Now the Mascherano issue seems to be coming to a close, with Barca having met Liverpool's valuation (or near enough, anyway), how will Roy spend the money?

No news on whether Hleb will be making the opposite journey, but I'd be more than happy with £20m plus Hleb.

What's going to be crucial is which striker we sign to back Torres up. I really hope it's not some deadwood like Carlton Cole, but fear it will be. What's this Luis Fabiano guy like, then?

GBP17.2m + potential GBP3m in bonuses, according to Goal.com. No Hleb in the deal.

I've heard £16m plus £6 - again, no players involved.

Also heard a whisper than we're in talks with Citeh for Adebayor.

Oh dear.

Just to make matters worse, the Konchesky rumours only get stronger. We've already got 2 distinctly second-rate left backs. Why pay good money to add another?

Mid-table mediocrity here we come.

Assuming the Yank parasites do sell. And further assuming the new owner(s) have a pot to p*ss in. And further-further assuming they'll be prepared to make a modest (£100m may do it) investment in the team. And further-further-further assuming they know more than cock-all about football, I think Woy may be drafting his own suicide note with some of the bum signings he's made/reported to be making.

I'm so bloody fed up with Liverpool and football right now.

Hmmm, interesting. Maybe the people on SAFC aren't necessarily always representitive.

lol, they are certainly not. Don't get me wrong Bent is well liked but I can't remember him making a tackle in the time he has been here. As I said, I think he was treat poorly by Arry at Spurs and he even left you guys being the top scorer at the club??? He is never going to be an all rounder and he is going to well down the list for assists too, but he puts the ball in the net more often than most.

Well in part it comes down to who's available. Woy reportedly wanted Crouch, for example. But of course 'Arry isn't that stupid, knowing full well Crouch will be able to a lot of damage in Europe.

What goes round comes round and I'm truly grateful that Rafa, as opposed to Mourinho, is now in charge of Inter.

I feel sorry for Woy on one level - he hasn't got the funds for a big FU statement of intent and seems to spend a lot of his time trying to ship duff purchases from the previous regime players out.

Talking about goals and assists. I was staggered to learn the other night that out of the last 19 goals scored by Spurs Gareth Bale has either scored or got an assist in 16 of them. And this coming from someone who earlier in his career wasn't on winning side until his 25th game for the club.

I'll say! He could have been the natural successor to Ryan Giggs if things would have turned out slightly differently...

Indeed Saint, 2 extremely good left wingers wasted in the Welsh side

The joke is that Harry at one point was on the verge of farming him out to Notts County.

I'm not saying the England team is a good one, because it isn't. However, by my reckoning he's the only Welsh, Scots or Northern Irish player who'd automatically walk into the England team at present.

A further irony is that longer term 'Arry sees him as a LB (where he started out as) because he'll perform better as the play is spread out in front of him.

Very comfortable victory for Man U at OT... some of the play between Berba, Scholes, Rooney and Nani was first class.  Berba has started the season well.... somebody mentioned that Man U are weaker this season, i disagree i think this squad could really push Chelsea all the way but word of caution Man U cant be over reliant on Scholes.

Very worrisome result for Spurs. I hope it's not like last season when we dropped points to the likes of Wolves, Stoke etc.

Today was like watching a game of pinball with the ball down near the flippers Wigan goal for much of the time. I'm afraid the bus parked in front of it won in the end.

I thought Wigan had the better of the game - certainly in terms of chances - until they went in front, when they rather inevitably tried to shut up shop - unfamiliar territory and all that.

West Ham meekly rolled over for Man U. How long can Scholes go this season before his age catches up with him? The plus side is that old Baconface looks like he's not going to sign anyone else (that's assuming the Glazer parasites would give their obedient little performing monkey any money in the first place), and the Man U squad looks threadbare.

Anyone see the Wolves-Newcastle game? I'm no fan of the wendyball nature of the modern game, bu how Carl Henry stayed on the pitch I'll never know. Yes, Barton has a reputation, but Henry should have had 3 or 4 yellows. The MotD pundits giggled like idiots and tried to make out it was fair. But if those 'tackles' had been on one of the top teams' glamour ponces, there'd have been uproar. There's a total lack of consistency in refereeing that's getting worse. Fair play to Barton, though, who never rose to the bait and laughed it off.

Care to take a bet on how long it will take Barton and Carroll to have a set to at the training ground. This of course assumes neither finds himself in prison at some point. If Barton is sensible he'll probably keep his trap shut.

Man U squad requires another midfielder in the Scholes mould... apparently SAF may test the resolve of Everton by putting in a bid fpr Rodwell. Man U squad is fairly healthy with the exception of the one player required in midfield.

Yep, GBP20m is the mooted price.

Meanwhile, Spurs have reportedly tabled a GBP16m offer for Ashley Young. Oh and also apparently been told by Utd to sod off if they think they can prise Rio Ferdinand away from Old Trafford.

So basically 'Arry has two crocks in defence and is looking to bring in a third. Utter madness.

Good bit of business by Hodgson to get Miereles.. a decent pressing type of midfielder, i think he will be a success at Liverpool.

Have to confess dont really know much about Rodwell, not sure what type of midfielder he is.... a creative one who can score goals or a huffer n puffer in the mould of Fletcher / Carrick / Anderson. But 20M is way OTT for the lad.. are Man U going to pay over the odds again to purchase a player from another Prem club...?

I just love these rumours, even if they are probably bullshine.

Rodwell to Utd in exchange for Anderson + Owen.

Moyes to Aston Villa.

Well the latter is more feasible, given one of the major bookies has slashed its odds on such an eventuality this evening.

Dont think Everton would want 2 crocks for Rodwell.

Interesting rumour re Moyes tho.... i would see it as some what a move sideways as Everton and Villa are pretty much on a par Moyes to Villa.....? O Neil to Everton....?

Huntelaar has moved to Schalke.... Fabiano staying at Sevilla. Who does that leave for Arry... Adebayor perhaps ??

Oh no, I hope this one doesn't come off.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/08/31/2096280/tottenham-swoop-for-liverpools-ryan-babel-after-moves-for