Arsenal to Sign Blackpool's Gilks?

Arsene Wenger is reportedly interested in bringing the Blackpool number one goalkeeper, Matt Gilks to the Emirates, while the Blackpool manager Ian Holloway seems resigned to losing Gilks in the near future after he accepted that there is no way Blackpool can compete in wage terms.

The Blackpool boss said:

“With the wages we pay, there’s only so long I can hold them. Matt is out of contract next summer and at the moment that is something he wants to be.

“If I can’t nail him down I’ll have to find someone else and I’ve got till January to try and convince him to stay, because he can sign a pre-contract somewhere else in January.

“Matt probably feels a bit aggrieved with how much he is on. What he is trying to do is play himself into a better position in his life, so he commands a bit more respect and a better wages.”

Arsenal have much more money to spend on wages than the newly promoted Blackpool, and this as well as playing for one of the top clubs in the best League in the world will both be major factors in his decision. As his contract expires at the end of the season, he could leave on a free transfer, however Blackpool would be  upset if they couldn't get any money with a possible sale from the 28-year-old.
A move for him in January would be convenient for both parties as Arsenals Manuel Almunia has been told he can leave with Spanish team Malaga interested.

Gilks then added some more substance to the rumour with this:

"The Premier League is the league in the world to play in and that's what I want to do," 

"Obviously I'm out of contract at the end of the season and I don't think we're close to getting anything sorted. If I have to move on, hopefully it will be to another Premier League club because I need to stay in the league."

The former Rochdale and Norwich shot-stopper is currently out injured with a broken knee cap, but is expected to return in the new year, the question is, when he returns, will he be playing at Bloomfield Road, or the Emirates?

Liverpool Links with Ronaldinho, Ashley Young and Suarez Untrue Says Roy

Transfer rumours have grown over the past few years. They have moved on from things you may hear of various rumours here and there over the course of the season as well as a couple of times during the transfer window, and then the deal is done. They are now fully blown stories on players thinking of moving, agents asking or more money, hinting at a move, players going to leave then deciding against it, with blogs like this one circulating the latest gossip on players moving to what club and for how much, and so on.

But Roy Hodgson has dismissed the latest links to Brazilian Ronaldinho, Aston Villa pacey winger Ashley Young and biting "cheat" Luis Suarez. Hodgson, who has been under big pressure to turn Liverpool into a title challenging team again since taking over as manager, said the following:

"Ronaldinho and Suarez are players who we have never even thought about but I would think there is not a manager in the Premier League who has not given Ashley Young a thought at some stage or another,"

"But giving a player a thought and thinking 'This is a good player' and signing him are two vastly different things.

"I could give you quite a long list of players in the Premier League who I admire and think are very good."

The "list" that Hodgson refers to probably includes every Fulham player that he managed at his time at Craven Cottage. Them, and the recent players linked to a move to Anfield. Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia may be in Hodgson's mind as well as Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City. But lets listen to what Roy ha to say some more:

"But there is no truth in the rumour. If you are asking if there are any negotiations taking place between Aston Villa and Liverpool, then there aren't."

Hodgson is also comfortable with his position at the club due to the new owners and their dedication to the Liverpool cause:

"We have got new owners who are working unbelievably hard and putting in enormous hours at the club, both here physically, as they are at the moment, and even when they are in America spending hours studying games and liaising with us here"

They will all agree then, that Liverpool need to add to their squad in January. Back up players and a new energy is needed in most positions; a partner for Torres and a midfielder with a passing ability, vision and stability like Xabi Alonso who they lost to Madrid and still haven't replaced. In addition to a strong centre back, to fill in for the injured Jamie Carragher while possibly partnering or replacing him in the future.

Hodgson knows additions to his squad must be made, and I am pretty sure he will act on this knowledge, because if Liverpool do not build on their recent current good form, then Hodgson's time could be coming to an end at Liverpool as fans become frustrated with him.