Transfer Talk: A Galacticos Reunion in Saudi Arabia?

By: Bob | January 10th, 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.

The oil money is flowing and the Saudi sheikhs are eager to spend it. After the week-long (or was it a century-long?) drama regarding their signing of Luis Figo, we learn today that the Saudi club Al Ittihad has made an offer to take Ronaldo off of the hands of Real Madrid. Three years of living in sweltering heat might be one way to get Ronaldo back into match fitness. File this one under the “unlikely” category, which is precisely where we stored those Figo rumors too.

Werder Bremen striker and all-around stud Miroslav Klose says he would prefer to stay with his current club until the end of the year when he would like to put his passport to use and go play abroad. He has a list of five or so teams he likes and surprisingly none of them are named Al Ittihad.

The Catalan daily Sport are reporting that Manchester United are interested in Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez. Hey, if Liverpool can have a Xavi on their team than certainly Man U should too.

Man U are also interested in French international midfielder Rio Antonio Mavuba who plays for Bordeaux and who shares a first name with a current Manchester United player. That might lead to some confusion and/or crazy dressing room hijinks.

Why there is even talk about struggling Aston Villa striker Milan Baros going to Chelsea is anyone’s guess, but his play this season has made Sheva’s seem wonderful by comparison.

Speaking of Chelsea, all we have heard this transfer period is how much they want defensive help. Apparently defender Alcides does not figure into those plans as they have loaned him out to PSV Eindhoven for 18 months. He had been on loan with Benfica and is quickly running out of pages for stamps in his passport.

Charlton have not been close to leading much of anything this year other than the list of clubs that have sucked, but they are the frontrunners for Sevilla striker Kepa Blanco who has been described as being “unsettled”. I had the same problem last week. Hemorrhoids are a bitch, aren’t they?

The Columbus Crew want Brian McBride to come back to the land of the free and the home of the brave after his contract with Fulham expires in May. He would have to take a pay cut and knowing a guy like McBride he might be willing to do that. Stay tuned.

McBride’s newest teammate at Fulham is MC Clint Dempsey who received word that he is now permitted to play in England and he won’t have to bus tables illegally at an Indian restaurant in North London anymore.

Former Rangers keeper Ronald Waterreus could be coming to New York Red Bulls to put an end to Tony Meola’s career. Thank goodness Meola has those broadway acting and NFL placekicking careers to fall back on.

Hearts look to have won the race to sign Romanian teenager Dumitru Copil after proposing a longer contract than Celtic. I have seen this 16-year-old described as the Next Gheorghe Hagi. If that is the case, I will probably start having nightly wet dreams again.

Middlesbrough have strongly denied rumors that England winger Stewart Downing is on his way to Tottenham, while Tottneham appears to be out of the running to sign Deportivo La Coruna defender Frabricio Coloccini. Tottenham manager Martin Jol and Egyptian striker Mido can’t get along and now Mido is being shopped around at thrift stores everywhere.

The Argentines are here, there and everywhere and frankly The Beautiful Game has it all much better covered than I could ever pretend to.