* the S/Sun reckons we've been knocked back by Lazio in our efforts to sign Jaap Stam.

* however, apparently we are expected to move to sign Titus Bramble next month for £5m as a replacement for Sylvain Distin, who FS has branded a "French mercenary". In addition the Sun report the well-known fact that 31 yr-old Helder is out of contract at Deportivo and could still interest BR as a squad player.

* Brett Emerton's Agent is talking to several PL Club's and expects a decision on hs future within 2 weeks.

* the Toon and Spurs are still being linked with Forest's Gareth Williams at ca. £4m, although he seems to be hinting he would prefer to join Celtic!

* the S/Sun has us considering a £2m approach for WHU's RB/RWB Seb Schemmel, who they say BR rates highly.

* we are rumoured to be interested in Perugia's £7m rated Greek striker, Vryzas, who Nic the other Greek has strongly recommended.

I must be getting blase, but possibly apart than Emerton, none of these players really excite me.

My shopping/wish list?

- CB in the Stam mould, but not Helder

- Placente(LB) & Schneider(m/f) - Bayer Leverkusen

- Nigeria's striker, Julius Aghahowa, currently with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, who will almost certainly be on the move after the WC - rumour has it to Arsenal(!)

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

Answers

You don't want to sign that Placenta from Bayer Leverkusen.

I hear he is a bit of a fanny!!!!!!!

Coat please.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

I wouldn't mind if we got Helder on a free. He'd certainly be reliable back-up, though not having heard much of him since he left us it's hard to know if his form and fitness are enough for him to be a regular starter.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

Surely that's Michael Gray you're thinking of soops? ;o{)

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

Clarky,I think you'll find that Micheal gray is a tit.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

Todays papers reckon MG will be leaving this summer soops - whadya reckon? What went wrong with him? Do you not think he would be a better wide left m/f player than a FB?

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

The good old Ronaldo loan story makes a comback in the Express today.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

Yeah, Soccernet were running a Ronaldo story too - said that he would go to Man United in "a bid to save his career". Apparently oblivious to the fact that since his come-back from injury he scored 7 goals in 10 games in one of the toughest leagues in the world. I can`t imaging why Inter would want to let him go out on loan when by the time he next gets to play for them he will have had a world cup and a break to work on his fitness. Would be nice though. And everyone likes Meester Robson......

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002

The "Srnicek to return" stories have arisen again following the stories of Steve Harper's desire to move on. I hope they're all smoke as imo Srnicek wasn't all that great first time around - and he's 33 now!

Oh, btw Bassedas has returned to SJP.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2002

Clarky - I put Aghahowa on a wish-list thread some time ago. Could be a star of the WC - probably at England's expense - and is familiar to Championship Manager players the world over!

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2002

Aghahowa now being rumoured as £5.5m to Arse - I think that may look v reasonable after the World Cup.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Todays papers reckon MG will be leaving this summer.....

Bloody hell, there are some redundacies happening here, but I didn't expect to find out via this BBS!

Mick G

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002