EPL News April 17th

[dmmd98]

Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor and Russian international Yuri Zhirkov head a £50m hit list of summer transfer targets being considered by Chelsea as part of the deal to bring AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge. (Daily Telegraph)

Zhirkov would make a good insurance policy in case Joe Cole doesn’t come back 100% next year. These Adebayor to Chelsea rumours are little more to unsettle Arsenal ahead of their FA Cup semi match this weekend.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued a hands off warning to the Spanish giants hoping to tempt Xabi Alonso out of Anfield. Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with the Liverpool ace, who nearly left last summer. (Various)

Great player but Alonso would have a hard time cracking that Barcelona midfield. Real Madrid depending on who the President is next season wishes to bring in more Spanish players so obliviously Alonso is a fit there.

But if Liverpool are to end their wait for a league title they will have to do it within “a few years” or they will have to do it without Fernando Torres after the Spaniard said he would like to play in the Italian league one day. (The Independent)

I really don’t think any Liverpool fan would be up in arms over this. It’s not like Torres says he wishes to play in Italy A.S.A.P.

Manchester United’s bid for glory on five fronts is unfolding against a backdrop of growing instability, with Carlos Tevez joining Cristiano Ronaldo in contemplating a future away from Old Trafford, possibly in tandem at Real Madrid next season. (The Times)

Must be a slow day for this to make the papers. Is Tevez’s future really anything new?

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas appear to have ruled out leaving Arsenal after Arsene Wenger’s team reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. (The Times)

Arsenal wouldn’t miss van Persie, at least to the point of having someone like Vela in the wings to replace him. Fabregas on the other hand is the key to Arsenal’s future.

Aston Villa are lining up a £6m bid for Leeds’ highly-rated youngster Fabien Delph. Boss Martin O’Neill wantes Delph, 19, to replace Gareth Barry if he joins Liverpool this summer. (Daily Mirror)

No better place for young English talent to go to than Aston Villa at the moment.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn insists he is 100% behind boss Ricky Sbragia. (The Sun)

Niall Quinn must be biting his fingernails over Sunderland’s EPL future.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says highly-rated Norwegian central defender Brede Hangeland may stay at Craven Cottage. (Various)

But if he does leave it won’t be cheap and Fulham would turn a nice profit on Hangeland.

Wayne Rooney made a fool of former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall - when he was just 11 years old. The Manchester United striker was Everton mascot in 2002 and, while warming up with the Welsh goalkeeper, he continually chipped the ball over Southall’s head into the net (The Sun).

This was in Rooney autobiography released nearly three years ago.

[rjordan1979]

Torres is what, 21? He'll be at 'Pool for a while.

And you're right about Alonso having a hard time cracking Barca's midfield. Iniesta is a beast, isn't he?