There are some interesting rumors floating out there today. Is Lukas Podolski staying or going? Are Everton looking for a new striker? Are Tottenham looking to replace Gomes as their goalkeeper? What big name could be heading to the U.S.? And are Manchester City preparing to shatter the transfer record once again?
Manchester City’s Audacious Moves
Manchester City could be preparing to bid up to £60 for Chelsea and England skipper, John Terry, and make him the highest paid player in the world at £200,000 a week. Manchester City could also bid up to £30 for Terry’s teammate, Ashley Cole.
Analysis: I’d be absolutely shocked if Terry went to City. Then again, if Terry is sore about Frank Lampard’s contract and unsure of Chelsea’s finances (Roman Abramovich is rumored to be losing interest and they’re reportedly sitting out the January transfer window), then you never know. As for Cole, the price seems extremely high, but clearly, the Abu Dhabi group doesn’t care about that.
Real Madrid Snag Huntelaar?
Real Madrid look like they’re going to get a top striker after all as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may finally be on the move away from Ajax for £17 million.
Analysis: This signing makes a lot of sense for Real. Huntelaar is eligible for Champions League play and he should be able to step in for the injured Ruud Van Nistelrooy. And he costs considerably less than what Tevez’s handlers are demanding.
Podolski to Stay?
Not so fast, Tottenham, Everton, and Manchester City. The anticipated bidding war for the services of Bayern Munich striker, Lukas Podolski, took a turn as Bayern officials have stated that Podolski will remain with the team until the summer, whereupon he’ll return to his former club, Cologne.
Analysis: Indications are that Podolski doesn’t want to leave Germany due to family reasons. Podolski has said he wants to leave in the winter, but he’s been mum about where he wants to go. We’ll see if this is genuine or if it’s simply a ploy to get more money.
Everton in for Martins?
If David Moyes can’t get Podolski, then he could very well make a play for Newcastle’s Obafemi Martins. Martins threw a tantrum after being taken off over the weekend, and his days at St. James Park could be numbered.
Analysis: The Toffees desperate need a striker, what with Yakubu’s season-ending injury and Saha’s chronic lack of fitness (some things never change…). Expect them to be in the running for any moderately priced striker from here on out.
Spurs Looking for New Keeper?
With incumbent goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes’s well-documented struggles, Tottenham is looking to appropriate part of their massive January budget towards finding a new goalkeeper. Newcastle seem determined to hold on to Shay Given, which leaves West Ham’s Robert Green as the top target, with Bolton’s Jussi Jääskeläinen and Wolves’ Carl Ikeme also on the list. Meanwhile, Gomes’ deputy, Cesar Sanchez, could be moving to Valencia.
Analysis: You’d think that a goalkeeper would be higher on their list of priorities, given Gomes’ struggles. For some reason, the board continues to chase midfielders and strikers when they already have a bunch of them on board.
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