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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. Part Two is here.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to test Liverpool‘s resolve with a £40m bid for 26-year-old striker Luis Suarez.
What’s the story? This is bubbling along, but can Arsenal seriously be about to offer £40m?
Does it make sense? I’m not so sure it does. Of course, Suarez would be a great signing for Arsenal in that he can score and make goals, and all kinds of other threats, but then there’s all the off-field shenanigans that come with signing him. Do Arsenal really want that?
Is the price right? £40m is quite a lot of money for Arsenal to be putting down on one player, especially one that could combust at any time and get himself suspended for a year. Liverpool are talking about holding out for £55m, but I think if an offer of £40m came in they’d take it.
Will it happen? 4/10 – This is grinding it’s way up from 0/10 but until we actually see Suarez holding an Arsenal shirt I’m disinclined to believe it.
Arsenal are on the verge of signing Brazil international playmaker Bernard, 20, for £21m from Atletico Mineiro.
Bernard
What’s the story? Bernard is one of the brightest young talents in Brazil, operating as a wide forward capable of scoring and assisting goals and possesses real pace.
Does it make sense? Yes. Bernard could play wide on the left and allow Santi Cazorla to operate centrally where he tends to have more influence. Bernard would also give some extra goal power which Arsenal could need if they miss out on a striker.
Is the price right? They’re talking about £21m. Although that might sound a lot for a 20-year-old who hasn’t played in Europe. Watch this:
Will it happen? 6/10 – Wenger has said it won’t and this story hasn’t been corroborated by any Brazilian journalists so we’ll wait and see. It’d be a really good signing though.
Lazio have dashed Manchester United‘s hopes of signing Antonio Candreva, 26, by stating that the midfielder is not for sale.
Antonio Candreva
What’s the story? Were United ever really interested in signing Candreva? It’s very hard to say if they were.
Does it make sense? He’s a hard running goal scoring midfielder so would bring a different kind of dimension to their play, but is he subtle enough to help them win in Europe? After all, they’ve got other energetic players but really lack for a passer. They’d be better off looking at one of these five.
Is the price right? It’d be above £12m certainly, but it’s not really the type of signing that can win them things so I doubt they’d have been that much involved in trying to get him anyway.
Will it happen? 0/10 – Doesn’t posses enough quality to be any kind of sizable upgrade so it’s unlikely he was on their list anyway and Lazio have an increasingly competitive Serie A to fight in.
Aston Villa‘s Scotland international defender Alan Hutton, 28, is poised to re-join Real Mallorca on a season-long loan.
Alan Hutton
What’s the story? Hutton was on silly money at Villa and had a fair time of it in Spain last season, but Mallorca were relegated so can they really afford his wages in the Spanish second division?
Does it make sense? He’s been released by Villa and seems to want to move to the sun so the drop in division may not bother him. If Mallorca have persuaded him to take a huge pay drop then it does.
Is the price right? He’s a free agent now so Mallorca could commit slightly more to wages with no transfer fee.
Will it happen? 9/10 – Presuming they can agree suitable remuneration then it will do.
Fulham are chasing West Brom left-back Liam Ridgewell, 29, who has only 12 months left on his contract at The Hawthorns.
Liam Ridgewell
What’s the story? Ridgewell has been a consistent presence at left back for West Brom since coming over from Birmingham and Fulham aren’t happy with the defensive work of Riise.
Does it make sense? West Brom signed Goran Popov for the season and at times he got in ahead of Ridgewell last season anyway so West Brom may let him go. Fulham are now backed by Shahid Khan’s money so may have some money available to make some improvements. The defence was poor last year so needs upgrading.
Is the price right? Shouldn’t be more than £2m but that would be a fair price.
Will it happen? 6/10 – West Brom try not to let contracts run down and have a left back in place so they may be willing to engage in this.
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