Striker Shell Game – Summer Transfer Predictions
Now that the Premiership season has come to an end, it is time to predict where some of the top strikers who may be on the move this summer will end up. This is based largely on guesswork and instinct, as there is little else to go on at this point, so take it with a grain of salt. We can re-visit after the summer to see how it all shook out.
Samuel Eto’o
I think he will generate a lot of interest, and his price tag will be huge. He wants to leave Barcelona, but they would never give him up cheap. I think he goes to Arsenal, and….
Thierry Henry
While looking for a fresh start with a team like Barcelona may be the most prudent move for the Arsenal captain, I think he and Wenger will stay on at least another season and see how well their young team improves.
David Villa
Liverpool may break the bank for him, and they would be wise to, but I think they will go for a less-expensive option (which they will regret), and Villa will stay at Valencia.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
As much as it pains me to admit, this will be the signing of the summer. He will go to Manchester United relatively cheap, and will be fantastic for them.
Dimitar Berbatov
This is the striker everyone wishes they could get. There will be a lot of speculation tossed around, but at the end of the summer I think he stays at Tottenham.
Michael Owen
For Michael to leave Newcastle after all the heartache and drama he’s caused seems beyond belief. I think he will play (or sit out injured through) one more season with them.
Carlos Tevez
His future is the hardest to predict. West Ham will try very hard to keep him, and I think they will. He’s built up a cult following after disappointing for so long when he first arrived. However, West Ham will be getting Dean Ashton back, and are most likely going to buy another striker with the huge transfer kitty that will be opened now that they’re staying in the Premiership, so Tevez is not absolutely vital. Also note that if they somehow lose the legal battle and go down he will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Darren Bent
Definitely leaving Charlton, and would be a nice pick-up. Liverpool and Manchester United will consider him, and I think he will stay in England. I see him going to Bolton to fill the spot left by….
Nicolas Anelka
I think Bolton was a one year stop for him to remind bigger clubs of his skill. I see him going to Italy to play for Juventus.
Benni McCarthy
He wants to go to Chelsea, and I think they’d jump at the chance, but only if the price is right. It won’t be. Manchester United may consider him as well, but I think he ends up at Barcelona.
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McCarthy to Barca… I think not. I reckon Barca will sign a South American… they have been in negotiations with Boca over the signing of Palacios for quite some time…
May 15th, 2007 @ 14:48Other Striker Gossips:
Obafemi Martins could be on his way out of Newcastle, with Valencia and Juventus already in talks over a £13m move.
Portsmouth remain favourites to sign Mark Viduka, who is out of contract at Middlesbrough.
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is tracking Benfica’s Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes.
May 15th, 2007 @ 17:00Samphraim, i hear chelsea are also in for viduka?! its also been mooted they may re-sign Eidur Gudjohnsson
May 15th, 2007 @ 17:22Having world class strikers they definitely need a back-up, will Viduka and Eidur go and sit in Chelsea bench?
May 15th, 2007 @ 17:44Im not sure, but if you look at it, Chelsea will lose Drogba,Essien,Mikel,Kalou to African Nations Cup, and Eidur can play attacking Mid or Striker, so they will definatly have a huge part to play in the next season.
But yes i do think they will spend time on the bench.
I would rather chelsea re-sign Eidur.
May 15th, 2007 @ 17:56I hope we do get Huntelaar at United, i agree he could be the signing of the summer
Can’t see us getting Eto’o, i wouldn’t want to pay the huge fee, esp seen as we’ve apparently already agreed to 18 mil for Hargreaves. I would rather us buy him than any other prem club tho :p but i don’t honestly think he’ll end up in England, just a feeling.
I agree Liverpool will prob go for a cheaper option than Villa (and regret it as you said). Can see them going for Bent which might work out, but Crouch or Kuyt won’t be sold off.
Doubt Tevez will stay at West Ham, but i do hope Henry and Berbatov stay Arsenal and Spurs respectively.
Gudjohnsen returning to Chelsea is interesting, he’s said he wants to stay at Barca but i think they want rid, so i could picture him going back to SB.
It’s exciting that’s for sure!
May 15th, 2007 @ 20:13I hope never to see Huntelaar at OT. He is far inferior to the Ruud we sold last summer and is no way near as good as Saha.
May 16th, 2007 @ 01:20Arsenal to sign Eto’o…with what money?
May 16th, 2007 @ 02:33avrv – their loan facility – 40m. Or the 30m general loan facility Arsenal have.
The small fact people forget is that this money will be a further debt on Arsenal’s accounts if they use it.
A better question would be – why?
Why would Eto’o go to a club without realistic title-winning potential next season?
Why would Arsenal sign Eto’o when they have Henry, RVP and Theo Walcott – one master (ageing or not) and two talented disciples?
Why would Barcelona sell Eto’o to Arsenal when Chelsea / Man Utd will pay more money? Hell, LA Galaxy would pay more than Arsenal
May 16th, 2007 @ 03:46Samuel Eto’o to Arsenal? .. With what Money? Also, i’m genuinely curious as to how you know that he wants to leave.
To Ahmed: Because RVP and Theo Walcott are not true strikers, more off a SS.
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David Villa to Liverpool? Hmm .. I dont see Valencia letting him go for less then €40mill so i doubt Benitz would blow his all his transfer kit on a striker.
May 16th, 2007 @ 08:54And since Liverpool have already spent £10 mil on a midfielder and a winger, it’s hard to see them come up with an additional £30-40 mil.
May 16th, 2007 @ 13:02It appears every one has brought his/her abacas along and has left their brains behind. Teams buy players according to specific requirements not based on stupid media speculation, and jealousy of opposite fans with grudging views.
May 16th, 2007 @ 13:24haven’t liverpool already made a deal for andriy voronin from bayer leverkusen? apparently he has a 4 year deal in place? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6373275.stm
May 17th, 2007 @ 00:34Yeah they did, but he came on a free transfer, so he’s somewhat of a gamble. Actually I consider him to be a panic signing from before Liverpool were taken over and alegedly got money to spend.
May 17th, 2007 @ 00:45ohh ok didnt know that, thought they were paying for him. cheers
May 17th, 2007 @ 00:55Afonso Alves to United …… PLEASE lol that man is magic.
May 17th, 2007 @ 12:00how abt Kanoute for MU? really good!
May 17th, 2007 @ 15:13It seems to me that you’re forgetting that La Liga is not a kindergarten for the Premiership. What makes you think that every single Spain-based player wants to go to England? Maybe I’m wrong, but I see no reason why Villa would go to L’pool. He’s not a star player in a small club, Valencia is a massive club with tons of world class players (Del Horno, Baraja, Miguel, Vicente, Joaquin…), and they’ve got money too (24 mil euros for Joaquin last summer). And, yes, they fight for the title every season, while Liverpool… well, you know. As I said, maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see why would he switch to a side that is weaker then his current one, and of course, we all know that Valencia aren’t exactly keen to sell. Of course, they probably would for 40 mil, but that is like saying that Liverpool would sell Gerrard for 90 million. They probably would…
May 18th, 2007 @ 05:37David Trezeguet will go to Barca,im sure about that!The striker is just fantastic!!!
May 22nd, 2007 @ 00:31well….huntelaar at manu wud be fantastic…also alves…man dat guy is magic!!!!!!!id love to see berba at OT…but that seems far away
May 25th, 2007 @ 20:26The bids will start at : 7p
June 1st, 2007 @ 16:19