Premier League - Transfer Talk: No hiding place

Eurosport - Tue, 22 Jul 22:52:00 2008

With the transfer rumour machine having now creaked and cranked into full operation, some clubs are finding it hard to keep their business dealings private.

FOOTBALL: Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos - 0

Tottenham are known to want Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Robbie Keane, but their hand is being weakened by the fact everyone knows they're about to come into money in a way that would make even acclaimed gold-digger Anna Nicole Smith blush (were it not for the fact that she's dead, obviously).

The sales of Keane, Dimitar Berbatov (to Manchester United ) and Darren Bent (to Everton, apparently) could raise somewhere in the region of £70 million, and Zenit are subsequently driving a hard bargain by insisting on £20 million for their Euro 2008 star.

Arshavin's international team-mate Roman Pavlyuchenko is another target for Spurs boss Juande Ramos (pictured), but his club Spartak Moscow are also thought to be holding out for up to £20 million for the blond striker.

Blackburn midfielder David Bentley is one man who has moved a step closer to White Hart Lane though, with Rovers chairman John Williams admitting, "We don't want to lose David, but if we do get a bid that meets our valuation, then ultimately it comes down to a football decision by [manager] Paul [Ince]."

The Times reports that Spurs and Aston Villa have already had bids of £15 million rejected, but The Independent reckons the England man will join Spurs in a £16 million part-exchange deal involving forgotten man Paul Robinson.

Rovers apparently want Robinson to replace goalkeeper Brad Friedel , who is a target for Manchester City and Villa. The Daily Mirror claims that Friedel would only be a short-term solution for Villa coach Martin O'Neill, who has been told he will have to wait a year to sign Wolves' Wales international keeper Wayne Hennessey .

Not content with one giant but surprisingly deft striker in his squad, O'Neill could provide the 6' 4" John Carew with some competition in the form of 6' 7" Valencia forward Nikola Zigic.

The Sun quotes Valencia 'suit' Juan Sanchez as saying: "Zigic and his agent know about Villa's offer and we expect a decision in the coming days," although he may be interested to learn that Villa have denied all knowledge of the bid.

A move to England for Zigic would certainly be bad news for Portsmouth new boy Peter Crouch, as the Serbian striker effortlessly demonstrates that it's possible to be 6' 7" tall without looking like an elaborate construction of straws.

Crouch's new boss Harry Redknapp is looking to boost his midfield options, but knows that he will have to sell players first if he wants to bring in Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

"I like Wright-Phillips, he is a top player," says Redknapp in The Daily Express. "But he is going to cost a lot of money, and at the moment it is not close to happening."

New Man City coach Mark Hughes, meanwhile, is reportedly sniffing around Espanyol's £6 million-rated midfielder Pablo Zabaleta as he too looks to beef up his midfield.

Those Joao Moutinho-Everton rumours might have to be cooled though, with Sporting Lisbon president Soares Franco reporting that the club have received no offers for the Portuguese international midfielder and, furthermore, "have no need to sell as we are secure".

The Daily Mail reports that Bolton have failed with a £320,000 bid for Levante winger Mustapha Riga, and if we stay in Spain there are plenty of rumours emanating from Barcelona.

Samuel Eto'o's agent Jose Maria Mesalles says his client could stay at the club - despite having been publicly told he is surplus to requirements.

"You can't rule out the possibility of Eto'o still being at Barca next season," said Mesalles. "We have offers, but they don't convince us."

The interested clubs are thought to be Chelsea, Spurs and Internazionale, although the Blues have today denied their interest in the player.

There are conflicting reports over perennial Transfer Talk favourite Eidur Gudjohnsen as well, with The Times claiming he is "open to anything", while The Mail says he will stay put at Camp Nou after turning down a move to long-term admirers West Ham.

We close with the news that Ronaldinho will sport the number 80 shirt at Milan next season, reflecting the year of his birth.

With portly Brazilian team-mate Ronaldo having sported the number 99 shirt for the Rossoneri last season, TT wonders if this might not actually be a candid admission of his excess weight in pounds.

Tom Williams / Eurosport

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. You Guys from the USA , spurs are not a real football team in the EPL guys, you should pick another team honest ;)

    but to all if cardiff were to be promoted would the EPL become the BPL (British Premiure League), I mean they aint english , they is welsh . ??
    I say chuck em back to the welsh league.
    oh is nothing sacred lol

    From chosen01uk2002, on Wed 23 Jul 9:17AM

  2. The 99 on Ronaldo's jersey is his weight in kilos

    From GiggsForever, on Tue 22 Jul 10:47PM

  3. luck is all the gunners need, and may be , i pray it'l come for wenger

    From micheal e, on Tue 22 Jul 10:32PM

  4. As a Yank who's just gotten on the Spurs bandwagon, I'd like someone to explain to me how Arshavin is the answer over Keane who scored like clockwork last year. Is it really Ramos' intention to put 40 midfielders on the pitch with only one striker? Yeesh.

    Love the Luka Modric pickup though.

    Come On You Spurs!!!!

    From christophershall, on Tue 22 Jul 8:39PM

  5. Yes we can challenge next season but if we get extremly unlucky like last season and not win anything then those quality players will leave just like flams and hleb did.

    Wenger wont get sacked in the next few seasons but its just going to be the same thing over and over again : we get a young player(good);he becomes OK at a young age sticks with arsenal(good); He becomes brilliant(good);But arsenal dont win silverware because they lack experience,luck and (most of all) money for paychecks(bad) result : they leave for a club with big bucks and a lot of fame (titles) then a new recruit comes on and so on...

    the only exception is cesc but you get those once every 5 years maybe. by the time we get 11 of those kind of players arsene will be dead. I think the players are losing patience and i think this is make or break time for arsenal football club

    no matter wat happens ill always be a gunner

    GUNNER TILL I DIE :yes IN ARSENE WE TRUST? : im starting to have my doubts

    From risker (arsenalfan), on Tue 22 Jul 7:22PM

  6. I'm not completely sure about Arsenal's situation with the need to pay off debts for the stadium, but I sincerely think that if they can keep the likes of Fabregas, Eduardo, van Persie and Walcott, while adding a little experience in central midfield and central defence, they could challenge again next season.

    That said Spurs are making some good additions as well if the rumours are too be believed, although I think they would be paying over the odds for Arshavin.

    From isaac.leigh, on Tue 22 Jul 4:55PM

  7. If my team weren't good enough to win proper cups anymore I'd be happy to win the League Cup.

    From Noel H, on Tue 22 Jul 4:34PM

  8. Spurs won the Spurs cup. The same as they have done since 1961/62 so what!!
    Michelle, I have supported Arsenal since 1965 ands believe me when I tell you that what you get now is a whole universe from those days. Arsene Wenger has brought two doubles, and the sublime football game. He is tight with his buying but you can't fault him as a coach - par excellence.
    One thing I assure you we will be above ALL OTHER london clubs and the scouses too!!!

    From flattley, on Tue 22 Jul 4:25PM

  9. I am not a fan of any EPL club but I think Tottenham Hotspurs are moving in the right direction . Their coach is a proven winner . I will not be surprised if they move among the top six in a year or two !!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Tue 22 Jul 4:20PM

  10. michelle.lieberman23 - You have got a point. We are not ripping any benefits from having this new stadium in fact it is the opposite. Arsenal became a tight team because they were raising money for the new stadium. Now they have got a bigger stadium but they are still sticking to the same "fixed wage structure" they put in place a few years ago to try and raise money for the stadium.

    The director (Can't remember his name) said their arsenal players are on par with man u ones. Bullshit, a blatant lie. Why would players want to leave then? Ade should be on around £70000 a week or more. Same as fab, van persie, toure, gallas cliche. anything less for these is way below what they are worth

    From umgodoyi, on Tue 22 Jul 4:02PM

  11. Only 2 clubs in prem that would even think of signing arshavin are totenham and newcastle and he will probably flop for either!

    From hobsey007, on Tue 22 Jul 4:00PM

  12. What a step down that would be for Arshavin if he moved to Spurs.

    From cthl_oneill, on Tue 22 Jul 3:53PM

  13. Spurs trophies last season...1
    Arsenal trophies last season...0

    You can say "Wow, the league cup" all you want but it's STILL one better than you and they beat you 5-1 to get there.

    From Noel H, on Tue 22 Jul 3:40PM

  14. Oh my oh myl Michelle. I am not an Arsenal fan but if you can critize Wenger maybe you should stick to netball. And as for the new stadium it is one of a very few if any that is self supporting even outside of the football season. the only thing wrong at Arsenal, if you can call it wrong is the salary cap. This doesnt help you, but at the same time it tends to show you who has any loyalty to the club or the manager who developed them into the players they are. They should have a look around who has really succeeded when they left Arsenal? Anelka .. no, Vierra.. No, Pirez..No, Petit..No, Llungburg..No, even Henry.. No. Will Adebyor..No, Flammini..probably not, Hleb..Who cares.

    So think about it! And be happy to support such a great club!

    From jonathan_by2k, on Tue 22 Jul 3:33PM

  15. 'Flattley' its not a matter of buying a spurs scarf, I like good football and I am an Arsenal suporter 4th generation its just that since we bought the new stadium we have won nothing and the likes of Spurs and Chelsea are overtaking us. Was it a good idea to have a new stadium? others seem to do better with what they've got (stanford bridge). No, its Wenger and his policys they are simply not working we can'nt go on saying 'next season the boys will be more experienced coz they get experience and then leave on a big money transer i.e, Hleb, Adebayor and Flamini. Something needs to give at The Emirates whether thats Wenger, The board or just their policys maybe its time to sell out!

    From michelle.lieberman23, on Tue 22 Jul 3:06PM

  16. I hate Spurs and wish them the same success as the last 40 odd years - Zero.
    But it is time that they became the "big" club their fans say they are. Sixth place gor Spurs andd they'll struggle to get there like 4th place last season (Ha-Ha!!)

    From flattley, on Tue 22 Jul 2:40PM

  17. Michelle After 10 years you must know to trust Arsene Wenger and if you don't buy a spurs scarf!

    From flattley, on Tue 22 Jul 2:31PM

  18. 'Barry, Flattley' I reckon Spurs will do well this season if they make all they buys that we're hearing about. I just wish Wenger would buy someone who's not just out of junior school!

    From michelle.lieberman23, on Tue 22 Jul 2:31PM

  19. arshavin would put spurs back in the frame if we loose berba and keane, i think he wants a champs league team (dont they all) use the spare cash to sign a new striker and central defender and we will have a powerfull attacking team. good reporting as usual on this site.

    From Barry O, on Tue 22 Jul 2:15PM

  20. It will be about time that Spurs lived up to their responsibility and were within the top 6 for once instead of enjoying the easy life of mid table mediocrity as they have for 45 years.
    Chelsea on the other hand are at the mercy of a wayward owner who imposes players on his manager(s) who have to fit the over priced egos into a team.
    Great sport though!!

    From flattley, on Tue 22 Jul 2:14PM
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