PSG Ownership Stake at Sale...

A variety of news services are reporting that managing director Charles Villeneuve is actively pursuing new investors, noting that Morgan Stanley, which owns one-third of PSG, is interested in eliminating its stake.

Le Parisien adds that he recently met Mehdi Dazi, managing director of Abu Dhabi, Emirates International Investment Company to discuss these options. The parties are said to be quite far apart in their valuation as per media reports at this stage.

I will update as additional information is made available.

Gunners Gun Down Lehmann...

Jens Lehmann left Arsenal for VfB Stuttgart in a bit of a strop. I know Jens Lehmann does everything in a bit of a strop, but his Emirates exit was particularly grumpy. So how could Arsenal make Mad Jens even madder? By scoring all over him on his Stuttgart debut of course.

It briefly looked like Lehmann would get some revenge when his old enemy Manuel Almunia was beaten by Yildiray Basturk to give Stuttgart a 1-0 lead, but young Carlos Vela, Nicklas Bendtner and Jack (name to remember) Wilshere all put the ball past old man Lehmann (who’s much more than twice 16 year old Wilshere’s age) to give Arsenal a 3-1 win, and Lehmann something else to be miserable about.

Guzan : UK Work Permit Granted...

Brad Guzan was yesterday granted his permit to work in the UK, allowing his deal with Aston Villa to go ahead. Guzan is the second goalkeeper to confirm for Villa in the space of a week, easing Martin O’Neill’s worries for that position after last year’s number one, Scott Carson, returned to Liverpool after a year-long loan.

Villa had agreed a £2 million deal with his then club Chivas USA, only to see it scuppered when Guzan wasn’t granted a UK work permit. This summer’s transfer window has seen Villa go back in for Guzan, albeit for a lowered fee of £600,000 due to Guzan’s contract with Chivas expiring in November. The UK Immigration Agency have now granted Guzan his work permit and the deal has now gone through, taking Villa’s goalie contention back up to 3; Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and former Arsenal man Stuart Taylor.

Guzan is expected to play understudy to his compatriot Friedel, but the 23 year old is determined to force his way into the team as soon as he can.

Ramos Promises To Arshavin for Key Position...

Well you would, wouldn’t you? There seems little point signing a player for an enormous £17 million if you aren’t going to basically build the team around them. It appears as though Juande Ramos has worked ever so hard to land the signature of Andrei Arshavin, with Tottenham getting ever-closer to bringing the diminutive attacking midfielder to White Hart Lane.

Arshavin’s agent appears pretty confident that the Russian will be a Spurs player in the next few days. He reveals that Ramos was very clear in outlining how much he wanted to sign the Zenit star, who featured prominently in Euro 2008.

“Tottenham coach Juande Ramos personally telephoned Andrei,” Lachter told Sovetsky Sport.
“In a phone call with the player he spoke about his views on football and what role he would like to see Arshavin fulfil at the club.
“Ramos gave Andrei a key position in his team and Arshavin was very pleased.”

Lachter explained earlier in the week that Spurs had met Arshavin’s personal demands, and it is this willingness – combined with Spurs’ determinedness to agree a fee with Zenit – that has swung Arshavin’s favour.

“Secondly, Tottenham are the only club who met the terms of Andrei’s personal contract,” said Lachter. “It says a lot.

“And they offered Zenit virtually all the money which the club wants for the player.”

This has surely got to be brilliant news for Tottenham supporters, who have Darren Bent banging in the goals during the pre-season matches, with Luka Modric, David Bentley and Andrei Arshavin potentially lining up behind the front man. Perhaps even Dimitar Berbatov can be persuaded to stay?!

Berbatov : To Leave or Not To...

There have been many articles written and views expressed about the future of Dimitar Berbatov, is he staying, is he going? Should we try to keep him or should we cash in now?

There are good arguments for both and each argument certainly has its merits but like most Spurs fans I have had enough and want the whole saga to end so here are my final comments on the matter and I have promised myself not to mention it again after this.

Of course we all know that Berbatov is a fantastically talented player and currently one of the best strikers in world football and to lose him would be a real blow. Those who are in the ‘we should keep him at any cost camp' point to the fact that he is irreplaceable and however many millions we sell him for we could not get a player of his calibre in. It is true to say that Berbatov has been integral to the way the team play over the last two seasons. Not only does he score goals but he creates just as many and it is certainly no coincidence that the departed Robbie Keane has been in the best form of his career in the two seasons that he has been playing alongside the Bulgarian, Could he do the same for Dos Santos or Bent?

It is also true that taking the money isn't the be all and end all and doesn't necessarily mean that a suitable replacement can be found. We all remember the sale of Michael Carrick to Manchester United and how that seriously set us back, although we had little choice but to take the money on that occasion.

There are those who believe that we should cash in on Berbatov now because they don't like the fact that he sulks around the pitch looking like he couldn't give a damn and they have had enough of him. They point to the fact that if we can collect £25-30 million for him that it would be fantastic business for the club and we can buy a very good alternative. They also argue that selling Berbatov would benefit the way the team performs as we wouldn't be so reliant on him.
Both sides have very valid points but my argument has nothing to do with money or the success of the team, or even his attitude on the pitch. Quite simply the reason why I hope the club do everything in their power to keep him is that I love watching the guy play football. I was lucky enough to watch Hoddle, Waddle, Gazza and Ginola play for Spurs and Berbatov falls into that group of players. They all have one thing in common and that is the ability to leave football supporters open mouthed and awestruck with the things they are able to do on the football pitch.

That is why I love football, winning trophies is wonderful but as Chelsea fans have found out, winning isn't the be all and end all. What is the point in winning trophies when the fans that are watching you aren't enjoying it? First and foremost I want to be entertained when I watch a football game and players like Berbatov are the guys who provide this entertainment. He can do things with a football that I couldn't even dream of doing. That is why I would be gutted if we sold Dimitar because it would deprive me of being able to watch him play football at White Hart Lane.

Ramos Eyeing on Russian Duo...

According to this source, Ramos is close to securing the double swoop that should ease concerns from Tottenham fans and help replace the outgoing stars!

As the finishing touches were being put to the Bentley deal, Spurs were on to their next business, a £34m twin raid on Russia, with fees agreed of £19m for Arshavin and £15m for Pavlyuchenko.Those two signings will take manager Juande Ramos’s spending through the £100m barrier since he arrived from Sevilla less than a year ago, although he has recouped a sizeable chunk of that in this summer’s outgoings. (Daily Mail)

It looks like Berbatov is likely to leave the White Hart Lane outfit. He was not included in the squad that took on and thrashed Leyton Orient last night, raising concerns that the Bulgarian’s sulking antics could well lead to the club deciding to cash in rather than to hold on to a player who is showing such a lack of respect. Pavlyuchenko could work well as the one man up front, but is unlikely to be able to partner Darren Bent who has been in sparkling form in the pre-season matches.

Arshavin & Pavlyuchenko would also be one hell of a capture and the type of players who could help the Spurs fans forget about their departing stars. Can Tottenham fans think that the team can adequately make up for the loss of both their top strikers?

Pavlyuchenko is kind of a striker where he can score 20 goals in a season. In Euro 2008 he is completley lethal in front of goal. This two lads can pose a real threat to the defence.

If this two lads enters the White Hart Lane then i give my word that we wont miss Keane or Berbatov's departure. Even this two lads can put Tottenham in the stronger position. Ramos signing of this two lads will be crucial for the future of Tottenham and the dream to play in UEFA Champions League. Well the perfection point is that signing of both this lads is advantage to Tottenham. Coz both are playing for Russian team and too often they meet each other in Russian Premier League as opponents. Arshavin is playing for CSKA Moscow and Pavlyuchenko is playing for Spartak Moscow. Both are great freinds and they know each other and off-corse their co-ordination in the field.

Trust on Ramos, he is class and he knows how to build the winning team. Give him time and reap the rewards.

Wenger vs McLaren...

You can’t imagine that Arsene Wenger is quaking too much in his boots after the draw for the Champions League third qualifying round was made on Friday. However, he probably would have wanted to avoid a team managed by someone with a reasonably good knowledge of English football, having enjoyed / endured an ill-fated recent reign as manager of the national team.

That’s right, Arsenal are playing FC Twente as they aim to land a place in the group stages of the Champions League. The Gunners travel to Holland for the first leg in ten days time, before hosting their opponents a fortnight later at Ashburton Grove.

So then, is it more a case of how much Arsenal will win by, rather than whether they will win? At least McClaren has an immediate opportunity to show that he’s not a failure when it comes to management, especially if he can run his Premier League opponents close over the two legs. Really i'll smelling what aggregate score will be?