Vagner Love

[abramovich]

Abramovich contemplates loan deal for Wagner Love

By Jason Burt

Thursday, 4 December 2008

Roman Abramovich is considering exploiting his links with Russian football by taking the Brazilian striker Wagner Love on loan in an attempt to bolster Chelsea's attacking options in the January transfer window.

The billionaire, who it was revealed yesterday has paid an extra $5m (£3.4m) to the Russian Football Union to guarantee the wages of the national coach Guus Huddink, has close links with CSKA Moscow, Wagner Love's club. Abramovich is friends with CSKA's president Evgeny Giner, who is also the head of the Russian professional football league which works closely with the national federation. There has been talk for some time of Wagner Love moving to the Premier League and Everton had hoped to secure the 24-year-old on a season's loan last summer.

However, CSKA made clear they wanted a fee, thought to be around £12m for the striker, who has just been named the Russian Premier League's Player of the Year, only the second foreigner to win the title, having scored 20 goals in 26 league games.

The Russian season has ended and does not start again until next spring, which has led to fresh discussions as to whether the player should move on, even if temporarily. Abramovich has considered making a loan offer and, despite Chelsea's public denials, it is understood the club have agreed to their manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's request to try to sign another striker.

[Barn]

Robinho - widely regarded as one of the most exciting attackers in world football, or Wagner Love - widely regarded as a reasonable player in Russian football.

Times are a-changing at the Bridge people, you better believe it. Many of the older fans will be delighted that Chelsea are looking at this type of player rather than the best player's in the world as it will surely mean that in just a few short years we wont be challenging for any major honours, and maybe given time we might again become a yo-yo club dreaming of challenging even for the FA or Carling cup.

To all you newbie's out there - Welcome to Chelsea Football Club.

The other scenario of course is that the players Phil wants wont be available till the summer when Roman will back Phil with his mighty rubles and we'll continue to be one of the best sides in Europe!

[bjd]

Isnt he the guy who sent a penalty into Orbit in Moscow against us a few years ago?

I recall he seemed to be rated highly but yet had a awful game that night.

Still, i guess its another body , another option up front. Quite how good i dont know.

[Kerry]

I was told Love doesn't have a good season yet. Currently his hairstyle seems to be more conspicuous than his performance. I might be wrong though

[abramovich]

I was told Love doesn't have a good season yet. Currently his hairstyle seems to be more conspicuous than his performance. I might be wrong though

Russian season has just finished. He ended up the league's best scorer and a player of the year.

His overall scoring record in Russia and Brazil is nothing to sneeze at,either.

[forbzy]

I watched him play for Brazil a few times and he hasn't impressed that much. He does have a decent record for CSKA and I think he has weighed in with a few goals in Europe during his time there too. I wouldn't be overly excited about this and would actually say we may as well have another look at Pizarro first.

If there is any truth behind this link it is yet another indication of the new pool we are fishing in. From swordfish to wellie boots!

[loz]

I wouldn't want us to touch Wagner Love with a barge pole. He would be way out of his depth playing in the Premiership. A few years ago Glasgow Rangers tried to sign him and that would be about the right level for him. If Di Santo got booted even further out of the reckoning because of Wagner Love then Scolari should be booted with immediate effect!

[Maksimov]

Are we suddenly only signing portuguese speaking players?

[rolo_88]

i thought di santo was a signing for the future so him going down the pecking order isnt really a big deal at this point, and for vagner love.. werent he starting up front WITH robinho for brazil not too long ago? if we can get him on loan until the end of the season i cant see that being a bad thing B)

[Kerry]

Are we suddenly only signing portuguese speaking players?

My thoughts exactly when I read that he's Brazilian.

[kibz]

He got a hat-trick last night in the UEFA cup

Suppose it was only against Nancy, but still..

two of 'em right good goals from 25 yards out

Wasn't he linked with Everton in the summer though?

Not sure he'll be Chelsea standard.

[byatt]

Jo who went to Man City was supposedly the better of the two, and he ain't exactly set the Premiership alight

[The Moos]

I can say two things about Vagner Love.

1. I always sign him when I play FM08 and he tend to score quite a few goals.

2. I remember seing him in a big tournament (either world cup or copa america) and unless my memory decieve me he missed almost every chance he got. He could have the ball a yard from goal and with an open net and still manage to miss.

We're talking about a player who would make Kalou or Malouda look like the most leathal finisher in the history of football :o

So I'm not that excited about getting him. Would much rather have Jo, though I don't know much about him either.

If Vagner comes, will he have "Love" on his shirt? That would be nice :P

[bonetti]

If Vagner comes, will he have "Love" on his shirt? That would be nice :o

.......funny if he chooses sixty nine for his number

[Jayhawk]

.......funny if he chooses sixty nine for his number

[Maksimov]

Apparently he scored a hat-trick in the UEFA Cup the other day.

[ozboy]

di Santo is down the pecking order because he is injured. You can't expect CFC to get by with just one striker for the whole season. If Drogba stays fit and Di Santo recovers then it might be alright but there clearly is a chance that both will be injured for longer rather than shorter and in that case we just have to have another striker.

As to who, I think it should be one of the big strong target many types that can offer something different to Anelka. A drogba substitution in other words. Ibrahimovitch probably my first choice.

[Kerry]

As to who, I think it should be one of the big strong target many types that can offer something different to Anelka. A drogba substitution in other words. Ibrahimovitch probably my first choice.

Zlatan is a versatile striker with great abilities but he does need a partner who opens the space for him. Can Anelka do it for him? When I see Anelka between the Arsenal (!!!) defense I'm not yet sure if he can do that. On the downside Zlatan will never come to us.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Zlatan is a versatile striker with great abilities but he does need a partner who opens the space for him. Can Anelka do it for him? When I see Anelka between the Arsenal (!!!) defense I'm not yet sure if he can do that. On the downside Zlatan will never come to us.

Agreed. He isn't a lone striker and Anelka won't be able to open the gaps for him. Now, Drogba just might be abe to...