Football transfers

[Virosh]

I thought we should start a separate thread for this transfer window for transfers that don't involve Chelsea. Like the "Following our...", but for transfers. I'll start with the ones I've heard so far.

Citeh have placed bids for Milner, David Luiz and are possibly interested in Vidic

Tevez wants to leave Citeh.

Birmingham have offered 6 mln for Foster.

Manchester United are interested in Ben Arfa from Marseiile.

Barca have mad an official (?) bid for Fabregas for an initial 30-35 mln pounds and are expected to present David Villa as a new signing on Friday for 40 mln euros. Fabregas is said to have asked for a transfer from Wenger.

Henry is expected to leave Barca for a MLS club.

Real are expected to fire Pellegrini.

Inter have accepted that it is unlikely that Mourinho will stay and have looked at the possibility of attracting Rafa Benitez.

Discuss.

[Barry Bridges]

hahahah, I guess Inter is getting tired of being Serie A champs?

[Sheva]

I think it's a shame Cesc is leaving the prem, the same way Cristiano Ronaldo left. It was a blow for the prem but defaintly a boost for us, however Wenger has admitted that he will spend and it could lead too some decent signings for them. They already have Chamakh more or less done and there are rumours of them going for Gourcuff as a Cesc replacement and he's more than capable of filling that role.

I don't understand why Barca are signing Villa when they have youngsters in Bojan and Pedro who have done pretty amazing under Pep, 36 Million on a striker who's 28 when you have a star in the making in Bojan.

Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Messi, Villa, Pedro. Kinda makes you sick doesn't it.

Edited May 18, 2010 by Sheva

[ace]

I agree Sheva, I don't understand that either. I think they would just offload Henry and Zlatan and let Pedro and Messi run the show up front, maybe spend the money on more of an attacking winger like Silva instead.

[Sheva]

Well at least one of the longest transfer saga's ever has ended with David Villa and it saves us a summer of "David Villa to Chelsea rumours"

[Virosh]

Personally, I have no idea where they're going to play Fabregas. In a midfield three, it's stupid to think he can play the role Toure is playing right now - Fabregas doesn't have the physique and the tackling ability. That means he will have to play instead of Iniesta or Xavi, neither of which I can see happening, or will have to substitute for them, which makes the transfer look weird- that much money for a squad player?

[valim]

Well at least one of the longest transfer saga's ever has ended with David Villa and it saves us a summer of "David Villa to Chelsea rumours"

one finish one will start

ibrahimovic to chelsea rumours

[The Moos]

Rumours are placing Ibrahimovic in Real Madrid. Would be very controversial. It's sort of like us buying Gerrard for £50 million + Lampard or Terry and making him captain of the team.

Well, almost anyway.

Personally, I have no idea where they're going to play Fabregas. In a midfield three, it's stupid to think he can play the role Toure is playing right now - Fabregas doesn't have the physique and the tackling ability. That means he will have to play instead of Iniesta or Xavi, neither of which I can see happening, or will have to substitute for them, which makes the transfer look weird- that much money for a squad player?

I agree. Seems very odd. And it's not like Iniesta or Xavi are really old so they get Fabregas as replacement.

Maybe they plan to start playing 4-4-2. Doubt it though.

Perhaps we can try and get Iniesta or Xavi if they buy Fabregas?

[Randy36]

Silly season is upon us. This summer time lull induces the tabloids to run berserk with all types of rumours and fantasies!

[mad_mac]

Rumours are that Henry is set to join the New York Red Bulls

[TheWestwayWonder]

The time for Villa to Barca was last summer. This summer....I dont really understand the reason from Barcelona's POV.

They spent all that money on Zlatan to cut him loose or make him second choice a year later? Then there is Bojan, Pedro, and Kerrison who they still own on loan.

Seems like they are just spending money to spend it. Same with Fabregas. He is a great player but what extra edge is he going to give them that they dont already have? Its like when they tried so hard to get Henry despite a wealth of attacking options. Sometimes too many cooks spoil the soup

Madrid should hijack the deal for David Villa and dump Benzema for whatever they can get from City. They wasted 40 million in not getting Villa last year.

[TheWestwayWonder]

Personally, I have no idea where they're going to play Fabregas. In a midfield three, it's stupid to think he can play the role Toure is playing right now - Fabregas doesn't have the physique and the tackling ability. That means he will have to play instead of Iniesta or Xavi, neither of which I can see happening, or will have to substitute for them, which makes the transfer look weird- that much money for a squad player?

agree with that, and with what Sheva wrote.

I see ------Xavi

---Fabregas----Iniesta---

posted around the web, but where is the balance in that? They need those guys like Keita or Toure to let Xavi do his job so well.

[Sheva]

So Barca complete the first big signing of the summer, David Villa for £34.2Million.

[dkw]

So Barca complete the first big signing of the summer, David Villa for £34.2Million.

Just reading about that, much better player for them than Ibrahimovic so thats them strengthened already.

[The Moos]

And Barca are rumoured to targeting Silva, Rooney and Fabregas.

Are they planning to create a second Barcelona team?

[Jawan]

And Barca are rumoured to targeting Silva, Rooney and Fabregas.

Are they planning to create a second Barcelona team?

I think they are trying to go the Galacticos way....

But Galacticos werent and arent much successful with all those big transfers and skyscraper bids.

They are still in eternal search of CL Glory for last few seasons

[dkw]

And Barca are rumoured to targeting Silva, Rooney and Fabregas.

Are they planning to create a second Barcelona team?

Im sure we will still be told Barca are great and good, and win everything without cheating, spending money and a team full of spaniards brought up from their youth team.

[ethicalstrategy]

What will Barca look like next season?

Valdes

Maxwell

Pique

Puyol

Alves

Busquets

Fabregas

Xavi

Villa

Messi

Iniesta

The front five look awesome. Defensively they still look vulnerable, especially if they insist on keeping that high line which is essential to their game.

[The Moos]

What will Barca look like next season?

Valdes

Maxwell

Pique

Puyol

Alves

Busquets

Fabregas

Xavi

Villa

Messi

Iniesta

The front five look awesome. Defensively they still look vulnerable, especially if they insist on keeping that high line which is essential to their game.

Iniesta up front? Doubt it. More likely that we'll see Pedro or Bojan there together with Villa and Messi; and Messi will probably be out wide, not in the centre.

[ethicalstrategy]

Iniesta has played wide in a front three a lot. They won't play with Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas in midfield. Agree Villa will play through the middle.

[Sheva]

Iniesta can play wide left, he's done that plenty of times. However he's been injury prone this season.

-------------- Villa ---------

Iniesta/Pedro -------- Messi

------- Xavi ----- Fabregas

------------ Busquets -------

[Jawan]

What if this transfer takes place??

Rooney to Barca for 80 M Pounds?? :)

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/176024

is this transfer possible ,what say guys??

[Sheva]

Nope it's not possible, they just signed David Villa. Why would you want Rooney? Plus they haven't got the money to fund that sort of deal.

[PloKoon13]

What if this transfer takes place??

Rooney to Barca for 80 M Pounds?? :)

If that transfer takes place, Ibrahimovic is pretty much history at Barca.

I'd imagine they'll line up something like this with Villa and Fabregas:

-----------------Valdes

Alves-----Puyol------Piqué----Abidal

----------------Busquets

----Fabregas---Xavi------Iniesta

----------Messi------Villa

[TheWestwayWonder]

Jawan, it wont happen. Thats just the press thinking "oh, well, they have to go after the best young player in the world, right?" Rooney wont leave Man Utd for many years, I think

God damnit, Villa to Barca pisses me off. I really like David Villa and I dont wanna have to now go to hating him. I was hoping this was another false dawn of him leaving Valencia. Zlatan is wasteful at times and he still bagged 21, Villa is gonna score 50 or something.

Just goes to show Barca are not much different from Real Madrid. Yeah, they promote more players, but in the end, theyre still spending big to stay on top.