[Football] Summer Transfers 2008

[Kralik]

:woot:

AC Milan's talismanic forward Kaka has set his heart on a shock transfer to Chelsea, according to his advisor.

A report on Saturday claims the FIFA World Player of the Year was the subject of discussions between the English Premier League club and the Brazilian's current employers this week.

Milan secured the signing of the 26-year-old's international team-mate Ronaldinho on Wednesday despite their well-publicised financial difficulties, and Kaka's personal assistant Diogo Kotscho is adamant all parties involved now want the deal to go through.

Much travelled striker Lomana LuaLua is to join Qatar outfit Al Arabi after agreeing to sign a one-year contract.

The 27-year-old Democratic Republic of Congo international will make move from Olympiacos, where he scored six goals in 30 appearances after joining from Portsmouth in 2007.

[Kralik]

A brief piece on the Gunners? official website confirms that Arsene Wenger has signed his third player of the summer - and second French midfielder. Francis Coquelin has joined the club from French third division side Laval.

Coquelin, 17, impressed during a trial with Arsenal last season and had been expected to sign during the last two months.

He passed a medical back in May but his signing was only officially announced by the Gunners on Friday.

VfB Stuttgart defender Fernando Meira has left the Bundesliga side to join an undisclosed club

Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Roma winger Ludovic Giuly for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal. The Frenchman had an underwhelming single season in the Eternal City joining from Barcelona, and now looks like ending his career in his home country

PSG have also signed Claude Makalele..

Edited July 19, 2008 by Kralik

[Shibby]

I am not suprised about Lomana LuaLua, he is such a pain in the arse.

[Kralik]

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=781375

:p :p

[Rappy Veteran]

Lua Lua wow forgot he was still around :p

[Crazysah]

Good going for Arsenal...

Kaka to Chelsea for a world record fee? Is it going to happen?

[Kralik]

Inter Milan are set to turn their attentions to Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as the proposed transfer of Frank Lampard stutters to a halt.

[leesmithg]

Good going for Arsenal...

Kaka to Chelsea for a world record fee? Is it going to happen?

He is going to earn ?200,000 per week, thats ?1,000,000 per month.

They have to cap the premiership.

How can a club make a loss every season but not get points deducted like Chelsea.

So they have one of the worlds richest men, that when oil prices go up, all it does is make him richer and he buys Kaka.

[rajputwarrior]

its good to see that arsenal is slowly becoming a french national side again...

and if kaka joins chelsea.... reds are in trouble...

[Kralik]

Sunderland's apparently faltering efforts to sign four players from Tottenham Hotspur for a combined fee of ?23 million regained momentum yesterday when each of the quartet ? Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio ? arrived on Wearside individually to meet the Sunderland manager, Roy Keane.

This is the opportunity Keane has been seeking all summer. On Thursday he spoke of his disappointment at not being able to talk to a single player face to face since the end of last season, and he has delayed joining his squad on their pre-season trip to Portugal to meet the four.

Edited July 20, 2008 by Kralik

[Kralik]

Kaka to Chelsea for a world record fee? Is it going to happen?

Kaka's spokesman has reacted to the sensational news that Chelsea are preparing a record-breaking €100 million offer for the Brazilian star with an equally sensational claim that he is ready to accept the offer. Diogo Kotscho, a man who has also been described as Kaka's personal assistant or advisor, has given Rossoneri fans real cause for concern by saying that all is lined up for Kaka to leave the San Siro for Stamford Bridge, not least of all his boss's intent.

"Real Madrid offered 90 million euros (?71million) last summer and Milan did not even think about the bid," Kotscho was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

"This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen.

"Because of the situation Milan are in at the moment, the deal is good for all parties involved.

"The move would represent a significant increase in Kaka's salary, on top of the 10% transfer fee that goes straight to the player anyway - some 15 million euros (?12million).

"Chelsea are the club to be at right now. They are building a team to win everything."

[Rappy Veteran]

Sunderland spending 23m thats crazy!

[Kralik]

Sunderland spending 23m thats crazy!

lol... lets just say Keano is highly ambitious!!

[Shibby]

Keano spent quite a bit last season as well. Lets just hope he gets the players which can keep sunderland near the midfield pack of the table. Tell you the truth, I think Keane should STFU most of the time. He had a go at Pompey last season for spending money. HMMM Looks whos talking!

[Kralik]

:D

Wenger would not name Aston Villa?s Gareth Barry as a target, but he said: ?We have lost good players ? but we have bought good players, too.

?We lost players with experience, of course, but we can still bring in players with experience.

?Perhaps we can expect some older players but it depends what you call old ? 25 is very old at Arsenal, but yes ? you could expect one player with experience.?

Lets see who's he talkin abt.. Barry? Alonso? or Arshavin?

Meanwhile.. :p

Barcelona have set their sights on signing a striker from a top north London club, but instead of Emmanuel Adebayor being in their sights it is Dimitar Berbatov that is now the target.

Will Ramos sell Berbatov to Barca.. just coz he is p***ed at Man U and Sir Alex?

[Kralik]

Dutch international defender Khalid Boulahrouz has completed his move from Chelsea to VfB Stuttgart, the English Premier League club confirmed on their website (www.chelseafc.com) on Monday.

Spurs are after Arshavin again and have made a bid of ?20M which Zenit are insisting must be bettered.. whatever the fee.. I doubt Arshavin going to Spurs simply coz he wants to play UCL too much...

Spurs are also reported to be interested in signing Villa after Valencia say they will have to go one more star player go.. the favorite for this transfer however is Real Madrid, who are also interested in van der Vaart but Hamburg sa he is not available this season but could be next summer!

Arsene Wenger has insisted he will bring at least one, if not two, new faces to the Emirates Stadium ahead of the new season but the Arsenal manager is bracing himself for the possibility of losing two more key players.

Gallas, 31, is wanted by Paris St-Germain and Barcelona, both of whom are prepared to offer ?6 million. Juventus are understood to be considering a ?15 million bid for Van Persie.

Well i'd say there is unusual interest in both north London clubs this season.. these 2 transfers are debatable.. on one hand i'd love AW to sell cry-baby Gallas and get Metzelder, Yaya Toure or some other experienced defender but on the other hand is the question.. will so many new players be able to gell together ASAP and challenge for the title??

van Persie is a really tough one.. when fit he can destroy defenses but he is very rarely fit.. i'd keep him and Ade just coz we already sold 3 expereinced players.. however next summer.. id sell van Persie (if he keeps getting unfit).. Ade(if he keeps wasting sitters) and Sanderos(if he keeps playing like SenderosBreaking News!!!/b>

Werder Bremen's Amaury Bischoff has claimed he is on the verge of a move to north London. The 21-year-old is seen as a potential replacement for Mathieu Flamini, who left the club for AC Milan earlier this summer, but is some way off of first-team football having recently returned to training from a long-term injury.

I really don't know anything abt Bischoff!! how good is he? Anyone seen him play!!!?!!

Edited July 21, 2008 by Kralik

[Rappy Veteran]

Liverpool are reported to be close to finalising the signing of Paris Saint Germain striker David Ngog.

Reports in France suggest Liverpool have agreed a fee in the region of ?1.5million with PSG for the 19-year-old.

The youngster turned down a new deal at the Parc Des Princes and the club are now willing to let him move on.

Ngog, who is a cousin of former Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, is believed to have impressed Liverpool scouts after making his PSG debut last season.

Liverpool are believed to have offered Ngog a four-year deal to move to Anfield and the highly-rated forward is expected to tie up his switch before the end of the week.

He becomes awesome in FM 2008 so Rafa's been at the game again:pp

[rajputwarrior]

nice, good job rafa, sign that young talent, but we still need a couple of more big names if we plan on going for the title this year...

[Kralik]

Ars?ne Wenger is aiming to bolster his midfield for the new campaign but, as yet, he does not have a specific target in mind.

After the Barnet game on Saturday the Arsenal manager said that he would bring in ?one player certainly... maximum of two? before the window closed at the end of August. After the 1-1 draw at Szombatheyli on Tuesday he was more specific about the position but not the person.

?We will need one more body in there,? said Wenger when asked about his midfield. ?At the moment we do not have Alex Song who is going to the Olympic games, Abou Diaby was not here tonight and nor was Fabregas.

?If we find a reasonable target then we will do it. But there is no special name on the list.

?We have some time. We have until August 31. We left 11 players back in Austria for this game. They will play in Stuttgart [on July 30].?

Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu signed for Fenerbahce from Newcastle United on Wednesday in a four-year deal, the club announced at a signing ceremony.

West Ham have completed the ?5million signing of Switzerland international Valon Behrami from Lazio. The 23-year-old can play at right-back or in midfield and has signed a five-year deal with the Premier League club after passing a medical.

The former Manchester United captain has met with Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Younes Kaboul and Steed Malbranque and is now awaiting their decisions.

He said: "We've worked really hard and everyone knows I spoke to players over the weekend and that went well.

"There's still one or two loose ends to be tied up at the Spurs end, with one or two of these players, and hopefully it won't drag on too long.

"I'd like a few positive decisions over the next couple of days but I was very impressed with the four players when I met them and we look forward to the news over the next few days.

"The club has made some very good offers and fingers crossed we can get across the finishing line."

However Keane might be thwarted in his efforts as Kaboul's agent said earlier this week: "Younes would not join Sunderland - even if there was an earthquake.

[Rappy Veteran]

I knew about 3 weeks ago we have Behrami it was just a fee that was stopping us from confirming.

[Kralik]

I knew about 3 weeks ago we have Behrami it was just a fee that was stopping us from confirming.

Congrats to West Ham.. Behrami is quite a decent player.. better than Senderos IMO!

[FaRSightxc2]

Thank you TT, fans favorite and always gave 100% in every game he played. Will never be a superstar but a really, really hardworking player who will do very well for Keano's Sunderland and give them some experience.

Cheers TT, good luck!

Sunderland sign versatile Tainio

Teemu Tainio

Tainio is one of four Spurs players targeted by Black Cats boss Keane

Sunderland have announced the signing of Tottenham midfielder Teemu Tainio.

The Finnish international, 28, has penned a three-year contract and is Roy Keane's first summer signing.

"Teemu has showed versatility, playing in different midfield positions for both Tottenham and his previous club, Auxerre," said Black Cats boss Keane.

"But his experience in particular and the fact he has played more than 40 international games shows he has a lot to offer Sunderland."

Keane is also reportedly interested in adding three more Spurs players to his squad.

Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul and Pascal Chimbonda have all been linked with a move to the north east as Keane looks to strengthen his side.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...and/7515429.stm

[Zoom7000]

So that's another Right Back to add to the following list:

Lucas Neill

Jonathan Spector

Yet our left back list:

George McCartney

Definately not getting the priorities correct Curbs!

[Rappy Veteran]

I think he will address that DL role but I think deep down he wants a player who is versatile and Behrami is because he can play right back and for as long as Neill is that he won't play it but he can also play DC and MR which is important.

I just heard that Lastuvka could be joining very soon.

[Rappy Veteran]

Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari is expected to complete a ?12.7m move to Inter Milan on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Ghana international has agreed a four-year contract with the Italian champions.

The signing suggests that Inter boss Jose Mourinho has given up hope of signing Frank Lampard this summer.

Mourinho had been desperate to land an attacking central midfielder - Lampard was his first choice, with Muntari regarded as the best alternative.

Portsmouth signed Muntari from Udinese for ?7m in May 2007 and he was an ever-present in their first team last season, scoring seven goals.

Last week Pompey boss Harry Redknapp said he was very reluctant to allow the Ghana international to leave Fratton Park.