1. #TRANSFER WINDOW After reports yesterday suggested that Birmingham had agreed a £7million fee for Robbie Keane, it seems the deal is far from done.
It is reported this morning that the Blues are reluctant to meet the £6m valuation Spurs have for the Ireland skipper. Harry Redknapp, speaking after Spurs’ defeat to Everton last night, suggested that an agreement had been made.
Aston Villa, West Ham and Fulham continue to monitor the situation.
Spurs hope that any sale of the Tallaght man will bankroll a move for David Beckham.
2. #SACK RACE Who’d be a manager eh?
There is intense pressure on several Premier League bosses this morning after an extraordinary sequence of results last night.
Roy Hodgson may be gone by lunchtime if internet rumours are to be believed – which is a bit of a leap, admittedly - after Liverpool were well beaten 3-1 in Blackburn.
The under-fire Anfield boss refused to discuss his future in the wake of the Ewood Park set-back.
Carlo Ancelotti too is facing increased pressure as off-form Chelsea lost 1-0 to bottom side Wolves. Avram Grant and Ged Houllier too are hanging on after yet more poor dissappointment for West Ham and Villa respectively.
3. #TITLE RACE Elsewhere, Man City frustrated a rampant Arsenal at the Emirates as Joe Hart somehow kept a clean sheet. Manchester United then are the big winners this week, we can agree?
More importantly however for Irish fans, the lasting image of the night was David Meyler suffering a recurrence, it seems, of his cruciate injury. An emotional Steve Bruce admitted afterwards that he faces another hard road back.
The former Cork City man tweeted an optimistic message late last night however: “Thanks to everyone for all the nice messages, I’ll be back don’t you worry!!”
In better news for Ireland, Seamus Coleman scored the Goodison Park winner and Newcastle’s Leon Best hit a hat-trick!
4. #CATS Management do not expect Henry Shefflin and John Tennyson to fully recover from their respective cruciate knee injuries and be back in Kilkenny colours until the All-Ireland championship, according to the Irish Examiner.
5. #HEALTH SCARE After yesterday’s seemingly inaccurate reports in Italy which suggested that Giovanni Trapattoni suffered a stroke in Milan last week, the fall out continues.
Daniel McDonnell writes that the latest health scare has ‘effectively confirmed that he will leave his post as Ireland manager when the interest in Euro 2012 ends’.
Emmet Malone quotes the FAI’s chief medical officer, Dr Alan Byrne as saying: “[I can] absolutely confirm that he didn’t have a stroke. He left the hospital walking. I can assure you that the boss is fit and well.”
6. #PARTNERSHIP Talks are under way which may lead to a new partnership between Leinster Rugby and UCD, incorporating the establishment of a multi-million-euro purpose-built facility on the university’s grounds, according to Hugh Farrelly.
7. #RETIREMENT Galway’s Declan Meehan has called time on inter-county football after 15 years with the Tribesmen, according to RTÉ.
8. #DEAL Cian Healy agreed a two-year contract extension with the IRFU yesterday. The announcement came as Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery faced up to six weeks out of action.
9. #YOUTUBE Like every Thursday, we’ll be putting together the weekly viral run-down later on. Let us know your favourites from the past seven days.
Here’s one to get you started.
