Chelsea to swoop for Unneeded Trio

Chelsea only really made one notable signing this summer. That being Russian international Yuri Zhirkov who looked to be useful against AC Milan (but who hasn't) in the preseason World Football Challenge in the United States, scoring the winner in the Blue's 2-1 victory. Of course they have Sheva back from his loan at Milan. However, everyone at Stamford Bridge would rather pretend he just didn't exist. Pizarro has returned as well. After failing to impress in his last stay at Chelsea, he was shipped off to the Bundasliga on loan where he was a goalscoring hit with Werder Bremen. Recent reports have seen Chelsea finally make 3 massive swoops in the transfer market. It's a bit late in the summer for huge transfers but it's never too late when you have the money of Roman Abramovich behind you. According to Goal.com Chelsea has their eye on three potential new blues. Who are they and how would that affect the current squad? Let's take a look.

Before I get started, I think that Chelsea look fine as it is. They have so many solid and high class players that I don't think signing anyone else is necessary because then someone big is going to have to take a pine role, be upset and want a transfer when it's to late, disrupting the flow I already believe the team possesses. However, I'm not the boss, or owner. The first target rumored to be wanted by the West London club is Atletico Madrid's heavily sought after Sergio Agruero, a forward. The club seems to be making way for him by loaning out promising young Di Santo to Blackburn. Di Santo scored his first goal for the Chelsea in the World Football Challenge only a few weeks ago. Aguero looks to be a coveted prize but with Drogba, Anelka, Pizarro, Sheva, and a returning Joe Cole, is he really that necessary? The young Argentine is only 21 years of age and has plenty of time to grow. I don't think Chelsea need him quite yet with no real exits. Manchester United have also been interested in the youngsters services, and Sir Alex continues to heap praise on him but has yet to make his move.

A deal that seems all but out in the open is Andrea Pirlo to Chelsea. AC Milan president said the move would shock him if it happened. However, recently when Pirlo was asked about the Chelsea move by the press he just said he had nothing to say. Is he hiding the fact that he is leaving? It wouldn't surprise anyone if he fallowed Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea but again, do they have the room for him? Everyone knows the midfield at Chelsea is bolstering already. As read in Managerialism 250 coaches tend to like to bring in players of their own nationality and one thing that Chelsea don't have a lot of is Italians. Nonetheless the club already has Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Mikel, Deco who already play in the center of midfield. Perhaps Ancelotti rates Pirlo better than some of the players he already has, but for a center midfielder, Pirlo hasn't scored from open play in over a year. Think to yourself where you might put him. It's difficult isn't it?

The last but I believed to be the most unlikely, however most useful in Chelsea's case, is Franck Ribery. Why is this unlikely? Clubs such as Manchester United and especially Real Madrid have been trying to get their hands on him all summer. Real Madrid are rumoured to have put in a bid greater than the one they put in for Ronaldo but it was still turned down. The Chelsea triple swoop we are analyzing right now was said to be only £100 million for all three of these players. Roman has the cash, but what has been reported on Goal.com just wouldn't be enough to lure Franck away from the tight clutches of Bayern Munchen. If he somehow did land at the bridge, he would be a good winger option. I certainly think he is more useful than Belletti, that's a given.

I'll be interested to see how this plays out over the next couple days, and remaining weeks in the transfer window. Do I see Chelsea grabbing all 3? No way. The most likely to go I believe is Pirlo. What the Chelsea boss plans on doing with the side after that is a mystery

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid,

Bobby

This Week's Shock Transfer Stories and Rumours

There has been a lot of big talk of big money moves for big players going to big clubs this week. Follower's of Futbol de los Inhos (FDLI) have thrown their bits and pieces in about the big news spotted through the transfer window at their favorite clubs. The people wanna know. What's going on? Where do I start when the names of fan favorites such as Viera, Terry, and Tevez are tangled up in the press? Those aren't the only players in speculation as Arsenal's lanky goal scorer, Adebayor, Lucio, and Inter Milan's Maxwell seem to be on the front of the tabloids as well.

Manchester City have finalized the move for Argentina's caveman-like striker Carlos Tevez after the player spent two years on loan from West Ham United at City's cross town rivals, Manchester United. Tevez who completed the £25 million deal this week was fan favorite at Old Trafford. Despite, being constantly bumped out of the starting line-up to make room for Dimitar Berbatov, the fans obviously protested the fact they thought Tevez would be leaving the club in the summer as they made signs and banners encouraging his performances and doing the best they could to extend his welcome. Tevez admitted deep sadness to the press on several occasions, admitting that the club had made him no offer to stay. He apologized to sympathetic fans and praised them for all their support. It looked like a sad movie break up as club and footballer were set to part. Finally, earlier this summer, the Red Devils offered the Argentine a contract and a chance to stay with the supporters who loved him. His answer: No. Instead he moves to cross town rivals, Manchester City. I haven't spoken to many Manchester United fans about the issue but I'm sure they are less than pleased. It is a certainty that Carlito will not receive the warm welcome he is used to from the United faithful when City visits Old Trafford in the upcoming season.

West Londoners were shocked to hear that Chelsea skipper, John Terry was in favor of showdown talks with the club this week over a £40 million transfer to Manchester City. Often looked upon as Chelsea's fearless leader, it is a bit out of the "blue" for the always passionate center back to consider leaving the club that has made him the footballer he is today. Would Terry really want to leave the club he bleeds pride for or is he simply using it as a bargaining chip to get Chelsea FC to make a more direct approach for action in the transfer market this summer? After all, he is the captain and should have a say in what the team needs. Perhaps he is playing the club for the hope of a better contract despite being the Blue's highest paid player. Manchester City manager, Mark Hughes believes that the light blue looks tantalizing to Terry because it would be a new challenge. However, it hardly would be. He has won the league, gotten as physically close to winning the Champions League as possible without capturing its glory and won English domestic cups with Chelsea. He has a better chance with his current club than with City to do all of the listed above. Chelsea's chief executive, Peter Kenyon has extinguished any rumors of the captain leaving the club as Chelsea rejected the second bid from the Eastlands yesterday claiming Terry is not for sale. ''We are not going to sell John, so it is irrelevant what another club will offer. We are very confident he will be leading us in the years to come.'' To me Chelsea just isn't Chelsea without John Terry. It would be sad for football to see him go.

Manchester City have made yet even more noise with the Adebayor project. The Togo international seems to be moving closer to a move to the Eastlands than his early summer link with Italian Club, AC Milan. He seems to surely be on his way after passing a medical, being granted a work permit, and received permission from Arsenal to leave. Another £25 million deal looks to be in order for the 6'3 striker who scored a total of 15 goals last season for the Gunners last season in all competitions. There will surely be a void left up top as Van Persie will be looking for another strike partner. Arsenal already has Eduardo, Arshavin if needed, and Bendter along with a handful of youngsters, but can one of these forwards help restore Arsenal to glory this season or will they look to the transfer window? The pressure is on the Gunners because they have underachieved in the past couple seasons. With all the strikers at City next season, Mark Hughes could be setting himself up for criticism from the beginning with forwards Tevez, Robinho, Roque Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Benjani, Caicedo, and now Adebayor all looking for the same 3 spots at the very most. I predict exits from the Eastlands just as much as signings.

Ready for a shock? Picture one of the greatest Arsenal captains of all time wearing a Spurs kit. You might have guessed it. Patrick Viera has been heavily linked with his former club's arch rivals on a free transfer to Tottenham from Inter Milan. Any Gunners fan would be crushed to hear the news but the swoop for the French legend is becoming more apparent every hour. The Midfielder has already turned down offers from homeland club Paris Saint Germain and Birmingham City. It's unthinkable for Arsenal supporter but crazier things have happened such as Luis Figo directly to Real Madrid from Barcelona (should have treated him better). The 33 your-old states he is simply looking for the chance to play since the "Special One" has not made him a priority in Italy. He enjoyed his time in London and seems eager to return.

Viera isn't the only player on the way out of Inter Milan. Yesterday, Barcelona made one of their few transfer moves of the summer with Brazilian defender, Maxwell. The 27 year-old was agreed to a £4.5 transfer fee to help the Catalan club defend its many titles next season. The left back had fallen out of favor with Jose Murinho to teenager Santon back in Italy and will now be challenging Eric Abidal for a place under Pep Guardiola.

Well, here is one for you. Considered by many the greatest Brazil center back, Brazilian Lucio is on the move to Inter Milan. As you have read, it has been mostly one way traffic on the way out of the Italian champions but the 31 year-old is set to receive a 3 year contract. Lucio who may have grabbed the attention of Murinho, in his outstanding captaining performances in the Confederations Cup with summer with champions Brazil, has been at Bayern Munchen since 2004. He now looks for a new test in Italy.

Well I can't speak for anyone else but I would need a hell of an amount of Asprin to deal with the selection headaches Mark Hughes will face on his front line. City look a bit top heavy at the moment. Would Chelsea's JT help even out the squad? Will North London go up inflames if the Yids capture Captain Viera? I'm anxious to see.


Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid,

Bobby

Under Cover Munchen

With a season to put behind them, Bayern Munchen are looking to improve on last term's disappointment. The German giants finished second in a league they should win every year and bombed out of the Champions League to eventual champions Barcelona with a scoreline I won't mention for the sake of the club's reputation. Former Bayern Munchen great, Franz Beckenbauer, made his feelings known which demoralized the team even more. The Club was in an obvious need of change. You would think that a squad that struggled to lift trophies, would bring in names known in the world of football to help them raise the level. Real Madrid over achieved that policy this summer after a terrible season at their standards. Bayern Munchen is taking a more subtle approach. Signing six names so far this summer. You may be asking yourself when you saw these news reports, struggling to remember. The truth is, you don't remember because the press tends to publicise significant players moving to big clubs, not small names that are hardly recognized. The only reports you remember this summer of Bayern Munchen is their fight to hold on to Ribery. Lets take a look at who they have signed started with the biggest of the names to the smallest names.

1. Mario Gomez: Probably the most well known of the new players. The striker Gomez spent his entire career at Stuttgart until now. Despite his the Latin roots of his name, he is a German international with 24 caps. Last season Gomez scored 33 goals in all competitions which was good enough to seal his €30 million move to the German Giants this summer. He is impressive in the air standing at 6'2, and weighing in at a thumping 190 lbs. The large target will be challenging Italian frontman, Luca Toni, for the big strikers job most likely along Klose. Look for the 24 year-old in action wearing the Bayern Munchen strip next season.
   


2. Ivica Olic: Olic really appeared on the scene in last summer's EURO 2008 with Croatia (a real bruiser in the fantasy game at the time). Standing at 6'1, the 29 year-old is another candidate for a big striker at his new club. He arrives from Hamburg SV with credentials of 16 goals last season in all competitions. Places for strikers are up for grabs with Lucas Podolski leaving the club this summer.
   


3. Anatoliy Tymoshuck: You may recognize the name from Russia's most recent standout club Zenit St. Petersburg. He was part of the squad who triumphed over Rangers in the 2008 UEFA Cup final, Beating Bayern Munchen in Russia in the semi-final second leg of that tournament 4-0. The 30-year old will be anxious to start with German Giants that he helped scalp 2 season previous.
   


4. Danijel Pranjic: Names begin to grow more unfamiliar at this point when the Club signed Pranjic from Dutch outfit Heerenveen. He was impressive in last seasons campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie scoring 16 goals and 8 goals in 30 games played.
   


5. Edson Braafheid: The German giants signed this 27 year-old defender from FC Twente Enschede. Not a big name, but recently earned his first cap for his home nations of the Netherlands.
   


6. Alexander Baumjohann: Perhaps a rising young star. He plays for the German U-21 and is transfering over from his last outfit, Borussia Mönchengladbach. Looks to be another midfielder that could grow into a fine player.

Bayern Munchen may not have signed big stars like Real Madrid, but that's not to say their system won't be affective. The low profile players could be surprises. All of them have good numbers statistically and it's not like Bayern to sign players not able to compete at a high level such as the Champions League. Let's see what they can bring to the table this season with a splash of new talent.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby