Much like a leading the character of a Shakespearian tragedy, the anguished cries of various managers cuckolded by their favourite players can be heard across the globe. The first Cuckoo heralds the arrival of Spring; the close season heralds the start of phantom moves, or Phantom Menaces, when agents plant stories in the media to secure a transfer for their client to a shadowy figure in the background or extort a better deal from current relationships.

With Samir Nasri seemingly set to be the first signing for £13.5m the scene is set for some spurious stories to emerge. The first one of the day is from Italy where ‘Vincenzo Morabito has revealed’ that Alberto Aquilani is talking to Arsenal. Morabito is obviously seeking to ingratiate himself with the club having been the purchaser of the sundry Ice Creams in Milan earlier this year, much to Arsene’s chagrin. You cannot help but wonder if Aquilani is talking to the club but perhaps the conversation is with the switchboard or box office, trying to get freebies to this summer’s Emirates Cup. Why so cynical? When an agent says, “We will have to see if Roma will be able to match his demands”, you know that the story is being used as a plant to extract another Euro or two for his client in a new deal.

Similarly, stories linking Arsenal to Sebastien Frey, Mouhamadou Dabo and one of his St Etienne colleagues whose name escapes me, at the weekend all ring of desperate digging to link anyone with anyone, agents similarly trying to push a new deal through the back door of feigned public interest. Still none of it as ludicrous as the tangled web woven by Martin Samuel and Matt Hughes in yesterday’s Times about Adebayor out, Santa Cruz in and Dein returning. It brought a smile to my face reading it though so thanks Chaps.

Niko Kranjcar kept his options open whilst Barcelona appear to be trying to win all trophies by having around twenty players at a time on the pitch.

Onto the serious stuff. I know I cannot be alone in heaving a sigh of relief with Raymond Domenech’s decision not to pick Clichy, Sagna and Diaby. I have sympathy for the players, their desire to play at the highest level crushed but certainly the last two require rest this summer. With Rosicky ruled out of the Czech squad and the African World Cup qualifiers over by the middle of June, for once it seems most of the squad will be resting which is something that they desperately need. It really only needs van Persie not to be picked by the Dutch and that is as good as it could get with Fabregas already selected by Luis Aragones.

One man going to the tournament is Philippe Senderos who claimed yesterday that Arsene wanted him to stay. He is in a minority with vocal critics claiming the Swiss international will never be good enough to play for the club. Never is a strong word to use. I can see why Arsene wants him to stay but I think Senderos would benefit from a loan spell, not necessarily in this country, where he is going to play regularly. He is the best example of a confidence player that I have come across in many seasons and a spell to gather himself together would do him the world of good.

It is an important season for him. As he states in the interview, he is in the final two years of his current contract. More importantly, his chances to claim a first team place are diminishing. Alex Song heads a list of players in the squad and reserves who will push for inclusion in the first team over that period. If Senderos cannot make himself the undisputed deputy to Toure / Gallas or anyone that Arsene brings in, the likelihood is that he will not be offered a new deal. Indeed, were Arsene to buy another centre-back, it would come as no surprise if Senderos departed this summer for a fee in the region of £2m.

Another day of rumours and laughter ensues so ‘til Tomorrow.

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