Transfer Rumours - Latest Word
Who? - Stephen Harper - Speculation Where is he? - Newcastle United Who is he linked with? - Liverpool
Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has warned Liverpool off making an approach for goalkeeper Steve Harper. Harper, 33, has been linked with a summer move to Anfield where he would be understudy to number one Jose Reina. But Keegan is hoping the experienced keeper decides his future lies at St James' Park following a season where he has made 19 appearances due to number one Shay Given suffering a succession of injuries. Harper has spent 15 years with the Magpies and is under contract until summer 2009. "I am not looking for him to go out, though I'm sure he would come and see me if Liverpool come and knock on his door," Keegan told the Newcastle Chronicle. "I'm not surprised if other teams are interested. Steve Harper is a very, very good goalkeeper. "Everyone has always known that, but it's always been hidden by the fact he has not played."
Who? - Roque Santa Cruz - Speculation Where is he? - Blackburn Rovers Who is he linked with? - Manchester United
Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz insists he has no intention of leaving Ewood Park this summer despite reports linking him with a switch to Manchester United. The 26-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding first season in the Premier League following his transfer from Bayern Munich last summer, scoring 21 times for Mark Hughes' side, including the winner in Saturday's 1-0 success at Portsmouth. Reports suggest the Paraguay international will move to Old Trafford, but Santa Cruz said: "To tell you the truth I'm not thinking about leaving Blackburn Rovers. "I know about the interest from Manchester United after what has been said in the press but nobody has spoken with me about that. "If I have to be transferred I expect it to be inside England because I would like to stay in this country." Meanwhile, Hughes is confident Christopher Samba will have recovered from a knee injury in time to face Derby County on Saturday. The Rovers boss said: "He got a bang on the outside of the knee. We hope it's just an impact injury and he should be okay. "If it's twisted then it could be a bigger issue for us. It'll be sore for a couple of days, but we hope that's all it is."
Who? - Jason Koumas - Speculation Where is he? - Wigan Athletic Who is he linked with? - Everton
Everton manager David Moyes is being linked with a summer swoop for Wigan Athletic's Wales international midfielder Jason Koumas. The 28-year-old moved to the JJB Stadium last summer in a 5million move from West Bromwich Albion but has been restricted to only 20 starts for the Latics this term. Koumas' first-team opportunities have lessened since Steve Bruce's appointment as manager and he has started only four Premier League matches since the turn of the year. Moyes is expected to revamp his midfield in the summer with Lee Carsley already being linked with a move to Derby County. Meanwhile, Nigeria international Aiyegbeni Yakubu is determined to get back on the goal trail in the last two weeks of the season. The 25-year-old, who has found the net 19 times this season only to struggle for goals recently, told the Toffees' official website: "The back four this season have been doing a great job, a fantastic job and so have the midfield. "Everybody in the team is doing a good job. Us strikers have not scored in the last four or five games but we have to just keep doing the job and it is thanks to the defenders that we are scoring goals. "I still believe before the end of the season us strikers can score goals in the last two games. "We strikers are under pressure when we don't score but I'm used to being under pressure. I'll keep working and I still believe I can score goals. For me I still believe I will score 20 goals."
Who? - Arsenal Players - Speculation Where is he? - Arsenal Who is he linked with? - Derby County
Derby County manager Paul Jewell hopes to bring up to two Arsenal players to Pride Park on loan next season. Last season, Birmingham City won promotion from the Championship after then manager Steve Bruce brought Gunners youngsters Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastian Larsson and Fabrice Muamba to St Andrew's on season-long loans, and Jewell hopes he can follow that lead. He said: "I've spoken to Arsene (Wenger) a couple of times about maybe having a look at a couple of his younger players. What I said is if he's prepared to loan anyone, would he let us know. It benefits everybody and so it's something I'll be speaking to him about tonight. They're certainly the team to watch when you're not playing against them. Probably, they'll be a bit disappointed they've fallen away. The Champions League exit has obviously hurt them and I thought they'd win the Premier League when they were top but they've probably just tired a bit. I think Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have got deeper squads but I'd say that, on their day, Arsenal are the best team in the country to watch. It's very close, there's not a lot to choose between them and Manchester United. When you see some of the football Arsenal play, it's sensational and they can blow you away - terrific team, terrific manager. Given the football they've played this season, they've probably deserved to win something."
