Transfer Rumour Round-up: 8th May
1. Julio Cesar will leave QPR, says Harry Redknapp
Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar is free to leave Queens Park Rangers if he wishes to, says boss Harry Redknapp. The veteran goalkeeper was signed in August from Inter Milan and Redknapp believes that Cesar is too good to play in the Championship division as QPR have been relegated fir the coming season.
Redknapp said, “Julio is in the Brazil team. He is not a player for the Championship. He has got a World Cup coming up. He needs to be playing in the Premier League or a big league abroad.”
Interested clubs: Arsenal, AC Milan and Roma
Will it happen? Redknapp has a point. Cesar may want a better challenge so that he can ready himself for the World Cup in 2014. His agent has made it clear that a move back to Brazil is unlikely and that his client will stay in Europe.
2. Swansea put a £10m price tag on Ashley Williams
Swansea’s defender Ashley Williams will cost buyers at at least £10m. The Welsh signed a contract extension in October last year which will keep him at the Liberty Stadium till 2015. However, Michael Laudrup is open for transfer talks should any club match the price tag.
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool
Will it happen? With Swansea already qualified for a Europa League spot for the next season, Williams wouldn’t want to miss out on that chance. With a move to Liverpool, the Welshman may miss European action. However, he has admitted that Liverpool is his favourite club. Arsenal have the money to spend in this transfer window and need to strengthen their defence.
3. Atletico Madrid are believed to be preparing a £40m bid for 26-year-old Liverpool striker Luis Suarez
Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is a top target for many clubs. The Uruguayan has had a brilliant season so far and is Premier League’s top scorer. He was also named in the PFA’s Team of the Year.
Interested clubs: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City
Will it happen? After his incident with Chelsea‘s Branislav Ivanovi?, Suarez became one of the most hated players in the Premier League. He was greeted with boos at the PFA awards and was also given a 10-match ban by the FA. To make things worse, Liverpool may miss out on European action in the next season which may just convince Suarez to leave the Reds.
4. Juventus join the race to sign Gonzalo Higuain
Interested clubs: Juventus, Tottenham, Manchester City
Will it happen? Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the transfer of Gareth Bale from Tottenham and Higuain has been suggested as a possible make-weight in the deal, with Andre Villas-Boas desperate to strengthen his front-line. However, sources close to Juventus claim that the Italian club has already opened talks with the Argentine’s representatives.
5. Manchester City interested in Oliver Torres
The 18-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder is wanted at the Etihad stadium next season as Manchester City have joined the race to secure the services of the Spaniard.
Interested clubs: Manchester City, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea
Will it happen? Torres has a valid contract till 2017 with Atletico Madrid. The £8m rated Spain U21 star has just started involving in the first team action since August last year and has only made a handful appearances for the club. It is highly unlikely that he will get a starting line-up spot in any of the interested clubs. It would be wise of him if he decides to stay at the Calderon and make a name for himself.
Source: The Sun, BBC, Mirror