Ahead of TheGame: Chelsea agree Bosingwa fee

The news in 60 seconds

CHELSEA AGREE BOSINGWA FEE
The Premier League runners-up are wasting no time in their summer recruitment drive with a £16.1 million bid for the defender. The club released a statement saying: "Chelsea can confirm it has reached agreement with FC Porto for the transfer of Jose Bosingwa. The player is now in England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical." Expensive Portuguese right-back replaces expensive Portuguese right-back, read all about it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3915944.ece

ROONEY CONFIDENT OF DOUBLE
The Manchester United striker insists his team would be worthy winners of the Champions League because of their proud record in the competition this season. "It is a very difficult trophy to win but we are the only unbeaten team in the competition," he said. "That record speaks for itself and we have played some great football in Europe this season. Some people said we did not express ourselves enough against Barcelona but we knew we had a job to do and we got to the final. We want to go there and win it as well as the league. I feel we can do it."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3917983.ece

O'NEILL MEETING BARRY IN NEXT 48 HOURS
The Aston Villa manager will join forces with the club's owner to try to talk the England midfielder into staying in the Midlands. "I wouldn't want to be saying how confident we are [of keeping him]," O'Neill said. "It's a different era we live in. We will see. All I know is he has never expressed one iota of unhappiness in my time at Villa Park."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article3916747.ece

FULHAM EYE UEFA CUP SPOT
Roy Hodgson's team could qualify for an amazing bonus after avoiding relegation to the Championship. Manchester City were favourites to land the FA's extra place in the Uefa Cup after the Premier League topped the continent's fair play competition. It goes to the highest-placed side in the Premier League's own fair play table not to have qualified for Europe by other means. Richard Dunne's sending-off on the last day of the season could make the difference. Whoops.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/fulham/article3917559.ece

GOLD ADMITS MISTAKES
The Birmingham City chairman says inactivity in the January transfer window and Carson Yeung's aborted takeover contributed towards the club being relegated from the Premier League. "The one redeeming feature, the one silver lining to this dreadful set of circumstances, is we have in place one of the best set of management teams that are available in Roy Aitken, Andy Watson and Alex McLeish," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3918039.ece

O'HARA EXTENDS CONTRACT
The 21-year-old Tottenham midfielder has signed a contract keeping him at White Hart Lane until 2011. "Jamie has earned his time on the pitch this season," Juande Ramos said. "He has come a long way in a short space of time so I congratulate him and this new contract is recognition of his efforts. If he continues in the same vein he will become a very important player for us."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3917537.ece

ANGRY WARNOCK PLOTS REVENGE
The Crystal Palace manager is still feeling sleighted after Bristol City's first leg play-off victory at Selhurst Park. "When everyone thinks you are out it's a great challenge to go and pit your wits against 20,000 fans and an opposing team who already think they are there," he said. "It's not beyond us. I don't think we need any more motivation - apart from getting a deckchair out they couldn't have done much more. I thought they were arrogant and I don't think you expect that in professional football."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3918068.ece

MANDARIC LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
The Leicester City chairman is in no rush to make a decision over the future of manager Ian Holloway. "When I came here I thought I could do so much, spend money on players and back the manager, but it just has not worked out and we have to find the reasons for it and then move on," Mandaric said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3917073.ece

RIJKAARD PRAISED BY SUCCESSOR
Barcelona’s incoming coach, Pep Guardiola, has been impressed with the achievements of his predecessor. “What he has done makes you want to take your hat off to him," he said. "It’s extraordinary. He is an example to all of us.” Let's hope so, you'll need to improve upon winning the European Cup and two league titles in five years to keep your job.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3916883.ece

LIVE MATCHTRACKER: LEEDS V CARLISLE
Play-off matches are coming thick and fast with fixture scheduling to match anything the Premier League has pulled off this season. Gary McAllister's men host the Cumbrians in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final at Elland Road (kick-off 7.45pm) with the second leg on Thursday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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If you've got another couple of minutes

Who's the manager of the season?
Manchester United have just one fewer league titles than Liverpool (18 to 17) after winning their tenth championship in 16 seasons. Sir Alex Ferguson's team played some scintillating football, scoring 80 goals in 38 games compared to 65 for Chelsea, their nearest challengers. Having had to play second fiddle for two seasons to the big-spending Londoners, Ferguson rebounded in some style by winning back-to-back titles himself. Therefore he must be a certainty for our manager of the season award? Or is it not as simple as that?

A fortnight ago Fulham trailed 2-0 at Manchester City with just 20 minutes remaining, only to turn that game on its head and record what turned out to be the first of three straight victories. The last of those, at Portsmouth, confirmed their Premier League status for another season and ensured that their manager could forever more be called Roy "Houdini" Hodgson. Surely he is another candidate for the honour?

Take a look at the list of nominees and register your vote.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/who-is-our-mana.html

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Gerrard kops a tranny - News of the World
What you need to know: 1) The Liverpool captain squeezed a transvestite's inflatable boobs on a night out with his wife, Alex Curran. 2) The midfielder was walking past Liverpool's Pink Bar when he made a grab for DJ Martine McClutchbag. 3) The England star said "Pretty in Pink, makes the boys wink" before moving on with his missus. 4) Perhaps Ronaldo should try before he buys in future?
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A quickie before you go, sir?

Watch Ryan Giggs clinch the title for Manchester United (and his tenth winners medal) and Danny Murphy's late header to keep Fulham in the top flight in our free Premier League and Football League play-off highlights package.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece

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1-100
Fulham’s odds for the drop when trailing 2-0 at half-time away to Manchester City a fortnight ago. Read more of Bill Edgar's amazing stats: http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/bill-edgars-w-1.html
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In TheGame

In TheGame Podcast, Lauren joins Gabriele Marcotti to discuss Portsmouth's chances of lifting the FA Cup, plus Matt Hughes reviews the season and selects his Premier League XI. Listen from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/
Europe's top sides are keeping their managerial appointments low key, which will not help Jose Mourinho's search for a high-profile position. Inter Milan could still be a destination for the former Chelsea boss, but Martin Samuel thinks he might well be cursing ruling himself out of the England job. Is "The Special One" still special? Join the debate.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/hiring-mourinho.html
In Fanzine Fanzone, our Manchester City expert says that which does not kill us can only make us stronger after his team's crushing defeat to Middlesbrough. "Supporting City is a good prelude in dealing with the endless crushing disappointments life invariably throws at you," he says. And he's probably right.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/05/heaven-knows-im.html
Aston Villa's Curtis Davies is the first £8 million "pub-team player" to break into an England squad and he is prepared to fly the flag for opportunity after the desperate struggles of his youth.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3912789.ece
Bill Edgar is a champion at setting problematic posers in his daily quiz. Today's question is: who are the only two players to appear in the Premier League this season who share the same first and second name?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/bill-edgars-m-1.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Champ10ns - The Sun
Now for the double - Daily Mirror
Champions - The Daily Telegraph
Terry a doubt for Moscow as Fulham stay up - The Independent
Ferguson wants more after 10th title - The Guardian
Sullivan fury at abuse - Daily Express
Fergie's finest - Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"Terry is so brave. Lampard was very brave. Chelsea are a very brave team."
And what does fortune favour? OK, Bryn Gran from Greenwich, we get the message.

"Gutted. Sick. Why, oh why, did my beloved Brummies have to go down? And me a barrister and all and deserving of some respect."
AOTG has never heard of a team being motivated by the occupational make-up of its audience. We'll plead insanity on Lee Marklew's behalf, if he hasn't already.

"I saw your 'success story of the season' comment about Bristol City [Friday's AOTG]. Admittedly, they’ve had a great season but you overlook Hull City; as does everyone. Phil Brown and his group of players have been transformed from near certainties for relegation to missing automatic promotion by a whisker, and we’ve done it on a budget that wouldn’t feed Lee Trundle for a month. I’d love promotion because I love Hull City, but I’d also enjoy the look of disbelief on the faces of poncy southern journo’s who aren’t actually sure what a Hull is, let alone where it is."
Empty vessels make the most noise. For your benefit, Ricky Skelton, here's a generous account of the Tigers' victory over Watford: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3913337.ece

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Tomorrow's news today

- Walcott will play next year, says Wenger
- Green claims West Ham can challenge for Europe
- Bill Edgar explains why Bolton were the stars of the season

And expect...

Roy Hodgson to buy a lottery ticket.