Liverpool have El Hadji Duouf, and he's been crap, but El Damien Duff might just give them the little bit extra they need to seriously push Arsenal and Man Utd hard. (And Newcastle too if they prove to be more than a flash in the pan.)
Blackburn are supposed to be digging in for renewed bidding in the summer, and unlike last year, the prices aren't being driven into unlikely regions. Still, with Giggs in seeming decline, another year without a single trophy could trigger is departure, and herald the new era of Man Utd dominance with Duff's marauding style bringing stark contrast to the frighteningly quiet wings United have suffered from for the past couple of seasons.
That is, if Newcastle don't get there first. Laurent Robert is a fine player, but has been accused of selfishness and inconsistancy in the past, and while the money involved would be uncharactoristic from Newcastle, Bobby might just go ahead and splash oout, trying to win the Premiership once before he finally retires.
Chelsea have a bit of a cash-flow problem, but perhaps the money from a Champions League place would encourage them to risk a bid. Certainly, while Gronkjaer is a fine winger, he can play on the right, and Zenden hasn't been the player everyone thought he was - and whose signing prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to proclaim Chelsea title contenders.
Whatever happens, Duff is likely to start next season in a shirt other than the Blackburn one he has now, but the number of potential bidders is likely to make his signing among, if not the biggest signing of the summer. Anyone who watched him in the World Cup would agree - he'll be worth it.
Blackburn are supposed to be digging in for renewed bidding in the summer, and unlike last year, the prices aren't being driven into unlikely regions. Still, with Giggs in seeming decline, another year without a single trophy could trigger is departure, and herald the new era of Man Utd dominance with Duff's marauding style bringing stark contrast to the frighteningly quiet wings United have suffered from for the past couple of seasons.
That is, if Newcastle don't get there first. Laurent Robert is a fine player, but has been accused of selfishness and inconsistancy in the past, and while the money involved would be uncharactoristic from Newcastle, Bobby might just go ahead and splash oout, trying to win the Premiership once before he finally retires.
Chelsea have a bit of a cash-flow problem, but perhaps the money from a Champions League place would encourage them to risk a bid. Certainly, while Gronkjaer is a fine winger, he can play on the right, and Zenden hasn't been the player everyone thought he was - and whose signing prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to proclaim Chelsea title contenders.
Whatever happens, Duff is likely to start next season in a shirt other than the Blackburn one he has now, but the number of potential bidders is likely to make his signing among, if not the biggest signing of the summer. Anyone who watched him in the World Cup would agree - he'll be worth it.