July 4th
Well it was bound to happen at some stage. It’s a Monday morning and there’s nothing to talk about. Not even a scrap of transfer speculation from yesterday.
The only thing I have is from a report in Marca which claimed that Sevilla turned down a €12m bid for Julio Baptista from David Dein. Supposedly it was €9 up front with a further €3m based on performances. The Sevilla chairman, Jose Maria del Nido, is a funny character though. Remember how Arsenal’s offer of £10m for José Antonio Reyes ‘wouldn’t buy his boots’? No doubt there’ll be some negotiation over the next few days. Reports this morning say both Real Madrid and Barcelona are after him too. Baptista that is, not del Nido.
Elsewhere it seem Steven Gerrard is leaving Liverpool after falling out with Rafa Benitez about his new contract. He suggests there’s a campaign to force him out of the club. The truly cynical amongst us might consider that he’s trying to make it look like it’s not his fault as his team of agents and advisers work out a move to Real Madrid or Chelsea. Benitez is too clever to fall out with his best player over something which he doesn’t have full control over (Gerrard’s new contract).
And that’s about it, I’m afraid. Nothing more to say…
