England
Chelsea Bid For Torres
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have made a formal bid of around £40m for Fernando Torres, with Roman Abramovich reportedly having no qualms about paying up to £70m for the Liverpool striker.
Analysis: Looking at the big picture, selling Torres is a no-brainer. Even if all of the money received from the sale isn’t given to Roy Hodgson to spend, he could do more than enough to help Liverpool be better off than they would be with Torres still on the books, especially considering Torres’ injury issues from last season.
Sneijder Tops United Wish List
Manchester United are high on a move for Dutch hero Wesley Sneijder, but according to the The Sun, it could cost Sir Alex Ferguson £35m to snare the Inter playmaker.
Analysis: Sneijder’s only improved his worth and valuation with his performances in Holland’s World Cup run, and he’d no doubt be a big hit at United. However, that might be a little more than United could be looking to spend on one player right now. Then again, shelling out that kind of money for a player of his caliber might be necessary to keep up with and stay ahead of the Joneses for now and for the future.
Ibrahimovic Open To City Move
According to the Daily Mail, Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is interested in being reunited with Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, with an offer of 16.5m plus Robinho reportedly being discussed. However, such a move could hinge on one condition: Ibrahimovic would look to become the club’s highest earner.
Analysis: Whether or not he deserves such wages as he would be looking to get is one thing, but that could be said for many of their post-takeover signings. But whether or not there’d be any qualms about meeting that condition, there’s really no way around it if you factor in what Ibra is on already and what City have many of those new signings on.
City’s Balotelli Bid Rejected
Ibrahimovic is only one of several forwards on Manchester City‘s list. Another one is Inter‘s Mario Balotelli, who, according to the 19-year-old‘s agent, has been the subject of a bid from City – which Inter turned down. (Sky Sports)
Analysis: As much as Balotelli has been linked with moves elsewhere, I think that he needs to try to establish himself more at Inter and also make a step up in the maturity department in that environment before he makes a move.
Podolski On City Radar?
Another option for City is German star Lukas Podolski. According to the Daily Mail, City are considering offering Cologne £16.5m for the 25-year-old attacker, who is also receiving interest from Italy and Spain.
Analysis: High risk, high reward. Perhaps a move to City would bring out that Podolski that we know can light it up for Germany, but at the same time, City could well get the same return on their investment as they did with Roque Santa Cruz last season.
Liverpool Line Up Ruiz
Also according to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are set to make a £12.5m move for FC Twente forward Bryan Ruiz.
Analysis: FC Twente got him for a bargain last summer, and £12.5m would be a bargain for Liverpool. Ruiz is very good and only getting better, and when you factor in the addition of another versatile forward in Milan Jovanovic, I don’t think Liverpool be ailing too much if it does happen that Torres is sold.
Alex After Ayew
Birmingham City are interested in Marseille winger Andre Ayew. The 20-year-old Ayew, the son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele, is rated at £5.5m. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: I can’t say I see Ayew making this kind of step up just yet, as he’s set to figure prominently in Didier Deschamps’ plans this season as Marseille look to defend their Ligue 1 title and make a Champions League run.
Blackburn Track Jelavic
Blackburn are currently stuck in transfer limbo due to ongoing takeover talks, but one of the targets that Sam Allardyce would like to land when he can spend is Rapid Vienna striker Nikicia Jelavic, for whom he could make a £4m bid. Jelavic had a very impressive season for Rapid Vienna last season, scoring 18 league goals and bagging a few more in the Europa League. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Blackburn had only one player hit the ten-goal mark last season, and that was David Dunn, so it’s safe to say things need to improve up front. But Nikola Kalinic should be much improved after getting his feet wet last season, and a linkup of the two Croatians could well prove to be prosperous, even if Jelavic struggles initially like Kalinic did last season.
Premier League Return For Pennant?
Former Arsenal and Liverpool man Jermaine Pennant is being shopped to Premier League clubs, as he looks to return to England after only one season at Real Zaragoza, due to his girlfriend’s pregnancy. Wolves have turned down the chance to sign him, but he has now been offered to West Ham and Wigan. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: It makes it all the easier for Pennant to want to move after the first season of his Spanish experiment didn’t go well at all, but given his numerous question marks, finding a suitor is easier said than done. However, talent overcomes many things, and though he hasn’t shown it consistently, Pennant has talent. It’s not too late for him to make the kind of impact that he has only shown in flashes over the last few years, but only if he wants to. If he doesn’t, well, I hear the Championship is nice.
Newcastle Close On United Starlet
Newcastle United are close to clinching a loan deal for young Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Cleverley had a very impressive loan campaign for Watford last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting on five more in 33 appearances (all starts), and having a significant impact for Newcastle this season would enhance his hopes of being in the first-team frame at United in the next year or two.
Italy
Genoa Move For Miguel
Genoa have offered up €5m and midfielder Alberto Zapater for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. (Transfer Market Web)
Analysis: The cash involved isn’t much, but the addition of a promising young-ish midfielder in Zapater, who scored four goals and started 25 games in his first season at Genoa – and has been linked with a move to Valencia, could make this offer worth thinking about. However, after selling Joao Moutinho to Porto, Sporting might not be too keen on losing another key piece just yet.
Germny
Wolfsburg Close On Kjaer
VfL Wolfsburg are closing in on a deal for highly-rated Palermo defender Simon Kjaer. According to Palermo president Mauricio Zamparini, the deal will be finalized within days. (Goal.com)
Analysis: It might be considered a step down, since Wolfsburg aren’t in Europe this season, but it’s not a bad move for Kjaer at all. With the addition of he and Arne Friedrich to strengthen a leaky defense, Wolfsburg are positioning themselves to make a run at a second title in three years. If they can hold on to Edin Dzeko – or find a quality replacement when he’s sold, their chances will be even better.
Ukraine
Chygrynskiy Returns To Shakhtar
After only one season at Barcelona, Ukrainian center back Dmytro Chygrynskiy is on his way back to former club Shakhtar Donetsk. Shakhtar sold Chygrynskiy for €25m last summer, and he’s returning to the club for €10m less. (Sky Sports)
Analysis: Chygrynskiy is a talented young defender, and another big move will come in the near future, but it’s better for him right now to return to Shakhtar, get regular playing time and continue to develop, and then make a move back to one of Europe’s top clubs when the situation is in position for him to be an impact player instead of getting lost in the shuffle.
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