Transfer Chewing Gum - August 5
We’re inching closer and closer to the start of the Premier League season. Teams are going through their final preparations, going through the motions in a few friendlies and going through their chequebooks as they hope to close up that final transfer or two that’ll make all the difference.
First off, we won’t be seeing Frank Lampard down under. His New York City FC deal leaves him with nothing to do for a few months, but instead of joining associate club Melbourne City, he’ll go straight for the parent club in Manchester City. Yeah, the Chelsea legend will be lining up for the Sky Blues to start this season. City are paying all of his wages too. Going the other way for City is Jack Rodwell, who’s on the verge of joining Sunderland after playing just 5 EPL games last season.
The biggest deal this week was courtesy of Everton (!) who shattered their club record with a £28m fee for Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku. For some reason Jose Mourinho just doesn’t like the guy, despite his seemingly being a great fit for his team. It’s not like Jose doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but we might have to wait until he writes his memoirs to find the truth. Anyway, Lukaku wanted out, Everton wanted him back. They had to pay a fair bit (great business again from Chelsea, getting max $$$ for an unwanted player) but whatever, beats Steven Naismith at least. Plus I’ve got myself a trusty fantasy striker. Everyone wins! Also here’s young Muhamed Besic, another of Everton’s summer signings (who got a mention last week). This lad looks decent.
Louis Van Gaal says his judgement will come swiftly on the future of Manchester United players once they return from their successful USA tour. With an admittedly unbalanced squad, his axe is bound to fall for a few guys. Atletico are ready to bid for Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa, and Nani and Marouane Fellaini have some public suitors too. Don’t expect a massive sale but one or two are sure to be moved on. As for incoming mail, Man Utd are still looking at Juan Cuadrado (who’s heavily inked to Barcelona) and another defender or two. Not sure what’s going on with Mats Hummels, as some promising headlines seemed to amount to nothing so far. Arturo Vidal has been included in Juventus’ pre-season tour squad of Asia and Australia, so he’s probably off the blocks for United if you put weight on those sorts of things. Thomas Vermaelen is the same. Although he’s basically demanding a transfer, it’s Barca that are likely to get him as Arsenal are desperate not to sell to a rival. After all, the RVP thing didn’t quite work out for them. The Gunners are reportedly close to getting Portuguese midfielder William Carvalho though. A holding midfielder to complement their spread of attacking ones. Not too bad. That’ll probably mark an end to the Sami Khedira talks albeit.
Southampton sales this week: Dani Osvaldo to Inter Milan – Season long loan with a £5.5m option for next season.
Liverpool have signed Divock Origi (finally) and sent him back to Lille on loan (as expected). They still need another striker, but it won’t be Super Mario Balotelli. Brendan Rodgers ruling that one out despite the Italian being available for just £14m. Swansea City’s William Bony might be the man they go for, with his club finally lowering their asking price with Bony steadfastly wanting out. Cue Arsenal and Tottenham rumours also. And Atletico’s Javier Manquillo (a right back, not a striker…) is in Liverpool for a medical. He rejected an offer from Arsenal for a team he thought he’d get more game-time for. Alberto Moreno or possibly even Dani Alves (but that’s a Hail Mary shot) will probably take rank on the other flank. Sorry, Glen Johnson.
Spurs still want Morgan Schneiderlin, and will probably get him eventually. The man himself is pretty pissed with his current employers.
Tottenham are much closer to defender Mateo Musacchio, but there’s a snag in the dealings. His current club only owns 35% of him, so they’re ramping up the price so that they can afford a replacement. Quite dumb, really. Spurs need defenders so they’ll make this happen so along as they’re not held to ramsom. And Spurs are even closer yet to England under-21 international Eric Dier. Closer yet in that they’ve already signed him. For £4m from Sporting Lisbon.
Newcastle have confirmed a seventh summer signing, Facundo Ferreyra joining on a season long loan from Shaktar. He joins Daryl Janmaat, Remy Cabella, Jack Colback, Emmanuel Riviere, Siem De Jong and Ayoze Perez as new arrivals. It’s gonna be another busy year for the translators at Le Toon. Also Alan Pardew wants Loic Remy back after his Liverpool thing fell through.
There’s some fresh defensive nous on the way for Crystal Palace, with them bagging former Fulham enforcer Brede Hangelaand on a free. Hull City had the same idea when they signed Sheffield Utd youngster Harry Maguire (at 21 he’s already been a three-time League 1 Team of the Year player) and 20 year old Scotland international Andrew Robertson.
Real Madrid have signed Costa Rican keeper (and World Cup Hero) Keylor Navas on a six year deal. Obviously Iker Casillas hasn’t been himself for the last season or two, so the European champs will be pleased to have some competition. Don’t even be shocked it Navas takes over the number 1 duties. The fee is around £8m or so, and he becomes the third incoming transfer of the new season for Real, after Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.
Another World Cup hero is on the move too. Lil man Mathieu Valbuena has gone from Marseille to Dynamo Moscow for £6m (reportedly). No idea why he would want to play in Russia, or why an EPL team didn’t match the fee. QPR and Spurs were each keen. OK yeah, maybe that’s why he’s going to Russia.
Not sure what’s happening with Angel Di Maria either. He was should have signed with PSG by now, given the talks we’ve been hearing. Maybe it’ll only be a loan deal now. Maybe Manchester United are still sniffing around. Falcao is categorically staying with Monaco so says Monaco, so believe that for as long as you can.
One last thing to get you pumped for the new season, here’s Real Madrid and Manchester United playing in the US in front of nearly 110,000 fans in Michigan. Wow. Nice day to rob a grocery store in Detroit.
