Jose Enrique is set for a move to Liverpool this morning. The Cesc Fabregas saga is almost over and Samir Nasri is also on the verge of an Emirates exit. Frank Lampard recovers from a throat infection ahead of the season opener at Stoke while Fernando Torres’ concussion places question marks against his availability. Steve Bruce eyes up the Spurs squad and Alex McLeish hints at a role for Emile Heskey. Here’s the Scribbles for today, folks:
It seems Cesc Fabregas’s move to Barcelona is near completion. The La Liga champions’ two-year chase for the playmaker’s services could be tied up as early as this weekend, with Fabregas’ willingness to redirect a portion of his earnings Arsenal’s way reportedly proving key to the £40m transfer. Aaron Ramsey has looked more than capable as a replacement over the close season and – at 6.5 in FPL (Fantasy Premier League) – Fantasy managers will have their fingers crossed that Arsene Wenger allows the young Welshman the chance to nail down the role as his own.
With Samir Nasri’s move to Man City also on the cards, the Gunners boss will have plenty money to spend before the end of August and reports this morning suggest Wenger has made a move for Birmingham’s Scott Dann as he looks to address a weakness as centre-half.
Jose Enrique looks set for a move to Liverpool. With the left-back having just a year left on his contract, reports indicate the clubs have this morning agreed a fee for his services and a deal could be completed as early as today.
Frank Lampard looks likely to play this weekend, having recovered from a throat infection. The illness had caused him to withdraw from the England squad against Holland earlier in the week but a return to training yesterday suggests he’s well on the road to recovery ahead of Sunday’s trip to the Britannia.
Chelsea will be fretting over the availability of Fernando Torres after the striker was taken to hospital with concussion last night. The forward was withdrawn after just 15 minutes in Spain’s 2-1 defeat to Italy and the club should find out today whether he’ll be available for the weekend. If Torres is sidelined, it promotes Didier Drogba into our Fantasy thinking, with the big Ivorian leading the line for Andre Villas-Boas’ team at Stoke.
Despite an impressive pre-season, it appears Yossi Benayoun is still surplus to requirement at Stamford Bridge. Reports today suggest the Israeli could be used as a makeweight in Chelsea’s bid for Luka Modric, though Newcastle are also believed to be waiting in the wings as Alan Pardew continues to restructure his first-team squad.
Steve Bruce seems to have been bitten by the transfer bug. Ten players have already made their way to Sunderland this close season but the Black Cats boss has confirmed he’s eyeing up a loan swoop for Tottenham’s Niko Krancjar.
Lucas has declared himself fit and ready to start for Liverpool this weekend. Despite his participation in last month’s Copa America, the Brazilian is desperate to play against Sunderland, saying:
I’m fit. I didn’t have a full holiday and was training with the national team, so it won’t be a problem for me to be available for Saturday. I am really excited to be back and really looking forward to the new season. We’re in a good mood at the moment and hopefully we’ll start well on Saturday.
Alex McLeish has confirmed Emile Heskey has a role to play for Aston Villa this season. The forward is in the final year of his contract but Big Eck reckons his experience could be valuable over the upcoming months for the Midlands club.
“Discarding his kind of knowledge and his skills would be crazy. I have to tap into a guy like that. I have to use him to the full. There is no guarantee that Emile will play every week – but he has certainly impressed me.”
