Transfer Talk: Sven Makes His First Moves

New Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson has been told that new owner Thaksin Shinawatra expects Champions League football within three years. Quite a demand. So Sven has wasted no time and is busy making some rumourlicious (it’s a word) waves in the transfer market.

The Swede’s first big move will be a £12million bid for Middlesbrough’s Yakubu Aiyegbeni, or Yakubu to me and you. Would be a great signing for City, but the Yak’s former boss Harry Redknapp is also interested in returning the striker to Portsmouth. Whatever happens, it’s not looking good for Middlesbrough, who’ve already lost Mark Viduka to Newcastle, and Gareth Southgate must be wondering where next season’s goals are coming from.

Various other rumours have linked Sven with – deep breath – Nantes Swedish winger Christian Wilhelmsson (he of World Cup rat tail fame), West Bromwich Albion’s Hungarian playmaker Zoltan Gera (who’s really too good to spend another season in the Championship), Everton’s Phil Neville, Bayern Munich’s Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz, West Ham left back Paul Konchencky and Manchester United Reserves stars Alan Smith and Keiran Richardson.

Sven has also denied rumours made up by unimaginative journalists that he plans to take BFF David Beckham on loan from LA Galaxy or sign Vice-BFF Michael Owen from Newcastle.

West Ham are looking to replace Carlos Tevez, and who better than another muscley-necked forward who guarantees goals and trouble in equal doses? Their £7.5million signing of Liverpool’s Craig Bellamy should go through on Monday.

Liverpool are also selling striker Djibril Cisse to Marseille (where he spent last season on loan) for around £6million. Cisse never got a fair crack at Liverpool, and those two broken legs didn’t help either.

And Rafa Benitez will give around £14 million to Porto in exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo-a-like winger Ricardo Quaresma. That noise you hear is Jermaine Pennant packing his bags and muttering under his breath about foreigners.

Real Madrid are putting pressure on Arsenal by declaring their interest on Cesc Fabregas. No word on a price, but word is that the young Spanish midfielder will seek “talks” with Arsene Wenger and try to negotiate an escape from Ashburton Grove. Two things: 1) Wenger will absolutely blow his top if he loses Fabregaas, and Arsenal fans won’t be too happy either. 2) It’s insane that Madrid are making moves in the tansfer market before they’ve even got a manager in place.

Chelsea and Lyon have agreed a fee for French winger Florent Malouda. The fee hasn’t been disclosed but don’t be surprised if Lyon got close to their £15 million asking price. The French champions are in an interesting position where their very big name players often move on (Essien, Diarra) but always for very big transfer fees. Malouda’s arrival at Chelsea could mean Arjen Robben bidding whatever the Dutch for goodbye is. There’ll be no shortage of clubs after his signature, though his recent injury record might be cause for concern.

Some Related Stories:

Category: England, English Premier League