B/R Gossip Roundup: Breaking Down This Week's Biggest Rumours
The transfer window might be closed, but the rumour mill never stops.
With all their summer dealings completed, clubs from around Europe will now turn their focus to the field—as well as the January transfer window. As each side's needs become obvious in the coming weeks, expect to see plenty of new rumours popping up ahead of the new year.
And, as always, keep an eye on this space as we round up all the week's biggest transfer rumours.
Victor Valdes Will Fill Crucial Gap for Liverpool
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The figure of Mario Balotelli dominated Liverpool's transfer window this summer, but another key element to the Anfield squad could be added even though the deadline has passed.
According to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers is set to add former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes to his squad—once he returns to full fitness.
Valdes had already announced his decision to quit Camp Nou when he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury after landing awkwardly during a win over Celta Vigo in March.
The injury kept Valdes out of the Spain squad for the World Cup in Brazil and also scuppered his hopes of a transfer to Monaco in July.
But Monaco's loss is set to be Liverpool's gain in the Premier League this season.
As it stands, Simon Mignolet has little competition for his position as the Reds' No. 1—a situation that needs rectifying if the Merseyside club are to challenge for silverware on all fronts this season.
The Belgium international desperately needs more than the presence of Brad Jones in the Liverpool squad to keep his own form at a peak.
At the age of 32, Valdes represents the kind of experience most major clubs would desire without hesitation.
Three Champions League and six La Liga winners' medals are part of the Spaniard's trophy cabinet—an impressive collection by anyone's standards.
With Liverpool this season competing on both the domestic and European fronts, such experience would be an invaluable asset in the squad.
According to Jones' article, Valdes will not be fit until December—but who would bet against him being in the Reds' ranks for their Champions League clash with Real Madrid before then?
Believability Meter: High
This is a quality move by Liverpool. Valdes will be itching to make his mark at a new club after earning legendary status at Barcelona.
The arrival of the Spaniard would also act as a spur for Mignolet, who has endured an inconsistent season to date.
Loic Remy Gives Jose Mourinho Greater Forward Options at Chelsea
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For weeks, it had been assumed that Loic Remy would be leaving Queens Park Rangers for another team in London. What we did not expect was that it would be in a south-westerly direction rather than to the north of the English capital.
As his loan spell with Newcastle United ended at the close of the last Premier League season, Craig Hope of the Daily Mail reported the Frenchman's presence at the Emirates Stadium for the Gunners' final home match against West Brom.
The link seemed strong, and Arsene Wenger was in need of reinforcements in his forward line. But the summer weeks are a long time in football.
Fast forward to transfer deadline day, and it was Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho who was welcoming Remy to his ranks, as Samuel Stevens and James Orr of The Independent reported, while Wenger turned to Danny Welbeck.
Mourinho had complained about his lack of strikers last season, albeit in a conversation that was not meant to be made public, as Martin Lipton of the Daily Mirror noted.
But it was clear that the Stamford Bridge boss was concerned about his forward line, and Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o have all since been jettisoned.
Few would complain about their replacements, however, with Diego Costa already displaying imperious form following his summer arrival from Atletico Madrid, while no self-respecting Chelsea fan would balk at the idea of Didier Drogba returning to the club.
However, Remy represents a different proposition to both of his new team-mates, with lightning-quick pace a crucial ingredient in his—excuse the pun—arsenal.
In terms of pure goalscoring, Remy arrives in west London with 14 goals from 26 league appearances for Newcastle last season. Compare that with Torres' paltry five in 28 matches and there is already a case made in favour of the new man.
The France international could provide a devastating introduction from the bench for the Blues, with his speed offering a new threat for tiring opposition defences.
Chelsea were already buoyant after Costa's display in the 6-3 win at Everton last weekend—the arrival of Remy can only bolster their optimism for silverware this season.
Believability Meter: High
This is likely to be another quality addition to the Chelsea squad as Mourinho makes his challenge for domestic and European honours.
Remy already has proven Premier League experience and is clearly ready for the step up.
Andrea Pirlo Staying with Italy Is Great Move by Italy Coach Antonio Conte
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When asked this week how long Andrea Pirlo could play on for, one Bleacher Report writer replied: "A billion years. He's Pirlo."
We could have asked new Italy head coach Antonio Conte and would probably have received an even more emphatic response.
Before the World Cup started, Sky Sports reported that Pirlo had decided the Brazil tournament would be his final one for the Azzurri.
However, two weeks later, The Guardian claimed the Juventus midfielder had changed his mind after the Italians suffered a shock group-stage exit.
Pirlo was quoted as saying: "If the new national coach thinks he needs me, I will happily remain available."
What he may or may not have realised at the time was that it would be his Juve coach, Conte, who would be replacing Cesare Prandelli.
And this week, Ben Gladwell of ESPN.com reported Conte's eagerness to have Pirlo in his midfield.
The Italy head coach was quoted as saying:
"I wanted to find out if the fire was still burning inside [Pirlo] and he's a battler.
He has given me his availability and that is all I need.
"
The Conte-Pirlo partnership was the fuel that fired Juventus to success in recent seasons, with the Turin club winning Serie A for the past three seasons.
Pirlo, who has 112 Italy caps to his name, will not feature for his country until the Euro 2016 qualifiers next month due to a hip injury, but simply having his name to call upon is something Conte will relish.
While Conte will now be poised for a rebuild of the national team after their disappointing World Cup, which included a surprise loss to Costa Rica, the presence of Pirlo can act as a touchstone for newcomers.
Pirlo's experience is vast, but his ability is what makes him a national hero. His ability to control a game and dictate its pace remains, as England found to their cost in the heat of Manaus.
If Conte is to succeed in turning around the fortunes of Italy, he will need the expertise of Pirlo to pull the strings alongside other experienced campaigners such as Daniele De Rossi and Giorgio Chiellini.
Believability Meter: High
There was little doubt that Pirlo was going to be available for selection in the Euro 2016 qualifiers after the player himself expressed his desire to continue. But the fact Conte has now confirmed that will come as a relief to Italy supporters.
The new era in Azzurri history is off to a flying start in selection terms.
Tom Cleverley Puts Further Pressure on Himself After Aston Villa Loan Switch
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From an external viewpoint, there was a fair degree of sympathy for Tom Cleverley at Manchester United last season.
In a team failing to perform under David Moyes, the England international was singled out for criticism from some Old Trafford supporters, alongside Marouane Fellaini.
While the Belgium international was seen as the defining transfer of the Moyes era, Cleverley was deemed just not good enough.
Such criticism will have come as a tremendous blow to the 25-year-old, who was in the England squad less than a year ago.
Cleverley needed a change of scenery before the transfer deadline passed, but he almost appeared to have blown it, as Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail and Nick Mashiter of the Press Association reported.
According to the article, the United midfielder had looked set to join Everton for a £7.5 million move to link up with his former manager during a loan spell with Wigan Athletic, Roberto Martinez.
However, Wheeler and Mashiter claim that the Merseyside club then tried to prise the player from Old Trafford for a lesser amount, which resulted in the deal collapsing.
Cleverley's representatives had turned their back on a medical at Aston Villa in favour of travelling to Liverpool to meet Everton officials.
According to the article, the player had priced himself out of a permanent switch to Villa Park due to his wage demands.
The whole situation appeared farcical, with Cleverley set for an unhappy stay at Old Trafford, wondering what might have been.
But Lady Luck had not completely deserted the player, and his loan move to Paul Lambert's team finally went through the day after the transfer deadline, as BBC Sport reported.
To the outside world, it seemed a ridiculous situation, but the Daily Mail's claims that Cleverley's representatives turned back on a move to Villa once Everton's interest was known may leave some Villans uncomfortable.
Of course, it does not mean that Cleverley himself was the instigator of the events on deadline day; with agents seeking the best for their client, brinkmanship is never far from the surface in the closing hours of the window.
Villa supporters have, rightly, got behind the signing of Cleverley, and they are backing the Three Lions international to make his name at the club.
Few would argue that the player deserves a chance to re-establish his credentials, and the bottom line should be that Villa have a valuable addition to their squad, a player who has a point to prove.
However, the shenanigans of deadline day have heaped greater pressure on Cleverley than there should have been.
Believability Meter: Medium
The vast majority of Aston Villa supporters will welcome the addition of Cleverley to their ranks, and they are guaranteed the presence of a player determined to prove a point after his miserable time at Manchester United.
But the nature of his move to the Midlands could leave him open to further—unnecessary—criticism if he does not hit the ground running at Villa Park.
Don't Hold Your Breath, Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo's Not Coming Back
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Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009, but he has continued to flirt with his former club.
In the summer of 2013, Rio Ferdinand bombarded Ronaldo with text messages urging him to return. The Portuguese promptly signed a new contract.
Last January, after picking up the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo once again spoke about United—per Stuart Mathieson in the Manchester Evening News.
So it comes as no surprise that Ronaldo has once again spoken of his love for United.
Per a report from the Mail’s Riath Al-Sammarrai, Ronaldo said:
"I love Manchester. Everyone knows that—I have said it many times. Manchester is in my heart. I left many good friends there, the supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day.
I am happy here in Real Madrid and have four more years, but in the future you never know because they treated me unbelievably there.
"
Ronaldo has just come through an amazing 18-month period, which included a World Player of the Year award and a Champions League win.
Despite a niggling knee problem, he is at the peak of his powers. Talk of a return is sure to tantalise the Old Trafford faithful, especially given United’s recent troubles.
Now we don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but we’d urge United fans not to hold their breath on this one.
As Ronaldo stated, he has four years remaining on his contract—and Real are not likely to let their best player and most marketable asset head out of the club any time soon.
Also, Ronaldo is now a father to a four-year-old and will have no burning desire to uproot his family—no matter how much he talks about wanting to return to United.
Believability Meter: Low
In four years’ time Ronaldo will still be a great player, but he will have to adapt his game as his pace will be a shade less devastating.
He will still be an attractive option, not least for the marketing men, but this does not look like a deal that will come off.
Mario Yepes a Solution to Arsenal Defence Worry, but His Age Is Concerning
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger might have brought the talents of forwards Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck to the club this summer, but questions remain over his lack of defensive squad additions.
With Thomas Vermaelen heading out of the Emirates Stadium for Barcelona, the Gunners have been left with a dearth of central defenders as they attempt to build on last season's FA Cup win.
Bacary Sagna was a potential stand in in the middle of the back line, but his summer move to Manchester City has scuppered that possibility this season.
The transfer deadline passed on Monday evening without a natural central defender arriving at the club—Calum Chambers joined from Southampton, admittedly, but the middle of the back four does not appear to be his forte at the moment.
Experience will help the new England international progress into that role, but if Wenger is to continue challenging for—and winning—silverware, he will need to fervently pray that Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny do not pick up injuries, at least until January.
So when Nick Lustig of the Daily Star informed us that Wenger was considering a short-term deal for Colombia international Mario Yepes, our ears pricked up.
The 38-year-old defender began his career in South America before moving to Nantes in France, and he made his name during a four-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain.
In 2008, Yepes moved to Chievo to begin a three-club stint in Italy, which included a spell with AC Milan. He left Atalanta at the end of last season with retirement appearing to be his next course of action.
However, after an impressive World Cup—during which he was the oldest outfield player—it seems stepping down from the game might not be quite the next step.
But is Yepes the right man for Arsenal, even in the short term?
Mertesacker and Koscielny represent a strong first-choice pairing for Wenger, but an injury to either will leave his options stretched.
Yepes is a potential solution, but his age would be a concern for any enforced extended stay in the first team.
Wenger needs a central-defensive solution, and Yepes is an option who does not require a fee because of his free-agent status.
But a question mark must be placed over the Colombian because he has already gone beyond the autumn of his career.
Believability Meter: Medium
Wenger's need for a new defender has been as clear as day through the summer, intensifying on the back of Vermaelen's switch to Barcelona.
Yepes is an obvious solution as a free agent able to move to the Emirates outside of the transfer window.
However, with Mertesacker not swiftest of central defenders, the 38-year-old may not be the perfect partner for the Gunners against the pace of some Premier League strikers.
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