The Transfer Bulletin: Blues move or blue movies

We'll be rounding up all the latest gossip and how the odds are changing right here every morning, lunchtime and afternoon.

Click here for the latest rumours from today's Paper Talk

Click here for Sky Bet's Transfer Specials

1730: It's Friday, it's a lovely evening, you're probably thinking you'd rather sit outside with a nice cold beer than read a football story.

This one's a bit different, though. Starts off in the most predictable fashion possible. It turns out, stay with me here, that Harry Redknapp may be about to sign a player he's worked with at two of his previous clubs. Yes, I know. 

That player is laconic and laid-back former Tottenham and QPR left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto. There's just one sticking point that may stop him fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing for Birmingham. Over to 'Arry:  "I got a phone call, 'Mr Redknapp I have a fantastic player for you, one of your old players, Benoit'. 

"I'm thinking, 'yeah', somewhere inside you think 'I can get him going again'. The only trouble is that he's admitted he wants to be a porn star.

"Maybe I can get another year out of him before he decides to do that."

Still waiting on the Sky Bet traders to price this one up, but here at the Bulletin our first show is 8/11 Birmingham, evens Porn Star.

Not really sure where we go from that, but the news elsewhere is that Antonio Conte is keen to extend his Chelsea contract and remain at Stamford Bridge "for many years to come", while we still await further news of Bernardo Silva's medical at Manchester City.

1430: Scott Francis is running through what next season's Premier League contenders need to win the title and today he's focusing in Arsenal.

Here are his five players that the Gunners need.

1205: The latest line coming out of the transfer betting markets is that John Terry is being backed to join Bournemouth this summer.

Seemingly not put off by centre-back's cringeworthy Chelsea exit, the Cherries have been cut from 5/2 to 5/6 following a run of bets.

A move to the Chinese Super League is now out to 9/2, with the MLS a 7/1 chance.

West Brom are considered the other potential destination at 5/1, paving way for a centre-back partnership with Gareth McAuley boasting 73 years of experience.

We await the pricing up of odds on Terry making his Bournemouth debut as a 26th-minute substitute...

In the manager markets, Nigel Clough has been backed into 7/4 favourite to be the next Sunderland boss amid local media reports.

1010: Manchester City are the focus of much of this morning's transfer speculation, with Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva both backed in to short odds to arrive.

Walker's move from Tottenham to the Etihad had already looked likely but the right-back fuelled further speculation by posting a 'thank you' banner on Instagram.

His odds are now just 1/10 to move and 11/2 to stay at Spurs, while Monaco's talented youngster Bernardo Silva is also odds-on to join City.

The attacking midfielder was subject to a significant gamble on Thursday evening, prompting his odds to tumble from 9/1 to 1/3 in a market which Manchester United were previously favourites.

In Friday's Paper Talk, speculation is rife that Wayne Rooney is on his way to the Chinese Super League.

Meanwhile, both Wilfried Zaha and Geoff Cameron have signed contract extensions with Crystal Palace and Stoke respectively.

0745: Welcome along to Friday's Transfer Bulletin and to start we have a story from Europa League winners Manchester United.

The plan is for them to try and get in three or four high-quality signings over the summer - get all the details here. 

Thursday May 25

2100: As expected, Hull have confirmed Marco Silva's departure following the club's relegation. 

Nigel Adkins is Sky Bet's early 2/1 favourite to replace the Portuguese, with Aitor Karanka and Alex Neil the only others at single-figure prices - both 8/1 - in an open fledgling market. 

There has to be some value down the list, surely, but the question is where? Steve McClaren at 12/1? Giggsy at 20/1? Can probably put a line through Steve Bruce at 25/1, and I'm not sure this is the job to tempt Big Sam Allardyce back into the great game given his Palace resignation statement.

Let's go for Alan Pardew at 14/1. No real reason, just somehow seems to fit, doesn't it?

As for Silva, he's jumped to 11/8 favourite for the Palace job, while he's 5/1 for Watford and 8/1 for the Leeds gig. He's an initially-eye-catching-but-probably-about-right-actually 28/1 in the next Arsenal manager market for those who like ot play a longer game.

1715: Back in the transfer world, Wayne Rooney has cranked up the guessing game over his future, suggesting he has “more or less” decided what he will be doing this summer.

The Manchester United legend, who has been omitted from Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad, is 9/2 to remain at Old Trafford beyond the summer transfer window.

The Chinese Super League is deemed his most like the most likely destination at 5/4, with a return to Everton considered the likeliest alternative at 13/8 after he appeared to confirm they were the only English club he would consider.

Next in the betting is ‘any MLS club’ at 9/1, while all other options are 25/1 or longer.

The 31-year-old has drifted out to 7/4 to make England’s 2018 World Cup squad, while he is 7/1 to still have the captain’s armband for their opening game.

Meanwhile, Hull are poised to announce the departure of manager Marco Silva, while Chris Coleman has played down links between himself and the Crystal Palace vacancy. 

Manchester City's summer clearout continues with Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy and Jesus Navas all confirmed today to be following Pablo Zabaleta out of the Etihad Stadium when their contracts expire at the end of next month.

1412: Aitor Karanka's favouritism for the Leeds job seems to have the nod of approval from punters, with his odds being backed in to just 8/13 with Sky Bet. Silva now a 6/1 second favourite. 

1355: Aitor Karanka has been installed as the opening 2/1 favourite to be the next Leeds manager following Garry Monk’s departure.

Marco Silva (4/1), Nigel Pearson (5/1) and Alan Pardew (6/1) follow, while the interesting name that jumps out from the list is Claudio Ranieri at 8/1.

Compatriot Andrea Radrizzani completed his takeover at Elland Road on Tuesday and it remains to be seen whether he intends to further the club’s Italian connections.

Roberto Di Matteo (14/1), Walter Mazzarri (16/1), Roberto Mancini and Luciano Spalletti (both 16/1) are also on the list.

1345: Garry Monk joins the list of departing managers this afternoon, having opted not to activate a 12-month extension to his Leeds contract.

That leaves the bookmakers scrambling round to price up yet another market, but Monk has already started to shorten in other books.

He’s in from 5/1 to 7/4 second favourite for the Middlesbrough job, with Nigel Pearson heading the betting while Steve Agnew is 10/1 to retain his position.

The 38-year-old has also come in to 4/1 to take over at Sunderland, 5/1 to be the next Hull boss, 2/1 to go to Crystal Palace and 8/1 for the Watford post.

Stay tuned for the next Leeds manager odds…

1030: Another day and another managerial vacancy for the bookmakers to price up, with Marco Silva expected to leave Hull.

That has prompted a fairly logical gamble for the Portuguese boss to replace Sam Allardyce at Crystal Palace, shortening his price from 12/1 to even money over the last 24 hours, although he remains a 2/1 chance in places.

Silva, who is surely the most sought after relegated manager in Premier League history, had been expected to return home to take over at Porto, but reports suggest his chance of getting that job have cooled. 

In terms of his replacement, Aitor Karanka has been installed as the 3/1 favourite with manager-market regular Nigel Pearson next in the betting at 4/1 alongside Alex Neil.

Former Middlesbrough boss Karanka made his intentions to stay in England clear in a recent Goals On Sunday interview, with his family now settled further up the east coast.

Meanwhile, in Thursday’s Paper Talk, Everton have seemingly accepted that talks with Ross Barkley have come to the end of the line.

0955: Sky Sports report Marco Silva is to activate a release clause and leave Hull City with immediate effect. Check out the story here and there will updates later as the markets react on where he will end up and who is favourite for the vacant job at the KCOM Stadium.  

0840: Welcome along again for some more fun in the sun when I am sure there will be plenty of transfer speculation and rumours to fill the day!

The latest edition of Paper Talk is here while you can also check out the story on Steve Cook signing a new long-term deal with Bournemouth. 

Wednesday May 24

1722: Another quick note coming out of Sky Bet’s Transfer Specials, Alexis Sanchez has been trimmed from 2/1 to even-money to join Bayern Munich this summer. 

The Chile star is now odds-against to stay at Arsenal at 6/4, with Manchester City 7/2 to secure his services.

1715: The managerial merry-go-round takes another turn, with Steve McClaren somewhat surprisingly backed into just 1/2 to be the next Wigan manager.

The Latics have been on the lookout for a new boss since the relegation to Sky Bet League One was confirmed, which also saw interim boss Graham Barrow leave the club.

Luton manager Nathan Jones had been odds-on for the post but has since drifted out to 11/4, while Paul Cook (8/1) and Uwe Rosler (11/1) are considered the other contenders.

However, it is the former England boss who is now rated clear favourite to take the job, in one of the more surprising developments as the bookies try to make sense of the spate of vacancies.

One job which doesn’t look set to become vacant is the Arsenal post, with Arsene Wenger talking down suggestions of an FA Cup final swansong.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp admits he may have to be patient in the transfer market after Liverpool’s 3-0 friendly win over Sydney FC.

1425: The transfer window may be preparing to swing wide open but manager movements continue to dominate the headlines, with Watford, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Wigan and Swindon on the lookout for new bosses.

The Middlesbrough job is not actually vacant, with Steve Agnew still in charge after replacing Aitor Karanka for the remainder of their doomed season. But he's out at 4/1 to remain in charge.

Nigel Pearson is currently considered more likely to be in the hot-seat come the start of the season, having been backed in from 9/2 to 2/1, with former favourite Garry Monk expected to extend his current deal with Leeds.

Pearson has been linked with pretty much every vacancy since leaving Derby the second successive time that he has left a club in controversial terms following his Leicester sacking.

It would come as something of a surprise for Steve Gibson, who is one of the most highly regarded chairmen around, were to turn to Pearson, so we’re certainly not following the money on that one.

Down the road, there’s also substantial movement in the Sunderland market, with Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes shortening from 7/1 to 7/4. 

The former favourite in the market was, you guessed it, Pearson.

Meanwhile, former Black Cats midfielder Stefan Schwarz has expressed his interest in the post, while Claudio Ranieri has reiterated his desire to return to management.

One position that seemed all but settled was the Barcelona post, but 1/20 favourite Ernesto Valverde has revealed he has other options. The boast.

1330: A quick line from Hull City and their questionable release of their release list. 

The Sky Bet Championship bound club tweeted: 

@HullCity “Alex Bruce heads a list of players who will leave the Tigers once their contracts expire at the end of June.” 

Seems fair enough, until the son of their former manager Steve Bruce informed us what that was the first he’d heard of it, replying: 

@AlexBruce84: “Thanks for letting me know!! All the best (thumbs up emoji)” 

Stay classy, Hull…  

0945: Roberto Mancini has emerged as the 7/4 favourite to be the next Crystal Palace manager following Sam Allardyce’s surprise departure.

The Italian was installed as a 25/1 outsider when Sky Bet opened their market but has since leapfrogged compatriot Claudio Ranieri, who is now 9/4, at the head of the market.

Both managers are keen to return to management after leaving Inter Milan and Leicester respectively and head the betting by some distance, with Wales boss Chris Coleman next on the list at 12/1.

Sam Allardyce implied that his management days are over in his Crystal Palace resignation statement, but his chances of taking another job are not dismissed by the bookmakers.

The former England boss is 20/1 to be the next Watford manager, with Roger Schmidt the 11/8 favourite, while Allardyce is half the price to return to Sunderland.

In today's Paper Talk, reports suggest Manchester City players are convinced Alexis Sanchez and Kyle Walker will join the club.

One man expected to leave the Premier League is Diego Costa, a 1/3 chance to join 'any Chinese club' in Sky Bet's Transfer Specials despite highly-linked suitors Tianjin Quanjian distancing themselves from a deal.  

In other transfer news this morning, Jermain Defoe appears poised to sign a bumper three-year deal at Bournemouth, while reports suggest Nigel Pearson is on a three-man shortlist for the Middlesbrough job.

Alvaro Morata - who has been linked with a Premier League move since the dawn of time - is now also a target for AC Milan, according to Marca.

Tuesday May 23

2130: Former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is the early favourite to replace Sam Allardyce at Crystal Palace boss at 5/2.

The Italian has been out of work since being sacked by the Foxes in February following a poor defence of their shock Premier League title success the previous season.

Former Eagles defender Chris Coleman, who is currently manager of Wales, is next in the running at 4/1 having initially been made the early favourite.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is 6/1 after an impressive season which saw him take the Cottagers into the play-offs, where they lost to Reading in the semi-finals, while Hull manager Marco Silva is 8/1.

Former England manager Roy Hodgson was an early front runner at 4/1 but he's since drifted to 10/1 while the likes of Aitor Karanka (12/1), Brendan Rodgers (12/1) and Ryan Giggs (12/1) are also notable outsiders.

 Click here to place your bets!

1810:  Although Sam Allardyce's reported exit from Crystal Palace is yet to be confirmed, Sky Bet are taking bets on who the next Eagles manager will be.

Roy Hodgson and Chris Coleman have initially been installed as the joint 4/1 favourites ahead of Claudio Ranieri at 9/2 and Slavisa Jokanovic (10/1).

Reading manager Jaap Stam can be backed at 14/1 - which is the same price for Huddersfield boss David Wagner as they both prepare for the Championship play-off final.

Click here to place your bets and check out all the odds!

1735: Sky Bet are on the brink of suspending betting on Ernesto Valverde becoming the next Barcelona manager, slashing the odds to just 1/20.

Luis Enrique has already announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, which concludes with Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Alaves.

They are expected to reveal his replacement shortly after the tie, with Athletic Bilbao boss Valverde hotly tipped to take over.

The 53-year-old, who spent two years at the Nou Camp during his playing career, has impressed by leading Bilbao to four successive top-seven finishes in LaLiga, while he has also had spells in charge at Valencia, Villarreal, Olympiakos and Barca’s rivals Espanyol.

1445:  Former Bayer Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt has been backed in to 2/1 with Sky Bet to be the next Watford manager.

Marco Silva had headed the betting but is now expected to take over at Porto, leaving a wide open market for Walter Mazzarri’s replacement.

Claudio Ranieri is now the marginal favourite at 7/4, closely followed by Schmidt, who wasn’t even is the betting until being requested by a punter on Monday evening.

The Pozzo family have a track record of recruiting left-field options, with Slavisa Jokanovic, Quique Sanchez Flores and Mazzarri all appointed without Premier League experience.

Leonid Slutsky, who left both his roles in charge or Russia and CSKA Moscow last year, also fits that criteria and is 9/2 in the betting.

Meanwhile, Norwich are set to appoint Borussia Dortmund II coach Daniel Farke as their new manager, while Harry Kewell has been handed the reins at Crawley.

0945: Everton have been backed into odds-on to land Gylfi Sigurdsson amid suggestions that a £25m deal is in the pipeline.

The movement comes amid intensifying talk surrounding the future of Ross Barkley, who has shown little sign of extending his contract, which expires in 12 months.

Barkley remains marginally odds-on to remain at Goodison Park, with Tottenham considered his most likely suitors at 7/4.

Spurs are also 5/1 second favourites in betting on Sigurdsson's future, with the Iceland star drifting to 7/2 to stay at Swansea.

The Toffees are now just 4/7, having been 6/4 shots on Monday, while they also remain strong favourites to land Jordan Pickford (8/11) and Wayne Rooney (evens).

Meanwhile, in Tuesday's Paper Talk the future of Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi is featured, with Monaco, Newcastle and West Ham all linked.

Nigel Pearson (5/2) and Kevin Phillips (7/2) have both shortened in the next Sunderland manager betting following David Moyes' resignation.

Monday May 22

1715: Ryan Giggs and Nigel Pearson are the early 5/1 joint favourites for the Sunderland job following David Moyes' departure, while Garry Monk - still odds-on for Middlesbrough - is also quoted here at 10s. Aitor Karanka, settled in the north-east after his time with Boro, is an interesting 12/1 chance.

As for Moyes, he's now in at 25/1 in the Watford manager market and 33/1 in the Boro, Norwich and Wigan markets.

Click here for a more detailed look at some of the leading early contenders.

1705: BREAKING: David Moyes resigns as Sunderland manager.

1600: Liverpool are being backed to raid Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey after pipping them to Champions League qualification.

Jurgen Klopp is now just 8/11 to bring in Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is even-money to remain at the Emirates after starting just 16 Premier League games this season.

Ramsey started even less, being named in Arsene Wenger’s line-up just 13 times, but is longer odds to switch the Emirates for Anfield at 8/1.

The Reds have also been backed to land two of Europe’s most sought-after targets, Kylian Mbappe and Virgil van Dijk.

They came in to 8/1 to land Monaco wonderkid Mbappe after securing their place in Europe’s top-tier tournament, although Real Madrid are still considered favourites at 2/1.

They are, however, joint favourites with Chelsea at 6/4 apiece to land Van Dijk, with Southampton up against odds of 100/30 to retain the Dutch defender’s services.

However, their shortest-priced target is Hull’s Andrew Robertson, who is just 8/13 to arrive, with fellow left-back Ryan Bertrand 5/1 to sign as Manchester City are just 4/6 to land his services.

Demarai Gray (100/30), Charlie Taylor (7/2), Michael Keane (4/1), William Carvalho (5/1), Jordan Pickford (6/1), Moussa Dembele, Marco Reus and Joe Hart (all 8/1) are all single-figure odds to arrive in what is expected to be a busy summer at Anfield.

One player who could depart is Daniel Sturridge, who is odds-against at 5/4 to still be a Liverpool player come August, with West Ham 5/2 favourites to secure his services. 

Meanwhile, Yaya Toure has expressed his desire to see out the rest of his career at Manchester City, despite his contract expiring this summer.

The futures of relegated managers Steve Agnew and Marco Silva also remain up in the air.

Agnew admits he does not know whether he will be around when his players return from their summer break, while Silva will decide whether to remain at Hull or not this week.

1230: Ryan Giggs had long commanded favouritism in Sky Bet's next Middlesbrough boss market but Leeds boss Garry Monk has now been backed in from 4/1 to just 4/9, while William Hill have now suspended betting altogether.

Despite his high stock, Monk's future at Elland Road is in doubt as he's yet to extend his initial 12-month deal amid the pending takeover by co-owner Andrea Radrizzani.

Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay, however, has suggested that talks of Monk's exit could well be premature. "Garry Monk still very much committed to contract talks with Leeds," he tweeted on Monday, "Despite rumours of Boro/Norwich interest."

Leeds missed out on a play-off place on the final day of the Sky Bet Championship campaign, although their seventh-placed finish still represented their best campaign in over a decade.

Monk is also considered in the next Watford manager betting but is a 25/1 shot, with Hull boss Marco Silva the 6/5 favourite.

In other news, Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany are staying at Manchester City, according to manager Pep Guardiola, while Burnley boss Sean Dyche is already planning a summer of spending at Turf Moor.

Rumours doing the rounds this lunchtime include a host of clubs including West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Borussia Dortmund sniffing around Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, while another City player who could be on the move is Aaron Mooy.

Mooy - who has been on loan at Huddersfield this season and instrumental in the Terriers' run to the Sky Bet Championship play-off - could be heading to the North East at Middlesbrough or Sunderland or getting a chance in the top flight with Premier League new boys Brighton.

Meanwhile in the transfer markets, champions Chelsea are being backed to land numerous reinforcements in the summer.

Romelu Lukaku has been odds-on to arrive for some time now, while Boro's Ben Gibson is now just 7/4 to replace John Terry in Antonio Conte’s centre-back options.

The Blues are also favourites at 9/4 to sign Joe Hart, while also heading the betting on the next clubs of Celtic's Moussa Dembele (13/8) and Leicester's Riyad Mahrez (5/2).