The Express and Star is reporting today that Paul Merson is looking at Luke Rodgers as an alternative to Julian Joachim, should that deal fall through.

The controversial Shrewsbury star, who turned down a contract offer from his club, despite narrowly avoiding relegation, has been mentioned on the message boards many times before, but the assumption has always been that the need to pay compensation to Salop for his services would rule him out.

The Star, however, says that Merson is looking at him as a realistic alternative, but only if the Joachim deal does not materialise, presumably as there would be no need to pay Rodgers the same amount, freeing up resources for compensation.

This may, of course, just be a tactic in the war of nerves with Leeds, who are eager to get Joachim off their wage bill and will be afraid of being left paying for a player they do not want.

The Shropshire Star has the story on-line, even though the Express & Star won’t until the morning:- http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=33868

Meanwhile, one rumour, the return of Paul Hall, isn’t going to happen, as the player, who turned down a new contract with Tranmere, has signed for Chesterfield.