Rumor: Alleged MLS target, Mathieu Flamini, now allegedly talking to Panathinaikos

The rumor mill's ceaseless churning brings us stories and takes them away with agreeable certainty and balance. Last month, we were informed Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini need for a new club (he is out of favor and in the last year of his contract at Arsenal) had brought him to the attention of MLS.

The 32-year-old midfielder does not seem a likely candidate for the New York Red Bulls, but he could conceivably meet the needs of many teams around the league. But the rumor mill now seeks to take that story away from MLS.

Those needs may have to find other means of fulfillment, however. Several reports suggest the player is in contact with Greek club Panathinaikos. And if that doesn't work out, the suggestion is it will be because the player is unwilling to take a cut in his current salary, said to be around $87,000 per week (per London's Evening Standard) or perhaps closer to a weekly wage of $110,000 (according to Metro.co.uk).

Flamini's business interests may soon make him an even richer man than he is already; but if current rumors are true, his footballing interests do not extend to taking a reduced-wage run in North America.