BITS AND BOBS

Last updated : 08 July 2007 By Editor

* Roy Carroll signs for Rangers after being released from West Ham.

* Sky Sports:

Manchester United are reported to have agreed a deal for Internacional youngster Rodrigo Possebon

"It is the fulfilment of a dream," he told Zero Hora. "I go there to play with Anderson."

Reports say the deal is worth 910,000 Brazilian reais (£240,000).

It is not United's first foray into the youth market in Brazil, only last year they struck a deal for Fluminese duo Rafael and Fabio - who will be eligible to move to England in 2009 when they turn 18.


* Sounds like their could be more internal trouble at Chelsea:

The People:

Avraham Grant, who is being tipped to take over from Jose Mourinho, was last night blasted by the man he succeeded as Israeli national manager

Grant is leaving his post as technical director at Portsmouth to become sporting director at Chelsea thanks to his friendship with Blues owner Roman Abramovich. And there are suggestions Grant is being lined up to succeed chief Mourinho - whether he leaves next season or at the end of his contract.

Shlomo Scharf said: "Grant is a dangerous man, a manipulator, a coach who took the national team backwards in terms of football style or world ranking. He doesn't understand football."

Peter Kenyon of trouble last year - and this without the 'dangerous, manipulative' Grant:

"I'm not saying there weren't issues because there were - various ones.

"But they have been addressed and I'm confident that aspect of controversy around Chelsea won't be seen again. We've all spent a lot of time on why the breakdown occurred and it's all been addressed in the close season. We want to put it behind us, we don't want to keep regurgitating it.

"It got to the stage last season when, until Jose came back in July, we were never going to convince anybody that he wasn't on his way out.

"Nobody wants a repeat of last season. It just took too much time and effort away from Chelsea. We've got a great football club and a great set-up and my disappointment from last year is that it took the edge off a great season."


* NOTW:

Manchester United goal ace Cristiano Ronaldo's glamour girl lover Gemma Atkinson has secretly bedded his team-mate Alan Smith.

Former Hollyoaks star Gemma — mascot of the British Grand Prix — has been dating the Portuguese "winking winger" for seven months.

But the News of the World can reveal that, unknown to Ron, he was second in line for her charms.

For busty 22-year-old Gemma had already enjoyed a string of hush-hush sex sessions with England under-21 star Smith at his Cheshire flat.

Smith would make late night calls to Gemma begging her to come to his place when his student girlfriend was away. She would then sneak in through the back door and leave under cover of darkness.

Fearing the intimate details might upset new love Ronaldo, Gemma didn't like to tell him when their relationship blossomed.