LittleDeehanGray

The Guardian had the Luke Young story first didn't they? I first saw the Cuellar story in the Sunday Mercury just before he signed and I'm sure the Evening Mail had Sidwell a long time before he signed for us. Don't know about any others

It's not a modern day practice sadly.... 10 years ago it's precisely the way Villa lost Dwight Yorke.

A person high up at Manchester United tipped off some national papers that they were interested in Yorke.

This could be written in the reporters' own words and United would deny all knowledge when questioned on it, claiming it to be 'paper talk'.

The fact that they had told the papers was conveniently forgotten.

Once the horse had bolted, there was no going back and Yorke's head was turned for good.

The same is happening with Gareth it seems.