plagued seasons at Birmingham
and while they're desperate to keep him, the Blues can at least offer him
Champions League football.
Mersey tussle over Johnson
26 May - Everton and Liverpool apparently head the queue for Crystal
Palace striker Andy Johnson who is also the target of West Bromwich Albion.
Brondby duo targeted
24 May - Sky Spoorts report that David Moyes is interested in two
Danish players currently plying their trade with Brondby. Defender Daniel
Agger and midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg apparently caught his eye on a
scouting mission to Denmark this past weekend.
Ryan Taylor from Tranmere
23 May - This local rumour may have no basis whatsoever...
Stubbs to quit
23 May - Alan Stubbs will reject Everton's final offer and quit
Everton, along with Alessandro Pistone and Steve Watson � so says the
notoriously unreliable Alan Nixon in The Mirror
�6M bid for Scott Parker
23 May - That's the news as Davoid Moyes bids to bolster his squad
for next season.
Duking it out for Keane
21 May - Everton have apparently registered their interest in Robbie
Keane with his agent, but Newcastle are also keen on him. The Irish striker
is on holiday but could further negotiations when he returns next week.
And for the umpteenth time...
21 May - ... Everton are linked to Jason Koumas, whom Bryan Robson
has clearly given up on. But is Moysie really interested?
Deportivo defender linked
20 May - Everton and Bolton are interested in Deportivo La Coruna
defender Jorge Andrade, according to Planet Football/Sky Sports.
Traore is saying nowt
20 May - You can read anything you want into this non-story about
Djimi Traore.
Arteta due to sign
20 May - Mikel Arteta is expected to complete a permanent transfer
to Everton for a fee of �2.8M.
Portsmouth want our Ossie
19 May - Portsmouth are keeping a keen eye on Leon Osman, who is
known to be seriously unhappy about the derisory offer he has received from
Everton. But Moyes knows best...
Fulham and Rangers chace Nace
19 May - Fulham and Rangers have joined the chase for Gary Naysmith,
who is thumbing his nose at Everton's one-year contract offer.
Traore & Konchesky
19 May - That's what the Daily Mirror would have us
believe...
Moyes ready to raid market
19 May - The headline says it all, but there is little of substance
in here, other than the name of Celtic's Stilian Pretrov.
Time to start the bidding...
17 May - Reading's Steve Sidwell could be the first of the transfers
David Moyes chalks up during the summer.
Olivier Thomert
17 May - Player: Olivier Thomert; Club: Lens; Source: FansFC;
Destination: Everton; Likelihood: Minimal
Pistone off Home
15 May - Alessandro Pistone is heading back to Italy - despite
Everton's qualification for the Champions League. The out-of-contract
full-back is being offered a lucrative deal with Serie A club Lecce.
Remember Sean Doherty?
15 May - ADO Den Haag (The Hague, Netherlands) is giving Sean
Doherty a chance to earn a contract. The English winger is currently on
trial at the club, although still under contract with Fulham after arriving
from Everton in 2001. The former England youth player has never been able
to make into the first team at Fulham. During his time at Fulham he has
been loaned to Blackpool, though only making reserve appearances for the
club.
Moyes resurrects Simic interest
14 May - David Moyes has reportedly been in Milan chasing a couple
of Inter players, but the latest speculation suggests he might raid
neighbours AC Milan for Croatian defender Dario Simic whom he apparently
tried to sign in January.
Stephen Appiah
14 May - The latest name on the speculator's list is Ghanaian
midfielder Stephen Appiah of Juventus.
You don't need �10m...
14 May - ...to sign a �10m player. The S*n suggest that Scott
Parker could be loaned out by Chelsea for the duration of next season, with
Everton and Birmingham (hmm, now which would you choose?) supposedly
leading the chase.
Jason frickin' Koumas
13 May - Could he just sign for someone else so the annual
rumours linking him with Everton will stop?!
Lens striker eyed
11 May - 25 year-old Olivier Thomert, whom Spurs tried to sign last
summer (is there a player on planet earth that Tottenham haven't tried to
buy?) is a target of David Moyes according to PlanetFootball/Sky Sports.
Get used to the name
9 May - Scott Parker is going to be a very familiar name in
connection with Everton this summer. The ex-Charlton midfielder was on the
fringes of the Chelsea set-up before succumbing to long-term injury this
season and Everton's qualification for the Champions League means that the
media will see them as ideal suitors for him.
The S*n speculate as such
here.
The general consensus seems to be, however, that Parker wants to stay
with Chelsea and, if not, stay in the southeast where has just purchased a
�2.9m house in the Cobham area of Surrey, close to other nouveax riches of
the Chelsea squad.
Moyes keen on Laquait?
9 May - Everton are believed to be interested in signing French
goalkeeper Bertrand Lacquait. The 28 year-old reportedly came to David
Moyes's attention while Everton representatives were discussing a possible
partnership with Belgian club Charleroi with whom Lacquait is currently
plying his trade.
Maciej Zurawski
9 May - The Polish international, who currently plays for Wisla
Krakow, has been linked with Everton following the Blues' qualification for
the Champions League.
Leeds interest in defensive duo?
19 Apr - Agent Jim McArthur gets to work securing new clubs (or new
deals at Everton) for both David Weir and Gary Naysmith.
Bellamy Goodison-bound?
16 Apr - The Daily Record are suggesting that David Moyes plans to
hijack any attempts by the Hoops to sign on-loan Newcastle United striker
Craig Bellamy.
Rene out da hause?
14 Apr - Everton, 'Boro and Fulham are, apparently, all chasing
Grazer AK midfielder Rene Aufhauser, one of Austria's most promising
players.
His agent is reported as saying: "I have already had talks with both
Everton and Fulham.
"There is also interest from two Italian and one German club, but Rene
has told me of his desire to play in the Premier League.
"Playing there is a big ambition of his and it would be a great move for
him.
"We will meet with Middlesbrough this week and I expect a decision on
Rene's future in ten days to two weeks - as Everton and Fulham should make
their decisions by then."
Papa Bouba Diop
14 Apr - Fulham's Senegalese midfielder has caught the eye of a
number of top clubs and Everton have been linked with a �5m swoop this
summer.
Everton track Moutinho
12 Apr - No, MouTinho! As in Sporting Lisbon's defensive
midfielder, Joao Moutinho. The 18 year-old is also apparently being watched
by Tottenham (of course!), Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Keane heading for Goodison?
6 Apr - Robbie Keane is being tipped for a move from Spours to
Everton after falling out with Martin Jol over his substitution decision
recently.
Gravedigger back in the summer?
3 Apr - The News of the World (and later the Liverpool
Echo suggest that Thomas Gravesen will return to Goodison in the summer
from Real Madrid. The Dane has, we're told, extended the lease on his
penthouse in Beetham Plaza.
Summer rumours
1 Apr - Scott Parker coming to Goodison come what may? Tomas Rosicky
a target? So says TW reader Lee Bloom after a little chat with Richard
Wright the other day.
It's amazing that we have to append a caveat to this page but...
Please note: This is a rumours page and features just that — rumours; stories we have read, heard or that have been passed on to us. Please bear in mind that we make no claims of their veracity and that most of them turn out to be completely untrue.
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