There’s not a great deal of actual speculation in today’s roundup, as there are several signings to report, and there are a few more that are set to be finalized before long.
To refresh your memory on the rumor rating system, here goes:
1 – impossible
2 – not likely, but not out of the realm of possibility
3 – could go either way
4 – player is likely moving somewhere/deal is on the way to getting done
5 – done deal/almost a done deal/player has stated his intention to leave or has been told he can leave
England
Manchester United have tabled an official bid for Dimitar Berbatov, offering Tottenham 20 million pounds for one half of their star strike duo.
Rumor Rating: 4 – So much for Huntelaar then, eh?
Arsenal have finally completed the signing of Marseille’s Samir Nasri. It’s a belated birthday present for the midfielder, who turned 21 on June 26.
Rumor Rating: 5 – His signing was expected, but with him now officially in the fold, it quiets down all the talk about exits at Arsenal. Well, at least for a day or two, maybe.
Peter Crouch is officially a Portsmouth player, as he was unveiled by his new old club on Friday. Crouch will go from part-time starter to regular partner of Jermain Defoe (another former ‘super sub’), and has signed a four-year deal to rejoin the club that he played for in the 2001/02 season before moving to Aston Villa.
Rumor Rating: 5 – If he can score 18 league goals like he did in his first go-round at Pompey, the Crouch-Defoe partnership will be pretty productive.
Liverpool have offloaded another player, as midfielder Danny Guthrie has signed for Newcastle for an undisclosed fee.
Rumor Rating: 5 – The 21-year old got Premier League experience last season with a loan spell at Bolton, so there’s a good chance he pushes for a regular first-team place from the start.
Liverpool have signed Palmeiras goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri. Cavalieri stands to take over the #2 spot behind Jose Reina, with Charles Itandje off to Galatasaray and Scott Carson likely on his way elsewhere as well.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Cavalieri should get some starts in the domestic cup competitions and potentially in the league and Champions League to give Reina some rest.
Speaking of Carson, West Brom and Stoke are interested in signing him, according to the Daily Mail.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Do either have enough money to sign him permanently? He may well not want to go somewhere on loan again, but that may well be his only option right now.
After snubbing the chance to sign Carson permanently, Aston Villa could be set to sign Chivas USA keeper Brad Guzan next week, as the American international says that talks could be concluded over the next few days.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Guzan was all set to move to Villa in the January window, but work permit issues got in the way of the deal going through, so hopefully for both parties’ sake, that doesn’t get in the way this time.
Hull have signed former PSG defender Bernard Mendy on a free transfer, beating out Werder Bremen for his signature. The 26-year old has signed a three-year deal for the club.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Mendy is familiar with Hull manager Phil Brown, who was a coach at Bolton in the 2002/03 season when Mendy was on loan there.
The Sun says that QPR is lining up a move for veteran Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado, with club co-owner Flavio Briatore having met Salgado in Madrid to discuss a move.
Rumor Rating: 3 – Salgado’s role at Real has diminished over the last couple of seasons, but while it might seem like a long shot right now, he’d be an excellent signing for QPR, with all of the experience and success he’s had at the highest levels.
Spain
Getafe are closing in on an 8m euro deal for Real Madrid striker Roberto Soldado. Soldado hasn’t really broken into the Real Madrid first team in his time with the club, and it looks like the club are ready to cash in on the 23-year old, who has two caps for Spain’s senior team.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Soldado had 11 goals for Osasuna in a loan spell in the 2006/07 season before barely getting on the pitch at Real last season, so he certainly has potential to be a hit with Getafe.
Italy
Juventus have agreed a 10m euro deal with Sevilla over midfielder Christian Poulsen, who has signed a four-year deal worth 3.5m per year.
Rumor Rating: 5 – One person who may be looking forward to Poulsen’s move to Serie A is Kaka.
France
PSG have signed Le Mans midfielder Stephane Sessegnon for a fee in the region of 10 million euros. The 24-year old has 15 caps for Benin, and he was also formerly the subject of interest from Arsenal and Newcastle.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Sessegnon should soon be followed by Le Mans teammate Marko Basa, as long as his request for a bonus doesn’t cut the move short.
Rennes have sealed a deal for Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan for a fee of 7.5 million euros.
Rumor Rating: 5 – As I said in yesterday’s roundup, Rennes are getting a quality young talent in Gyan, provided he can stay healthy.
St. Etienne have sent Colombian midfielder Freddy Guarin to Porto for an undisclosed fee, with Portuguese midfielder Paulo Machado going the opposite direction on loan.
Rumor Rating: 5 – Machado hasn’t broken into Porto’s squad as of yet, but he’s had loan spells at three Portuguese top-flight clubs in the last three seasons, and should vie for a regular place in St. Etienne’s first-team squad next term.
Well, that’s it for the day in news and rumors. I’ll be back with all the latest tomorrow, but until then, chime in with your thoughts on today’s rumors and chip in with rumors that you’ve read and heard.
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