World Football Transfers: Top 10 Rumours of the Week
With the European football season approaching an end, many managers will look to recruit new players in the summer.ย
Who will signย Sergio Agรผero? Is Didier Drogba leaving Chelsea? Isย Diego Forlan linking up with Diego Maradona?
Let's review the top 10 transfers rumours of the past week.ย
Chelsea and Manchester City Chase Sergio Agรผero
1 of 10
Diego Maradonaโs son-in-law, Sergio Agรผero, has informed Atlรฉtico Madrid of his intentions to leave the club after five seasons. So which clubs have their eyes set on the Argentine international?
According to Antony Kastrinakis at The Sun, Atlรฉtico Madrid have told Chelsea and Manchester City that Agรผero will cost ยฃ40 million.
If a homesick Carlos Tรฉvez returns to Buenos Aires, then Agรผero becomes a viable replacement at Eastlands. If Tรฉvez stays, then it is more likely that Agรผeroโs final destination will not be at Eastlands.
For Agรผero to come to London, Chelsea has to sell Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka or Salomon Kalou, unless one of the aforementioned three is content with indefinitely warming the benches. ย
Though thereโs also the possibility that Agรผero will stay in Spain after Eurosport.com reported Atlรฉtico Madrid teammate Tomรกลก Ujfaluลกi stating Agรผero was desperate to defect to cross town rivals Real Madrid.ย
Change, Change and More Change at Chelsea
2 of 10
After a trophyless season, Roman Abramovich has already said arrivederci to Carlo Ancelotti and is set to lead a revolution at Stamford Bridge.
According to Mark Fleming at The Independent, Chelsea will cut Henrique Hilario, Jose Bosingwa, Paulo Ferreira and Yuri Zhirkov.
To fill up the vacancies, Chelsea will target Gregory van der Wiel, Kevin de Bruyne, Neymar and Romelu Lukaku.
It makes sense for Chelsea to cut underperforming players, yet Abramovich hasnโt shown a great deal of patience, and you canโt expect immediate success with youth players. ย
Then again, BBC's football pundit Alan Hansen infamously said on Match of the Day, โYouโll never win anything with kidsโ after Sir Alex Fergusonโs fledglings lost 3-1 to Aston Villa in 1995.
For the next five seasons, Manchester United won four English Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a UEFA Champions League title and an Intercontinental Cup.ย ย
Diego Forlan Headed to Dubai with Diego Maradona?
3 of 10
After his worst season for Atlรฉtico Madrid, 32-year-old Diego Forlan, recipient of the 2010 FIFA World Cup golden ball, looks set for an exit.
According to Ashley Hammond at Gulf News, Al Wasl have begun negotiations with Atlรฉtico Madrid for Forlanโs signature.
Al Wasl may have made headlines signing Diego Maradona as manager, but it is unlikely that Forlan will curtail his European career at just 32 years of age.ย
Is Arsรจne Wenger Willing to Sell Gaรซl Clichy at a Cut Price?
4 of 10
With Denรญlson and Nicklas Bendtner announcing their intentions to leave Arsenal, speedy left back Gaรซl Clichy is set to follow suit.
According to Wayne Veysey at Goal.com, Arsenal has set a ยฃ5.5 million transfer fee on Clichy, with Inter Milan and Bayern Munich showing interest.
Arsรจne Wenger holds a masters degree in economics and wouldnโt have set such a low transfer fee for one of the premier left backs in the world.ย
Cesc Fร bregas Back with Barcelona?
5 of 10
Cesc Fร bregas has gone trophyless with Arsenal for six seasons, and Barcelonaโs elongated affair of tapping him up may result in him returning to Catalonia.
According to Steve Stammers at Mirror Football, Arsenal would be willing to sell Fร bregas for ยฃ50 million.
If Barcelona had the funding of Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then it would become a question of when not if Arsenal would sell Fร bregas.
With Barcelona strapped for cash, coupled with the emergence of Thiago Alcรขntara, it becomes more economically feasible for Barcelona to wait until Fร bregasโ contract runs out in 2014.ย
Harry Redknapp Monitoring Didier Drogba's Job Security at Chelsea
6 of 10
With Roman Abramovich wielding his iron fist upon Chelsea, it seems a mass exodus in on the menu, and aging Ivorian forward Didier Drogba may not survive the cut. ย ย ย
According to Tony Banks and Mike McGrath at Express.co.uk, Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is keen to bring Drogba to White Hart Lane.
Drogba only has one year left on his contract, so if he is to be sold, it would be this summer.
However, Tottenham doesnโt have UEFA Champions League football to entice Drogba.
Also what type of contract will Tottenham offer Drogba? Offering him a three-five year contract at ยฃ100 000-plus per week seems disproportionate to the playing ability of a 33-year-old forward who only scored 13 goals this season.
Yet if Tottenham offer him a one-two year contract with cut wages, then Drogba may pursue more financially lucrative options elsewhere. ย
Charles NโZogbia Headed to a Club in the UEFA Champions League
7 of 10
Wigan Athletic may sell diminutive French winger Charles NโZogbia after an impressive season.
According to Footylatest.com, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish may sign the ยฃ10 million valued Frenchmen.
If NโZogbia is sold, it would increase Wiganโs chances of relegation.
If they do want to sell, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is likely to inflate NโZogbiaโs transfer fee to somewhere around Antonio Valenciaโs estimated ยฃ15-20 million transfer fee to Manchester United.
Thoughย Sky Sports reported Wigan manager Roberto Martรญnez are insisting NโZogbia will only be sold to a UEFA Champions League side, and Liverpool do not have Champions League football next season.ย
Heurelho Gomes Set to Return to the Netherlands
8 of 10
Heurelho Gomesโ topsy turvy season may result in his exit from White Hart Lane
According to the Daily Mail, Gomes has informed Tottenham Hotspur of his desire to return to PSV Eindhoven.
Gomesโ Massimo Taibi like blunders are costing Tottenham, yet has Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp lined up a replacement?ย
Karim Benzema's Signing Could Mean Another Frenchmen at Arsenal
9 of 10
Karim Benzemaโs 26 goals and nine assists in 48 games hides the fact he was being treated as second rate by manager Josรฉ Mourinho. This may result in Arsรจne Wenger providing Benzema with an exit from the Bernabรฉu.
According to Sportal.co.nz, Wenger is looking to sign Benzema, having signalled his intent to spend money this summer.
Even though Benzema at times has warmed the benches, he still has scored an impressive 26 goals. Also his agent Karim Djaziri told Metro.co.uk, โKarim is not going to leave Real Madrid for Arsenal or anywhere elseโ.ย
ยฃ150 Million for Cristiano Ronaldo
10 of 10
After a historic 53 goals and 15 assists in 54 games, Cristiano Ronaldo looks set for an exit from the Bernabรฉu. ย
According to Matt Lawton from the Daily Mail, Ronaldo has fallen out with manager Josรฉ Mourinho, and owner Florentino Pรฉrez would be willing to sell Ronaldo for ยฃ150 million.
This rumour doesnโt even have an ounce of logic attached to it.
Pรฉrez is a man so obsessed with the marketing element of football that it makes no sense for him to sell his most marketable product, who also happens to be the second best footballer in the world by a country mile.
Also ESPNStar.com reported Mourinho saying he would leave if Ronaldo was sold.
So in effect, Pรฉrez would sell Ronaldo which would then lead to Mourinho leavingโnot to point out the obvious, but it wonโt happen. ย
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