'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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?
Part One is here
Manchester United have renewed their interest in signing Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, having lost the battle to sign Barcelona’s 22-year-old midfielder Thiago Alacantara.
Full story: the Independent
What’s the story? United were linked to Fabregas earlier in the summer before Thiago and before Fabregas said he wanted to stay in Spain. So…
Does it make sense? Fabregas would be a wonderful signing for United but it’s not going to happen. He’s said he wants to prove himself at Barcelona. Plus, even if he did come back to England it would only be to Arsenal who have a first refusal arrangement.
Is the price right? Pretty irrelevant but hard to see Barcelona selling for less than £40m.
Will it happen? 2/10 – I don’t see how Barcelona let Fabregas go after losing Thiago Alcantara and surely, even with their various transfer travails, Arsenal would have to bid on him if he became available.
Manchester City are closing in on Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, 27, and Fiorentina front man Stevan Jovetic, 23, in deals totaling more than £40m.
Full story: Sun
What’s the story? City have missed out on various forward options and having now sold Balotelli and Tevez are light on numbers.
Does it make sense? The problem with signing starter quality players, is that they want to start. Sergio Ageuro is the main man at City so will start. There isn’t room for both of these but I guess they’ll find a way around that.
Is the price right? £40 is about right for their talent. Jovetic will make up about £25m of that at least so Negredo would be good value.
Will it happen? 9/10 – I’m on board with Negredo. I guess they’re in pole position for Jovetic but there are other teams that want him.
Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, 28, will not leave Paris St-Germain, according to his agent, despite reported interest from Barcelona.
Full story: Le Parisien
What’s the story? PSG want to win the Champions League and are spending serious money to do so. When were they ever going to consider selling their best player? The best defender in the world.
Does it make sense? He’d be a wonderful signing for Barcelona but if they wanted him why didn’t they get him last summer? PSG aren’t going to sell.
Is the price right? He cost PSG £35m so what are Barcelona planning on paying? £50m? It’s not happening.
Will it happen? 0/10 – No way.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will meet with director of football Joe Kinnear on Monday and is seeking the green light to press ahead with a £5m bid for Aston Villa’s 29-year-old striker Darren Bent.
Full story: the Telegraph
What’s the story? Newcastle have kept their powder dry so far with new Director of Football Kinnear not yet entering the market.
Does it make sense? Newcastle play a one striker system and they’d have to sign Bent on the assumption that he becomes a starter. Either he or Cisse will be unhappy unless they swap to a 442 set up that isn’t ideal.
Is the price right? £5m is a real bargain for a player of Bent’s quality.
Will it happen? 5/10 – Bent and Newcastle are an obvious link but it’s really not easy to commit to them until we see what Kinnear has in mind.
Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway is ready to make his first move to end Peter Odemwingie’s West Bromwich Albion spell.
Full story: the Daily Telegraph
What’s the story? Palace need forward help, Odemwingie needs to get out of West Brom after making such a fuss in January.
Does it make sense? It does for Palace football wise but this isn’t why Odemwingie wanted to go to QPR. Palace can’t pay what QPR could and probably can’t pay what he’s on at West Brom. He’s not going to a glamorous part of London either, but he might have no choice.
Is the price right? £1.5-2m would do it.
Will it happen? 5/10 – Maybe, but only if Palace can offer him the right financial package.
