Transfer rumours...

There are a few rumours going around that Burnley's manager Eddie Howe might be interested in signing Swindon striker Charlie Austin. He seems to have a good goal-scoring record and at 21 years of age has lots of room for improvement.

I find this very encouraging. I don't mean any offence to Chris Iwelumo, who has scored a few this season, but I don't like the idea of signing anyone over the age of 30. I just think you're always going to loose out financially as the players wages are likely to be at their highest and their value will only decrease, and will most probably leave on a free.

Young players are where it's at, either poached like this Austin fellow (if rumours are true) or brought through from the academy, like J-Rod.

Chris Eagles seems to have caught the eye of Everton manager David Moyes as a possible replacement for Steven Peinaar. I am not 100% certain they won't tempt him but I think if he was going to leave he would have gone to Rangers in the summer. On the other hand, the fact that he turned them down might just highlight the difference in spending power between the English and Scottish leagues. Keeping my fingers crossed...