Many of Spurs' fringe players have been linked with a move away from the club and generally speaking, rumours about possible departures for the likes of Vedran Corluka and Steven Pienaar have been met with a clear ‘no' from Harry Redknapp.

That hasn't been the case with Gio Dos Santos however and after the manager is believed to have vetoed a last minute move in the summer, it now seems that he is finally prepared to let the Mexican go.

With 2012 just a few days away, I thought it might be appropriate to guide everybody on what we can expect as we hit the new year. For those that weren't with us last year, it's quite the spectacle as January and a bit of February are often the most exciting months in the off season due to all the transfer rumors, transfers, SuperDraft, training, and so much more.

The Philadelphia Union revealed today that the team has acquired Porfirio Lopez, the first transfer in a long time that the club has managed to keep secret before the official announcement. The signing will go through once the team receives Lopez's International Transfer Certificate and P-1 visa.

Lopez has played mostly in Costa Rica, his native country, throughout his career, after debuting with Santos de Guapiles in 2005.

Rise and Shine is the story of Jay Demerit and his rise to professionalism. I've both reviewed the film and interviewed Jay and still I'm inspired by the story. There is so much to offer fans in watching the film. I wanted to make a personal plea for you the readers to look into it and support the cause.

I have yet to track down exactly who it might be but here are a couple of things I have found out:

• 1 Portland Timber is Retiring possibly more
• 2 or more Portland Timbers did not have their contracts renewed
• 1 DP Signing could be announced in the next two weeks as Wilkinson is in talks with an international player
• 2 or more Timbers will be getting their Green Cards and therefore will not be using an international slot

The 1 retiring player is not Adin Brown but I believe he is one "possibly more".

Despite being the club's second-highest shot-creator, Liverpool left-winger Stewart Downing has failed create or score goal in over 15 hours of football this season. It's a concern, especially for an an International player in the prime of his career, but the former-Aston Villa midfielder is the first to admit that things need to improve.

Philadelphia has a strong foundation for 2012, will it get hit by the expansion draft? (Getty Images)

Entering the 2011 season, I felt the Philadelphia Union were a team that could surprise a few folks and be a dark horse pick to make the playoffs. Turns out they made the playoffs but couldn't get any further than the semifinal round after their loss to the Houston Dynamo last night.

It is time for a new vote on our community protected list.

How it works:

• For each player we will post a front page article highlighting a specific players pros/cons and any stats (if available)
• Vote by posting a Yes (to Protect) or No (don't Protect) in the subject of a comment, then explain why in the message
• We (the editors) will keep track of all the yes/no votes for each player
• At the end of the whole roster we will total up the results and post the community's Protected list
• Your list will be compared to the list of each contributing editor
• The only player we will not be voting on is Darlington Nagbe as he is automatically protected based on his Generations Adidas Status.

With the Expansion draft less than a month away it is time to decide who we, the Stumptown Footy Community, would protect. The goal is to create the top 11 players whom you want to protect through a vote by comments. We will not be following the international player rules as it gets super complicated if you want the rules go here.

John Spencer could have few decisions to make about his protection list if his owner's words are true. (Getty Images)

This could easily be one of the easier draft lists that I do. Why? The Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said recently on Twitter that the Timbers and the Montreal Impact have an agreement in place for the Impact not to pick anyone from the Timbers roster.

Archie Thompson has been one of the A-League most effective forwards and goalscorers in the A-League.
He's tricky, crafty, plays with a smile and when fit causes havoc.
So why not play Archie nearer to the goal, rather than out on the wing, and you might find that the Victory goal drought is over.

The starting all-around forward for the Rapids All-Time Team is John Spencer.
How Acquired: Transferred for free from Scottish side Motherwell.
Years In Colorado: 2001 through 2004
How Departed: Retired after the 2004 season.
For the final player pick on the All-Time team I went with possibly the biggest heart the team has ever had (though Kimura gives him a run for his money) the wee Scotsman John Spencer.

The clarity regarding Jack Wilshere's condition seems to be getting in the right direction as the latest report from Arsenal's medical team revealed that the player have already concluded the operation on his troubling ankle.

Moreover, the Gunners also informed that because of the operation, the player is confirmed to take a rest for about four-five weeks out from the playing field, which is a bad news indeed as the young midfielder won't play until at least late February or even more.

The Philadelphia Union have placed attacking midfielder Levi Houapeu on the Season Ending Injury list, according to roster information the Brotherly Game received from a league source.

While Houapeu's salary still needs to be paid by the Union, his international roster spot is opened up because of his new designation.

Aurelien Collin made an interesting comment on Twitter the other day, saying that he is going to be an American citizen soon. It's an interesting comment and extremely odd at the same time. Collin hasn't spent near enough time in the country to be getting his citizenship. The more likely thing that is going on is that Collin is going to be getting his green card.

Despite a tweet being taken down, most likely after a talking to from Philadelphia Union brass, Joe Tait is set to sign with the team based on a second confirmatory tweet from the defender's current coach.

Tait originally tweeted that he was "gutted papers weren't done in time. Fly back to NOLA today to get stuff moved to Philly!

First one to get the ball rolling

Transfer deadline day today. It is hard to catch up with things today as it stands. Names are flying in left, right and centre. As I write this, there's 11 more hours to go before the transfer window closes.

Having look like we've already concluded deals for Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos to add to the Park Chu Young one, we've already added 3 new players.

First one to get the ball rolling

Transfer deadline day today. It is hard to catch up with things today as it stands. Names are flying in left, right and centre. As I write this, there's 11 more hours to go before the transfer window closes.

Having look like we've already concluded deals for Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos to add to the Park Chu Young one, we've already added 3 new players.

Liverpool Sign Sebastian Coates

Liverpool have completed the signing of Sebastian Coates after the player was granted a full work permit today. The Uruguayan joins from Club Nacional for around £6m. There had been a delay in confirmation of the Coates deal but it is now understood to have been finalised upon receipt of a work permit, for which he qualified as an international player with outstanding potential.

Coates Signing Imminent as Medical Completed

Sebastian Coates will sign for Liverpool imminently after passing a medical at Melwood earlier this week. The Uruguay international rebuffed interest from Atletico Madrid to link up with Luis Suarez at Anfield. Coates is currently awaiting a work permit before he can put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Reds.

Trouble arrives for Chelsea ahead of their second league game this weekend against West Brom after reports from the Blues' camp confirmed that goalkeeper, Peter Cech, picked up an injury during training and is likely to be absent for three-four weeks.

The bad news was revealed by the London club's manager, Andre Villas-Boas to the press stating that the Czech international player suffered a ligament injury because he fell awkwardly in the end of Wednesday's training.

Here is the closest hint that OPORTO & Colombian International player FALCAO is about to land at ATLETICO DE MADRID. The Portuguese Club which finances itself via the Portugal Stock Exchange has just informed the local financial authorities that they have a 45M€ offer from Atletico for Falcao - & here is the surprise - along with his fellow team-mate midfielder MICAEL.

The departure of Cesc Fabregas surely gives a significant effect on Arsenal especially on the technical level but the Gunners' players aren't set to be all gloomy as they believe that the new Barcelona player can be replaced at Emirates.

Among few candidates, many believes that Aaron Ramsey, could be the one that might step up this season as it was revealed by the London club's right back, Bacary Sagna, who is simply convinced by Ramsey's potential.

Sky Sports is reporting that the Los Angeles Galaxy have had their bid for Irish striker Robbie Keane accepted by Tottenham Hotspurs. Coinciding with the report is the news that current Los Angeles Galaxy designated player striker Juan Plabo Angel was not at practice today.

Keane is slated to make between $4 and 4.

Two weeks ago the Brotherly Game released information regarding the Philadelphia Union's roster and salary cap, breaking down what the team looked like after releasing third string goalkeeper Thorne Holder. Selling Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz to Veracruz, in Mexico, has created some additional room in the Union's salary cap for possible moves (but not an additional international player slot, as some people have speculated).

Liverpool is weighing up whether to offload Joe Cole to QPR in a season-long loan move.
The Barclays Premier League new boys are hoping to strike a deal with the Reds over the England midfielder, who has failed to impress since joining from Chelsea last summer.
Liverpool could be ready to pick up a third of Cole's wage packet while he plays for the Loftus Road outfit, according to talkSPORT.

Michael Regan/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) Give Me Football confirmed this morning that once again Stewart Downing is in demand at Liverpool. It has been no secret that Kenny Dalglish is a huge admirer of the former Middlesborough academy graduate and he is keen to add the England International to his squad.

The starting right midfielder for the Rapids All-Time Team is Anders Limpar.
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent from Swedish side AIK.
Years In Colorado: 1999 through 2000
How Departed: Left as a free agent, signed but never played for Swedish side Djurgardens IF before retiring
Our first international player in the All-Time team, Anders Limpar might be a bit of a surprise in this position.

Rumors of Pavel Pardo are flying around Chicago Fire Country and I think this as close to a done deal as you can get for written and non-written reasons. The only problem? The current roster would not allow it to happen. One of the main intrigues? The team already has several players in the central midfield position.

There's no escaping it: the Revs have been bad this season. And not just bad in the generic, it's-not-their-year sense. No, it's much worse than that. They've been historically bad.

As of this morning, they're last in the league in goals scored (16), next-to-last in goal differential (-11), last in the Eastern Conference, and are on pace to finish with the fewest wins in team history (6), fewest goals scored (29), and are one loss or tie away from breaking the club record for longest winless streak (9).

All work and no Cole make Cole a Cole Cole. Or something. In any case, there's a run on Joe Cole on the official site right now, as the club does its best to remind you that he does in fact exist. Like a bad rash flaring up. A bad rash you paid a whole load of money to pick up in the first place.

Liverpool assistant manager Steve Clarke has assured Joe Cole he still has a future at Anfield.
Cole endured a disappointing debut season at Anfield after moving north on a free transfer from Chelsea.
The England international started just nine league matches in total and there had been question marks over whether the 29-year-old would be kept on for the new season.

Cole still has future at Liverpool Clarke

"Joe Cole is a top international player and he has a big contribution to make," says Reds coach

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-07-18 08:35:48 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Ryan Johnson's time with the San Jose Earthquakes has come to a close.

The Earthquakes traded Johnson, along with allocation money and an international player spot, to Toronto FC in exchange for Alan Gordan, Nana Attakora and Jacob Peterson in a blockbuster deal on Thursday.

The move provides San Jose with depth at three positions, though it loses an international spot until Jan.

Tottenham Hotspurs' wantaway midfielder, Nico Kranjcar, is reportedly a little bit worried that his club is making his plan to leave White Hart Lane difficult by asking a very high asking price for the Croatia international player's service.

Kranjcar himself stated his disappointment regarding the club's high valuation on him that makes several clubs are starting to slowly lose their interest as the price is within their reach.

No big surprises here, but, in case any of you were wondering, defenders seem to be a priority heading into the transfer window next Friday. We already knew about one defender who was on trial with the Portland Timbers, that player being Aleksander Ignjatovic. There was also a rumor going around that Chilean defender Boris Gonzalez was being considered by the Timbers.

Some Spanish Football media observers claim one of the reasons that Chilean Alexis Sanchez is not yet a Barça player is because young JEFFREN refused to be part of the signing package operation that would have taken him to Italian Club Udinense. The U-21 Spanish International player does have alternative offers & especially from England.

Some Spanish Football media observers claim one of the reasons that Chilean Alexis Sanchez is not yet a Barça player is because young JEFFREN refused to be part of the signing package operation that would have taken him to Italian Club Udinense. The U-21 Spanish International player does have alternative offers & especially from England.

News in the Newcastle Journal today that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has intervened personally in the club's attempt to sign Lille winger Gervinho. Gervinho - will meet Pardew this week Newcastle have been tracking the Ivory Coast International player for some time now, but Newcastle have a big advantage in the transfer market this summer, [.

News in the Newcastle Journal today that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has intervened personally in the club's attempt to sign Lille winger Gervinho. Gervinho - will meet Pardew this week Newcastle have been tracking the Ivory Coast International player for some time now, but Newcastle have a big advantage in the transfer market this summer, [.