Official Summer Tranfers and Rumors Thread (aka "Cleaning House")

[655321]

It's been reported on these boards already, but we should mention that Zenden and Speedy are both as good as gone. A little surprised about Gonzalez. A little relieved about Zenden.

Go.

[Twenty26Six]

2nd post. I'm very inerested in who will be playing the left-side next season. Just Kewell and Garcia?

[Suss]

I'll repost this here:

1) We need a striker. We need the type of striker that can not only score goals but can create them as well. We play with two defensive midfielders, so we need some creativity out of our strikers. Man United has Rooney, Arsenal has Henry, and even Drogba creates goals out of nothing. If Inzaghi was playing for Liverpool yesterday he would not have scored, because we never created any real chances. Carlos Tevez would be on the top of my list. David Villa and Samuel Eto'o also fit the bill. Bellamy out.

2) We need a winger...specifically a left winger. Pennant has come on strong, and Gerrard will play many games on the right, so I think we are okay there. We need the type of player that can run at defenders and score goals from the wing.

3) We only need a center back if Sami leaves, which I hope he doesn't. You're not going to find a better 3rd choice center back than Sami Hyypia. He is perfect for the role. I just hope he is willing to accept it.

4) Perhaps we can use a left back as well, but I think that will be hard to find. Riise's defending is inconsitent, but he is still a very good player and a part of a defense that conceded very few goals the last two seasons. Aurelio also started to play well before his injury. Arbeloa can serve as cover for anywhere across the back 4.

5) We will need a backup goalkeeper after Dudek leaves. Maybe bring Carson back?

[Wingtips1]

think Sami will stay.
glad to see the back of Gonzo. great physical ability, little else. if the reports are to be believed, 5m for him is a great piece of business after signing him for 2.5m (?) last year.
we'll probably see the back of Bellamy for around 6m.
cisse will probably stay in France for around 7m.
carson will probably get signed by somebody (wouldn't be surprised if it were Aston Villa) for around 3m (not a bad return on a 500k investment).
wouldn't be surprised to see Xabi (17m) or Momo (8m)
total of 30-35m coming to us in transfer fees.

Bring in Simao. (my guess is around 14m)
Bring in two of the three: Klose (around 16m) Bent (12m) Tevez. (25m)
Lucas already brought in (10m)
total of 55-65m in transfers fees.

so a total summers outlay of 35m. I could live with that if we were to make those improvements.

[Bitterman]

What of the Rumors of possibly signing Owen again?

I think Momo and Bellamy might be the next to go, Bellamy said he wants to leave beacuse hes not meshing with Rafa and i think with Mascerano comming in Momo might be up on the block as well.

Kuyt will stay, I think Rafa has alot of faith in him, and Crouch will too.

[Springbok FC]

Zenden and Speedy are both as good as gone. A little surprised about Gonzalez. A little relieved about Zenden.

Go.

Same here. Although I can't say I was ever too attached to Speedy. Bellamy is out the door, too.

Wishlist:
1. David Villa/Carlos Tevez (not both)
2. Insurance at central defense. Sami might be a magpie, soon, and I don't like Paletta one bit.
3. Insurance for both Garcia AND Kewell getting injured again next season. This is a lower priority.

[Springbok FC]

Arbeloa can serve as cover for anywhere across the back 4.

5) We will need a backup goalkeeper after Dudek leaves. Maybe bring Carson back?

I feel it must be said again that Arbeloa was a great buy for us this past season. Great value and he's performed well when given the chance. Not sure of how he performs in central defense, however.

I thought we are bringing Carson back? Is that not the case?

[LiverpoolFanatic]

I've been saying this for several years now---I want a proven goalscorer that knows how to play and actually score in ENGLAND. I don't get to see enough footy from the continent to know if any of the afore mentioned strikers (Eto'o or Villa) would fit that bill. Tevez perhaps would -- he came on really strong for the Hammers, but would they be willing to part with him after all that trouble?


I hope Sami retires a Liverpool player. I'd prefer he didn't go elsewhere, but would understand if he wanted more playing time.

I heard that young 'arry was looking like a genius in training--perhaps finally his injury concerns are over. His close season play with Australia could prove invaluable for us next season if he is still in Rafa's plans.

Isn't Carson just on loan with Charlton?

[Morph]

I'll repost this here:

1) We need a striker. We need the type of striker that can not only score goals but can create them as well. We play with two defensive midfielders, so we need some creativity out of our strikers. Man United has Rooney, Arsenal has Henry, and even Drogba creates goals out of nothing. If Inzaghi was playing for Liverpool yesterday he would not have scored, because we never created any real chances. Carlos Tevez would be on the top of my list. David Villa and Samuel Eto'o also fit the bill. Bellamy out.

2) We need a winger...specifically a left winger. Pennant has come on strong, and Gerrard will play many games on the right, so I think we are okay there. We need the type of player that can run at defenders and score goals from the wing.

3) We only need a center back if Sami leaves, which I hope he doesn't. You're not going to find a better 3rd choice center back than Sami Hyypia. He is perfect for the role. I just hope he is willing to accept it.

4) Perhaps we can use a left back as well, but I think that will be hard to find. Riise's defending is inconsitent, but he is still a very good player and a part of a defense that conceded very few goals the last two seasons. Aurelio also started to play well before his injury. Arbeloa can serve as cover for anywhere across the back 4.

5) We will need a backup goalkeeper after Dudek leaves. Maybe bring Carson back?


I think we have enough players who create chances, chances aren’t really a problem, it’s taking chances, bar from last night, Liverpool haven’t had problems in creativity, but have had a problem putting the ball into the back of the net.

I do feel we get a poor source of creativity from our strikers, but then again, I’d much rather they linked up well and put the ball in the back of the net, Alonso needs to be deployed higher up the pitch where he can use that creative spark of his to feed through balls in and balls to the flank on a more consistent basis. I think if Inzaghi played on any team last night he we would have scored, for instance I have little doubt he would have put Pennant’s early shot into the corner of the goal and I wouldn’t bet on him missing the chance Gerrard missed either.

Carlos Tevez would be a nice signing, I would not be happy shelling out the amounts which are being speculated by people. I would pay no more than £11m for Carlos; I don’t think one great season in the Premiership warrants a ridiculous price tag. As for Samuel Eto’o, he has just declared he is content with life at Barcelona and David Villa’s buy out is £85m, so I cannot see him being bought. I like Vincenzo Iaquinta; he seems like a fantastic player, I would take a closer look at him.

As for Bellamy, it does look more likely that he will go in the summer, the Liverpool curse seems to have gotten to him just like it did to Morientes, Cisse, Litmanen, I hope the next striker who walks through the door, can produce the form we need from our strikers. I’ll miss Craig when if and when he goes, its ashame, I was genuinely happy when we signed him last summer.

I would recommend Simao, I haven’t watched him in a lot of matches, but I watched him against United and us last season and he was immense and he was consistent for Portugal last summer. I hear he can play right wing too, which isn’t too bad.

I heard we are linked to Zaragoza’s Gabriel Milito, in which case, Hyypia would be surplus to requirements and I heard he could be on his way to Valencia as they are losing Ayala. Hyypia is too good, healthy and consistent and should be playing regular first team football, there is no room for such sentiment, to keep Sami at Liverpool as third choice player is disrespect and discredit to the service he gave us over the past eight years. I hope he find pastures new if he isn’t offered first team football here (which is unlikely) it’s not fair to keep him as a bit part player, he is too good of a defender. We should have three central defenders who can be rotated around effectively and someone like Milito will offer stern competition to both Carragher and Agger, which Sami can’t offer.

A left back is a must, I would sign someone else in and keep Aurelio and keep Riise as a squad player, I wouldn’t want to sell him, as you say he is very inconsistent and his defensive ability isn’t great, not for a club of our stature. We need a defender who can link up well with the midfielder; it wouldn’t surprise me if we sign a new left back and new left winger in the summer window. He has been the weak link in our defence and he has a nightmare against West Ham in the FA Cup final last season, Yossi had him in the bag, I am not comfortable with Riise being a left back. A wing back or left midfielders are safer options to play Riise.

As for a understudy keeper to Reina, how about David Martin? Why sign another keeper when we have him, either him or we could sign that Padelli on a permanent deal. I don’t see the need to sign players when we have adequate players in the reserves that are waiting for their chance to shine on the senior level. As for Carson, I would sell him to the highest bidder; he is players with mass potential and him being stuck as Reina’s understudy would damage his growth, he needs to be playing regular first team football.


think Sami will stay.
glad to see the back of Gonzo. great physical ability, little else. if the reports are to be believed, 5m for him is a great piece of business after signing him for 2.5m (?) last year.
we'll probably see the back of Bellamy for around 6m.
cisse will probably stay in France for around 7m.
carson will probably get signed by somebody (wouldn't be surprised if it were Aston Villa) for around 3m (not a bad return on a 500k investment).
wouldn't be surprised to see Xabi (17m) or Momo (8m)
total of 30-35m coming to us in transfer fees.

Bring in Simao. (my guess is around 14m)
Bring in two of the three: Klose (around 16m) Bent (12m) Tevez. (25m)
Lucas already brought in (10m)
total of 55-65m in transfers fees.

so a total summers outlay of 35m. I could live with that if we were to make those improvements.


I would argue the opposite and suggest that Gonzales has shown technicality in his game, but has lacked the ruthless needed to be a success here in the Premiership, but to sell a potentially great player, who saved Sociedad from relegation last season, is a bit premature IMO. I just think with more starts and more time to adjust Gonzales would develop into a fine player, obviously Benitez doesn’t want to chance it and wants quick success.

As for Cisse, I cannot see him going for a sum of £7m, that’s too much money and no one in their right mind would pay that much money for Cisse, from what I have seen of him in Ligue one he hasn’t looked brilliant, I reckon he will develop into the player he was for Auxerre, I just cannot see him going for that price. I wouldn’t rule it out and it would great if he did go for that much, I just don’t think he will, we’ll have to cut or loses, like we did with Diouf.

Darren Bent? I don’t rate Bent, to me he would do more harm to our build up play, link up and all round attack, he has had two decent seasons with Charlton, but a price tag of £12m is just ludicrous, he hasn’t done anything to warrant such a price tag and if Charlton want that much money for Bent, they won’t get it, because only Newcastle would be willing to pay that much money on a player of Bent’s “quality”. Tevez for £25m, what makes you think he is worth this extraordinary amount of money? He’s had a good season, but again, I don’t think he is worth that much and I certainly wouldn’t pay more than £11m for him. He’s a great asset to any team, but to pay that much money for someone who has just headed over to European competition, that’s a crazy amount especially when Milan signed Kaka for a miserly £5m.

What of the Rumors of possibly signing Owen again?

I think Momo and Bellamy might be the next to go, Bellamy said he wants to leave beacuse hes not meshing with Rafa and i think with Mascerano comming in Momo might be up on the block as well.

Kuyt will stay, I think Rafa has alot of faith in him, and Crouch will too.


I like Owen; he was and still is to a degree a fantastic player, his day at this club came to end three years ago when he walked out for pastures new, there is no point looking back on a player who gave us his best years. I can’t see Owen returning, Rafa seems like a person who only offers once and Owen won’t like having to work hard to break into the team, hence why he left Madrid after only one season, he wants first team football to rest his insecurities about not representing England in major finals. Newcastle can serve his purpose well and if Big Sam is shrewd he can make them a club which chases a spot in the Champions League.

Why would we sell Sissoko? He is a fantastic player at what he does and that’s cause havoc to the opposition, he’ll still be included in the first team and will play, we have four central midfielders who offer a lot to the team, each has a different quality at their disposal, we don’t need to sell any of the players.

Rafa lost faith in Kuyt? Are you serious, Dirk has been one of our most consistent and better players this season, for his first season in a new league he’s done well, lets just hope he has a good summer and a good pre-season and with better players around him, I am positive (as I am sure Rafa is) that Kuyt will deliver his form he did for Feyenoord at Liverpool, he’s a good player and had he got into better positions last night, he could have scored more than one goal.

[Twenty26Six]

Rafa lost faith in Kuyt? Are you serious

He said "has a lot" not "has lost" :)

[Morph]

Apologies in advance. :o

[Suss]

I think we have enough players who create chances, chances aren’t really a problem, it’s taking chances, bar from last night, Liverpool haven’t had problems in creativity, but have had a problem putting the ball into the back of the net.


I don't think we create enough chances. There is a difference between controlling/dominating the play and creating chances. Often times this season we were a dominant team, without actually creating any really good chances. The issue is more than just finishing. I don't think our strikers were particulary wasteful this season. I think it was more of a case of our attacking players failing to create goals.

For most of the year we played with two defensive midfielders. So all our creativity had to come from Gerrard and whoever else was playing on the wing.

If we are going to continue to play with defensive players like Xabi, Mach, and Momo in midfield, we are going to need a striker that can create goals for himself as well as others.

[Wingtips1]

morph,
while i wish we wouldn't be spending that much money, Man U just spent 20m on a holding midfielder!! a potential game changer such as Tevez is going to cost over and above that. 11m is what we paid for kuyt, and tevez is twice the goal threat he is. and you just quoted what milan paid 4 years ago for kaka. goal scorers are in EXTREMELY high demand right now. prices are going to be inflated, but if we want to win the championship, we need one.
again, we paid 11m for kuyt (going by your logic, we should have only offered 4m for him), while Bent is an actual goalscorer. teams need goal scorers. we NEED a goalscorer. 12m would be a good price. what hasn't he done to warrant such a price? he has almost single handedly kept charlton afloat. he is a known commodity in the premiership. while he isn't going to pick balls up at midfield and run past three defenders, he is going to be a nuisance to the back four by harassing them and hanging around the box and scoring goals. he won't be hanging out on the left wing like kuyt was doing last night. he is going to occupy defenders and pop up in the box and score goals. we don't have a forward like that right now.
cisse for 6 or 7m is incredibly realistic. that has been the price bandied about by the rags thus far.
gonzalez has potential, yes. but he is 22. in the games i've seen, i would never have rated his performance above a 7. he can become a very good player, yes. do i think he will be a success in spain? probably (as he has shown ability there), but do we have time to allow him to develop next year? no. especially if simao is brought in, and with kewell ahead of him.

[Wingtips1]

Why would we sell Sissoko? He is a fantastic player at what he does and that’s cause havoc to the opposition, he’ll still be included in the first team and will play, we have four central midfielders who offer a lot to the team, each has a different quality at their disposal, we don’t need to sell any of the players.


because he is a completely one dimensional player, that is why. when we have 4 more 'complete' midfielders (masch/SG, with xabi/lucas on the bench) to choose from, there is little reason for momo to ever see the field. so why not pawn him off?

[ForeverRed]

2nd post. I'm very inerested in who will be playing the left-side next season. Just Kewell and Garcia?

That would be a horrible mistake by management. Kewell is injury prone and inconsistent and Garcia never really works well on the left, he's more effective plugged in behind the strikers or in a free roaming role.

Rafa just needs to sort out two major problems, a clinical finisher and a class left winger. Other than that, we're fine.

I'm sure he'll get the financial backing, the rest will be up to the other teams and targeted players.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I'll repost this here:

1) We need a striker. We need the type of striker that can not only score goals but can create them as well. We play with two defensive midfielders, so we need some creativity out of our strikers. Man United has Rooney, Arsenal has Henry, and even Drogba creates goals out of nothing. If Inzaghi was playing for Liverpool yesterday he would not have scored, because we never created any real chances. Carlos Tevez would be on the top of my list. David Villa and Samuel Eto'o also fit the bill. Bellamy out.

2) We need a winger...specifically a left winger. Pennant has come on strong, and Gerrard will play many games on the right, so I think we are okay there. We need the type of player that can run at defenders and score goals from the wing.

3) We only need a center back if Sami leaves, which I hope he doesn't. You're not going to find a better 3rd choice center back than Sami Hyypia. He is perfect for the role. I just hope he is willing to accept it.

4) Perhaps we can use a left back as well, but I think that will be hard to find. Riise's defending is inconsitent, but he is still a very good player and a part of a defense that conceded very few goals the last two seasons. Aurelio also started to play well before his injury. Arbeloa can serve as cover for anywhere across the back 4.

5) We will need a backup goalkeeper after Dudek leaves. Maybe bring Carson back?

Great post, Suss, you covered all bases. I will answer your numbers with my own, it's just easier to organize thoughts.:o

1) I agree with the whole striker bit, hell, I think almost everyone on this board will agree there. I would say for me the list has to be one of Villa, Tevez, Klose, Berbatov, Bent, or Eto'o.

2)Left winger is another obvious buy considering we are letting two go. Simao is the only one I can think of at the moment. Any help?

3)Yeah, I really don't think Paletta is a good 3rd choice center back if Sami ends up leaving. I am crossing my fingers that he doesn't leave not just because he is still valuable but also because he is a player that when you think Liverpool the last couple of years his name makes it in with Carra and Stevie.

4)We don't really have a true defensive minded left back. I mean Arbeloa is naturally a right back and both Riise and Aurelio like to attack, they really like to attack. Both are inconsistent defenders as well.

5)What about Padelli? If we can get a good sum for Carson I think we can allow him to leave. There will be a couple of Premiership and Championship teams looking for keepers, not to mention other European teams.

I'll add a sixth

6)Zenden and Gonzo are almost certainly gone. Rafa made it clear that Xabi wouldn't be leaving, but his biggest admirer Barca, has a lot to offer in a possible swap deal. I am not sure about Momo either, but Rafa again has come out and said no talks on a deal. Bellamy should leave and depending on other buys at other positions we might see Crouch, Riise, or Aurelio leave.

[liverpool1003]

I'll repost this here:

1) We need a striker. We need the type of striker that can not only score goals but can create them as well. We play with two defensive midfielders, so we need some creativity out of our strikers. Man United has Rooney, Arsenal has Henry, and even Drogba creates goals out of nothing. If Inzaghi was playing for Liverpool yesterday he would not have scored, because we never created any real chances. Carlos Tevez would be on the top of my list. David Villa and Samuel Eto'o also fit the bill. Bellamy out.

2) We need a winger...specifically a left winger. Pennant has come on strong, and Gerrard will play many games on the right, so I think we are okay there. We need the type of player that can run at defenders and score goals from the wing.

3) We only need a center back if Sami leaves, which I hope he doesn't. You're not going to find a better 3rd choice center back than Sami Hyypia. He is perfect for the role. I just hope he is willing to accept it.

4) Perhaps we can use a left back as well, but I think that will be hard to find. Riise's defending is inconsitent, but he is still a very good player and a part of a defense that conceded very few goals the last two seasons. Aurelio also started to play well before his injury. Arbeloa can serve as cover for anywhere across the back 4.

5) We will need a backup goalkeeper after Dudek leaves. Maybe bring Carson back?

I agree with the striker situation, we need a good striker and we need him fast, i'm not too sold on villa i think Torres will fit better.

[YNWAYNWA]

BBC plays Championship Manager:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42967000/gif/_42967045_liverpool_20078_203.gif

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6687309.stm

[YNWAYNWA]

is Lucas going to Canada? (BTW Gremio is through to the semi-finals of the Copa)

FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
Lucas ready to lead Brazilian charge

(FIFA.com) 28 Mar 2007

The year 2006 saw Lucas break new ground. He inspired Gremio to 2007 Copa Libertadores qualification on their return to the Brazilian top flight, became the youngest ever recipient of Placar Magazine's Golden Ball, awarded to the domestic championship's top performer, and earned a first call-up to the senior Brazil squad.

Surpassing such a profitable 12 months was always going to be an arduous task for the all-action midfielder, however, having already skippered his country to glory at the 2007 South American U-20 Championship and helped his club make a positive start to the new season, he believes this goal is within his reach. That said, Lucas is aware that his mission rests abundantly on one factor: whether or not he can lead the Seleção to gold at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, which begins on 30 June. . .

Predominantly a defensive midfielder, the 20-year-old is an expert marker and ball-winner. His capabilities, nonetheless, stretch beyond breaking up opposition attacks. An inventive passer who possesses a neat first touch, well-rounded is an adjective that fits Lucas like a glove. . .
http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/index/0,2442,134504,00.html?comp=U20M&year=2007&articleid=134504

[Caesar]

In fairness to Kewell, he's not inconsistent - when he's match-fit and plays, he plays well. However, I agree - he can't be relied on, and Garcia is not a LW. Someone else is needed. This time, I'd like to see the big money spent and a proven performer brought in rather than taking a punt on a young gun (like was done with Speedy). I still think with another season Gonzo could have worked out and been the solution, but what's done is done.

Simao is one option. Vincente is another - he's been strangled the last couple of seasons at Valencia. Duff is worth thinking about, may well want to get out of Newcastle, only downside is he's had a couple of injury problems recently. One name I haven't heard mentioned nearly enough is Yuri Zhirkov.