Transfer Talk: A Prayer for Owen Hargreaves, Milan at Lyon, Duck Talk

By: Bob | January 19th, 2007

It is that time of year again when the rumors are hot and heavy and fiction becomes reality. We’ll do our best to help you stay on top of all the latest, greatest and lamest winter transfer window news. Here are some Grade A nibbles from the football transfer world today.

It is day number 666 of the Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United saga and today we learn that the club has made yet another bid to land the Canadian/English/German midfielder. Bayern Munich are still holding the key to Hargreaves’ chastity belt and if I had to wager a guess we’ll still be inundated with this story come summer.

In day number 666 of the Gabriel Heinze is leaving Manchester United saga, Sir Alex said today that he would rather strip naked and Jell-o wrestle with Jose Mourinho than part with the defender. Heinze is staying at Man U, at least for another day. Check back with me on Monday.

Watford have accepted a bid from Aston Villa for striker Ashley Young. Villa apparently got the young forward for the “discount” price of £8m. Watford will need that money next year when they are in the Championship.

Speaking of Aston Villa, now that they have spent too much for Ashley Young they are likely looking to dump Milan Baros, a striker they previously spent too much for. Enter French champs Lyon, who were spurned by Baros in 2005 but still have an affection for Czech goal scorer (term used loosely).

Speaking of Aston Villa yet again, they have made a move for Tottenham midfielder Teemu Tainio who doesn’t play much but has a cool name and keeps it real for all Finnish fans of the Premiership.

Chelsea failed to land Bolton defender Ben Haim the first go around but as a wise man once said it is, when at first you don’t succeed try, try again.

The 17-year-old Brazil and Internacional wunderkind Alexandre Pato has officially hit the big time now that his club has turned down an offer to sell him to AC Milan. The next step for The Duck is for Real Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona to all say he is theirs before he ends up playing for someone like Juventus.

Ghana international striker Asamoah Gyan has joined Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow from his Italian club Udinese. This is a record purchase for a Russian club and it might just be a matter of time before all of the Russian oil money starts paying off with clubs there snatching up some of Europe’s best young talent.

Former Japan striker Takayuki Suzuki has joined Yokohama F-Marinos after pretty much flopping at Red Star Belgrade. At 30 years of age, Suzuki might have a few more goals left in his tank, but he’ll have big shoes to fill trying to replace Tatsuhiko Kubo at Yokohama.

Home is where the heart is. Or something like that. Former Argentina forward Claudio Lopez has returned to Racing Club after an 11-year absence that saw him play for Club America, Lazio and Valencia.

Real Madrid might be intent on raiding Livepool during the summer transfer season if you are to believe the reports that they are hoping to lure midfielder Xabi Alonso and striker Dirk Kuyt from Merseyside. Personally I think they should buy all of the LA Galaxy players so that Beckham has to play by himself.