A new day, a fresh batch of transfer gossip to deliver your way. It’s nice to be able to have new signings to report on and add to our summer transfers lists, because hey, who doesn’t like being kept busy? Ah, don’t answer that…
Speaking of busy, with the speculation that we’ve seen this week from here, there, and everywhere, things are going to pick up even more soon, so that means you should be watching this space daily.
Who’s on the move, and who could be on the move soon? Real Madrid have added a new signing, and he’s from Valencia, but his name isn’t (and won’t be) Villa. Birmingham have added yet another center back, and well, the rest and all of the specifics, you’re just going to have to keep on reading.
England
United Return For Rossi?
Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi is being linked with a return to former club Manchester United after contract talks with Villarreal stalled. (Daily Star)
Analysis: Wouldn’t surprise me if he returned to the club at some point, and he could well be an option this summer if some of their other forward options don’t quite pan out for one reason or another.
Blackburn Interested In Cardozo And African Duo
Blackburn could look to replace the recently-departed Roque Santa Cruz with. (Sky Sports)
Analysis: Cardozo would be a fine replacement for Roque and then some. A move won’t come cheap, but Blackburn could try to negotiate down a little, considering Benfica’s financial issues.
Blackburn are also back in for Egyptian star Ahmed Al Muhammadi (Daily Mail)
Analysis: If Blackburn are in need of an emergency goalkeeper in a pinch, they can certainly count on Al Muhammadi. Nice save, though if Big Sam has to enlist his services in goal, such a save won’t come with a red card and a penalty for the other team as it did with his maybe intentional, maybe not handball/clearance off the line against Brazil.
The club could also be set to battle it out with Stoke City for Ghanaian midfielder Haminu Draman (Daily Mail).
Analysis: It never hurts to have someone who can slot in at multiple positions, and Draman can fit in for Blackburn anywhere from left back to forward.
Birmingham Sign Johnson
Birmingham have landed Cardiff defender Roger Johnson in a £5m deal. The 26-year-old center back has signed a three-year deal with his new club. (The Mirror)
Analysis: It’s pretty clear where Birmingham’s priorities lie this summer – Johnson is their third center back signing, and we’re not even through June.
Stoke In Talks For Ashton
Stoke City have had contact with West Ham about a move for striker Dean Ashton. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: It’d seem that he’d have a place at West Ham next season, no matter who they sign, but maybe his injury issues could be what push West Ham to sell. If they do, I’d think that Stoke would have to stump up a fair amount more than the club-record £5.5m that they paid to land Dave Kitson last summer. He’s damaged goods, but when he’s healthy, there’s no doubting his quality.
Wigan After Bodde
After landing Jordi Gomez, Roberto Martinez could go after another one of his former Swansea players, with Wigan being linked with a move for playmaker Ferrie Bodde. However, any move for the 27-year-old could cost £5m. (The Mirror)
Analysis: A bit of a high price for someone in the Championship, but Swansea have ambitions of their own, and if they’re going to let go of their best players, like Bodde and Burnley target Jason Scotland, it won’t be for pennies.
Portsmouth Move For UAE Starlets?
Incoming Portsmouth owner Sulamain Al Fahim wants the club to sign two of the United Arab Emirates’ top prospects, defender Hamdan Al Kamali and forward Ahmed Khalil. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: There’s not a lot I can say on Al Kamali, but from the limited highlight footage and information I was able to find on Khalil, he certainly appears to have some real potential for the future.
Spain
Real Sign Albiol
Real Madrid have signed Valencia defender Raul Albiol in a deal reportedly worth around €15m. The 23-year-old, who has 15 caps for Spain, has signed a five-year contract with Real.
Analysis: Quality signing for Real. Now, if only they could get him to convince David Villa to come along too, eh? That one seems pretty unlikely at this point though.
Italy
Acquafresca Loaned Out To Atalanta
Genoa striker Robert Acquafresca has been loaned out to Atalanta for next season. Acquafresca signed for Genoa in the deal that saw Diego Milito and Thiago Motta move to Inter Milan. (Tribal Football)
Analysis: As it happens, he’ll basically be replacing a guy that he would’ve been competing for opportunities with at Genoa in Sergio Floccari. I’m sure he could’ve been a success at Genoa next season, but instead of battling for starts with Floccari and Hernan Crespo, he’ll get to star at Atalanta and hone his skills for another season.
Germany
Wolfsburg After Premier League Strikers
Wolfsburg are interested in Middlesbrough forward Tuncay (Tribal Football) and Manchester City forward Valeri Bojinov (Tribal Football).
Analysis: Whether either of them winds up being in serious contention for a move to Wolfsburg all depends on whether or not Wolfsburg give in to AC Milan’s attempts to sign Edin Dzeko. So far, those attempts have been futile, but that’s what persistence is for.
France
Landreau To Lille
Paris Saint-Germain keeper Mickael Landreau is set to sign for Lille. (Sky Sports)
Analysis: Signing a keeper of Landreau’s quality will certainly help Lille’s prospects of doing well in Europe and perhaps even challenging for a Champions League place in Ligue 1.
Greece
Cisse To Panathinaikos
Djibril Cisse is set to move to Panathinaikos in a £6.8m deal. (Tribal Football)
Analysis: What happened to that move that Tottenham move he bragged to his Sunderland teammates about? In all seriousness though, this is a great signing by Panathinaikos. Cisse has a track record of success wherever he’s been, and he’ll be a big part of the club’s push to make another run into the Champions League knockout rounds and to win their first Greek league title since 2004.
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