**Summer Transfer Thread: News, Rumours and Speculation**

[daz.wallace]

Don't make me dig out the spends over the last 5 years :/

Or financial Barry will turn up, I'm sure that kid knows more about Liverpool's money than the fat Spanish waiter.

 

[daz.wallace]

1027 BST: Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong is in talks with two clubs regarding a summer move. (Sky Sports website)

1016 BST: Manchester City target and former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista wants to stay with Roma. He said: "I signed a four-year contract with Roma and I want to remain and help the team do better." (Press Association)

0958 BST: Zinedine Zidane, French legend and adviser at Real Madrid, says negotiations to sign Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery are "on the right track".

"I am for Ribery coming to Madrid and I will do everything to make that happen," Zidane told French newspaper Le Parisien.
Full story: Le Parisien (in French)

0927 BST: Ajax centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will have a medical at Arsenal on Friday ahead of signing a four-year deal.

"The signature is not there yet, but everything is in order," Vermaelen told Belgium newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen.
Full story: Setanta Sports

0807 BST: Former Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan could be set for a return to management at Southampton after being spotted holding a meeting with Saints legend Matt Le Tissier and former chairman Lee Crouch.
Full story: Southern Daily Echo

0801 BST: Valencia striker David Villa has told his club he wants to move to Real Madrid and nowhere else. (Sky Sports)

0753 BST: Jermaine Pennant, loaned to Portsmouth from Liverpool last season, is a possible target for Manchester City to provide competition for winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Full story: Guardian


TRANSFER GOSSIP
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o is edging closer to a Manchester City move with wage demands of £192,000 a week, after tax, being weighed up by the Premier League club.
Full story: Daily Mail

The chase for Franck Ribery has found the green light again following the latest words by Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer.

With Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona waiting in the wings, chairman of the German club Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said a few days ago the French midfielder would not be sold, but Beckenbauer has revealed: "If he really wants to leave, we will deal with the issue."
Full story: Daily Star

Man United are considering a move for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie who is yet to sign a new contract.

With one year remaining on his current deal, the Dutch star is desperate to win more silverware and said money was not everything.
Full story: The Sun

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has confirmed he made an enquiry about taking on former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson. (Daily Record)

Javier Mascherano's future at Liverpool hangs in the balance with news the midfielder's agent has held talks with Barcelona.
Full story: The Sun

Man United and Arsenal target Lyon forward Karim Benzema looks set to stay with the French club for at least another year after committing his immediate future to the French outfit before going on holiday. (Daily Express)

Tottenham have been talking to Real Madrid about a proposal to subsidise Arjen Robben's wages in return for the Dutch winger moving to White Hart Lane.
Full story: The Independent

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is being used as bait with manager Martin O'Neill eyeing up Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Sporting Lisbon are set to make a second offer for Man City's Felipe Caicedo after Mark Hughes' club rejected their initial bid of £5m for the striker. (Daily Mirror)

Meanwhile, Man City have denied Brazilian superstar Robinho will join Barcelona on a loan deal. Chief executive Garry Cook said: "The story is completely without foundation." (The Times)

AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo fancies a move to Chelsea. The 30-year-old said: "Perhaps it's possible that I could join (Blues boss Carlo) Ancelotti. Maybe it's time for a new chapter in my career."
Full story: Daily Mirror



OTHER GOSSIP
Chelsea are ready to appeal over the Uefa four-match ban dished out to striker Didier Drogba for his behaviour in last season's Champions League semi-final with Barcelona. (Various)
Full story: Daily Mirror

Gunners star Emanuel Eboue is set to reject a transfer to Italy and fight for his place. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth centre-back Sol Campbell is mulling over an offered 50% wage cut to stay at Fratton Park, with Basel and Fenerbahce also attracting interest in the former England star.
Full story: The Times


AND FINALLY
Following Ronaldo's agreed record-breaking move from Manchester United, agent Jorge Mendes is locked in talks with Real Madrid over bonus payments based on sponsorship and other commercial deals.

The Spanish club have also been asked to smash their image rights pay structure.
Full story: Daily Mail

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Iker Casillas.
Spains number one.

Surely you're able to understand that a nation can have two quality players vying for the same position?

 

[JohnnyG]

Man United are considering a move for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie who is yet to sign a new contract.

With one year remaining on his current deal, the Dutch star is desperate to win more silverware and said money was not everything.
Full story: The Sun

Fergie's fancied him for ages, him and JM were asked a while ago which player they'd like in their team if they could have anyone and Fergie said RVP so I wouldn't be surprised if they offer stupid money for him

 

[DanH84]

Fergie's fancied him for ages, him and JM were asked a while ago which player they'd like in their team if they could have anyone and Fergie said RVP so I wouldn't be surprised if they offer stupid money for him

he's a quality player, only problem is he's made of glass. a few years ago i thought he was going to be one of the best in the world.


also: naughty naughty mascherano.

 

[Tom84]

Fergie's fancied him for ages, him and JM were asked a while ago which player they'd like in their team if they could have anyone and Fergie said RVP so I wouldn't be surprised if they offer stupid money for him

Yep dont mind the idea of Van Persie playing for UTD. I've always thought of him to be a truly unique player unlike any other striker in the world to be honest, Brilliant talent unfortunately he's obviously injured a lot. Not to mention Arse wont sell to us even if the interest is real (which I doubt)

 

[jakeke]

He's good but he takes too long on the ball and doesn't create amazing chances out of nothing as much as he used to. Seems to have lost a yard of pace too. That and he is always injured, wouldn't mind if he went really if it was £25m or so, any less and I'd keep him, he still hasn't hit top form imo. He slows down Arsenal's play pretty badly, similar to Berbatov at Man Utd.

 

[DanH84]

he's no adebayor, that's for sure.

 

[jakeke]

I'd be gutted and confused if he was sold for the £20m that's being touted though, all Wenger has to say is Ronaldo cost £80m if you think Ronaldo is worth 4 times RvP then you're joking, up your bid. Everybody is probably thinking that though

 

[FrankJH]

I'd be gutted and confused if he was sold for the £20m that's being touted though, all Wenger has to say is Ronaldo cost £80m if you think Ronaldo is worth 4 times RvP then you're joking, up your bid. Everybody is probably thinking that though

not with one year left - able to talk to other clubs in 6 months time......

Face it Arsenal are a good two - three seasons away from challanging constantly (they can change the course of a title with a few games no doubt, but they cant challange themselves without a lot of investment and time for their decent youth players to develope)

Not sure when RvP's bday is but that makes him 28/29 or so before Arsenal are even challanging (if his career doesnt end through another injury first)

£20m is about right for a very decent player but with only a year left

 

[jakeke]

He has 2 years left according to Wenger

http://www.setanta.com/ca/Articles/...Wenger-on-Van-Persie-and-Bendtner/gnid-54392/link

No idea why the entire press think it's only 1 year.

 

[jakeke]

Also, Hi Verminator

 

[Gooner14]

It's 1 year left, Wenger is going Senile, I mean he wants to sell Eboue.

 

[naknakkus]

Iker Casillas.
Spains number one.

I'd actually say they're pretty close in quality. Casillas is probably one of the best reaction shot stoppers around, but his distribution and decision making are probably weaker than Reina's. They're both fantastic keepers and I think it'd be tough to pick one over the other.

Valdes is not quite as bad as he's made out to be, but he's definitely on a lower level than either Reina or Casillas. €150k a week is insane money. He should be grateful that they haven't already replaced him with someone like Asenjo!

 

[Gooner14]

Reina's biggest problem for me is that he flaps at too many crosses. We all know who Spain's real number one is anyway

 

[bloodline76]

Reina's biggest problem for me is that he flaps at too many crosses. We all know who Spain's real number one is anyway

Dont you mean Englands number one?

 

[red11]

not with one year left - able to talk to other clubs in 6 months time......

Face it Arsenal are a good two - three seasons away from challanging constantly (they can change the course of a title with a few games no doubt, but they cant challange themselves without a lot of investment and time for their decent youth players to develope)

Not sure when RvP's bday is but that makes him 28/29 or so before Arsenal are even challanging (if his career doesnt end through another injury first)

£20m is about right for a very decent player but with only a year left

I disagree. Liverpool last season finished 4 points behind Man Utd despite taking 6 points of them. Arsenal the season before finished 4 points behind first place. Arsenal are two good players away from consistently challenging for the league title, not 2 or 3 years.

 

[bloodline76]

I think Arsenal just need a couple of players and a little better luck with the injuries. A fully fit team could easily challenge on all fronts.

But as that isnt going to happen we need three or four more EXPERIENCED players.

Learn from the Arshavin deal Wenger...you know you want to do it again

 

[Tom84]

Bayern Munich have admitted to making an approach for Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa.

The German giants have indentified the rampaging Portuguese defender as a top priority in their search for fresh faces this summer.

An agreement is yet to be struck with his current employers, but Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is hoping an accord can be reached.

"We are holding talks, but we still need the approval of Chelsea," he told Kicker.

"He is one of the best right full-backs around."

Bayern are in the market for a right-back after seeing Willy Sagnol forced into retirement and Massimo Oddo fail to shine during a loan spell from AC Milan.

The Bundesliga side are aware that they will need to sell in order to fund further moves in the market, with Tim Borowski, Christian Lell and Andreas Ottl expected to be heading for the Allianz Arena exits.

One of those who will definitely not be leaving though, according to Rummenigge, is French playmaker Franck Ribery, who continues to be linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer had hinted on Wednesday that the former Marseille ace could be sold for the right price, but that suggestion has been dashed by the club's chairman.

"We all agree, including Franz Beckenbauer, that we will do all we can to keep hold of Franck," said Rummenigge.

"I am quite relaxed about the Ribery issue because nothing can happen without Bayern.

"Even (coach, Louis) Van Gaal knows what an exceptional player Ribery is. Franck is one of the best three players in the world and we know what we have in him."

Cant see him leaving Chelsea after one season, one pretty impressive season as well albeit it tailed off a little at the end

 

[jakeke]

How is Ribery one of the top 3 players in the world, seriously :/