Football transfer rumours: Kasper Schmeichel to Bayern Munich?

Today’s flim-flam wants to be elected

A shocking bold-type confession in this morning’s Sun: “FERGIE: I WANT TO BED CHERYL”.

The Mill had to take quite a long breath after reading this. What to make of it? The ultimate statement of enduring longevity, perhaps. Retiring? How’s this for retiring? And while you’re at it check out my florid, hoarsely-panting 68-year-old leaked inter-generational celebrity sex tape. Maybe it’s a simple statement of fact, a knightly tribute to the nation’s favourite doll. Or more likely desperate next-generation mind games ahead of the final round of Premier League matches, some kind of crazed mess-with-Ashley’s-head gambit.

Although, to be honest the Sun does seem to be a bit confused itself. “BLACK EYED PEAS star FERGIE has told pal WILL.I.AM that SHE will bed CHERYL COLE before he does,” it goes on to say. “Bisexual Fergie, 35, has been teasing her bandmate about his huge crush on the GIRLS ALOUD star.”

Will.I.Am. Bisexual Fergie. The Mill has gone a little blank to be honest, and it’s probably all for the best. Particularly when there’s news in the Daily Mirror that Arsène Wenger is about to pay £10m for Dynamo Kyiv’s Pape Malickou Diakhaté, the vice-captain of Senegal and fancy-sounding defender who “also plays in midfield”, which already sounds slightly too poncy and Arsenal. Bone-headed big-money disappointment William Gallas could be flouncing off elsewhere after being offered only a one-year deal. He says Roma, Paris St Germain and Juventus are all prepared to give him two years.

Sam Allardyce is in a hoarse and fetid funk over Cardiff City’s Welsh international Joe Ledley, who is available “on the cheap this summer”. Birmingham and Bolton are both after the scuttling cross-patch bald full-back Paul Konchesky. And the spotless courtly gent Roy Hodgson, who would never even think of doing that to Cheryl, has Nicky Shorey up his sleeve.

In the Daily Mail Bayern Munich want to pay £7m for the scurrying Manchester United wing, strike defensive attacking midfield indie guitarist Park Ji-sung. Sir Alex Ferguson says he needs two players. He may be getting rid of ambling tearful goal-scapegoat Dimitar Berbatov, indolent Glenn Hoddle-lite Michael Carrick, juddering, creaking, back-firing defensive Rolls Royce Rio Ferdinand and apparently want-away ace grappler Nemanja Vidic.

Rafael Benítez is all set once again to hold more “crunch talks”, the latest in an endless round of crunch talks for a man whose life consists of little else but crunch talking, with this new fellow Martin Broughton. If Chelsea buy Fernando Torres for £70m Benítez wants to be allowed to waste every penny on disappointing Chilean left-backs, skinny Frenchmen who play in the reserves for six years and angry-looking but basically pointless ageing European defenders.

West Ham are after the 17-year-old Shrewsbury “wonderkid” Tom Bradshaw, who has scored three goals, which is enough, apparently, to qualify for wonderkid status. Chelsea have smeared their face with rabbit dung, packed a small Tupperware box with peanut butter sandwiches, put on their taupe combat-style outdoor trousers and begun “tracking” holding midfielder Fabian Rinaudo of Gimnasia La Plata. Rinaudo has been likened to Javier Mascherano and is described as “a 5ft 8in terrier”.

Back in the Sun Benítez may not actually be going to Juventus, who aren’t offering him enough “power”. Nicolas Anelka is going to sign a new two-year deal at Chelsea. “It’s 99.5% done,” says an insider, holding up 99.5 fingers.

Wolves want to buy the Crystal Palace midfield goal machine Darren Ambrose. The sum of £1.5m should do it. Kasper Schmeichel is “eyeing a deal” with Bayern Munich. Bayern have offered him a contract. He is eyeing it. Birmingham, West Brom and Derby are also politely interested.

According to Goal.com Thiago Silva’s agent says he’s unlikely to go to Chelsea. “Thiago Silva is very happy at Milan and he wants to honour his contract. I know nothing because if there was a team interested in Thiago they should contact Milan, I am just his agent,” Paulo Fernando Tonietto said, adopting a sickly and humble facial expression and trying to make himself look, really, really, really small, like a tiny defenceless hedgehog, or a little mouse with three legs.

Strolling, muscle-bound, almost entirely inflexible slowcoach Michael Ballack could be off to Schalke. “We are indeed interested in signing Michael Ballack. I’m confident that he’s ready to accept a pay cut if he decides to return to the Bundesliga this summer,” Felix Magath told the Berliner Kurier, which sounds a bit like one of those newspapers sulky hooded teenage boys tip in vast quantities every week over the side of railway embankments before shamelessly ambling back to the shop to claim their £12.52, which they will then spend on individual cigarettes and a selection of energy drink shots.

Transfer windowNotts CountyBayern MunichCardiff CityBlackburn RoversArsenalRomaDynamo KyivBarney Ronayguardian.co.uk

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Blackburn Rovers | Premier League match report

As far as the Wolves supporters were concerned, it was an “I was there” moment. With nine minutes remaining, and just when the home team seemed certain to make it five games without a goal — and five in a row at home — Sylvan Ebanks-Blake nodded Stephen Ward’s cross beyond Paul Robinson and saw it bounce off the post and over the line.

The eruption around the ground was one of sheer relief, though despite the idiotic ground invasion at the end, Wolves are not yet safe. If Burnley win all three of their remaining games, and Wolves lose both of theirs, they may yet go down.

And while it would be unfair to suggest that the fact they probably will now stay up is down to the failings of others, their impotence in front of goal in the last three months inevitably takes some of the gloss off an otherwise praiseworthy season.

For that, surely, the manager, Mick McCarthy, has to take his share of the blame, for all that the Yorkshireman deserves credit for Wolves’ survival. Playing one up front, with one of a five-man midfield sweeping in front of the back four, is acceptable away from home, but in front of their own supporters it has led to a series of sterile and sometimes, as on this occasion, fruitless matches. Next season they will almost certainly have to offer more.

Inevitably, given the formations, the match developed as so many at Molineux have this season, with Wolves organised primarily to frustrate — or, as McCarthy would no doubt prefer, to be solid — and chances at either end at a premium.

It took almost 20 minutes for the first to arrive, when Rovers came within a post’s width of taking the lead in a manner that would have driven McCarthy up the wall. Nikola Kalinic was up against three Wolves defenders when Basturk swung in a cross from the left, but the Croatian forward got in front of George Elokobi and was unlucky to see his header come back off Marcus Hahnemann’s left-hand post, with the American goalkeeper well beaten.

It was 25 minutes before Wolves first threatened. Kevin Doyle’s cross was headed for a corner, which eventually resulted in David Jones shooting into the side-netting.

Three minutes later Rovers went ahead. Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner to the far post badly misjudged by Hahnemann, and Ryan Nelsen, arriving late, kneed it into the empty net.

With his team yet to create an opportunity worthy of the name, McCarthy gave Doyle some support in the shape of Chris Iwelumo, but their only genuine chance of the half fell to Jody Craddock, who was coming in at the far post when Jones’s volleyed cross cleared the Blackburn defenders. The defender’s shot went well wide.

The second half was an improvement of sorts, as it had to be. Paul Robinson almost fumbled a simple save from Jones, and Craddock volleyed over from close range after Elokobi’s throw was flicked on by Iwelumo.

For Rovers Pedersen and Keith Andrews shot straight at Hahnemann, but just when the crowd had given up, McCarthy put on Ebanks-Blake, and the substitute obliged. Even then Rovers spurned three good opportunities to score a winner.

Premier LeagueWolverhampton WanderersBlackburn RoversRichard Raeguardian.co.uk

Squad sheets: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers

That the Molineux faithful have not seen their side score a single goal since February, and only ten all season, will be forgiven if Wolves get the points that will guarantee survival. Not forgotten, however: Mick McCarthy has acknowledged he must increase his side’s firepower over the summer, if only to keep the fans awake. Blackburn will be hoping the young French midfielder Steven Nzonzi, the Premier League find of the season according to Sam Allardyce, can replicate the long-distance strike that raised the roof against Everton last week. Richard Rae

Venue Molineux, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season n/a

Referee L Probert

This season’s matches 21 Y71, R4, 3.57 cards per game

Odds Wolves 13-10 Blackburn 5-2 Draw 23-10

Wolves

Subs from Hennessey, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh, Vokes, Milijas, Ward, Guédioura, Iwelumo, Halford, Mujangi Bia, Surmna, Castillo, Stearman

Doubtful Jarvis (thigh)

Injured Kightly (ankle, unknown), Murray (knee, unknown)

Suspended Henry (last of three)

Form guide DDLDWD

Disciplinary record Y63 R4

Leading scorer Doyle 7

Blackburn

Subs from Brown, Bunn, Grella, Diouf, Jacobsen, Chimbonda, Hoilett, Roberts, Di Santo, Basturk, Rigters

Doubtful Diouf (tonsillitis), Jacobsen (groin), Olsson (leg)

Injured Emerton (hamstring, 3 May), Samba (groin, 3 May)

Suspended None

Form guide LDDWWD

Disciplinary record Y55 R2

Leading scorer Dunn 8

Match pointers

• Blackburn last won at Wolves in October 1990 when Frank Stapleton scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory

• If Wolves fail to find the net they will equal the longest run of matches without scoring (five) in the Premier League this season

• If selected, Paul Robinson will be making his 300th Premier League appearance

• Wolves have been awarded one penalty so far in 2009-10, the fewest in the division

• Blackburn have drawn seven games 0-0 this season, more than any other side in the top flight

Premier LeagueWolverhampton WanderersBlackburn Roversguardian.co.uk