I don’t like your tone and for that reason, I am out.
I think they judge everyone in the top 10 as potential rivals, so that includes Liverpool, just about.
I’d say the prick that is Cook only views the likes of Real, Barca etc, as rivals. The space cadet.
Agreed on the relative merits of both players though Johnson’s consistency may be in doubt as he hasnt had much of a chance to put a run of games together at City.
Do you rate Downing?
Can’t say I do at all - he did have a decent season last time around but there’s not much to him.
He’s an average EPL player for average clubs. Don’t rate him any higher than that. He reminds be a bit of Steve Guppy except with a tiny bit more effectiveness inside off his wing.
Kevin Nolan is having a medical at West Ham. Joey Barton is not pleased.
Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer and mostly a friend for life. Devastated to see him SOLD! #mejoseandjonasnext
Joey is off at the races for the day
Presume its for financial reasons? Nolan is much better than championship level. Odd move.
Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodríguez keen on return to Argentina
• 30-year-old confirms approach from Newell’s Old Boys
• Rodríguez: ‘The president called me and I said yes’
Maxi Rodríguez could join the proposed exodus from Liverpool’s midfield this summer after revealing a desire to return to Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys.
The 30-year-old came through the youth system at Newell’s Old Boys and played three seasons for the club before leaving for Espanyol in 2002.
He enjoyed a fine end to the season at Liverpool, scoring seven goals in three matches, including two hat-tricks, and still has 18 months remaining on the three-year contract he signed on arrival from Atlético Madrid in January 2010.
However, he has confirmed an approach from his boyhood club and may ask to be released from his Anfield contract if a compromise package can be agreed.
Rodríguez told the Argentinian newspaper La Capital: “When I left here, I knew I was coming back. The president [Guillermo Lorente] called me and I said yes. Now it depends on the contract I have in Liverpool, maybe that can be loosened a little.”
Kenny Dalglish found Rodríguez an important utility player towards the end of last season but with the Liverpool manager intending to overhaul his midfield with younger talent, and struggling to get several unwanted high-earners off the wage bill – such as Alberto Aquilani, Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen – an offer from Newell’s Old Boys is likely to be considered. But the Argentina international would have to accept a significant reduction in his salary for the deal to happen.
Another surprise departure could be Raul Meireles, who reports in Italy have claimed is a target for Internazionale one year after his £11.7m arrival from Porto. The Portugal international enjoyed a promising debut season in English football, particularly in the month after Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson as manager, but was not always deployed in his favoured central midfield role and would provide Liverpool with a quick return on their investment.
The Anfield club are expected to follow the £20m capture of Jordan Henderson with the signing of Charlie Adam from Blackpool, possibly this week, although the two clubs have yet to agree a fee for the Scotland international midfielder. A deal may include Jonjo Shelvey joining Blackpool on loan in a bid to gain more first-team experience.
Interesting stuff. Despite his two hat-tricks I still think Maxi is fairly shite and especially shite in big games where he tends to hide. Wouldn’t mind seeing him leave.
Meireles is a tough one to call. I like him and probably want to hang onto him but I’m just not sure if he fits.
Shelvey should definitely go on loan. Not good enough for Liverpool yet and I’d have serious concerns he never will be.
I’d rather keep Meireles than buy Adam.
I thought he was very good towards the end of last season.
Indeed. Whether Meireles is a perfect fit or not is debatable but he’s certainly a better player than Adam. And certainly what Adam won’t give you is flexibility so if Meireles was difficult to accomodate then there’s no chance of integrating Adam.
Barcelona have made enquiries about the outstanding Thiago Silva.
Chelsea have made a GBP£22m bid for Luka Modric tonight according to The Telegraph in England.
Bebe is gone to Besiktas on loan.
Rejected.
Safe to say they’ll come back for another bite you’d imagine.
This fella was the dodgiest deal ol red nose ever conducted, and thats saying something.
22m for Modric is an insult. Most intelligent footballer in the EPL by a mile imo.
State of the Republic: transfers
Here we take a weekly look at the transfer rumours involving some of Ireland’s top international players.
Goalkeepers
Shay Given (Manchester City)
Celtic look like missing out on their prime transfer target, Given. Due to the Hoops’ meagre financial clout, they want to take the 35-year-old on loan, but City are looking to sell on a permanent basis. Given is horrified at the thought of spending another long season having not played a minute of league football, as he did last year. In recent months Roma were linked with a move for Given and there may yet still be Italian interest. As of yet no English clubs have signalled their intentions and with manager Roberto Mancini understandably unwilling to release him to a rival, Given’s options are limited. It’s a sad state of affairs.
Keiren Westwood (Coventry City)
On 14 June, local Coventry media reported Westwood’s long-talked about move to Sunderland was “done and dusted”. Westwood has been linked with a number of other top flight clubs, but Black Cats’ boss Steve Bruce seems to have bagged the highly rated keeper. All that remains to be done now is for Westwood to return from holiday in order to sign the contract (it’s a symptom of modern football that Sunderland have to wait until he returns from his break). The transfer won’t cost Bruce a penny because the 26-year-old’s deal runs out at the end of the June, after rejecting a new deal by the Sky Blues. Should the move now go through, Westwood will face stiff competition from the £9m Craig Gordon and Belgian Simon Mignolet.
Defenders
Richard Dunne (Aston Villa)
In recent days Dunne, the lynchpin of the Ireland defence, was linked with a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Manager Mick McCarthy is an admirer of Dunne’s, having handed him his Ireland debut in 2000, and tried to sign the centre-back from Manchester City two years ago. McCarthy said of him back in March: “I know Dunny personally, he’s a top pro and a top lad. I love Dunny.”
McCarthy is keen to remedy his team’s atrocious defensive, and has identified the 31-year-old as the man to cut out the conceding of cheap goals. Whether joining a club that flirted dangerously with relegation in the last two years would appeal to Dunne is doubtful. On the positive side, there is a strong attraction at Molineux in that McCarthy has five Irish internationals on his books. Dunne has also been linked with Arsenal and promoted Norwich City, and is said to be disillusioned with the direction Villa is taking these days.
John O’Shea (Manchester United)
It’s a case of all quiet on the Western front. The rumour mill has gone silent since O’Shea was heavily linked as part of a triple switch to Sunderland. His team-mate Darron Gibson is almost certain to leave, but O’Shea is a different kettle of fish altogether. Having reached the age of 30 recently, and spent his entire career at United, he may not feel the need to up sticks now. He only signed a new contract last November and has never expressed contempt for his “utility man” role at the club.
What can be argued for O’Shea leaving is that, despite having racked up 255 league appearances for the Red Devils over 13 years, he has never properly nailed down a starting place. Last season, when it came to crunch time, O’Shea was often kicking his heels on the bench or not part of the squad; he only played two full league games from United’s last 10 outings. Fabio and Rafael’s improvement, allied to the arrival of another promising defender in Phil Jones, will give O’Shea plenty of soul searching to do.
Stephen Kelly (Fulham)
It remains to be seen whether Kelly fits in with new manager Martin Jol’s plans. Kelly has enjoyed very little football since the New Year, and at 27, craves first team football every week. With Fulham having plenty of reserve in defence, there is a good chance the right-back will move on this summer. He has yet to be linked to other clubs, but should have no trouble in finding employment elsewhere should Jol feel the need to let Kelly go.
Darren O’Dea (Celtic)
O’Dea is in limbo as he is remains doubtful of earning a starting place at Parkhead next season. The centre-half could be open to making a permanent move to Ipswich Town where he made progress on loan before injury ended his season. Ipswich boss Paul Jewell is keen to sign O’Dea on a permanent basis, but does not want to pay over the odds. The ball is in Celtic’s court.
Seán St Ledger (Preston North End)
With no news of Portsmouth following up on their interest in St Ledger, news has arrived that will be music to the centre-back’s ears. On 13 June it was reported a Premier League side are interested in signing St Ledger, newcomers Norwich City. Canaries boss Paul Lambert is eager to strengthen the centre of his back-four as he seeks to ensure his club’s survival in the top flight. St Ledger has impressed the Scot with his solid displays for the Irish team, and with the 26-year-old officially a League One player, he could be available at a bargain price. Ipswich Town had a £2m bid rejected by Preston in January, but the international could be available at that price now, or even less. Should it come to a two-horse race between Norwich and Ipswich, no prizes for guessing who he’ll plump for.
Paul McShane (Hull City)
McShane has a lot of thinking to do in the coming weeks, as his future looks increasingly uncertain. Judging by recent comments he does not look settled in Hull having failed to carve out a regular starting place. It is unlikely a top flight club will zone in on a full-back who struggles to get in a Championship side, so the likelihood is McShane will relocate to another second tier team, such as Barnsley, where he played each week on loan.
Midfielders
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City)
Here is another Irishman who looks set to move clubs. West Ham United made an enquiry about Whelan recently, but it is Fulham who look likely to sign the Dubliner. The news that Stoke could be willing to let Whelan leave is surprising considering he featured heavily toward the end of the season, also starting in the FA Cup final. But Whelan has never got the impression he will play for long periods at Stoke, having not started a league game between September and January of last season. Fulham boss Martin Jol is an admirer of the Ireland regular, and believes a bid of around £5m could tempt Potters manager Tony Pulis. The 27-year-old will be pleased to learn that Fulham, like Stoke, qualified to play in the Europa League next season, the Londoners by dint of the Fair Play system.
Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers)
The first choice Ireland midfielder admitted recently his “face doesn’t seem to fit” at Blackburn. At club level, last season was a washout for Andrews who was dogged by injury and then found himself out of favour with his new Scottish manager, Steve Kean. During the latter course of the campaign a number of Championship clubs made enquiries, but Andrews’ desire is to remain in the top flight. The 30-year-old may wait until the start of the Premier League campaign to see what precisely his status is at Ewood Park. A move for Andrews looks likely; he played only 229 league minutes for the entirety of last season. Depressing stuff for such an experience pro.
Darron Gibson (Manchester United)
Gibson is inching closer to the Old Trafford exit door after United accepted a reported £5m offer for him from Sunderland. Gibson played little football last season, and when he did, he frustrated boss Alex Ferguson and the United supporters with his under whelming displays. He was subsequently dropped from the squad that won the title at Blackburn Rovers and, even worse, failed to make the cut for the Champions League final. The 23-year-old has finally bowed to the advice his national team manager Giovanni Trapattoni gave him last February, that he should leave Manchester in order to further his career.
Kevin Kilbane (Hull City)
Kilbane’s days of playing top flight football are over. The 34-year-old’s options are to remain at Hull where he has failed to hold down a starting place, move to another Championship side, or drop to League One to play for Huddersfield. His recent solid performance for Ireland in the victory over Macedonia may persuade teams he can still cut it at a decent level.
James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
The likes of Liverpool and Chelsea are continuing to monitor McCarthy’s situation at Wigan, with the Latics believed to be holding out for what they perceive as too much money. At just 20, McCarthy may be best advised to remain for now at the DW Stadium where he is a regular first team player. But an offer of £10m plus may tempt a provincial club like Wigan to let the midfielder go.
Keith Treacy (Preston North End)
Burnley, who have already had an £800,000 bid rejected by Preston, remain favourites to sign Treacy. The winger has said he is too good to play in England’s third tier so Championship club Burnley would interest him. The Clarets may face competition as other teams in the division are said to be keeping an eye on the situation. Treacy has shown flashes of brilliance while playing for Ireland, something that has not escaped the attention of scouts.
Attackers
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
As we predicted here last week, Fulham are said now to be interested in buying Keane from Tottenham. Their manager Martin Jol has fond memories of his rapport with Keane at Spurs, where he regularly got the best out of the 51-goal Ireland striker. Coupled with that, Keane would not have to move house as Fulham’s home ground is not far from White Hart Lane.
Harry Redknapp is rumoured to be happy to let Keane go for as little as £4m, but his wages are a problem for Fulham. Keane, 31 next month, is paid in excess of £70,000 per week, so he will have to undergo a significant pay cut. Wolves are also interested, but it will take a lot of persuading on Mick McCarthy’s part to see him move from the English capital. It is hard to envisage Fulham being relegated under Jol, but Wolves?
Shane Long (Reading)
If news that Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in you doesn’t set your heart racing, nothing will. The four-time European Cup winners were linked with a move for Long on 10 June as they look to bolster their attack following a poor season. Miroslav Klose has left to join Italian side Lazio and the Allianz Arena club are reportedly willing to pay £7.5m for the Tipperary man.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Newcastle are also said to have signalled an interest after Long caught the eye with 25 goals last season. A move to Wolves would see the 24-year-old link up with his former strike partner at Cork City and Reading, Kevin Doyle. But if Bayern are genuine in their interest, the others can kiss goodbye to Ireland’s most promising striker. Whether the calculating Germans would mollycoddle Long as much as, say, McCarthy is another matter entirely.
Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is believed to be considering a move for Doyle. With Darren Bent having gone in January leaving Asamoah Gyan as the Black Cats’ only notable forward, Bruce is desperate to add at least one striker to his squad. Doyle would fit the bill nicely, but with Wolves retaining their status in the top flight last month he could cost in excess of £10m. The established international is regarded as a key man at Molineux having seen his star rise under Mick McCarthy’s guidance. Everton have also been associated with Doyle, as they are short in attack. Mind you, Goodison Park has been a bit of a graveyard for strikers in recent years.
Andy Keogh (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
It is very likely Keogh will leave Molineux this summer. After being loaned out to Cardiff and Bristol last season, where he also failed to play regular football, the 25-year-old will be anxious to find a club who believe in him. Keogh seemed set for a move to Leeds last summer but the Yorkshiremen were put off by the £2m price tag. With his contract due to expire next summer, Wolves will let Keogh leave for much less now. There has been no reported interest, but Leeds may well go back in for him.
Transfers already gone through/released players
No ins or outs to be reported on this week.