Part 36 of the "will Phil Babb ever kick a first team ball in anger again?' saga appeared in the Daily Mirror and Star last week. Both claimed that he is on the verge of a £750,000 move to Sheffield Wednesday - but then both told us a few weeks ago that he was joining Wolves and Derby. Part 37 next week. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are reported to be interested in signing another near-forgotten Irish international, Everton midfielder Gareth Farrelly, while Shay Given's hopes of a future at St James' Park were dealt a mini-blow by The Sun's story that Newcastle (who have been linked this season with just about anyone who has ever donned a pair of goal-keeping gloves) have "enquired" about Coventry's £4 million-rated goalkeeper Magnus Hedman.
Internet site ATL World Soccer News tells us that Leicester City striker Emile Heskey has signed a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool and will join them for nothing next season under the Bosman ruling while TeamTalk reports that Leeds manager David O'Leary has, once again, asked Chelsea if he can have Tore Andre Flo (for around £10 million) while the Sunday Mirror claims he's offered Wimbledon £3 million for John Hartson. The Sunday Mirror says that Arsenal's Nwankwo Kanu (who had a quiet day at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, apart from his match-winning hat-trick) is so homesick for Nigeria that he wants to move to Italy (we didn't understand that bit either) but everyone else tells us that he's so happy at Highbury he never wants to leave.
Stan Collymore is demanding a £750,000 golden handshake from Aston Villa (presumably for services rendered) before he considers moving to Fulham on a free transfer, according to TeamTalk but, most disturbing of all, was the Sunday People's revelation that Baby Spice is two-timing West Ham's Rio Ferdinand with "TV hunk John Simm". Rio is "gutted".
