ESPN Soccernet - On The Move
soccernet blog
On The Move
Posted by ESPNsoccernet Staff on 07/30/2012

ESPNsoccernet's On the Move transfer blog is where you will find a hearty round-up of all the rumours and signings during the summer transfer window. Get your teeth into what's below to find out which player(s) your club are being linked with today.

Also, you can always check the full list of completed deals in England and the SPL by clicking right here.


Eden Hazard is only part of Chelsea's latest transfer spree © PA Photos

00.00 BST Right everyone, thanks for joining us for another fun-filled day of gossip, tittle-tattle and done deals. Bring on more of the same at 08.00 BST on Tuesday.

23.56 BST Bild is reporting that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's future is still up in the air, with the Schalke striker continuing to stall over a new contract.

23.38 BST Plenty of speculation that Clint Dempsey is on his way out of Fulham after it was revealed he has not travelled on the Cottagers' pre-season tour.

23.21 BST Sunderland are considering using Connor Wickham as bait as they try to convince Wolves to sell Steven Fletcher, according to the Daily Mail.

23.04 BST French radio station RMC reckons that Zenit St Petersburg are ready to move mountains to make Rennes star Yann M'Vila their flagship summer signing.

22.46 BST Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has been discussing the club's transfer policy. He told talkSPORT: “At least Van Persie has come out early and declared that he wants to leave. Last year when it was Nasri and Fabregas it impacted so much on the group that when they were seven games in it was like a relegation fight.

“And I think this round this won’t happen if van Persie goes. I think the squad is stronger both mentally and in quality. We’re almost kind of getting used to losing top players now, it’s just a shame that so many are going. If we look back to Dennis Bergkamp coming to the club, when he came to the club, it was kind of like ‘Christ!’ That was a real wake-up call - he came in, everyone took note, Arsenal’s going in a different direction."

22.19 BST Watford have confirmed the signing of seven new players as Gianfranco Zola ushers in a new era at Vicarage Road. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, defenders Fitz Hall and Daniel Pudil, midfielder Almen Abdi and forwards Matej Vydra, Steve Leo Beleck and Ikechi Anya.

22.00 BST Sporting have confirmed the departure of Matias Fernandez to Fiorentina in a 3.1 million euros deal.

21.36 BST Mauro Zarate says that he wants to stay at Lazio. He said:
“I will stay at Lazio 100 per cent and repay the love of the fans on the field."

21.13 BST Galatasaray have rejected rumours linking them with a move for Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov. A statement on the Turkish club's website read: "There have been some reports in the media that Dimitar Berbatov will be transferred to our club. The club would like to declare that there is no transfer and no attempt has been made in that regard."

20.48 BST BBC Sport is claiming that West Ham have had a bid accepted by Liverpool for Andy Carroll - which will see the Hammers pay £2 million to take him on loan next season with a view to a £17 million move. However, our sourced are telling us that no bid has actually been accepted yet.

20.25 BST DONE DEAL Dynamo Kiev claim they have completed a swoop for Taye Taiwo from AC Milan.

20.03 BST Galatasaray are apparently interested in former Inter Milan striker Adriano, who has been without a club since leaving Corinthians in March.

19.41 BST Corriere dello Sport claims that Roma pair Aleandro Rosi and Stefano Okaka are set to leave the club for Parma.

19.24 BST Bolton are on the brink of signing Colombia international Carlos Sanchez on a free transfer, according to Sky Sports.

19.02 BST Portuguese newspaper A Bola claims that Real Madrid are in advanced talks with Benfica regarding Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, with Los Blancos apparently willing to meet the 40 million euro release clause in his contract.

18.57 BST Young Benfica centre-back Roderick Miranda will spend the coming season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna.

18.39 BST Spanish daily Sport is reporting that Joao Moutinho is an 18 million euro target for Barcelona. The Porto ace is also believed to be on the radar of Manchester United and Tottenham.

18.23 BST AC Milan defender Taye Taiwo has been having a medical with Dynamo Kiev today, according to Sky Sport Italia.

18.13 BST DONE DEAL Luc Castaignos has returned to the Netherlands just a year after leaving Feyenoord for Inter Milan, with FC Twente tying up a reported €6 million deal for the teenage striker.

18.01 BST Catania playmaker Francesco Lodi has pledged his future to the club amid reported interest from AC Milan, saying: I’m eternally grateful to Catania for giving me a chance. If I do go then it will be because the club want to sell me – I won’t ask them to let me go.”

17.46 BST Keep the comments rolling in - we've had one from Tom Gordon, who's had his say on Chelsea's summer spending:

"What's the problem with Chelsea being willing and able to spend money on a top team capable of competing against the best clubs in the world? They play within the rules and they make a profit. What's good for Chelsea (or any other club) is not by definition bad for the Premier League."

17.34 BST Real Betis midfielder Javier Matilla is set to move on loan to Segunda Division side Murcia.

17.11 BST: Ghana international Andre Ayew could be set for a move to Inter Milan say TMW, who believe that the Italian club have revived an old interest in the Marseille winger.

16.48 BST: Brazil's talented crop of Under-23 players may currently be competing at the Olympics, but there is plenty of interest in them. This time it is defender Juan, who may be loaned to Torino from parent club Inter Milan.

16.22 BST: Rochdale’s out of contract winger Joe Thompson has been linked with a move to either Scotland or Denmark. An approach by Tranmere to sign him has already been turned down by Spotland officials.

15.31 BST - DONE DEAL: Gillingham have signed defender Tom Flanagan from something called MK Dons on a six-month loan deal. Flanagan made 25 appearances for the Buckinghamshire-based entity last season.

15.12 BST: Fortuna Dusseldorf are set to complete the signing of PAOK’s Greece international defender Stelios Malezas for around £450,000.

14.50 BST: A follow up to that Yanga-Mbiwa story: Reports in Italy say that AC Milan are now looking at Marseille's Nicolas Nkoulou.

14.20 BST - DONE DEAL: CSKA Moscow have captured Swedish midfielder Rasmus Elm from AZ Alkmaar, the Eredivisie side have announced.

14.08 BST: Louis Nicollin, the owner of French champions Montpellier, has said he has heard nothing from AC Milan over Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and that it would take a bid of €25 million for the club to consider selling.

13.48 BST - DONE DEAL: Hull City have signed defender Alex Bruce, the son of manager Steve, on a two-year deal after his release by Leeds United.

13.46 BST - DONE DEALS: A triple signing for League One play-off runners-up Sheffield United: Crewe striker Shaun Miller has moved to Bramall Lane for an undisclosed fee, joining free agent defenders Tony McMahon and Matt Hill.

13.44 BST: More on Daniel Agger – reports say Manchester City tabled a £13 million offer for him and it was turned down. Daniel Agger is thought to have old Brendan Rodgers he does not want to stay at Anfield, and has also been linked with a move to Spain.

13.26 BST - DONE DEAL: Wolves have signed midfielder Tongo Doumbia on loan from French club Rennes for the season, beating Midlands neighbours West Brom to the Mali international’s signature.

12.31 BST - DONE DEAL: Sheffield Wednesday have agreed a three-year contract with former Rangers player Rhys McCabe, an attacking midfielder. The 20-year-old, who scored in the 2011 Youth Cup final against Celtic at Hampden Park, will join the Owls on a three-year contract subject to international clearance.

12.31 BST: Wolves, just like that true football legend Ron Knee, are keeping tight-lipped about reports that Sunderland have made a bid for striker Steven Fletcher.

12.07 BST: There have been no offers for Benfica's reportedly in-demand midfielder Nicolas Gaitan, according to the player's agent. Gaitan, 24, has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Liverpool said to be keen on the Argentina international.

11.59 BST: Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong says he is happy at the Etihad. The Netherlands international, who has 12 months to run on his contract, has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.

11.31 BST: Inverness Caledonian Thistle have agreed to sign defender Simon King when his Gillingham contract expires later this week. He has been training with the SPL club over the summer.

11.01 BST: Leeds United boss Neil Warnock says striker Billy Paynter has spoken to “a few clubs” about a move for Elland Road. He has been strongly linked with a switch to League One Doncaster.

10.53 BST: Ipswich’s chances of signing forward Steve Davies from Derby look to be diminishing after manager Paul Jewell accused the Rams of demanding too much money for the player.

10.33 BST: Yohan Cabaye is urging Newcastle to sign his France team-mate Mathieu Debuchy, saying the Lille defender is keen to join the Magpies.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Debuchy throughout the summer, but have yet to meet the French club’s valuation of the 27-year-old. Cabaye told The Journal: “Mathieu has made a very difficult to decision to leave Lille, but he has made the decision. Now I hope Newcastle push for Mathieu and I want them to do the deal.”

10.06 BST: AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo says Kaka would be welcomed back to the club should he complete a transfer from Real Madrid.

Kaka, 30, is set to leave Real this summer - with Milan leading the chase for his signature - and Montolivo believes he can be an important player for the Rossoneri.

"Anybody would want to have Kaka in their team - he's an exceptional player, and I think he would be welcomed back," Montolivo told Milan's official TV channel.

09.50 BST: The St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas says he wants to sign Rowan Vine. The striker, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Queens Park Rangers, has been training with the Saints.

09.25 BST: Middlesbrough could soon complete the signing of Bristol Rovers winger Mustapha Carayol. "We think we're very close to a deal with Middlesbrough, but it's not quite done yet," Rovers manager Mark McGhee said.

09.21 BST: Hold that Mail thought on Alberto Aquilani: His agent has dismissed reports of a move to Fiorentina, insisting he is happy at Anfield. Aquilani, 28, is back at Liverpool after two seasons on loan in Serie A, first with Juventus and then with AC Milan, and is hoping to make a mark under new boss Rodgers.

09.16 BST: Big Sam Allardyce is likely to be puce with rage after Wigan snatched defender Ivan Ramis from his clutches – well, the Mail says they have.

The paper reports that Ramis has agreed to waive his part of the £4million transfer fee to link up with Roberto Martinez after leaving Real Mallorca. The Hammers had earlier agreed a £4 million deal, but now appear to have missed out.

09.08 BST: Brendan Rodgers insists he is not pushing £35 million Andy Carroll towards or out of the considerably cheaper exit door, says the Mail.

The paper quotes the Reds boss as saying the club had received no offers for the striker so far and adding: “'There has been a lot written about Andy, but the reality is he's still a Liverpool player, he can fit into how I want to play and he's happy here. I'm certainly not wishing to push him out of the door.'

In other Liverpool news, the Mail says Alberto Aquilani could be on his way to Fiorentina for £7 million, while keeper Brad Jones is a possible target for Norwich.

08.59 BST: Also from the Mirror: Manchester City’s Kolo Toure is a “shock target” for Barcelona, and could be allowed to leave the Etihad. Tito Vilanova is reported to want to add a versatile squad player, and Toure would fit that particular bill.

08.57 BST: And one of those players – well, according to the Mirror – is the Liverpool centre back Daniel Agger. The paper says City have “rocked Liverpool” with a £13million bid for the Denmark international.

It claims Agger has already told new boss Brendan Rodgers that he wants a change of scene. But City aren’t the only club interested in the 27-year-old - Real Madrid and Barcelona are reported to be looking around, too.

08.53 BST: More from Mancini, who has urged his board to spend even more money if the club is to lift the Champions League.

The Star quotes him as saying: “We need to improve by buying players and by working even harder. We don’t need to buy 10 players like we did three or four years ago, but we need three or four players who can improve our team.

“If we want to do well in all the competitions, we need to have a stronger squad. We will try to win the Champions League this season, but I don’t think we can with this squad.”

08.50 BST: And now another summer favourite, Luca Modric: it seems the saga surrounding his future is about to come to an end.

The Sun reports that Real Madrid and Tottenham have agreed a £36 million fee for the Croatian playmaker, with Madrid manager Jose Mourinho reported to be keen to conclude the deal as soon as possible.

Spurs and new boss Andre Villas-Boas had insisted that Modric would be going nowhere unless a club matched their valuation of between £35 million and £40 million.

08.40 BST: If it’s Monday, it must be Robin van Persie. Yes, again. This time, Roberto Mancini says it’s going to be difficult for Manchester City (they, like Chelsea, have to watch every penny, of course) to sign the Arsenal skipper. But, bravely, he’s going to try.

The Sun reports that the Premier League champions have confirmed their interest in signing the £20+ million-rated striker, who has new year left on his Gunners contract but will not be putting his name to another one.

Mancini said: “When you talk about Manchester City, Manchester United and Juve, it is difficult for a player to choose between those three clubs.

“They are all top teams, and I’ve no idea what will happen with him. If we have a chance to take him, we will try, because we think he is a top striker. For now, he is an Arsenal player and I think Arsenal are a top team. It is not easy for Van Persie and other players to leave them.”

08.25 BST: It’s spend, spend, spend for Chelsea - and not for the first summer during the Abramovich era. Although the Champions League winners have already splurged more than £60 million on new players (with who knows how much more to come in wages) since Didier Drogba stroked home that winning penalty in Munich, it doesn’t stop there at the cash-crazed Stamford Bridge.

So far, the Blues have brought Eden and Thorgan Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar to Fulham Broadway. The former cost around £32 million, while the latter was acquired for a trifling £25 million.

But with Roberto Di Matteo determined to improve on last season’s sixth-placed finish, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: "We are still looking to strengthen in one or two areas. If the right players become available, things could develop over the next couple of weeks."

Wigan forward Victor Moses and Porto striker Hulk have both been, throughout the summer, linked with moves to Chelsea.

English top-flight football – getting more and more depressingly skewed, one surreal spending spree at a time.

Comments

Posted by Arjun on 07/30/2012

Depressingly skewed? Last season was the best EPL season of all time, and I'm not even a City fan. Six teams fighting it out for the title is not skewed. La Liga is a league that is depressingly skewed, not the EPL.

Posted by Raphael on 07/30/2012

Jovetic to Chelsea will be... AWESOME

Posted by Friday Peter on 07/30/2012

I think Chelsea should forget about Hulk and go for Cavani - he is far better than Hulk.

Posted by Akinleye Munir Akintunde on 07/30/2012

I'd prefer Agger to stay with Liverpool - he is better than Skrtel at the back. But if they can give us £15m-£20m for him, then let him go. The cash will be spent on much-needed player.

Posted by mike on 07/30/2012

Arsene Wenger: do something about your defenders!

Posted by vialli Ben on 07/30/2012

Chelsea should buy Victor Moses. He would be a great signing for them.

Posted by wilfred on 07/30/2012

I think Chelsea should forget about Hulk and focuse on Cavani, who is more experienced and talented: he's deadly to defenders. It would b a wise choice for to go him.

Posted by osita Igwe on 07/30/2012

Liverpool should make hay while the sun is still shining. I'm worried we've made only one signing: where are Allen, Sahin, and Ramirez? Honestly speaking, we can't compete for any silverware this season if we do not fortify both our defence and attack. Bredan should do something fast.

Posted by Adam on 07/30/2012

This is ridiculous. If only the team buses for Abu Dhabi Athletic and Sibneft FC were to collide, causing season-ending injuries and thus allowing earnest clubs to compete for titles. Oh to dream!

Posted by Rajeev on 07/30/2012

I think Chelsea should make things interesting. They should go after Van Persie.

Posted by Davis on 07/30/2012

What happened to financial fair play? ABSOLUTELY no way Chelsea are balancing their books by 2014. Why are they allowed to do this? And shouldn't they be barred from the Champions League in two years time? Someone explain, PLEASE!

Posted by Tom Gordon on 07/30/2012

What's the problem with Chelsea being willing and able to spend money on a top team capable of competing against the best clubs in the world? They play within the rules and they make a profit. What's good for Chelsea (or any other club) is not by definition bad for the Premier League.

Posted by razor on 07/30/2012

13m for Agger? Take it, without thinking, because a) Agger has been injured too often. I can't remember a single season without lengthy absences, and b) if somebody wants to leave, don't make him stay. Liverpool has enough cover - Coates, Kelly, Carragher.

Posted by Ben on 07/30/2012

Chelsea announced losses of £70 million in 2010 and £71 million pounds in 2011. The last time I checked, that's not making a profit. It seems the rules aren't really rules - just guidelines that clubs aren't really required to follow.

Posted by Matt on 07/30/2012

This whole Aquilani "he's gone, no wait, he's staying" saga is pretty convoluted.

Posted by Greg on 07/30/2012

..."something called MK Dons"?

Posted by Andy Wendell on 07/30/2012

Chelsea are making a profit? Tom Gordon should take that act on tour, because he is hilarious.

Posted by Chris on 07/30/2012

Chelsea "making a profit" is the best part of today's blog.

Posted by James on 07/30/2012

Any movement on the Arsenal-Santi Cazorla front?

Posted by Don on 07/30/2012

I would like to keep Agger at Liverpool, but if he wants to leave then he should. Take the money and invest in a proper midfielder or two and another striker.

Posted by drew on 07/30/2012

Good on ya, Tom. It's not like Chelsea is spending half a billion dollars like Citeh. They are spending smart and paying moderate prices for the players they want. They are also aware of Financial Fair Play and made most of the money they've spent so far on the winnings from the Champions League. So if a team is spending on the profit it makes, which is what Financial Fair Play is all about, then it really shouldn't be a big deal. Also the beauty of the Premier League and why we all love soccer so much, is the fact that at any give time anything can happen and anyone can win. Yes, the bigger clubs that spend have a higher statistical chance of winning. No, it doesn't mean Chelsea are going to win everything and never lose a game. And that's the great thing about the beutiful game.

Posted by Will Willows on 07/30/2012

I think Kaka wasted his best years riding the bench at RM. Should have stayed put in Milan and continued to rack up the honors.

Here's hoping United sign Van Persie. How do you fit his head and Roo's in the same room? Will Berba go the other way in a makeweight?

15 mil for Agger would be about right for whoever takes him.

Posted by Nick on 07/30/2012

Heard Man City is in the black too... Oh wait no, that's Arsenal. I always get the Arsenal of last year confused with the Man City of this one.

Posted by Greg on 07/30/2012

Liverpool needs to really look at themselves, little or no spending in the summer and we finish eighth?
I think we should be cashing in our bad purchases like Carroll, Henderson, downing, Adam and getting rid of some old wood like Carragher as he has not got the pace anymore but we definitely need Agger and Skrtel to stay ad if anything need o bolster the defense rather than weaken it.
I really don't get how any say we need midfielders have you seen how any are on our books now? We need to shed a few and buy two strikers one good buy would be Owen plus a big name striker and at least one named defender.
If we can find a playmaker for midfield then maybe we can offload Adam for them

Posted by Thomas on 07/30/2012

Reports are flying around that Liverpool have accepted a loan bid from West Ham for Carroll, with a permanent move guaranteed if they stay up. Any word on this? Would Carroll actually go to West Ham?

Posted by JR on 07/30/2012

CARROLL! COYI

Posted by Blake Treu on 07/30/2012

I'm a bit surprised that you would publish such a patently false argument. Chelsea? Profitable? Uh, no. It would take some seriously fraudulent accounting to make operating losses of approximately 70 million pounds over the last couple years look like "making a profit".

Posted by andrew Kiken on 07/30/2012

Arjun above says it was a six-team fight in the EPL. Arsenal were about 20 points behind man city. The EPL and La Liga were both two-team fights for first place. Anyway, If La Liga and EPL had teams from identical spots play each other, La Liga would win, because they have more technical skill than the epl.

Teams will pay for Andy Carroll, but not for Dempsey, who is a proven goalscorer every year.

  Post your comment
Name:
Email Address:
Comments:
characters left