January Transfer Window 2014

First topic message reminder :

I'm gonna open this up now as I contemplate watching the shower of poop I'm about to watch.

What strong rumours have we heard? What do teams need? Where do you think the money will be spent?

I shall start you off with rumours surrounding Lambert maybe considering West Ham and similarly West Ham going to Spurs cap in hand to request a loan of Defoe or Adebayor (sources not so tight haha)

compelling and rich wrote:we signed anybody yet? no?   

its all well and good getting rid of some of the dead wood, and cant argue with many of the players going, but if were going to challenge for top 4 this season we need to sign a cm. all this bs about being a bad time, well its going to be harder in the summer if we haven't got champions league football!

I still can't get my head around this thinking when it comes to Man Utd, I have heard pundits say it as well and it baffles me. Whilst Champions League is an important aspect with regards to top players wanting to come to a club...I'm not sure it's as important for the 'Biggest Clubs in the World'.

Hampo (apologies in advance)...a team like Liverpool require Champions League football to attract the truly elite players. Manchester United simply don't! For a start lets not for a minute start thinking that the best players are these moral upstanding blokes because they aren't...they will go where the money is, Champions League or not! It would also be a bit different if there was a World Cup year...but it won't be.

Even without Champions League for a season United will still be one of the 3 biggest clubs in World football and they will have the resources to offer wages that only 5% of teams across the World will offer.....that will be more than enough to entice top top players to the club!

Problem you have is that if you don't get Champions League you lose out on a lot of money, other teams who then get that money can strengthen their sides moving further ahead of the teams they finished above the previous season. Missing out on that money can cause the start of a slippery slope.

In other news Grant Holt looks set to sign for Villa. A team that are in need of a goal scorer are signing a player who hasn't scored in the Championship since the opening game.

We've turned down a £9m offer from a Qatar club for Papiss Cisse.

That Grant Holt deal is shocking desperation.

Grant Holt was awful when he came on for Wigan against us. Gordon Greer also allowed Holt to scored and he even managed to balls that up.

Rubbish signing for Villa.

There's been two Grant Holt's throughout his career. There's been the one managed by Paul Lambert who was lethal. Then there's been the one managed by everyone else, when he's been pants.

You watch him notch 5 plus goals in this loan spell

Our main priority is a midfielder and a centre back.

Hope he does well, if Lambert can get the best out of him and he bangs in a few goals to help us out then well done.

I'm just not to excited about it.

Villa should go all out for Wes Hoolahan IMO. He would be a great signing for the villa imo. Or they should go for Will Hughes/ Danny Drinkwater

I cant see anyone bar a top club getting Will Hughes.

I think he is also pretty much guaranteed going to Liverpool when he is ready anyway.

I think they have first refusal.

Olly wrote:There's been two Grant Holt's throughout his career. There's been the one managed by Paul Lambert who was lethal. Then there's been the one managed by everyone else, when he's been pants.

You watch him notch 5 plus goals in this loan spell

That's a very interesting post. I was initially surprised that a Premier League team like Villa would go for Holt now. However, Lambert must still have some belief in him which can only help the struggling striker.

Danny Drinkwater is a good shout, but not for a team full of inexperience in a relegation battle. He does keep the ball very well though.

Lacina Traore work permit appears to be approved so tying up the deal now. Hopefully they'll get it done, but wont expect much till end of the week.

I am pretty confident Wenger won't buy anyone this january. Like every Arsenal fan I would love to see a new striker, but I agree with Wenger in that we don't just buy anyone. The player has to be high quality and not wildly overpriced. Jackson Martinez is a good striker but i don't think he is worth mid 30 million pounds for a transfer fee. I rate him in the 20s. He is not world class. I mean if Higuain gets bought for 32 some odd million than Martinez is worth about 20 million at best. The guy scored over 100 goals for Madrid. Its not just the money either, he is not of the level that you can be assured that he will walk right into the EPL and perform for you, he is making a big step up in class from Portugal to England. If you pay mid 30s and he is a bust it could mean that Arsenal next year won't be able to afford the type of players they need in the next window. Berbatov doesn't even get in our team so I just don't want him even if he is free or next to it.

Moyes in the crowd watching PSG tonight? He really is on a mission isn't he.

Could get Matuidi on the cheap - Out of contract in summer?

Yeah, as far as I know, he still hasn't signed a new deal. Would be a great capture. I hear that if Matuidi leaves, then Verrati will follow him out of PSG too & they want to replace those two with Paul Pogba & Yohan Cabaye in the summer.

John wrote:Yeah, as far as I know, he still hasn't signed a new deal. Would be a great capture. I hear that if Matuidi leaves, then Verrati will follow him out of PSG too & they want to replace those two with Paul Pogba & Yohan Cabaye in the summer.

If it's good business then you rule United out with Woodward in charge. I can see Cabaye staying in the PL but i don't think it'll be Newcastle.

Schalke trying to sign Lewis Holtby from Spurs. I can't see it though i doubt Spurs want to help another Arsenal deal along, Seems like Draxler could be pushed forwards like Monreal from what is being said.

Cabaye and Mathuidi now would be decent if you ask me but won't happen. Probably the most realistic transfers then hopefully Gundongen and Reus in the summer.

Tbh the best news player wise for utd this jan is if they can get Rooney and RVP fit and on the pitch together. If we don't sign anyone at least if these two are fit we still have a chance at the top 4

As i keep saying Liam, The best business you can do this month is getting Rooney tied down. otherwise come next season you could have a big big issue.

Agree Nando. Does his contract run out next summer or this summer?

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/452930/Manchester-United-s-hopes-of-landing-PSG-starlet-Marco-Verratti-dashed-by-agent

You would go for both though if you could, would be incredible work. Moyes likes to really scout his targets and he knows hes got a massive job on, so credit to him for leaving no stone unturned. He just needs to get the deal makers to wake up

Liam wrote:Agree Nando. Does his contract run out next summer or this summer?

Next summer.

If was this summer Chelsea would be all over him with a pre-contract

Does anyone think Rooney would kick up a fuss again if we don't get top 4? I mean, we've got another year on his contract and he doesn't want to burn further bridges with utd fans again, especially if we refuse to sell him again.

Yeah, he'd probably be happy to try it. But I dont think United need the money, so they wont sell him, hes worth more if he earns them a Champions League spot again.

Liam wrote:Does anyone think Rooney would kick up a fuss again if we don't get top 4? I mean, we've got another year on his contract and he doesn't want to burn further bridges with utd fans again, especially if we refuse to sell him again.

I think Rooney would and I think there are clubs out there that would want him even considering his huge wages. Could he go back to Real and be reunited with Cristiano? I mean if LFC get champions league they might not sell Suarez and we know that Madrid want an upgrade on Benzema and if they can't get Suarez and Suarez seems happy at LFC if they are in the Champion's league than maybe Rooney or RVP come into the picture.

Would have loved veratti but that is a pipe dream.

Moyes may just have been scouting potential future cl opponents whilst watching psg. We can't compete with them financially.

West Ham have reportedly turned down a bid from Fulham for Morrison, Fulham believe he wants to quit West Ham.

Rene Meulensteen effectively tapped him up through the media. Saying stuff like (paraphrasing a little) "we'd love him to come here" and "we believe he wants to come here" has only one intended purpose.

He cost us £500k in the first place but that doesn't mean he's going cheap. It must have been a derisory bid to be rejected outright.

Yup, should be reported. And it should add a couple million to any value we had on him, just to spite them. Daft to sell him to a rival, daft to sell him full stop, but not to a team down there with us.

Matic is having a medical at Chelsea ahead of a £21m move.

Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews 4m
Sky sources: West Ham make complaint to Premier League over comments made by Fulham manager René Meulensteen about Ravel Morrison #SSN

**** em

We're in for a player from the lower leagues who's on higher wages than our highest paid player.

Guess would be Rhodes, maybe Ince? Will probably kill myself if its Zigic

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews 4m
Sky sources: West Ham make complaint to Premier League over comments made by Fulham manager René Meulensteen about Ravel Morrison #SSN

**** em

Damn right they do. I've not seen many managers be so outwardly fawning over a player they haven't signed.

Why would he swap us for Fulham anyway? It's a sideways step right now.

Olly wrote:We're in for a player from the lower leagues who's on higher wages than our highest paid player.

Guess would be Rhodes, maybe Ince? Will probably kill myself if its Zigic

Hope you realise it is Zigic. Ince plays for cheap Blackpool

hampo171 wrote:Matic is having a medical at Chelsea ahead of a £21m move.

Anyone else majorly surprise by this & the fee? I mean, he`s hardly talked about as a real quality holding midfielder & whenever I've seen him play, he`s not stood out.

Strange one this, not sure he`s improved dramatically since Chelsea got rid in the first place.

hampo171 wrote:West Ham have reportedly turned down a bid from Fulham for Morrison, Fulham believe he wants to quit West Ham.

palace need to bid 9 mill for him.

This is the player we need and he will fit in well.

Yeah i am dreaming off course.

GSC wrote:

Olly wrote:We're in for a player from the lower leagues who's on higher wages than our highest paid player.

Guess would be Rhodes, maybe Ince? Will probably kill myself if its Zigic

Hope you realise it is Zigic. Ince plays for cheap Blackpool

Joey Barton? Clint Hill? Richard Dunne? Anyone but Zigic!!!!

It probably would be a QPR player thinking about it.

Morrison needs to go to a team like Swansea, Newcastle or at best Everton tbh. He is that good. But I wouldn't want to see him at a team where he doesnt get regular footy

I would be so annoyed if I was a west ham fan.. Watching teams that are no better trying to snatch up Morrison.

John wrote:

hampo171 wrote:Matic is having a medical at Chelsea ahead of a £21m move.

Anyone else majorly surprise by this & the fee? I mean, he`s hardly talked about as a real quality holding midfielder & whenever I've seen him play, he`s not stood out.

Strange one this, not sure he`s improved dramatically since Chelsea got rid in the first place.

I was surprised by this recently. He didn't play often but once he'd been at Benfica they've had the gaps to fill left by Luiz and Ramires, and then Witsel left too. He's a player type we need with Mikel seeming stagnant after growing a lot the last two seasons and I'm not gonna bother saying much about Essien.

We should have never got rid of Lassana Diarra.

21 m these days is the going rate for an average but experienced player. After seeing soldado and fellani go for what they did in the summer Matic looks like a bargain

Matic is a quality player.

Fabio Coentrao deal will be tied up and completed in the next 48 hours; loan deal subject with an option to buy for a fee believed to between £16-£20 million in the summer should he make an impression in during his 6 months.

I'm not sure about it myself; Utd do need something different at LB where Evra is looking like he has seen better days and Buttner just isn't good enough....but that midfield is the key issue!! Good to see Moyes trying to make a fist of it though and hopefully it's one of a few transfers this January.

as Nick says Defensive Midfield is not a particularly strong position for us at the moment, I've never been totally convinced by Mikel, who is very good at what he does (winning the ball back and being a strong physical presence) but his on-the-ball skills just haven't improved at all, and I would like a better "footballer" there.

Any idea what happened to Romeu? quite liked what I saw from him. Or for that matter Josh McEachran? looked a cracking prospect (I'm guessing they're on loan somewhere, I know Romeu had injury troubles).

owen10ozzy wrote:Fabio Coentrao deal will be tied up and completed in the next 48 hours; loan deal subject with an option to buy for a fee believed to between £16-£20 million in the summer should he make an impression in during his 6 months.

I'm not sure about it myself; Utd do need something different at LB where Evra is looking like he has seen better days and Buttner just isn't good enough....but that midfield is the key issue!! Good to see Moyes trying to make a fist of it though and hopefully it's one of a few transfers this January.

he can also play left mid owen, release the pressure on januzaj who's strongest position is central anyway. nani and young simply are not good enough. will also pressure evra to pull his finger out. gives us options and puts pressure on under performing players

to be honest im just desperate to sign anybody!!

In terms of players leaving, Maiga is set to join QPR apparently. Not sure on loan or a permanent but I reckon he could rip the Championship apart.

With big Carlton Cole signing an extension and Traore all but done, I hope we go for one more. Likely to be Belfodil. Then its onto midfield and defence

Mad for Chelsea wrote:as Nick says Defensive Midfield is not a particularly strong position for us at the moment, I've never been totally convinced by Mikel, who is very good at what he does (winning the ball back and being a strong physical presence) but his on-the-ball skills just haven't improved at all, and I would like a better "footballer" there.

Any idea what happened to Romeu? quite liked what I saw from him. Or for that matter Josh McEachran? looked a cracking prospect (I'm guessing they're on loan somewhere, I know Romeu had injury troubles).

Romeu is on loan at Valencia I think. Josh is on loan at Watford and unfortunately looks like he could be going the down the same path as Jack Cork. First team football in the Championship is a very enticing prospect for a 20 year old.

Two seasons ago I was rubbing my hands at the prospect of our future midfield being built around Chalobah, Romeu and McEachran.

compelling and rich wrote:

owen10ozzy wrote:Fabio Coentrao deal will be tied up and completed in the next 48 hours; loan deal subject with an option to buy for a fee believed to between £16-£20 million in the summer should he make an impression in during his 6 months.

I'm not sure about it myself; Utd do need something different at LB where Evra is looking like he has seen better days and Buttner just isn't good enough....but that midfield is the key issue!! Good to see Moyes trying to make a fist of it though and hopefully it's one of a few transfers this January.

he can also play left mid owen, release the pressure on januzaj who's strongest position is central anyway. nani and young simply are not good enough. will also pressure evra to pull his finger out. gives us options and puts pressure on under performing players

to be honest im just desperate to sign anybody!!

After posting that I began to think that maybe that's where he will play! In fact wouldn't surprise me to see Moyes start to use similar tactics to when he was at Everton...that is play two full backs who are more like WB...thus allowing the wide wen to pull inside a lot more. It worked and got the best out of Baines and was when we saw the best of Coleman as he started to come through last year. Think it could work well for Utd.

CFCNick - We had young McEachran on loan at Middlesbrough and he is a fantastic footballer. Great touch, brilliant vision and a confidence on the ball which many young English midfielders lack. I would put him in the same mould as Barkley & Chamberlain in terms of his technical ability...I do rate him that highly. Yet it seems Chelsea have little interest in bringing him through sadly!

Ancelotti was the one who gave McEachran his break. He'd probably be a first team regular if Ancelotti was still in charge. He was brilliant when he played Premier League games and was 16/17 back then. This is the 3rd season since Carlo got sacked.

Josh spent the first season with AVB leaving him out and then sending him to Swansea where he warmed the bench, then under Di Matteo he went to Boro, now Jose has him at Watford.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:as Nick says Defensive Midfield is not a particularly strong position for us at the moment, I've never been totally convinced by Mikel, who is very good at what he does (winning the ball back and being a strong physical presence) but his on-the-ball skills just haven't improved at all, and I would like a better "footballer" there.

Any idea what happened to Romeu? quite liked what I saw from him. Or for that matter Josh McEachran? looked a cracking prospect (I'm guessing they're on loan somewhere, I know Romeu had injury troubles).

That is odd I always thought you guys were strong at that position Ramires I would say is one of the best in the world at that position. And Mikel is good at being a holding mid, sure he is not good in the attack but you guys have so many in the midfield that are and he is good at his specialized role.

ramires isn't a holding midfielder, he's a box to box. calling him that is similar to calling yaya toure a holding midfielder, both are miles better going forward than they are defending

mikel is also rubbish

The holding midfielder has been replaced by the deep laying playmaker, gone are the days of having a Makelele, Mascherano or Hargreaves protecting the defence.