Transfer Talk 18-07-2007

Stand aside for the most amazing sentence in any newspaper:
'Titus Bramble is ready to join Portsmouth after being released by Newcastle'.
Yup, The Daily Mail reckons that not only is a professional football club willing to employ the lumbering wreck but it's an 'ambitious' Premiership outfit as well.
Sol Campbell wants to move in the opposite direction and join Newcastle. There's no word yet from Harry Redknapp but surely the idea of replacing Campbell with Bramble is itself a sackable offence?

Meanwhile, The Times think that 'Arry will also try to sign Jermain Defoe, widely accepted as being unwanted at Spurs, who are chasing Darren Bent.

PSV's central defender is set to join Chelsea in the summer. This is very likely to happen as they need another central defender.

Here we go again: Tottenham have reportedly edged ahead in their long-running battle with ManYoo to sign Gareth Bale with The Guardian claiming that 'the 17-year-old left-back understood to be leaning towards a move to White Hart Lane.'

Benni McCarthy has been told that he is not leaving Blackburn Rovers.

'Thierry Henry has told team-mates he is leaving The Emirates this summer,' according to the Daily Express. Inevitably, the Express go on to link Henry with the move to Barcelona that's apparently been happening every summer for five years. Except, whereas last year we were talking about £50m, the current price would apparently be £15m or £20m, depending on which paragraph of the Express' story you believe.

Craig Bellamy is being touted as Carlos Tevez's replacement at West Ham. It appears inevitable that the Argentine will leave East London this summer and The Sun claims that 'Hammers boss Alan Curbishley and chairman Eggert Magnusson feel signing the £8million-rated Liverpool striker will prove the club's ambition following their narrow escape from relegation.'

The Daily Mirror think Chelski will pack Claude Makelele off to Villarreal this summer

Bobby Zamora is off to Atletico

Steven Taylor has demanded a new Newcastle contract.

Chelsea will announce Alex's signing along with the capture of Steve Sidwell on July 1.

Aston Villa, Everton and Spurs are chasing Hammers skipper Nigel Reo-Coker.

Portsmouth are chasing Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg, who has been told he can leave the Gunners.

from teamtalk.com and football365.com