[Football] Summer Transfers 2008

[L3thal Veteran]

Nothing wrong with his age. He is clearly in the process of booming like many footballers do at this age and he has at least 4 years of great football ahead of him, assuming he doesn't get injured or doesn't adapt to whatever league he goes to, if any.

[rajputwarrior]

bye crouch :(

[Guest]

Crouch better than Rooney?! What the hell are you smoking?! :huh:

[Kralik]

Van der Vaart told Dutch weekly Sportweek: 'The interest has been there for some time already, but they (Tottenham) are not the club I want to go to. Tottenham are not a club I want to swap Hamburg for.

'The chance that I will stay at HSV is really big. As long as no team comes by which makes me immediately excited, I see no reason to leave. And so far none of those clubs have called us.'

Aston Villa are confident Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell will become their first summer signing - possibly within the next 48 hours - according to sources close to the midlands club.

Sidwell is set to hold talks with new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and he is expected to be told he is behind the likes of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Deco in the battle for a midfield spot.

Once Sidwell knows where he stands with the former Portugal coach, Villa will make an official approach for the former Reading player who will cost in the region of ?5million.

[Kralik]

BREAKING NEWS!!

Chelsea reject approach from Inter for Lampard

Chelsea have told Inter Milan they will not even discuss the possibility of selling Frank Lampard. Reports this morning say the Serie A club, now managed by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, had made an official bid for the England midfielder.

But Chelsea have this morning strongly denied those claims and insist they 'will not enter into any discussions' over the transfer.

The full statement, released via the club's website, read: 'Chelsea Football club can confirm it has received an official approach from Internazionale to discuss the possible transfer of Frank Lampard.

'Contrary to reports, no financial offer was made.

'Chelsea FC has informed Inter this morning that we will not enter into any discussion regarding the transfer of Frank Lampard.'

[Rappy Veteran]

The agent of Zenit St Petersburg star Andrei Arshavin has revealed that he expects the playmaker to travel to England for transfer discussions.

Arshavin impressed at Euro 2008 with Russia to place himself on the radar of a host of European clubs and Spanish giants Barcelona had a second offer of 15million euros (?12m) turned down on Monday.

And while Arshavin's agent, Dennis Lachter, is adamant the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea have yet to make an official approach, he has stated that he expects the 27-year-old to be heading to the Premier League for negotiations.

However, Lachter insists Arshavin would only consider a club which can provide UEFA Champions League football.

"Andrei would like to play in the Premier League but he will not accept an offer from clubs like Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa," Lachter said in the Daily Telegraph.

Ambition

"There are only four British clubs he would play for and they are in the Champions League. It's not about money, it's about a team and professional ambition.

"Zenit is negotiating with several clubs. We are now waiting for a phone call from Zenit president Alexander Dyukov to allow us to negotiate his personal terms with one of them. It's most likely he will be heading for England."

But Lachter has said that any interested club will need to double Barca's bid and table an offer of around ?24million to prise the playmaker away from Zenit.

"It's going to be a very big transfer," Lachter added. "Zenit will definitely not accept an offer of less than 30million euros (?23.8m).

"They are owned by Gazprom, who are one of the biggest oil companies in the world, so they can afford not to sell him cheaply.

[Kralik]

It is understandable why he doesnt want to join a middle of the table club.. he is at a stage when he doesnt have a lot of peak years left.. Chelsea or Arsenal most probrably.. but i wont be surprised if Liverpool go for him as a Crouch replacement!

Hleb also spoke out today abt his desire to join Barca and Wenger not letting him go.. I cant understand why.. I wish Wenger lets him go and gets Arshavin or van der Vaart..

[Martyn]

Arshavin would fit perfectly into our new system. He would play in one of the three behind Torres.

?24 million is a **** take though, and I don't even think he is that good a player, I would much rather we secure Keane and Barry.

[tom01]

It is understandable why he doesnt want to join a middle of the table club.. he is at a stage when he doesnt have a lot of peak years left.. Chelsea or Arsenal most probrably.. but i wont be surprised if Liverpool go for him as a Crouch replacement!

Hleb also spoke out today abt his desire to join Barca and Wenger not letting him go.. I cant understand why.. I wish Wenger lets him go and gets Arshavin or van der Vaart..

You do know Asharvin is suppost to have a price tag of ?23 Million LOL! Hleb is worth about 15/18 Million which is stupid because Liverpool sold a player the same age, who was constantly benched for 11 Million..

I don't get this money business in football now days.. Either way their is going to be a f*cked up situation at Arsenal upfront in around 6 month if Adebayor, Van Persie and Eduardo are all fit at once.. One of the last two is going to be benched and I can't see either one of them being happy about it and I really can't see Wenger benching a winger so V.P or Eduardo can go on the wing either.. Then we have Walcott, Bendtner and Vela..

Two left feet don't make a right :no::

[Kralik]

Arshavin would fit perfectly into our new system. He would play in one of the three behind Torres.

?24 million is a **** take though, and I don't even think he is that good a player, I would much rather we secure Keane and Barry.

I do agree abt the price.. Arsenal let Henry go for ?16M.. Arshavin is no where near the same class.. Arsenal and Liverpool wont be offering more than ?18M if they go for him Im sure.. which was almost the same as what Barca offered.. Chelsea is the only club that can offer what Zenit is demanding.. but it would be stupid of them if they do.. they would be better off adding another ?5M to this and offering ?30M for David Villa..

Edited July 8, 2008 by Kralik

[rajputwarrior]

Arshavin would fit perfectly into our new system. He would play in one of the three behind Torres.

?24 million is a **** take though, and I don't even think he is that good a player, I would much rather we secure Keane and Barry.

who would he replace though? babel is coming together, kuyt is there, gerrard, lucas, mascherano, and pennant. Where would he go? I thought thats why we got rid of crouch, we had no place for him in rafa's system...

[Martyn]

who would he replace though? babel is coming together, kuyt is there, gerrard, lucas, mascherano, and pennant. Where would he go? I thought thats why we got rid of crouch, we had no place for him in rafa's system...

Rotation and possibilities.

We sold Crouch because he was not happy at being a backup to Torres and wanted more game time. Crouch is the type of player that plays up top, and seeing as we only play Torres up top his chances are limited.

The likes of Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel, Pennant (although he never really played much last season) and Benayoun, play in the three behind Torres.

Arshavin can play up top in the Torres role, but also in any position in the three behind Torres as well.

Anyway, I don't want him...I was just saying how he would fit in.

This morning Rafa said we are interested in David Villa, and I believe he could play in the role Babel plays now, and of course David Villa would be a player worth changing a whole formation for. I doubt we can afford him though, so maybe it is a pipe dream of Rafa's.

[FaRSightxc2]

Bentley to spurs by the end of the week....

[Kralik]

Chelsea are expected to reject Inter Milan's increased offer of ?8 million for Frank Lampard but they will be powerless to prevent the England midfielder leaving Stamford Bridge if he decides to buy out the remainder of his contract.

Tensions are becoming increasingly strained. Chelsea do not want to stretch to the five-year ?140,000-a-week deal Lampard feels his loyalty and consistency levels over the last few seasons merits. But even if Chelsea attempt to block his departure, Lampard could force the issue as he still has the option to buy out the final year of his contract.

[NightCrawler.]

Who gives a 5 year contract to a 30 year old, its not gonna happen Lamps.

[Martyn]

Bentley to spurs by the end of the week....

I've heard that one floating around for a while. Blackburn apparently gave Spurs permission to talk to Bentley last month, and all that needs to be sorted now is a fee.

[Kralik]

News just in that Arsenal have finally agreed for a fee for Hleb with Barca and he will be travelling to Spain soon for a medical..

[Guest]

I honestly don't understand the hype behind Lampard, he's so overrated.

[MightyJordan]

I honestly don't understand the hype behind Lampard, he's so overrated.

Agree with you there. He only scores tap-ins or deflections. And he's crap at international level! Probably because he isn't getting paid for it! He should just go to Inter, and then he'll have a much easier time, as the pace is slower there. Also: "And just in case you missed them, here are next week's Italian football results" :D

[Martyn]

I hope there are a lot of McDonald's in Milan, that is the only way you could convince Lampard to go!

[Crazysah]

News just in that Arsenal have finally agreed for a fee for Hleb with Barca and he will be travelling to Spain soon for a medical..

Source?

Also just in and on all sites... is that Rafael Benitez wants Robbie Keane! and has ruled out a movie for David Villa!

[Kralik]

Source?

Also just in and on all sites... is that Rafael Benitez wants Robbie Keane! and has ruled out a movie for David Villa!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4304857.ece

here u go mate!

[Kralik]

:D :laugh: :woot: lmao!!!!! Seems to me everyone who is any one in football and not related to Man Utd is trying to make sure Ronaldo doesnt play for them next year! Makes you wonder if they think Man U is a one man team? or do they really think Ronaldo is worth all the trouble!!

Manchester United should stop treating Ronaldo like a 'modern-day slave' and let him leave the club, according to football's most powerful man.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the Fifa president Sepp Blatter said the current post-Bosman practice of tying players to long contracts amounts to "modern slavery".

And he is urging Manchester United and Real Madrid "to sit together" if Ronaldo wants a move to the Spanish club.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found," said Blatter.

"Because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's no good for the player and for the club.

"I'm always in favour to protect the player and if the player wants to leave, let him leave."

[Guyro]

i bet Blatter wouldn't have said that if it was a different player

[NightCrawler.]

Blatter has his own agenda in his eyes.