As we come to the end of yet another week in the transfer season, we can recall a lot of speculations and rumours that have come our way during this time. While there are some matters of truth in some of these rumours, for others, the rumour mills have worked overtime to help the audience with some lip smacking delicacies. But then some of the deals have also been completed in the past week and some of the clubs have looked more proactive than the others. We take you across some of the biggest transfer rumours and news that we have encountered in the last seven days, as we gear up for yet another week of madness.
Wayne Rooney
It is believed that Rooney will be meeting his boss David Moyes to talk about the future this week and it will be resolved sooner than expected. While the English striker has expressed his desire to leave Manchester United this summer, his previous manager Sir Alex Ferguson has urged him to stay at the club and new manager Moyes has no wish to start his innings with a difference of opinion with his predecessor. He also wants Rooney to stay but the striker is insistent on plying his trade elsewhere as he feels that he can have no more opportunity in Manchester. Arsenal and Chelsea continue to monitor the situation closely and one of them may succeed in bringing home the forward. Rooney’s wage demands, though, may be a problem for Wenger as he has no intention to pay the striker £250k per week, who many believe is well past his prime.
Gonzalo Higuain
The Real Madrid striker has reportedly made his transfer to Arsenal complete and an official announcement is just a mere formality now. For a fee in the region of £22m, it could well be the transfer of the season as the Gunners needed to boost their attack and Higuain is still at par with the best. At 25, he has still a number of years ahead of him and his game may get improved further with time. If this move is made official, then the rumours on Rooney joining Arsenal may just get stopped.
Luis Alberto
Liverpool have made most of the noise in the transfer window until now and they have now made their third official signing with Sevilla player Luis Alberto joining the club. The player, who spent last season with the Barcelona B team, can play in many positions for the club, from wide forward to false nine. It is assumed that the highly talented player would go on to be a core member of Rodgers’ team and would guide the club back to glory. The reported transfer fee is £6.8m, quite a low fee for such a talent.
Simon Mignolet
Staying on with Liverpool, the Sunderland keeper will be going through a medical early next week after he returns from his vacation. The shot-stopper, who has been highly rated across many quarters, will be joining Liverpool for a fee in the region of £10m and his inclusion would definitely put Reina’s Anfield future in jeopardy. Though manager Brendan Rodgers insists that Mignolet would strengthen the squad and not replace Reina.
Paulinho
Tottenham Hotspur, who may lose Gareth Bale this summer, are on their way to complete the first signing of the summer after they have agreed to a deal in principle with Brazilian side Corinthians for midfielder Paulinho. The deal is expected to be around £15m and if successful, it would be a great transfer for the London side. He has an immense physical presence on the field and Villas Boas believes that he would suit the Premier League instantly, making a mark in the club’s progress.
Yohan Cabaye
The Newcastle midfielder is furious after the newly appointed director of football of the club, Joe Kinnear mispronounced his name. The PSG target has been one of the most instrumental players of the club for the past season and if these sorts of things keep on continuing, then he would be forced to make a move elsewhere.
Andy Carroll
West Ham have made the Andy Carroll their permanent player after he passed a medical for the club this week. Liverpool had already made it clear that they would not mind to offload the striker who fell down the pecking order after the arrival of Rodgers and West Ham have grasped the opportunity. The striker, who spent the previous season on loan at West Ham, has been transferred for a fee of £15m.
Some of the other headlines:
- Liverpool are fearing that Real Madrid may wait until the end of the summer to make a move for Suarez but are prepared to hold out for £40m.
- Wigan striker Arouna Kone says he wants to leave the relegated Latics with Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace trying to sign the 29-year-old Ivory Coast forward.
- Swansea defender Ashley Williams, 28, wants to leave the Welsh club and move to Arsenal.
- Stoke manager Mark Hughes wants to bring Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland, 26, to the Britannia Stadium.
- Real Madrid are close to signing Manchester City target Isco after agreeing a fee with fellow La Liga club Malaga for the 21-year-old winger.
- Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will bring in suspended Brighton boss Gus Poyet as manager if Alan Pardew decides he cannot work with director of football Joe Kinnear.