The world of Premiership transfer gossip is full of nonsense, but some nonsense is more interesting that the other nonsense. Speculation is rife in the likes of the Mirror, Daily Mail, Times, Sun and… err… Tribal Football all do their best to predict and/or completely make up the future.
Here’s our opinion on the Premiership transfer rumours we’ve read in the papers and around the net… and if you have any thoughts, pop em in the comments.
CaughtOffside Says: We just can’t see Benitez ever parting with Peter Crouch, for a coach who loves to chop and change tactics to match his opponent having a player like gangly Pete is a dream come true. This Torres rumour just won’t go away, and it’ll be the first show of trust between the American owners and their manager whether they’ll bring him his man or leave him with Andriy Voronin.
Sven-Goran Eriksson is set to stun Manchester City fans by making West Ham’s Marlon Harewood one of his first signings.
CaughtOffside Says: Wow that’s a bad rumour. Sven hasn’t even signed yet and all noises point to him only doing so if he gets to throw money around. We can’t see him deciding to get off the sunny beaches he spends his time on these days so that he can work with Marlon Harewood.
Arsenal are ready to rival AC Milan for Samuel Eto’o after losing Thierry Henry to Barcelona.
CaughtOffside Says: The rumours are that everyone at Barca hates Eto’o, but can they really resist the chance to offer up Ronaldinho, Henry, Eto’o, Deco and Messi in the same attacking side? We’re not really sure if that legally counts as cheating, but it sure seems like it. Plus, we simply can not see someone like Eto’o going to Arsenal sans Henry.
Arsenal’s Freddie Ljungberg is believed to be high on Eriksson’s wish list should he end up as Manchester City boss.
CaughtOffside Says: The City revolution really picks up pace. “Ljunberg to Harewood!” really has a nice ring to it.
Sunderland manager Roy Keane is about to seal a deal for Ajax’s Armenian international striker Edgar Manucharyan.
CaughtOffside Says: Some random bloke emailed this tip to us. So… there you go.
Manchester United have accepted a £6m offer from Middlesbrough for their out-of-favour striker Alan Smith but Harry Redknapp is making a late attempt to bring him to Portsmouth.
CaughtOffside Says: Middlesbrough are the new Spurs, never really quite relegation material, sign the odd “big-ish” name player and then also never quite challenge for anything significant either. United to Portsmouth won’t be an easy transition for Smithy, but it’s a lot better than the Riverside.
Real Zaragoza are waiting for a response from Manchester United over their latest bid for defender Gerard Pique.
CaughtOffside Says: The lad is meant to be immense, but he’s had a great time in Spain and hasn’t really been begging to come back to Old Trafford. Sir Alex seems very happy with Vidic-Ferdinand, and with Wes Brown an eternal favourite we don’t see Pique doing much at the club next season either. But to sell such a valuable asset for cash, something the club isn’t short on, probably isn’t best. Making him part of a trade for a striker, does.
Sunderland have big for Hearts keep Craig Gordon.
CaughtOffside Says: Staying up means having a quality keeper, Sir Alex knew it and Keane was witness to some shocking men between the posts as the club sought to replace Peter Schmeichel. Smart man if he manages to snab Gordon while the rest of the Premiership stalls.
Tottenham’s £15m swoop for Darren Bent is being held up because Charlton are holding out for more money.
CaughtOffside Says: Have to admire Charlton in this situation, holding out for against the man. 16 million for Darren Bent still sounds astronomical, but hey it’s not our money.
Bolton are to step up their bid to bring Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse to The Reebok.
CaughtOffside Says:Talk about a deteriorating career. One day you’re one of the hottest properties in world football. Then you break both your legs and end up at Bolton.