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: Would be good news for Real, bad news for Chelsea and bad news for any club in the world who has a speedy winger. We can’t imagine they would look to Premiership clubs for a replacement, with only Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon popping into mind as a player with the possible ability and availability (i.e. not from any of the other Big Four) to step up.
Arsenal could be ready to make a bid for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric, Chelsea’s Lassana Diarra and Nicolas Anelka.
CaughtOffside Says: Wenger might be playing a bit too much FM with his signing of Eduardo Silva and now interest in Luka Modric, but most of these sounds like completely bollocks. Diarra is a solid player but partnering him with Fabregas in the centre of the pitch seems like a bit of a small problem. Get it? Small?
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson wants Nigeria international left-back Taye Taiwo from Marseille.
CaughtOffside Says: Spurs were linked with him for a while, which isn’t saying a lot. But he’s one of those super attacking full backs who is a shocking defender, but can make up for it with their pace. He also would make it amusing when Man City play Spurs and David Pleat gets him mixed up with Teemu Tainio.
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is trying to sign Abdoulaye Faye from his former club Bolton Wanderers.
CaughtOffside Says: While the end result will probably be quite good, Geordies worst fears (Allardyce temporarily rebuilding Bolton at St. James’) are still a distinct possibility.
Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis could be in for a return to Fulham as a replacement for Michael Brown, who is poised to join Wigan.
CaughtOffside Says: Two players tied by their link to Tottenham, their general mediocrity, and also attempting to kill each other.
Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell is a transfer target for Birmingham, Fulham and Bolton.
CaughtOffside Says: We didn’t think Ridgewell was that bad when we saw him last season, maybe a bit undersized but in that Villa team the defense was generally under the kosh for a lot of the match. With not many new signings yet at Villa Park, we can’t see him leaving before a replacement is brought in.
Tottenham are ready to splash out £8 million on Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom from French champions Lyon.
CaughtOffside Says: Another midfielder! And another football manager legend who eventually came good. Kallstrom would actually add a bit of that truly creative playmaking ability that is lacking from Spurs’ midfield. But really, another midfielder!?
Newcastle will table a £3m offer for Fulham’s giant Papa Bouba Diop while there is doubts over landing Norwegian centre-half Brede Hangeland from FC Copenhagen.
CaughtOffside Says: Now THIS sounds like a Big Sam signing. Humongous athlete who is a threat at both ends from set pieces and can boss the midfield. We’re big fans of Diop, he has a great pass and shot on him as well, so would like to see him get the chance to step up a level.