This article was written in August 2006. For the latest transfer news, head to our transfer news and rumours column.
With 10 days to go before the Premiership kicks off, transfer season is kicking up a gear as clubs look to find the right players to bolster their squads.
Arsenal Transfer News
Expect Ashley Cole to be a Chelsea player by the end of the week, or over the weekend. A deal is tantalisingly close, as made evident by the public posturing of Wenger and Mourinho with both coaches setting ‘deadlines’ on the transfer deal. Heck, we could run a “Ashley Cole Signs For Chelsea” report right now and everyone would believe us (yes, the thought has crossed my mind to do a spoof) 🙂
Henry’s statement that selling Cole would be a loss for Arsenal is cute as the captain fails to realise the damage Cole would cause in the dressing room, nevermind his problems with DD and Wenger. Could it be that Henry knows what Wenger’s transfer plans are and is afraid that Arsenal will not be able to challenge successfully for the Premiership without Cole?
As far as Reyes is concerned though, it comes down to what Madrid are going to do regarding Ribery. If they bid for him, it will be hard for Arsenal to match it. Madrid need a left-sided player though and Reyes can fit the bill, plus his desire to play in Spain has led him to pimp himself like a whore going out of style in the last two weeks.
Newcastle United Transfer News
Newcastle would be considered lucky to start the season with a pair of strikers other than Ameobi and Luque and true to form the transfer beacons at Newcastle are burning bright with moves for Obafemi Martins and Dirk Kuyt still on the cards. With Kuyt it is a matter of matching Feyenoord’s transfer fee demands and competing with Liverpool for his signature. With Martins though, Newcastle have a bigger problem – Martins is saying that he doesn’t want to leave now but his agent is saying that if Inter sign more players it will become impossible for his client to stay.
Since Luca Toni has pledged himself to Fiorentina, Inter are left looking at the Juve strikers. If (and only if) one of those strikers moves to Inter, Martins could be up for sale and then a host of European clubs including Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool would be competing with Newcastle United for his signature. It’s a situation worth monitoring, and we’ll be updating you on it as more news comes in.
With Faye out of the way, Gravesen could be a new recruit for Newcastle in the next few days. I give him one month before there is a training ground ‘incident’ in which Gravesen is involved.
And then there is this mess with Boumsong. Marseille are interested in the defender but will wait until Ribery is sold before making a move. I feel that maybe Newcastle United could do with another defender, but whether they go for one is another matter.
Liverpool Transfer News
They are still looking for another striker, and it seems like Dirk Kuyt is the man Benitez and Liverpool are after. Arguably Liverpool will offer European football and better exposure to the player, but Newcastle have more money. It should be interesting. I’m guessing that Kuyt will go to Newcastle, mainly because he’ll have a better chance to establish himself as a front-line striker at St James Park.
Liverpool shouldn’t be worried though – in Fowler, Garcia, Crouch and Bellamy they have a very good attack. Kuyt would be a luxury for Liverpool, not a bleeding necessity like he is for Newcastle.
Tottenham Transfer News
Yup, you’re right, no real news for Tottenham today. There’s a Mido link, but that’s just grasping for straws. There’s also the link between Roberto Ayala and Tottenham, and this might be something that turns out into something more than just fantasy football. However, whether Tottenham need Ayala is quite another matter.
I’d love to see Ayala play in the Premiership – and if it has to be at Tottenham, so be it.
Nothing to report on their search for a right-back or a left-winger either.
Manchester United Transfer News
You didnt think I would leave out Manchester United from this list, did you?
We’re still hoping that Ferguson will outfox us all and announce the capture of Diarra, Mascherano or Hargreaves. As things stand, we are far more likely to sign Senna and Kuszczak. Manchester United will benefit from both players, but really I don’t see the point of Kuszczak unless we’re planning to sell Howard (quite likely) and Senna is still a squad player bought for the Champions League more than anything else.
One thing’s for sure – you cannot underestimate Ferguson and Manchester United.
Unfortunately we’re not selling the likes of Evra, Fletcher or Miller. Rumours that West Brom will take one of our players in exchange for Kuszczak are still that – rumours.
Surprisingly enough though, we’ve been linked with Adriano – seeing that Martins is still young and probably not for sale, Adriano could be the striker on the move from Inter Milan. Whether Manchester United have the money to buy him is a different story, but having Adriano in our strikeforce would solve a lot of problems (and give us a battering ram attack with Rooney and Adriano).
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