After dealing with the frustration that comes with the inconsistent form of Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp looks set to turn to an American goalkeeper to provide a more stable answer in net.
Tottenham is considering a winter move for Marcus Hahnemann, who is reportedly set to consider a move away from Reading after failing to reach an agreement on a long-term deal with the League Championship club. Hahnemann, 36, has just a half season left on his current contract and could be seen as a short-term solution at Tottenham.
Gomes has been a flop since coming over in a £7.8 million move from PSV Eindhoven and Redknapp looks poised to drop him in favor of a more dependable, and in Hahnemann's case, less-expensive alternative.
Here are some other stories from Wednesday morning and Tuesday night to get your day going:
Huntelaar completes Real Madrid switch
With Robinho gone, Ruud van Nistelrooy done for the year and seemingly half their roster out with injuries, Real Madrid finally took a step toward trying to turn things around on Tuesday by completing a $34 million move for Ajax striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar.
Huntelaar finished with 33 goals in 34 matches last season to finish as the top scorer in the Dutch First Division. This year, the Dutch national team striker has tallied six goals.
Manchester City targeting world's best (again)
It is no secret that Manchester City's new ownership group is rich, outrageously rich in fact, and Robinho's presence in light blue is evidence enough of that. Now we are starting to learn just how far City's new owners are willing to go to build the best team money can buy.
Reports out of England have linked Manchester City to a failed £129million bid for Real Madrid goalkeeper and Euro 2008 star Iker Casillas.
Yes, you read that right, £129million. Now you know what Busta Rhymes means by 'Arab Money'.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kaka also on City's wish list, it will be very interesting to see which of the world's top superstars will be the first to be sold to City for a record-shattering fee. It is only a matter of time.
San Lorenzo keeps title hopes alive
The Argentine Apertura season is winding to a close, but the championship race is alive and well. San Lorenzo did its part to keep pressure on leader's Boca Juniors with a 4-1 romp against Huracan on Tuesday. The victory pushed San Lorenzo to within two points of Boca and nudged them ahead of Tigre on goal difference.
Those wondering how the team's finish out. San Lorenzo has remaining games against Independiente and Argentina Juniors while Boca Juniors has matches left against Gimnasia La Plata and Colon de Santa Fe. Tigre plays Rosario Central and Banfield in its final two matches.
What do you think of the above stories? Do you see Hahnemann joining Tottenham and doing well for the London club? Will Huntelaar help save Real Madrid's season? Do you really think Man City will be able to land a Kaka or Messi? Will anybody catch Boca in the Argentine race?
Share your thoughts on these, and any other stories from this morning or Tuesday in the comments section below.
Completely agree with HIncha Tim about Riquelme. What a pleasure to watch.
Hahnemann is a great keeper. I hope he has great top division success. He was a victim of circumstance with the Nats. He would have started for 1/2 the countries in the world – but just not for us. If we could have had Hahnemann in goal, and had all our top quality keepers as good as they were but in other positions(ie – the talent equivelant of Friedel at Striker, and the talent equivelant of Keller at Center Mid – and Hahnemann in goal – we would have been ridiculous). I expect to see Hahnemann as our 3rd keeper for the WC, even at his age.
I would love to see another yank in goal in the EPL if Hanehman makes the move. is he still a possible 3rd string for the Nats? also, does anyone know when they are going to release the cities for world cup qualifiers for the hexagonal?
I am still suprised that Reading hasn’t ponied up for Marcus, he’s a rock star around the Majdeski and a major reason they are in contention for promotion again, big keepers seem timeless these days. I think letting him go to white hart lane will be expensive for the Royals, in terms of promotion at least.
And yes, Marcus is one of those players we aren’t used to having. I think he is, in form, a top twenty keeper, probably could have started for half the 06 world cup squads, but he had even better players in front of him.
Goal for the Gooch in UEFA Cup play… where is he gonna go Ives? Marseilles? Surely someone has to take him now, Liverpool saw how awesome he can be and Standard are in great form defensively.
You people must not watch a lot of football!!! I am a Barca fan, have been all my life, so I hate to admit it but Iker is the best keeper in the world. Yes.. he is not having the best season but did you watch him last year???? They do call him St. Iker for something!!!!! A great keeper like him is worth every penny.
Wow people really don’t realize how good Casillas is. Playing keeper in front of that Real Madrid back four (back 8 at this point with all the injuries) seems like the scariest thing in the world. He may not be a dominating presence in the box at all times but give me him over anyone else in the world any day.
He is the best keeper in the world. Flat out.
docsoccer – I think a lot of people agree with you… but really, we’re not expecting a must-win game before the next WC, and Marcus will be 38 by then. Guzan gets the minutes because he’s the future, or at least the current best keeper younger than Howard.
Hahnamen, and to a lesser degree Joe Cannon, are the lost keepers who could have played for a lot of national teams but were stuck behind the Friedel/Keller/Howard triumvirate. Toss in Tony Meola, and that’s the last 20 years of US soccer right there with the current stud only 27.
I forgot Casillas is 27, so £12m-a-year salary is reasonable. But worth more than Zidane at his peak???
Casillas was underrated, had a good Euro ’08 that was made to look a lot better by 2 saves in a shoot out to keep the dream alive, and is now overrated. Typical tournament inflation. I’m a dork so I looked this up on uefa.com, but for Euro ’08, Spain took 51 shots on goal while Casillas made a whopping 10 saves all tournament. He got too much credit when Spain finally put it all together as a ball control and offensive juggernaut.
We’ll see, if he gains more consistency over the next couple years, maybe he is the next all time great keeper, but watching him play, I’ve never once thought “that’s one of the best keepers I’ll ever see”, or that he’s the world’s best.
Good for Hahnemann. If this goes through, it will be amazing especially for his wages and career. He will be our no.2 for the WC and should be sure to play in a game or 2.
Hahneman shouldve been our #2 since the last world cup. he played on a better team than Guzan ever has although its great Guz is over in England and got nat expierience but if Howards hurt in a must win game I’ll take Marcus who led the F’n EPL in saves last year over the Guz. it’s common sense.
Casillas is a very good keeper but I don’t get how the media and awards people want to put him in the world’s best keeper class. The EPL doesn’t fit his style b/c size and box presence matter much more.
As a Spurs fan, I would love to see an American back between the pipes for them. But whatever happened to using your backup keeper? They currently have an experienced backup in Cesar Sanchez. After spending money on two keepers this offseason, I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t give Cesar a shot before they shell out the money for Hahnemann. Are they really that unconfident in Cesar?
im really hoping for gimnasia la plata to pull something off against boca on sunday.
Huntelaar is a good signing for Madrid, especially since he’ll be eligible for Champion’s League. They really need to get another central defender (not sure if they can pull Garay over from Racing yet or do they have to wait until next year).
They certainly like to collect Dutchies and Argentines to fill out their roster.
Ronaldo to Citeh? Now I know many United fans like myself get irritated by his antics sometimes, and infuriated with the transfer rumors to Madrid this summer, but if he ever moves across town, he will be vilified (or killed). That’s gutsy. I don’t think even he is that arrogant and brash to make that move. haha
I could use Hahnemann on my fantasy team, I’d like that move. Plus, we need to keep him in England until Keller retires from the Sounders. Then he can come back to Seattle…poor Chris Eylander, the kid is stuck behind some greats.
anyone who faces the amount of shots Casillas does behind that porous Madrid defense is allowed a softy or 2 a season. They guy still single handedly was responsible for a helluva alot more points gained than dropped last season for Madrid. Its bound to happen with the numbers Madrid commits to attack
how much is convey wages? is he a highly paid player or too highly paid for a championship side to keep? he needs a move just to get himself back on the map for USMNT qualifying sake if he has any illusion of maing the squad for South Africa 2010
Marcus having a fantastic year and it would be a real acknowlegement of his fine form to be able to finish out for a top team in the EPL. He is so often overlooked and this would provide the exposure that he deserves. I have been unhappy with Reading’s contract dealings with him over the past couple of years and this move would serve them right!!!
Also out of Reading – no surprise that Convey is on the block for January. His contract runs out next summer, he is highly paid and Reading will want compensation. I think they just kept him around this year because a Stephan Hunt move back to the EPL seemed a strong possibility but think that has cooled.
Wow, Casillas did City a HUGE favor by turning that down. Watch Madrid, he gives up a lot of soft goals.
The interesting subplot in the Hahnemann saga is Reading’s refusal to give him a long term deal. I’d sign him for 3 years, keepers age well.
Ives, thanks for the Apetura coverage!! Its nice to see. Being a racing fan myself its hard to root for any of them, but Tigre has been the little National B team that could the past few seasons so I am rooting for them (or San Lorenzo if they can’t do it). God forbid Boca wins again.
hahnemann to spurs? what took so long. I thought he was gonna move there when Reading was relegated. I dont know why they spent money on a untested Gomes when they had a known commodity in Hahnemann ripe for the picking
I would hate to be a Citeh fan, whats the fun in outrageously outspending everyone else to win?
I can relate as a Yankee fan. So its not sour grapes as a West Ham fan…
too funny “arab money”. thats just made eveyone in my office wonder what im reading. Is it possible Arab Money will replace Blue Moon as the club anthem?
I always forget how old Hahnemann is. 36, wow. That’s too bad. No reason a keeper can’t keep playing for club sides until he starts collecting Social Security (see, e.g., Keller, Freidel) but he really doesn’t need to be in the USMNT plans.
Arab Money!!
That reference is Wonderful!!
Being a River fan, it somewhat pains me to say this, but as Eduardo Galeano wrote, “when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it”. Juan Roman Riquelme has especially been magical this Argentine tournament for Boca (even more so than maybe he has been for most of his career). His vision, his passes, his goals have been sublime. Watching him play is incredible. He has a rhythm and pace all his own, and in a game that increasingly seems to want fast, strong players and rush-rush play, he is something totally different. Boy, I would love to see him in the MLS one day. And he is a guy who if he could stay injury free, could play into his late 30’s since his game does not rely so much on pace and stamina.
As a Spurs fan I would love this. Hahnemann isn’t quite the shot stopper Gomes is, but the man appears to be haunted by the ghost of Robbo.
i would love to see marcus at tottenham. he would be much better than gomes!
man that “arab money” song is terrible! but good Lord that is a lot of money!
ives, wonderful use of “Arab Money” – brightened my morning. have you seen the video or heard the remix?
Man City would do well to find some solid defenders/ d-midfielders before they sign yet another attacking player. If they were smart they would throw money at a guy like Xabi Alonso