[Football] Winter Transfers 2011

[Rappy Veteran]

The Darren Bent to Villa deal has been finalised, he's signed a 4.5 year contract.

Madness.

yeah the craziest transfer for a few years!

[Kostaz]

Villa's moves since the summer hardly make any sense.

[Rappy Veteran]

:rofl:

[Valerus]

From 7th to 17th. I really don't understand. Sunderland's doing so well.

[deuz]

this thread is starting to look like football manager 2010. rofl.

[Rappy Veteran]

this thread is starting to look like football manager 2010. rofl.

that's more enjoyable :D

[Valerus]

At least on FM2011, I actually spent money with Arsenal! :angry:

[Rappy Veteran]

At least on FM2011, I actually spent money with Arsenal! :angry:

haha Arsene Wenger got sacked in my game for poor signings

[Rappy Veteran]

Kenny Miller going to Turkey...surprised at that one he would of been a useful West Ham signing if we had actually looked :(

[Rappy Veteran]

Skysports.com understands West Ham United are interested in Blackburn Rovers' El Hadji Diouf.

Blackburn are believed to be ready to offload the colourful attacker on a free transfer and the news has alerted a number of clubs in England and Europe.

West Ham have shown an interest in the Senegal international and could offer Benni McCarthy back to Rovers as part of the deal.

Diouf's agent Willie McKay has revealed Blackburn are ready to let the player go, with a number of clubs waiting in the wings to snap up the former Liverpool man.

"Blackburn have indicated they are ready to let El Hadji Diouf leave on a free transfer," McKay told skysports.com.

"West Ham have shown an interest in El Hadji and they could let Benni McCarthy go back to Blackburn as part of the deal.

"There are a number of other clubs in England and Europe interested and El Hadji is weighing up his options."

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Newcastle United have made an enquiry for Swiss star Tranquillo Barnetta, skysports.com understands.

The 25-year-old has been linked to the Premier League on a number of occasions in the past few years, and now Newcastle are looking closely at his situation.

Barnetta, who has played over 50 times for his country, can play on either flank or behind a striker.

Toon boss Alan Pardew is looking to add width to his squad, having sanctioned Wayne Routledge's return to Queens Park Rangers.

Now Pardew is scouring Europe for options and one of his targets has emerged as Barnetta, who was also linked with Italian giants Juventus last month and has 18 months left on his current deal at the BayArena.

Barry McIntosh, who represents his interests in Britain, confirmed there was a lot of interest in Barnetta.

"I cannot name clubs, but there is Premier League interest and we are looking at the options," he told skysports.com.

"But is also remains to be seen if Bayer Leverkusen are willing to let him go."

[Kostaz]

Word has it that we never actually placed a bid on him, it apparently was nothing more than an Everton negotiation tactic.

..and Ancelotti confirmed this theory during his press conference. Pathetic from Everton.

[deuz]

..and Ancelotti confirmed this theory during his press conference. Pathetic from Everton.

clubs have to make money some how, not all clubs have an easy ride with bank roll.

[Rappy Veteran]

Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba has completed his move to West Ham United on loan until the end of the season.

Skysports.combroke the news on Sunday that the Senegalese star was due to sign on Monday, and the deal has now been finalised.

A host of Premier League clubs had emerged as rivals to West Ham over the weekend, with Sunderland, Everton, Fulham and West Brom all making late moves.

He saw a move to Stoke collapse earlier in the month, but now West Ham - who were the first club to make an approach for him - have finalised a deal.

The deal will be a huge boost to manager Avram Grant, who is looking to bring in a few more new faces before next week's deadline.

[Rappy Veteran]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping to push through a deal to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton.

The 17-year-old midfielder has also been linked with Liverpool, Tottenham and Fulham, but Wenger is eager to steal a march on his rivals.

"We will try now," Wenger said. "We need an agreement with Southampton, we need an agreement with the player.

"We are not the only ones on the case, but we try as hard as we can because I like him as a player."

Wenger is hoping Arsenal's reputation for turning promising young players, such as Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshire, into established stars will help persuade Oxlade-Chamberlain to choose the north London outfit.

But he may face an obstacle in the form of Saints manager Nigel Adkins, who said earlier this month he is determined to keep hold of the youngster.

The son of former England international Mark Chamberlain, Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Southampton's youth system aged seven and at the age of 16 years and 199 days became the club's second-youngest debutant, after Walcott, in March 2010.

He scored on his full debut in a 2-0 Carling Cup win over Bournemouth in August just before his 17th birthday and signed a three-year professional contract with the club a week later.

Having started out as a central midfielder, Oxlade-Chamberlain has become a Saints regular on the wing this season, scoring eight goals in 19 starts.

[Rappy Veteran]

Tottenham are weighing up a shock move to bring Paul Robinson back to White Hart Lane, skysports.com understands.

Robinson, who left Spurs for Blackburn in the summer of 2008, has been in superb form for Rovers this season and has played a key role in helping them to seventh spot in the Premier League.

The 31-year-old's performances have not gone unnoticed by former club Spurs with Harry Redknapp still unsure over his goalkeeping options at the club.

Heurelho Gomes is currently No.1 at White Hart Lane, but it has been suggested Redknapp is yet to be fully convinced the Brazilian is the long-term solution between the sticks.

Carlo Cudicini is out of contract at the end of the season and he could leave the club after failing to establish himself in the side.

Blackburn are determined to keep Robinson as they plan for the future and they are thought to have opened talks with the former Leeds man about a new deal at Ewood Park to ward off potential suitors.

Tottenham are thought to be monitoring Robinson's situation at Blackburn with the shot-stopper recapturing the form that made him England's No.1 keeper.

---

West Ham are closing in on the signing of Middlesbrough Gary O'Neill after agreeing an undisclosed fee for the player.

O'Neil's future at Middlesbrough has been the subject of conjecture for some time with the Teessiders thought to be willing to let the former Portsmouth man leave the Riverside.

Boro are prepared to offload O'Neil during this month's transfer window as they look to reduce their wage bill with the player thought to be one of the highest earners at the club.

The likes of Wolves, Stoke and Blackburn have all been credited with an interest in O'Neil, but it appears West Ham are in pole position to land the 27-year-old.

Middlesbrough have confirmed they have given O'Neil permission to open talks with West Ham.

"Boro have accepted an undisclosed bid from Premier League club West Ham for midfielder Gary O'Neil," read a club statement.

"The Hammers have been given permission to discuss personal terms with the former Portsmouth man."

West Ham have been keen to bolster their midfield options and had tried to sign Steve Sidwell earlier this month before they missed out to Fulham for the former Aston Villa man.

Hammers boss Avram Grant feels they need new faces this month if they are to avoid relegation and he has sanctioned a move for O'Neil.

O'Neil, who can play in central midfield or wide on the right, is believed to have agreed a two-and-a-half year deal to move to Upton Park.

[Rappy Veteran]

Dutch club Ajax have told Liverpool to come up with a "respectful" offer for their Uruguay striker Luis Suarez.

Liverpool have made a £12.7m bid for the 24-year-old and Reds director of football strategy Damien Comolli travelled to Amsterdam on Monday.

"We'll have to wait for them to come back with something more respectful," an Ajax spokesman told BBC Sport.

"We want to keep him - at least until the end of the season and preferably for the rest of his contract."

Clubs usually have to pay a premium to sign players during the January transfer window - Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko reportedly cost Manchester City £27m earlier this month - and Ajax suggested Liverpool would have to do so as well if they wanted Suarez.

"If you compare the 15m euros [£12.7m] Liverpool want to pay for Suarez with other transfers you can imagine that it's far too low for us," the Ajax spokesman added.

"Luis is our top goalscorer for the last three years and also the man with by far the most assists as well.

"He was one of the big guys for Uruguay in helping them come third in the World Cup in the summer and he still has a contract with us for two-and-a-half years."

Over the weekend Suarez, who has scored seven goals in the Dutch league this season, spoke of his desire to play in the Premier League.

"I used to think that English football was not my style," the Uruguayan, who turned 24 on Monday, told the Sunday Times. "But I saw Carlos Tevez play at Boca and Corinthians and I never imagined that he would play in the Premier League.

"When I see the way that Tevez plays there I think I can be a big name in England. It's because of the energy, and the spirit they put into the game in England. Now, I think it's a kind of football that suits me."

Ryan Babel, who has been linked with a move away from the club, has expressed a preference for a move to Ajax - possibly as part of a deal to bring Suarez to Liverpool - but late on Monday the 25-year-old Dutch forward agreed a transfer to German side Hoffenheim.

[BGM]

?12m for Suarez is a joke.. sort it out Liverpool..

but my god, would be an awesome signing!

[Rappy Veteran]

Liverpool have confirmed that Ryan Babel will fly to Germany on Tuesday to finalise his move to Hoffenheim.

Babel, 24, had been expected to remain in England after Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said on Monday that the Dutch forward would not be moving.

But a later statement on the Liverpool website read: "Ryan Babel has agreed a move to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim."

The move comes six days after Liverpool accepted a bid for the former Ajax striker from the Bundesliga club.

Asked about Babel's future on Monday, Dalglish said: "He is staying here."

The u-turn comes after Babel had expressed a preference for a move to Ajax, possibly as part of a deal to bring Uruguay striker Luis Suarez to Anfield.

Babel began his career with Ajax before joining Liverpool for ?11.5m in 2007.

Liverpool have been linked with a possible ?20m bid for Suarez, who scored three goals for Uruguay on their way to the semi-finals of the World Cup in South Africa.

But with Liverpool thus far unable to agree a fee with Ajax for the Uruguayan, Babel's move to Germany has finally gone ahead.

[deuz]

they paid 11.7m for babel and they only expecting to pay 12.something for suarez.....loosen those purse strings ...geez.

[Kostaz]

The Luiz deal is 99% done. 25? + Matic (young Serb midfielder currently on loan to Vittesse) He signed a contract until 2015 and around ?40,000 p/w wages.

[CoolerUK]

Wow Wenger was spot on when he said prices are still inflated

[deuz]

Van bommel to Ac milan..... not really sure what to say about it. i guess their recent drop in form has them unsure. OR they got him on the cheap since he is not a first team player at bayern.

[BGM]

Van bommel to Ac milan..... not really sure what to say about it. i guess their recent drop in form has them unsure. OR they got him on the cheap since he is not a first team player at bayern.

not sure what you mean about drop in form? :blink:

but it is a weird transfer indeed... he must be getting on for 35 now?

[Rappy Veteran]

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has joined Real Madrid on loan until the end of the season.

[rajputwarrior]

^ so the special ones consolation price for not being able to get ruud is him?