Fergie's Chewing Gum - June 3
England
The first semi-major deal of the summer has gone through with Liverpool completing the signing of a Southampton star – though not the one they want most. Boyhood Reds fan and one time beetroot factory worker Rickie Lambert will return to the club he started at as a junior for a fee of around about 4 million pounds. Another England international for Liverpool and a useful bench option.
As for Adam Lallana, the Southampton player that holds their biggest interest, the Saints have told them that nothing short of a fee of £30m will get their attention, with Liverpool having stopped at a final offer around 5 mill short of that. Liverpool still want to get a deal done before the world cup starts in 10 days (!!!) but that’s gonna be dependent on whether or not Lallana cashes in a transfer request to force it through. Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri is apparently their backup option and Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno will apparently be in Scouse-red before the World Cup kicks off as well.
No word on when Manchester United are going to make their first splash, though Cesc Fabregas is a name being thrown around. Barcelona are ready to let him leave for £30m. Despite Arsenal having a buy back clause in his contract, they are apparently out of the running, even with reports that newly re-signed Arsene Wenger has a massive transfer kitty to play with (Loic Remy may soon be on the way). Manchester City were favourites to sign Fabregas, but have denied all interest. And kudos to football365 for the headline: ‘Bringing Cescy Back?’ Brilliant.
United are also readying a play for Kevin Strootman, the injured Dutch international from Roma, along with Feyenoord defender Stefan de Vrij who has caught the attention of Liverpool and Spurs also. Also, expect Bacary Sagna to be a City player before long.
Frank Lampard’s negotiations with Chelsea have broken down, meaning he will leave the club he’s been at for 13 years. There’s a short line on him heading to America to play for New York City FC – the brand new MLS expansion team co-owned by Manchester City and the New York Yankees. We might even see Lamps kit up for City on a short term deal until the NYC FC one kicks in. If this is all the case, he’ll have some high profile company, though more on that later.
Spain
And by ‘more on that later’, I mean now: David Villa is the first player to be unveiled by NYC FC, as the 32 year old Spanish international leaves Atletico Madrid on a free. Both Villa and Lampard were spotted at Man City’s training ground (possibly for medicals?) sparking these rumours, which on Villa’s side at least has been confirmed. Villa has been a mainstay in the dominant Spanish squads of recent years, and won a bunch of trophies in his time with Barcelona too. The 2015 MLS season doesn’t start until next March, so no word on what he’ll be doing until then, though he will be off to the World Cup with Spain once more.
With Barcelona ready to offload Cesc Fabregas, they have earmarked Atletico midfielder Koke as their ideal replacement. Chelsea and Jose Mourinho are expected to provide some competition there. Atletico are going to have to prove themselves once more – this time off the field – after their breakout season as transfer rumours swirl all around them from traditionally bigger clubs.
Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane is potentially on the way to Chelsea too. It was Jose Mourinho who signed him to Real in 2011, and Jose is very enthusiastic to bring the French international, currently preparing for the World Cup, to Stamford Bridge. Mourinho calls him “the best young defender in the world” and sees him as a perfect replacement for David Luiz.
Italy
Mario Balotelli has been told that he is surplus to requirements at AC Milan after their poor year, which probably means a return to the Premier League. Arsenal are pretty desperate if you believe the rumours. Chelsea and Liverpool may have a look too but they have (or will have) more cover in that position. It’s doubtful Balotelli would want to put himself in another Man City-type rotation.
Inter Milan had a terrible season also, and are hoping to bounce back next year with help from Manchester United’s Mexican forward Javier Hernandez with reports of a loan offer. They are also not disinterested in Fernando Torres.
France
PSG just made a massive move for David Luiz, though it may be a case of in one door out another with Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi falling out with coach Laurent Blanc and looking for moves to England. Don’t take this kind of stuff too seriously. If things progress, United, Chelsea and City are all expected to be perking up their ears.
Colombian star Radamel Falcao has officially been ruled out of the World Cup, devastating his nation’s hopes. The Monaco forward has failed to recover from a serious knee injury in January. Falcao made some headlines earlier this week too suggesting he’d like to play in England someday.
Germany
Bayern Munich made their big summer move a while ago when they secured Robert Lewandowski. Still their side may end up looking quite different next season as Pep Guardiola continues to put his stamp on it. Aleksander Kolarov is a major target, while Bastian Schweinsteiger could be on the way out as he doesn’t quite fit the sharp passing strategy Pep prefers. Experienced striker Claudio Pizarro has signed a one year extension, and reports are that Bayern have won the stakes for Argentine international Ezequiel Garay from Benfica. Plus a bunch of stories of their interest in basically any talented young German, continuing their quest to monopolise all of the local talent in the Bundesliga.