Transfers
Wright-Phillips Anyone?
Speculation is growing that Shaun Wright-Phillips is about to be subject of a bid from Mr Redknapp.
Portsmouth seem set to lose Muntari to Inter for a fee of over £12 million and it is widely reported that Harry will use this cash to prise Wright-Phillips from Stamford Bridge. He’s long been searching for a solution on the right of midfield and the England man is certainly equipped to fill that role.
ContinuedHammers Close Behrami Deal
West Ham have completed the signing of Swiss international right-back Valon Behrami. The full-back has agreed terms on a £5 million move from Lazio.
Dubbed the “Swiss David Beckham”, much to his annoyance, the 23-year-old was highly thought of in Italy. He has played the last 5 seasons in Italian football for Genoa and Verona in Serie B and Lazio in Serie A. He has notched 123 appearances in his career, firing 7 goals.
A versatile player, Behrami can be employed in a midfield role, on either flank but with the likes of Faubert and Dyer vying for such positions, it appears that he will challenge club skipper Lucas Neill for the right-back spot.
ContinuedWigan Seal Zaki Deal
Wigan have finally completed the signing of Egytian striker Amr Zaki. The 25 year-old will put pen to paper on a one year loan deal that will offer Wigan the option to buy in January.
This guy has various nicknames - “The Egyptian Gladiator”, “The Egyptian Bulldozer”, “The Egyptian Rooney”. All of which seem to indicate that he won’t be shirking from the physical stuff he’s likely to encounter from day one in the Premiership.
The stats show Zaki to have a very decent record. Indeed his strike rate in International football 27 goals in 48 appearances, ranks him as the world’s top striker according to FIFA. He notched 22 goals in 54 games for El Zamalek in the Egyptian league over two seasons.
ContinuedCarson Signing Offers Little Value
West Brom have made their seventh signing of a busy summer by sealing a deal for Liverpool’s Scott Carson.
Carson signs on for a fee of £3.5 million and will compete for the number one spot with Dean Kiely.
While I fully expect Carson to establish himself as the Baggies number one, his value to fantasy managers is certainly reduced by his price which is distorted by his club status. In the Telegraph he is priced at £3.4 million as a Liverpool keeper, while in the Fantasy Premier League game you can acquire him for 5.0 - a game which currently has him in Villa colours after his season-long loan.
ContinuedPotters Swoop For Kitson
Stoke have confirmed the signing of Dave Kitson from Reading for a club record fee of £5.5 million.
The big striker is Stoke’s first summer signing and is set to play a key role alongside Ricardo Fuller in the promoted side’s attack.
Kitson scored 10 goals in 28 starts for Reading last season, earning 3 assists along the way. That’s not a bad return for a striker playing in a relegated side. Previously Kitson made just 9 appearances in an injury-hit first season in the Premiership in 2006-07 when he notched 2 goals and 2 assists.
ContinuedCech In For Baggies
West Brom have signed Slovakia international Marek Cech from Porto in a £1.4million deal.
Although a West Brom signing wouldn’t normally hit the headlines for fantasy managers, Cech is a 6ft 1in defender and is a left-back, although he can also be employed in midfield. He will therefore replace Martin Albrechtsen who has departed for Derby and provide competition for Paul Robinson for the left-back slot.
Robinson, to this point, is the most popular West Brom defender in terms of fantasy signings, certainly in the FPL game where 2% of managers have drafted him in. Cech’s arrival could put Robinson’s starting role in doubt so this situation will be worth monitoring for those looking to cash in on a budget West Brom defender.
Cech has joined the Baggies for their pre-season tour of Germany. They kick things off against Borussia Moenchengladbach tomorrow evening.
ContinuedBruce Goes Back For Kapo
Wigan have agreed a deal for Brimingham’s Olvier Kapo that will see him reunited with Steve Bruce. A fee of £3.5 million is apparently involved, with the French midfielder believed to be going through a medical at the JJB today.
Bruce is a keen admirer of the player having signed him for Birmingham from Juventus last season. Kapo went on to play 23 times in the Premiership for Birmingham, notching 5 goals along the way. He was troubled by hamstring and knee injuries last season but, if he can be luckier this season, he could figure in 30+ for Wigan and offer some decent fantasy returns.
ContinuedInce Checks On Fowler And Pennant
Paul Ince made his first moves in the transfer market on Friday, handing Robbie Fowler the possibility of another opportunity in the Premiership whilst reportedly setting up a move for Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant [source].
Fowler has apparently turned down a 1-year contract extension at Cardiff in order to join up with Rovers’ pre-season training in a bid to prove his fitness [source]. Meanwhile, Ince is eyeing up Pennant as the ideal replacement for the wantaway David Bentley.
ContinuedSamir Checks In At The Emirates
Arsenal have finally confirmed the signing of Samir Nasri from Marseille for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £12 million.
The deal was announced by the player himself prior to Euro 2008 even though no official statement had been made by either club. That’s changed as of today and the French international was paraded around the Emirates for the press.
ContinuedSpurs Agree Garcia Fee As Rafa Eyes Keane
Tottenham have reportedly had a £9 million bid for Espanyol striker Luis Garcia agreed and will now discuss personal terms with the Spaniard [source].
News of the deal comes on the same day that Rafa admitted his interest in Robbie Keane having apparently gone off the idea of attempting to bring David Villa to Anfield [source].
ContinuedZamora Set for Fulham Switch
Fulham are set to capture West Ham’s Bobby Zamora and John Paintsil in a combined deal. It is reported that both players are surplus to requirements at Upton Park and that a fee has been a agreed between the clubs. Surprisingly the figure being suggested is a staggering £6.5 million [source].
While Fulham appear to be paying through the nose, the deal may well be a good one for fantasy managers.
ContinuedCrouch Agrees Terms
Peter Crouch is expected to complete his move to Portsmouth in the next 48-hours having agreed personal terms with the club [source].
This will a second spell at Fratton Park for Crouch having made 39 appearances for them in 2001, scoring 19 goals in the process. A similar return will be expected from Crouch this time around and his new partnership with Jermain Defoe looks, on paper, to be one of the most effective in the Premiership. Indeed Sky Sports carried an interesting stat in this article which points out that Defoe and Crouch have played together as a pairing for England, scoring 7 goals between them over their 3 starts.
ContinuedVilla Close on Sidwell
Steve Sidwell’s move to Aston Villa has been agreed subject to a medical [source]. A fee, believed to be around £5 million has been accepted by Chelsea and the deal is expected to be finalised tomorrow.
O’Neill’s first signing of the summer is expected to pave the way for Liverpool to finalise a deal for Gareth Barry. Sidwell then, is expected to slot straight into the Villa midfield in his place and he could offer some decent potential to fantasy managers.
ContinuedArshavin Expected In England
Andrei Arshavin is expected to be heading to England for talks according to the players agent, Dennis Lachter. A number of Premiership clubs are not surprisingly sniffing around the Russian star, with Arsenal and Chelsea expected to be prominent in the chase.
While Lachter, isn’t naming clubs at this stage he has, rather cheekily ruled some Premiership teams out of the running.
“Andrei would like to play in the Premier League but he will not accept an offer from clubs like Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa.”
Continued
