Friday's Rumour Mill

Premier League

Spurs's New Midfield Maestro

The standing of Tottenham Hotspur as a football club and Gareth Bale as a player have risen substantially over the last three seasons and both have a lot to thank each other for, Spurs in hiring Harry Redknapp provided Bale with a manager who got the best out of him and Bale’s performances on the pitch have seen Spurs go from mid-table mediocrity to Champions League chasers. This dream partnership has today been given the biggest hint that it will continue on for another year, with impending signing Paulinho claiming he has been assured that the Welshman will not be departing White Hart Lane. As for Paulinho himself, he has demonstrated his abilities for Brazil this summer and should fit in nicely next to Sandro in the Spurs midfield, his imminent arrival does however raise questions about the future of Scott Parker in North London.

Good enough for City?

As I reported on Wednesday Carlos Tevez has departed for Turin, City however have wasted no time in drawing up targets to replace the Argentinian. Top of the list is apparently German international Mario Gomez, having fallen out of favour last season at Munich with Mario Mandzukic preferred by Jupp Heynckes, it remains to be seen whether incoming manager Pep Guardiola will require the services of the big centre forward. Others on City’s radar include West Ham target Alvaro Negredo, Roma’s Pablo Osvaldo and Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo. It may be the case that two of these prospective four arrive at the Etihad with Edin Dzeko rumoured to be attracting interest from Germany. For me City need to go bigger than this list of strikers if they want to compete in Europe, a Lewandowski or Benzema perhaps.

Andrey Arshavin

The rest of the Premier League has well and truly kicked into gear on the transfer front. Yesterday saw Andrey Arshavin return to Zenit on a free transfer, the Russian unplayable in his first two seasons in England soured his reputation somewhat in his last two, failing to adjust his playing style to accommodate his loss of pace. Swansea have added another Spaniard to their ranks, with 21 year old centre back Jordi Amat joining from Espanyol, making the departure of club captain Ashley Williams to Arsenal seem more feasible. Sunderland are interested in Gino Peruzzi of Velez Sarsfield and Arsenal’s Vito Mannone with Paulo Di Canio looking to spend the money from Simon Mignolet's departure. Liverpool are monitoring Mamadou Sakho’s situation at PSG, with the French centre back stalling on a new contract. The new boys in the Premier League are continuing to bolster their squads for the new season, with Crystal Palace having agreed a fee for Peterborough’s Dwight Gayle and Hull completing the permanent signing of Sunderland’s Ahmed Elmohamady.

Football League

Murphy's screamer in the JPT final 

Harry Redknapp made his first signing of what should be a busy summer at Loftus Road and if they continue to be of the calibre of Newcastle’s Danny Simpson then a return to the top flight may beckon. Millwall have today re-signed striker Steve Morison on a season long loan from Leeds, his goal scoring record at the New Den saw him gain a move to Premier League Norwich, but after a tempestuous stint in Norfolk he finds himself returning to East London. Blackpool’s Ludovic Sylvestre has joined Turkish outfit Rizespor having rejected the advances of several English clubs. Blackburn appear to have sealed the signinature of Crewe’s talented midfielder Luke Murphy, another product of their esteemed academy. In League one Colchester have acquired the services of Arsenal youngster Sanchez Watt on a free transfer, Watt has the ability to play at a higher level but needs to produce on a regular basis.

Rest of the World

Isco

Yesterday saw Spanish playmaker Isco complete a £23 million move to Real Madrid, a boyhood Barca fan Real’s board of directors have done well to secure his services. Now to a rarity in Ligue 1, a transfer that doesn’t involve PSG or Monaco as Dimitri Payet has completed a move from Lille to Marseille. A clever wide man, Payet has been capped by five times by France and Marseille hope he will add some much needed strength to their attack. Another Frenchman Frank Ribery, has put pen to paper on a new four year deal at Bayern Munich showing that even at the age of 30 he is at the forefront of Pep Guardiola’s plans. Big Bosnian centre half Emir Spahic has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Sevilla after two years in Andalusia.

Wednesday's Rumour Mill

Premier League

Carlos Tevez

In the last 24 hours the Premier League appears to have lost one of its greatest imports, the enigma that is Carlos Tevez.  A fee in the region of £12 million has been agreed between Manchester City and Juventus for the former Boca Juniors, West Ham and Manchester United forward. Now £12 million may seem to undervalue Tevez when the likes of Cavani are being quoted at £50 odd million, however at 29 Tevez’s value in reality will only depreciate from here on in and with incoming boss Pellegrini wanting to make his mark in Manchester, getting rid of the argumentative Argentinian would appear to be a shrewd move. As for the buyers, Juventus are in my opinion in dire need of a world class centre forward if they want to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League. With Buffon behind a solid back four, Pirlo and Marchisio running the midfield all the Old Lady need is an out an out striker as both Giovinco and Vucinic like to play deeper and wider. This is a deal that perfectly fits all parties concerned and Juve fans will be hoping Tevez can have the same influential effect that his former Manchester City teammate Mario Balotelli has had at A.C Milan.

Simon Mignolet

Another day another Liverpool signing, this time its Sunderland’s first choice keeper Simon Mignolet for £9 million. Rodgers seems pleased with his business saying, "I am delighted that we have been able to sign one of the top goalkeepers in the Barclays Premier League”, however despite the undoubted ability of Mignolet which has seen him keep Thibaut Courtois out of the Belgian National team, I believe Mr Rodgers you’ve got the wrong Sunderland goalkeeper. You should in fact of signed Kieran Westwood, ask any Carlisle and Coventry fans (me included) about Westwood and you will only get rave reviews of Ireland’s number one. Never mind though as Westwood will showcase his credentials this season as Sunderland’s new first choice stopper and this time next year it could well be he who moves to one of the Premier Leagues elite. Rodgers recruitment drive shows no sign of stopping as the move for Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan appears to be back on as the player failed to show up to Donetsk’s pre-season training camp. Another target for the reds is Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu who is interesting Rodgers and with 27 goals in 68 games for Barca B from out wide you can certainly see why.

Keisuke Honda

If you have been watching the Confederations Cup you would have admired the football played by the Japanese and one player in particular, Keisuke Honda. The CSKA attacking midfielder has a sensational passing range and an abnormal balance which allows him to use both feet to bamboozle defenders, his performances have not gone unnoticed as Roberto Martinez is rumoured to be very interested in the player. The fact that he is on a free falls beautifully into line with Bill Kenwright’s transfer policy at Goodison Park, however if Everton want to secure his signature they will have to move fast as many of Europe’s elite are interested in the 27 year old.

The Football League

Northern Ireland international Grigg

Good news in Yorkshire this morning as Barnsley have secured the future of their captain and influential keeper Luke Steele, the former Manchester United youngster has signed a 2 year extension. For another Football League club the future of their captain is less than clear, Peterborough’s Tommy Rowe is the subject of interest from Leeds but no bid has been made according to Posh director of Football Barry Fry. From a future Leeds left back to one of their greatest Ian Harte, who has received offers from both Bournemouth and Middlesbrough with the latter most likely to secure his services. One of League One’s hottest properties, Walsall’s Will Grigg looks set to move south and link up with losing play-off finalists Brentford. On a free this is a superb signing for Uwe Rosler, but a bitter blow for the Saddlers who have already lost Febian Brandy to Sheffield United.

Rest of the World

Former Lyon forward Belfodil

With the departure of Andrea Stramaccioni as manager, Inter Milan are pushing forward with an overhaul of their mismatch squad which has never recovered from the departure of Jose Mourinho in 2011. Today they are close to securing the services of Parma’s Ishak Belfodil in one of Italy’s notorious co-ownership deals, with the potential of Antonio Cassano moving in the opposite direction. Other rumours have been circulating that Andrea Ranocchia has been the subject of an offer from a Russian club and the much underrated Samir Handanovic has been interesting Barcelona. The departure of Ranocchia would add some substance to rumours linking Micah Richards with the Nerazzurri

Tuesday's Rumour Mill

Throughout the summer I'll be keeping an eye on all the transfer rumours, gossip and general rubbish that appears at this time of year, whilst giving my own opinion on the business done. The day’s news will be accumulated and posted here before 12pm, with any updates posted throughout the day.

Premier League

Edinson Cavani

If you witnessed the Confederations Cup game between Uruguay and Nigeria a few nights back, if asked which of the players on the pitch would be subject to a £50 million bid from Manchester United, not many would have said Edinson Cavani. With several heavy touches, glaring misses and appearing to struggle to link up with Luis Suarez effectively Cavani looked miles away from the player who has scored 78 goals over the last three seasons for Napoli. However David Moyes is keen to acquire the forward as he attempts to sustain United's ruling of the English top flight, these rumours will again raise questions over Wayne Rooney's future at Old Trafford which is less than clear. With Arsenal 'interested' in the England forward and having already expressed his desire to leave, any sale of Rooney would be sure to cause something of a transfer merry-go-round the like of which football has never seen. 

...to another

From one flop...

With news coming out today that Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan isn't interested in a move to Liverpool, having posted on his Facebook page that any information of a proposed transfer is false, Rodgers and co have moved quickly onto their next target former Juventus flop Eljero Elia who is currently at Werder Bremen. The Dutch international is still only 26 and having come to prominence in the Bundesliga perhaps he will be more accustomed to the fast pace of the Premier League as opposed to the measured pace of Serie A. With the second coming of Joe Kinnear as director of football, Geordies across the world have been in mourning. However Geordies may seek solace in the fact that the first act of 'Fat Joe' appears to be the signing of Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, Kinnear saw Bony's stats of 46 goals in 65 games and made the decision only a man with his years of experience in the game could to move for the Ivory Coast international. I would stay well away from Bony as for every Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Luis Suarez the Eredivisie produces there are the likes of Mateja Kezman and Alfonso Alves who score countless goals in Holland and fail to replicate their form elsewhere.

Wanyama

Last season was possibly the best in the career of Celtic's Victor Wanyama, the highlight being that header against Barcelona in the Champions League. His form has caused interest from numerous European clubs, having turned down the terms being offered by Southampton it now looks odds on for the Kenyan to sign for newly promoted Cardiff City. The Welsh clubs Malaysian owners are looking to flex their financial muscle having already agreed terms with Tom Ince, the signing of Wanyama would in my opinion take them a step further to securing their survival without a ball being kicked. Rumours are also circulating today that England U21 international Nathan Redmond has been subject to two bids from Premier League clubs, Redmond was one of the bright sparks for England this summer and any move would cost in the region of £2 million.

The Football League

This goal versus the Baggies
seems a long time ago now

Again the demise of Wolves grabs the headlines in the Football League with new gaffer Kenny Jackett placing club captain Karl Henry, Stephan Ward, Roger Johnson and Jamie O'Hara on the transfer list. O'Hara, signed for 3.5 million from Spurs missed the majority of last season through injury and despite his clear ability Wolves are struggling to shift the former Premier league player. With many teams reporting back for pre-season this week I expect the transfers to come thick and fast in the coming days as managers gauge the strengths of their squads.

Rest of the World

Pjanic of Roma

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has been a busy man so far today, ruling out a move for Carlos Tevez and stating that despite interest from Spain Riccardo Montilivo is not for sale. Another person to play down speculation is Roma's Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic who has ruled out any potential move to Borussia Dortmund, the Germans would see him as an ideal replacement for Mario Gotze

Monday's Rumour Mill

Throughout the summer I'll be keeping an eye on all the transfer rumours, gossip and general rubbish that appears at this time of year, whilst giving my own opinion on the business done. The day’s news will be accumulated and posted here before 12pm, with any updates posted throughout the day.

Premier League 

Someone is pleased with themselves

As the days have passed since the end of the 2012/2013 season, all discussion about Arsenal has revolved around the words 'Wenger' and 'money' and it appears that the stubborn Frenchman is finally going to concede defeat in trying to produce title winning teams with products of the academy. The first ready-made star Wenger has reluctantly delved into his purse for looks to be Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain, with the players father stating today that, “Nothing has yet been signed but I assure you the negotiations between the clubs are at an advanced stage". The price appears to be set at £22 million, which would smash Arsenal's transfer record currently set at £15 million for the purchase of Andrey Arshavin who is reportedly interested in a return to Zenit St Petersburg. For me the signing of Higuain is one small step in Arsenal be able to again compete with the likes of United, City and Chelsea, nevertheless this move must be followed by several more transfers both in and out of the Emirates.

Thiago Alcantara

As for the Champions Manchester United, their potential move for Spanish U21 star Thiago Alcantara has been dealt both a blow and a boost in the same day. What seems a common occurrence these days the player’s father has commented on the future of the Barcelona man, saying he should chose United ahead of their European counterparts. However Barcelona have today suggested they are considering offering Thiago a new contract, perhaps his performance in the U21 European Championship Final has persuaded them to keep him on. They shouldn't need persuading, in my opinion he has the potential to be one of the world's greatest midfielders, he has a superb eye for a pass, he combines the traits of both attacking and defensive midfielders which is shown through his ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck and dictate. Michael Carrick would appreciate having a more than competent partner alongside him.

Value for Money: Curtis Davies

The future of Wigan’s Arouna Kone appears to lie at either Everton or Norwich, with the Latics looking for £5 million for the Ivory Coast forward. I would expect Kone to move to Goodison Park with neither Anichebe nor Jelavic setting the world alight last season and with Norwich having already secured the signing of Dutchman Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. New boys Hull are close to concluding a great bit of business for Birmingham’s Curtis Davies, the 28 year old has been constant in the Blues team for the last two seasons and £2.3 million for one of the best centre halves outside the Premier League is outstanding value for money. Another fantastic bit of business close to being completed by a newly promoted side is the signing of Thomas Ince by Cardiff, the fee agreed must be north of at least £5 million for a player rumoured to be close to an England call up  

The Football League

Maghoma came through the youth ranks at Spurs

League one’s newest fallen giant Wolves are close to agreeing a deal for Bolton and Wales international Sam Ricketts, with their back four being somewhat abysmal over the past two seasons this could be just what they need. Elsewhere in League one veteran Swindon centre half Darren Ward looks set to join Uwe Rosler’s Brentford. Time is also running out for Coventry, whose attempt to sign Burton winger Jacques Maghoma is under threat with several league one clubs interested in the Frenchman.

Rest of the World

Hernanes of Lazio

After his impressive showing in the group stage of the Confederations Cup, Lazio midfielder Hernanes has admitted he would be open to a move to Ligue 1 with PSG. The move would strengthen PSG’s midfield following the retirement of David Beckham as they try to build a team capable of winning the Champions league. Another Brazilian interesting the French giants is David Luiz, the move would make sense as Luiz would be paired with his International partner Thiago Silva. Jose Mourinho may well be behind the move with Luiz’s erratic playing style not exactly being conducive to how Jose sets up his teams.

England Friendlies Review

As the British football season winds down we were treated to a couple of pointless England friendlies, nevertheless it gave the public a chance to gauge what shape Roy Hodgson’s team were in with the World Cup in Brazil just over a year away. 

Shane Long wheels away
after putting the Irish one up

A respectable 80,000 turned out at Wembley to witness the first meeting between England and the Republic of Ireland since 1995. There has been much debate in the Irish media regarding the Republic’s style of play since their pitiful showing at Euro 2012, but it was England’s tactics that sparked discussion between high profile pundits such as Gary Lineker. The Three Lions set up in that formation I like to call ‘just about good enough for League Two’ 4-4-2 and Ireland followed suit, the Irish started quickly and netted on thirteen minutes when man of the match Seamus Coleman crossed for the diminutive Shane Long who rose above the English defence to head home emphatically. England responded ten minutes later when Daniel Sturridge’s cross from the left was met by Frank Lampard on a typical late run into the box, the thirty four year old celebrated signing his one year extension at Chelsea by finding space in the Irish box and slotting past David Forde.  The rest of the game fell into a pattern of long balls from the Irish being recycled by England who lacked a cutting edge and any real fluency to find a winner, with captain for the night Ashley Cole wasting the best chance by firing over from close range following Theo Walcott’s volleyed cross. Lineker summed up the thoughts of many England fans, myself included saying, “Don't like England playing this system. So easy to play against, predictable and dated. It's not about playing in straight lines, it's about playing between the lines. Depth gives flexibility, passing alternatives, creativity”. 

John Barnes celebrates
scoring that goal in 1984

Next up for Hodgson’s men was a trip to Rio de Janeiro and the redeveloped Maracana, the scene of John Barnes wonder dribble and finish that showed the Brazilians how to play the beautiful game. It was however an energetic Brazil side that preceded to give England a lesson in football throughout the first half with Hulk, Neymar and Fred all going close for the home side. Despite deploying the more favoured 4-3-3, England lacked creativity which was personified with Phil Jones appearing in the hole behind Rooney numerous times in the first half. Unlike England the Brazilians had pace on the counter and were effectively pushing full backs Dani Alves and Felipe Luis forward with Chelsea’s David Luiz spraying balls all over the park. 

The Ox equalises

Rooney stuns the Maracana

Yet at half time it remained 0-0 and saw England sporting their new away kit for the first time come out with a rejuvenated spirit, which was inevitably quashed when second half sub Hernanes curled a superb effort which came back off the woodwork for Fred to pounce and volley home. Hodgson having had questions asked of his tactics previously, used all of his managerial nous by bringing on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Glen Johnson and changing to a 3-5-2 system which saw Michael Carrick sit just in front of the centre halves. This allowed the full backs to push up and Chamberlain to orchestrate the play, which he did to perfection as some clever interplay saw him hit a stinging volley into the bottom left hand corner which stunned the Maracana and showcased to the world one of England’s emerging talents. Then as if to defy logic, Rooney cut in from the left and curled a tremendous effort past Julio Cesar and in doing so sent a message to potential suitors interested in the want away Manchester United star, that he was in fact still a world beater. England were unfortunately brought back down to earth as Paulinho exquisitely volleyed Lucas Moura’s cross past Joe Hart three minutes later. Despite the start, England recovered to secure a respectable draw and Hodgson momentarily answered his critics who still crave a perfect ninety minute performance from the Three Lions.