Transfers - Gossip Shop: Eto'o leads cut-price stars

Eurosport - Mon, 30 Mar 22:17:00 2009

'Star Sale' screams today's front-page headline of La Gazzetta dello Sport.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 La Liga Barcelona Barcelona-Málaga Eto'o - 0

The Italian sport daily is not referring to the similarly-named Dad-rock beat compo, you understand, but the fact that several of Europe's top clubs will be forced to slash player asking prices in order to persuade recession-hit rivals into buying.

The eye-catching neon stickers in the window certainly look tempting: Resurgent Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o - WAS 40 million euros, NOW 20m! Werder Bremen's first-class playmaker Diego - WAS 35m, NOW 20! Perennial Liverpool target David Silva - WAS 40m, NOW 30m!

There are even more goodies in store for those few club chairman and sporting directors with the disposable income needed to kick-start the football economy.

The pink paper beloved of piazza-lurking latte sippers also reckons Real Madrid's Dutch trio Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe - all rumoured to be on their way out if Florentino Perez regains the club presidency - will leave in cut-price deals at the end of the season.

On a domestic tip, Chelsea duo Deco and Florent Malouda appear to have long since outstayed their welcomes at Stamford Bridge, in the manner of a couch-surfing old college friend, and are earmarked for cheap summer exits.

The Mirror report that Wigan Athletic will sell winger Luis Antonio Valencia to Manchester United in the summer for an eye-popping £17m in order to fund their purchase of another Ecuadorean, Christian Benitez.

The little hitman has scored 9 goals in 7 games for Santos Laguna in the Mexican league this season, to add to his impressive 15 in 30 last term.

Steve Bruce's need to fork out the £7m required for Benitez will become more pressing if Zamalek persist with their £12m valuation of Amr Zaki, despite the Egyptian striker's loan spell at the Latics going off the boil somewhat.

Manchester City are all set to duke it out with fellow big-spending low-achievers Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Fabio Cannavaro, who has admitted he would consider leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season on a free transfer.

Spurs are also eyeing up another Real want-away - Argentina full-back Gabriel Heinze, who would set Harry Redknapp back £4m, according to the Guardian.

Another City target, Leeds United midfielder Fabian Delph, will have drawn extra attention from the top flight after being named the Football League's young player of the year.

The 19-year-old has scored six times this season, including a couple of long-range corkers, so don't expect him to be plying his trade in League One for much longer, with or without play-off hopefuls Leeds.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 19 of 59

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  1. hehehe...yeah darren bent what a waste of­ space...lol...similar to bentley....over inflated­ nobody's who are getting paid
    to play @#$%.

    From mertron1, on Mon 30 Mar 1:12PM

  2. Bent was 5p now 15p :D

    From lee, on Mon 30 Mar 1:04PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Eto'o is 28 which puts him at or just the wrong­ side of his peak (you can certainly expect to see some­ of that remarkable pace drop out of his game in the­ next year or so).

    From purple_hatstand, on Mon 30 Mar 1:04PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I have it on good authority that Fabien Delph will be a­ Man Utd player in the summer, sorry City fans!

    From Jules, on Mon 30 Mar 1:03PM

  5. Flinto - It's esque as in picturesque, rather than­ esk... as in eskimo.

    From Chris C, on Mon 30 Mar 1:02PM

  6. What other great United players were moulded at Leeds.­ My memory is not so good anymore. I assume you're­ not talking about Rio Ferdinand, who was moulded at­ West Ham. Perhaps you mean Gordon McQueen or Joe­ Jordan. Most certainly I cannot remember any such­ player remotely near the class of Cantona.

    From chriscunningham92, on Mon 30 Mar 12:59PM

  7. Eto'o, Diego and Sneijder will do for City. Unless­ they want European football that is.
    How's that­ fairplay league shaping up?

    From Paul F, on Mon 30 Mar 12:53PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Most overated player ever!

    From batto58, on Mon 30 Mar 12:51PM

  9. eh scott s , ya need someone younger than sammy­ eto'o!? eh what age do ya think he is? and diego­ would do if ya dont get van der vaart!!? youll be in­ for a sharp suprise if ya get van der vaart, he's­ not half the player he had the potential to be, diego­ is streets better.. you clearly only know as much about­ football as these tabloid esk pages tell you..

    From flinto, on Mon 30 Mar 12:48PM

  10. A massive clear out at Real Madrid then!! Schneider is­ the pick of the bunch. Robben flatters to deceive.­ Madrid will be laughing if they can get big money for­ him. Schneider for 17m is a good deal. The others,­ forget it. No sensible manager will touch them!!

    From chriscunningham92, on Mon 30 Mar 12:47PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Steven Gerrard: was £60 million, now £80 million

    From dmdweb.co.uk, on Mon 30 Mar 12:41PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Leeds develope so many good players! Some of Man­ United's best were moulded at Leeds, and I'm­ not just talking Cantona.

    From sarah-louise r, on Mon 30 Mar 12:37PM

  13. Fabian Delph will be a sensation in the premiership but­ not for a few years yet. Another excellent midfielder­ developed by Leeds.

    From Gary, on Mon 30 Mar 12:29PM

  14. oh and cannavaro will go back to italy

    From yip, on Mon 30 Mar 12:24PM

  15. Id take almost any they players to chelsea. Diego seems­ about the correct type of player were looking for if­ van der vaart doesnt arrive. Robben wuold be welcomed­ back no problem. Etoo will score anywhere although we­ need someone younger.

    a lot of big name transfers this­ summer I think

    From yip, on Mon 30 Mar 12:23PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    First is f@g.

    From Jim, on Mon 30 Mar 12:16PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    first!!!!!!!!!!! ha ha

    From beanie McBean, on Mon 30 Mar 12:15PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ha..!

    From bazooka joe, on Mon 30 Mar 12:14PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    1st

    From Toby, on Mon 30 Mar 12:12PM
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