Rumour round-up.

With the festive period of games now behind us, it is probably a good time to check a couple of the rumours that have been doing the rounds this week of supposed City signings during the January transfer window to accompany the confirmed Albert Riera and Tuomaas Haapala.

The Sun reports today that Stuart Pearce will splash £10 million out to sign Charlton's Danny Murphy and Norwich's Dean Ashton.

Bitter and Blue verdict: The Ashton story won't go away and Norwich are believed to be keen to cash in if a club meets their valuation (believed to be £7.5 million). Wigan have made enquiries and although we won't pay close to their valuation, recent goalscoring problems may force Pearce to up his bid. Murphy meanwhile is believed to be going nowhere and Alan Curbishley again denied he was on his way out.

TeamTalk meanwhile suggests that Michael Brown's performance on Wednesday will be enough to tempt City to splash out £2million, although we would face competition from another of his former clubs Sheffield United.

Bitter and Blue verdict: I can't see that Pearce is interested in Pearce and I believe this is a story made out from the fact Brown has not featured too often for Tottenham this season. Brown has always appeared keen to remain at Tottenham whenever speculation has previously surfaced.

In what is a new rumour, Matt Jansen has supposedly contacted City with a view to a free transfer and 'pay as you play' contract according to The Mirror.

Bitter and Blue verdict: This is a new one and Jansen recently expressed his frustration at not featuring in the Blackburn side. In some ways he has done remarkably well to be even playing again following the motorbike accident that put him in a coma a couple of years ago. As talented as he was, this would be a huge gamble and a sure sign that we do not have a transfer kitty to go out and buy a better striker.

Finally, Footballrumours.com provides a club by club profile of all of the players who have been linked in and out of the club since the start of the season.