Transfer Window - Summer 2008

Sport
161

Anderson going to Rangers

www.thetimesonline.co.uk/football-Anderson

Walter Smith has set his eyes on making an audacious swoop for Manchester United midfielder Anderson in a move that will confirm Rangers’ re-emergence as a European force to be reckoned with. Smith, who is known to be a huge fan of the long-haired Brazilian, has been given a blank cheque book by Ibrox Chairman David Murray this summer in an attempt to wrestle the SPL Championship away from Celtic, their bitter Glasgow rivals, who last week secured a third title in succession.

It is believed Smith turned his attention to the former Porto starlet when Fulham informed the Glasgow giants that a permanent deal for Steven Davis was a non-runner. Rangers’ decorated manager has built a close relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson over many years and even acted as Assistant Manager at Old Trafford for a brief spell after he left Everton some time ago.

Sources in Manchester suggest that Ferguson alerted the former Scotland manager to Anderson’s availability after concluding towards the end of the season that the 4-times capped Samba star didn’t possess the all-round game required to become a permanent fixture in the Manchester United midfield ahead of Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and the veteran Paul Scholes.

The twenty-year old attacking midfielder was naturally disappointed to be informed that United were willing to listen to offers to him after a solid first season on English soil. However, he was immediately warmed by reports of Rangers’ interest having witnessed at first hand the large size of the club when his Porto side took on the then Scottish champions in the 2005/06 Champions League campaign and he was also seen in the stands for the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester earlier this month.

The rumoured twenty million pounds fee is not an issue for Rangers, with speculation in Scottish football circles suggesting that Smith will have approximately double that to spend this close season due to Murray’s war-chest and the funds generated from Rangers’ heroics in Europe. The early summer deal to secure the signature of the man from Porto Alegre will undoubtedly give supporters a huge boost after their quadruple dreams were left in tatters in the last two weeks of the season.

Meanwhile, Ferguson is keen to further strengthen his own squad with young British talent and United themselves are reportedly ready to swoop for Kris Boyd and Charlie Adam, with a possibly player plus cash deal involving the Scottish duo and Anderson on the cards.

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[quote=“Bandage”]Anderson going to Rangers

www.thetimesonline.co.uk/football-Anderson[/quote]

You know, I almost believed that until the last 2 paragraphs

163

What are you talking about Mac?

It’s 100% true, I tell thee.

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[quote=“Bandage”]What are you talking about Mac?

It’s 100% true, I tell thee.[/quote]

Yeah yeah, a very good effort though! Meanwhile back in reality

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article4009678.ece

Manchester City line up Brazil striker Jo
Jo of CSKA Moscow
James Ducker

Manchester City are on the verge of smashing their transfer record to sign Jo, the highly rated CSKA Moscow and Brazil striker, as Thaksin Shinawatra, the club’s controversial owner, takes his first steps towards attempting to pacify supporters appalled by his treatment of Sven-Gran Eriksson.

Jo was in Manchester over the weekend to discuss personal terms and City are hopeful that the deal, worth about 18million, will be concluded within the week once the final details of the move have been ironed out.

Everton were also keen to sign the 21-year-old forward but the Merseyside club have conceded defeat as City put the finishing touches to a transfer that would dwarf their previous record of 13million, paid to Paris Saint-Germain for Nicolas Anelka, the Chelsea and France striker, in 2002.

The deal has been complicated by the fact that Jo is partly owned by Media Sports Investments (MSI), the consortium led by Kia Joorabchian.
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Although a season-long loan had been mooted, City were eager to buy Jo outright to avoid the problems presented by third-party ownership, but while the exact structure of the deal is unclear, it is understood that the club will become the sole owners of Jo with the transfer fee paid in instalments.

Given that Jo has only been capped once by Brazil, he may initially have difficulty receiving a work permit, but the club are hopeful that he will be able to obtain one upon appeal.

What impact such a significant arrival might have on the fans’ feelings towards Thaksin remains to be seen, but Jo is unlikely to be the only high-profile signing as the City owner prepares to contradict claims last month that he would not be spending huge amounts of money this summer.

City spent about 40million on eight players last summer and a similar outlay is expected this time around, albeit on probably half the number of recruits.

Pini Zahavi, the Israeli super agent who has overseen the negotiations to sign Jo, has been instructed to handle most of City’s transfer activity during the summer, much as another agent, Jerome Anderson, did last summer, and moves are also afoot to sign Giovani Dos Santos, the 8million-rated Barcelona and Mexico striker.

The anticipated arrival of Jo and Giovani would probably signal the end of City’s interest in Andrei Arshavin and Daniel Carvalho, the Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow playmakers respectively, but Pablo Zabaleta, the Espanyol full back, is another wanted man, as is Jean Makoun, the destructive Lille midfield player.

Quite where Eriksson stands in all of this only Thaksin seems to know. Sources close to the City manager indicated last night that he was still in the dark as to whether he would be given his marching orders, but it is expected that Thaksin will sack the Swede once he has completed his review of the club next week.

Thaksin is growing increasingly resigned to the prospect of being unable to lure Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Portugal coach, to the club as Eriksson’s successor, but Avram Grant, the former Chelsea first-team coach, is not believed to be in contention to take charge of City.

Liverpool are another club that has had to contend with much turmoil behind the scenes, but Rick Parry, the chief executive, believes the team must make a more concerted challenge for the Barclays Premier League title next season.

We have to be real contenders, Parry said. The points gap has narrowed but it’s still not enough. Bids have been lodged for Gareth Barry, the Aston Villa midfield player, and Andrea Dossena, the Udinese left back, while Rafael Bentez, the manager, could yet move for Stewart Downing, the Middlesbrough winger. Albert Riera, of Espanyol, who endured an unconvincing loan spell at City in 2006, is an alternative.

165

[quote=“Bandage”]Anderson going to Rangers

www.thetimesonline.co.uk/football-Anderson[/quote]

My fucking hoop that’s true Bandage.

166

Was there even an initial ‘oh shit!’ moment? I thought I might have gotten one or two with this one.

167

More of a ‘whatthefuck???’, what editor woulld allow that shite into a paper. As it got progressively more ridiculous (Fergie not rating him…Huns having 20m…Miller/Lafferty/ANDERSON??) I observed the poster and dismissed it out of hand. Nice work though.

168

Anderson to Rangers.:cool:

The trusty Bbc Gossip column today.

Sir Alex Ferguson wants to spend his 50m summer transfer budget within the next fortnight, with Micah Richards and Sevilla’s Brazilian duo Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alves top of his wish-list. (Daily Mirror)

If Frank Rijkaard takes over at Chelsea he will attempt to bring in strikers Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a combined 50m. (Daily Star)

Real Madrid are prepared to pay an estimated 150m to secure the services of Cristiano Ronaldo. They will pay Man Utd 39.8m as well as offering Robinho, Sergio Ramos and Mahamadou Diarra in exchange and will pay the Portuguese winger 7.6m a year. (Daily Express)

Blackburn midfielder David Bentley has snubbed a new contract at Ewood Park clearing the way for Tottenham and Chelsea to launch 15m bids. (Various)

Jose Mourinho will become manager of Inter Milan in the next 48 hours and wants to make Frank Lampard his first signing. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City are on the verge of smashing their transfer record to sign Brazilian striker Jo from CSKA Moscow in a deal worth around 18m. (The Times)

Arsenal are lining up a 20m move for Real Mallorca striker Dani Guiza, 27, and Real Madrid midfielder Ruben de la Red, 22. (Daily Star)

Arsene Wenger has said Samir Nasri could complete his move to the Emirates in the next week, while the Gunners are also monitoring Saint Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi. (The Times)

Man Utd full-back Patrice Evra, who only has one year remaining on his contract, is a target for AC Milan. (The Times)

Bristol City defender Liam Fontaine has emerged as a shock 1m target for Liverpool. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa are interested in Manchester City’s 4m-rated defender Richard Dunne. (Daily Mail)

Villa boss Martin O’Neill is also keeping tabs on Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell and Man Utd goalkeeper Ben Foster. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham must pay at least 4m for 20-year-old Norwegian striker Tarik Elyounoussi. (Daily Mirror)

Lazio’s Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami has also been linked with a move to White Hart Lane and is valued around 9.6m. (The Times)

Spurs are favourites to sign Barcelona’s Giovani Dos Santos after discussing a 7m deal. (Daily Mail)

Man City have also held talks to sign the Mexican midfielder. (Daily Telegraph)

Middlesbrough will fund a 3m move for Heerenveen’s American midfielder Michael Bradley by selling George Boateng. (Daily Star)

Boro are also considering a move for Wolves’ 5m-rated goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey as main target Paul Robinson looks set for Man City. (Daily Mail)

Lyon winger Sidney Govou and Lens defender Nadir Belhadj are targets for Portsmouth, while Sol Campbell looks set to stay at the club. (Daily Star)

West Brom look set to complete a 3.5m deal to sign Aston Villa striker Luke Moore. (Daily Mirror)

Rangers will increase their offer for Burnley’s 20-year-old striker Kyle Lafferty. (The Independent)

Celtic will battle it out with their Old Firm rivals for Lafferty. (Daily Record)

Norwich are leading the race to sign Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford but Ipswich, QPR and Reading are also interested. (Daily Star)

Nottingham Forest are ready to swoop for Leicester midfielder Matt Oakley. (Daily Mirror)

169

Gerard Piqu has gone back to Barca.

170

Check out this hun on Sky Sports - he reckons they’ll turn down bids of up to ‘1m million’ for Cuellar this summer. It’s possibly a bit ambitious to be expecting offers of 1,000,000,000,000 for someone who was at fault for both goals they conceded at Aberdeen on the last day of the SPL season:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195…920077,00.html

They’re also being linked with Alan Smith, who I believe failed to score a single goal this season.

171

Apparently Richard Dunne is having a medical at Spurs.

172

That’s a terrible move for him if that is true.

Won’t be first choice there with King and Woodgate. Dawson as well…

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[quote=“farmerinthecity”]That’s a terrible move for him if that is true.

Won’t be first choice there with King and Woodgate. Dawson as well…[/quote]

Think they’re looking to farm Dawson out - he’s rubbish.

King only plays in The Carling Cup - it’s his specialist competition - so Dunne would get plenty of games.

It seems to be trendy to play for Spurs again now with Ramos there.

Flano, what is your sauce for this story?

HP, Heinz or something else entirely?

174

Spurs are also meant to be on the verge of tieing up a deal to sign Giovani Dos Santos from Barca for 11m. He’s only a child but he didn’t impress me this season despite the hype.

175

Peter Crouch will reportedly stay at Liverpool for another year in protest at his 15m price tag.

Crouch wants to exit Anfield after a season in which he made just nine Premier League starts, but the 15m price tag will put off potential suitors like Aston Villa and Portsmouth.

He is now said to be ready to sit out and wait for another season and then leave for nothing at the end of his contract.

The Daily Star is quoting a source close to Crouch as saying: "Peter’s been treated appallingly by Benitez.

"First there’s been the lack of games, then Benitez claiming Peter had been offered a new contract.

“Now comes this 15 million price-tag, which is ridiculous. The best option is to see out his last year at Liverpool and then go for nothing.”

This is on F365 today. Always thought Benitez treated Crouch harshly and is now being a cock with the price tag so this would be funny if it happened, especially considering they don’t have buckets of cash and need the money.

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I was meaning to comment on Liverpool’s transfer budget too. Juhniallio, you mention they don’t have bucketloads of cash (in comparison to other EPL sides) and I think that’s being emphasised by the players they’re reportedly interested in. They’re linked with Barry for 10m, some Italian full back for 8m and yesterday they were said to be after a Bristol City defender for 1m. Even at that, they were trying to fob off players like Pennant in part exchange for Barry apparently. Gerrard’s also been in the papers appealing with the money men to release funds to Rafa and said he’s fed up of being out of the title race by January, with Rafa then always receiving some token cash at that stage of the season to ensure they come no lower than 4th. There’s no talk of them signing a couple of real belting players for 15m+ and, because of that and the state of their squad as it is, it seems they won’t be mounting a title challenge next year either.

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The image being projected from Anfield is all wrong. The boardroom is a mess. The captain and manager are whinging about cash again, despite the millions they’ve had over the years. Rafa has said for the last 4 weeks that he has 3 buys ‘certain’ but no more as yet. They’ll only be able to compete financially for nearly top class players, and they’ve buckets of those already.

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Ah here hang on now…

You talk about the captain and manager ‘whinging’ about lack of funds when they have had ‘millions over the years’. Then in the next breath you say that they can only compete financially for near top class players. Which is it?

The facts are that compared to United Liverpool cannot compete financially and that has been a major reason as to why United have dominated for so long…

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[quote=“farmerinthecity”]Ah here hang on now…

You talk about the captain and manager ‘whinging’ about lack of funds when they have had ‘millions over the years’. Then in the next breath you say that they can only compete financially for near top class players. Which is it?

The facts are that compared to United Liverpool cannot compete financially and that has been a major reason as to why United have dominated for so long…[/quote]

Explain why Arsenal have done consistently better than Liverpool so in the Premiership, even though 'pool have spent way way way more than them on players?

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[quote=“farmerinthecity”]Ah here hang on now…

You talk about the captain and manager ‘whinging’ about lack of funds when they have had ‘millions over the years’. Then in the next breath you say that they can only compete financially for near top class players. Which is it?

The facts are that compared to United Liverpool cannot compete financially and that has been a major reason as to why United have dominated for so long…[/quote]

Rock had the figures up here not too long ago Farmer. Liverpool have spent net more than Man U over the last few years. Yet this year they will only be able to buy middle class players by the looks of things. Mismanagement is your problem boss…