So far it's been another week of no signings, with the QPR news void being comprehensively stuffed by a variety of rambling comments from the ever errant Adel Taarabt.
The Daily Mail (always a tremendous source) claims Taarabt has refused to sign a new deal at Loftus Road and has a break clause in his existing contract which he can activate next summer. It quotes the player saying: "I helped QPR win promotion but they will not offer me a better contract. They say I am already on big wages. They want me to stay four years on the same terms. But I don't want to sign for four years then after one year I am going to be back in The Championship. No disrespect, but if we keep the same players, it will be very difficult to stay in the Premier League when you are playing Man United and Chelsea. I understand that QPR have changed my life. People had almost forgotten me when I joined from Tottenham. But I don't think they are being fair to me."
He also told football365 in France that he would welcome approaches from Arsenal and Chelsea – the Diary would welcome a Euro Millions lottery win incidentally. Taarabt said: "I like the London clubs. I do not hide my liking for Chelsea . I would prefer to play regularly at QPR to being on the bench for a season at Chelsea . Now, if they told me I'd play 20 games per season, I think I'd be very tempted. The idea (Arsenal move) is very appealing. Especially since there is also Samir Nasri, who I know very well, but after that, there is a real possibility of playing the minimum. Today, I have a two-year contract with QPR. Yes, there is contact, but I cannot say more, as you can imagine."
Shaun Derry has echoed Taarabt's sentiments about squad strengthening, telling Talksport that new faces are essential at Loftus Road . Derry, linked with a move to Millwall on QPR message boards this week, said: "It seems to be quiet on the signings front, I’m sure Neil and the backroom staff are doing a lot of hard work but it would be nice if a few came through the door because it gives everyone a lift. The derbies were good last year against Millwall and Crystal Palace but when you look at Chelsea , Tottenham, Arsenal and Fulham coming here, it’s just gone up a notch hasn’t it and it’s going to be fantastic.”
Defender Hall has become a figure of fun among the QPR support base for his appalling fitness record since joining from Wigan three years ago. But his prolonged spells on the sidelines are no laughing matter for Hall, or in fact manager Neil Warnock and the club's bank manager with the player widely reported as one of the club's top earners. Speaking the club's official website Hall vowed to banish the niggles that have dogged his time in W12 ahead of the new season.
He said: "I had a little break but I've been at the Training Ground for a lot of the summer so far, trying to get right for next season. Last season I was hit with quite a few injuries and it was a bit stop-start. I'm trying to make sure that doesn't happen next year. I'm currently doing a pre-pre-season.
"I think we can do well next season. The gap between the Premier League and the Championship is definitely closing. The sides that were promoted last season all did well and even though Blackpool got relegated, they were flying at the start of the season and surprised a few people. It gives everyone hope. I don't think many people gave them that much hope, but for them to go to the last game of the season and still be in with a shot of staying up certainly does. If that's anything to go by then we'll definitely fancy our chances."
And finally, local MP Andy Slaughter (a Brentford fan by all accounts) has tabled an early day motion in parliament congratulating QPR on winning their promotion. Overly cynical of the LFW Diary to suggest that they should have better things to do with their time? Mind you, as we didn't get a parade it's nice that somebody has noticed Norwich didn't actually win the title. The motion is signed by a dozen MPs, including R's fan and Labour MP for Hessle (the nice bit before you get to Hull) Alan Johnson. Lovely.
It seems the papers may finally be getting the message about their "moneybags QPR" editorial line. The rumour mill has slowed noticeably in the past few days.
QPR have been repeatedly linked with striker Jay Bothroyd this week following his release from Cardiff at the end of the season. Reports in the South Wales press suggested his move to W12 was a done deal while other outlets are tipping him to join SPL side Celtic. Bothroyd told his followers on Twitter that he had made no decision about where his future lies yet and his agent Sky Andrew added: "Jay has just come back from holiday. It’s an exciting time for him because he has spent three years turning his life around. He’s in a good position."
The Mail says the R's are lining up a £3m (stop giggling) bid for Real Valladolid striker Javi Guerra, the top scorer in Spain’s Second Division last season with 29 goals in 42 appearances for Valladolid. He is 29 years old.
Buckle told the Bristol Evening Post: "I have spoken to Jamie two or three times now and he's very enthusiastic. All football clubs have their heroes, whatever level they are at, and I know Jamie is a hero here and loved by the fans. I have to distance myself from that a bit and think whether he would be the right player for the club and whether the club would be the right thing for Jamie but the more I've thought about it, the more I like the idea. I know there will be other clubs in for him, but I wouldn't rule it out. If it's right, then we'll try and do it – but there is still a little way to go yet."
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale said: "It is not just down to football, it is down to domestic issues as well. I want to make it absolutely clear that we would have wanted him to stay and be with us next season. We have not fallen out, but it just doesn't seem like it is going to be possible now. He is looking at his options. Jamie has had such a good season that there is lots of interest in him. There is nothing I can do about that and I wouldn't blame him if he takes something that is more akin to what he thinks he can get. This is the downside of someone doing well for us. I am very philosophical about it."
Earlier this month Exeter did tie another former R, Daniel Nardiello, down to a new deal of unspecified length after his first season at St James' Park in which he scored 13 goals.
Elsewhere our former youth team graduate Richard Graham has continued his nomadic trawl around the non-league pyramid by joining Conference South side Dartford from Eastleigh . The 31-year-old left sided midfield player scored 13 goals in 51 appearances for Eastleigh last season.
Luigi De Canio has told Sky Italia that he has a concrete offer to return to England this summer following his departure from Serie A side Lecce. With Birmingham today appointing Chris Hughton that means you have to look as far down as Kettering in the Conference for a club without a manager. Unless….
Finally Marc Nygaard, now 34, has signed for Helmond Sport in the Dutch second tier.
- Chelsea have turned to Porto for their new manager for a second time, appointing 33-year-old Andre Villas-Boas on a three year contract. Villas-Boas previously worked under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge meaning an employee Chelsea paid off just two years ago has now cost them the best part of £13m to bring back – the excessive release clause in his Porto contract was activated earlier this week. Turkey coach and Roman Abramovic favourite Guus Hiddink is tipped for a Director of Football role – would it be overly cynical of the Diary to suggest that it's probably only a couple of floors down in the lift for Hiddink should Villas-Boas fail to crack the player power that has dogged Chelsea in recent years?
- Inter Milan say they will not by trying to buy grumpy Man City striker Carlos Tevez this summer. Tevez has been in awesome form for City since signing from Man Utd on a free but has repeatedly tried to leave – citing homesickness and the problems of his young family living in Argentina while he stays here, unable to speak the language despite more than four years in the UK . He has seemed to suggest that this distance problem could somehow be cured by moving to Italy or Spain but Inter have said he is out of their league financially. Sporting director Marco Branca told BBC Sport: "Tevez is a great player, a great character, but absolutely no. His salary means it is out of the question. The market is crazy at the moment and it is hard to compete." Argentina has clubs he could join of course, but it's amazing how homesickness can be coped with when places of work closer to home cannot pay you the £250k a week you're currently earning.
- It looks like being a typically busy, and expensive, summer up at Sunderland. Despite earning a reputation as the Premiership version of Cardiff, collapsing in the final third of the season religiously, the Black Cats are ready to open the cheque book again and trust manager Steve Bruce. Ipswich youngster Connar Wickham is on their radar, an £8m bid has been lodged, and midfielder Seb Larsson is in negotiations after leaving Birmingham for free. Another free transfer is goalkeeper Keiren Westwood from Coventry and Sunderland have also won the race to sign South Korea striker Ji Dong-won for £2m from Chunnam Dragons. Asamoah Gyan is staying, despite reports last week that his name had been circulated among Premiership clubs. He said: "I am not leaving Sunderland and I am not interested in these rumours in the newspapers and the internet." He'll be at Tottenham by the end of the week then.
- Wolves have completed the permanent signing of Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara for £5m. The 24-year-old has spent the majority of his career so far on loan with the likes of Carlisle, Millwall and Portsmouth and excelled for Mick McCarthy's side in a temporary move last season, scoring three goals in 13 starts as they escaped the drop. He has signed a five year deal. Wolves have also signed Swansea goalkeeper Dorus De Vries after releasing Marcus Hahnemann – De Vries is out of contract at the Liberty Stadium and elected not to stay with them despite promotion to the Premiership for next season.
- Norwich 's busy summer continues, Man Utd defender Ritchie De Laet has arrived on a season long loan deal. LFW readers may remember De Laet's hapless performance for Portsmouth at Loftus Road last season during another loan spell so once again, while Norwich are making transfer market moves left right and centre few of them are causing any alarm. James Vaughan (Everton), Steve Morrison (Millwall) and Elliott Bennett ( Brighton ) complete the mediocrity parade of newbies so far this summer.
- And if you fancy a round up within a roundup Everton's Phil Neville says he has no intention of following brother Gary into retirement just yet, Glasgow Rangers have made a bid to bring Villa defender Carlos Cueller back to Ibrox despite his former manager at the Scottish giant Alex McLeish just arriving at Villa Park, Benjani has been offered a one year deal at Blackburn despite a measly three goal haul last season, and finally finally our opening day opponents Bolton are likely to be without star centre half Gary Cahill when they come to Loftus Road according to manager Owen Coyle who said this week Cahill could play for any side in Europe, and will inevitably leave the Reebok Stadium sooner rather than later.