Transfer Talk: August 23: Half the Irish squad and David Luiz
Today’s transfer rumours are crammed with stories concerning Irish internationals. So, who is, allegedly, on the move?
From an Irish point of view, this transfer window hasn’t yielded much in the way of good news. Darren O’Dea’s and Andy O’Brien’s move to the MLS barely raised a ripple, Keith Andrews drop down to play for Bolton was largely ignored, as was Simon Cox’s switch to Forest so Paul Green’s move to Leeds from Derby was probably the big move of the summer. Yep, things were that quiet.
But all that could be about to change as host of Irish players are linked with moves today. The best news is regarding Kevin Doyle. When Wolves dropped out of the top flight we hoped the Wexford man would be snapped up by another Premier League club but there was not a hint of a move up until today. To be honest, we were getting worried.
Thankfully, today’s Mail suggests that Doyle, and his club and Ireland team-mate Stephen Ward, will move to Everton, with David Moyes watching Wolves’ 3-1 win over Barnsley on Tuesday.
There is more Irish/Wolves news too as the same paper says that Stephen Hunt may be off to Fulham.
Continuing the Irish theme the same paper say that Richard Dunne is being ushered out the door at Villa Park to reduce their wage bill, with Tony Pulis waiting to load up another big unit into his Stoke City machine.
And completing our Irish-centric wrap up of news, it is widely reported today that Shane Long is being targeted by Spurs. With AVB still bizarrely determined to ship out Jermaine Defoe, he fancies a bit of the West Brom man.
Away from these shores, the maddest rumour of the day is the story on the back of the Sun that Manchester City bid €38million for Chelsea’s David Luiz. The Londoners said no but we just can’t see Luiz as the solution to cover Micah Richards’ injury.
In more news that is probably closer to fiction than fact, Arsenal are being linked with a ‘swoop’ for Sevilla’s Jesus Navas. The Spanish winger could come in if, as some think, Theo Walcott is flogged to Liverpool. We will believe all of that paragraph when we see it.
Finally, Spurs have eventually taken a gander at Brad Friedel’s passport and decided he can’t go on forever so they are checking out French international Hugo Lloris, who at 25, is just about young enough to be Friedel’s son.
Oh yes, and the Clint Dempsey to Liverpool story continues, with no actual news but lots of spilled ink. It will happen, apparently, it is just going to be painful and tortuous. Just eight days to go…
