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European transfer window is open for business

Dmitar_berbatov_ap

It is that time of year again, when European clubs go looking for a player or two to help push them over the top. It is also the time when struggling clubs either buy players to turn things around or put up the garage sale sign in front of the stadium.

This winter transfer window is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent memory in Europe and the usual power brokers are lining up the cash. Manchester United, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked to potential big-money moves this month.

Another aspect of the January transfer window, as with all windows, is the flood of rumors that hits, linking everybody to everybody else. Ronaldinho to Chelsea? Check. Kaka to Real Madrid? Right. It’s fun to read about as long as you don’t go believing much of it.

So what are some transfers that may actually happen? Here are just a few of the players who have been heavily linked to transfer moves this month.

  • PLAYER                       CLUBS INTERESTED
  • Dimitar Berbatov         Man U, Chelsea                
  • Spurs want too much but Berbatov wants out.
  • Nicolas Anelka             Chelsea                            
  • Goals in bunches but who hasn’t he played for?
  • Elano                           Inter Milan                        
  • Can City really sell its best player? I doubt it.
  • Maniche                      Tottenham, Inter Milan      
  • Spurs could use him more than Inter.
  • Ezequiel Garay            Liverpool, Tottenham         
  • Young defender will boost whoever buys him.
  • Giles Barnes               West Ham                        
  • Derby wants to keep the young star. It won’t matter.
  • Robbie Savage            Sunderland                        
  • Who could have imagined a Savage/Keane pairing?

I will provide an updated list throughout the transfer window, as well as a list of actual moves that are made, so keep an eye out for that.

What do you think of these moves? Do you like the idea of Berbatov playing for Man U? Do you really believe Man City would sell Elano? Is there some other player you would rather see your club go after? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. juan manuel vargas is a peruvian defender that plays in catania, many newspapers today been saying he is going to ac milan
    is that true?

    Reply
  2. For the record, the window for incoming transfers to MLS also opened on Jan 1st.

    And congrats on the new website and job changes Ives. If this means you will have more time to put into SBI then I’m all for it. Hope you have a great year.

    Reply
  3. I think just about all agents are douches. Why do players have them when all they really do is negotiate the big deal so they can get a cut of it ?

    Reply
  4. ejs, that’s a great question. I did a little digging in the Champions League regulations and this is what I found:

    “Subsequent registration
    17.17 For all matches from the start of the first knockout round, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registration must be completed by 1 February 2008 at the latest. This deadline cannot be extended.
    17.18 One player from the above quota of three who has played UEFA club competition matches for another competing club in the current season may exceptionally be registered, provided that the player has not been fielded:
    − in the same competition for another club
    − for another club that is currently in the same competition.
    Furthermore, if the player’s new club is playing in the UEFA Cup, his former club must not have played in the UEFA Cup at any point in the current season.”

    I take that to mean that Man U and Chelsea can add ONE player during the January window who has played in the UEFA Cup, which could be Berbatov. This reduces my estimate of the odds that Berbatov will leave in January – which were low to begin with.

    As for Berbatov wanting to leave so badly, he has never said anything but that he wants to stay at Tottenham. His agent is the one who made the recent comments, and I think he was just being a typical agent, trying to capitalize on the Berbatov Cocktail’s recent 4 goal game. His agent has always been kind of a douche.

    Reply
  5. How cup tied is Berbatov? Does playing in the UEFA Cup mean he cannot go in the Champions League? Why does he want to leave Tottenham so badly, I think there is more to this story.
    I think I would like to see Johnson to Man City. If he can impress Sven, he could be taking over Bianchi’s role of tapping in amazing Petrov crosses or be his strike partner and play alongside Elano, Richards, Corluka,and the young Mike Johnson

    Reply
  6. I’ve long believed that Ricardo Queresma, out of FC Porto, was one of the best talents playing in a less than supreme league (don’t get me wrong, Portugal has a great league, just not that much exposure).

    Any chance he bolts to La Liga or the EPL? Hell, make him a star in the Bundesliga– anything. I want to see that guy play on a weekly basis.

    Possibilities?

    Reply
  7. Congrats on the new site. Any news about a possible new home for Didier Drogba? I know that he has been unhappy since Mourinho left.

    Reply
  8. Robbie Savage is a douche but he was in some of those ridiculous Man United youth teams in the early 90’s. He never played for the first team but it’s possible he and Keane played a few matches together at some point when Keane was backing up Robson/Ince, and he loves managing former teammates.

    Reply
  9. As much as I’d hate to see Berbatov in Chelsea blue, it’s hard to see him winding up elsewhere. ManU doesn’t have pockets as deep as Abramovich’s, odd as that is to say, and their need for attacking talent during the African Cup of Nations is well documented.

    That said, if I’m SAF I’m putting up the 30 mil and promoting Scholes-y to assistant coach no. 33 or something. The Bulgarian is one of those players whose imagination is something special – with all the flair, technique and workrate ManU has surrounding him, it’d be lights out.

    Reply
  10. Spurs should value Berbatov at well in excess of 25 million pounds. At 26 he’s arguably the most talented striker in the Premiership. If the big boys want him they’ll have to pay more. Players like him don’t come around very often.

    Reply
  11. Congratulations Ives on the new venture; it has to be scary to leave an established paper like the Herald and go out on your own. I give you props for talking your wife into it, or does she still not know? LOL

    Reply
  12. I have a question Ives, why is the mexican Media acting like a Ochoa is this big shot Goal Kepper that deserves to be playing and starting in the top teams n the world? is he that good? I seen him and he is good, but he is not outstanding.

    Reply
  13. Ives,

    Congrats on the new site and best of luck.

    I hope Liverpool makes good use of this transfer window but, with out breaking the bank. I’m also still interested to see which Americans will be making a move.

    Reply
  14. I have a question Ives, why is the mexican Media acting like a Ochoa is this big shot Goal Kepper that deserves to be playing and starting in the top teams n the world? is he that good? I seen him and he is good, but he is not outstanding.

    Reply
  15. Ives,

    Congrats on the new site and best of luck.

    I hope Liverpool makes good use of this transfer window but, with out breaking the bank. I’m also still interested to see which Americans will be making a move.

    Reply
  16. I have a question Ives, why is the mexican Media acting like a Ochoa is this big shot Goal Kepper that deserves to be playing and starting in the top teams n the world? is he that good? I seen him and he is good, but he is not outstanding.

    Reply
  17. Fulhamerica has a better ring, but Derby might be ready to become the EPL team with the most Americans on the field

    “Derby are set to raid America for 22-year-old Kansas City Wizards striker Eddie Johnson.” (Telegraph)

    Of course it’s not coming from that realiable of a source – Ives have you heard anything concrete about this possible move ?

    Reply
  18. I wish Liverpool would sell off the dead weight in their squad — namely Crouch and Voronin — and find a) a true right winger (Pennant can’t cut it), b) a replacement for Riise (the master of shots forty feet above the crossbar), and c) a good doctor to help Alonso get healthy.

    Reply
  19. Congrats Ives! Hope it is a widely successful venture. You certainly have your finger on the pulse of soccer in this country, work hard, write interesting pieces without sugar coating, and contribute substantially to the on-line soccer fan community in this country. Cheers and best of luck!

    Reply
  20. I’d be surprised if Tottenham let Berbatov go. He’s still got three and a half years left on his deal and after the impact selling Carrick had last year, plus their precarious position this I just don’t see it happening – regardless of the price.

    I think he’ll leave in the summer, when his price wont be quite as high and when Tottenham have a chance to replace him with a suitable talent. I know we’re heavy up top, but Berba is the only one of the four that plays that style.

    Still, he looked totally disinterested yesterday – didn’t actually challenge for a single header all game from what i could tell – and at some point he’s simply not helping the cause.

    Tough decision for Ramos. Right now, if the right deal came along I’d let it happen. Spurs need defensivfe help and have a standing need for a left sided midfielder…..cash isn’t the problem.

    Reply

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