The People and Sunday Mirror both claim that Sir Bobby wants to make Alan Smith his big January signing, with Freddy Shepherd keen on the idea of picking up an England international for a bargain price.
According to the story in the Sunday Mirror, which appears to be based entirely around the opinion of an unnamed, but very convenient and possibly fictional club insider, Shepherd will try and get Smith for as little as £2.5million, with Leeds’ administrator being duty-bound to accept the offer.
The fact that Leeds aren’t actually in administration yet and that a consortium are said to be planning a rescue package appears to have escaped the attention of the paper though.
Not sure whether or not there is any truth in the story, but Smith would certainly be a good signing.
His disciplinary problems have often overshadowed his ability, but make no mistake, he is a talented footballer who has the kind of determination to win that a few of our youngsters could do with developing.
All reports about Smith’s off-field behaviour suggest that he is tucked up in bed with a cup of cocoa and a colouring-in book by 9.30 every night, which is certainly no bad thing.
Elsewhere, we are again linked with signing another Leeds United forward, the talented but perennially crocked Michael Bridges with the fee quoted this time £1million.
As for the right-back situation a number of papers report that Spurs are keen to sign Danny Mills to replace a St James’ Park-bound Stephen Carr, while others claim that Sir Bobby is weighing up a bid for Aston Villa and Wales star Mark Delaney.
I’ve always viewed Carr as being slightly over-rated, good going forward but prone to defensive lapses, while Delaney is solid but far from being top class.
Both though are probably better than what we already have available, and the fact that Mills is regularly named in the England squad illustrates just how poor the quality of full-backs available in the Premiership really is.
And back to the Sunday Mirror for the final word, as they claim that Andy Griffin’s recent sending off for some top-notch fisticuffs in the reserves will stop him agreeing a new contract. It may surprise some to know that the tough-tackling Griffin actually has a pretty good disciplinary record for a defender, with just one red and 14 yellow cards in 102 first-team outings.