The Premiership transfer window is full of nonsense, but some nonsense is more interesting that the other nonsense. Here’s our thoughts on some of that more interesting nonsense…
West Ham have offered £ 4 million plus Marlon Harewood and Hayden Mullins to Charlton in exchange for Darren Bent.
CaughtOffside Says: Nice try by the Hammers, but it’s a little hard to pull the wool over Charlton’s eyes when their manager worked day in and day out with the players you’re trying to offload. Harewood and Mullins have looked like Championship players, and 4 million won’t be enough to sign anyone worthwhile, never mind a decent goalscorer. Unless Pardew thinks he can singlehandedly rekindle Harewoods form from last season, then he’ll continue to hold out for the 10 million plus he seems to think Bent is worth.
Glen Roeder was paying attention to Arsenal’s youg ‘uns in midweek. Various rumours have him linked with loan moves for Jeremie Aliadiere, Johannes Djourou and Armand Traore.
CaughtOffside Says: Why not? Newcastle could do with a few players, and those three would all fancy some first team footy – Djourou in particular looks like a future Toure. But beware the Giuseppe Rossi effect. Who wants to go on loan and be a sub at Newcastle when you could stay home and be a sub at Arsenal, occasionally leaving the bench to slap Liverpool around?
Southampton have hinted they’ll sell 17 year old left back Gareth Bale, who’s still wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham, but not until the summer.
“He will stay until the end of the season at least.,†said George Burley. “I went to see his parents and they were happy as Larry with the progress he has made. His agent says he is happy to wait and see what happens in the summer.”
CaughtOffside Says: Sounds sensible enough. He’s not even old enough to drink so a few more months of first team Championship football will do him good and prop up his transfer fee. It’s unlikely that he’d really step in and immediately be better than the left backs Spurs and United are putting out each week anyway. And who’s this Larry? Maybe Middlesbrough can sign him.
Word is that Spurs want to sign the non-amnesiac Ferdinand brother (Anton) from West Ham. The Sunday Mirror claim Jol has already had a bid rejected, but he can have Anton for about £ 8 million in the summer.
CaughtOffside Says: What’s the point of a transfer window if everyone keeps saying “wait until summerâ€? If it wasn’t for this Beckham business this would be the dullest January ever. Ferdinand wouldn’t be happy sitting on the bench, so this one adds just a teeny bit more fuel to the rumours about Ledley King’s long term fitness.
Fulham, West Ham and Charlton are all battling to rescue Alexi Smertin from the cold Russian winter.
CaughtOffside Says: If the lad’s got any sense he’ll choose Fulham ahead of the other two. But we all know the real reason behind the interest in the Smertins.
Martin O’Neill is apparently set to test the size of Randy Lerner’s checkbook and offer Liverpool £12 million for Craig Bellamy.
CaughtOffside Says: Bold move from O’Neill but there’s no way Bellamy’s leaving the club he supported as a boy. Plus, he’s playing matches and looking like Liverpool’s best player in all of them.