Rounding up all the days biggest transfer news and gossip.
City To Continue Their Pursuit Of Lescott
Manchester City are set to make an increased offer of £22M for Everton defender, Joleon Lescott.
If at first you don’t succeed… Try and try and try again. This is the case for Manchester City who seem to be becoming a bigger threat each week. Lescott would do wonders at City, he is pretty much the perfect defender. Not only is he great at preventing goals, but he also pitches in with a few vital goals himself. I think in order to bag his man, Hughes is going to have to up his bid to around £25M.
Lescott has made no secret of his desire to join the club, but Everton are not keen on letting him go. £22M for the player seems about fair, but Arsene had the right idea. The player obviously wants to join them, so rather than force him to stay, and force the club in question to pay high prices, sell him for a price which is justified and not over inflated. At the end of the day it will only waste time, time in which you could be searching for a new defender who actually wants to play for your club.
What confuses me is the price difference in which City where willing to pay for Lescott, Terry and Toure. City wanted Terry for £50M yet only paid £16M for Toure. And now are looking to pay £22M+ for Lescott?
Likelihood Rating: This wont go away till City get their man. I think it will be soon – 8/10
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Arsenal To Step Up Chase For Chamakh
“Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks set to step up his interest in Bordeaux’s £12m-rated Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh.” (French newspaper L’Equipe)
I’m not sure that the London club need another striker. I’m pretty sure that Eduardo and Bendtner are more than capable of stepping up. In saying that Arsene Wenger seems to have this incredible knack for spotting sensational talent. I wont be surprised if he signs this player for £10M and sells him in 3 seasons for £20M+.
Arsene has stated that he wont be forced into panic buying, but he has been monitoring Chamakh for a couple weeks now. So this could well be a signing that is on the cards, and although its not the worlds most exciting transfer for the fans, at least they are looking at replacements for those departed.
Likelihood Rating: If Arsene gets it right, this will be a great signing… Should it happen – 7/10
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Arsenal After £30M De Rossi and £5M
The Independent reports that Arsenal are targetting De Rossi from Roma for a reported £30M.
I see 2 problems with this rumour. Firstly there is not a chance in hell that Roma are going to let both Aquilani and Rossi leave, and secondly… Although Arsenal can afford the money for Rossi, Arsene is never going to pay that sort of price on 1 player.
Another target of Arsenals is St Etienne and French Under-21 international Matuidi. The defensive midfielder is valued at £5M and will be mentored by Viera who looks likely to be heading back to the Gunners.
Lets forget about this De Rossi nonsense and focus on Matuidi. He fits the bill for the type of player Arsene looks for. He’s young, talented and most of all cheap. I feel its only a matter of time before Viera re joins them and if he does indeed mentor Matuidi, then Arsenal will have a very good defensive midfielder on their hands in the next couple of season.
Likelihood Rating: Putting the De Rossi rubbish aside… Matuidi to Arsenal – 7/10
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Today’s Forecast – More Alonso With a Splash of Mascherano
The Daily Mail reports that Madrid are looking to offer Alvaro Negredo, Rafael Van Der Vaart or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to Liverpool in a player plus cash deal for Alonso.
All Liverpool fans would probably prefer to see Huntelaar join the club, but Negredo probably fits the bill better. Rafa looks very unlikely to ever play 2 strikers up front and Huntelaar isn’t the type of player who will be happy warming the bench. I also think that Rafa would rather take the money and search for his own replacements rather than having players thrust upon him.
Negotiations between the 2 clubs have been locked as neither manager will move from their valuation of the player. Personally i think Rafa needs to be more open for negotiations as the player clearly doesn’t want to play the club anymore. I’m also starting to wonder if letting Rafa have full control of transfers was the brightest idea. He doesn’t seem to know what he is doing, and is selling players for well above, or well below their valuations. Further more he has yet to buy more than 1 player.
In other news Javier Mascherano’s brother has revealed that the Liverpool midfielder wants to join Barcelona – but admitted that he will probably be forced to stay at Anfield.
Likelihood Rating: Alonso is going, no doubt about that. But will Rafa take the bait and swap him plus cash with one of the named players? I don’t think so – 5/10
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United To Bid £35M For Ribery
This is the easiest rumour of the day to round up. If Munich turned down £65M from Madrid, then there is no way they will accept almost half that from United.
This re assures me that the rumour of Silva to United, is nothing but a rumour.
Likelihood Rating: They could get him, but not for £35M – 2/10
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Who Really Signed Mido…
I can now reveal to all those worried fans that it was not, i repeat NOT Liverpool who signed Mido but his old side Zamalek.
It has been announced that he has joined the White Knights on a season long loan. The 26 year old has the options of signing a permanent deal with the Turkish outfit should they meet Boro’s terms. Sky Sports reports that Gareth Southgate’s side have pocketed £450,000 (4million Egyptian pounds) for the initial switch with a further £1million to follow if the move is to be extended.
See, I told you there was nothing to worry about. Thank god…