Transfer Rumour Mill - January 2009

[Manny]

Carrying on from our summer thread which I thought was quite successful, instead of clogging up the boards with speculation, keep them all in here.

Here's a couple:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11672_4577236,00.html

Standard Liege insist that they have no plans to sell starlet Axel Witsel in January.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/02/bolton-to-make-move-for-mark-beevers-115875-20940768/

Gary Megson is ready to raid Sheffield Wednesday with a shock £2million move for Mark Beevers.

Bolton boss Megson will move for teenage centre-half Beevers after being promised transfer funds by chairman Phil Gartside.

[Manny]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1092950/Bolton-boss-Megson-set-win-race-Rochdale-star-Buckley.html?ITO=1490

Bolton boss Gary Megson is set to offer Rochdale starlet Will Buckley a dream move to the Premier League in January.

The 20-year-old striker, who has also been linked with moves to Blackburn and League One big spenders Peterborough, has won rave reviews for his performances this season.

Bolton scouts have been watching Buckley throughout the season after the player graduated from the youth academy at Spotland.

[Manny]

You can't beat a bit of Tribal on a slow news week.

http://www.tribalfootball.com/bolton-launch-bid-wolves-winger-kightly-215498

Wolves winger Michael Kightly is set to attract a bid from Bolton Wanderers in January.

Kightly is rated highly by several Premiership managers, including Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Sunday Mirror says Bolton intend to offer £5 million for the winger when the winter market opens.

[Manny]

Nicky Butt today. Aren't we lucky!

http://www.tribalfootball.com/wigan-bolton-go-newcastle-veteran-butt-215663

Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce is chasing Newcastle United midfielder Nicky Butt.

The Sun says Butt, 33, is out of contract in the summer.

But, with Toon owner Mike Ashley stalling on all new deals, Wigan boss Bruce is set to make a move for his old Manchester United pal.

[Sluffy]

It looks as though Gary will find out today if he is going to get any cash (or not!) to spend in January on all those players we keep getting linked to!

Gary Megson will plead his case for transfer funds at a meeting with Bolton’s top brass on Thursday.

Megson feels he is treading a tightrope due to the size of his squad and feels injuries could have a devastating effect on their chances.

The Reebok chief is unaware of what funds will be available in January, but feels it is obvious new blood is required.

”I have a meeting this afternoon with the owner, chairman and chief executive to see what is available for January and we will take it from there,” Megson said on Setanta Sports News.

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2008/12/11/Prem-Megson-on-funds-SSN/gnid-31118/

[Manny]

A couple more for you.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11672_4631764,00.html

AaB Aalborg star Michael Jakobsen is attracting the attention of a number of Premier League clubs, skysports.com understands.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11672_4632075,00.html

Steven Mouyokolo is attracting interest form England after a fine start to the season.

The 21-year-old is starring at the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer's defence in Ligue 2 and they currently sit second in the league.

[Manny]

And some more shite from Tribal.

http://www.tribalfootball.com/bolton-portsmouth-west-brom-scramble-kingston-216028

A Premiership scramble is set to kickoff for Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston.

[Howfen White]

Think it's best just to ignore that site completely

[Sluffy]

You'll love this one!!!

Chelsea want Emile Heskey and Kevin Davies in transfer window -

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/13/chelsea-want-emile-heskey-and-kevin-davies-in-transfer-window-115875-20968192/

[DannyW]

haha, transfer rumour of the fcuking year!

[Manny]

Chelsea want Emile Heskey and Kevin Davies in transfer window.

Did I really just read that?! WHAT THE fcúk!

[millzy0885]

this is the best part of the season all this  bullshit hahaha 

[Manny]

Three articles to brighten up your Monday morning.

http://www.fansfc.com/frontpage/frontpagenews.asp?newsid=194411

Chelsea Football Club are reportedly interested in…Kevin Davies.

I'm one of Davo's biggest fans but if there is any truth in this, which I doubt, I'd take the £5m and run.

These next two I've never heard of...

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2008/12/15/exclusive-bolton-eye-bid-for-3m-rated-hearts-skipper-christophe-berra-86908-20971980/

BOLTON are sizing up a transfer window bid that could take Hearts skipper Christophe Berra to the Premiership.

The Lancashire side's chief scout Colin Harvey travelled to Celtic Park on Saturday to watch the Tynecastle skipper produce an outstanding display against the SPL champions.

http://www.tribalfootball.com/celtic-ahead-everton-bolton-huszti-battle-216511

Hannover winger Szabolcs Huszti is sparking a British Bosman scramble.

The Daily Mail says the 25-year-old impressed during Hungary's recent win over Northern Ireland in front of a clutch of British scouts and is out of contract in the summer.

[Sluffy]

It looks as though Gary will find out today if he is going to get any cash (or not!) to spend in January on all those players we keep getting linked to!


Gary Megson will plead his case for transfer funds at a meeting with Bolton’s top brass on Thursday.

Megson feels he is treading a tightrope due to the size of his squad and feels injuries could have a devastating effect on their chances.

The Reebok chief is unaware of what funds will be available in January, but feels it is obvious new blood is required.

”I have a meeting this afternoon with the owner, chairman and chief executive to see what is available for January and we will take it from there,” Megson said on Setanta Sports News.

“You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to see what we’ve got. We have 16 outfield players and three keepers now.

”That is what we have got to go with and over the course of the season we have been fortunate.

“When we were not fortunate and lost Cahill, Taylor and Elmander we got knocked out of the cup by Northampton and picked up one point from nine, so we do need to improve on the size and strength of the squad.”

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2008/12/11/Prem-Megson-on-funds-SSN/gnid-31118/

According to today's paper - he's been given the go ahead to bring in as many as four!

Whites set for signing spree

WANDERERS have given Gary Megson the green light to land up to four new players in the January transfer window.

A midweek meeting between the manager, chairman Phil Gartside, owner Eddie Davies and chief executive Alan Duckworth established the war chest that will be used to strengthen the squad next month.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/wanderers/wanderersnews/3976547.Whites_set_for_signing_spree/

[DannyW]

Richardson from sunderland is the latest, 6mill which is abit steep i reckon.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2044596.ece

[Manny]

I've seen us linked with a £7m move for Pennant recently.

I'd rather pay £6m for a guy who plays Premier League football more or less every week than pay £7m for a guy who can't get on the Liverpool bench.

Richardson wouldn't be my first choice signing but I wouldn't complain.

[Manny]

Blackburn, Newcastle and Spurs linked with Al-Habsi in today's Mirror.

[Manny]

More news today, I think the Christmas booze is getting to some of the media.

Samuel to Blackburn for £1.5m.

Rickie Lambert from Bristol Rovers and Jimmy Bullard wants £65k a week.

None of those three will happen! 

[Manny]

Can't see him staying, no matter how much money we pay him!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/23/bolton-move-to-keep-ali-al-habsi-from-tottenham-115875-20991220/

Bolton boss Gary Megson is trying to get his No.2 keeper Ali Al-Habsi to sign a new contract this week to kill off interest from Tottenham.

Al-Habsi, who is away on international duty with Oman, is fancied by Spurs manager Harry Redknapp as competition for the unpredictable Heurelho Gomes.

[Sluffy]

Bolton boss Gary Megson has launched a £3m raid on former club West Bromwich Albion for midfielder James Morrison.

Megson tabled an offer for the Scotland international on Tuesday morning in his first move of the January transfer window and is also set to make a £1.5m bid for out-of-favour West Ham defender Calum Davenport in the next 48 hours.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...d.html?ITO=1490

[Manny]

I'd be happy with Morrison but I'd be a little worried about Davenport. Didn't he break his neck within the last year?

I think we'd have to pay more than £3m for Morrison though.

[Manny]

Bid rejected. As I said yesterday, theres no way we're going to get Morrison for £3m!

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2008/12/31/Premier-League-Bolton-fail-with-Morrison-offer/gnid-33526/

Bolton Wanderers have failed with an approach for West Bromwich Albion midfielder James Morrison, with Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace underlining that the club are unwilling to sell key players in the January transfer window.

Peace has confirmed that The Trotters, managed by former West Brom boss Gary Megson, tabled an offer for Morrison on Tuesday and that the approach was swiftly rebuffed by the Premier League’s bottom club.

[Sluffy]

Very good player Morrison - attacking centre / right midfield.  Young talented with great potential - a typical sort of Megson signing.

Sort of player that not only is required but what we could afford.  Proven in the Premiership too unlike any possible foreign purchase.

Hope we up the bid and get him - could make team selection interesting if we do!

[DannyW]

Yeah, i hope we up the bid to try and get him as he looks a good player and would definatly improve the team.

Anyway...

Manchester City want to sell at least six players, with defender Tal Ben-Haim poised to return to his former club Bolton. (The Times)

This is unlikely to happen IMO but if it was possible would love to see it as he was quality when he played for us, if we could get his confidence back which he seemed to be lacking at his last two clubs then we'd be signing a great defender.

[Manny]

On the wages he was on before and on condition that he chops that stupid mop off his head, I'd have him back.