[Football] Summer 2009 transfer thread

[asim0]

Yeah I read that too, interesting indeed as Gibson has been chosen a few times now over Anderson.

Ando has shown glimpses of his talent but needs to be more consistent so if we can get some decent money for him it might turn out to be OK.

[Rappy Veteran]

WTF?

This is bull****, right?

be a shame if he went, he is a good player

Notts County the lower league Man City :p

Free agent Sol Campbell, an FA Cup winner with Portsmouth in 2008 who recently left the club after the expiration of his contract, is to be officially announced as a Notts County player at a press conference this afternoon at 15:00 BST, according to Sky Sports News.

The move would be an extraordinary coup for director of football Sven Goran-Eriksson, who has already secured the signing of Manchester City's fledgling goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, whom he managed at Eastlands.

Notts County historian Colin Slater is adamant that a deal has been struck, informing Sky that "He's coming quite simply as a player, there is no coaching role. It's definite he will be unveiled at 3pm. He has agreed to sign."

Slater continued, "Sven said that he had been fascinated and challenged by the Notts County project, and I can only imagine that Sol Campbell feels the same, and that project is to be a Championship club within the next five years.

"We do not know how rich the owners are," he added.

Campbell is an ex-England international who accumulated 73 caps, 33 of them under the national tutelage of Eriksson. His career peak was at Arsenal, where he won two Premier League titles and a hat-trick of FA Cups. He scored in the Champions League final in 2006 but ultimately ended up on the losing side.

[Rappy Veteran]

Sol signs for County!

Notts County have confirmed the signing of 34-year-old former England defender Sol Campbell on a five-year contract.

Campbell was a free agent after leaving Portsmouth and has joined the League Two outfit, who were taken over this summer, in a purely playing capacity.

"This club have got great ambition and I want to be a part of it," said the former Tottenham and Arsenal defender.

Campbell has 73 England caps and played for his country under Magpies director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Eriksson stunned the world of football when he arrived at Meadow Lane in July and in Campbell the club have now made their biggest on-field signing since being taken over by a Middle-East consortium.

"Sven played a big role," said Campbell, whose move to Notts County was revealed by BBC Radio Nottingham earlier in the week.

"He's a great man. He's managed all over the world and he knows his football, he's a proper guy.

"He's seen the future. It's a challenge but I think everyone connected to the club are prepared for that challenge. It's refreshing. "

Campbell won two Premier League and three FA Cup titles during his five years with Arsenal, where he was an integral member of the double-winning team of 2002 and 'Invincibles' of 2003-04.

[Shibby]

Sol to Nots County, mental.

I'd accept him back into the pompey team! Distin looks like he could be on his way to Everton. Pompey have had an offer accepted for Tommy Smith I think from watford.

[Rappy Veteran]

However, as with an agreement to sign Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh, it is understood that West Ham cannot push through with the deals until they raise some funds from the sale of players.

It is hoped that either Aston Villa, who have made a move for Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin, or Everton will make a formal bid for central defender James Collins, who is available for ?5 million.

West Ham would alternatively consider selling Matthew Upson if they received a bid of ?15 million. Liverpool met that asking price last week but the transfer was vetoed by the club's bankers, who did not want to release the funds.

As with any transfer at West Ham the final decision on a sale rests with manager Gianfranco Zola, but with eight defenders at his disposal and one senior striker in Carlton Cole, he wants to improve his attacking options.

Zola has tracked Diamanti for some time and, it has emerged, he is the manager's top transfer target for the summer.

The striker is 26 and had a difficult time in his early career but has managed to gets things back on track and is, undeniably, a talent.

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury travelled to Italy on Monday to negotiate the deal with Livorno's director of sport, Nelso Ricci, who over the weekend had claimed Diamanti would sign a new deal, revealing that the player had "begged us in tears to let him join West Ham".

Ricci added: "He said this is the opportunity of a lifetime. He thanked the president for having signed him from Prato in Serie C2, but now he wants to leave.

"West Ham will pay ?5.5 million in three years. What could [President Aldo] Spinelli do other than sell a player who no longer wants to be here? We cannot keep unhappy players.

"Spinelli had already improved Diamanti's contract to match the higher earners, like [Cristiano] Lucarelli."

Diamanti, a free-kick specialist, was one of the stars of Livorno's promotion to Serie A, scoring 16 goals in Serie B last season and providing many assists.

If the deal goes through, Zola is likely to pair him with Luis Jimenez behind Cole. He also hopes to sign Chamakh.

[Rappy Veteran]

Joleon Lescott has finally completed his move to from Everton to Manchester City. The 27-year-old defender signed a five-year deal with the Eastlands outfit on Tuesday night.

Lescott completed his medical and agreed personal terms on Monday after City had a bid, reportedly worth ?22m, accepted by Everton on Sunday but there was a brief delay to the England star's transfer going through as a minor wrangle was resolved.

Confirmation of the transfer takes Mark Hughes' summer spending beyond ?120million.

Lescott is now expected to be officially unveiled on Wednesday and could make his debut in Sunday's Premier League encounter with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

City boss Mark Hughes said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome Joleon to Manchester City. He is an England international who has proved his Premier League ability during his time at Everton.

"In bringing Joleon to the club I feel we have recruited a defender of the very highest quality. He can play in a number of defensive positions, and I'm positive he will make a significant impact for us."

Lescott is the eighth new signing Mark Hughes has made this summer and is regarded as the long-term central defensive partner for Kolo Toure.

And news of the former Wolves man's arrival at Eastlands has brought an immediate claim that City have accepted a ?6million bid from Aston Villa for Richard Dunne.

The Blues have yet to confirm that development. However, it would be no surprise if Dunne was to leave given he is unlikely to be satisfied with life as a substitute, particularly as Hughes offered Nedum Onuoha a long-term contract last month.

[Rappy Veteran]

Just read that Sol's on ?40k a week at Notts County:||

[nothuman]

Pff... Man City... :wacko:

Can't wait to September 20 and beat the crap out of them. And shut Tevez's mouth once and for all.

[Kralik]

And for 3rd or 4th season in a row Pascal Chimbonda is in transfer news. This time BB Rovers are interested in him..

[wolfman1380]

Just read that Sol's on ?40k a week at Notts County:||

I was more surprised he's on a 5 year contract i mean he's 34 probably got 2 years left in him at best.

And for 3rd or 4th season in a row Pascal Chimbonda is in transfer news. This time BB Rovers are interested in him..

If you know who his agent is you wouldn't be so surprised.

[Rappy Veteran]

I was more surprised he's on a 5 year contract i mean he's 34 probably got 2 years left in him at best.

If you know who his agent is you wouldn't be so surprised.

I can only think he is training to become a coach in that time.

[Shibby]

Or he thinks they're going to be in the same league for 5 years! ?

[Powa]

I think he'll be playing for the next two seasons and gradually workinf his way into coaching and then management.

He probably wants to lead the club into the Premiership, which sounds like an exciting prospect when you have some moneybags Arab owners...

City of the lower leagues eh?

[Rappy Veteran]

some deals going down!

Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Manchester City for their defender Richard Dunne.

The 29-year-old City captain will now travel to Birmingham to discuss terms, according to the Villa website.

There has been speculation surrounding Dunne's future following the arrival of defenders Joleon Lescott from Everton and Kolo Toure from Arsenal.

The Republic of Ireland centre-back signed for the Manchester club in October 2000 from Everton for ?3m.

Dunne, who may have played his last game for Mark Hughes's side against Wolves last weekend, has had a chequered career at City.

---

Everton have agreed a deal to sign defender Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth, with the Frenchman set to undergo a medical on Thursday.

The 31-year-old moves to Goodison Park following Joleon Lescott's departure for Manchester City.

The Toffees are without Phil Jagielka until October at the earliest and have been using Phil Neville at centre-back.

"All the formalities have been completed," said Everton chief executive Robert Elstone.

"After Sylvain made it clear his preferred destination was Goodison, the chairman moved quickly to finalise the deal and Sylvain is now on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical."

Pompey had been linked with a move for Manchester City's Richard Dunne, but he now appears set to join Aston Villa.

---

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Stoke City are in talks to sign Robert Huth and Tuncay for a combined fee of around ?11m.

Germany defender Huth, 25, and Turkey forward Tuncay, 27, are discussing personal terms and undergoing medicals.

"The two clubs have agreed a fee and Robert is having talks with Stoke at the moment," said Southgate.

On the Tuncay deal, he added: "Again, we have agreed a fee with Stoke City and the player is in talks with them."

The fee for former Chelsea centre-back Huth is expected to eclipse the ?5.5m that Stoke paid Reading for striker Dave Kitson in June 2008.

Tuncay has scored 15 goals in 58 appearances for Turkey, and finished as Boro's top scorer in the 2008-09 season, netting eight times in 33 starts.

[Rappy Veteran]

Robben to Bayern

Real Madrid have agreed to sell former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben to Bayern Munich for a reported ?22m.

Robben will have a medical on Friday and Bayern chief Uli Hoeness hopes the Dutchman will be able to play against champions VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

The 25-year-old had been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu since the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, with Tottenham reportedly interested.

Hoeness said: "He will make our team even more attractive."

Robben earned a reputation at both Chelsea and Real as an exciting playmaker but one who was easily injured, and he only played 50 matches in two seasons in Spain. He has 43 caps for the Netherlands.

Hoeness, Bayern's general manager, added: "He's one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe. He's always been one of the players we wanted.

"Our intention is to have Robben play on the right and Franck Ribery on the left. If it all goes perfectly and without any hitches, it would be theoretically possible for him to play on Saturday."

[Rappy Veteran]

West Ham have signed Livorno striker Alessandro Diamanti for an undisclosed fee on a five-year contract.

Diamanti, 26, scored 18 goals in 37 league and cup matches last season as Livorno were promoted to Serie A.

Diamanti said he was looking forward to linking up with Hammers boss and fellow Italian Gianfranco Zola.

"I am very happy to be at West Ham. This is a big club and I want to give everything for the supporters," he told West Ham's official website.

"I chose West Ham because the club have the tradition of playing great football. Also, because the West Ham fans are really passionate and that is the way I am."

Zola is desperately short of strikers, with Carlton Cole the only fit centre forward in the first-team squad, and the Hammers had been strongly linked with a move for Diamanti after failing to land Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh.

[Rappy Veteran]

Everton have agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid for Holland international defender Johnny Heitinga.

---

Sky Sports sources understand Hull City have agreed a fee with Manchester City for striker Benjani.

Hull boss Phil Brown has spent the summer trying to improve his attacking options and has missed out on the likes of Michael Owen, Fraizer Campbell and Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Brown has recently added Kamel Ghilas and Jozy Altidore to his squad, and is now hoping to bring Benjani to the KC Stadium.

Benjani appears to have no future at Eastlands following Mark Hughes' summer spending spree and he has not even made the bench this season.

He has been linked with a return to former club Portsmouth, with Paul Hart admitting the 31-year-old is among his targets.

However, Premier League rivals Hull are looking to steal a march on Pompey and have agreed a fee with Hughes' side.

The Zimbabwean has scored six goals in 26 appearances for the Blues since joining from Pompey in January 2008, but he looks likely to be on the move before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

[Rappy Veteran]

Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar is very close to agreeing a switch to Tottenham Hotspur, where he will link up once again with former Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, according to Sky Sports News.

The fee agreed between the two clubs is reported as being ?2.5 million, with the player being out of contract at the end of the season.

Spurs manager Redknapp has moved quickly to reinforce his squad, after Luka Modric's broken leg, sustained in Saturday's win over Birmingham City, will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Manchester City's Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov was also reportedly a target for Redknapp, but the shrewd campaigner opted for Kranjcar, a player with whom he has worked previously, when he was informed that he could only have one or the other of the players.

--

West Ham have signed Fiorentina's Portuguese defender Manuel da Costa in a swap deal that involves winger Savio Nsereko moving to the Serie A club.

The 23-year-old Da Costa, who was born in France, played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven before going to Fiorentina.

He played just one game for Fiorentina, joining Sampdoria on loan in January.

Nsereko, 20, joined West Ham in January for reportedly a club record ?9m fee, topping the ?7.5m West Ham paid Liverpool for Craig Bellamy in 2007.

When the Ugandan-born German signed for West Ham, the club said they had beaten off "fierce competition" to sign him.

[Rappy Veteran]

Monaco FC have completed the free signing of Barcelona frontman Eidur Gudjohnsen, the French club have announced.

Gudjohnsen had long been linked with football away from the Camp Nou after expressing his dissatisfaction over his peripheral role at the Catalan club.

The Iceland international has now penned a two-year contract with Monaco, where he will wear the club's No.9 jersey.

The signing of Gudjohnsen finally ends Monaco's quest for a striker after their bid for Steve Savidan collapsed because of a cardiac condition.

The former Chelsea man, who joins Monaco on the same day as Mathieu Coutadeur, has become the first Icelandic footballer in the history of the club.

[Martyn]

?2.5 million for Kranjcar?

Bargain.

[Rappy Veteran]

Portsmouth have signed Manchester City's Israeli international defender Tal Ben Haim on a four-year contract.

The 27-year-old, who has also played for Bolton and Chelsea, last featured for City in December, before going out on loan to Sunderland.

Ben Haim could make his Pompey debut on 12 September against Bolton, the club that brought him to England in 2004.

The Israeli centre-back then signed for Chelsea in 2007, before moving to City a year later.

Portsmouth have lost their opening four Premier League games, most recently to City on Sunday, and have sold experienced defender Sylvain Distin to Everton.

"It's a big challenge," said Ben Haim. "I think we can turn things around."

---

he's moved around a fair bit lately...is he the new anelka? :rofl:

[Zoom7000]

West Ham have signed Fiorentina's Portuguese defender Manuel da Costa in a swap deal that involves winger Savio Nsereko moving to the Serie A club.

The 23-year-old Da Costa, who was born in France, played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven before going to Fiorentina.

He played just one game for Fiorentina, joining Sampdoria on loan in January.

Nsereko, 20, joined West Ham in January for reportedly a club record ?9m fee, topping the ?7.5m West Ham paid Liverpool for Craig Bellamy in 2007.

When the Ugandan-born German signed for West Ham, the club said they had beaten off "fierce competition" to sign him.

Me thinks it's time someone got rid of thitalian talent spotteri> Gianluca Nani!:rolleyes:s:

?9m for a kid who played near enough 5 mins for the club? I mean, who have we signed since he arrived that has lit the world alight? Isn't it his sole job to make sure we do get the best players? As promising as Da Costa is, his recent form has left a hell of a lot to be desired.

[Shibby]

?2.5 million for Kranjcar?

Bargain.

For pompey that is yeah!

Niko contract was to run out at the end of the season, so really it's either we reject money and face loosing him once his contract ends.

[Rappy Veteran]

Me thinks it's time someone got rid of the italian talent spotter Gianluca Nani! :rolleyes:

?9m for a kid who played near enough 5 mins for the club? I mean, who have we signed since he arrived that has lit the world alight? Isn't it his sole job to make sure we do get the best players? As promising as Da Costa is, his recent form has left a hell of a lot to be desired.

Yeah totally agree! plus we just accepted ?5m for Collins from Villa!

Just over 2 hours to go!

[Rappy Veteran]

big rumour going round Bentley to Liverpool from Spurs!