Rumours, rumours, rumours and that’s exactly what you’d expect from January. The bank holiday weekend meant that there was a bit of a lack of rumours, stories etc this weekend, but all the rumours were back in force today, and the one that stands out and the one that I will start with is of course, Vieira to Man City.
Patrick Vieira
For Paddy, it would be a good move – the ability to get a very good contract. We have to realise the player is 33 now, turning 34 – and not the player he used to be. We’ve seen in one off games that we can raise his game, but his vision and consistency are not what they were like back when he was playing for us. I think he can offer any team strength in depth, he is taller than your average player too. You’d like with Cesc, Denilson and Song all unavailable, a player like Vieira does sound like a good option. But then again, with a nice youthful combination of Song, Diaby, Denilson, Cesc, Ramsey and the youth, where would Vieira fit in if everyone was fit and available. Lyon are amongst suitors, but due to Mancini taking over at Citeh, it’s understandable that Vieira has been linked. The front runners are supposedly Barcelona who are worried that the departures of Toure and Keita will affect them, although it may be too short term for Paddy.
Lyon realised this:
“Patrick has contact with great clubs, notably Barcelona, who will lose Seydou Keita and Yaya Toure (to the African Nations Cup).”
The Hulk
Porto’s player, The Hulk, has been linked with us and United for a whopping £20m. Possibility of us signing Hulk, at that price, 0%. Possibility of us signing him for £5m, 0%. Possibility of Man United signing him for £30m, 63.2%. Although the player is a decent target man, you don’t regularly hear about him setting Europe on fire, do you?
Adam Matthews
The reason this chap makes the rumour mill is due to the comments from Peter Ridsdale claiming we’re interested in him. He does fit the profile that we need – i.e. he is a defender and that’s about it. I don’t know much about the player, or where he players, but if he is a right back, then it’s something we could do with, if he is a centre back and very good, they cool. Apparently, we’re going to fight it out with Man United for him… let’s wait and see – after all, he is only 17.
“We have had two or three enquiries and I know Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in the lad. But there is no agreement with any club, verbal or otherwise. We want Adam to stay with Cardiff and that’s what we are hoping will happen.”
Fran Merida
Yep, it looks like young Spanish starlet is leaving us at the end of the season and it’s a shame, because we know how good he looks or has looked in some of those Carling Cup games, especially his left footed strike against Liverpool. But at 19, he’s light years behind Cesc – and Ramsey looks a much better proposition that Merida.
Sky Sports News reporting:
“Now Merida has seemingly decided to leave Arsenal and has opted to join Atletico – who are the club he has supported all his life. Merida, who shunned an approached from Sevilla, has agreed a five-year deal at the Vicente Calderon.”
So, off one goes, thanks for nothing Arsenal, two fingers up at Arsene and back to Spain… hmmm!
Maroune Chamakh
It’s one of those crazy footballing sagas, which you kind of want to just go away. Chamakh kind of sounds like one of those players who you don’t really want at your club anyway, a player who’ll leave us soon after joining, but Arsene’s pursual of the Morroccan striker has proved very much a good pursual as Chamakh has been playing very well this season, and scoring quite a few goals.
Chance of Chamakh joining us this January, 0%…
“Even though Arsenal are pressurising me to join them this month, I will take my time and I am going to finish my season with Bordeaux.
There we go… so it’s back to square one… and square one is all about waiting for the injured players to come back.
And just in case you haven’t read Arsene’s statement about signings, it’s here for you to read again:
”As many people say – I have the money, I have the desire, but I do not have the player. I do not know what will happen [in the transfer window generally]. ’Basically, it depends how the big guns – Manchester City and Chelsea – will move. Where will they buy? If they buy from English clubs, the market will be busy. If they do not buy from English clubs, I think the market will be very quiet because there is not a lot of money around.”
Bolton preview coming next…
