Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Neymar, Bullard, Nolito, Gray

It’s been a tough old time for Liverpool since Luis Suarez left, but it’s clear now what they have been sorely lacking all along: Jimmy Bullard. Not in the team obviously, but on the sidelines, sorting out all their problems with his unparalleled football knowhow. In a groundbreaking “exclusive” in the Daily Express, Bullard has provided a piercing critique of matters at Anfield and essentially figured out what Brendan Rodgers evidently couldn’t: they should have signed Neymar. The former Fulham midfielder argues that Neymar is “world class” and suggests that the Brazilian would have been a better replacement for Suarez than Danny Ings.

It’s certainly hard to disagree with Bullard’s assessment, which represents quite a coup for the Express, who were fortunate enough to secure Bullard’s insight because he was “speaking on behalf of Ladbrokes Rugby’s ‘Who’s Got The Balls’ campaign”. Powerful stuff, although the disappointment for Liverpool fans is that Bullard wasn’t welcomed into the Anfield set-up 18 months ago, even if only on a consultancy basis. Instead, he was sodding about on I’m A Celebrity wasting his talent. Wasting his mind. Don’t get Hot Football Transfer Gossip, Bullard was an absolute legend in the jungle, but he offers so much more than falling out of hammocks, and going fishing.

Staying on the Barcelona theme, while moving swiftly away from the Jimmy Bullard theme, Arsenal are set to go head-to-head with the Catalan giants for Spanish forward Nolito, according to the Metro. The Celta Vigo forward has scored five goals and notched three assists in his first six games of the season. The Gunners are apparently willing to meet his £13.3m release clause, and we’re sure he’ll definitely choose the Emirates over the Nou Camp - unless he’s been watching any Champions League football this season.

Newport Country teenager Aaron Collins has been making waves in League Two, despite playing just a handful of games, and the Chronicle reports that Newcastle are one of five Premier League sides interested in signing the 18-year-old striker.

Meanwhile, Arsenal continue to sniff around the 19-year-old ankles of Birmingham starlet Demarai Gray, reports the Express and Star (that’s a Midlands-based paper, not a terrifying conglomerate of the two national rags). The Gunners face competition from Liverpool and - more intimidatingly - West Brom for the teenager’s signature. Don’t know why Brendan Rodgers is interested - he should just sign Neymar instead.

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