Statistically, the ICT index score of the best performing players in the English Premier League so far this season!

The ICT Index (Influence, Creativity, Threat) is a new feature for the 2016/17 Premier League campaign.

A football statistical index, it has been developed specifically to give a verdict on a player as a Football Premier League asset.

It condenses more than 40 match event statistics for three key areas – Influence, Creativity and Threat, to generate the data into a single score.

This score is what is known as an individual’s ICT Index score, and via this data is able to offer an accurate summary on player performance.


Season 2016/17 - Last update: 21/02/17 at 9.30am


For those of you currently playing 'Fantasy Premier League Football' you may want to take note!


Goalkeepers:

1. Tom Heaton (Burnley) 74.0 ICT Index 
2. Ben Foster (West Brom) 60.7 (pictured right)
3. Heurelho Gomes (Watford) 53.3
4. Petr Cech (Arsenal) 52.0
5. Jordan Pickford (Sunderland) 51.9
6. Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea) 50.3
7. Víctor Valdés (Middlesbrough) 48.8
8. Artur Boruc (Bournemouth) 48.2
9. Lee Grant (Stoke City) 45.7
10. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) 43.8


Defenders:

1. Patrick van Aanholt (C. Palace) 123.3 ICT Index
2. Kyle Walker (Tottenham) 116.0
3. Michael Keane (Burnley) 111.7
4. Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool) 110.7
4. Antonio Valencia (Man Utd) 110.7
6. Steve Cook (Bournemouth) 108.4
7. Séamus Coleman (Everton) 103.9
8. Charlie Daniels (Bournemouth) 103.8
9. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) 103.3
10. Gareth McAuley (West Brom) 102.5


Midfielders:

1. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) 333.0 ICT Index
2. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) 250.0
3. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) 239.2
4. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) 229.4
5. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea) 216.2 (pictured right)
6. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 215.6
7. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) 209.7
8. Paul Pogba (Man Utd) 206.7
9. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) 205.4
10. Michail AntonioTheo (West Ham) 192.4


Forwards:

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man Utd) 291.6 ICT Index
2. Diego Costa (Chelsea) 241.0
3. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 219.0 (pictured right)
4. Harry Kane (Tottenham) 183.1
5. Sergio Agüero (Man City) 178.7.
6. Christian Benteke (C. Palace) 171.8
7. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) 165.2
8. Salomón Rondón (West Brom) 161.1
9. Troy Deeney (Watford) 152.4
10. Fernando Llorente (Swansea) 145.8



1. Influence

Influence is the first measurement. This evaluates the degree to which that player has made an impact on a single match or throughout the season.

It takes into account events and actions that could directly or indirectly effect the outcome of the fixture.

At the top level these are decisive actions like goals and assists. But the Influence score also processes significant defensive actions to analyse the effectiveness of defenders and goalkeepers.

2. Creativity

Creativity assesses player performance in terms of producing goalscoring opportunities for others. It can be used as a guide to identify the players most likely to supply assists.

While this analyses frequency of passing and crossing, it also considers pitch location and quality of the final ball.

3. Threat

This is the third measure, producing a value that examines a player's threat on goal. It gauges individuals most likely to score goals.

While attempts are the key action, the Index looks at pitch location, giving greater weight to actions that are regarded as the best chances to score.

All three of these scores are combined to create an overall ICT Index score. That then offers a single figure that presents a view on that player as a Football Premier League asset.

All the latest transfer gossip across Europe!

The January transfer window has been open nearly three weeks now, and there has been plenty of talk, a little bit of action, but only one high profile bank busting deal so far - Wilfried Bony's transfer from Swansea to Manchester City for a reported £28million.

Are clubs going to wait until the final few hours of the window to get their transfer targets over the line, or are player price tags, often influenced by their agents putting off would be suitors! As is often the case many clubs may look abroad for players in a market that they consider is better value for money.

The rumours though are hotting up as one would expect, and players including: De Gea, Arbeloa, Hummels, Alves, Khedira, Schurrle, Pogba, Soldardo, Pique, Gomis, Sinclair, Fletcher and Reid are all in the news!

Here is a round up of all the latest transfer gossip across Europe and North America today!

Is your club involved?

Manchester United, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Spurs, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham, Wolfsburg, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Crystal Palace, Hoffenheim, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Real Sociedad, Inter, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Partizan Belgrade, Valencia, Roma, Malaga, Ipswich, West Brom, Anderlecht, Mainz, Leicester, Club Brugge, Stuttgart, Everton, Leeds, Swansea, Ipswich, Wigan, Chicago Fire, Celtic, Dundee United, Bradford City, Parma, Toronto FC, Lokeren, Mechelen, Nantes, Charlton and Brighton...............are all caught up in the latest transfer news/rumours across Europe, as we speak.

Manchester United have placed a £50m valuation on Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, who is wanted by Real Madrid - Daily Express

Germany international defender Mats Hummels, 26, has disappointed Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea by saying he wants to stay at Borussia Dortmund - Daily Star


Tottenham's struggling Spanish striker Roberto Soldado, 29, is wanted by German club Bayer Leverkusen - Daily Mirror and Daily Mail

Álvaro Arbeloa (right) has played down suggestions he is set for a return to the Premier League after reiterating his desire to finish his career at Real Madrid.
The full-back, who left Liverpool to join Real Madrid in 2009, has been heavily linked with his former club, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent days - skysports.com

Barcelona are set to decide Dani Alves' future at the club in the coming weeks, according to Camp Nou president Josep María Bartomeu. A number of Premier League sides are believed to be monitoring his situation - skysports.com

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out a move for Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, 27 - Daily Star

West Ham's New Zealand international Winston Reid, 26, has told the Upton Park club he will not sign a new contract and wants to join Arsenal - Daily Mirror

Wolfsburg are ready to pay £23m for forward Andre Schurrle, 24, but Chelsea want £30m - Daily Mail

Manchester United are preparing a £15m bid to bring back defender Gerard Pique, 27, from Barcelona - Daily Express

Chelsea are reportedly considering meeting the buyout clause in the contract of Fiorentina and Columbia winger Juan Cuadrado (right), 26 - Daily Star and skysports.com

Crystal Palace have upped their bid for Swansea left-back Neil Taylor to £4.5m - Daily Mirror

Tottenham have agreed a £5million deal with Swansea for right-back Kyle Naughton - Daily Mirror and skysports.com

Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair is keen for his potential transfer to Aston Villa to go ahead. Villa are prepared to offer £1.5m for the player, but they have informed the Premier League champions that they won't match the £3m fee that they want - Daily Mirror and sportsmole.co.uk

Juventus General Manager Giuseppe Marotta Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that Real Madrid have contacted the club regarding a possible move for 21 year-old Paul Pogba. He said: "We will do all we can we can to keep Pogba. The problem may be the salaries that other clubs offer him, but at the moment we are not thinking about selling him" - transfermarketweb.com and sportsmole.co.uk

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, 30, is being linked with a move to Valencia and West Ham as he struggles to get playing time under manager Louis van Gaal - skysports.com

Crystal Palace and West Brom are ready to battle it out for the signature of Anthony Modeste (right), according to reports in France. The striker is currently plying his trade with German side Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim are reportedly willing to sell the 26-year-old if a club meets their valuation of £5million - TalkSPORT

Bafetimbi Gomis claims there is a chance he could move to Borussia Dortmund after complaining about his relationship with Swansea - The Times

Arsenal striker Joel Campbell is available for a loan move. The Costa Rica international is reportedly a target for David Moyes at Real Sociedad - skysports.com

West Ham hope to hold off Inter Milan to land midfield enforcer Mario Suarez, 27 from Atletico Madrid - The Sun

Chelsea are in talks with Serbian side Partizan Belgrade over a deal for Danilo Pantic. The Serbian under-19 international is out of contract in the summer and he has been linked with a move to some of Europe's biggest clubs, The Blues opened talks with Partizan on Saturday night after learning that Italian side Juventus had made an approach to sign the 18-year-old midfielder, and they are now the front-runners in the race to get the player's signature - Daily Mail and sportsmole.co.uk

West Ham are also keen keen on signing the Scotland international from Manchester United - The Times

Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Tin Jedvaj from Roma. The Croatia international was loaned out to the German club last summer and has impressed to such a degree that they have made the move permanent - skysports.com

Leicester City's want to sign Mainz forward Shinji Okazaki (right), but The Foxes feel the £10million asking price is too high for the 28 year-old Japan international - skysports.com

Malaga's sporting director says midfielder Ignacio Camacho, 24, who has been a target for Liverpool and Arsenal is going nowhere this month - Talksport

Kevin Bru has extended his contract at Ipswich Town. The 26-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Blues in the summer following a successful trial - skysports.com

West Brom are interested in signing Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy - The Times

Chelsea winger Marko Marin has joined Anderlecht on loan until the end of the season - skysports.com

Swansea's £5.5m bid for Stuttgart midfielder Alexandru Maxim, 24, has been rejected by the German club - Daily Mail

Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton are among the Premier League teams showing interest in young Leeds talent Sam Byram, 21.

Ipswich Town have confirmed the signing of keeper Paddy Kenny, until the end of the season.

Wigan Athletic forward Shaun Maloney is close to completing a move to MLS side Chicago Fire. The Scotsman almost joined Premier League side Leicester City last week but talks reportedly broke down over personal terms - Daily Mail and sportsmole.co.uk

Club Brugge and Australian international goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (right), 22, has confirmed he wants to play in the Premier League and is wanted by Liverpool - Metro

Celtic have made an official approach to Dundee United for 22 year-old midfielder Stuart Armstrong - Daily Record

Arsenal and Liverpool both want striker Reece Webb-Foster, 16, from Bradford City - The Sun

Valencia attacker Fede Cartabia is reportedly a transfer target for a number of Premier League clubs. The 22-year-old is highly regarded at the Mestalla, but has spent the first half of this season on loan at Cordoba. Valencia would be tempted into a sale should a figure of £6m be offered - Superdeporte (leading sports newspaper in Valencia)

Experienced Uruguayan midfielder Cristian Rodriguez is reportedly close to joining Parma on loan from Atletico Madrid - Football Espana

Toronto FC have signed Italy forward Sebastian Giovinco from Juventus on undisclosed terms - sportinglife.com and sportsmole.co.uk

Belgium club sides Lokeren and Mechelen are keen on Nantes 21-year-old forward Adama Niane - Footmercato.com

Leon Best has joined Brighton & Hove Albion on loan until the end of the season - skysports.com

Tottenham youngster Milos Veljkovic has joined Charlton Athletic on loan for the rest of the season - skysports.com

All the latest transfer gossip across Europe!

The January transfer window has been open a week now, and there has been plenty of talk, but not a great deal of action!
The rumours though are hotting up as one would expect, and players including: Bony, Isco, Valdes, Bale, Berahino, Reus, Shaqiri, Vlaar, Nastasic, Lambert, Schneiderlin, Sissoko, Defoe and Evans are all in the news!

Here is a round up of all the latest transfer gossip across Europe and North America today!

Is your club involved?

Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Swansea City Manchester City, Manchester United, Oldham, Borussia Dortmund, Leicester City, Rijeka, Wigan, Burnley, LA Galaxy, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Tottenham, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Strømsgodset IF, PSG, Real Sociedad, AC Milan, Schalke, Hull City, Bordeaux, Atletico Madrid, West Ham, Besiktas, Porto, Southampton, Chicago Fire, Luton, Millwall, Bayer Leverkusen, Stoke and Cardiff...............are all caught up in the latest transfer news/rumours across Europe, as we speak.

Arsenal are preparing an incredible £64m move for Real Madrid star Isco (right) in the hope to beat up off competition from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City - Daily Star

Real Madrid will sell Gareth Bale to Manchester United for £120m to make room for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, who can leave for just £20m in the summer due to a clause in his contract - Daily Express and skysports.com

Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony, is on the verge of completing a big-money move to champions Manchester City - Multiple News Sources

Ched Evans and Oldham Athletic have agreed personal terms over a potential move to Bounday Park, according to Sky sources - skysports.com

Ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes (right) is close to agreeing to join Manchester United, with the Red Devils having offered the Catalan a deal to move to Old Trafford until the summer of 2016 - Mundo Deportivo (Spanish daily sports newspaper published in Barcelona).

Leicester City have beaten Chelsea to the signing of Rijeka's 23-year-old Croatia striker Andrej Kramaric after agreeing a club-record fee of £9.7m and the Premier League strugglers are looking at a move for Burnley frontman Danny Ings - The Times, Daily Express and skysports.com

Leicester remain confident of signing mercurial Wigan Athletic attacking midfielder Shaun Maloney, despite the club having already had one offer for the Scotland international rejected in January - skysports.com

Liverpool have agreed a £10m deal to sign Bayern Munich's 23 year-old midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (right) although both Inter Milan and Stoke City have also expressed an interest in the Swiss international - Daily Star and BBC

Steven Gerrard is set to confirm his move from Liverpool to LA Galaxy in the next 24 hours - Daily Star

Tottenham are being offered West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 21, in exchange for midfielders Andros Townsend, 23, and Aaron Lennon, 27 - Daily Mirror

Crystal Palace are interested in signing Liverpoolstriker Rickie Lambert.

Newcastle United have told PSG they will have to make a mouth-watering offer to sign midfielder Moussa Sissoko - Daily Express

Manchester United are poised to increase the pressure to land Aston Villa centre-back Ron Vlaar - Daily Star

Real Madrid are on the brink of signing 16-year-old Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard (right) from Strømsgodset IF - a reported target for many of England's top clubs - after flying him to the Spanish capital in a private jet on Tuesday evening - Inside Futbol and Daily Mail

Queens Park Rangers are hoping to be able to take out-of-favour Chelsea wide man Mohamed Salah on loan until the end of the season - skysports.com

David Moyes's Real Sociedad are in advanced talks to sign 22-year-old Arsenal forward Joel Campbell - Mundo Deportivo (Spanish daily sports newspaper published in Barcelona)and Daily Express

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj is also among the targets for Real Sociedad boss David Moyes - Daily Express

AC Milan and Schalke are interested in Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic who can leave the club for £8m - skysports.com and Daily Mirror

Hull City will have to find £10.4m in wages to bring striker Jermain Defoe to the club - The Sun

Arsenal hope to land West Ham defender Winston Reid (right) for a cut-price £3m this month - The Sun

Morgan Schneiderlin could leave Southampton in the summer. Arsenal and Tottenham are interested but know they are unlikely to seal a move until the next window - Daily Star

Nathaniel Chalobah could also be leaving Chelsea on loan during the January transfer window, with Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux understood to be interested - skysports.com

Borussia Dortmund appear willing to let Manchester United sign £16m-rated midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 24, this winter - Daily Express

West Ham are showing an interest in 27-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez - Daily Mail

Swansea City frontman Modou Barrow has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal with the Premier League club that keeps the 22-year-old Gambian at the Liberty Stadium until the summer of 2018 - skysports.com

Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul, 29, is set to quit the club after falling out of favour, with Turkish side Besiktas having made an approach - The Sun

Arsenal and Southampton will battle it out for £16m-rated Colombia midfielder Juan Quintero, 21, (right) currently at Porto - Daily Star

Chicago Fire have announced the signing of former Southampton striker Guly do Prado - Daily Mail

Luton Town are interested in striker Andrew Johnson, 33, who is a free agent after his short-term deal at Crystal Palace expired - Daily Mail and skysports.com

Stoke City are set to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender, Philipp Wollschied.
The German international is initially expected to join on loan and a deal should be done in the next 24 hours - skysports.com

Cardiff City have announced the signing of Millwall left-back Scott Malone, subject to international clearance - skysports.com

All the latest transfer gossip across Europe!

The entertainment value at the World Cup finals continues to exceed the expectations of many a football fan, unlike England's all to familiar 'early exit' from another major tournament. Although the summer transfer market does not officially open until 1st July, clubs across Europe are however busy trying to negotiate transfer deals in an attempt to strengthen their squads ahead of the forthcoming domestic season.
Some of the rumours may be true, some of them mere speculation and a proportion of them could as they often are, be down to lazy journalism. You decide!

Here is a round up of all the latest transfer gossip across Europe today!

Is your club involved?

Liverpool, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Porto, Real Sociedad, PSG, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, AC Milan, hull, Spurs, Napoli, Dynamo Kiev, Benfica, Valencia, Stoke, Monaco, West Brom, Norwich, Swansea, Inter Milan, West Ham, Derby, QPR, Burnley, Udinese, Chievo Verona, Torino, Atalanta, Celtic, Zenit St Petersburg, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Brentford, Derby and Charlton...........are all caught up in the latest transfer news/rumours across Europe, as we speak.


Liverpool will discuss the future of striker Luis Suarez, 27, at a special meeting on Wednesday after the Uruguay international appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their 1-0 World Cup victory yesterday - Daily Express and Daily Mirror

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera, 24, (right) has passed a medical ahead of his £28.7m move to Manchester United - Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph

Arsenal are hoping to pip Liverpool and Manchester United to the signing of Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez - Daily Express and Daily Star

Manchester United are preparing a £30m move for Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira - Bild (German newspaper)

New Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal desperately wants to bring Bayern Munich's Dutch international Arjen Robben to Manchester, according to Ajax youth coach Bryan Roy - Daily Express and Daily Star

Atletico Madrid are keen on Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo, 28 (right) who is reportedly unhappy in England after struggling to settle in Manchester - Daily Mail

Manchester City have reportedly got no intention of selling Alvaro Negredo after the striker was linked with a move to Atletico Madrid - skysports.com

Porto have announced to the Portuguese stock exchange that Manchester City have signed their midfielder Fernando for £12million - skysports.com

Barcelona want midfielder Toni Kroos, 24, who is yet to renew his contract with Bayern Munich The German international is also on the radar of Real Madrid and Manchester United - Bild (German newspaper) and Daily Star

The Spanish press are reporting that contract extension talks between Real Madrid and Karim Benzema have broken down, with his performances for France at the World Cup leading to his agent increasing their demands.
Paris St Germain and Manchester City are among those monitoring the situation closely - Daily Star

Barcelona have snapped up Chile international goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from La Liga rivals Real Sociedad - fcbarcelona.com

Arsenal are interested in signing Mario Balotelli, 23 him from AC Milan, but are now playing down the sum to be paid from the 35 million euros originally to about 18 million euros - transfermarketweb.com

Real Scoiedad have clinched the full rights to Carlos Vela, bringing to an end Arsenal's attempts to re-sign the Mexican forward - Daily Star

Hull City have completed the signing of midfielder Jake Livermore (right) from Tottenham Hotspur on a three-year deal. The 24-year-old impressed while on loan at the KC Stadium last season and he has now joined permanently for an undisclosed fee, although reports have suggested it could eventually rise to a club record £8million.

Paris St-Germain are planning a move for Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, 31, who claimed Manchester City did not excuse him from their end-of-season trip to Abu Dhabi to spend time with his dying brother, Ibrahim - Daily Mirror

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 31, expects to return to Liverpool after his loan spell at Napoli ended - The Guardian

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina remains unsure where he will be playing next season after confirming his agents are ‘working on my future’ - skysports.com

Newcastle United are readying a £2million offer for Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie (right) - The Sun

Somebody who is keen on cutting his wage bill is Mark Hughes, who has placed Peter Crouch in the bargain bin – Stoke City will accept anything in the region of £1m in an attempt to get his £50,000-a-week contract off the outgoings - theguardian.com

Valencia are better placed than Liverpool or Monaco for the signing of Benfica's Andre Gomes - Record (Portugal)

West Brom and Hull City are battling it out for £6.5m Norwich winger Robert Snodgrass - Daily Star

Atletico Madrid are poised to scupper West Ham boss Sam Allardyce's capture of Swansea's attacking midfielder Michu - Daily Express

Atletico Madrid have targeted Inter Milan and Colombian international midfielder Fredy Guarin. Inter are weighing up the chance to use him in a swap involving Spanish international 27 year-old midfielder Mario Suarez - transfermarketweb.com

Swansea City are close to signing forward Bafetimbi Gomis, 28 (right). The France international was released by Lyon at the end of last season - Daily Mirror and South Wales Evening Post

Derby County have rejected an offer for goal-scoring midfielder Craig Bryson - who has been linked with newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers and Burnley - skysports.com

Udinese have signed French striker Cyril Thereau, 31 from Chievo Verona Udinese fought off competition from Torino and Atalanta in order to seal the deal - Tuttosport (Italian newspaper)

Reports in Portugal are claiming that defender Ezequiel Garay has joined Russian side Zenit St Petersburg from Benfica for six million euros - skysports.com

Mikael Lustig is delighted to have penned a new deal at Celtic and insists leaving the club never crossed his mind. The Sweden international full-back has committed to another three years at Parkhead - skysports.com

Birmingham City have complete the signing of striker Clayton Donaldson from Brentford on a two-year deal - skysports.com

Sheffield Wednesday are keen on taking Andy Johnson (right) from Queens Park Rangers - Daily Star

The well travelled Spanish midfielder Marcos Tébar Ramiro, 28 has joined Brentford on a two-year contract - skysports.com

Derby County have signed defender Zak Whitbread on a free transfer following his release from Leicester City - skysports.com

Charlton defender Michael Morrison has put pen to paper on a new deal which will keep him at the Valley until summer 2016 - skysports.com

All the Latest Transfer Gossip across Europe

With the the 2012/13 English domestic football season only eleven days away, there is a plenty of transfer speculation doing the rounds as one would expect. However there has been a spot of business completed today!

Here is a round up of all of today’s latest transfer gossip and any done deals:

Is your club involved?

Arsenal, Malaga, Juventus, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, Sao Paulo, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Liverpool, Swansea, Bologna, Tottenham, Galatasaray, Queens Park Rangers, Montpellier, Newcastle, Wigan, Chelsea, Marseille, Blackpool, Stoke, Wolves, Huddersfield, Fulham, Blackburn, Cardiff, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Nottm Forest, Norwich, Sheff Wed, Reading, Derby, Trabzonspor, Real Oviedo, Sabadell, Deportivo La Coruna, AS Roma, Parma, Hamburg, Hearts and Rangers ..........are all caught up in the latest transfer rumours across Europe, as we speak.


Arsenal have completed the signing of attacking midfielder, Santi Cazorla (right) from Malaga for an undisclosed fee. The 27 year-old Spanish international, has reportedly moved from debt-ridden Malaga for a fee in the region of an initial £16million - skysports.com and transfermarketweb.com

Juventus are interested in Liverpool's Luis Suarez. It is understood that Juventus would ideally love to pair Van Persie and Suarez in a dream attack. Whether either deal is pushed on remains to be seen, but Italian champions Juve are aiming big. They have already made a firm move for Van Persie but, as with rival bidders Manchester City and Manchester United, they have not been able to agree terms with Arsenal – Daily Mirror and skysports.com

Lucas Moura is said to be favouring a move to Paris Saint-Germain rather than Manchester United, with the 19-year-old rumoured to consider Manchester "boring." United are also unable to meet Sao Paulo's demands - which are reportedly around £36 million for the player and a further £6million for his representatives in fees – Daily Mirror, skysports.com, sportinglife.com and talkSPORT

Inter Milan chairman Massimo Moratti claims his club are out of the running for Moura because PSG have already made Sao Paulo a huge offer to sign him – insidefutbol.com

Roberto Mancini has rejected a bid from AC Milan to sign striker Edin Dzeko on a season-long loan from Manchester City – Daily Star

Liverpool have told Manchester City that defender Daniel Agger, 27, will cost at least £22m after City made an informal inquiry for the Dane - The Guardian, The Times and transfermarketweb.com Liverpool are set for further talks with Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen now that the 22-year-old's involvement at the Olympics is over. However Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup has insisted that Joe Allen will be 'very, very expensive' and whould cost Liverpool more than £20million – The Metro, sportinglife.com and skysports.com

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has told Liverpool they will have to pay at least £15m or forget about signing Allen – Daily Star

Bologna are demanding a fee in the region of £16m for Gaston Ramirez (right), 21, a target for Liverpool and Tottenham. Inter Milan are also said to be looking at the Uruguayan playmaker - talkSPORT

Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin would be prepared to move to Turkey, according to his agent, amid reports of a £4million bid from Galatasaray. Queens Park Rangers have also been linked with the Russian – Daily Mirror, skysports.com and sportinglife.com

Dave Whelan is waiting to see if Chelsea will match Wigan Athletic's valuation of Victor Moses following fresh talks regarding the winger. A reported £4million bid has already been rejected and there are now claims that Latics chairman Whelan has lowered his asking price from £10million to £8.5million - skysports.com and sportinglife.com

Chelsea have made a 'serious approach' for Marseille defender Cesar Azpilicueta, according to the French club. Marseille are thought to want £8million for the Spanish full-back and big-spending Chelsea could be prepared to match that fee as they seek to solve a problem position at right-back. Sources in France are saying Chelsea are prepared to offer Gael Kakuta as part of any deal for Azpilicueta - sportinglife.com and skysports.com

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has confirmed he is close to signing Wolves winger Michael Kightly - sportinglife.com

Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant has denied speculation that he is set to leave the club to join Premier League rivals Wigan Athletic. Pennant has been linked with a move to Wigan due to Stoke being on the brink of signing Michael Kightly from Wolves - skysports.com

Stoke City are in talks to sign Polish international left-back Sebastian Boenisch, 25, who is available after his contract with Werder Bremen expired – Daily Mirror, transfermarketweb.com and sportinglife.com

Montpellier star Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (right) has confirmed that Newcastle United remain interested in his signature. The highly-rated France international defender has admitted he would relish the chance to move to Tyneside. However, the 23 year-old also states that he would see the move to Newcastle as a perfect stepping stone to move on to AC Milan who have seen a bid rejected - skysports.com

Huddersfield Town are set to sign Cardiff City defender Anthony Gerrard on a three-year contract. It is understood that 26 year-old Gerrard has travelled to Huddersfield to undergo a medical and hold talks about finalising a move to the club – skysports.com and sportinglife.com

Huddersfield Town are refusing to comment on reports that Blackburn Rovers are the latest club to have made a bid for striker Jordan Rhodes. Fulham are already understood to have seen a bid turned down, while Blackburn boss Steve Kean recently confirmed he has made an offer for the 22 year-old – skysports.com

Stephen Dobbie is still a major transfer target for Blackpoolmanager Ian Holloway, who has made clear his admiration for the Swansea striker - sportinglife.com

Cardiff City are keen to sign Craig Bellamy from Liverpool, although Mark Hughes would like to add the Welshman to his QPR squad – Daily Mail

West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of Markus Rosenberg. The 29-year-old has put pen to paper on a three year deal having previously been a free agent following the conclusion of his contract at Werder Bremen – skysports.com and transfermarketweb.com

Crystal Palace are considering a move to bring 22 year-old Manchester City defender Ryan McGivern back to the club on loan – skysports.com

Nottingham Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll has set his sights on Norwich City defender Elliott Ward. Ward played under O'Driscoll during a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers in 2010 - skysports.com

Derby County have today added 18 year-old defender Michael Hoganson to their ranks, following a successful trial spell. After being released by Newcastle United at the end of last season, the free agent has signed a one-year contract at Pride Park - sportinglife.com and transfermarketweb.com

Currently a free agent after not having his deal with Manchester United renewed, former English international striker Michael Owen, 32, is in negotiations with Trabzonspor. Owen is asking for a £3million euros annual fee, the Turkish club are offering 2 and a half.

Sheffield Wednesday have signed Michail Antonio (right) from Premiership side Reading for an undisclosed fee. Antonio has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Hillsborough, following a successful loan spell with the Owls last season - transfermarketweb.com

Real Oviedo have signed winger Aaron Bueno, 28, from Sabadell - transfermarketweb.com

Carlos Marchena López has joined Deportivo La Coruna. The former Spanish international defender, 33, was released from his contract with Villarreal at the end of last season - transfermarketweb.com

After AS Roma and Aleandro Rosi mutually agreed on the early termination of the player's contract with the club the Italian right wingback, 25, has agreed a four year deal with Parma - transfermarketweb.com

Austrian international centre-back Paul Scharner, 32, formerly of Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion, has joined Hamburg on a 2 year deal - transfermarketweb.com

Former Hearts striker Kevin Kyle has become the third player to sign for Rangers today following earlier deals for former St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza and former Lazio and Udinese defender Emilson Cribari - skysports.com and sportinglife.com

All the Latest Transfer Gossip across Europe!

With pre-season already underway and the 2012/13 English domestic football season only a month away, it is safe to say the media is rife with transfer rumours!

Here is a round up of all of today’s latest transfer gossip:

Is your club involved?

Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Arsenal, Athletic Bilbao, Fiorentina, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Swansea, Bolton, Sao Paulo, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Malaga, Lyon, Wigan, Chelsea, Porto, Zenit St Petersburg, Valencia, West Ham, Blackburn, QPR, Getafe, Reading, Sheff Wed, Hull, Fulham, Houston Dynamo, Vitesse Arnhem, Stoke, Watford, PSV Eindhoven, Southampton, Rayo Vallecano, Gillingham, West Brom, Al-Gharafa, Norwich, Leeds, Lens, Al-Sadd, Everton, Spartak Moscow, Fenerbahce, Derby, Coventry and Preston........are all caught up in the latest transfer rumours across Europe, as we speak.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus are locked in a three-way battle to sign Arsenal captain Robin van Persie. United, City and Juve are said to be happy to pay somewhere in the region of £15million but Arsenal are thought to be demanding in excess of £20million for their star player. – Press Association

Arsenal have lined up Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente (right) 27, to replace Robin Van Persie should the Dutchman leave the Gunnners – Daily Mail

Also under consideration for the potentially vacant role leading Arsenal's attack are Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic and Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski – The Guardian

Midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski will stay at Borussia Dortmund. The German club will extend the Polish international captain’s deal for another two years until 2015 - transfermarketweb.com

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists there is no chance of Andy Carroll leaving the club on loan, but admits the Reds will consider any offers they receive for the striker – sportinglife.com

Liverpool are hoping to sign midfielder Joe Allen, 22, from Swansea City for £15m – Daily Star

Swansea are considering a move for Bolton midfielder Mark Davies, 24 as Liverpool intensify their efforts to sign Joe Allen - Daily Mail and The Guardian

Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo insist that they have turned down an offer from Manchester United for Lucas Moura (right). The midfield ace, who is currently in England with Brazil's Olympic squad, was reportedly the subject of a €35million (£27million) offer from the Red Devils - sportinglife.com

Real Madrid will not pay more than £27m for Luka Modric, 26, despite Tottenham revealing they will let the Croatian playmaker leave for £35m – Daily Mirror and The Guardian

Spurs are eyeing Malaga's Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla, 27, as a replacement should Modric leave White Hart Lane - talkSPORT

Tottenham have also begun negotiations to bring Lyon and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, 25, to White Hart Lane but the move has stalled as the French club are demanding £16m, £4m more than Spurs are offering – Daily Mirror, The Guardian and transfermarketweb.com

Andre Villas-Boas has received another boost ahead of the upcoming English Premier League season with the news that striker Rafael van der Vaart will remain at Spurs this year. Van der Vaart had been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane over the summer transfer window, but the 29-year-old Dutch international quashed the rumors and confirmed his desire to play under Villas-Boas next season – The Sun

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has told Chelsea to come up with £10million or forget signing Victor Moses.Whelan told ESPN: "They need to pay the brass up front - we don't want any part-exchange deals they have offered. We are not interested in picking up one of their players on loan or in part exchange. They know the price for Moses. We are looking to reach £10m” – sportinglife.com

The agent of in-demand frontman Hulk (right) claims Porto remain determined to keep the Brazilian striker out of the clutches of a European rival. Speculation regarding the Samba star is nothing new, with Porto having had to fend off regular rounds of transfer rumours. Chelsea have been monitoring his situation closely, with the Blues known to be long-time admirers of the 25-year-old – skysports.com

Manchester City and Zenit St Petersburg have been alerted to Martin Skrtel's possible availability after the defender revealed that contract extension talks with Liverpool had stalled – The Times and transfermarketweb.com

Valencia have signed the Argentinian international midfielder Fernando Gago from Real Madrid. Last season he was on loan at AS Roma - sportinglife.com and transfermarketweb.com

West Ham, Blackburn and QPR are battling it out for the signature of Getafe’s 26 year-old right-back Miguel Torres for a fee believed to be around £2m – The Guardian

Watford have agreed deals to sign Manuel Almunia and Fitz Hall. Goalkeeper Almunia and central defender Hall will arrive at Vicarage Road on free transfers after leaving Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers, respectively, this summer – skysports.com

Reading manager Brian McDermott has played down speculation that he is trying to sign veteran Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi – sportinglife.com and ESPN.co.uk

Reading manager Brian McDermott is prepared to let Michail Antonio join Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent basis for the right price after rejecting an offer for the winger – skysports.com

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos believes a loan move to Hull City is just what he needs in order for his career to develop – sportinglife.com


QPR are trying to secure a work permit for Junior Hoilett (right) before signing the 22-year-old forward, who is out of contract at Blackburn. and clear the way for Jamie Mackie to go the other way to Blackburn – Daily Mail, The Guardian and Daily Mirror

QPR are looking at the Vitesse Arnhem left-back Alexander Buttner. The 23 year-old is also a target for Fulham - skysports.com

Stoke City have agreed a £1.6million fee for Houston Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron – Daily Express

PSV Eindhoven have rejected Southampton's offer for Jeremain Lens, sources at the Dutch club have confirmed. PSV and Southampton’s valuation of the striker differ. West Ham and Fulham are also thought to be interested in the PSV striker – skysports.com and The Guardian

Southampton have completed the signing of Gillingham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga on a four-year deal. The 20-year-old Argentinian joins from the npower League Two club for an undisclosed fee – sportinglife.com<

Swansea have tied up a £2million deal for goalscoring midfielder Michu from Rayo Vallecano – Daily Express and skysports.com

Chelsea defender Ben Gordon has agreed a loan move to Birmingham. Blues boss Lee Clark has made a new left-back one of his top priorities and he has moved to agree a deal with Chelsea for Gordon – skysports.com

West Brom have rejected Al-Gharafa's bid for 31 year-old striker Peter Odemwingie. Qatar outfit Al-Gharafa tabled a £4million bid for the Nigeria international earlier this week – skysports.com

Norwich have tabled an increased offer to Leeds United for their skipper Robert Snodgrass, 24 (right).
Leeds turned down a reported £1.5million bid for Snodgrass three days ago, but the Canaries, have returned with an offer "way in excess of £2million" and Leeds are currently considering whether to cash in on a player who has less than a year remaining on his contract - Press Association Sport

Chelsea are set to land 19 year-old Thorgan Hazard, Eden's younger brother this summer from French club RC Lens – Metro

Eduard Campabadal, a defender and Guillermo Andrés López, a striker both 19 and considered up and coming talents in La Liga are close to joining Wigan - transfermarketweb.com

Qatari side Al-Sadd hope to beat Zenit St Petersburg to the signature of Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin, 31 – Daily Mail

Spartak Moscow are set to revive interest in Everton defender Johnny Heitinga – Daily Mail, The Guardian and transfermarketweb.com

Everton's Joseph Yobo is close to a £2.5m move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce – The Guardian

Derby have signed Coventry defender Richard Keogh in a £1.1million deal - Daily Mirror and transfermarketweb.com

Coventry have snapped up highly-rated Manchester United defender Reece Brown on a season-long loan deal.The versatile 20-year-old, who is the younger brother of United's Wes, becomes City's seventh new face this summer and arrives just 24 hours after Derby striker Callum Ball also sealed a season-long move to the Ricoh Arena – skysports.com

Former Swansea City striker Lee Trundle, 35 has signed a one-year contract with League One side Preston North End.

After-Dinner Sports Tales - Chris Coleman

This month is my third installment of humorous after-dinner sporting tales, as told by current or ex-professional sportsman.
In May I wrote about an after-dinner tale as told by ex-footballer Rodney Marsh, last month was the turn of the former England rugby international and British Lion Wade Dooley.

Today I am returning to football and a man who is currently plying his trade as a manager, following a successful stint as a player.
Welsh international footballer Chris Coleman was born in Swansea, started his playing career at Manchester City as a trainee before moving back to his hometown club in South Wales, where he went on to made 160 appearances. He left Swansea for Crystal Palace in 1991, where he spent 4 years with the South Londoner's, and during that time won the first of his 32 caps for Wales. He left Palace for Blackburn in 1995, before joining Fulham two years later.

However, Coleman's playing career was prematurely ended after he broke his leg in three places following a horrific car crash in Surrey in January 2001.
Following managerial stints at Fulham and Real Sociedad, Coleman has been charge of Championship side Coventry City since February 2008.

Here are two amusing excerpts from a speech made by Chris at a sporting dinner.

"While I was playing for Crystal Palace, we were 3-0 down at half-time and the manager Alan Smith flew into a rage during our team talk. Sitting next to me was my team-mate Richard Shaw, and next to him a table with tea and sandwiches on it.

During his moment of anger Alan Smith threw a cup of tea at the wall and up-turned the tray of sandwiches, one of which landed on Richard's head. He was so afraid, he sat there for ten minutes with the sandwich still on the top of his head until Alan Smith left the room!"

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"During the same team-talk our goalkeeper Woody (Andrew Woodman) was coming in for a bit of stick from Alan, who unstrapped his gold Rolex watch from his wrist and dangled it in front of Woody, saying, 'You'll never own one of these son, because after a performance like that, you'll never go any further in the game.'

With that he lobbed the watch at Woody to catch, who nervously dropped it on the floor!"