COLLINS: NO VAN DIJK DEAL Celtic assistant manager John Collins says no deal has been agreed for Virgil van Dijk amid speculation that the Dutch defender has already signed for Southampton. Are we still interested in this lad or have we given up now? So many names fleein about. Buggered if I can keep track of them all.
ADVOCAAT HOPES TO SECURE DOUBLE DEAL Sunderland are hoping to sign Napoli midfielder Jonathan de Guzman and Rennes striker Ola Toivonen before Tuesday's transfer deadline, according to the Northern Echo. No progress. Same as yesterday, and the day before.
You said that yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. And the day before that and.........
Former youth coach tips Ricardo van Rhijn for move to Sunderland or Norwich City Ryan Pronk believes the Ajax defender may need to leave the club, with the Premier League the perfect destination. The former youth coach of Ajax defender Ricardo van Rhijn has tipped the player to head to England this summer, specifically referencing both Sunderlandand Norwich City as potential destinations for the right-back. Ryan Pronk was speaking to Metro Nieuws in The Netherlands when he stated: “He has played a lot of games, in Europe and with Oranje. I can imagine that he wants to leave in the winter if he spens six months on the bench. "There are plenty of clubs in England, Germany or France where he could play well. I do not mean to clubs like Bayern, Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, but the clubs underneath, such as Werder Bremen, Sunderland, Norwich etcetera." Pronk, who worked with the 24-year-old as a youngster at Ajax, was speaking as the eight-cap Netherlands international has recently found himself out of the Ajax first-team. Frank De Boer has preferred to play 19-year-old Dutch under-21 international Kenny Tete in his place and Pronk feels van Rhijn must make a move for the good of his career. Why Sunderland and Norwich? Sunderland need more defensive cover, of that there is no doubt. They also have a Dutch manager and countryman such as Jeremain Lens and Patrick van Aanholt in the mix. Norwich meanwhile have a good record for getting hold of coveted Dutchmen in recent times. Both Leroy Fer and Ricky van Wolfswinkel were shock buys by The Canaries. At the moment, this is simply the idea of a former youth coach – but there should be no doubt that Premier League teams must monitor the situation of a player who has represented The Netherlands on eight occasions.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly considering a move for former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone. The Italian shot stopper, who left the Emirates for Premier League rivals Sunderland two years ago, has fallen out-of-favour under manager Dick Advocaat, with ex-Manchester City ace Costel Pantilimon occupying the number one jersey. please log in to view this image The 27-year-old, a former Italy Under-21 international, kept just three clean sheets in 13 appearances in all competitions for Sunderland last season. Despite Kenny Jackett’s decision to already bring in Arsenal loanee Emiliano Martinez to provide competition for regular number one Carl Ikeme at Molineux earlier this summer, the Wolves boss is tempted to add another goalkeeper to his ranks as his side seek promotion this term. However; it is also understood that fellow Championship rivals Hull City and Middlesbrough are also interested in Mannone’s services before the close of the transfer window on September 1