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Roy Keane is being linked with a sensational return to football as manager of Sunderland. The club refused to state Keane was on the brink of being handed the job, however they confirmed talks with "a high-profile figure" were ongoing with a view to a swift appointment. The Black Cats slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Bury on Tuesday in the first round of the Carling Cup, a result which came on the back of four straight league losses. Niall Quinn, the chairman-manager, decided to relinquish all coaching duties after the Gigg Lane shock and announced his intention to appoint a "world-class" new boss. Manchester United legend Keane has no prior management experience, which would make him raw to the job rather than of established pedigree. However he enjoyed enormous success during his playing career and as a former United captain is a recognised leader. Quinn also knows him well, the pair having played in the same Republic of Ireland side for many years. Sunderland said in a statement: "No new managerial appointment has been made at this time. "The club is in discussions with a high-profile figure and is hopeful an announcement will be made in the near future." Keane, 35, retired as a player in June, after a short spell with Celtic during which he helped the Bhoys win the Bank of Scotland Premier League and Scottish League Cup. He ended a 12-year association with United in November 2005 and fulfilled a lifetime ambition by joining Celtic on an 18-month deal. He managed only 13 appearances for the Hoops before quitting on medical advice. With his body ravaged after cruciate ligament and hip operations, Keane had no choice other than to follow doctor's orders, and - should he be confirmed as Sunderland's new boss - there seems no prospect of him combining management with playing at the Stadium of Light. Well that will cut off any chance of Rangers players going there.

Rangers offered Zenit fullback Skrtel tribalfooball.com - August 22, 2006 Rangers boss Paul Le Guen is mulling over an offer for Zenit St Petersburg fullback Martin Skrtel. Le Guen will check out the 21 year-old Slovak tonight as Zenit visit Ibrox.

If we can ship out all the deadwood it will seemingly release 2mill pounds on wages. I think at least 1CB is a cert with possibly one more player. Possible\probable deals now going through. Hamed Namouchi is close to completing a move from Rangers to French club Lorient on a three-year deal. An agreement has been thrashed out between the clubs and the 22-year-old Tunisia midfielder, who is due in France for a medical. ----------------------------------------- Middlesbrough are rivaling Bolton Wanderers for Rangers defender Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan. However, The Herald says Bolton are expected to sign the centre-half, possibly as early as today. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunderland are in pursuit of Rangers player, Gavin Rae. The Scotland international is now completely fit after a succession of knee injuries. The 28-year-old, may be tempted to the Stadium of Light as he seeks first-team football to continue to figure in the Scottish Squad. Quinn would even take the powerful Rae on a season-long loan and Le Guen may give the move the go-ahead. Rae has made only 14 starts during his injury-plagued stay at Ibrox. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Olivier Bernard is set to agree a free transfer switch to Sheffield United ----------------------------------------------------------- I think Malcolm is also close to a deal but i can't find any new news at the mo.

Great choice and tribute to the greatest manager ever.

Swedish legend Henrik Larsson could face a lengthy suspension following an incident at the weekend. Larsson, now playing for Helsingborg in his homeland, clashed with Elfsborg defender Jon Jonsson during a cup tie on Saturday. The 34-year-old has been reported to the Swedish FA following the clash. However, Helsingborg chairman Sten-Inge Fredin is hopeful his star man can avoid a major punishment. "I have talked to him and he is regretting what happened," Fredin told Sportbladet. "These kind of incidents often happen in matches, unfortunately. "There is optimism in the side and I don't believe they will be affected negatively by this incident. "It is not certain that he will be suspended.

He is in deep trouble for punching an opposing player in the stumoch. Very much out of character i must say but the player could not continue. The police are seemingly getting involved as well.

Agreed Gribz most of the rumours are tripe but that makes the last two weeks of the transfer window interesting. I love the last few hours before it shuts. January was most disapointing though. Mainly because we lost out on all the players we were supposed to want.

I agree with fanfc, but the first was taken from TalkManUnited.com who say it comes from the people. Not possible, We are the people!

Villa eyeing �£1m move for Manchester United youngster? 08:47 August, 21, 2006 Phil Bardsley is being linked with a switch to Aston Villa Mail The FansFC Editor Send This Article To A Friend Post Your View on The Msg Board The 21-year-old right-back joined Rangers last week on a season-long loan deal and made his Ibrox debut in Saturdayâ��s 2-0 win over Hearts. New Aston Villa boss Martin Oâ��Neill however is set to see if his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson can be tempted into parting company with Bardsley permanently. United have another promising youngster in the right-back position, Danny Simpson, while England international Gary Neville shows no sign of giving up his first-team spot just yet.

Monday August 21st 2006, 11:12 am Filed under: Player News Aston Villa want to bring Manchester United fullback Phil Bardsley back to England. Bardsley made his debut for Rangers on Saturday after signing on a six-month loan at Ibrox last week. However, the People says Villa boss Martin O�Neill fancies bringing Bardsley back to the Premiership before the summer market closes in a permanent deal. Your thoughts please I hope this isn't true as i hope he gets a chance with us. The price is 1mill. Maybe we should beat them to it and sign him.

Sunderland move for Rangers midfielder Rae tribalfooball.com - August 20, 2006 Sunderland are eyeing Rangers midfielder Gavin Rae. Niall Quinn, the Wearside club's manager/chairman, is under pressure after seeing his side plummet to the foot of the table after four straight defeats from as many games. He is keen to strengthen his side and Rae is understood to be in his thoughts. The Scotland international is now completely fit after a succession of knee injuries, but has yet to figure under Paul Le Guen and was on the substitutes' bench again during the 2-0 weekend victory over Hearts. The 28-year-old, signed by Alex McLeish from Dundee for a cut-price �250,000 three years ago, may be tempted to the Stadium of Light as he seeks first-team football to continue to figure in Walter Smith's international plans. Quinn would even take the powerful Rae on a season-long loan and Le Guen may give the move the go-ahead. Rae has made only 14 starts during his injury-plagued stay at Ibrox.

According to Scotsport the Sun have picked up on it and it is the backpage headlines tomorrow.

I doubt it. I think we will dominate most games but our immaturity will leave us open for a sucker punch.

The heading should have been, the badge on the new Scotland shirt.

I liked what i saw of him as well but whether he can still hit the level needed after such a bad injury remains to be seen. I have my doubts to be honest but i am glad he is going to get a chance.

It is just a shame he does not have more composure in front of goal otherwise he would be a gem and would have scored a lot more for us. All the best wherever he goes.

I think i missed copying a bit and now i can't find it again. sorry!!! Royals linked with surprise £1m Rangers striker swoop 10:58 August, 20, 2006 Premiership new-boys Reading are preparing a bid for Kris Boyd Found it this is what i should have posted!!!

As i said before he is very like Sutton imo, the difference is Sutton had Larssen next to him and Venegoor will have KM. Cocu for PSV could find Venegoor with his eyes shut and the tims don't have him. He will be a good signing for them though.

Preston move for Rangers striker Novo tribalfooball.com - August 19, 2006 Preston North End are interested in Rangers striker Nacho Novo. Novo, signed by Alex McLeish from Dundee two years ago, will be allowed to move on for around �250,000. Paul le Guen has told Novo he is not in his plans: "Nacho must think about leaving, but it will depend on the offers."

Last season's SPL top scorer expressed his disappointment last week after being reduced to a substitute's role so far this season for the 'Gers but returned to the starting line-up in style on Saturday, scoring both goals against Hearts at Ibrox. "Kris Boyd did very well today," said boss Paul Le Guen after the game. "I was very happy with his goals and he showed a lot of responsibilty to take the penalty to put us ahead. "However, you cannot play everyone all the time, for example, Thomas Buffel has played a lot recently, so I want the players to be patient." Surely 1 mill is a joke. Was there not a Russian team who were ready to offer a lot more.

This is great news to Magpies fans, who have not taken to the Frenchman since Graeme Souness signed him from Rangers. Three French clubs, and SV Hamburg, have been sniffing around for weeks but none made a bid. It is thought the deal is worth �£2.5m to Newcastle.

The keeper wasn't that good with this one though, it should have been an easy ball for him.

I think he was more important to PSV than they realise. He can hold the ball up good and is always a threat in the air. He is also skillfull on the ground and works really hard. He is a big presence to handle which can suck in defenders and make room for others. Not a prolific scorer in my eyes though.

I have to own up, i was away the last few weeks teaching all the sheep in Holland the Billy Boys. Now they have all got the Blue tongue sickness.

Ronald Koeman just said on live tv that he expected Venegoor to leave and he had a new player lined up.