So today's most intriguing story appears to be Arsenal's hunt for a goalkeeper. Not that Manuel Almunia is useless or anything, far from it he is in fact still in all probability good enough to fill the huge, gaping void left by Paul Robinson's retirement from playing for the biggest underachievers in international football (three guesses as to who I'm referring to). However despite the Spaniard's strengths he is clearly not good enough for Arsene Wenger, who is apparantly set to spend, wait for it, £23 million to bring Pepe Reina to the Emirates and begin in earnest the Liverpool exodus many have been expecting since the departure of Rafael Benitez.Given that Wenger is arguably the biggest skinflint in football today, spending an average of £38.26 on new players during the summer whilst constantly stating that Arsenal don't need reinforcements or a larger squad, before Robin van Persie picks up his annual injury and Arsenal's 'title challenge' fades by January, this appears to be hugely significant. However considering that said transfer rumour comes from the entirely accurate and journalistically measured pages of Britain's favourite and most reputable newspaper, The Sun, it is most probably rubbish. However according to another of my favourite papers, the Daily Mirror, it is not Reina but the 34-year old Shay Given whom Arsene is coveting and looking at as a long-term solution to one of Arsenal's problem areas.
Away from the Gunners, it seems we've all been misled, straight up the garden path by journalists, speculators, pundits, supporters and all the rest. Yes James Milner, the star of this summer's 'Will He Won't He' tedium will apparantly be poached from Aston Villa, but not by moneybags Manchester City. In fact it is, allegedly, the Sky Blues' bitter rivals Manchester United who are set to swoop in with the winning bid and give City fans yet another reason to hate their more illustrious rivals. Milner's transfer may just pave the way for Villa boss Martin O'Neill to make a move for Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, whilst Palermo are looking to inflict further damage upon David Moyes' stellar midfield by taking Leon Osman off his hands. In a final slice of Premier League speculation, Newcastle United boss Chris Houghton is looking to bring in Portsmouth star Kevin Prince Boateng, who impressed at the World Cup for Ghana, and should be capable of similar success in the shirtless footballing crucible that is St. James Park.
Queens Park Rangers are set for yet more controversy, but no it's not what most of you will be thinking. Neil Warnock hasn't been unceremoniously sacked, nay his job seems to be far safer than most of the 729 managers QPR have had over the past decade. In fact Warnock seems set on turning Loftus Road into a sort of borstal for footballers who have fallen foul of the law. Having recruited Paddy Kenny, banned from professional football for 9 months in September 2009 for failing a drugs test, and Bradley Orr, jailed three years earlier for assault, Marlon King is the latest miscreant to be linked to Warnock's rehab centre. King, whom Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan said should 'never play football again', is undoubtedly an excellent goalscorer at Championship level, but many will not take kindly to his return to the game, particularly given the nature of his crimes. Still, I'm sure the notoriously thorough and professional PR men at QPR will find a positive spin to put on his arrival should it go through. What next? Lee Hughes as the 'final piece' of Neil Warnock's attacking jigsaw? Watch this space.
