Messi to sign for Dagenham and Redbridge?!

I wonder if journalists make up transfer rumours or whether they do have any basis in reality. There does always seem to be stories in papers that make you think “surely not”. There are also ones that make you think, “Yeah that sounds possible”. I do get the image of those who do write the rumour mill as sitting around and saying, well we have these stories from agents and these quotes from the players but not enough to write a full story. We need a couple more. Then they sit around and have some fun thinking of who could go where and add in one outrageous story just for fun like “Messi to Dagenham”.

“Skysports.com understands Blackburn are in pole position to sign in-demand Birmingham defender Scott Dann”. Does this sound believable? Scott Dann has been constantly linked with a move to Arsenal but now out of nowhere Blackburn are favourites to sign him, so does this mean Samba is on his way to Arsenal? Or maybe Spurs?

As I am writing this the main story on the gossip on the BBC website is that Spurs and Arsenal are in a bidding war over Gary Cahill. Then at the same time there is a breaking story from Sky Sports that Arsenal are in negotiations with Per Mertesacker. Well one of them you would have thought, must be wrong.  I should say that this first bit of gossip comes from The Sun so there really is no point in believing it. There has also been an alleged inquiry by Wenger into the possibility of signing Alex from Chelsea. But everyone knows that Arsenal want a centre-back. Talk about covering all angles. Every centre-back seems to be linked with them so someone must be right somewhere along the line.

Tottenham seem to be linked with every player under the sun and Harry does seem very keen to give out his opinions and talk about specific players which I am not sure is a good thing or not. I think fans like to know what’s going on but when there is too much reported it is nice to have a manager to refuse to talk about things. For instance we were led to believe that Lassana Diarra was very close to joining Spurs, Harry saying that negotiations where ongoing, then the player himself flatly said he did not think he would go to Tottenham. Well to bring peoples hopes up like that, for it then to fall flat is not good for morale. Harry seems not to know about caution in dealing with speculation.

Breaking news as I type here, Hutton is linked with Aston Villa. A story that does seem very likely, Villa need a right-back and Tottenham need to get rid of one. Hutton and McLeish know each other from their Rangers days so it seems a deal that will suit everyone.

There are many possible deals that could be done, could look likely but you never know what is reliable and what isn’t. For instance, there was a story that Stoke were interested in a loan move for Lukaku but the rulebook says that a player cannot be loaned out in the same transfer window as the player was signed in. Would Stoke have really made their interest official to Chelsea without knowing that rule, or did someone just think it sounded a likely move before checking the rulebook?

Dos Santos has been linked with a move all summer but no one appears to actually want him, Wigan being the latest club to show an “interest”. Kranjcar also was at one point meant to be “close” to joining Sunderland but Steve Bruce was quick to rubbish such reports. He has been reported to be interested in Celtic frontman and former Man City flop Samaras. Arsenal apparently have already failed this window to sign Dortmund star Mario Goetze according to goal.com. Liverpool are meant to be interested in Seamus Coleman from their blue rivals, now that seems very wrong.

I think a good game to play is making up transfer stories of your own, which can go from the inspired to the ridiculous. So, here are some of mine.

Poulsen to go to WBA. There is an old Liverpool link, Poulsen was signed by Roy Hodgson and with WBA wanting a midfielder he could be a cheap option as Liverpool look to trim their wage bill.

Bentley to Fulham. Linking up with his old Spurs boss as he has been frozen out of Redknapp’s team.

Pavlyuchenko to Everton. With the arrival of Adebayor and Everton needing strikers it could be a possible loan move as the Toffees have no money to spend.

Matty Jarvis to Arsenal. In a bid to replace Samir Nasri Arsene will turn to the pace and delivery of the Wolves man to add true determination to his side.

Craig Bellamy to Everton on a loan move. Wages might be a stumbling block here as Everton would be reluctant to pay for more than half his current wage.

Bassong to Aston Villa. With McLeish wanting to expand his options in defence and the Spurs man wanting first-team football, it could be a double deal with Hutton which could pave the way for Gary Cahill to move to the Lane.

Raul Meireles to Arsenal. With the arrivals of Adam and Henderson Liverpool will be willing to let the industrious midfielder leave to add quality as well as a presence in the Gunners midfield.

Bendtnar to Everton on loan. Wages might be a stumbling block. They must sign someone.

Owen Hargreaves to go to Man City on a free. Oh wait. Sky Sports News says that hes now having a medical. What is the world coming to?

Josh Giles