May
7
2008

Transfer Rumors: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Wigan, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Roma, Valencia

Today’s transfer roundup starts up as the last one did, so Arsenal fans, feel free to jump a couple of paragraphs.

One Arsenal player is already on his way out of the Emirates - could another follow? The Times reports that Alexander Hleb is already letting it spill that he’s agreed a four-year deal with Inter, even though no official fee offer has been made for a player that still has two years to go on his contract.

Rumor Rating: 4 - Hleb and Inter could try to use a FIFA loophole (two years left, you can buy the remainder out) to try to swing this deal, but if Arsenal are going to let him go, they won’t do it without a fight, and without trying to get something from Inter.

AC Milan are already pretty busy in the transfer market, having nabbed Flamini from Arsenal, and they appear set to sign another Frenchman, unsettled veteran Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol, who has been dropped by Ottmar Hitzfeld after venting openly about his current situation in Germany.

Along with the potential signing of Sagnol, the Rossoneri have supposedly not given up on signing Ronaldinho, and could also bring his teammate Gianluca Zambrotta back to Italy, with the two players costing a combined 18 million pounds.

Rumor Rating: 5 - Not a done deal yet for all three, but there’s reason to believe all three, or at least two of them, will end up in Milan. Sagnol is already reportedly telling people he’s on his way, so that cat’s out of the bag.

Zambrotta’s chances for a move are high as well, as he and his wife are both yearning for a move back to Italy. And Ronaldinho, well…

From current stars to budding one, Wigan won’t be selling Wilson Palacios for pennies, as they’ve reportedly put an 8 million pound price tag on the Honduran midfielder, who only arrived in January but is drawing interest from Manchester United.

As for teammate Antonio Valencia? The hot-shot winger is also a target for United, and the Mirror says that United could make a move for the 22-year old Ecuadorian man as soon as the season ends, with cash plus Louis Saha as their offer.

Rumor Rating: 2 - Will it be one or the other for United, or can they get both? The potential deal for Valencia could be enough, because if Saha’s healthy and getting regular appearances, he can still bang the goals in. That’s a big if though…

Meanwhile, Wigan have their eyes on Egyptian star striker Amr Zaki, as Steve Bruce went to see him play for current club Zamalek, and saw the 25-year old score twice.

Rumor Rating: 4 - I was impressed by what I saw of Zaki in the African Cup of Nations, and he’d be a good, inexpensive signing.

Wigan have scored only 34 goals in 37 Premier League matches, and signing Saha and Zaki would definitely improve their attack, and more importantly, their survival prospects.

The Guardian says that David Moyes and Everton could put in an offer for Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell. Wait…he’s still around? I’m kidding - he must be a little rusty though, as he hasn’t played since February, and his prospects for next season aren’t that bright.

Rumor Rating: 4 - A chance at multiple trophies, or regular playing time? Sidwell is replaceable, and would be smart to move where he can revive his career and his England hopes - and have a chance at trophies.

Everton are also reportedly in the mix, along with Roma, for Valencia winger Joaquin, who could cash in big time this summer if they also sell David Villa. Goal.com’s report says that Joaquin could cost anywhere from 15 to 18 million euros.

Rumor Rating: 2 - Would Everton be able to match Roma in a bidding war? If Joaquin were to end up somewhere, it would likely be Roma, where he would could regularly go deep in the Champions League and challenge in Serie A.

In the ‘don’t get your hopes up yet’ category, Liverpool are reportedly interested in Barcelona’s Eric Abidal, while Juventus are in the hunt for Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, as their search for a new star midfielder continues.

Rumor Rating: 1 - I don’t see either of these players leaving their current clubs at this point, but anything can happen when money is involved.

So, will Arsenal be saying goodbye to another money-hungry player? Will Wigan let two promising players go to boost their coffers? Could Liverpool possibly lure Abidal from Spain?

Chime in, and chip in with rumors that you’ve read and heard!

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Discussion - 15 Responses

  1. May 7, 2008magnumopus

    Mancini at Roma or Joaquin? One or the other could end up at Liverpool!

  2. The wigan boys are very very good, but why exactly does Fergie need two more midfielders?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. May 7, 2008Liverpool_Fan

    What?? 18-15 mill euros for Joaquin! if thats the case I think we should go in for him. I admired Abidal at his time with Lyon but im not impressed with his performances from spain. However hes gotta be better that Riise :)

  4. May 7, 2008Liverpool_Fan

    I think Liverpool should raid valencia Silva, Joaquin and Villa :) makes you wonder how they are fighting relegation with players like that!!??

  5. May 7, 2008Pitchpool

    Abidal would be great for Liverpool, but I don’t see him leaving Spain after one year. He is a difference maker on a Barca club with little diversity in style of play amongst its squad. Valencia to Man U would be a waste of a great talent. Sure Giggs and Scholes are at the end of the road, but he’d still have to battle Nani and Ronaldo to start on the wing. Joaquin at Liverpool makes sense, but they need to get their house in order before any more big signings.

  6. May 7, 2008shantheman

    i think valencia would be awesome at united… ive seen him play and he is pretty good, and ronny is playing more of a strikers role these days so another right winger wouldnt hurt…. we need 2 sell saha but he is 2 good for wigan so i doubt we will be able 2 sell him there

  7. May 7, 2008Liverpool_Fan

    In modern day football you need more than one good player for a position so I imagine Valencia will be cover just.

  8. Man!!! there is a lot goin on… a lot of good tranfers… but i dont know about Joaquin he is a really good wing player and i think he should wait for a better offer(not that he is really good for liverpool), its just that i think he should be on a team like Man.Un. or Milan but i dont know…if i was me making a team i would have a 2-4-4 lineup… i would have rooney left foward, Tevez right foward, Cristiano R. right mid., Giggs center mid., Joaquin left mid., and the rest of the defenders from Manchester United…

  9. May 8, 2008arsenal_fans

    somebody please stop hleb…..arsenal play style will ruin down if he went to inter…

    wenger should make something…or at least try to find the backup for flamini or hleb…
    of course gattuso will be a great addition…
    ARSENAL FOR LIFE!!

  10. May 8, 2008Liverpool_Fan

    Hleb and flamini have been fantastic this season. Its a shame if Hleb leaves because I love watching Arsenal but its true Hleb makes them tick.

  11. arsenal better do something about hleb coz it would be a huge loss. I want Arsenal to do better next season and i dont here anything happening with their transfers

  12. signing zambrotta and sagnol is really good for our defence
    but we cannot afford to lose Gattuso to anyone, i think instead of buying ronaldinho they should increase gattuso’s salary.anyways rdinho is of no use in italian style football

  13. May 8, 2008Chris Traverse

    the best news in this transfer roundup is SAF’s willingness to get rid of Saha. we all love him, but he can’t walk from one week to the next. coupled with todays news about spurs and et’o’ I wouldn’t be surprised to find Berbatov in red in the not too distant future…. and with everyones reluctance to sign ronaldinho, and fergies love of him (he tried to sign him from psg) that might be a good use of 12 - 15 million (even if just commercially) rather than palacios and valencia, but don’t get me wrong, they would both be better players at united.

    on a side note, i signed valencia for united as a 20 year old on fifa 2 years ago :)

  14. May 8, 2008Liverpool_Fan

    City link with Giovanni :) I have a feeling this is gonna be the best summer signing spree ever!! Some real quality coming into the EPL now.

  15. liverpool

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