Transfer Talk: 'Ronaldinho' to Chelsea

Eurosport - Sat, 03 Jan 08:10:00 2009

Misleading description of the season: 'Russian Ronaldinho' - the title given to CSKA Moscow's Yuri Zhirkov in the Daily Mail.

2008 CSKA Moscow Yuri Zhirkov - 0

The dissimilarities are endless. Zhirkov is a defender, Ronaldinho a forward; Zhirkov plays on the left, Ronaldinho in the middle; Zhirkov's main attributes are his pace and crossing, Ronaldinho's are his skill and teeth. And Zhirkov is bloody good.

If he were to be wrongly compared to any Brazilian, it should obviously be Roberto Carlos, particularly as he is better going forward than defending.

But Ronaldinho? Madness. Although it didn't stop TT using it in the headline, you may have noticed.

Transfer Talk is a big fan of the 25-year-old, although it isn't sure what Big Phil Scolari intends to do with Ashley Cole if Zhirkov arrives.

Today is 'no-show Friday' - a day on which the nation pulls an enormous collective sickie.

With millions of people pulling the duvet over their head and throwing their alarm clock out the window, it should hardly come as a surprise that one of them is a Premier League footballer.

Jermain Defoe to be precise. His claim that he is unwell might be genuine for all TT knows, but that won't stop the speculation.

The striker's has missed training with Portsmouth after calling in ill, just a few hours after a cheeky £5m bid from Spurs was turned down.

Are the two events linked? TT has no way of knowing, but that won't stop it speculating.

Defoe will surely be off by the end of the month, but with his supposed value fluctuating from the comically cheap to the prohibitively expensive, his destination and the amount of wonga heading Pompey's way remain a mystery.

Lyon winger Sidney Govou is fed up with winning the league every year and instead craves a relegation dogfight. Good news for him, and good news for Portsmouth, with the pair expected to hook up in a £3m deal.

West Ham are offering Galatasaray one of those Ryanair-style deals that looks really cheap before you take account of all the sky taxes, luggage levies and surcharges for having breathable air on board.

Get this: Lucas Neill is free. FREE!! Except Galatasaray have to pay up the last six months of the Australian's contract, which could cost them as much as £2m.

Plus an extra eight quid if they want to pay using a standard debit or credit card.

New Year is a time for fresh starts and optimism - but not if you are Jermaine Pennant. He ended 2008 being courted by Real Madrid, and starts 2009 as the object of Stoke's affection.

And instead of being asked to beat three men and float a perfect cross on to Raul's head, Pennant's sole task will be to knock the ball out off defenders' shin in order to set up long throw opportunities for Rory Delap.

Real boss Juande Ramos's brief and horrifically unsuccessful flirtation with the English game means Pennant is far from the only Premier League 'star' being linked with a comical move to Madrid.

Aaron Lennon is a confirmed target and his Tottenham team-mate Jermaine Jenas is also wanted by Ramos.

Call TT crazy, but it reckons Jenas's brand of silky yet ineffectual sideways passing will fit in a treat over in La Liga. It worked for Vinnie Samways.

For more transfer nonsense - including our club-by-club rumour chart - click the links below the photo.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 36 - 55 of 55

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  1. Liverpool in bankrupcy.
    2.5 billions in debt.

    From joko81, on Sun 1 Mar 2:34PM

  2. i think you two are right

    From nic.newton10, on Sun 11 Jan 8:06PM

  3. Sorry..ArSeNe WeNgEr CheLsEA have fund from AbU DhAbI the richer invesment for wayne Brigde.No need transfer fund from RoMan AMbraHimOvICH.......ArsEnAl got nothing for ThiS SEaSOn.Just FoRgot The TiTLe RaCE...JuST LeaViNG It FoR tHe ReaLLy wAnT it'S....ArSeNaLoseverYthInG??????????????

    From George, on Sun 4 Jan 10:39AM

  4. SoRrY fOr Mr. LuIz FeLiPe ScOlArI...........rOmAn AbRaHiMoViCh WoN't GiVe YoU tRaNsFeR bUdGeT.....

    From SaMiR NaSRi, on Sun 4 Jan 9:08AM

  5. Eamonn Could`nt of said it better.

    From Nath, on Sun 4 Jan 8:25AM

  6. i agree about pennant

    From d.kelly387, on Sat 3 Jan 5:00PM

  7. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE

    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Sat 3 Jan 11:37AM

  8. LARD!!! Its polish (as in shine) I have successfully gold plated one but admittedly it was a firm one not a soft one

    From Dave, on Sat 3 Jan 11:23AM

  9. why JK is ignorent and wants to sign a new new contract with owen(118,000 per week).he isnt worth it.can't he swoop with milan foe suazo or adriano.If ashely think's they will take more money he could easily bring austrian hitman who has already scored about 29 goals for red bull salzaburg and total of 47 goals for 59 outings for that club and belived to be rated 6m only.

    From The Magpies, on Sat 3 Jan 2:54AM

  10. Listen people if you are going to mention the names of certain player please spell them correctly cuz your making yourself sound really dumb.

    From The Magpies, on Fri 2 Jan 11:10PM

  11. mazuka wtf m8 hes only kidding

    From margaret.kiely, on Fri 2 Jan 10:54PM

  12. I thought this piece was amusing.

    From Smooth Jimmy, on Fri 2 Jan 9:54PM

  13. 12 million for a ful back that hardly plays isnt bad but must admit wayne a good player so chelsea can invest in a player ummmmmmmmmmmmm who though tell me kaka messi ronaldo benzema help

    From mickyboy, on Fri 2 Jan 9:40PM

  14. Alex Chick... or whatever you think you are, if you have any personal issues with people I suggest you don't use this company to resolve them. The way you compared Ronaldinho with this Russian Player is disrespectful. We all know people are different so you really don't have to discribe them using their natural appearances especially where it is NOT neccessarily adequate.

    You have made very very rude comments in your article and you don't deserve any ratings unless from those who think like you.

    From Prince monkey-bum, on Fri 2 Jan 7:22PM

  15. I think the editor, Alex, or whoever it is... used rude words. I needs to go back to school and learn a bit more literature and proof reading together with grammar before being given another chance to disrespect people like this.
    You can't say Ronaldinho and his 'Teeth' what of you then? These footballers are talented people who don't have to swear or disrespect anyone to gain recognition or support from the public just like you just did, Alex Whatever.

    Yahoo should sack rude and cruel editors like this man who used such disgusting words for public view.

    From Prince monkey-bum, on Fri 2 Jan 7:14PM

  16. These dating comments appear on just about every subject, I will take her ! get in touch love!

    From mike k, on Fri 2 Jan 5:29PM

  17. Never heard that one b4 lard. Who do U support Man U or Liverfools? Just 'cos Man City have an ex-commonwealth games stadium and loadsa money........

    From Tony H, on Fri 2 Jan 5:25PM

  18. £5 million 4 Defoe? ha ha! Tottenumb are having a laugh & a 1/2!!!! we'll c if Defoe gos - or hopefully stays & starts pulling his weight 4 Pompey again!......
    Who knows, if Abramovich might actually decide 2 finally sell up Chelski somewhen?
    still, let's hope 4 a much better 2009 after the last lousy year 4 most of us.......

    From Tony H, on Fri 2 Jan 5:23PM

  19. LARD quite agree however they have had a good try at anfield

    From U R SOLES, on Fri 2 Jan 5:18PM

  20. nice to see the fan rivalries have started off on the wrong foot AGAIN!
    Anyhow, to the non CHelsea fans who think their teams are any better. You do know that none of the big clubs in europe care much about football, or about player loyalty or any of that stuff that you seem to cry about? I only got one word for you and if you are of age to understand what it is, this might be the time to put your money where the mouth is: BUSINESS!
    what ManU is not about business? LIverpool? And lately CITY? and soon Totty?
    But how nice to know that there are still a bunch of naive fans out there, who woke up in the 1960s again.
    Happy 2009 and welcome to 21 st century business football.

    From go, on Fri 2 Jan 4:54PM
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