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There’s just under two weeks to go before the January transfer window closes and whilst it has been a quiet month so far on the Sky Sports transfer tracker, with all the speculation brewing and the needs of clubs becoming ever apparent as their seasons hang in the balance, don’t be surprised to see the window swing wide open and and there to be a flurry of activity over the next fortnight. Here’s a round up of what moves are currently hitting the headlines.
It is all well and good for Steve Kean to issue a “Hands Off” warning to any club expressing an interest in Blackburn’s central defender, Chris Samba, but the truth is that Samba clearly wants away from the relegation threatened club. Kean has already seen his number two at Ewood park, Paul Clement, leave this week, bound for Paris Saint Germain to be re-united with his former boss at Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti and it looks like he won’t be the only Ewood Park departure before the month is out.
Manchester City are weighing up a sensational £60 million move for unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in a deal which will shock British football.
Rooney is at the centre of a bitter row with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after the Scotsman axed him from the team to face Blackburn Rovers at the end of December.
The decision came as ‘Wazza’ turned up for training in a lethargic state after doing a bender with other United pals Darren Gibson and Johnny Evans on Boxing Day the previous evening.
The Red Devils subsequently lost the game 3-2 before a plump-looking Rooney laboured badly as the Premier League champions were mauled 3-0 by Newcastle at St James’ Park days later as they fell three points behind league leaders City.
The incident also comes on the back of Rooney announcing his desire to quit United seemingly for more money and also questioning the club’s ‘lack of ambition’ just last year.
In celebration of January, In The Stands have chosen one player per Premier League side that we believe will make a difference.
Arsenal:
What they need: – With an improved defence in recent weeks Arsenal may turn their attentions to another attacking midfielder – to give Wenger increased attacking option.
The one they should sign: Still struggling at Lyon, Yoann Gourcuff would perhaps welcome a move to cement his place in the French side ahead of the 2012 European Championships
Aston Villa:
What they need: With only 22 goals scored this season, Villa need some cutting edge – something that should and could be provided by Steven Ireland and Charles N’Zogbia.
The one they should sign: Kim Kallstrom, is a Swedish international with an intelligent eye for a killer-pass. He can also provide Villa with balance in midfield.
Blackburn:
What they need: Quality. Essentially, they need to avoid relegation at all costs.
After being held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan Chelsea’s slim title hopes have all but ended and In The Stands can confirm that coach Andre Villas Boas has written a letter to Santa Claus stating his Xmas wish list!
It was then New Labour leader Tony Blair who, upon being elected as Prime Minister and thus ending a 19-year spell in opposition, famously bombarded the nation with that now iconic theme song; ‘Things can only get better.’
Alas, it is something which current Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas hopes can and will be applied to him and his team after a less than impressive start to the 2011 Premier League campaign.
Although the Blues defeated Premier League leaders Manchester City 2-1 on Monday, the Portuguese coach still has yet to fully convince Russian owner Roman Abramovich that he has the qualities needed to guide the Blues to domestic and European domination and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wigan proved damaging in their title pursuit.
Rumours are circulating in Spain that Barcelona are considering an Earth-shaking move to sign Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
So is there any truth in the mounting speculation which would see the most expensive player in the history of world football make a totally unexpected switch from the Santiago Bernabeu to the Camp Nou?
Apparently not as Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists that the Spanish and European champions would never consider a move for ‘CR7’, because, he insists, Ronaldo would not fit into an already star studded XI!
“We would not bring him [here],” the executive surprisingly told Catalunya Radio on Friday.
“He is a very good footballer, a big star, but there is currently no place for him in this team.
“We [already] have the best player in the world – it’s Leo Messi and he is irreplaceable,” Bartomeu added.
Ronnie, you have just been besmirched!
Real Madrid are in the last stages of discussions to bring highly rated Santos star Neymar to the Santiago Bernabeu for an estimated €60 million.
Representatives from the Spanish giants will begin finalizing a deal which will see the 19-year-old swap the white of Santos for the famous Los Blancos strip as early as January next year.
Despite reinstating his desire to keep the club’s most prized asset, Santos president Luiz Alfaro Ribeiro de Oliveira is resigned to losing Neymar whose goals and performances guided the Brazilian giants to a third Copa Liberatodores crown last season.
It is believed the club have agreed a €20m fee upfront with Real Madrid, rising to €60 million (£48 million) depending on appearances.
Neymar is due to partake in the FIFA World Club Cup next month where his side could clash with European champions Barcelona in a potentially mouth-watering encounter.
So how about it? Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Kaka, Nuri Sahin, Karim Benzema and Neymar! Quite a formidable line-up wouldn’t you agree?
Corinthians club President Andrés Navarro Sánchez has confirmed that outcasted Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is close to signing for the club once again.
Sanchez confirmed the news to reporters in Brazil amidst mounting speculation concerning the Argentine striker’s future at Eastlands.
“Tevez has one foot in Corinthians, even if a lot of people don’t believe it,” the 48-year-old said.
Tevez has been fined a whooping £792,000 and warned he will not be allowed to leave Manchester City for anything less than £40 million after being found guilty of misconduct following September’s 2-0 UEFA Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.
However, Sanchez has suggested that the four time Brazilian champions are unwilling to match City’s asking price and will look to secure the services of City’s former captain for a cut-price.
“He is not worth €40 million any more,” he suggested. “Now you would pay around €18m, after all the trouble he has faced in England.”
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has expressed his desire to take ousted Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez to White Hart Lane.
“I would take him if he were available for sure. If Manchester City want to let me have him on loan and subsidise it, I’ll take him tomorrow,” the Spurs boss was reported as saying by Mirror Football.
“Say what you like he’s a world-class player and the one criticism you can’t level at him is he doesn’t work his socks off when he plays.
“He’s a handful and I’m only interested what he does when he plays. World-class players are in very short supply,” Redknapp added.
Barcelona are ready to make a move for highly rated Bolton defender Gary Cahill who has been a target for a string of Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United.
No this is not a misprint, no we at In The Stands have not gone mad, and April Fools Day is a long way away. But, indeed, European champions Barcelona have pinpointed Gary Cahill as a viable transfer target with Catalan director of football Andoni Zubizarreta hoping to make a visit Bolton in order to meet with the England centre-back personally.
Cahill has been the subject of much transfer speculation of late as a host of top Premier League clubs such as Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United weigh up a potential bid to sign the 25-year-old star.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has slapped a £17million price tag on his most-prized asset although with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the Scot may be forced to sell the defender in the January transfer window.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has issued a stern warning to Manchester City by insisting that they refrain from any attempt to land star striker Robin Van Persie.
Speculation has arisen that Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is eyeing up a January swoop for Van Persie who he sees as a replacement for rebel forward Carlos Tevez.
The Gunners have become somewhat of a feeder club to City who, in recent years, have already raided four of their top stars, including Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri.
Now an embattled Arsene Wenger is determined that he keeps hold of his new Gunners centurion and captain Robin Van Persie at all costs.
The Dutchman has just 18 months left on his current contract and effectively could leave the club on a Bosman by January 2013 with no new contract talks set as of yet.
“Robin is under contract until 2013,” Wenger was quoted as saying by The Mail Sport.
All aboard shut the doors please! It is that time soon when the helter-skelter known as the transfer window deadline fast approaches with many clubs hoping to bolster their squad before the clock strikes midnight.
Will Sagna and Song be joined by Malouda by the end of today?
We have seen some blockbuster moves on transfer deadline day in recent seasons with the likes of Robinho, Sergio Ramos and Carlos Tevez all securing last-gasp transfers with minutes on the clock remaining.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs in particular will be looking to bolster their squads with all three London clubs heavily linked to a host of top players – most notably Franck Ribery who is said to be the subject of a £30million bid from Andres Villas Boas. And of course, the Luka Modric saga remains far from over.
Arsenal are ready to secure the signings of Brazilian fullback Andre Santos although nothing remains concrete.
Make no mistake about it Wesley Sneijder is a man who wants to move.
Having played, lived, achieved and revelled during his tenure with Inter Milan, the creative midfielder is ready to explore new avenues with Manchester United looking his most likely next destination.
When United legend Paul Scholes decided to hang-up his boots after years of being the focal point of the Red Devils’ midfield, Sir Alex Ferguson’s immediate reaction was to give his obligatory thank yous to the ginger maestro before quickly go along his way in finding a suitable, if not better replacement.
On the back of a thoroughly deserved beating at the hands of European champions Barcelona at Wembley, not any old midfielder would do.
After all, if the Premier League champions are to reach that next step and become the kingpins, not just domestically, but on the continent (if not the world), then bolstering the midfield so that it is on par with Xavi and Iniesta is inimical.
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