That's not far from the truth, Zero. Remember the Ambani rumour which started on TW? Then some melt added it to the Ambani wiki page, complete with grammar and spelling mistakes. Within a couple of days the newspapers were repeating it almost word-for-word. It must be great being a sports journalist.
That's the funniest thing I've read since the last time someone suggested that
Moyes might lurk on forums looking for tips on team selection.
I have it on good authority that most rumours in the papers come from agents. Either because they represent the player the rumour's about or because they represent a player who they want to place at the club that the player the rumour is about currently plays for.
eg Player X plays at club Y. Agent for player Z starts rumour that club Q is after X. Club Q might not actually be interested in X but other clubs will be, and if they think that he's available and that Y will sell they will bid. At the same time club Y notices big interest in X and decides to cash in while there's competition for him and they can get a good price.
Agent for Z then touts Z to club Y as a replacement for X.
Larsson and Nugent were the first names to be mentioned because they're just about the only names people have heard of who are actually available.
Plus Larsson did a short term loan at Man U last season, and Nugent is well known to want to play for Everton, and is patently desperate to leave Portsmouth.
