Analysing the Transfer Gossip: 9th April 2013
There’s always plenty of transfer talk throughout the season. So how much of it makes sense, and how much of it is just rumour?
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes will order a major clear-out at Loftus Road this summer with midfielder Adel Taarabt, 23, likely to be the biggest sale.
Full story: Daily Mirror
What’s the story? If Harry Redknapp stays he won’t be told who to sell or he’d quit. However, QPR are going to have an utterly unsustainable wage bill for a soon to be Championship club.
Does it make sense? I wouldn’t have thought selling Taarabt should be a priority for a variety of reasons. Firstly, last time he was in the Championship he accounted for 50% of the clubs goals. Secondly, he isn’t paid anything like as much as the rest of the junk they’ve signed over the last couple of years.
Is the price right? I doubt there will be a queue forming for him after this year, but they might get £4-5m. Is that enough to sell? Not really.
Will it happen? 5/10 – It’s almost impossible to predict what will happen at QPR
Tottenham are among a group of Premier League clubs that would consider triggering Loic Remy’s £8m escape clause if QPR are relegated. The 26-year-old French striker has scored five goals in seven starts since joining from Marseille in January.
Full story: the Guardian
What’s the story? Good planning on Remy’s part to persuade QPR to give him an affordable release clause if they go down. He looks a Premier League player for sure and at £8m is worth looking at.
Does it make sense? I’m not convinced he’s quite what Spurs need but there are plenty of clubs that he would make a ton of sense for.
Is the price right? £8m is a good price. You never know, you could be signing the next Demba Ba.
Will it happen? 10/10 – there’s no way he’s at QPR in the Championship if he can be had for £8m.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will not leave Old Trafford for Paris St-Germain this summer, according to team-mate Federico Macheda. The French side are said to be monitoring Rooney’s situation after the 27-year-old England forward was left out of last month’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid.
Full story: Metro
What’s the story? Manchester United Head of Player Personnel Macheda insists that the obviously not moving Rooney is not moving.
Does it make sense? I love that they’re quoting Macheda. What could he possibly know? Anyway, Rooney isn’t going anywhere.
Is the price right? PSG need to be Fair Play-compliant and buying Rooney to play in an area of the pitch that they are already stacked is massively illogical.
Will it happen? 1/10 – Nope.
Sporting Lisbon’s Diego Capel, 25, is being targeted by Liverpool but the Anfield club will face competition from Marseille for the £10m-rated Spanish winger.
Full story: Daily Mirror
What’s the story? Capel was linked to Spurs for much less two weeks ago. Do Liverpool play with pure wingers?
Does it make sense? No.
Is the price right? Sporting are in all kinds of financial trouble so they can’t be haggling too much. £10m is way too much.
Will it happen? 5/10 – since when do Liverpool make sensible market decisions?
Inter Milan have moved ahead of Arsenal and Newcastle in the race to sign Saint-Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Inter have submitted an £8.5m offer for the 23-year-old Gabon forward.
Full story: talkSPORT
What’s the story? Inter seem to be looking for a new striker, and so they should do because they’ve got nothing in the way of quality.
Does it make sense? Inter have less pull than Arsenal and Aubameyang isn’t really suited to Italian football.
Is the price right? St. Etienne would be crazy to sell for £8.5m.
Will it happen? 6/10 – It’d be a real surprise if he doesn’t move. I’m not convinced Inter are the ideal landing spot but it’s still a step up.
Fulham could make a £4m move for Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, 25, who has been linked with a summer switch to Manchester United.
Full story: Daily Mirror
What’s the story? Haha, £4m.
Does it make sense? Man United have De Gea who is better. It makes great sense for Fulham. Stoke’s recent transfer policy has been dodgy but this would be crazy.
Is the price right? £4m? Just, obviously not.
Will it happen? 0/10 – not at this price. 5/10 – Fulham if Stoke go down.
Stoke are set to make an offer for 24-year-old PSV Eindhoven left-back Erik Pieters in the summer.
Full story: Voetbal International
What’s the story? If Stoke stay up they need some quality. Pieters is an attack minded full back which Pulis doesn’t ever utilise.
Does it make sense? Yes. Pieters would offer Stoke something utterly different. But Pulis doesn’t sign this type of player.
Is the price right? Probably £4m ish which is very affordable.
Will it happen? 0/10 – if Pulis is in charge