Transfer Talk: The United States of Fulham

By: Bob | January 3rd, 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.

Not content with having three Americans on their team, Fulham is reportedly trying to go after Standard Liege defender Oguchi Onyewu, the Ringo of the American Fulham quartet that now includes Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, and Clint Dempsey, pending work permit. Onyewu has been linked with Real Madrid, among others, so it does make you wonder if Fulham has the dough to make the Fab Four in London a reality.

A simple smokescreen or a recognition that they have all the pieces already? According to Manchester United chief executive David Gill, his club will not be doing any window shopping in the winter, preferring to wait until the sun returns in the summer.

Middlesbrough striker Massimo Maccarone wants out and he wants to go to Italy where undoubtedly the macaroni is more to his liking.

If you offered $20 and a spot on your Sunday league team you probably could convince West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano to join you. He will be heading somewhere, but where he heads is anyone’s guess at this point.

Saudi Arabia has one less Sheikh now that the word is out that Luis Figo is staying at Inter Milan after all. At least that is the word today. Check back tomorrow. Maybe he’ll be headed to MLS by then.

Speaking of Inter Milan, the Italian leaders are apparently keen on landing Udinese’s Vincenzo Iaquinta before they get all crazy and try to land Samuel Eto’o this summer. Inter has also been linked to and backed away from Antonio Cassano, who Real Madrid would probably gag and dump in a river if they could. Cassano is now being linked to Fiorentina whose coach Cesare Prandelli has worked with the striker before and says: “I did not work with him enough to be able to make a complete judgment, but I think that he is a victim of his own emotions.” I cried while watching Bambi. Am I a victim too?

Back to Real Madrid for a second with news that the Spanish giants have offered David Beckham an improved deal. I hope he signs it this very second or is abducted by aliens because it is going to be a long transfer period if there is Beckham speculation every day.

What ever happened to Tore Andre Flo? Who knows, but now he is playing at Leeds United where the shine on his star can continue to fade into obscurity.

Finally, the sweet sounds of Duke Ellington might be coming to Wigan. Don’t you wish you had a nickname like Duke?

The Transfer Zone

Got some more transfer news, rumors and views? Leave a comment or shoot an email to bob[at]theoffside.com.