All Things Footie | Friday, June 8 | Jordan
Nike Town
What's this I hear? Nike to table �1 billion bid for Manchester United? That really is taking commercialisation tooooo far. There's not going to be a shortage of transfer fees there then? I shall say no more on the subject.
Steve Bould is back at Highbury next season to continue his coaching education and another new face on his way to the marble halls is Japanese playmaker and pin-up Hidetoshi Nakata. He is idolised in Japan and signing him (even for the �20m Roma are asking) would still produce a profit from replica shirts and merchandising in Asia as well as nurturing a new fan-base. It would be foolish not to sign him, he's a bloody good player too.
West Ham target Alan Curbishley has signed a new contract with Charlton - but that really doesn't mean what it used to in football. The signing of a new deal is usually a prerequisite to a move, done mainly to increase the value of the player involved - It looks like Solkjaer could be off as well then.
And finally.... maybe the Welsh have been crossing the border and training in Liverpool too much recently - stories of the leek eaters thieving Ukranian footballs are rife....
"'This is very sad. The machine shows there are too many balls. This will probably be taken from my wages now."
- Ukranian official after requesting an airport check on Welsh kitbags.