EPL, England, Europe, Features, Ian John, Leagues, Regions POSTS

The Transfer Lottery

Published by Ian John on April 24, 2009

I must admit, I do love a good gossip about potential transfers and I’m prepared to put my money where my mouth is and name ten deals that I am expecting to progress this summer… here goes…

1. Frank Ribery Bayern Munich – Manchester United £40m+
What a fantastic signing this would be for United. A quality player with energy pace and superb all round ability. However he would be much needed as my second deal I expect to see is…

2. Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United – Real Madrid £80m+
Two things here, I can’t see Ronaldo being too happy at another £50,000 a month of his earnings going straight to the taxman after the budget and to be honest I think Sir Alex Ferguson, and more than a few United fans, have grown a little tired of his petulant ways this season. If United want to make a killing, now is the time to sell. It’s the worst kept secret in the world that he wants to go to Real. I think this summer he will get his wish but at a price.

3. Carlos Tevez Someone FC to Juventus / Internazionale / Real Madrid £22m
I’m not really sure who owns Tevez. I know at the end of the season he won’t be a United player, so I think Tevez will be on his way. He is unhappy at being on the bench in most games this season and, to be brutally honest, United don’t really need him. While Liverpool and Man City may be interested, there is no way he would be allowed to stay in England and I think one of the three foreign teams above will get him.

4. Gareth Barry Aston Villa to Liverpool £10m or a swap for Daniel Agger
Again, another left over from last season. I think Benitez now, with the new promises given to him when he signed his new contract, Barry a year older and a year nearer the end of the deal, will finally be able to get the Villa captain. Villa will have to sell, or risk losing him next season for nothing. However it isn’t all good news for Liverpool fans.

5. Xabi Alonso Liverpool to Real Madrid or Arsenal £14m
With Barry arriving, and despite having had a great season for Liverpool, I think the financial situation will be such that Liverpool will have to sell one of their midfield assets. While it would be nice to think somebody would go crazy and spend £15m on Lucas Leiva, the likelihood is that Real or Arsenal will have the cash to make a realistic move for Alonso.

6. Jo Manchester City to Everton Undisclosed
You can bet your bottom dollar that Manchester City and Everton won’t disclose the fee they will agree for the Brazillian striker to become a fully fledged Evertonian. City paid £18m for him from CSKA Moscow. My reckoning is that they will be lucky to get £5m of that back from Everton for the striker. Mind you, if there is one club that this kind of loss won’t matter to, it is City.

7. Kaka Milan to Chelsea £60m+
If, as expected, Carlo Ancelotti is appointed the new Chelsea manager then I can foresee the new manager wanting to rebuild key areas of the Chelsea team. Ancelotti likes powerful mobile midfielders and Kaka would be the ideal choice. Abramovic has had a quiet season or two and I think the new manager would be looking for significant investment in a somewhat ageing team.

8. Frank Lampard Chelsea to Inter Milan £15m
If Kaka arrives then you can expect to see the end of a glorious career at Chelsea for Frank Lampard. With Jose Mourinho a confirmed admirer, it is likely that the England midfielder would opt to join his former manager at the San Siro, rather than take a chance of being behind Iniesta and Xavi at Barcelona.

9.Roque Santa Cruz Blackburn Rovers – Man City £18m
I know Liverpool would like Santa Cruz, but relations with Sam Allardyce are poor and with Man City confirmed admirers and manager Mark Hughes likely to have a huge war chest available, I think he will make Santa Cruz his first target for the end of season period, outbidding Liverpool for the striker.

10. David Bentley Tottenham H – Liverpool Undisclosed
Liverpool would like Aaron Lennon, but the youngster seems to have impressed Harry Redknapp with his form. That leaves David Bentley somewhat out on a limb. I think Spurs could offer the former Blackburn winger to pay off the remainder of the Robbie Keane deal rather than Lennon. With little choice down the right, the Reds would probably have to accept Bentley over Lennon.

So, what do you think? How many have a chance of coming true over the next four months or so?

Picture courtesy of ** kassch ** on flickr.com

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