Confirmed Speculation

Date Name Pos. From Club To Club Fee

24/08/2003
Barry Ferguson DM Glasgow Rangers (Various) £?
Rangers director of football business Martin Bain: "It would be nice to get the £12m but I think that is unrealistic.
"Barry will go to the highest bidder but only if the bid is suitable to Rangers Football Club."
24/08/2003 Alan Smith FW Leeds United Aston Villa £?
Villa manager, David O'Leary: "What is going to happen is that I am going to be linked with any player at that place (Leeds United).
"After we played against Leeds in pre-season I am surprised that I have not been linked with more of them.
"I think it is a really good point that if there is unrest there or someone could be moving I think I will be drawn into it and I think that is what has happened in the case of Alan Smith.
"I think someone had peddled a story either to unsettle Alan or to use me in it."
He added: "Alan Smith is a wonderful player because I know him.
"I hope that I will be able eventually to bring in players of his quality to Aston Villa."
24/08/2003 Barry Ferguson DM Glasgow Rangers (Various) £7m
Rangers chairman, John McClelland: "We concluded that it is quite clear that Barry does wish to leave the club and reluctantly concluded that we would let him go.
"We have got to consider his request and would consider what we would regard as reasonable bids for Barry Ferguson."
He added: "From the standpoint of the board there is absolutely no financial pressure or need to sell Barry Ferguson."
24/08/2003 Alan Shearer ST Newcastle United Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur Bosman
Shearer: "I know nothing about this - all I want to do is extend my current Newcastle contract which expires this season."
24/08/2003 Freddy Adu LW Potomac Cougars Manchester United, Real Madrid £?
Adu: "My favourite teams in Europe have always been Manchester United and Real Madrid. But since David Beckham moved to Spain it is Madrid who would please me most.
"They already had Ronaldo, Raul, Zidane, Figo and Roberto Carlos, now they have Beckham. I know that in Spain they are known as the Galaxy and I understand why.
"They are the best team in the world. It would be great to play in it one day."
24/08/2003 Gareth Southgate CD Middlesbrough - -
Southgate: "I don't know about finishing my career here. I have less than two years left on my contract.
"That will take me to 34 or 35 and I want to play longer than that. Really, it's in the hands of the club at the moment. Presumably, at some point this season, they will make a decision.
"Everyone knows how big a factor winning trophies is for me and how big a regret it is that I haven't played at clubs that are in the position to do that and challenge for the league."
24/08/2003 Lomano Lua Lua FW Newcastle United - -
Lua Lua: "I am considering my future. I feel as if I'm being held back and I don't see myself getting a chance with the top strikers we have.
"Part of me is saying I have to get away, although it's too early to start talking about a transfer.
"I will need a sit down with the boss and after that I will make a decision."
24/08/2003 Emerson Thome CD Sunderland Bolton Wanderers Loan
Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce: "There are the usual financial problems but we will see what happens in the next 48 hours. We will try our best to complete it as quickly as we can."
24/08/2003 Marlon King ST Gillingham Nottingham Forest £1m
Gillingham player-manager, Andy Hessenthaler: "It is just newspaper talk. Marlon has only just come back from a serious injury and I would be very surprised if anyone were to make an offer for him at the moment."
23/08/2003 Didier Zokora CD Racing Genk Auxerre £?
Quote by Didier Zokora: "It has been asked to me whether I would like to play for Auxerre. I don't see Genk as a final station for me and I really like the French competition. However, no concrete interest has been shown yet, so I must keep focussed on our next game against GBA."
23/08/2003 Indridi Sigurdsson LB Lillestrom Racing Genk Bosman
Genk have already scouted the Icelandic defender on several occasions. Comment by Indridi Sigurdsson: "I know that Genk are interested in me. I know the Belgian competition quite well since there are a lot of Icelandic over there. I've been dreaming to go abroad for a long time now. It would be a great deal for the club too." The player's contract finishes in November, so Genk might wait untill then in order to get him for free.
23/08/2003 Steve Marlet ST Fulham Marseille -
Marlet: "Things are getting complicated. I feel that everyone has suddenly discovered that I was a good football player.
"Fulham had firstly agreed on a loan but they now want a transfer. This is understandable considering the club's financial situation.
"The president is a tough businessman, he wants to earn some money and that is completely normal. The problem is that it might make things last."
He added: "I am not too worried, this is just a little bit annoying and I am going to have to be patient.
"With a loan I would have been in Marseille on Monday to sign my contract.
"I know that the discussions are held with intelligent people and I am sure we will find a solution by the 31st."
23/08/2003 Sekou Berthe CD Troyes West Bromwich Albion £?
West Brom club secretary, John Evans: "We have been presuming that the passport will be granted next week for the last three weeks.
"From our point of view the delay has been quite frustrating. It must have been hyper-frustrating from Sekous point of view."
23/08/2003 Diego MF Santos Tottenham Hotspur £7.6m
Santos manager, Emerson Leao: "I received a message from the president saying that they hadn't reached an agreement and that Diego will stay here.
"But we know how things are here: Brazil itself is up for sale, so if someone comes tomorrow with more money, anybody can leave."
23/08/2003 Diego MF Santos Tottenham Hotspur £7.6m
Spurs representative, Nicki Arcuri: "The Santos officials were impossible to convince (to release the player immediately) so