See what we should be doing is taking advantage of such lunacy and picking up the scraps. Same as Spuds did with VDV two seasons ago.

Di Maria will do nicely, but so will about 3 or 4 other players they've got on their roster. I personally think we should be launching a bid for Lassana Diarra in January and we should be launching Mikel back in some other direction as far as possible.

Di Maria on the cheap and then go back to Valencia and ask them very nicely for Banega? Yeah, that'll do me... If Banega costs too much, maybe a cheeky bid for Gago while he's on loan at Roma? That's my Christmas shopping list.

Actually, lets have Higuain while we're at it. *I understand this may never ever happen*

Edited November 4, 201114 yr by Eggy McMuffin

I would love to see us sign Higuain, he would be superb in the prem.

Just seen these tweet from someone called @barcastuff, not sure how trustworthy he is though.

Chelsea sports director Michael Emenalo attended two weeks ago Barcelona-Sevilla and several youth games. He also met with Guardiola.

Chelsea are interested in David Villa (29), as well as in B-players Sergi Roberto (19), Montoya (20), Bartra (20) and Rafinha (18).

We've already one striker who cost a lot and seems to specialise in missing easy chances. Higuain's mentality in the big moments is questionable in my belief.

Jose wanted another striker over the summer for a reason. He doesn't rate Benzema or Higuain when it comes to the crunch. I wouldn't be surprised if he made a play for Didier in January, either for the rest of the year or on a free next season. He would tear teams apart in Spain.

As for @barcastuff I think he might have confirmed Neymar to them months ago. That said it still might happen.

Has anyone seen the rumours about christian eriksen from the mail? Dont him and josh play the same position?

We've already one striker who cost a lot and seems to specialise in missing easy chances. Higuain's mentality in the big moments is questionable in my belief.

Jose wanted another striker over the summer for a reason. He doesn't rate Benzema or Higuain when it comes to the crunch. I wouldn't be surprised if he made a play for Didier in January, either for the rest of the year or on a free next season. He would tear teams apart in Spain.

As for @barcastuff I think he might have confirmed Neymar to them months ago. That said it still might happen.

Torres could easily have been described as a big game player before he arrived here, so I don't think it's a fair thing to say about him; I can't comment about Higuain in that respect, though.

Next weekend will be a big test for the two players I'd like to see here. Banega and Higuain as Real beat Valencia next Saturday. Banega I feel will be key to how well Valencia do. He'll be up against a disturbingly good Madrid midfield and it's a big enough game for Higuain's mentality to be tested. I reckon Real will win 2-1, Cronaldo won't score and Higuain will get one, Benzema the other. Banega will look strong in midfield and get an assist. This will happen. As I said that, neither will play.

Has anyone seen the rumours about christian eriksen from the mail? Dont him and josh play the same position?

Very similar style players. Eriksen is for real but he has had a lot more chances / experience.

We've got Josh who I rate just as high in terms of potential, so no thanks. Eriksen would be a phenomenal addition to our team though.

Eriksen has lightning pace. Cant really say the same about Josh though.

The rumour now is we have actually made a bid for him, and are actually the only club to have made such a move. He`s looked pretty impressive anytime I`ve seen him, which is admittedly not that much.

The rumour now is we have actually made a bid for him, and are actually the only club to have made such a move. He`s looked pretty impressive anytime I`ve seen him, which is admittedly not that much.

Love hate situation for me. He's an incredibly talented young player but what about Josh? They both prefer playing in the hole, linking midfield and attack (something we're sorely missing).

Lucas Ocampos, 17 year old Argentinian winger with lovely right foot at River Plate. 13 games, 3 goals and 3 assists.

Apparantly we're 'linked'.. but 17 million euros is a joke.

Edited November 8, 201114 yr by David Luiz4

The Erickson thing is balderdash anyway. He and his father have both commented that they'd never come here, because I believe we rejected him when he trialled here as a youngster.

I think he's most likely to end up next to Thiago long term in the Barca midfield. He is Iniesta to Thiago's Xavi in my view.

Also Josh will do us just fine.

Great thing about Eriksen is how two footed this guy is. Its rare nowadays to a player so good with both feet.

The rumours about cavani are everywhere now. I wonder if there's anything in it. He's quallity no doubt. but what would that mean for torres? You don't spend 35million on a player to be your reserve number 9. I wonder what's going on at the club. I get that we will be losing anelka kalou maybe drogs etc. But still a strange one. That's if there's any truth in it anyway.

The rumours about cavani are everywhere now. I wonder if there's anything in it. He's quallity no doubt. but what would that mean for torres? You don't spend 35million on a player to be your reserve number 9. I wonder what's going on at the club. I get that we will be losing anelka kalou maybe drogs etc. But still a strange one. That's if there's any truth in it anyway.

well cavani and lavezzi have and still do successfully play together, so cavani obviously can play with another striker in the formation. can he work with torres? theres only one way to find out

And the mental rumours are starting quite early this season, though I dont think any will beat this absolute belter....

TRANSFER NEWS: Chelsea Line-up Shock Swoop For Starlet

By Football Friends Published: 8th November 2011

Chelsea are preparing a shock move for Newcastle United youngster Sammy Ameobi, according to reports.

News reports recently have suggested that Stamford Bridge boss Andre Villas-Boas has been impressed with the forward and is pondering a January swoop for the youngster. The 19-year old has only made 9 appearances for the Black and Whites but has done enough to persuade Villas-Boas he may be a good addition to the Chelsea squad.

Despite the Blues interest, boss Alan Pardew has insisted Ameobi will not be going anywhere.

“Sammy is a bit different. He offers – especially with Gabriel Obertan at the moment being injured – something different. We’ve got to see how bad Obertan is but Sammy isn’t going anywhere.”

I was watching them against Everton on Saturday and he must have the skinniest legs in the Premier League. He makes Kate Moss look overweight. Aside from that of course this is ridiculous. He had a few nice touches but nothing more than the average.

I was wandering around the net this morning and found that goal.com had a few lists of the various players available on frees this summer.

Apart from the normal trash there are some pretty solid names on there that could help us a bit next season for no fee (of course assuming they choose to remain free agents.) Some of them might be even available in January, given the clubs might want to recoup a bit of a something for them.

Premier League

Rosicky

Junior Hoilett

Gary Cahill

Berbatov

Carlo (I'd have him back as Number 2 behind Cech)

Serie A

Montolivo

De Rossi

Flamini

Bundesliga

Rene Adler

Jefferson Farfan

Tim Wiese

Portugal

Javier Saviola

There are some solid players on the list in my view, some of course better than others, and some I wouldn't touch, but certainly there are some players who could do a job here given we'll probably be moving on all sorts of people over the next little bit. Picking some names off that list rather than paying big fees, wouldn't be the worst alternative in my view particularly given the FFP regulations.

Thoughts?

I agree that there are some interesting names there. I've always liked Saviola, but I haven't seen him play in a very long time so I don't know if he's good or not nowadays.

Rosicky isn't that bad either.

Hoilett appears to be quite talented. Might become good in the future.

My number one pick however would be Carlo as backup. I like Hilario and think he's not that bad, but I miss Carlo. Not as much as Val, but a lot anyway.

I don't think anyone could miss Carlo as much as Val. But he's a fair shout in my view.

Interesting. De Rossi and berbatov wouldn't be bad.....not first choices but on a free it would be worth a look

Cahill and Montolivo would be my picks and they would strengthen our squad and add some much needed depth.

I'd take Berbatov, especially with Drogba, Anelka and hopefully Kalou departing soon.

Cahill and Montolivo would be my picks and they would strengthen our squad and add some much needed depth.

Me too, but I think Montolivio is going to AC. Both would be good additions. Berbatov is far too lazy, with Drogba age/loss of form, we have really missed the work rate we used to get from him as a centre forward.