Soccer by Ives is reporting that MLS has blocked the Red Bulls' purchase of Macoumba Kandji from the Silverbacks. Get the details here...

I think MLS really, really screwed up here. Who cares what league a quality player is in? Why should the fact that he's playing in the USL matter as to his value? Click to continue reading...

Shaun Wright-Phillips left Manchester City three years ago for a transfer fee of 23 million. Now he's headed back for an undisclosed fee. Wright-Phillips signed a 4 year deal with City and said, "Obviously I'm delighted to come back to City and I just can't wait to get started again." Wright-Phillips is just like Andriy Shevchenko, as he was a big money Chelsea man who couldn't break into the Click to continue reading...

Manchester United have been accused of rinsing the fans on numerous occasions, as one of the first clubs in the World to really get involved in to the business and money-making side of football. I remember the Super Store in that little shack by the Old Scoreboard end selling duvets and lampshades and wall paper and [. Click to continue reading...

Roman Pavlyuchenko looks set to become a Spurs player before the weekend after Spartak Moscow claimed they were happy with the money they have been offered for the striker. The Russia international was reluctant to move his young family to England at first, but now appears happy to be heading to the Premier League and the [. Click to continue reading...

As Chelsea sets to sign Robinho, rumors abide that the Blues are also after Euro '08 phenom David Villa.

I also hear Valencia rejected a $70 million bid from Real Madrid for the striker.

Man has history team in history been as ridiculous as Chelsea when it comes to rumors.

Can't they let a couple players go around without being linked the Stamford Bridge a couple times. Click to continue reading...

Couple of good links on the Guardian site today: David Conn with a terrific look at the Man City situation. I'd heard the rumours, but hadn't realised what a potential mess they're in. It sounds as if a lot of the incoming transfers haven't been paid for (initial payments only), and that Thaksin's money [. Click to continue reading...

The latest addition to The Offside is Pikum!, where you can pit your predicting skills against fellow football fans. If you're in the UK then you can put money on your picks, but if not you can still get involved for Pikles and bragging rights. Because here's how Pikum! is very different to gambling: All Pikum! Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez will have been impressed by one member of the Middlesbrough line-up over the weekend and apparently this has led to speculation that Liverpool are considering making a big-money bid for the England man. Why not join the debate at the COS forum? Middlesbrough will resist any offers from Liverpool for . Click to continue reading...

Tottenham are keeping tabs on Ajax striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar as a possible replacement to Manchester United bound Dimitar Berbatov. The Dutch international said last year he would not be at Ajax come the start of the 08/09 season but so far nothing has materialised in terms of an exit from the Amsterdam Arena. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has urged fellow countryman Xabi Alonso to join him at the Emirates. The Liverpool midfielder has been linked with a £16 million move to the Gunners in recent weeks after it became clear that Rafa Benitez may have to sell the Spaniard to sign Gareth Barry.

"Xabi is my friend of course, but apart from that he is a great player," Fabregas said in The People. Click to continue reading...

Because that's what inevitably happens whenever Arsenal lose.

And let's not mess around- that was an awful performance today. Last week's game against West Brom was better, even if just for the goal (I actually thought it wasn't a terrible performance last week, just one lacking some sharpness).

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has described Arsene Wenger's comments about Gareth Barry as "bizarre". Gunners boss Wenger admitted this week the 27-year-old England midfielder is "one of the players we follow", adding: "The problems with players who are 27, 28 is that you pay big money but you get nothing back, no resale. Click to continue reading...

I know that this is a blog that supposed to be about the Italian national team. But for today, instead of writing about the Azzurri, I'd gonna blog about an issue that's becoming pretty big in football. It's a post that's part-rant, and part-observation. It has almost nothing to do with Italy but everything to do with national teams, clubs and money.

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Harry Redknapp is firmly in wheeler-dealer mode at the moment, laughing off talk about making some big-money signings and instead focusing on bringing in players on loan or a cut-price deal. You might have thought that the sale of Sulley Muntari would fund some decent acquisitions but the Portsmouth manager . Click to continue reading...

According to Spanish sports daily Marca, Liverpool will not offer a cent more than €12.7m to RCD Espanyol in exchange for winger Albert Riera.

Riera is allegedly viewed by Reds coach Rafael Benítez as an ideal candidate to provide competition out wide on the left for Ryan Babel.

However, with Espanyol yet to receive a former offer, it seems as though Liverpool have already made up their mind that the Mallorca native could cost them too much. Click to continue reading...

The British newspapers today are all noting that Ukranian club Shaktar Donetsk have reported Manchester City to FIFA over the £475,000 (600,000 euros) still owed to them over the transfer last summer of Brazilian Elano. According to the Daily Mail: "The money is a 'solidarity payment' on European transfers. Click to continue reading...

Everton have seen off Newcastle in the battle to bag Juventus midfielder Tiago. The Toffees agreed to pay Juve £250,000 to take the 27-year-old on loan for a season — and could sign him permanently for £8m next summer.

They will pick up his £50,000-a-week wages in full but boss David Moyes still has to convince the ex-Chelsea man to become his first summer signing. Click to continue reading...

Football isn't helped by the fact that players are willing to endorse anything if the money is right.

New designer gear is just a load of balls Click to continue reading...

Mo Edu has been sold to Glasgow Rangers for 5 million. A talented young player with potential, his departure had been long rumoured. His play for Toronto in 2008 had been below expectations, yet his Olympic play sealed the deal. He will be missed , he has been a part of the TFC story since game one. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are to re-ignite their interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Albert Riera. The Spanish international has been linked with a move to Anfield all summer up until Sociedad increased their asking price back in July.

Liverpool were prepared to spend as much as £13 million on the former Manchester City man, but Sociedad were holding out for nearer the £19 million mark. Click to continue reading...

Tottenham have today made initial enquiries about West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand. The England under-21 defender has been linked with a whole host of exits from Upton Park this summer, with Sunderland also said to be interested. (Daily Mirror)

It is thought that Ferdinand, 23, would prefer to stay in the capital and Spurs boss Juande Ramos is ready to make a £8 million bid for the player. Click to continue reading...

Damn y'all. It only took one week of EJ not dressing for Fulham for the transfer rumors to take flight. I have no idea how legit the talk may be, but they say that Cardiff --having lost out on an earlier attempt to sign an American striker familiar with Pizza Hit Park-- wants to take possession of the Grown Ass Man. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has suggested Liverpool's American owners were split over his £18million pursuit of Gareth Barry.

Despite a recent club statement indicating that Liverpool felt Aston Villa's asking price was too high, Benitez claimed co-owner Tom Hicks had assured him funds were in place. Click to continue reading...

When Chelsea signed Branislav Ivanovic from Lokomotiv Moscow in January, many members of the media were referring to the Serb as the next Nemanja Vidic. £10 million and 0 appearances later, Chelsea are claiming that the defender hasn't impressed anyone at Stamford Bridge and are ready to let him leave for AC Milan. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has left the exit door ajar for Xabi Alonso, admitting there is business still to be done before the end of August.

Alonso's future has been up in the air all summer, as Benitez initially hoped to sacrifice his compatriot in order to raise funds for the purchase of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry. Click to continue reading...