For the past few months, we’ve found that British tabloid The Metro are using an intelligent ploy to fetch more hits from their articles. Knowing that using other tabloids as source could be a put off among the readers, they’re going for a more authentic route, that is finding the story from the point of origination.
The Metro are simply picking up the stories from Fichajes and are adding that to their articles claiming ‘either reports from Spain’ or simply ‘reports’. Fichajes is a transfer website operating from Spain. Just like Calciomercato in Italy, they cover lots of transfer stories throughout the day, including reports from foreign countries as well.
For instance, they have covered an article today on Chelsea’s rumoured interest in Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. They write:
“Chelsea have made a £23.6million offer for Gerard Pique as they look to sign the Barcelona centre back in the January transfer window.
Pique, who has also been linked with a switch to Manchester United, looks destined to leave Barca in the new year for a fresh challenge.
And the Blues have made the first move in the race, with reports saying an offer worth £23.6million has gone in this week.
It’s thought that bid is very close to Barcelona’s asking price and Chelsea are now hopeful of doing business to bring in the powerful centre back.”
The ‘report’ hyperlinked here is the report they got from Fichajes. The report basically sumps up what Metro has covered here, that is Chelsea are looking to add a quality defender and although Pique is not in the best of form at the moment, Jose Mourinho hopes to get the best out of him.
Fichajes claim clearly “according to several British media” suggest that “Chelsea would offer a figure close to 30 million euros” for Pique in their article. And it didn’t look long to find the original source. Daily Star, Daily Express and The Metro themselves, all have covered this story in the last few days.
So basically, Fichajes are reporting what has been covered, including the transfer value. The Metro just rehashing the same story giving Fichajes as the source and claiming “with reports saying an offer worth £23.6million has gone in this week.”
Just to remind you, Pique has been linked earlier with a move to Manchester United as well. Hope you got the idea, how that rumour was generated.
Don’t be surprised if you come across several websites today covering this story and giving credence to it as well, may be writing features – whether Pique should be a good buy for Chelsea. Sigh.
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