WITH THE SUMMER transfer window slowly creaking shut for a few grey, rumourless months, what do you do if you’re struggling to sign any of your top targets?
You steal another club’s target. At least that seems to be the strategy du jour if today’s transfer tittle-tattle is to be believed.
Of course it’s possible that clubs’ scouting networks could independently happen upon the same player or realise the same value, but that’s not really as good a story, is it? And it would make this short intro pretty redundant.
Here’s the Thursday goss, you voracious lovers of half-baked nonsense.
Going…
Has anybody seen Nuri Sahin? Earlier this week we were getting ready for the traditional training ground photo-op complete with new jersey (tags still attached), scarf and obligatory declaration that it had always been a childhood dream to play for Arsenal.
And now… he’s, eh, gone missing. Amid reports that Liverpool are planning to hijack the move with a one-year loan deal of their own, nobody really seems to know what is happening. José Mourinho says he’s not concerned where the Turkish midfielder goes; Sky Germany say that the medical is done and he’ll be at the Emirates before long. There could be a bit left to run in this one yet, folks.
If Arsenal do miss out, it could strengthen their resolve to sign Jesus (Navas) to join Santi (Cazorla) in North London. £12m is the rumoured price tag for the Sevilla man, yet another reflection of the bargain available to value vultures in La Liga at the moment.
The battle for Sahin isn’t Liverpool’s only transfer tussle either. Oh no. The Guardian report that they want a sombrero-wearing Mexican midfielder called Zorro (real name: Hector Herrera). The only problem is that Manchester United have also spoken to Mexican club Pachucha with a view to picking up the gold-medal winning Olympian.
Going…
In news that is almost certainly untrue, the Daily Mail report that Manchester City are prepared to offer £30m for Chelsea’s David Luiz. In fact that seems so implausible, there’s no need to write any more.
While we’re on the topic of Brazilians, how about QPR’s interest in signing goalkeeper Julio Cesar from Internazionale? Mark Hughes has his beady eye set on Tottenham duo Michael Dawson and Jermaine Defoe as well, which seems like a pretty smart move if he wants to avoid a 5-0 hammering every weekend between now and next May.
But TheScore.ie award for unbelievably shrewd transfer dealings (also known as the “Taking Premier League clubs for a ride” award) has to go to Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Stale Solbakken and the Molineux board. Not only have they convinced West Ham to shell out a reported £10.75m for Matt Jarvis, it’s now looking increasingly likely that they’re going to fleece Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland to the tune of £12m for Steven Fletcher. That, my friends, is how you do business.
Until a bright new dawn tomorrow, farewell…
