With the transfer window opening immanently speculation is already mounting on who will be on the move in January. As teams look to give their squads that bit extra in the push for trophies, promotion or the battle against relegation, January is always a busy time. Check out the players below who could have a new home post Christmas.

Carlos Tevez
With Carlos Teves making his desire to leave Manchester City public knowledge a host of teams will be trying to prize the Argentine international away from Eastlands in January. While very few will be able to afford the player Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid will certainly be keeping close tabs on the situation. Manchester City will of course be hoping for a Wayne Rooney style u-turn.

Robbie Keane and David Bentley
While Spurs have won many plaudits this season for their free flowing attacking football two men that have found themselves very much frozen out of the side are Robbie Keane and David Bentley. Both proven at this level a number of clubs will be interested in securing their signatures. Keane has been linked with a return to Wolves while Bentley could be on his way back to Blackburn.

Andy Carroll
One of the players of the season so far is without doubt Andy Carroll. While the tall forward has had his fair share of problems of the field on it he continues to deliver. A local lad, Newcastle will be hoping that they can keep their number 9 but Tottenham are reported to be very keen on landing the England forward. Peter Crouch could be used as bait along with cash to tempt the Magpies into selling.

Michael Owen
An injury disrupted start to the season has once again limited the number of games Michael Owen has played. With Rooney, Berbatov and Hernandez all in front of him in the pecking order when he returns to fitness his opportunities will still be limited. Now in the latter in stages of his career Owen may now decide that he needs to play as many games as possible before hanging up his boots. Goodison Park is a possible destination.

Scott Parker
While the thought of Scott Parker leaving Upton Park is one that doesn’t bare thinking about for West Ham fans it could well happen. With the Hammers sitting bottom of the table the club may feel it makes more sense to cash in on the midfielder now rather then lose him for a cut price fee if they are relegated. There slim survival hopes will go out the door with Parker if he does leave.

Who else do you think could be on the move in the transfer window?

Weather permitting it’s Gameweek 18, this roller coaster Premier League season is about to enter its crucial Christmas period. Three points going into the festivities will be a priority for all managers this weekend.

Sam Allardyce can put is feet up on Saturday and watch the club that unceremoniously sacked him take on his potential new employers. Rovers Phil Jones(4.5) is an apparent January transfer target for several clubs, the defender has picked up 48 points so far this season and could be a shrewd acquisition if the rumours bear fruit. Blackburn’s performer of the season so far is the ever consistent Morten Gamst Pedersen(5.9), a 75 point haul this season puts him 12^th overall in the midfield rankings.

Avram Grants tenure at Upton Park is hanging by a thread. He could be trading places with Big Sam come the New Year unless the Hammers can perform a dramatic turnaround. Were it not for the Influence of Scott Parker(5.4) you feel that Grant’s and quite possibly West Ham’s fate would already have been sealed. With Parker again the centre of transfer speculation it could be wise to add the playmaker to your ranks. Goals win Football matches, Frederic Piquionne(4.9) and Victor Obinna(5.5) have excited occasionally and Allardyce could be warming himself by the fire for a bit longer if the pair hit form over the festivities.

It’s time for another West Midlands derby on Sunday as West Brom entertain Wolves. The key to the Baggies success so far this season has been in the engine room. Chris Brunt(5.7) is a massive player for Roberto Di Matteo, if he’s not scoring goals he is creating them. Wide man Jerome Thomas(4.6) is performing well and steady as a rock Paul Scharner(4.5) is a reliable performer who chips in with the odd goal too. Mick McCarthy’s men deserve to be a wee bit higher up the table, if Stephen Hunt(5.3) can recapture the form of his Reading and Hull City days he will play a vital part in Wolves’ survival campaign. Wanderers will also be buoyed by the return of key men Matthew Jarvis(5.3) and Kevin Doyle(5.1).

Gameweek 18 concludes with Everton paying a visit to official title contenders Man City. Reports indicate that Carols Tevez(11.1) will be stripped of his captaincy but will play. There is a bargain to be had at multi-billion pound City, midfielder Yaya Toure is available for a mere 5.3 million. The Ivorian notched 13 points last time out, that’s value for Fantasy League money. Keep an eye on the happenings at Eastlands, a clear out is on the cards. The Fantasy League January sales will start here.

The next round of Premier League fixtures kick off on Boxing Day. I therefore wish you all a very merry and points laden Christmas. May your stocking be overflowing and your Turkey be moist and delicious. Thank you for reading every week and many apologies if you’ve followed any(and there have been plenty!) of my, shall we say, less rewarding suggestions.

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Gameweek 15 of the Barclays Premier League was a brilliant example of just how exciting and intriguing the league can be. There were plenty of goals scored, a few standout performances and some entertaining matches both at the top and bottom of the table. Heading into the weekend, I had high hopes for Bolton v Blackpool which ended up a fantastically open match that ended 2-2. It was a good advert for positive, attacking football and my hope is that both sides continue to play in such a manner and that wins will come to them.

Spurs beat Liverpool 2-1 at home in a game that seems to be defining their kind of season: a little shaky at times, quite brilliant at times, and quite unabashedly Tottenham throughout. Manchester United decided to get out of second gear and into third, and who better to make that transition against than Blackburn at home? The Reds 7-1 thrashing was a case study in efficient, attacking football, while who would have guessed United could score seven without Rooney appearing even once on the score sheet?

Chelsea continue to trudge through November with another result not equaling three points. Having earned a point in their away match at Newcastle, the Champions have now earned four out of a possible 15 points in their last five matches. Definitely not the form of Champs while much uncertainty continues to surround that of the future of current boss Carlo Ancelotti.

While December now approaches, the top five teams in the standings are separated by only five points. With so many fixtures yet to be played and quite a few to come in just the next few weeks, how many of the five title contenders will be left with a realistic shot of winning the league come the new year?

Honorable Mentions –

Luka Modric, Tottenham – Spurs first goal was credited as an own goal to Martin Skrtel, but it was Modric’s fantastic run past Liverpool’s back line at pace and his cross into the box which forced Skrtel into the error. In a match that ebbed and flowed and witnessed both sides enjoy good spells, it was Modric for Spurs who pulled the strings going forward and who remained a threat throughout.

Modric’s qualities are no secret to Premier League fans. He’s a quick, nimble and smart midfield play-maker who can play central or on the left side. He’s an exceptional passer of the ball and is good getting forward. Spurs inability to keep clean sheets this season has only been matched by their ability to get forward, create and essentially outscore their opponents. Modric, along with Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, has been key in that strength for Spurs.

Chris Brunt, West Brom- In a match mostly overshadowed by the traditionally bigger clubs in the Premier League, West Brom’s 1-4 victory over Everton at Goodison Park remains one of the most impressive of the weekend. Having secured only one point from their last five matches, the Baggies were in desperate need of a positive result after such a fine start to the season.

On Saturday, Brunt scored one and assisted on another as West Brom got the exact result they so desperately needed. Brunt’s assist came when his well placed corner found the head of Paul Scharner who opened up the scoring in the 15th minute. Ten minutes later, Brunt scored one himself when his stunning free kick beat a flailing Tim Howard in goal.

Scott Parker, West Ham – The incredibly influential Scott Parker was back for West Ham this weekend and scored the Hammers’ third and final goal of the day. Important for West Ham not only because of his abilities as a footballer, but also because of his leadership, Parker embodies the kind of gusto West Ham needs if they’ve any realistic ambition of staying up this season.

Strong in midfield, good in the tackle, a good passer and with the ability to get forward to score, Parker, who was all of these things on Saturday, led West Ham to see off Wigan at home 3-1. The win keeps West Ham bottom but supporters won’t be complaining too much about only their second win this season.

Premier League Footballer of the Week -

Dimitar Berbatov, Manchester United- Was there ever going to be a suprise here? Unlikely. United were able to put seven past Blackburn while Berbatov had a staggering five to lead the Reds back to the top of the Premier League. So what do you say about a player who was able to score five times in league play?

Berbatov was at his best on Saturday and was able to set a new standard as it pertains to finishing. Widely the beneficiary of quite the impressive team performance, Berbatov was killer in front of goal in actually taking his chances but must give a portion of the credit to his teammates. Wayne Rooney, Nani, Anderson and Michael Carrick were all superb for United in setting up Berbatov.

While the service he received was excellent, Berbatov was quite the striker on Saturday. Finishing from a myriad of angles and making the best of his opportunities, Berbatov enters into the Premier League history books as one of only four players to ever score five goals in the Premier League.

It’s been a busy week in the Premier League and the fun just doesn’t stop. Game Week 13 is here already and we have another full fixture programme to look forward to.

It’s at the foot of the table where the excitement and the points are to be had this weekend. The bottom three are all at home and these fixtures would have been double underlined in red as winnable at the start of the season.

West Ham play host to the still free scoring Blackpool. Piquionne and Parker did the business Wednesday and will be looking for a repeat performance on Saturday. If recent form is anything to go by it will be a goal fest at Upton Park.
Wolves – who, if points were awarded for pride and guts would be top of the league – entertain an in form Bolton. Mick McCarthy’s men need to shut down not only Kevin Davies but also Johan Elmander. The big Swede has finally worked out the difference between a set of goal posts and the side of a barn, the reward for this realisation is 62 points for the Trotters front man. Wolves will be relying on the likes of Matthew Jarvis (5.3), Stephen Hunt (5.3), Kevin Doyle (5.1) and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (5.0) to breach Wanderers stubborn back line. Wolves will edge a narrow victory here.

Wigan are in desperate need of a win, so far their season’s star performers have been Hugo Rodallega (5.8) and Charles N’Zogbia (5.5). Another big performance from this pair is required against West Brom. All things good for the Latic’s seem to come from these two, take a gamble and give them a run out this game week.

Stoke are hovering above the drop zone and Welcome a rejuvenated Liverpool side. Stoke at home are always a difficult prospect. Big Robert Huth is a mountain at the back and a genuine goal threat going forward, a 4.9 million price tag has returned 37 points so far. Striker Ricardo Fuller weighed in with 9 points in the last game week and is available for a mere 4.8 million.

Manchester City will be looking for a positive reaction after a dishwater dull Manchester derby. Chelsea are beginning to pull away at the top and the Eastland’s outfit cannot afford to lose anymore ground. Birmingham could well find themselves on the wrong side of a City backlash. Blues keeper Ben Foster (4.9) could be in for a busy afternoon.

Last special mention this week to Blackburn stopper Paul Robinson – sitting 4^th overall in the goalkeeper table having so far amassed 49 points – is yours to buy for 4.6 million. An absolute bargain if you’re looking to generate some cash to strengthen other areas of your squad.

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Barely have you had chance to draw breath and it’s time to do it all again. There’s a full midweek programme of Premier League fixtures, game week 12 is upon us already, and it’s going to be tricky selection wise as several managers may opt to shuffle their packs.

Tie of the week has to be the Manchester derby. The Blue half of Manchester have Carlos Tevez back and the Reds back line can expect a torrid time at the hands of the annoyingly persistent Argentinean. United may still be picking up points but they are struggling and will be looking for big performances from the experienced Scholes and Fletcher. It would also be a good time for Hernandez and Berbatov to rediscover their earlier form.

Chelsea and Tottenham will be looking to bounce back from disappointing weekend results. Spurs play host to Sunderland on Tuesday, and the form is with Tottenham, the Black Cats have only won once at the Lane in 26 years. Van Der Vaart is struggling with a hamstring injury, but I think Harry will risk him. Three points here are vital for Spurs’ push for the top four, Redknapp will go all out for victory on Tuesday night so it’s time to give your Tottenham forwards a run out.

I fear Fulham could pay for Liverpool’s victory on Sunday. Chelsea need to bounce back with a win and will simply overpower Fulham at the bridge. Drogba will be all guns blazing after warming the bench at Anfield for a long 45 minutes. This could be the week to rest any Fulham defenders you have in your squad.

Aston Villa’s treatment room is full of strikers right now, which equals opportunity for one young striker and if you feel like taking a gamble then Nathan Delfouneso, who could have had a hat-trick on Saturday, will be looking to make amends at home to Blackpool on Wednesday. It could also be a good time to give two more of Villa’s youngsters a chance, midfielders Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan are turning heads for all the right reasons and both are available for under 5 million. There are always goals where Blackpool are concerned, honours may well end up even in this one but it will be entertaining.

There are two ties this week which, in all honesty, could go either way. Wolves host Arsenal and Newcastle host Blackburn. Wolves were outstanding in defeat at Old Trafford and have been impressive all season. Arsenal, being Arsenal could stroll this one or make a complete three course meal out of it. I’m going to go for the latter. Robin Van Persie made an appearance on Sunday and I’m backing him to be the difference in what will be a tight encounter.

It would be no surprise if Newcastle followed up a win at the emirates with a defeat at home to Blackburn. Nothing would give big Sam more pleasure than a victory against his former club. Newcastle should win, which is why I’m going to back Blackburn and Jason Roberts who found his shooting boots, well shin pads, against Wigan.

West Ham vs West Brom is another fixture that could throw up a few goals. Scott Parker at 5.4 million and Frederic Piquionne available for 5.1 million are well worth considering. The Hammers won’t stay bottom of the table for long and this home tie with the Albion could be the turning point of their season.

I’ve gone striker crazy in my suggestions this week, but I sense goals in game week 12 and goals mean points. Hopefully I’ve given you plenty to think about as you tinker with your attack.

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With news out that Harry Redknapp launched a bid to sign West Ham skipper Scott Parker it leaves us wondering whether or not he would actually improve the Spurs squad.

Tottenham will be hoping to secure a Champions League group stage place and for another successful Premier League campaign this season and Parker is not a player many would have expected them to be chasing this summer. Parker is a very good player as he has shown at Charlton and West Ham but Tottenham already have an abundance of midfielders at their disposal. Jenas, Huddlestone, Palacios, and O’Hara are all already competing for central midfield spots. Add to that youngsters Danny Rose and Adel Taarabt and you can’t help but think Tottenham should be prioritising other positions.

With Jonathan Woodgate’s playing career looking in doubt and the well documented fitness problems of Ledley King, Redknapp should be looking at bolstering his back line. Tottenham have a very talented midfield and front line and if they can bring in some good defensive cover they could just surprise a few people this season and have another very good campaign. Redknapp himseldf as mentioned a title challenge and with a bit of luck they may not be far off. There has been very little transfer activity at White Hart Lane this season and Spurs fans will be hoping this changes before the big kick off. Do you guys think Parker would improve the Spurs squad?

• For Those About to Stoke, We Score 7 on You
• Should Someone Tell Wayne Rooney He’s Needed on the Pitch & not in that Hospitality Box?

For a second there I actually thought Rooney was allegorically announcing his retirement from Manchester United as he symbolically passed on his son, full kit and all, to a family member perched high above his plot of employment. “Here, take Kai to the pitch, he’s ready to start today, tell Fergie he’ll slot in just behind Berbs“, Rooney wasn’t quoted as saying on Saturday. A Kai-less and Rooney-less United went on to beat Tottenham 3-1 but will continue to be without their talisman for the rest of the season.

Stoke City looked to play ‘title wrenchers’ in Chelsea’s plans after the London club started their Sunday match 2 points behind United. Uh, it wasn’t to be.

Interesting though that as we approach the last few weeks of the season, supporters and clubs who remain standing with something to play for must let their pride fall down as other results across the country, often including their fiercest rivals, are needed to achieve their desired result.

For example, after United played snatch & grab at City last weekend, blue Mancunians would have surely been cheering for United to beat Tottenham. Likewise, Spurs supporters would have been cheering on their lovable old friends at Arsenal to beat City at the Emirates just a week or so after having beaten them in that now famous win at White Heart Lane. Such are the intricacies and oddities of  football when every game matters, and the fickleness of supporters when so much is on the line.

The race for L4 really couldn’t be any closer at this, the most important time of the season. Aston Villa made Mike Skinner cry as they won another entry of the Second City derby and WHOA! – seem to have quietly come out of no where in the pursuit of fourth as they are now level on points with Tottenham and a point ahead of City having played a game more. The May 1st match between City and Villa and the May 5th clash between Spurs and City remain crucial and compelling in the race for fourth.

Shall we then?

Nominees –

Scott Parker, West Ham – Passion, guts and determination were all on display in the middle of the pitch Saturday. Parker was massive for the Hammers and has easily been their best and most consistent player all year. I’ve spoken of my admiration for Parker and my desire that West Ham stay up this season in recent weeks, and thanks to Parker, I may just get my wish. Parker produced another solid performance in midfield against Wigan and scored a blistering winner in a 5-goal thriller at Upton Park to just about secure the Hammers safety.

Nani, Manchester United – Nani was almost unworthy of a mention until his flash moment of brilliance saw the winner scored in the second half. Before his goal, Nani continually made bad decisions for United and yes of course, blasted his 3 to 4 trademark missiles into outer space.

Wasteful, petulant, cramping yet still vital for United, Nani’s chip winner was yet another bullet point on the CV Nani looks to write as Ronaldo’s replacement. Yes, the chip was a piece of skill and class, but for me, Nani’s first touch which set up the chip was a more important moment of skill. How many times have we all seen the Portuguese winger waste a decent ball with his over-anxious and clumsy touch?

When Nani received the weighted ball in from Federico Macheda, his first touch perfectly laid the ball out in front of him and allowed him the time and angle needed to finish the play and score the winner. Nani’s involvement in attack later won United their second penalty of the day when Tottenham’s Wilson Palacios bundled over the winger in the box allowing Ryan Giggs to slot home his second penalty and put United top of the league for a day.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Chelsea – One played supplier and the other played finisher on Sunday as Chelsea scorched Stoke for seven to reclaim top spot. Like the aforementioned Nani, Drogba can be a dangerous player, but usually needs to get 3 or 4 row Zed rocket ships out of his system before he calms down and scores powerful goals.

Kalou and Lampard got 5 of the 7 goals, but Drogba’s service in the first half was vital for Chelsea as he set up Kalou’s first with a brilliant piece of skill. Drogba’s back heel cushion of a Malouda cross field ball allowed him to bring the ball down behind himself with composure and cross to the waiting Kalou who headed home Chelsea’s first.

Chelsea’s second came when Drogba laid off a neat ball for an on-rushing Frank Lampard who blasted towards goal. When Thomas Sorensen could only parry the shot, the opportunist Kalou pounced with his second. Kalou’s involvement in front of goal was rewarded when the Ivorian finished off his day with a hat trick late in the second half when his work provided a rebound that he tapped home for another scrappy finish.

So another week passes with only small pieces of the finalized Premier League puzzle in place. Burnley officially secured relegation while everything is left to play for at the top and for fourth. The World Cup is just a sniff away, but don’t dare miss these last two weeks of the season. If not for me, then do it for little Kai.

If there’s one positive about David Sullivan’s outburst last week, such was the reaction to it, he’ll hopefully keep quiet until the end of the season. It’s a tricky situation when you’re a chairman of a club struggling at the wrong end of the table, but sometimes, you’ve got to keep quiet. In Sullivan’s case, that may be trickier than it sounds, such is his penchant for shouting about everything from the rooftops.

During his tenure at Birmingham City, Sullivan was quick to judge and had a constant battle with the fans of his ownership. The crowds were poor, even when Birmingham were chasing down the title last season, but having spoken to some Blues, I don’t think many people would pay £40 to watch your team play Scunthorpe in the second tier of English football.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Sullivan is certainly not to blame for West Ham’s current ills, but the rant last week simply confirmed for me that he doesn’t rate the current manager. Gianfranco Zola maybe one of the nicest men in football and a was a damn fine player in his time, but Sullivan, for me, clearly doesn’t rate him.

Of course, once Curbishley walked out due to the boardroom interference, the Hammers were always walking a tightrope. They are paying the price for splurging money on some very bad buys indeed and the Icelandic financial meltdown. It was always going to be tough for any manager and whilst eyebrows were raised at the time, the financial situation clearly scared most of the experienced candidates away from Upton Park.

That’s no offence to Zola, but it now seems certain in my mind that he was only given the job due to the lack of applicants. Managing a Premiership club, despite the financial implications, is a tantalising opportunity for anyone. Zola would have been mad to not take the job but he is beginning to resemble a dead man walking. The Hammers squad looks bereft of confidence and belief, two things you need in abundance when trying to get clear of a relegation scrap.

This is a side with youngsters being thrown in at the deep end and then left to drown, loan signings and journey men footballers bolted on to the players still remaining from the biscuit buyout. It is not a healthy mix for a squad and when you’re picking up strikers who have struggled in the top tier of France, you are always going to be in trouble. Zola seems unable to instill any fight in the side, though most teams would struggle to get anything out of a trio of games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

The defeat to Wolves left a bitter taste in most people’s mouths but it shouldn’t take anything away from the quality of Wolves’ performance. They were magnificent throughout the 90 minutes, despite West Ham’s problems. Of course, the one shining light throughout all the recent trouble has been the form of Scott Parker, who has continued to give 100% throughout his tenure. If only he could instill some of his grit and determination into some of his more experienced colleagues such as Matthew Upson or Mido.

Zola has been making do since he came to the club and I feel sorry for him and the West Ham fans. They expect better after seeing so much talent come through the club in the last 20 years, though sadly, none of it stayed for very long. The current crop of youngsters certainly have plenty of potential, but blooding them in a relegation scrap with chairman mentioning financial armageddon every other week doesn’t help any of them. Yet what can Zola do? His hands are clearly tied financially and with the players taking Sullivan’s words the wrong way, it doesn’t auger well for the fight that is yet to come.

With Hull suddenly finding a bit of form, and the gap to safety having stretched to four points, the Hammers have it all to do. A visit to Goodison on Sunday, with Chelsea and Manchester United already beaten there is a cause for concern. The final match of the season against Manchester City points to the irony of Carlos Tevez being in a position to relegate a side he kept up just 3 seasons ago.

Having a game in hand can be a huge advantage for clubs fighting relegation, chasing the title or attempting a top four finish. Being where you want to be in the table and having another chance to improve your standing can be a positive way to approach a match. That said, most would agree that already having secured the points on offer is a better situation to find oneself in than to have to play an extra midweek match in an already crowded portion of the season. Such it is though that with European and Cup commitments, ten Premier League clubs found themselves having to play catch up this week.

The race for L4 continues to heat up as Manchester City lost at home to Everton. What a massive chance this was for City to jump into 4th spot now having played an equal number of matches as Tottenham. A potential flash point occurred in stoppage time when City boss Roberto Mancini shoved Everton boss David Moyes to knock the ball from Moyes and return it to play. The two bosses had to be separated and were both sent to the stands for the remaining moments. Regardless of the shove, City missed a great chance to prove to the rest of the league how desperate they are for fourth.

Honorable Mentions -

Chelsea FC, Starting Eleven – I normally don’t mention entire teams in this section of the post, but Chelsea impressed Wednesday night with a 5-0 thrashing away to Portsmouth. After the week or so they’ve had in the league and crashing out of Europe, Chelsea proved they’re serious about staying in this title race by jumping back into second and now sit 1 point from leaders Manchester United.

Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba (who were both recently featured on this post) both grabbed a brace while Frank Lampard headed home a late goal as Chelsea ran rampant on Pompey pretty much all night. We all keep saying it, but the end of this Premier League season is sure to be one of the better finishes in recent memory.

Premier League Footballer of the Week -

Scott Parker, West Ham United- The Hammers really have hit a bad run of form in recent weeks having now lost five Premier League matches in a row. Their 3-0 drubbing of Hull City in February seems like last year as West Ham slip further and further down the table only to stop in 17th, just three points clear of the drop. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has to be odds on favorite for the next sacking or new owners Gold & Sullivan face an enormous financial mountain to climb from the base of the Coca-Cola Championship next season.

If there was a bright spot in losing 3-1 at home to Wolves, it was certainly Scott Parker. I’ve been wanting to mention him on this post in some capacity for a few weeks now only for his efforts to be beaten out by more worthy participants. Parker’s first half surge forward that saw his right-footed shot curl post Marcus Hahnemann only to hit the post and spiral across the goal line was a game changing moment that could have led to a better result for West Ham had the ball somehow found the net. Parker didn’t give up though, he tracked down his rebound and flicked the ball towards goal only to see Hahnemann stop the shot and watched in anguish as a Wolves defender cleared the ball off the line. The potential opening goal for West Ham was so close, but just wasn’t to be.

Throughout the season, Parker has displayed what the majority of the West Ham team has lacked. A sense of pride and a bit of passion. When I watch Parker, I get the feeling that he genuenly wants to play at Upton Park and lead his team to do the same. He’s a hard tackling player who likes to get forward in attack, strong on the ball and links up play well from central midfield. It’s unclear whether West Ham have the bottle to stay up, but if Parker’s team mates pay attention to his example on the field, they’ll clearly have a better shot.

After accepting a sordid envelope with £20m for “Lass” Diarra, Portsmouth rejected shrewd dealer Harry Redknapp’s £30m overture for Jermain Defoe, Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch.  Pompey then lessened Defoe’s value markedly, by announcing they would sell him for a fair price.

“It looks like Jermain wants to go,” Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie said.  “If Jermain goes it will be at our price and if there is an offer which appeals.”

Spurs remain favorites to sign the striker.

West Ham, contrary to previous statements, confirmed the club’s inevitable fire sale this winter.  Icelandic chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson was severely crunched by the collapse of an Icelandic bank.  Manager Gianfranco Zola will “not be compelled” to sell anyone, but the club will listen to any offer for any player, probably ones he’d want to keep such as Craig Bellamy and Matthew Upson.

Arsenal may flout tradition by making a £12m bid for ready-made Everton man Mikel Arteta.  The Spanish midfielder would be Arsenal’s ideal signing.  He’s an experienced 26, plying his trade in the Premier League the past few seasons.  Arteta can provide a credible Fabregas facsimile in the middle for the next few months.  He can also fill in on the wings when Fabregas returns.

Arteta would be a perfect fit for Arsenal, so expect Arsene to balk at an extra £2m for him and sign a 19-year-old raw French African.

The Gunners may also sell defender Kolo Toure in January, after he handed in a subsequently rejected transfer request.  The defender, not surprisingly, has struggled to regain fitness after a bout of malaria in the summer.  He and William Gallas also hate each other, though why you would choose Toure over Gallas is unclear.  Out of the squad for much of the season, Toure’s potential £10m fee from Manchester City could give Arsenal funds to strengthen the midfield.

Manchester City have a £60m transfer budget for six players to help them avoid relegation.  Hughes has made a £10m offer to Chelsea for left-back Wayne Bridge.  They may bid over £20m for Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker from West Ham and throw in £17m to Blackburn for Roque Santa Cruz, just for shits and giggles.

Finally, Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant may join Hull City after rejecting an overture from Real Madrid, in what would undoubtedly the first time that statement could be made.  The Tigers would like Pennant “at the right price,” but will face off with Wigan, who view Pennant as a replacement for Luis Antonio Valencia, possibly on his way to Real Madrid.