It’s a busy time in Manchester, as the red side and the blue side are both busy trying to bolster their squads ahead of next season.
But they’re not the only clubs being linked with big-money purchases in this morning’s transfer news roundup, though the other club mentioned is having nothing to do with said big-money move.
The order of the day, and it’s no surprise, is strikers, and though there’s little in the way of new names to add to the summer transfer lists, it looks like a number of names could be added in the next day or two according to all that you’ll read here.
United To Swap Berbatov For Aguero?
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up an offer of £17.1m and Dimitar Berbatov for Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Hm…I’d think that Berbatov would get at least another season to prove himself, but if they are looking to land another forward, it’d make things pretty crowded in a front line full of top talents, so it might make sense to try to sell him. But even if he was included in such a deal, it’d seem to fall short of what Atletico want for Aguero. Never know what could happen, especially with United seemingly not done adding forwards, but I suppose it’s worth wondering if they’d cut their losses on him this quickly.
Rafa Rubbishes Ribery Reports
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has played down the reports that the club are set to make a big-money bid for Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery after bookmakers slashed the odds on Ribery making a move to Merseyside. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Even if they were going to make a serious bid for Ribery, it’d appear that Liverpool have to sell both Mascherano and Alonso to make it a realistic possibility, and I don’t see those kinds of sacrifices made for the sake of one player.
City Pull Out Of Eto’o Hunt
Manchester City have given up on trying to sign Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, after the Cameroon star. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Didn’t really see this one going through, but it still looks like he’s adamant about leaving Barcelona. Manchester United could be the likeliest possibility, but that might come down to whether they want to pay the wages he might be looking for.
Everton’s Naughton Bid Accepted
Sheffield United right back Kyle Naughton is set for talks with Everton after the Toffees’ bid for him was accepted. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Naughton has been linked with most of the Premier League’s top sides, so being able to win the race for him is very impressive on Everton’s part. He’s got a long, bright future ahead, but he should get an immediate chance to prove his worth in the Premier League straightaway.
Tottenham Prepare Carew Bid
Tottenham are set to make a £5m bid for Aston Villa striker John Carew. (The Mirror)
Analysis: I’d think that’s an offer that Villa wouldn’t even take a moment to consider. Selling Carew isn’t out of the question, but if it did happen, it’d be for a little more than 5m.
Sunderland Close On Campbell, Must Up Bent Bid
Manchester United have accepted Sunderland’s bid of around £5m for striker Fraizer Campbell. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: So does Steve Bruce get a special discount, or what?
Sunderland have made a £12m bid for Tottenham striker Darren Bent, but Tottenham are holding out for £16m. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Good striker, yes. Worth £16m, no.
Zamora Out, Crouch In At Fulham?
Fulham have accepted a £6m bid from Hull City for striker Bobby Zamora, which could open the way for the Cottagers to close an £11m deal for Portsmouth’s Peter Crouch. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Fulham have to be ecstatic about getting that much for Zamora. It may be a work of genius in the end, but as of now, it reeks of desperation for Hull, who missed out on Marc-Antoine Fortune and look set to miss out on Fraizer Campbell. It could be that they were looking more at his 11-goal for West Ham in 2006/07 instead of his three league goals in two seasons with Fulham, but they must really be banking on him to be the Zamora that was fantastic for Brighton and solid for West Ham.
Fulham have to be ecstatic about being able to get that much for him, and all the better to be able to turn it around and not have to spend as much of their kitty on a Crouch move as they would’ve without such a fortuitous sale.
Wigan Reject Cattermole Bid
Wigan have rejected a bid from Sunderland for midfielder Lee Cattermole. (Sky Sports)
Analysis: Cattermole’s not going anywhere this summer, and if he was, it’d likely have to be for at least double the £3.5m Wigan paid for him.
Stoke Make Record Bid For M’Bia
Stoke are looking to trump Marseille and Everton by making a club-record £10m bid for Rennes midfielder Stephane M’Bia. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Nice show of ambition by Stoke, but he seems to have his heart set on a move to Marseille.
Greece
Olympiakos Move For Altidore
Olympiakos have agreed a loan deal with Villarreal for striker Jozy Altidore. (Goal.com)
Analysis: Regular playing time isn’t guaranteed, and that’s a concern with next summer in mind, but if he’s able to earn regular playing time and is able to get his feet wet in the Champions League, it’ll keep him match fit and give him good experience ahead of the World Cup.
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