Even without much to report on in the Kaka-Manchester City situation (besides more people weighing in with opinions, talks of meetings between the Kaka camp and AC Milan, and possible fan protests), there’s still plenty to run over in transfer news and rumors.
England
Manchester City are close on deals for Craig Bellamy (£12-14m – Daily Mail) and Nigel de Jong (£16-18m – The Guardian).
Analysis: So who’s getting the better of the Bellamy deal? Given his recent form, City could be getting just the striker that they need, but West Ham have to be pretty happy about being able to rid themselves of his attitude issues and make a profit while they’re doing it.
Tottenham are doing their best to keep Wigan midfielder Wilson Palacios from joining Bellamy and de Jong at Eastlands, offering Palacios a sizable contract to try to lure him to London (Daily Mail). However, those efforts might be for naught, as Palacios looks set to turn down the offer (Daily Mail).
Analysis: It’s understandable that Palacios would be reluctant to move from the area, which is why City would be more appealing for him.
Liverpool are interested in Sevilla defender Fernando Navarro. (Sunday People)
Analysis: Navarro won’t come on the cheap, and that could be a hindrance with Liverpool’s selectively tight transfer budget, but Sevilla aren’t unwilling to cash in on top players for the right price.
West Ham could use the cash from the Bellamy sale to put in offers for Cardiff’s Joe Ledley (Daily Mirror) and Fiorentina striker Pablo Osvaldo (Sky Sports).
Analysis: They’ll have a fight on their hands for Ledley, with a number of suitors in for him and a club that are reluctant to sell him. He’ll certainly be worth the price and then some. Osvaldo has interest from a few Serie A sides, so he may prefer a stay in Italy rather than a move abroad, but the chance to work and grow under Gianfranco Zola could be one to not turn down.
Newcastle could make a doubled offer for Rennes midfielder Stephane M’Bia after a £5m bid was rejected. (Sky Sports)
Analysis: There’s been no indication from the summer, when Everton were after him, to this point that tells me that Rennes are all that willing to sell him, but maybe £10m could do the trick this time.
Everton are interested in signing Tottenham duo Darren Bent and David Bentley (Tribalfootball), and they’re also interested in getting Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant on a free in the summer (The Mirror)
Analysis: Let’s not turn it into the Goodison Park Boys’ Home for the Unsettled and Unwanted, David.
Germany
Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski has agreed to rejoin former club Cologne at the end of the season on a four-year deal, with Cologne set to pay Bayern €10m. (The Guardian)
Analysis: The last three seasons at Bayern didn’t go as well as anyone might have expected after his move from Cologne in 2006, but hopefully he’ll get his club career back on track with a return ‘home.’
France
Lyon have declared that striker Fred is for sale, which should enhance Stoke City’s hopes of signing the Brazilian. (Setanta Sports)
Analysis: It might be more financially feasible to wait until the summer to move for him, since he’ll be available on a free then, but for the sake of getting him before anyone else can, paying the necessary fee for him shouldn’t be a problem for Stoke.
If you have a juicy rumor that we may have missed, post it in the comments along with the link to the source.
And if you want to keep up with all of the latest confirmed transfers, check out our updated January 2009 transfer lists.
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