Premier League - Transfer Talk: Euro Heaven

Eurosport - Wed, 18 Jun 19:04:00 2008

Euro 2008 is manna from heaven to football scouts, who get to spend weeks running the rule over the best players the continent has to offer.

FOOTBALL 2008 EM Podolski Germany Deutschland - 0

So it comes as no surprise to hear the familiar sound of the rumour mill whirring into well-lubricated action as the tournament reaches its half-way stage.

Keen to find the next Petr Cech and avoid the next Karel Poborsky, Premier League bosses and their scouts are out in force in Austria and Switzerland where already two names have caught the eye.

First up, Germany's scoring sensation Lukas Podolski, who claims Tottenham are interested in acquiring his services. But ever the true professional, the Bayern Munich man refuses to talk about his future until after his involvement in the tournament is over. Other than to say Spurs' attention to him is "very interesting", that is.

You may not have heard of him before Netherlands started their European Championship campaign, but Orlando Engelaar is fast becoming a well known name, and not only because it trips nicely off the tongue. The six foot six FC Twente midfielder, aware that Steve McClaren is still a contender to be his new boss in Holland next season, could be tempted to move elsewhere, with Everton reportedly ready to swoop.

Back at home, today's TT sees a number of "not for all the tea in China" rebuttals as both Liverpool and Arsenal tell prospective suitors exactly where they can stick bids for their best players.

Chelsea's reported interest in Fernando Torres was cheeky at best, downright arrogant at worst, but the Reds are clearly not interested. Owner Tom Hicks has insisted that his second most prized asset is not for sale, not even for a record £50 million.

And Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor will not be going anywhere this summer, according to boss Arsene Wenger. Milan need to take note - and put that huge crate of tea bags back in the San Siro cellar.

Meanwhile, CSKA Moscow striker Jo's move to Manchester City has caught a snag - a similar one to that which complicated matters in the Carlos Tevez saga last summer. The Brazil ace is owned by the same company that owned Tevez - Kia Joorabchian's MSI - and with Premier League rules outlawing third-party ownership, his move to England already seems fraught with complications.

Better news for City fans now - skipper Richard Dunne may well have been on the verge of quitting Eastlands following the shoddy treatment of Sven-Goran Eriksson, but the arrival of Mark Hughes appears to have made the stopper change his mind. Or maybe it was the double-your-money, £56,000-a-week offer tabled by Thaksin Shinawatra.

Elsewhere, it doesn't take a genius to work out the repercussions of Steve Sidwell's imminent move to Aston Villa which has now paved the way for Liverpool to seal a deal for Gareth Barry. The £20 million price tag is still a concern for Rafa Benitez, but a £15 million bid could be accepted later in the week.

In other transfer tittle-tattle, Premier League new boys Hull City have had a £2 million bid for Peter Halmosi rejected by Plymouth, but may turn their attentions to Leytonstone-born Turkey international Colin Kazim-Ricards (aka Kazim Kazim) instead.

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano is set to snub the overtures of Manchester United after targeting a move to Serie A outfit Roma.

And finally, Sunderland and Middlesbrough are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Stephen Quinn who Sheffield United are reluctant to let go, West Brom are making eyes at Lyon's former Portsmouth flop Milan Baros and Pompey are ready to offer former Birmingham striker Mauro Zarate a chance to stay in England.

The Two Ronnies

It looks like Alex Ferguson won't have to carry out his threat of walking out on Manchester United if Cristiano Ronaldo is sold to Real Madrid behind his back - a source close to the Glazer family has said "there is no way" the forward will be sold, even if he puts in a transfer request.

And Manchester City's pursuit of Ronaldinho could well be hijacked by MLS outfit LA Galaxy. Dave Becks' current club are lining up a £20 million bid for the surplus to requirements Barcelona ace, who is seen as the perfect way to attract interest in the league from the South American market.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 33 - 52 of 52

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  1. terry wogan for england job up the wogan

    From mickyhunt, on Thu 19 Jun 7:41AM

  2. lol sean chelsea will be spending a lot this summer and will be buying quite a few strikers by the looks of it. Your are a footballing genius.

    From manu0862, on Wed 18 Jun 10:53PM

  3. ALEX, are u tellin me dat without ronnie u cannot perfume, GROW UP MAN. Learn from wenger d Gunners boss.

    From petertrlplaw, on Wed 18 Jun 9:10PM

  4. I am a gunner fan and i will continue to be one 4 life, cos, we are d best. UP GUNNERS.

    From petertrlplaw, on Wed 18 Jun 9:01PM

  5. Chelsea will defo win the prem next year with the Scolari revoulotion witch will bring
    joao moutinho 16 million
    sergio ramos 25 million
    deco 10 million
    david villa 30 million
    samuel etoo 35 million
    david silva 20 million
    jose bosingwa 16 million
    klass jan huntelar 20 million
    and a load of top youngsters to the bridge

    From Sean, on Wed 18 Jun 7:29PM

  6. Anybody who calls Wenger is a bafoon himself. The man proved himself that he is the best coach that any outfit would want to have. I am pretty sure that if he says that he's available they'll line up to sign him.
    He is an absolute genius. He's the man who brought us Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie, Fabregas...etc. I am sure that you have never heard of them before they played for Arsenal. This man's team works like clockwork. You don't have to be an Arsenal fan to see the way he works and the way he transformed English football. His contribution to the league is phenomenal. Without him and the likes of Morinho, the premier league would have the lackluster that it has always been....Being an Azzuri fan, I am quite confident that the French national Team would have been in better hands with him at the helm....

    From JM Rousseau, on Wed 18 Jun 7:11PM

  7. your all idiots apart from the people who agree with me who cares who ronaldo plays for or where ronaldinho goes i hope its man city so red mancs and chelsea fans realise they arn't as special as they think man utd your broke and one day abramovich will get bored and throw his big blue toy away i look forward to the day

    From mcclaron, on Wed 18 Jun 6:56PM

  8. To Noddy, you ignornant sexist fool, girls have every right to be reding football articles and you saying that they havent just proves your immaturity....we aren't living in the 1950's any more....we have a thing called equality...so grow up...

    and can somebody please please just pack ronaldos suitcases...the whole thing is highly annoying and only gives him what he wants...attention!!

    From martha_forde, on Wed 18 Jun 6:52PM

  9. "No player is bigger than the team". A little birdie said that.

    What is C Ronaldo if not bigger than Man Utd? He said he wants to play for Real, Real want him. I've said this many times to anyone who'd listen: having a dissatisfied and disgruntled player who isn't committed to the club and wants to be elsewhere is worse than no player at all. Man Utd can at least buy brilliant reinforcements with the 100 million quid. They could start with Dani Alves. Yet, they don't want to let him go. Why?

    It's like them saying "We're nothing without Ronaldo." And that is true. Take Ronaldo away from last season, and Man Utd last season, and they would be in the UEFA Cup. Ronaldo is the star. Look what Wenger did with Henry. He got rid of his star, and his team did better. The team chemistry improved. I know Man Utd are good enough to cope without Ronaldo. I mean ARSENAL were good without Henry, what's the matter with Man Utd.

    From The Undertaker (RIP), on Wed 18 Jun 6:37PM

  10. arsenal to hijack newcastles offer for arda turan with a 10mill bid the turkish playmaker will like arsenals style of play alot better

    From turkish.ultras, on Wed 18 Jun 6:20PM

  11. Silvio Berlusconi will never pay 40 million dollars for Emmanuel Adebayor Arsene Wenger is another Raymond Domenech is another french buffoon. Berlusconi is a very smart businessman Ancelotti wants the Portughese Veloso

    From dante, on Wed 18 Jun 6:11PM

  12. man united is great team in and champion of the world without united c Ronald u united will remain it liive without becks, will nani

    From lanretino, on Wed 18 Jun 5:35PM

  13. Chelsea, chelsea! I wonder what they are doing regroup the team by buying some veterans and players who may find it difficult to suit the premier league? Roman abromovich get me a job and i can bring chelsea to victory. Come on man!

    From lohkinghung, on Wed 18 Jun 4:55PM

  14. hey itoenaan e,
    u do know c.ronaldo doesn't read these articles so u really are wasting ur time trying to communicate to him through this. Oh you forgot to say something about Man u......MOST IN DEBT!

    From jay8my, on Wed 18 Jun 4:46PM

  15. I could actually see ronny going to to LA coz it seems he's lost the love for the game, if he played in the MLS he would have a lot of fun. I could see it happening but doubt that it will

    From sphonetic, on Wed 18 Jun 4:45PM

  16. ????? what are you on about and who are u directing ur stupid comments towards? i reckon ur looking for a boyfriend on here, why else would a girl be reading football articles, u had nothing to say about football, so it must be that.

    From jay8my, on Wed 18 Jun 4:39PM

  17. alconbury colts u15 won the quadrouple this year maybe derby should come to us for players

    From thunt74, on Wed 18 Jun 4:37PM

  18. C. Ronaldo leave us!!! Leave UNITED!!! We don't need you no more. Go to madrid and be rubbished just like the others. We picked you from the slum and made you what you are today. Now you think you have arrived(?). Go go go go!!!! With you or without you we are still the best and will always be ( the strongest, biggest and to mention THE RICHEST). MANCHESTER UNITED 4LIFE!!!!!!

    From itoenaan e, on Wed 18 Jun 4:33PM

  19. jodan cooke beleives that terry wogan will become the next blackburn manager. he beleives his skills on the radio will do blackburn the world of good.

    jordan cooke is a blackburn fan and is a reliable source

    From thunt74, on Wed 18 Jun 4:29PM

  20. What a bunch of childish little boys you are ...grow up and get a girlfriend

    From ?????, on Wed 18 Jun 4:23PM
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