JOE’s latest Transfer Window feature focuses on the moneybags of Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham … and transfer-market rags Liverpool.
City to turn rumour to reality?
Manchester City are finally ready to turn rumour into reality. The Eastlands club are on the verge of signing one of the 100001 players they have been linked with this summer. The majority of gossip columns suggest Spain substitute David Silva is in talks with City after a £30million pound bid was accepted.
However, the Premier League’s other money-man Roman Abramovich isn’t too happy with City trying to eclipse his big spender image and has reportedly matched the bid. The lively Valencia player will now have to pick between a Russian or Arab oil-stained pack packet.
City are fast finding love isn’t the only thing money can’t buy. It also can’t guarantee you a decent right back. It seems that, despite being willing to throw all the tea in China and all the lap dancers in Manchester Maicon’s way, the Brazilian isn’t keen on a move. It’s possible he consulted with international team-mate Robinho, or perhaps he has his heart set on rejoining the Special One at Real Madrid.
One player who could choose Eastlands over the Santiago Bernabeu is Iker Casillas. The Madrid legend is aware of interest from Manchester United and City and is ‘open’ to a move. JOE doesn’t understand why City, who in Shay Given and Joe Hart have two of the best keepers in the league, would want the baby-faced netminder. Then again if it means his stunning missus will be standing behind Premier League goals City will be guaranteed a full house every week.
The 100002nd player to be linked to Man City this summer is Aleksandar Kolarov. Kolarov doesn’t seem to fit City’s ‘buy galactico’ policy and he certainly isn’t valued at the magical £40million figure, but having heard Real Madrid were interested Roberto Mancini & Co feel the Serb is good enough for Eastlands.
With millions being linked with joining City there are inevitably those rumoured to be heading for the exit door. Shaun Wright Phillips is this week’s rumoured quitter, but by all accounts not too many clubs have expressed an interest in the England player.
United want new Henry
Luis Fabiano performed the perfect Thierry Henry impression recently: the brilliant Brazilian twice controlled the ball with his hand before scoring against the Ivory Coast.
Manchester United will be hoping the Henry comparisons don’t end there. Sir Alex Ferguson wants to bring the striker to Old Trafford and is hoping he can emulate the Frenchman’s Premier League success as well as his handball antics.
Despite backing the formerly creative and mercurial Dimitar Berbatov and the predator-of-the-past Michael Owen, as well as signing football’s Justin Bieber teen sensation equivalent Javier Hernandez, Ferguson is said to be looking to add more firepower to his squad.
Fabiano could be posing for pictures in the new United strip come August alongside Raul. Madrid are willing to the let the football legend leave on a free and Sir Alex is certainly interested.
Next: Chelsea go German, and Liverpool go south
Blaue is the Colour
Chelsea’s band of mercenaries are amongst the most disliked group of players in the Premier League, and that could be copperfastened if three of the Germans who lowered England’s colours at the World Cup arrive at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues could drop their average from 40 to 25 if they sign talented 21-year-old Mesut Ozil, 20-year-old Thomas Muller and 24-year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Which prompts the question: have English defenders not suffered enough?
Liverpool to do a Leeds
Liverpool’s dire state of affairs are not summed up by the fact they have been linked with Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey, but by the fact they can’t afford the second rate stopper. They might be in need of nine quality signings but the once mighty ‘Pool are chasing a reserve keeper and he is out of their price range?
So unimpressed is Liverpool’s number one managerial target, Roy Hodgson, that he has refused to take control unless he is guaranteed money to spend. Hodgson would be happier to stay at Premier League outfit Fulham than watch over a Liverpool side bound for the Championship.
Just as he did last season Liverpool boss Benitez is hampering the Reds progression at present. Not content on signing decent players he already had at Anfield the Inter boss is set to hijack Liverpool’s free transfer of Slovakian Milan Jovanovic.
Liverpool’s best player last season and potential world cup winner Javier Mascherano could also be Inter-bound. Not to mention Madrid have tabled a £40million take it or leave it offer for Steven Gerrard.
Get ready for Liverpool v Barnsley in 2012.
Isn’t Arsene Wenger meant to be a professor?
So long has it been since Monsieur Wenger has had money to spend he has forgotten how to operate effectively in the transfer market. It seems he no longer realises the point of buying players is to improve your squad. JOE was of the opinion that the Gunners manager was learned and intelligent until we heard the news he was trying to sign Ryan Babel for £12million!
Babel isn’t the only reject the professor is pursuing. Wenger feels sorry for Manchester City’s unwanted men and is said to be ready to give Nigel de Jong and Shaun Wright Phillips new homes in north London.
The Gunners top man has proved he is adept at selling players at the right time. In fact the ombudsman has many a time charged Wenger with selling out of date products for extortionate rates. Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira were all sold for big money and failed to perform at the highest level again. One player Wenger surprisingly didn’t employ that policy with was troublemaker Billy Gallas. It may be three seasons and 300 arguments too late but the French defender can finally leave the Emirates if they sign Laurent Koscielny from French club Lorient for £8.1million.
Next: Tottenham’s Del Boy ‘Arry, Ireland’s skipper and the Best of the rest
Big Buys For Big Boys
Harry Redknapp looked set to return to his wheeling dealing bargain-chasing Del Boy ways by trying to sign Japanese striker Keisuke Honda. (That deal by all accounts fell through because Spurs chairman wasn’t eager to swap his Bentley, David, for a Honda…)
However the Spurs boss, who this week was linked with the English job, is also ready to compete with the big boys for the big buys. ‘Arry seems to have money to spend and is eager to spend it.
He is not only ready to depart with €35million for the services of Denmark’s blond bombshell Simon Kjaer and his Palermo team-mate Edinson Cavani.
‘Arry is also said to be interested in hijacking United’s bid Luis Fabiano. Not content with that former Hammers boss is also keen on Uruguayan duo Luiz Suarez and Diego Forlan. Suarez has hit 34 goals for Ajax this term and has impressed at the World Cup. We’re of the belief, however, that even Emile Heskey would be prolific in the Dutch league. Right back of the year Dirk Kuyt, Chelsea flop Mateja Kežman and Ireland nobody David Connolly all hit over 40 goals in that league.
Redknapp isn’t content with beating City to fourth in last year’s Premier League. He wants to be linked with more players than them in the transfer window too.
The wheeler-dealer is aware Alex Ferguson is looking for a striker on the cheap and as a result will offer the United boss Roman Pavlyuchenko in exchange for Michael Carrick. Both are crap so that looks a fair swap.
The Spurs boss is close to signing another former player in Joe Cole. The under-used England talent will sport the white of Spurs instead of the red of the Arsenal if rumours are to be believed.
Summer sales
All that action at Spurs has left Robbie Keane surplus to White Hart Lane requirement. The striker looks set to join his 100th club this summer, getting another sizeable chunk of a transfer fee in the process. However in these recessionary times the Irish striker is a luxury most clubs can’t afford, and one those with money don’t want.
Like a soon-to-be-out-of-date supermarket chicken, the Tallaght man’s price has been slashed and he is being offered as part of two- and three-for-one deals.
One of Ireland’s greatest players, who cost £20million two summers past, is now available for around £4million. A strange desperation to get rid of him rather than any depreciation in talent has seen £6million slashed off the asking price in the last two weeks.
Aston Villa are said to be interested but only if they get Jermaine Jenas as part of the deal. Birmingham are also rumoured to be considering a move at the lower price.
Best of the rest
Hull are in such a dire state they have got the whole transfer idea mixed up. Instead of receiving £4-£5million for the all action head-the-ball Jimmy Bullard they have paid him £2million to leave the club!
Next season’s first managerial casualty Sam Allardyce is back on the trail of Mainz striker Aristide Bance, who would cost the club about £3.5million.
Birmingham are back in contention to sign Standard Liege striker Dieumerci Mbokani after his proposed move to Fulham fell through, while West Ham are lining up a £6million bid for Mexico’s highly rated midfielder Efrain Juarez.
– Jonny Stapleton
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