Rounding up all the yesterday’s biggest transfer news and gossip.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V CELTIC

Rafa Searches For Replacements As Alonso Hands In Transfer Request
Alonso has today handed in a written transfer request, paving the way for Aquilani to join Liverpool. It is believed that Real Madrid and Liverpool will agree on a price believed to be between £28M and £30M. Rafa Benitez will use these funds to replace Alonso with Aquilani in a deal that would see the Italian earn up to £2.5M a season.

I’m not too convinced on this transfer, but i haven’t seen enough of the player to make a proper judgement. I just don’t want Rafa to spend money on a player that may not cut it in the EPL. The cries of the fans suggest that they would all much rather see Sneijder join, but in Rafa we trust and all that.

Elsewhere it is said that Rafa will use the funds to buy Turner from Hull and Cattermole from Wigan. I can totally understand a cheeky bid for Turner, as that would be good business should we be able to get him for around the £5M mark, but Cattermole? Really? I just don’t believe it for one second. If this turns out to be true, then Rafa should be stripped of all transfer dealings.

Likelihood Rating: Aquilani to Liverpool – 8/10, Rafa to bid for Turner? – 5/10, Will we buy Cattermole? Hells to the no – 1/10

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Viera Set To Return To Arsenal
Viera, who left in 2005, is being lined up by Arsene Wenger with a fee that is believed to only cost the gunners an initial £750,000. Tottenham are also keen on the Frenchman, however being voted 3rd in Arsenals ’50 all time greats’ Viera knows that he would be hated by arsenal fans everywhere should he join Spurs.

Its a good signing although at 33, I cant imagine he is anywhere near the same quality that he was a few years back. I do however believe that he will bring much needed experience to the young squad at Arsenal. I’m sure that this signing couldn’t happen and sooner for Arsenal fans who have already seen Ade and Toure join to Revolution at City.

Likelihood Rating: I see no reason why he wouldn’t re join them – 8/10

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Spurs Still Want Huntelaar While Villa Are Very Keane on Tottenham Man.
“Aston Villa are monitoring Robbie Keane’s situation at Tottenham following Peter Crouch’s £9m move to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth.” – Daily Mail.

I cannot see Tottenham needing the services of Robbie Keane, but at the same time I cannot see them letting their captain leave. The problem that Spurs now face is keeping all strikers happy. especially if reports are true that Harry Redknapp fully intends to acquire the services of Huntelaar should Bent leave. Bent is on the verge of joining Sunderland, but the 2 teams are disagreeing over the price. Sunderland hope to sign Bent for £12M while Tottenham are holding out for £15M.

I guess that as a Liverpool fan, I struggle to see the need in having so many strikers, especially seeing as we have so few. Maybe Redknapp and Hughes have a secret little bet going of ‘who can sign the most strikers before the season starts’. Anyhow, i still stand what i said a few days ago. I believe that it is much more likely that Huntelaar will be playing for Tottenhams rivals, Arsenal.

Likelihood Rating: I’m all sixes and sevens when it comes to Keane leaving, I’m not sure at all. On the other hand… I think Huntelaar would sooner choose Arsenal over Spurs – 3/10

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My Opinion On Silva to United
Liverpool look set to lose out on David Silva who could well end up playing for United next season. Reports claim that Silva would be open to a move to Old Trafford.

I cant understand why Rafa hasn’t signed Silva yet. He has been flirting with him for a good couple of seasons now. I don’t know, its like he seems to think that because we did so well last season, we don’t need to buy any players this season. WRONG! The proof is in the pudding. We may have had our best ever season in the EPL, but Manchester United didn’t really come out of 3rd gear, yet still won by 2 games. What’s more is that although we have a strong team, all the teams around us are strengthening theirs. In essence Rafa is weakening our squad by not adding to it.

Likelihood Rating: Silva to United? I think this is all mind games and will fizzle out soon enough – 3/10

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Just A Random Thought.
Does anybody else think that this 6+5 rule is absolute rubbish?

Why shouldn’t the best teams have the best players regardless if they are foreign or not. Ok I understand the need to nurture more English players… but if all teams in the Premiership where forced to field 6 English players per match it would undoubtedly ruin the game. There just isn’t enough English talent to be put in the top 6, let alone spread out within the whole league. – Perhaps that’s the problem.

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