World Football Rumours: The 8 Hottest Transfer Gossip Stories in Soccer
The transfer window is once again upon us, and with the arrival of transfer window comes intense speculation regarding the future of most players with every club looking to strengthen their squad in the summer.
There have been some outlandish ones and some realistic transfers that look like they might be happening in the summer. The big spending clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, United and Manchester City are bound to be in the thick of speculation and with several clubs around the world looking to come out stronger next season, we have been at the centre of a whirlwind of transfer news and speculation.
Despite the transfer window having another two months to go before it comes to close, several teams have already kick-started their spending with Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool the chief spenders.
Here is a look at the top eight rumors that have been causing a flutter over the past week.
Cesc Fabregas
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Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona continues to remain one of world football’s most protracted transfer sagas in the last few years and in the gigantic tussle between Arsenal and European Champions, Barcelona has already started. Barcelona have kicked of proceedings in typical manner with a few Barcelona players already proclaiming that Fabregas has Barcelona DNA, whatever that may be.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the other hand has remained insistent that he will try his best to retain the Arsenal captain, who came through the ranks in the Barcelona academy before joining the Gunners as a 16 year old. He had a meteoric rise at Arsenal, under the tutelage of Wenger and has become one of the best midfielders in world football, consistently delivering the goods for the Gunners.
While some Arsenal fans remain divided on whether to sell their talismanic captain or not, Wenger is fairly sure that Fabregas has to stay at Arsenal and I believe that will be the best move for the Gunners.
Fabregas recently stated that he too would love to play for Barcelona, whom he sees as the world’s greatest team but said at the same time, he would not mind at all if in the end he ended up staying at the Emirates.
It was reported earlier in the week that Wenger had resigned to losing his captain, but his statements later indicated otherwise. Even if Wenger decides to let his captain go, it will be only at his evaluation and with Barcelona unable to meet Arsenal’s evaluation of the player, it looks like the stalemate will continue throughout the summer.
I have no doubt that if Barcelona meets the amount the Gunners have put on him, then he will depart to his boyhood club, but with Barcelona refusing to budge, it is looking to me as if Arsenal will hold onto Fabregas once again.
Samir Nasri
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From news of one Arsenal player to another. Arsenal’s Samir Nasri has been the centre of intense media speculation after he has shown hesitation over signing a new contract at Arsenal, which has left several top teams like Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United chasing his signature.
Arsenal have shown their willingness to offer a new contract to the talented Frenchman who has enjoyed his finest season in the Arsenal jersey. Despite a timid end to the season, he showed his importance to the Arsenal team in the first half of the season as he scored 15 goals in all competitions this season.
But the negotiations have reached a stalemate, with Arsenal’s wages being slightly less than what the player is wanting. But Wenger recently came out and said that he will do anything he can to retain the player, and the player’s agent even said that they will focus on negotiations with Arsenal before entertaining thoughts of leaving the club. Reports recently indicated that Arsenal might spend to retain him, both in the transfer market and on his wages.
But there is no guarantee that he will stay and if a contract is not signed by the player this summer, then Arsenal will look to sell him, rather than lose him for free next season. If he does indeed leave then I see him moving away from England as Wenger knows that he cannot allow a player of his vast quality to leave to a rival.
With Arsene desperate to win a trophy and knowing the value of Nasri to the team, he will be desperate to retain the player, and with Nasri not yet a world class player, it might be best for both parties if he stays at the club and looks to be a part of Arsenal’s renewed effort at ending their six year wait for a major trophy.
Neymar
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The hottest teenage prospect in world football, Neymar has been on Chelsea’s radar for quite some time now, but recent reports suggested that he might move to Spain to work under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.
The fee for the Brazilian is reported to be €45m, which indeed does sound ridiculous considering that he has absolutely no experience in Europe and with just 134 games as a first team player is hardly experienced for Santos as well. But with Real Madrid more than willing to pay the high fee for him, it looks like Neymar might just be out of Roman Abramovich’s grasp.
The teenage sensation has earned several plaudits for his fantastic performances in Brazil and will be a good addition to Real Madrid’s packed attacking lineup. With 66 goals for Santos over the last three years, Neymar will undoubtedly be a huge gamble considering his price tag and inexperience but with him showing a lot of potential, it might just be a gamble worth taking.
With his preferred destination being Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho and Madrid have once again started their heavy spending in an attempt to dethrone Barcelona.
Alex Sanchez
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The Udinese winger has been the focus of intense transfer speculation with Manchester City, Manchester United and Barcelona willing to sign the winger. A fantastic 2010-11 season has seen the Chilean on the radar of several teams, with Manchester City and United looking set to clinch a big money move for the winger.
Initially it looked like Sanchez would move to Barcelona, but recent reports indicate that either Roberto Mancini or Sir Alex Ferguson could sign the pacy winger.
The fee is expected to be €27 million, with the Manchester rivals looking to slug it out with each other in order to capture Sanchez. With Sir Alex Ferguson looking to eclipse Barcelona and overtake the Catalan giants as the world’s best side, he sees Sanchez as an upgrade that can further improve the Red Devils. And with Roberto Mancini looking to cement City as a European giant, he too will be keen to sign the winger before his rivals can snap up Sanchez.
Sergio Aguero
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One of the hottest prospects in world football right now, Sergio Aguero has been on the radar of several teams for a long time now, and which club wouldn’t want to sign the Argentinean forward who has set the La Liga alight with his solid and consistent performances at Atletico Madrid.
Some of his suitors include cash rich clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, cross-city rivals, Real Madrid and Juventus. He looks destined to leave Atletico this year, with Real Madrid looking like a prime candidate to sign the player. Real Madrid playmaker Ozil went as far as to say that the team has reserved the No. 10 shirt for him, although it remains to be seen if Atletico are willing to sell their star to their hated rivals.
There are few teams in the world who would not want the Argentinean in their team, with 27 goals this season. Reports recently indicated that a meeting between the player and Juventus had taken place, but the player was quick to deny anything.
With Chelsea, Madrid and City looking to sign him, Atletico could receive a substantial fee for the forward who has the potential to become one of the league’s best.
Gervinho
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With Arsenal going six seasons without a trophy, Wenger is desperate to strengthen his squad and Arsenal look set to sign Lille forward Gervinho in the near future. With him harboring a dream of playing for the Gunners and with Wenger being a long time admirer, Arsenal have made efforts to sign the player and Lille have confirmed that he has entered into talks with Arsenal regarding a move this summer.
With the futures of Tomas Rosicky, Andrei Arshavin and Samir Nasri in doubt, Arsenal need some quality down the flanks and with a solid season this year as well, he could be a great signing for the Gunners whose depth in squad—or rather lack of depth—has been evident this season.
Even Manchester City are reported in signing the player (No surprise there, they have the money to sign anyone they want, even Cristiano Ronaldo). But with the player harboring ambitions of playing for the Gunners, he could very well prove to be the first major signing for the Gunners this summer.
Jerome Boateng
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At the age of 22 and having made just 24 appearances in his first season at the Eastlands, German full back and centre back Jerome Boateng is desperate to return to his homeland with Bayern Munich being the intended target.
Recently he stated that he had agreed to a deal with the German giants but the transfer is yet to happen, with some rumors indicating that he may not leave eventually.
But when the player has indicated so clearly that he wants to leave, the team might as well sell him considering that he has shown that he is not a very special talent, and letting him go will free up some space in the squad while generating some cash before City continue their extravagant spending.
Selling him would be best for both parties involved—expect Boateng to go back to Germany and probably with Bayern.
Cristiano Ronaldo
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Yeah, seriously.
Manchester City, whose owner’s extravagance knows no bounds, actually wanted to sign Cristiano Ronaldo—arguably the second best player in the world right now—and were even ready to make him the world’s richest footballer.
Needless to say, Ronaldo was smart enough to decide that Madrid was a far bigger, and for that matter better club than City, and the wise man has squashed any rumors that linked him with an audacious move to City.
