The focus today is Francophone players.

France Football's Phillipe Auclair stated that Arsenal are close to signing Chamakh from Bordeaux. Auclair is a respected journalist and knows quite a bit about Arsene's France based dealings. If Phillipe Auclair claims Arsenal are close to signing Marouane Chamakh, then that is more credible than a lot of the UK newspaper back pages.

Midfielder Yohan Cabaye has admitted he would be interested in a move to the Gunners in the future. Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye has expressed his delight at learning that Premier League club Arsenal are interested in acquiring his services. The 23-year-old is highly-rated by regular followers of Ligue 1 having scored 13 goals in 107 appearances since [.

We half expected somebody to clarify Seb Bassong's statement of yesterday, because we're sure it didn't come out exactly as he had intended. Seb Bassong - clarifies statement of yesterday And the news the Evening Chronicle is putting out today, is that Sebastien Bassong isn't ready to jump ship if Newcastle United are relegated on Sunday.

What is it with French players and Newcastle? First, we had Charles N'Zogbia pleading, begging to come to Arsenal, in reality he was an average player who never set he world on fire at Newcastle. There was no way Wenger was going to spend money on an ordinary squad player.   Now we have a new player [.

The Gunners are preparing an €11 million bid for the Magpies centre-back at the end of the season, a fee that represents a huge mark-up for the Geordies. According to a report in British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mirror, Arsenal are set to raid Premier League rivals Newcastle United for defender Sebastien Bassong at the end [.

Acknowledged by all, Arsene needs to recruit one or two centre-backs.

The addition of Silvestre was a disaster. Gallas may or may not stay for another season, position wise he is the best reader of the game at the club, but he is losing speed and is not brilliant in the air. Toure is a fighter can be flustered easily.

Image via WikipediaThe Chuckles Gossip

Hull want to sign Habib Beye from Newcastle...

Among other items found in the always amusing Football365 gossip column is this note about Habib Beye being a target for Hull. Sort of makes you wonder why more of NUFC's useful pieces (insert your own joke here) haven't been the subject of more rumors.

So, after several weeks in which dust has gathered and tumbleweed idly rolled around White Hart Lane, the last seven days have seen a welcome return to complete all-action-no-plot madness at Spurs, with Darren Bent's glorious rant, a spell behind bars for Jermain Defoe, a big-money signing and even a trophy.

As we had half expected, Newcastle United's appeal to overturn the red card shown to Sebastien Bassong in Saturday's home defeat against Fulham, has been rejected. Sebastien Bassong - could have played last game for Newcastle Newcastle had nothing to lose of course, so appealed the sending off in a case of wrongful dismissal, after the 22 [.

Newcastle United centre-back, Sebastien Bassong, has been in North London having a medical for Tottenham Hotspur, as the final parts of a deal which has been mooted for some time are thrashed out. The fee is thought to be around £8-10 million, though Bassong was signed by Newcastle's then Director of Football, Dennis Wise, [.

It looks like all our defensive responsibilities are being pinned on Ledley King for the big kick off against Liverpool at the Lane in two Sundays time. Considering last week Harry was saying our hero was yet to kick a ball this pre season, I'm a little concerned.

What concerns me more is the fact Levy has authorised an £8m deal for a centre back.

White Hart Lane was expected to be a busy place this summer following Harry Redknapp's statement that no less than nine players would be allowed to leave, whereas Spurs were expected to make some big name signings. After somewhat slow start of the transfer window, things are starting to move at Tottenham and after Peter Crouch, Spurs managed to capture very talented Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong.

Well its not really what we intended, another centre half, to join the three decent players we already have and several defenders who can, and have played there in the past few weeks. But in the circumstances Harry and Daniel probably concluded that if a good start is the basis for a decent season then something had to be done.

Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Tottenham Hotspur's match v Olympiakos Piraeus Pre-Season Friendly match, August 2009. Includes Peter Crouch, Vedran Corluka, Sebastien Bassong, Luka Modric, Robbie Keane, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Ledley King, Danny Rose and Kevin Prince Boateng images, photos and pictures.

Is it really time to hold our breath? Could the end really be nigh? Sky Sports News is reporting that Wolfsburg have agreed a £9m fee with us for Obafemi Martins. Though it's yet unconfirmed by Newcastle, Oba was left out of the squad for the friendly against Leeds, which has given credence to the claims.

So Spurs beat liverpool with a banned Bassong in the side, liverpool quite rightly cry foul, Tottenham relegated (or let off scot-free if the West Ham "media-darling London club" precedent is followed). Could be interesting though.

Sebastien Bassong is set to make his debut for Tottenham against Liverpool on Sunday despite appearing to serve only one game of a two-match ban.

I was so chilled out, laid back and put into a euphoric calm by the inactivity during the transfer window that I mowed the dog and took the lawn for a walk . Even Mrs JimmyG2 noticed and asked if they had cancelled that 'Swappy thingy with the players that you get so excited about'. Not buying, swapping or selling was the new buying, swapping and selling.