Down the Grapevine

Now that David Villa has taken centre stage alongside Franck Ribery in this week's transfer rumour mill, The Sun claims the Spanish striker will only move to England if it's to play for Liverpool.

The UK tabloid apparently learnt this bit of news from some of Villa's "close friends" who say the Valencia forward will only play for the Merseysiders due to his admiration for Rafa Benitez and friendship with another compatriot, Fernando Torres.

While we're at it, he'd probably fancy a move to Liverpool instead of the other Premier League clubs as Spanish is getting close to becoming the main language in the Anfield dressing room. Plus, deciphering Alex Ferguson's order's through his thick Scottish accent is no easy task.

No one knows how the Sun gets away with its reporting standards as Villa may very well be headed to England this summer although Liverpool look like an unlikely destination due to their financial woes, especially now that the club is willing to pay GBP17 million for Glen Johnson. Then again, maybe there's a secret stash hidden somewhere at Anfield as it would seem like sheer madness to blow your entire budget on someone like Johnson!

Remember these guys?

With all the focus on the big guns, we seemed to have overlooked some smaller but important potential transfers in the league.
First up, it seems as though David Bentley, the one time blue-eyed boy of English football, is ready to quit Tottenham after a miserable season there to join Martin O'Neill's British revolution at Villa Park. Talks between both clubs are reportedly ongoing with Spurs ready to sell the forward for cut price of GBP7 million.

Of course, I can help but wonder if this has anything to do with the Londoners' supposed bid to bring Arjen Robben to the club. All the same, Bentley could do with a fresh start somewhere else and if there's one man who'd get the job done, it would be Martin O'Neill. And this could be what Bentley needs to revive his career.

Besides the England man, another forward who somehow dropped out of the radar is Paraguayan international, Roque Santa Cruz, who has been eying a move out of Ewood Park ever since Sparky went to Man City. Reports suggest a deal is imminent as both clubs are looking to end the season-long saga.

Now, no one doubts Santa Cruz' abilities but I have my doubts as to whether he'll be able to rediscover his scoring touch in a team as mismanaged as Citeh.