Afternoon all, or morning depending on where you live - if only I could get up at 7am every morning like other bloggers - no chance.

All appears quiet on the transfer front, with Inter Milan appearing to have gone cold on the idea of signing Alexander Hleb. Alternatively, Arsene Wenger's threats of reporting Inter for tapping-up, co-joined by Hleb's insistence that he will not dump on Arsenal by buying out his contract could be giving them second thoughts. I must admit I don't like the idea of reporting clubs for illegal behaviour, virtually everyone does it or has done it and it could damage relations between the clubs and therefore might not be in the best interests of Arsenal long-term.

Meanwhile, more comforting news arrives courtesy of two Gunners who appear keen to stay. Full back Gael Clichy is supposedly putting pen to paper on a new 4-year deal as we speak, whilst Arsenal are reportedly hopeful of Cesc Fabregas signing a new deal upping his wages from £60-£100k. Some papers claim that rising above the £100k barrier breaks the clubs wage structure - or heightens it, but to be honest, I don't know where these reporters get all the numbers from - their backside probably.

Transfer rumours persist unabated, Werder Bremen's 23 year-old Brazilian midfielder Diego is being touted as a replacement for Hleb, whilst Marseille's "dynamo" Samir Nasri is being touted as a shoe-in for Flamini - despite being a creativa attacking midfielder. Then it goes from the sublime - Hatem Ben Arfa, to the ridiculous, 36-year-old Lilian Thuram.

One rumour that may have legs is Wenger's pursuit of Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne, crowned 3 times player of the season by the club's own fans. I must admit that this player has impressed me many times in recent seasons. He's 28, 6ft 2, deceptively quick, not too injury prone and the epitomy of calm. Neither will he require time adapting to the Premiership. I think he would be a good foil for Gallas, and Dunne plays for the Republic of Ireland too, so no European Championships or World Cups for him.