Santo: gold?

Excuse us while we leave to one side the news that Colin Wanker appears to be starting a collection of ex-Toon bad boys at Loftus Road (full comment if, or more likely when, the deal goes through), and instead let's focus on possible arrivals.

The latest name in the frame to fill the full-back hole is Davide Santon, according to the Mirror. We'd apparently face competition from Liverpool, Arsenal and (of course) Man City, though, so it's difficult to see what would particularly recommend us other than the prospect of more regular football. Plus, highly-rated young Italian international full-back whom Inter are mysteriously happy to flog - haven't we been here before? Given that another full-back target, PSV's Erik Pieters, is said to be keen on a move, why not just press ahead on that front? Time's ticking, Jabba - pull your finger out.

Meanwhile, there doesn't seem to have been any further word on Modibo Maiga - though suffice to say his club Sochaux certainly aren't inclined to look on our interest favourably...

In tonight's match against Scunthorpe we should hopefully get the opportunity to assess the first-team credentials of a couple of players who have already been added to the squad this summer, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid. Should they live up to their billing, then the pressure on Jabba and Alan Pardew to make more high-profile acquisitions before the transfer window closes might drop - but only slightly.