Analysing the Transfer gossip – 23rd June Part 2: Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and more

Part 1 can be found here.

As we move in to the off-season an unprecedented amount of managerial movement around Europe will surely see an already frantic transfer market go in to overdrive. This will give plenty of opportunities for transfer rumour and gossip. So how much of it is realistic?

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Swansea defender Ashley Williams, 28, wants to leave the Welsh club and move to Arsenal.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

What’s the story? It’s all well and good Williams wanting to leave but Arsenal have three better centre backs already and Wenger doesn’t sign old players from other Premier League teams.Does it make sense? No.Is the price right? £10m would be too much even if he was 26. More like £5m at absolute most. Worth more to Swansea than any potential buyer.Will it happen? 2/10 – I don’t get why Arsenal are linked at all but maybe there is some kind of truth.

Chelsea are nearing the completion of a £9m deal for Vitesse Arnhem’s Marco van Ginkel, 20, after manager Jose Mourinho assured the Netherlands midfielder of regular football.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

What’s the story? How is he going to get regular football exactly? They’ve already got too many attacking midfielders, what possible use could they have for yet another.Does it make sense? He’s a lovely, tricky little player but Chelsea have some many others in his position. He must surely see that.Is the price right? £9m is fair for the talent and potential.Will it happen? 10/10 – It’s happening, for some reason.

Tottenham are preparing a £20m deal for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, 22, and Spurs could offer 29-year-old forward Emmanuel Adebayor as part of any move.

Full story: Daily Star Sunday

What’s the story? All quiet on the Benteke front lately for some reason. All the richer clubs seem to be looking elsewhere so Spurs could theoretically sneak in. They want rid of Adebayor but he doesn’t fit the profile of player Lambert wants at Villa and his wages are far too high.Does it make sense? I’m sure Lambert would rather sell and not get Adebayor back. Villa’s late season charge was based on young hungry players, not players who can’t even motivate themselves to chase the Champions League. For Spurs, Benteke is an interesting option but not the best striker they’ve been linked with.Is the price right? £20m straight up, no Adebayor seems fair. Villa would be tempted to sell and it’s not an outrageous amount for Spurs to pay.Will it happen? 5/10 – Discount Adebayor immediately. Still, it’s not a ‘typical’ Spurs signing of recent years but they’re breaking the mould to sign Paulinho.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes wants to bring Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland, 26, to the Britannia Stadium.

Full story: Sunday People

What’s the story? Ireland’s one good, exceptional in fact, season came under Hughes at Man City. At that stage, he was going to be a star. Off field issues and injury put a stop to that though. Stoke need some inventiveness and although Ireland hasn’t shown he can be a good option for many years, Hughes might try to revive him.Does it make sense? Not really. Villa would love to get rid of his wage so would take anything for him. He’s just a name now, not much use in the top flight.Is the price right? Villa would probably give him away.Will it happen? 8/10 – Probably, but if it does it shows Hughes has learned nothing from his QPR misadventure.

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway wants to sign striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, 27, who has been released by Wolves and will be out injured until October.

Full story: Daily Express

What’s the story? Palace’s Championship looking squad is going to be badly exposed in the top flight. They don’t have a goal scorer. Murray is injured and had never even scored goals in the second tier before last season. If this is the answer though, it’s a horrible question.Does it make sense? Ebanks-Blake is not a Premier league striker. He had two seasons to prove it with Wolves and didn’t. He’s an injury liability too.Is the price right? Free is always good.Will it happen? 7/10 – Holloway likes to portray himself as a maverick risk taker, so perhaps.