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: Sounds fishy, Mourinho undoubtedly likes Robben’s skill and pace but the winger has become increasingly unreliable in both fitness and consistency. The arrival of the more senior, robust Malouda is making Arjen’s departure somewhat feasible for once.
Spurs are about to finalise a deal for West Brom defender Curtis Davies
CaughtOffside Says: Seems like an odd one considering Kaboul is finally tied up. We’re guessing this rumour is still alive due to lazy hacks, and lazy people like us who read what lazy hacks say.
Liverpool are set to sign Ajax winger Ryan Babel after returning with a £13.5m bid on Monday night on the back of having a £10m offer rejected.
CaughtOffside Says: Rafa is really going to earn his managerial spurs now, he’s never had a big budget and always made a name as a tactician. With his first few truly big money risks on the way it’ll be interesting to see how he does as a talent spotter. It’ll be the difference between 3rd again and a cup and actually taking the Premiership title home.
Fiorentina are ready to sign Freddie Ljungberg from Arsenal for £5.5m.
CaughtOffside Says: 5.5 million? Forget bitting their hand off, consider the whole club eaten in a non-sexual way.
Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas will turn his back on a £27m move to Real Madrid, while Bakary Sagna has arrived in London for his medical.
CaughtOffside Says: Good on you Cesc, although we’ll see how long it is before you summer from the Thierry Henry syndrome of becoming angry that the players around you just can’t get the job done no matter how hard you try.
Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is ready to make an £8m bid for Spurs striker Jermain Defoe.
CaughtOffside Says: If JD really does stay and fight for his place, we will have a whole new level of respect for him. Which would be level 1, because we have never respected him…. (Just kidding).
Newcastle have emerged as rivals to Liverpool in the race to sign Manchester United Gabriel Heinze.
CaughtOffside Says: Heinze is a quality defender and is underrated in his ability to get forward, we can’t see United getting rid of him considering how much Sir Alex has been banging on about having a quality squad. Selling one of your two left backs wouldn’t really help.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes wants Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz.
CaughtOffside Says: Santa Cruz, Roberts and McCarthy would be one hell of a robust forward line. With quality balls coming in from MGP and Bentley, Blackburn will cruise into the top 6 if they can stay healthy.
Portsmouth will complete the signing of Preston striker David Nugent on Tuesday.
CaughtOffside Says: So after all this talk of supporting Everton as a boy, and Roy Keane knocking on his door, ol Harry Redders could step unto the breach? If Nugsy is really being that picky about his destination, he needs to pick up the phone and call David before committing to Pompey – who still don’t convince us as being more than a short term project for both owner and manager.
Chelsea misfit Khalid Boulahrouz is poised to join Sevilla in a cut-price £3.5m deal.
CaughtOffside Says: Given his performances for Chelsea, 3.5 million is as bad as 5.5 million for Freddie Ljunberg. Boulahrouz was as bad as Roque Junior at times, and that’s saying a lot considering the Brazilian was five time winner of the World’s Crappest Player.
New Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is to make Swede Christian Wilhelmsson his first signing.
CaughtOffside Says: Another quality rumour from the paps, with Roberto Bianchi signing for City today.
Everton will make a bid for £6m-rated Wigan defender Leighton Baines.
CaughtOffside Says: Everyone wants Leighton Baines but no one seems to be willing to pay Wigan’s asking price. Our guess is that at some point he will sign for Spurs for 10 million.