Transfer Talk: No Luque Again, No Gooch for You, No Ruud Welcome

By: Bob | January 25th, 2007

We are in the homestretch of the winter transfer window and the excitement in the air is almost palpable. Players have come and they have gone and the rumors have been rampant and, well, who am I kidding, this has been a fairly dull transfer period. Maybe today’s news will bring the excitement and joy that is missing from all of our miserable lives. Probably not, but here are the moves and rumblings from today’s transfer world.

The misfit, unwanted, not very well liked, smelly (not a fact) striker Albert Luque continues to hang around Newcastle United like an albatross. After a potential deal fell through to move the unhappy camper to PSV Eindhoven the thought that he might return home to Spain to play for Villareal seemed like a good alternative until the Spanish club signed someone they liked better, Jon Dahl Tomasson, from Stuttgart. This has left Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder to say: “This being the case it looks as though Albert will be here not only for the rest of the season, but also at the start of next season.” Feel the excitement in his voice.

Speaking of Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder, he says that his club is not interested in landing U.S. international and Standard Liege defender Oguchi Onyewu. Roeder does add that he is “aware of this player”. Considering Chelsea, Fulham and Real Madrid have all been linked to Gooch you have to marvel at Roeder’s scouting resources.

The somewhat ridiculous talk of Cristiano Ronaldo going to Real Madrid in a summer transfer isn’t dying the death it should and today we learn that former Manchester United teammate and sparring partner Ruud van Nistelrooy would welcome C-Ron. What he doesn’t say is whether he would welcome him with a hug or a roundhouse right.

Another day, another million trees killed to print stories about Gareth Bale. The story today is that Tottenham are on top of the race to spend outrageous sums on a talented and unproven 17-year-old.

With every story of Bale, there is a story of Gabriel Heinze who could be replaced if Manchester United buy Bale. The story today is that Heinze could invoke a new FIFA rule that would allow him to buy out his contract this June. This rule could affect a number of older players so stay tuned.

Preston have rejected an offer from Fulham for goalkeeper Carlo Nash, but before you shed a tear for Chris Coleman’s club you should know that they are working to line up a deal to get Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini on loan for the rest of the season.

Jeremy Clement went to Rangers to play for manager Paul Le Guen. The manager was driven out of town like he was snake in Ireland and now Clement has followed him to Paris St. Germain.

Speaking of fleeing, since the transfer window opened in January, eleven players have quit the Republic of Ireland for the United Kingdom. Who said this hasn’t been a monumental transfer period?

Two things I know about Mali. First, it has a city named Timbuktu. Second, it has a football player named Fousseni Diawara who has signed on to play with Bolton after deciding to leave St Etienne.

I know a bit more about Senegal, including the fact that one of its players, Salif Diao, has joined Stoke from Liverpool on a permanent deal for the rest of the season.

The Iranian Maradona, Ali Karimi, will remain with Bayern Munich until this summer after his former United Arab Emirates football club, Al-Ahli, withdrew its offer. His contact runs out at the end of the season so methinks these are his final months in Germany.

Finally, not content to let cross-town rival LA Galaxy steal their thunder, Chivas USA have landed John Cunliffe. He will reportedly make less than $250 million over five years.