[Football] Summer 2009 transfer thread

[Kralik]

I'm not happy abt this if its true.. now because we sold Kolo but why are we selling players to City? They are challenging for a top-4 spot.. so why are we helping them?

[Rappy Veteran]

Seems BBC are reporting it as well, looks to be true!

[Shibby]

Because man city is going to be another chelsea?

[Kralik]

Seems Usmanov's Red and White Holdings had an issue with Arsenal board over the sale of Ade.. they were unhappy over his sale to a seemingly direct rival.. and now they are doing this with Kolo Toure too.. are they not thinking or over confident? I can't understand..

[Rappy Veteran]

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart wants to bring former Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan and Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic to Fratton Park.

Hart sees Finnan as a replacement for Glen Johnson, and Kalinic as the man to fill Peter Crouch's shoes.

Finnan has been released from his contract by Spanish side Espanyol just one year after leaving Liverpool.

"Steve Finnan is one of many people we are interested in. As is Nikola Kalinic," said Hart.

"Steve is a quality player and if you saw my list you could probably see a few more quality players there."

Finnan, 33, started only three league games for Espanyol during an injury-plagued season with the Spanish club. The Republic of Ireland international was linked with a move to Tottenham or Hull in January but stayed to see out the season in Spain.

Kalinic, 21, could help fill the gap left by Crouch, who joined Tottenham on Monday for a fee believed to be in the region of ?10m.

He has scored 32 goals in 59 league games for Hajduk Split, drawing comparisons with legendary Croatia striker Davor Suker, while national team boss Slaven Bilic describes him as "the future of Croatian football".

[bbc]

[Shibby]

Thats been flying around for a few days that one, Skysports are saying he has agreed to join pompey.

[Subject Delta]

I'm not happy abt this if its true.. now because we sold Kolo but why are we selling players to City? They are challenging for a top-4 spot.. so why are we helping them?

Probably because Arsenal are pretty much skint at the moment. Worry not though, Liverpool and Man United aren't much better off :laugh:

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Liverpool will reluctantly sell midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid in the next few days. Although manager Rafael Benitez wanted ?35m for the 27-year-old, the fee is likely to be less than ?30m.

b>and Fergie taking a dig at Real...

[quotManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has renewed his war of words with Real Madrid, this time over their summer transfer spree.

"They will have plenty of problems with balance," he said. "I told Ronaldo before he flew out that he will end up playing centre-half because I don't think they have one. I don't envy (Real coach Manuel) Pellegrini picking his team. Barcelona are different because they have grown their squad properly and added one or two players each season." Ouch. b>

[Martyn]

Real can **** off.

They keep talking about how Alonso is 'one of a kind', and yet they expect us to sell our best players for peanuts. If they want him, they can pay top money.

Are they forgetting that we beat them 5-0 last season?

[leesmithg]

I'm not happy abt this if its true.. now because we sold Kolo but why are we selling players to City? They are challenging for a top-4 spot.. so why are we helping them?

We have 7 or 8 other players that play in his position.

He is wasted and injury prone now, if we get ?16,000,000 for him then thats a deal, it's a steal it's the sale of the ******** century.

Good riddence.

[Kralik]

We have 7 or 8 other players that play in his position.

He is wasted and injury prone now, if we get ?16,000,000 for him then thats a deal, it's a steal it's the sale of the ******** century.

Good riddence.

As I said before.. I have no objections to the sales. I'm not glad abt these sales just because the sales are to City.. especially as they are going to be challenging us from now on.. if the sale was to any other club in mainland Europe I would not say a word against it..

[Rappy Veteran]

Manchester City have signed central defender Kolo Toure from Arsenal for a reported ?16m on a four-year contract.

The 28-year-old, who spent seven years with the Gunners, passed a medical on Wednesday and becomes City's sixth signing of the summer.

Boss Mark Hughes said: "It is no secret that we have been looking to strengthen our defence and in Kolo I feel we have recruited a world class player.

"He brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his time with Arsenal."

[bBC]

[Rappy Veteran]

Newcastle United have tonight accepted a bid from German side Wolfsburg for striker Obafemi Martins. Sky Sports News reports that the fee agreed between the clubs is 10.5 million euros.

Die Wolfe manager Armin Veh had recently voiced his admiration for the Nigerian striker, the German boss admitting that 'Oba' was on his list of possible targets.

"We have two tall strikers in Edin Dzeko and Grafite and they both play pretty much centrally," he told the Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.

"Therefore, we are looking for a player who can combine with them both, [someone] who can come in from out wide."

Martins himself claimed that he feels the Bundesliga will soon become the best football league in the world. However, it may be difficult for the striker to find first team starts if Wolfsburg's star double-act remain with the club.

Three's A Crowd?

If Martins arrives at the Volkswagen-Arena then he could well serve as third choice behind last season's hit duo of Edin Dzeko and Grafite.

But with both players, Dzeko in particular, being linked with a host of clubs this summer, there are some rumblings within Germany that Martins could in fact serve as one's replacement.

AC Milan have already failed in their attempt to land Dzeko but this news may see them spurred on to make a new attempt, while Premier League clubs such as Arsenal will also look on with interest.

[goal]

[Kralik]

Eboue set to leave the Gunners after a ?9M offer for him from Viola is set to be accepted..

Arsenal defender Emmnauel Eboue has been heavily linked with a move to Fiorentina this week, with The Daily Mirror reporting that he is set to sign a five-year deal with the Italian outfit, as the Gunners have accepted a bid of ?9 million for his services.

That potential switch was perhaps given some extra credence this afternoon, when, at the end of Arsenal's 1-0 victory over German outfit Hannover 96 in Austria today, the player removed his shirt and threw it to the Arsenal fans, as though he was saying goodbye.

So we'll now need atleast 2 players to get the numbers right.. Wenger should buy.. but there is every possibility that a youngster or two from reserve squad will be transfered to first team..

And a shocking news..

According to a sensational report in The Sun, Arsenal are planning to bring back one of their former greats, Patrick Vieira.

The French midfielder spent nine trophy-filled seasons with the Gunners, captaining the 'Invincibles' side that went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 Premier League season.

...

It is understood that the club will offer the 33-year-old a one-year contract identical to that put forth by Tottenham.

Usually I'd say.. The Su:rolleyes:s: but today I'm thinking.. really? why:blink:k:

Edited July 30, 2009 by Kralik

[Kralik]

Oh wow!! Its been confirmed in a way :o

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has sensationally claimed that former Gunner Patrick Vieira will move to the Emirates.

...

The Frenchman, in whom Tottenham Hotspur have also registered an interest, is reportedly being offered a pay-as-you-play contract at Ashburton Grove.

"I'm hearing Vieira, pay-as-you-play, back at Arsenal,? Wright exclaimed on his Talksport show.

"That's what I'm hearing, and that's what I'm hoping."

[Crazysah]

No way. I don't mind the departure of Toure, Adebayor and Eboue but please don't bring back Viera! We don't need him. We can do without him...

[Martyn]

We all knew Alonso was off...

[Rappy Veteran]

I thought Spuds were close to securing Viera?

[Shycho]

Real can **** off.

They keep talking about how Alonso is 'one of a kind', and yet they expect us to sell our best players for peanuts. If they want him, they can pay top money.

Are they forgetting that we beat them 5-0 last season?

Beneitez valued Alonso less than Barry, shown by the numerous attempts to sign barry so he can off load Alonso. He clearly thought ?12m was too much for Barry and expects ?35m for Alonso. By my calculations Beneitez considers alonso to be an ?8m midfielder, and if he wants top money for him he should treat him like a top player and not a stop gap to fill in inbetween "superstars".

[Martyn]

Beneitez valued Alonso less than Barry, shown by the numerous attempts to sign barry so he can off load Alonso. He clearly thought ?12m was too much for Barry and expects ?35m for Alonso. By my calculations Beneitez considers alonso to be an ?8m midfielder, and if he wants top money for him he should treat him like a top player and not a stop gap to fill in inbetween "superstars".

There are numerous differences between the two situations.

Firstly, Barry was only contracted for one more year at Villa, meaning he could walk away for nothing rather soon. Alonso is contracted for the next 3 years, which means we can demand top money for him.

Alonso was world class last season. If Real Madrid want him, they should pay what we want, as we are in a position to negotiate on our terms this time.

Real Madrid have already had McManaman, Arbeloa, Dudek and Owen off us for a combined cost of ?12.5 million, it's about time we got the money we want for a player.

Oh, and it's "Benitez".

[Kralik]

A lot of transfer activity today..

At the official presentation of Fernando Morientes as a Marseille player, sporting director Jose Anigo confirmed that a defensive reinforcement was imminent.

The French giants have now confirmed on their website that they have reached an agreement in principle with Real Madrid to sign Heinze for an undisclosed fee.

Barcelona have confirmed Alexander Hleb will spend next season on loan at Stuttgart.

Back where he started from :p

Xabi Alonso has informed Liverpool that he would like to bring his five-year stint with the club to an end.

Widespread reports claimed on Thursday morning that the Spanish midfielder had submitted a transfer request following weeks of speculation about his future.

A club source has now confirmed the news, with Alonso having previously only told manager Rafa Benitez verbally that he wanted to leave Anfield.

I hope Wenger tries to get him now :whistle:

[Powa]

If Liverpool don't replace him they won't finish in the top two next season. I can't see Lucas stepping up to the challenge.

[Kralik]

Daniele de Rossi, the Roma and Italy midfielder, it top of the list of potential signings for Arsene Wenger as he assesses his options following the sales of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure

Is what the Telegraph says.. Will be hard but a good signing.. We should then loan out Denilson and Diaby :happy:

They also pour cold water on Viera returning to us..

His former captain has been heavily linked with a return to the north London club, although this has been privately dismissed by Arsenal, The Independent reports.

And one for Rappy and West Ham Utd fans :p

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola knows he faces stiff competition to sign Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen but remains determined to bolster his attacking options before the start of the season.

Gudjohnsen has expressed a desire to leave the Nou Camp due to a lack of first-team football and the 30-year-old will not be short of potential suitors.

...

"Gudjohnsen is one of the players that has been linked with West Ham," he (Zola) said. "He is one of those players that not only West Ham would be interested in.

"We know we need to be more effective going forward and so we are looking for a striker.

"We don't know who it will be but hopefully someone will come."

Last sentence is funny :D He makes it sound as though no one wants to come to West Ham

Edited July 31, 2009 by Kralik

[Rappy Veteran]

haha it's sad but its true kralik we have no money :laugh:

I heard luca toni on loan is an option

[red.]

I think i read in thelondonpaper that West Ham were looking to get Balotelli from inter.