Liverpool and Tottenham have been like two siblings fighting over the same toy this summer as they both have constantly gone behind the same player. Porto’s Christian Atsu is the current fixation for both sides claims the Metro as they track the £7m-rated winger, who previously worked under Andre Villas-Boas.
Roberto Mancini has searched all around Europe for a quality centre-back this summer and the Mirror report that he has zeroed in on Marseille’s Nicolas N’Koulou. AC Milan are also interested in the 22 year old, who joined the French giants only 12 months back.
And Fulham continue to be linked with a new striker every day with Levante’s Ivory Coast superstar Arouna Kone believed to be a £7 million target for the London club according to the Mirror. However, their pursuit of Huddersfield hotshot Jordan Rhodes appears to have hit a snag with the Daily Mail reporting that Blackburn are desperate to bring him in to replace crocked summer signing Leon Best
Real Mallorca’s Ivan Ramis has been like a kid in a candy store this summer as the Spanish defender hasn’t been able to choose between West Ham and Wigan. The Sun report that the ordeal could finally be over after he passed a medical at Wigan, a club he rejected in favour of the Hammers few weeks back. Manager Roberto Martinez’s Iberian connections played a huge part in the Latics winning the race for the 27 year old according to Chairman Dave Whelan.
Small clubs often pay the price for overachieving as the big, fat clubs come around to pluck their players. Swansea are facing a similar situation as they desperately try to hold on to their players but as Sky Sports reports, it could be in vain. Team GB star Neil Taylor is the latest target for Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham after the 22 year old full-back has attracted rave reviews for his versatile performances.
Man City have continued to jettison the fringe players from their squad at lighting pace as ESPN report that 22 year old winger Vladimir Weiss has joined Italian side Pescara. The Slovakian has spent the last few years out on loan, making just one Premier League appearance.
Fenerbahce have completed the signing of Joseph Yobo from Everton report the Mirror as the defender finally made his move to the Turkish club permanent after spending the last two seasons with them on loan. The Toffees have reportedly pocketed £2.5m for the 31 year old Nigerian.
QPR have sold Icelandic striker Heidar Helguson to Cardiff City as they look to get rid of some of the stars from Neil Warnock’s promotion era and build on developing a squad that can aim for mid table security this term. Interestingly though both QPR and Cardiff have been linked with a move for Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy, and it will be interesting to see how the sale affects that dynamic. The Daily Mail believes that Cardiff still want him, and would like to pair Bellamy up with Helguson.
West Ham United and Carols Tevez had a brief but memorable love affair back in the day and the Express feel that they could rekindle their love soon. But Man City will need to be paid a fee in the region of £25m to even consider letting go of their number one golf player. The West Ham that returned from the Championship was meant to be a new look club that had been grounded by the financial realities of relegation but the recent pursuit of Carroll just proves that habits die hard, so do not rule out a crazy bid from the Hammers for their ex-talisman.
Alan Pardew has spent most of the summer either trying to sign a right-back or provide sound bites about his love of Andy Carroll. It’s the former that’s in the news today after Marseille rejected yet another bid from Newcastle for Mathieu Debuchy. The Magpies reportedly increased their bid for the Frenchman to €6m but Lille chairman Michel Seydoux used all his Gallic arrogance to shoot down Newcastle as he told L’Equipe: “I decided that Mathieu Debuchy will remain at LOSC. The offer from Newcastle is definitely not at the value of the player. It would have taken the offer to be consistent and commensurate with its replacement. As the conditions are not met, it is my duty to make a decision.”
(TheSportsCampus)
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