Welcome to JOE's Transfer Digest, where transfers and speculation are the appetiser, main course and dessert in an a la carte menu of intrigue.
The transfer machine continues to tick along slowly but surely and we're here to oil the cogs and keep things moving.
Terry makes demands
First up is the news that John Terry could be on the verge of a move to the Championship, with the former Chelsea captain reportedly considering a deal with Aston Villa.
Terry was pictured playing golf with Villa manager Steve Bruce and is believed to favour a transfer to the sleeping giants.
While Villa are willing to make Terry their highest paid player, one sticking point is believed to be the former England international's insistence upon receiving a farewell parade and a national holiday in his honour should the deal go through.
Terry is adamant that any deal cannot be agreed unless his wish is granted, with the 36-year-old believed to have already earmarked a particular date for his national holiday.
Speaking today, an unnamed source at the Birmingham club said that they while his demand is unusual, they would do all they can to secure the deal: "John is a special player and one who has achieved so much already in the game. It would be fantastic to have him join our club, but his demands are peculiar. The parade we can do - for sure - but we're not sure how we'll go about making December 25th a national holiday in his honour. Can football clubs even do that? We'll have to wait and see."
Villa sources later confirmed that as part of the farewell parade, Terry has asked to ride atop a double decker bus accompanied by the club's European Cup trophy from the 1981/82 season.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/876789522490691585
Oxo-cubed
Speculation has appeared in the papers this week suggest that Chelsea made it a three-horse race with Manchester City and Liverpool after expressing an interest in signing Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
According to sources at Stamford Bridge, manager Antonio Conte is said to be impressed with Chamberlain's ability to do almost nothing for the majority of the season before eventually sending in a decent cross or two.
"There are inconsistent players everywhere, but not quite on the level of Alex," said the Chelsea staff member. "Not only is he enormously inconsistent and infuriating - he's English too - so it really is the perfect combination."
While Liverpool had been favourites to sign the England international, Jurgen Klopp is now said to be unconvinced by the player's ability to get injured alongside Sadio Mane at a crucial stage of the season.
And finally...
In Italy, AC Milan goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma has laughed off claims that he is being manipulated and strung along by agent Mino Raiola.
The 18-year-old wunderkind recently reneged on declarations of loyalty to the Milanese club by admitting that he wants to leave the San Siro, a decision he insists was entirely his own.
"I am my own man. I make my own decisions and this is what I have decided. Oh, these strings attached to my head, hands and feet? They are merely ornamental," said Donnarumma before being dragged away by Raiola.
