Good morning all. The transfer and trade activity both in Europe and MLS is starting to pick up plenty of steam, giving us plenty to discuss. Let’s get the day started with some of the deals of the past 24 hours.
FC Dallas deals Alvarez
Remember when FC Dallas started the season singing the praises of the attacking trio of Kenny Cooper, Juan Toja and Arturo Alvarez? Well, all three could be gone by the end of this week after the Hoops traded Alvarez to San Jose for an allocation and a first round draft pick in 2009.
Alvarez fell out favor in Dallas and has struggled to recapture the form he showed in the season’s first month. With new coach Schellas Hyndman looking to shake up the roster, Alvarez became expendable in an overcrowded midfield that added another body in SMU midfielder Bruno Guarda, who FC Dallas acquired from the Colorado Rapids (Colorado won Guarda’s rights in a special lottery last week).
Guarda’s arrival in MLS was overshadowed last week by the MLS All-Star game but the Brazilian midfielder could be an impact player for Hyndman, who coached him the past three seasons at SMU. With Toja also expected to move on, Guarda could potentially slide into the starting lineup.
Alvarez joins a revamped San Jose attack that has already added Darren Huckerby, Francisco Lima and Scott Sealy in recent weeks. Will a return to San Jose (where Alvarez played his first two seasons) be the change of scenery Alvarez needs to regain his top form? The Earthquakes are hoping so. At the very least San Jose has a young player with more of a long-term future with the club than their three previous acquisitions.
Tottenham in Bentley chase
Apparently that Robbie Keane transfer money is burning a hole in Tottenham’s wallet. Spurs are already lining up to make a bid for Blackburn midfielder David Bentley. Blackburn is reportedly seeking a $34 million offer for Bentley, which happens to be slightly less than the $40.5 million Tottenham just received for Keane.
Adding Bentley to a group of new midfielders that already includes Luka Modric and Giovani Dos Santos would make Spurs a very dangerous group, but wouldn’t exactly help replace Keane (or Dimitar Berbatov if he happens to leave).
The Bentley move comes as a bit of a surprise since it was first believed that Tottenham might use the Keane money to land Andrei Arshavin, who is looking more and more likely to stay at Zenit. St. Petersburg.
Barcelona could keep Eto’o
When Barcelona put ‘For Sale’ signs in Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Deco earlier this summer it seemed a bit odd for the Spanish giants to be considering unloading a striker in Eto’o who is still considered one of the world’s best.
Well, it may not happen now. Barca is strongly considering keeping the Cameroonian international, citing his positive attitude in pre-season. So why is Barcelona really having a change of heart? It could have to do with the transfer market and the lack of A) huge bids for Eto’o and B) replacements for Eto’o in the market.
What would I do? I’d be glad to see Eto’o hasn’t become a clubhouse cancer and keep him. An Henry-Eto’o tandem up front is still very dangerous, and would allow Lionel Messi to roam around the midfield, where his speed seems best served.
Everton back in Moutinho chase
Just a day after selling striker Andy Johnson, Everton is back in for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Moutinho. Will the Toffees offer enough for the Portuguese international? It seems as if Moutinho already thinks so and isn’t happy that his current club hasn’t accepted the initial bid.
As I stated yesterday, Moutinho would be a prize acquisition for Everton, a skillful central midfielder who would boost an Everton attack that often struggled to generate goals in bunches.
What do you think of these stories? Did San Jose land a steal in Alvarez? Was Schellas Hyndman wise to unload Alvarez and trade for Guarda? Should Tottenham be spending its Keane money on a forward rather than another midfielder? Is Barcelona wise or foolish to keep Eto’o?
Share your thoughts below.