Back Pages Dominated by Chelsea Speculation

While Premiership followers should never underestimate the power of the British press’s imagination, this transfer season’s fury surrounding Chelsea FC - new coach, rich owner, wantaway stars - has reached a feverish, comical pitch.

Aside from the acquisition of Deco from Barcelona last month, there has been very little movement at the Bridge. Frank Lampard remains in fold. Didier Drogba is not only a Blue, he has no suitors. Robinho seems no closer to making a move from Real Madrid.

While I usually try to avoid delving too deep into tabloid speculation (though given the nature of this piece, it’s almost impossible), it can be fun to see what gets linked to a multi-billionaire oil magnate coming off a year without silverware. With that in mind …

AC Milan continues to insist that Chelsea have make offers for midfielder and World Player of the Year Kaká (left). The amount linked with the offers range from 80 million euros on the low end to 150 million euros in the unreliably high reports.  The modal figure reported is 100 million euros. This week, a Brazil press officer fueled these rumors saying Kaká would entertain a move to the Premiership and Chelsea, but with Chelsea publicly denying any Kaká approach, this story has no legs.

One approach the club is not denying attempts to procure Brazilian winger Robinho from Real Madrid. There are conflicting reports as to whether the 24-year-old would welcome a switch. He is unsettled, being concerned about a lack of regard from his club. He has, however, reiterated an intention to stay, and a contract extension is being negotiated. Still, Chelsea is said to have discussed a bid of close to £30 million with his club. Real, reportedly, wants closer to £50 million, a ridiculously high amount.  Despite the price, Chelsea remains keen on buying the Brazilian, with club chief Peter Kenyon publicly stating Robinho would be the last piece to the team’s puzzle.

Meanwhile, the club continues to try and flush out Frank Lampard. Today there are reports that Chelsea have upped their contract extension offer to £150,000 per week over four seasons. Lampard’s sticking point with past offers has been less the salary and more the length. He wants a five year deal, an almost unprecedented duration for a player his age. The negotiation between player and club seems less an attempt to agree on a new deal than a public relationship game in anticipation of the player’s departure for Inter Milan. With such a lucrative offer, Chelsea may have taken the lead in that game. Regardless, Lampard seems set for Chelsea for the near future, with Jose Mourinho conceding he is unlikely to sign the midfielder before January.

While all these rumors float, Luiz Felipe Scolari continues to refine the bloated roster he inherited. Khalid Boulahrouz has been sold to Stuttgart after spending last season on loan in Spain. Defender Tal Ben Haim is said to be close to a move to Manchester City. Shawn Wright-Phillips has been linked with a move to Portsmouth. Flourent Malouda has been linked with the Serie A’s AS Roma, though he may be a back-up plan to their bid for Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu. And, of course, there’s Drogba.

But along with the sales, there have been contract extensions. Michael Essien and Petr Cech have signed five year extensions to stay at the Bridge.

Ince Affirms Position on Bentley by Rejecting Tottenham Approach

Aston Villa confirmed news from earlier this week that they had approached and been rejected by Blackburn for midfielder David Bentley (left).This weekend, reports surfaced that Tottenham, who has long been considered the favorite in the Bentley pursuit, was also rejected by Rover manager Paul Ince.

Though Bentley handed in a formal transfer request last month, Ince has maintained his desire to keep the England international at Ewood Park. Bentley is looking to move from the Rovers to a club playing in Europe after Blackburn failed to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Ince, however, has been reluctant to let either Bentley or striker Roque Santa Cruz leave.

In the interim, Martin O’Neill says that Aston Villa has moved on and are no longer pursuing Bentley after having their offer rejected. According to O’Neill, Villa offered £10 million for Bentley.  Blackburn want closer to £17 million.

With Gareth Barry’s move to Liverpool in limbo, Aston Villa’s need for Barry may be mitigated.

Tottenham Looks to Revamp Striking Duo

For all the rumors Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked to this summer, no team has been the subject of more paper talk than Tottenham Hotspur. Manager Juande Ramos (left) is going through his first summer transfer season with the club and has sought to completely overhaul the roster in an attempt to crack the big four. The most recent rumors linked with the club, however, will not help that goal.

The striking tandem of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, who combined for more than forty goals last season, have been linked with moves away from White Hart Lane. Keane is being publicly pursued by Liverpool while Manchester United claims to have tabled a bid for a player, thought to be Berbatov. Keane’s price is said to be around £20 million while Berbatov should go for closer to £25 million.

These stories took a intriguing turn this week when Daniel Levy, Spurs chief, filed a complaint with the Premier League regarding public statements about his strikers from Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson. Seems there is a club chief that is not ready for the spotlight of an elite club.

As rumors regarding current Spurs strikers heat up, word comes from St. Petersburg, Russia that Tottenham have made an offer for Zenit attacker Andrei Arashavin. Zenit has rejected a bid that’s said to be a couple million pounds short of the club’s £21.5 million evaluation.

Tottenham has also been lightly linked with Arshavin’s Russia national team strike partner, Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Spartak Moscow striker could be had for about half the price of Arshavin. Were Tottenham to make a play for the Russian partnership, not only would it be one of the more interesting stories for the start of the Premiership, it would also put abotu £12 million in Ramos’s pocket as he continues to build his squad, almost enough to afford Bentley.

To bring in the rest of the money, Ramos is rumored to be selling off a number of other players. Pascal Chimbonda and Teemu Tainio are taking medicals at Sunderland, with contracts said to have already been offered. Steed Malbranque has also been sought by the Black Cats, while Aston Villa is said to be in the lead for defender Younes Kaboul.

Around the Premiership

• One Manchester United transfer that will not happen is the acquisition of Atletico Madrid’s Sergio “Kún” Aguero, with the striker affirming this week he has no interest in a move.
• Gilberto Silva, out of favor with Arsenal, has completed his move to Greek side Panathinaikos. The Brazilian midfielder was moved for a £1 million fee.
• William Gallas could also be on the move, though the noise from Paris St. Germain attempted to lure another French star may be nothing but racket. Still, Gallas has been embattled as captain for the Gunners, with his play and leadership coming under fire. PSG is offering Gallas a way out of what’s slowly becoming a tight situation for Gallas at the Emirates.  The fee would be just short of £7 million.
• Right back Barcay Sanga, whose ankle injury last season coincided with Arsenal’s drop on the table, looks set to be healthy for the start of the season.
• Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Tomas Rosicky, injured for much of last season, says he will miss the beginning of the season. The Czech Republic star says he will not be ready until at least September.
• Liverpool continues mired in a transfer rut after their inability to sell Xabi Alonso. Still trying to find money for Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane, Rafa Benitez is now ready to sell back-up striker Andrei Voronin, though the Ukrainian is unlikely to fetch more than £3 million.
• The Rovers have added some needed creativity to the midfield with the acquisition of Chilean midfielder Carlos Villanueva. The 22-year-old midfielder, nicknamed “Pineapple Head,” could see time immediately in the middle of the pitch for the Rovers.
• West Ham have confirmed the signing of Swiss defender Valon Behrami. The 23-year-old former-Lazio back appeared on the international radar after a strong performance in Euro 2008. West Ham will to pay around £5 million as a fee.
• Sunderland has seen a £4 million bid for Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher rejected. Fletcher has said he would like to stay with United and battle for playing time.
• Newcastle has lost midfielder Emre Belozoglu to Turkish side Fenerbahce. Belozoglu, who was expected to leave, signed a four year deal win Turkey after appearing in 14 games for the Magpies last season.
• Wigan have acquired midfielder Lee Cattermole from Middlesbrough. The 20-year-old England U21 star was the subject of a £3.5 million bid for the Latics and should see playing time immediately.
• Wigan has also completely the long-negotiated acquisition of striker Amr Zaki. The star of the last African Cup of Nations had seen his desired move held up in a contract dispute with his former Egyptian league side.
• And late last week, Wigan completed the acquisition of French midfielder Olivier Kapo from Birmingham, keeping the 27-year-old in the Premiership at a £3.5 million fee.
• Fulham continues to try and bolster their attack, looking to secure oft-injured striker Louis Saha from Manchester United. The Cottagers are competing with Sunderland for the Frenchman’s services.
• Goaltender Scott Carson completed a permanent move to West Bromwich Albion, with former club Liverpool receiving a £3.5 million transfer fee. Carson, who spent last year on loan to Aston Villa, had been close to a move to Stoke City earlier in the week before West Brom swooped for the England international.
• West Brom has also bolstered their defence by acquiring Slovakian left back Marek Cech from FC Porto. The 25-year-old, who has made 29 appearances for Slovakia, was acquired last week for a £1.4 million fee.
• Stoke City had been the least active of the Premiership’s three promotees until breaking the club’s transfer fee record in acquiring Dave Kitson from relegated Reading. Kitson signed a three-year deal with Stoke after being acquired for a £5.5 million fee.
• Hull City continues trying to add players with Premiership experience by seeking defender Noe Paramot from Portsmouth, according to Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp. Redknapp, looking to add to a transfer kitty he needs to boost to get Wright-Phillips, is unlikely to demand much for the reserve back.
• One of those Premiership-experienced players Hull is trying to acquire is Wigan striker Marlon King. Hull manager Phil Brown said the deal for the 28-year-old striker, who scored one goal in eight appearances after joining Wigan from Watford in January, is near completion.

Popularity: 15%

Aston Villa have successfully bid for Blackburn goalkeeper and former U.S. international Brad Friedel.  Villa will pay the Rovers £2 million for the 37-year-old goaltender, who made 346 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn over the last seven seasons.  Should he agree to terms with Villa, Friedel will immediately step-in as the starting goaltender for Martin O’Neill, serving as a mentor for fellow American Brad Guzan.

Friedel is coming off a stellar year for Blackburn which saw him play a major role in the club’s seventh place finish.  He appeared in all forty-seven of Blackburn’s  matches last season, playing every minute.  Along with striker Roque Santa Cruz and midfielder David Bentley, Friedel formed the core of a team that finished just outside of qualification for European soccer.

Friedel has had a turmoltuous offseason after Mark Hughes left for Manchester City and was replaced by Paul Ince.  Two weeks ago, rumors speculated that Ince sought to replace Friedel.  Ince later affirmed his desire to keep the veteran goalkeeper.  Friedel later requested to move to Villa.  At Villa Park, Friedel would assume the starting position occupied last season by Scott Carson, who will be at West Brom this season.

In addition to being out of European football, Blackburn faces a potential rebuilding, with transfers of Santa Cruz and Bentley being speculated.  This along with a coaching change makes the move of the veteran goalkeeper likely.  Friedel would leave Ewood Park having established himself as one of the best keepers in club history.

Aston Villa remains alive for European football through the Intertoto Cup.

Popularity: 15%

Chelsea FC has let 35-year-old holding midfielder Claude Makélélé, one of the backbone players in the club’s rise to power over the Roman Abramovich-era, has been allowed to move to Paris St. Germain of France’s Ligue 1.  The transfer allows the France international to return to his national league for the final stage of his career while trying to revitalize a tradition-rich club.  He leaves Chelsea on a free transfer after the club let him out of his contract.

Last season, Paris St. Germain finished one spot above relegation in Le Championnat despite winning the Coupe de la Ligue (the French League Cup).  In an effort to bolster their squad for this league season and their UEFA Cup campaign, PSG has sought Makélélé since the end of last season’s Premiership.  With Luiz Felipe Scolari taking over at Stamford Bridge and bringing in his system, Makélélé’s spot in Chelsea’s lineup was not guaranteed, as it was last season.  With John Obi Mikel on the roster as a holding midfielder, Chelsea could afford to let the Frenchman go.

Having acquired Ludovic Giuly from AS Roma last week, PSG is in the process of stocking-up with veterans in the hopes of avoiding another relegation battle.  Makélélé is the second such acquisition, with center back Liliam Thuram, last of Barcelona, also connected with the club.

Makélélé’s departure from Stamford Bridge represents a small changing end-of-an-era.  After coming to Chelsea from Real Madrid (where he had won two league titles and the Champions League), Chelsea immediately became trophy hawk.  In his five seasons with the club, Chelsea won five major honors:  two Premiership titles; one FA Cup; two League Cups.  He made 217 appearances for the Blues, scoring two goals.

Chelsea FC honored Makélélé on the team’s web site, saying his contirbutions form “a personal record that stands alongside any in our history.”

Makélélé’s departure brings to an end the first part of Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich-era.  Brought in during Abramovich’s first summer with the club, his acquisition coincided with the upturn in club performance.  In his second season, after the hiring of manager Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s run of silverware started when the club captured the Premiership and the League Cup.  Makélélé was a major contributor to each accomplishment, with 2004-05 possibly his best season at Stamford Bridge.

Last season was the first in three that Chelsea did not win silverware, leading to the hiring of Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager.  Scolari has sought to trim the club’s first team roster, making Makélélé expendable.  The veteran midfielder, like other French nationals, sought to move to PSG to try an revitalize a club that fought relegation last season.

Popularity: 15%

Manchester United Moves

The insanity of the Cristiano Ronaldo news aside, Manchester United has been relatively quiet since the end of the season.  Although the names of Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Dimitar Berbatov have been mentioned, no rumors have stuck to Alex Ferguson’s squad the way the Adebayor, Barry, and Lampard rumors have hit other clubs.

That all changed today when two British sources reported that Manchester United and Tottenham had agreed to a £28 million fee for Dimitar Berbatov. While there has been no confirmation from the clubs on such an agreement, the idea of Berbatov being destined for United has been floated since before the end of the last Premiership. With Cristiano Ronaldo destined to miss the first one or two months of the season, Berbatov would fill the need United would have for an aerial force and striker. If the rumors of an agreement, however extravagant, are correct, Berbatov and United are now discussing personal terms.

In even more flamboyant rumors, Argentine Sergio “Kun” Aguero has been linked to the Premiership thanks to comments from his agent saying a big club has expressed interest in his client. Sources revealed that club to be Manchester United, a strange connection considering the current make-up of United’s strike force. Aguero,  who last season won the Puerta Award as La Liga’s best player, stands just short of 5-foot-8, making about the same stature of both Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

Aguero’s agent did not eliminate either Arsenal or Liverpool from the possibilities, but the amount being discussed would make those clubs unlikely suitors. The 20-year-old who scored 19 goals last season for Atletico Madrid has been linked with valuations from £32 million to £44 million.

Aguero’s reported price plus the Berbatov rumors have led to speculation that an agreement is in place between Manchester United and Real Madrid for the sale of Ronaldo. That theory:  The Ronaldo sale will go through once the main compensating purchase - in this case, Aguero - is made. At that point, Ronaldo would be sold for around £75 million.

Alonso to Juventus Falls Apart - What Now for Barry?

Juventus has their midfielder, and it’s not Xabi Alonso.

Today, Juventus confirmed their purchase of former Sevilla midfielder Christian Poulsen.  The Dane moves to the Serie A after Juve paid his 10 million Euro buy-out. Poulsen, a deep sitting midfielder like Alonso, was said to be chosen over Alonso as the better battler. That choice eliminates the main suitor for Alonso, who was to be Benitez’s main source of funds for the acquisition of Gareth Barry. Juventus has said they are gone acquiring out-field talent.

Late last week Benitez had confirmed that he needs to sell more players to acquire Barry and the striker he wants (still thought to be Tottenham’s Robbit Keane). With Alonso now either set for an Anfield stay or to be sold for less than the £15+ million Juventus had said to be bidding, Benitez finds himself in a quagmire.  This may be the reason why goaltender Scott Carson was linked to both West Brom and Stoke City for £4 million.  The total is less than he had told Martin O’Neill the England international would be sold for.

If Benitez can sell Carson, the money from his, Peter Crouch’s, and John Arne Riise’s sales come close to the £18 million O’Neill is demanding for Gareth Barry. Assuming Benitez either has or can find the rest of the money, Barry and Alonso may be playing in the same midfield in a month. Unfortunately, they will be playing behind an attack that will against rely heavily on great performances from Fernando Torres and Steven Gerard, a formula that only got the club fourth place last season.

David Bentley Auction Picking Up Steam

With all the talk of Gareth Barry’s thought-to-be impending move to Anfield, many forgot that there was another England international midfielder who had handed in a transfer request. Blackburn’s David Bentley, four years younger than Barry, had his situation confused by the managerial change at Ewood Park, but with Paul Ince now firmly in charge, the bidding has started.

Tottenham has been long thought to be in line for Bentley’s services, and although Bentley’s request to play in the Champions League seems at odds with moving from seventh place Blackburn to eleventh place Tottenham, Spurs’ offseason activity, rumored £17 million dollar bid, and UEFA Cup spot make them an attractive option. Multiple sources have reported the two clubs have agreed on that transfer fee, though there has been confirmation from neither club.

One bid Paul Ince has confirmed is that coming from Aston Villa. There was no value quoted on Martin O’Neill’s bid, but Ince said that he turned it down, reiterating his intention on keeping his star midfielder.

Likewise, Ince does not want to see the Rovers’ other main contributors last season, striker Roque Santa Cruz and goaltender Brad Freidel, move. Both have had their names come up in rumors, with Santa Cruz links to Spurs and Arsenal. The Paraguayan sar has reiterated that he would like to stay with Rovers, though there may be an Adebayor-like temptation to sell high on a goalscorer who many feel performed beyond expectations last season. Friedel, who has been linked with Aston Villa and Manchester City, was thought to be on the wrong side of Ince’s option until this week when his new manager said he does not plan to move the American goaltender.

Around the Premiership

• Chelsea target Robinho said he is under the impression that Real Madrid will only be selling him in the event that they acquire Cristiano Ronaldo, though even in that scenario he has no interest in moving away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
• Chelsea’s other big move, the potential departure of Frank Lampard, may have got slightly more likely with the news of an improved offer from Inter Milan.  Whereas Inter had been offer just short of £8 million for Lampard, their new offer is £15 million plus Brazilian striker Adriano, currently playing for Internacional in Brazil.
• Andriy Shevchenko, last week linked with a return to AC Milan on loan, has seen the Serie A’s Sampdoria start negotiations for a similar move.
• River Plate’s Falcao Garcia, who has been tracked by Manchester United, is said to be the subject of a £8 million bid from Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. The 22-year-old Garcia scored 6 goals in the the Argentine Premier League’s Clasura and is being sought to replace Emmanuel Adebayor’s spot on the roster. If Adebayor stays, it is unlikely Arsenal will move for the Colombian striker.
• On the Adebayor front, Arsenal was rumored to have reduced their asking price on the Togoan, thought previously to be £36 million. Suggesting they are ready to move on, Arsenal was said to be asking only £19 million from AC Milan.
• The agent for Andrei Arshavin said yesterday that his client would enjoy playing for Arsene Wenger, feeding into the idea tha Wenger has been in on the pursuit for the Russia star all along. This, in addition to the Huntelaar, Falcao, and Santa Cruz rumors, is seen as explaining why Adebayor’s price may have dropped.
• Aston Villa has agreed with MLS on the transfer of Chivas USA goaltender Brad Guzan and now await his work permit. Guzan’s recent stretch of appearances for the men’s national team has manager Martin O’Neill optimistic the same stumbling block which blocked a January move will not prevent Guzan moving to England. The only question remains whether Guzan’s nine appearances meet the work permit requirement that a player be a regular on his national team.
• Paul Ince and the Blackburn Rovers have given 33-year-old former England international Robbie Fowler a two week trial.
• Romanian defender Dorin Goian, one of the country’s best players at Euro 2008, has been linked with a move to Sunderland, who would pay a £3.5 million to Steaua Bucharest for his services.
• Hull City have reportedly agreed to personal terms with George Boateng, with the midfielder slated to join the Tigers from Middlesbrough. Boateng was allowed to seek a new home by Gareth Southgate and has agreed to a two year deal with the recently promoted club.
• Further bolstering their midfield, Hull City also acquired French international midfielder Bernard Mendy on a free transfer. The former Bolton Wanderer who had been with Paris St. Germain signed a three year deal with Phil Brown’s squad.

Popularity: 27%

The prognosis on Cristiano Ronaldo’s return from ankle surgery has him out three months, putting him on the sidelines until October, or at least five weeks of the Premiership campaign. While Manchester United and their backers have had to deal with a summer of mental preparation for their leading goal scorer to be out on a permanent basis, now that some time out-of-the-team has been made official, we can start discussing in a meaningful way: How much of an effect will Ronaldo’s absence have on United’s lineup and prospects?

The clearest effect on United’s lineup will be the difference between Nani and Ronaldo. Nani is most likely to be slotted into Ronaldo’s spot, as his game and abilities most readily fit that role. The difference between the two is huge. Luis Nani is what Cristiano Ronaldo was four or five years ago, the difference between a talented and erratic player and somebody who is amongst the best in the world. For a team that won the league by only two points last season, it’s a difference that will have drastic implications. Chelsea was that runner-up, and Arsenal was only two points further back.

Over five weeks, could the difference between Ronaldo and Nani be four points? Normally I would say no, but in this case I think it might, considering the five weeks we are talking about. Manchester United’s schedule is a bit front-loaded. They open the season at home against Newcastle, a dangerous match but one I expect them to win regardless of Ronaldo’s availability. After that, they are on the road for three straight weeks against teams playing in Europe: Portsmorth; Chelsea; Liverpool. A team like Manchester United should be expected to get points in all those matches, but without Ronaldo it is going to take a supreme effort.

United schedule evens out over September and October. Ronaldo should be back for the club’s next big match at Arsenal on November 8. The condition he will be in at that time will be worth watching, but with him out of the lineup and that stretch of matches, it’s not difficult to argue that a stretch in which United would have gotten six or seven points could now yield only two or three (if that).

Ronaldo’s absence could cost them the league, especially if he is out for more than the first five weeks of the season. United may want to shift their focus this season towards Champions League, where the meaningful matches will come after the turn of the calendar.

While it does not affect United’s prospects for the season, there is an implicit fallacy in the reasoning above. In asking what the difference will be between Ronaldo and Nani, there was the assumption that Ronaldo would yield a performance comparable to last season’s. That would be a difficult feat were he healthy, and even if he were healthy, you have to wonder about his motivation in returning to a team where he does not want to play. I don’t want to underestimate Ronaldo’s professionalism, but 42 goals is a lot of ask of a man who is in an environment that’s unlikely to yield his best performances.

We should not be asking the difference between Ronaldo-at-his-best and Nani. When we think about what United will be missing, we should probably have something closer to 20 goals in mind. We should ask how they are going to replace him on set pieces - be he taking them or trying to get on the end of them, where he is United’s best player in the air.

United had a problem before Ronaldo had surgery, as they were faced with the task of replicating a championship won by two points on the back of a performance that would not be replicated. They may not have been the league favorites before the surgery, and they certainly should not be considered as such now.

If you have any questions or comments about the article, you can email the author here or leave your comment, below.

Popularity: 19%

The level of anti-Cristiano Ronaldo sentiment should not be underestimated, though if you ever find yourself thinking it weak consider reports out of Italy saying Real Madrid goaltender Iker Casillas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres are favorites for the Ballon d’Or.

The Ballon d’Or, or Golden Ball, is given by France Football to the player voted by media as the best football in the world for the preceding year. AC Milan’s Kaká is the current holder of the award and for much of the season Cristiano Ronaldo (left) was considered either the likely winner (by his supporters) or the favorite. The reports out of Italy, based on a research done on the award’s voters, now paints a different picture.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s accomplishments of the last year have been well documented. Fernando Torres also had had an incredible season, and although I seem to have slightly less regard for Casillas than most, people who know a lot more than I do about the sport have given him tremendous credit for Real Madrid’s success last season.

Beyond any accomplishments Torres or Casillas had during their club seasons, the capper to their Ballon D’Or resumé seems to be Spain winning Euro 2008. That is where I see the breakdown in logic behind their candidacies of the award.

If you grant that Ronaldo was generally considered to be the favorite for the Ballon d’Or at the end of the club season, the issue becomes whether the Euro 2008 performance of Torres or Casillas was sufficient to bridge the gap to Ronaldo. For now, let’s just set aside the idea of defining what that gap was, and let’s also grant the Ronaldo’s one goal in three games at Euro for Portugal did nothing to widen that gap.

Torres, until he scored the winning goal in the final, was generally derided for having a disappointing tournament, a view I completely disagree with (I named him to my best XI for the tournament). He was being substituted in each match, and while some questioned whether that was wise of Spain coach Luis Aragones, others advocated giving Daniel Guiza, Torres’s replacement, a greater role. While Torres may have decreased the distance between him and Ronaldo, this is not a performance that should seal a Ballon d’Or.

Then there is Casillas (left), who I also named to my Euro 2008 XI. Casillas’s shining moment was the penalty shootout win over Italy, but beyond that he was untested. The ten players Spain had in front of him made it a rather boring tournament for Spain’s captain, the pre-kicks Italy match included. Was that performance against Italy enough to bridge his gap to Ronaldo?

Whether you think Torres or Casillas deserve the award, you should allow that the shift in opinion that has occurred over the last two months may be more about Ronaldo than what either of these players has done. Perhaps people have grown weary of the Real Madrid speculation. That’s understandable. Perhaps the voters look unfavorably on his style and the various idiosyncrasies of his game. That is also understandable, but it is not fair to use these things as reason for an abrupt change regarding the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo, being the front-runner for this award for so long, has been analyzed and scrutinized in a way Torres and Casillas have been able to avoid. To withhold a vote for him because of that scrutiny can not be fair unless you wait six months to cast the vote and, during that time, hold Torres and Casillas to the same standards.

That basic unfairness is not the only problem I have with the Casillas and Torres candidacies. How did these two players get singled out to benefit from Ronaldo’s falling star? It’s an easy question to answer: They are the players from the Spain team who best fit the standards for this award. That reasoning, however, ignores a Spain squad who’s defining trait was team-wide success - a kind of success that does not translate onto this kind of individual award. How can you single out Torres or Casillas when you consider how Marcos Senna, Sergio Ramos, David Villa, Carles Puyol, and David Silva played?

And why is this being restricted to only Spanish players? If we are going to reconsider Ronaldo’s claim to the award, we should not let the achievement of a Spain side ill-suited towards individual recognition limit the candidates. When you compare Casillas’s resume to that of Manchester United goalie Edwin van der Sar, who looks better? Both won their club league, and while Casillas’s health during the season is a point in his favor (van der Sar missed time during Manchester United’s season with injuries), van der Sar and club had more competition (from Chelsea) for their title. Van der Sar also had a much harder time of it in the Champions League than Casillas had in Euro 2008. Until the Netherlands was eliminated from Euro, van der Sar had outplayed Casillas and been one of the best goaltenders in Euro.

Why isn’t Michael Ballack being considered? He was Chelsea and Germany’s best player and was a decisive force whenever he was on the pitch. Ballack continuously scored big goals down the stretch of Chelsea’s Premiership and Champions League campaigns, had another huge goal in Euro 2008 against Portugal, and established himself as a fixture in any best midfielder in the world conversation.

Van der Sar. Ballack. Casillas or Torres. It doesn’t matter. If the stories are true, this award has become less about who will win it than making sure Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t win.

I hope after the award is given, this article looks reactionary; however, I doubt I would have bothered writing it if I thought Ronaldo was still the favorite to win the award.

If you have any questions or comments about the article, you can email the author here or leave your comment, below.

Popularity: 28%

Huntelaar, Ajax Reveal Manchester United Interest

It has been long assumed that when Ajax star Klans-Jan Huntelaar was ready to move beyond the Eredivisie, Manchester United and Arsenal would be interested.  With contract talks between Huntelaar and club on an extension for the 24-year-old going nowhere, the Dutch international may be ready to move.  Today, Huntelaar went as far as to say he won’t sign a new contract with the club.

Both Huntelaar and Ajax have confirmed that Manchester United are “very interested” in the striker, who would fill the Red Devils’ need for a tradition number nine.  The traditional number nine was thought to be Dimitar Berbatov last week, but Huntelaar better fits the profile of player Alex Ferguson traditionally pursues.

Conversely, Arsenal is reportedly yet to contact Ajax about the Dutch international.

Huntelaar has been one of the most prolific scorers in Europe since his move to Ajax from Heerenveen three seasons ago.  During that stretch, he has scored 96 goals in 115 contests (all competitions).  He has also made thirteen appearances with the national team, scoring eight goals, one of which came during Euro 2008.

Because of the resourcefulness with which he scores his goals, Huntelaar draws natural comparisons to Ruud van Nistelrooy.  The former Manchester United star’s name was evoked by Huntelaar when discussing his potential interest in a move to Old Trafford.

Real Madrid has also been long linked with Huntelaar.

Ajax is reported to have put a £20 million price on a potential Huntelaar sale, only slightly more than Arsenal proposes to sell Alexander Hleb to Barcelona for (below) and the cheapest of United’s rumored targets, which includes Berbatov and Lyon’s Karim Benzema.  Ajax has already insured against a Huntelaar sale with Friday’s acquisition of Miralem Sulejmani from Heerenveen.

Juventus Spurning of Alonso Could Have Chain Reaction

In a bit of irony that could have a serious effect on Liverpool’s Premiership ambitions, Juventus is now looking for more midfielder options besides Xabi Alonso.  Alonso’s Euro 2008 run and subsequent holidays have delayed transfer negotiations, and the clubs’ inability to agree on a price (now that discussions have started) has led Juve to look at other options.  AS Roma’s Alberto Aquilani is currently linked with a move.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri has said the club has multiple options to fill their needs in midfield.

If Juventus go for an option besides Alonso, the decision could impact the Gareth Barry negotiations.  It may be no coincidence that the asking price on Alonso, now thought to be north of £16 million, has increased in proportion to Martin O’Neill’s asking price for Gareth Barry.  Rafa Benitez’s tight transfer budget likely requires him to sell Alonso before he can move for Barry.  Should a sale to Juventus not take place, Benitez would have to find another team to take Alonso.  At that point, it would be unlikely Benitez would be able to get £16 million for his most attractive sale item.

If Liverpool can not get enough money for Alonso, they may have to rely solely on the money they received from Portsmouth for Peter Crouch.  If that happens, there is little chance Benitez will be able to get the forward he seeks to pair with Fernando Torres.  This week, Benitez against brought up David Villa as a target, though it is unclear how Benitez can meet a newly resolute Valencia’s price without getting Juventus-money for Alonso.  The Villa rumors, as well as those about making a play for Tottenham’s Robbie Keane, would die quickly.

In the interim, the sale of Peter Crouch has done nothing to speed up the transfer of Barry.  Now three days after Liverpool gave Portsmouth permission to negotiate with Crouch, there has been no progress in the Villa-’Pool negotiations.  Martin O’Neill is set at a price of £18 million.  Liverpool, knowing Barry will go nowhere else, continues to try and short-change Aston Villa.  Villa is said to be willing to come down to £17 million of Rafa Benitez throws in Steve Finnan, but Benitez rates the defender higher than £1 million.

Around the Premiership

• Inter Milan faxed a £6.5 million offer to Chelsea for midfielder Frank Lampard along with a request to start negotiating personal terms with the player.  Chelsea refused, with Luiz Felipe Scolari saying in his first press conference that both club and player want to stay together.  Rumors immediately started surfacing of Lampard’s continued desire to move.  Today, the first rumors surfaced of Lampard buying out his contract.
• AC Milan has inched closer to a loan deal for Andriy Shevchenko, the former Rossenari striker who is on the outs at Chelsea.
• Responding to last week’s rumors that he would be targeted should Arsenal lose Emmanuel Adebayor, Newcastle’s Obafemi Martins said he would find it hard to resist the Emirates should Arsene Wenger come calling.  Since that time, Huntelaar has become available and the talk surrounding Adebayor has cooled, making an approach for Martins less likely.
• Money for Huntelaar or Martins could come from the sale of Alexander Hleb, who was in route to Barcelona today for a medical.  Barcelona and Arsenal are said to have already agreed on a fee, with Hleb to sign a four-year contract with Barça.  The fee for the winger,  who is keen to move away from London, is likely to be between £12 and £15 million.
• Another Gunner set to leave the Emirates, though one that will be missed less on the pitch, is last season’s vice-captain Gilberto Silva, who looks to jump to Super Greek League power Panathinaikos.  Silva lost his regular spot last season to Mathieu Flamini and still looked unlikely to regain playing time after Flamini’s move to AC Milan.
• Liverpool finalized the acquisition of Andrea Dossena in a move that had been reported last month.  Dossena, formerly of Serie A’s Udinese, will immediately step in at left back.
• The Reds also inched closer to closing the deal for Palmeiras goaltender Diego Cavalieri, with a £3 million fee agreed and the medical passed.  Personal terms and a work permit are the remaining obstacles for the Brazilian goaltender who will be Pepe Reina’s understudy.
• Everton have put a £12 million price tag on forward Andy Johnson, who Sunderland, Wigan and Fulham are pursuing.  Though David Moyes has said he does not intend to sell Johnson, the sale of the now reserve striker is expected to be needed to fund Moyes’s close season ambitions.
• That sale could finance the acquisition of Argentine forward Diego Milito from Real Zaragoza.  Milito was linked with a possible move to Tottenham three weeks ago but has since seen David Moyes step up Everton’s chase.  Milito, who seems sure to leave relegated Zaragoza, would prefer a move to Genoa in the Serie A.
• The same rumors that surfaced at the end of the season linking midfielder Mikel Arteta with a move to La Liga and Atletico Madrid have come up again, with the Everton star said to be the subject of a £12 million bid.  Those rumors, having surfaced this weekend, cooled after a series of Atletico moves this week, none of which involved Arteta.
• One player David Moyes had been targeting to bolster the midfield was Brazilian-born, Turkey international Mehmet Aurelio.  Aurelio signed with La Liga’s Real Betís today.
• On the same day Aurelio escaped, Moyes’s acquisition of Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell went through.  The little-used Sidwell, sold for £5 million, is expected to slot into Gareth Barry’s spot in the starting XI.
• Colin Kazim-Richards has played the field well in his plan to return to the Premiership and now has a chance to move to Manchester City, where as he looked destined for Hull two weeks ago.
• City have also sewn up Richard Dunne, putting ink to a contract that Mark Hughes reported as agreed-to last week.  Dunne had been linked with Tottenham and Portsmouth.
• To help Dunne at the back, Manchester City has approached  Chelsea about purchasing defender Tal Ben-Haim.  The price would be in the £5 million range for the defender, who is one of a speculated seven names Luiz Felipe Scolari has decided to unload to pair down Chelsea’s roster.
• Mark Hughes is also keen on reuniting with goalkeeper Brad Friedel, one of his key contributors last season at Blackburn.  Shortly after the Rovers hired Paul Ince to replace Hughes, news leaked that Ince would look to replace Friedel, having identified him as a weak link in the club.  Hughes would bring Freidel in to help nurture Englan international goaltender Joe Hart.
• Tottenham has reportedly made a £10 million bid for Spartak Moscow forward and Euro 2008 star Roman Pavlyuchenko.  The bid has been rejected, with Spartak saying they want at least £12 million for Pavlyuchenko, should they decide to sell the Russian Premier League’s leading scorer in 2007.
• Spurs also failed in another bid for Sevilla winger Diego Capel.  The 20-year-old said he is not considering a move this season.
• Pascal Chimbonda is set to leave Spurs, but whereas last week he looked destined for La Liga and Valencia, it now appears former coach Martin Jol at Hamburg SV is angling to acquire the defender.
• Newcastle has agreed to a new three year contract with center back Steve Taylor.
• Kevin Keegan is also making a play for Swiss international Gokhan Inler.  The Udinese midfielder is the subject of a £4 million Magpie bid after his success at Euro 2008.
• Paris St. Germain have finally let midfielder Dider Digard move to Middlesbrough in a move that was held up for almost a weak after PSG suspended the player.
• Middlesbrough also finalized the move of forward Marvin Emnes from Sparta Rotterdam.  The 21-year-old cost Boro £3.2 million.
• Sunderland is looking to strengthen their backline by reacquiring George McCartney.  The left back was sold to West Ham two years ago.  The Black Cats are to have made a £4.5 million offer to reacquire him, with sources saying the Hammers have already rejected the approach.
• Earlier this summer it looked as if Wigan target Amr Zaki, playing for Zamalek in Egypt, would be moving to the Premiership.  Now with the club standing in the way of his move, the Egypt international is asking FIFA to step in an invalidate his contract.  Zaki claims the contract should be voided because his salary has not been paid, though the Egyptian Football Association has already failed to cancel the deal.
• Bolton have gotten ink to contract extensions on Jussi Jasskelainen and Ricardo Gardner.
• Fulham have received permission to talk to West Ham striker Bobby Zamora about stepping into the new vacancy in their lineup.  They also received permission from the Hammers to talk to defender John Pantsil.  Zamora had been linked with a loan move to Championship favorite Queens Park Rangers.
• Last week, Brazilian midfielder Geovanni agreed to a two-year contract with Hull City two days after being released by Manchester City.
• Henrik Pederson has left Hull City and returned to Denmark, leaving Hull surprised and suddenly thin on the left side.
• Hull have also reached an agreement with Middlesbrough for midfielder George Boateng, with manager Phil Brown saying only a few details remain to be worked out with the player.
• Stoke City and Hull City are in a battle for Portsmouth striker David Nugent.  Nugent has been largely unable to crack the starting lineup for Harry Redknapp since being purchased and is unlikely to see any more time with Peter Crouch’s acquisition.
• West Brom acquired midfielder Graham Dorrans from Scottish club Livingston for £100,000.
• Kevin Phillips made his departure from West Brom official, electing to drop back down to the Championship and join relegated Birmingham City.  Phillips was Albion’s leading scorer last season, finding the net 24 times.

Popularity: 18%

One day after the clubs agreed to terms on the transfer, Peter Crouch has completed a move from Liverpool to Portsmouth.  Liverpool will receive £9 million for the England international striker, with another £2 million to come from Pompey depending on the player’s performance.

The transfer reunites Crouch with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, for whom he played in 2001-02 before moving to Aston Villa.   The pair had sought a reunion since season’s end as Crouch had lost playing time after Liverpool’s tactical switch to a one striker, Fernando Torres-led formation.   Wanting to maintain form to keep his national team prospects alive,  Crouch requested a move.  With only one season remaining on his contract, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was near-forced to oblige.

Crouch will join the FA Cup champions and team with Jermain Defoe to form one of the better forward partnerships in the Premiership.  Both players have been regulars on the men’s national team since coach Fabio Capello took over the squad late last season.

The 27-year-old Crouch is best known for this lanky appearance, standing 6-foot-7 but weighing only 160 pounds.  His ability to be targeted in the box and out of the back perfectly compliments Defoe, who at 5-foot-7 relies on his speed to create opportunities.  Surprisingly skilled for his size, Crouch scored 42 goals in 127 appearances during his three seasons at Anfield.  He had 11 goals in 33 appearances last season despite starting only 18 matches.

Crouch’s sale to Portsmouth, rumored for more than a month, looked unlikely two weeks ago when Harry Redknapp went public deriding Rafa Benitez’s asking price, then thought to be closer to £15 million.  With the sale of midfielder Xavi Alonso to Juventus having yet to transpire, Benitez decided to move Crouch to raise money for a Gareth Barry acquisition from Aston Villa - a move than has been held up for lack of funds.  With Crouch moving to Portsmouth, Liverpool will now have money for  Barry, should Benitez and Villa manager Martin O’Neill agree on a price.

Popularity: 22%

John Terry may be the club’s captain, but for Chelsea fans, Frank Lampard is just as much of a talisman. He is the leading goal scorer amongst the club’s active players. Behind Terry and backup goaltender Claudio Cudicini, he is the longest tenured player at the club. Having signed in 2001, he is one of the few players whose tenure transcends the ownership of Roman Abramovich. His ascendancy to football star has coincided with Chelsea’s rise to world club football dominance. That maturation culminated in 2005 when Chelsea won the Premiership while Lampard was the runner-up to Ronaldinho for FIFA World Player of the Year.

This history makes it difficult for Chelsea supporters to realize: Lampard should probably be sold. The star midfielder has intimated that he would like to play outside the Premiership before his career is over. At 30 years old and with ardent fan Jose Mourinho coaching Inter Milan, now is the time. Lampard has one more year on a contract that he seems reticent to buy-out, but if Chelsea does not sign-off on his transfer to Italy, Lampard seems likely to leave next season for nothing.

Adding to the player’s contract situation and wishes as reasons for him to leave Stamofrd Bridge is the actual formation. A number of factors are combining to make Lampard an awkward fit for the Blues. Last season, the club had a problem moving the ball out of their own third, having to rely excessively on targeting Dider Drogba for a lack of players in the midfield who could link-up with the forwards. Playing Michael Essien at right back half the time contributed to this problem, and moving him back to the middle will be part of the solution. Another part of the solution is the acquisition of Deco, who is exactly the kind of creative presence Chelsea lacked in the middle. With the emergence of Michael Ballack as one of best players in the world granting him a place in midfield, the center of Chelsea’s lineup has become crowded, with Lampard - talented though he is - possibly being the first man out.

As we walk through the evolution of Chelsea’s formation (from what was used last season to what is most likely for the upcoming season), you will see why Chelsea could be justified in selling Lampard for on-the-field reasons.

Going back to the end of last season, Chelsea was using a 4-5-1: a V-formation from the back topped by Drogba. This functioned as a 4-1-2-2-1, with one defensive midfielder and two wings.

Chelsea’s formation, end-of-season, 2008

This formation is a compromise Avram Grant makes to get all of Lampard, Ballack and Essien playing while keeping a true holding midfielder on the pitch. Essien, Chelsea’s strongest physical presence in midfield, moves to right back merely because he can. An incredibly versatile athlete, Essien pays the price for his talents, being taken out of his most natural position as Grant tries to keep everybody happen. When injuries occurred or players needed breaks, Essien would move back to the middle. But when all were healthy, as they were for the Champions League final against Manchester United, Essien was a wing back.

This compromise ended up costing Chelsea in that final when Cristiano Ronaldo United’s only goal by vaulting over Essien for a header. That compromise ends this season with Grant’s departure, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s hiring, and the addition of right back Jose Bosingwa from FC Porto. Bosingwa is a favorite of Scolari’s from the Portuguese national team and gives them their best option as a true right back. Barring a departure of Ricardo Carvalho, this makes Chelsea’s back line for 2008-09 pretty clear:

Chelsea’s prospective back line, start-of-season 2008

Michael Essien back to the midfield, a place where he will be needed as Chelsea tries to solve their problems in linking-up. Here, Essien’s versatility becomes a virtue, as he can play one of the holding positions Scolari is apt to employ.

Because of his ability to address Chelsea’s problem in transition, Deco is also a given, as is Drogba, who despite all his faults remains Chelsea most dangerous player.

Part of Chelsea’s prospective lineup, start-of-season 2008

At this point Chelsea’s main problems from last season are addressed, but the midfield is getting crowded and neither Lampard or Ballack have been slotted. Now something that Chelsea fans known for the past two seasons get applied to the club’s tactics: Michael Ballack is better than Frank Lampard.

Whereas the two players could coexist in the same midfield while Jose Mourinho was there to find a ways around the problems their similarities engender, that solution is no longer available. They are both very talented, resourceful players whose soccer acumen will always find ways to get a club goals. But having two plays with that profile playing in the middle of the field means you need to have others who can carry the ball out of your own end and into attack. The solution to that problem previously employed at Chelsea - mainly, Mourinho getting super-human play out of Drogba and others - can no longer be relied upon. Drogba may never be the force that he was two seasons ago, whether by lack of will or by lack of health. Chelsea needs to play their best players with the ball (Deco and Essien) in the middle, meaning there’s only one more slot left in the center of the pitch lest the Blues overcrowd the middle.

In addition to having a case for that spot based on ability and performance, Michael Ballack is a better fit for what Scolari is likely to do. Scolarli likes playing two deep midfielders, a role Ballack is more suited for than Lampard. True, Ballack is not a traditional holding midfielder; in fact, to limit him to such a role be a waste of his talents. But though it’s been said that Scolari likes two traditional holding midfielders, his use of the Joao Moutinho in Euro 2008 along side the more defensive Petit as his deep pair in Portugal’s midfield speaks to a willingness to transcend the customary profile of a defensive midfielder.

At times, Michael Ballack played deep for Joachim Low and Germany in Euro 2008 along side Torsten Frings and Simon Rolfes when the team played a 4-4-2 (Germany switched out of this formation half-way through the tournament). Low allowed Ballack the freedom to move into the play at will, a freedom it should not be assumed Scolari would withhold.

Chelsea’s prospective lineup without wings, start-of-season 2008

At this point, there are a couple of options, should Chelsea keep Lampard. Scolari could ask him to play one of the wing positions that would otherwise be occupied by Salomon Kalou and Joe Cole in a 4-5-1. Lampard could also be asked to play in support of Didier Drogba, essential moving to a forward position in a 4-4-2. The second would set off a series of balance issues (Deco’s most effective place is in the middle of the pitch), making a wing role more likely.

A player as talented as Lampard should be able to adapt to either wing spot, and it is exciting to think of what a midfield, attacking partnership between he and Deco could go. With either Ballack or Essien on their side, it would be as talented a midfield triangle that could reasonably be assembled. But would Lampard be happy in a role that saw him moved from the middle of the pitch? If he is willing to try, Scolari could open the season with the most dangerous lineup in the league.

Chelsea’s prospective lineup, start-of-season 2008

If you accept this picture of Chelsea, it sheds new light on the question of whether Lampard should stay. On the left wing, is it worth keeping him, though he is still likely to move at the end of the season? Or should the Blues cash in now while they may still be able to extract a £8 to £10 million transfer fee from Inter Milan?

One compromise may be to wait until January, when the winter transfer window would allow another chance to sell Lampard. Six months before the end of his contract, it is doubtful Inter Milan would pay as much in a transfer. They may not be willing to give anything at all. Mourinho is very confident Lampard will join Inter in July 2009. Six more months would be little to wait. But waiting would not only give Scolari and Chelsea a chance to assess whether their newly configured midfield can work, it would also give the club a chance to convince Lampard he has a future on the left wing.

If Chelsea and Lampard do come to an agreement on a contract, it will likely be for one of the highest salaries in the world. This is not the type of salary a club should be pay to a player they will have to play out-of-position. Even in this best-case scenario (where Lampard likes to play and is successful on the left wing) he will still have to be paid like a dominant, middle-of-the-pitch player. And that’s if he takes to left wing.

While it’s sad to see situations develop where a club’s talisman would benefit by moving, Chelsea’s roster and Frank Lampard’s plans match-up in this respect: It would be better if he moved now.

Chelsea’s prospective lineup without Lampard, start-of-season 2008

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Popularity: 27%

Newcastle Sign Midfielder Gutierrez Amidst Controversy

Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez stands to bring some much needed skill and athleticism to Newcastle’s midfield after buying out his contract with La Liga’s Real Mallorca to make the switch to Tyneside. That buy-out, however, is now being contested by Mallorca.

Having served three years of a five year contract he sided with Mallorca in 2005, Gutierrez used his FIFA article 17 rights to compensate Mallorca and get out of his contract. Mallorca, however, in an apparent challenge to last year’s Webster ruling, are seeking £7.9 million in compensation from Gutierrez, citing an offer Portsmouth made for the Argentine last winter.

The case is likely headed for arbitration, with Gutierrez (or Newcastle, through the player) unlikely to pay what amounts to a full transfer fee. Mallorca, however, say they are determined to “defend their interests,” according to the club’s sporting director.

Gutierrez is one of the first players to use Article 17 to opt out of his contract since the Webster ruling came down in May of 2007. Per the regulation, he is to pay Mallorca compensation for breaking his contract without cause. The Webster ruling’s precident points towards player salary and future earnings as the basis for compensation. Mallorca seems unlikely to get near £7.9 million, but how the process is played out could influence how similar deals are finalized in the future.

Barry Relationship With Villa, O’Neill Turns Ugly

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry has been fined two weeks wages for giving an unauthorized interview with Britian’s News of the World.

In the interview, Barry reiterated his intent to leave Aston Villa, saying there is no turning back, while criticizing manager Martin O’Neill for prioritizing Euro 2008 punditry with the BBC over settling the transfer situation. Barry has also been told not to report for training with Villa, which began yesterday.

Barry requested a transfer to Liverpool in May but has seen O’Neill continue to refuse Rafa Benitez’s approaches. O’Neill has said Liverpool has failed to reach his valuation of Barry, which is reported to be £18 million. Yesterday, Aston Villa confirmed that Liverpool made another bid this week; however, that bid was rejected.

Chelsea Leading Race for Arshavin?

While his choice club Barcelona continues to consider how much they want him (if at all), Andrei Arshavin has seen Chelsea step to the forefront of the chase for his services. Meanwhile, owners of his current club, Zenit St. Petersburg in the Russian Premier League, came forth saying they do not want to sell the Russian player of the year. Arshavin continues to insist on a move. While some rumors this morning had Zenit accepting a bid from Chelsea, it appears that Roman Abramovich’s team has merely entered the battle with Barcelona for the Euro 2008 star.

Arsenal, who until days ago were thought to be leading Premiership teams in the race for Arshavin, is now a quiet contender for the Russian star, with Chelsea assuming the non-Barcelona favorite’s position.

Chelsea’s interest comes amidst loose speculation that Abramovich has instructed his new manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, to acquire a Russian. If that’s the mandate, might as well make it king of the Russian footballers.

Around the Premiership

• Spain stars David Villa and David Silva, linked with various Premiership sides throughout Euro 2008, have stated their intention to stay at Valencia.
• Cristiano Ronaldo had his injured ankle examined by Manchester United and Portugal national team doctors yesterday. No decision has been made as to whether to proceed with surgery.
• Manchester United is reported to be tracking 22-year-old Colombian forward Falcao, who is rated at £15 million after scoring 38 goals in 58 matches for his club in Argentina.
• Emmanuel Adebayor’s agent is now seeking a commitment from Arsenal in the face of waning interest from AC Milan. Barcelona, however, remains heavily linked with the striker.
• Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz is currently said to be Arsene Wenger’s number one choice to replace Adebayor, should he move.
• Ronaldinho moved a bit closer to AC Milan (and farther from Manchester City and Chelsea), with his agent-brother saying that the former World Player of the Year is 90 percent likely to move to the San Siro.
• Shaun Wright-Phillips has been urged to move from Chelsea, where he has lost his playing opportunity, to Portsmouth by his father, former Arsenal star Ian Wright.
• Chelsea released out-of-contract Hernan Crespo, who has spent the last two seasons on loan to Inter Milan. The Argentine striker is seeking a permanent move to Inter.
• Though Chelsea have offered him another year at Stamford Bridge, Claude Makelele could still move to Paris St. Germain, if reports from the Parisian club are true. PSG coach Paul Le Guen claims contact with Makelele and remains hopeful that he can lure the veteran defensive midfielder to his club.
• Swiss fullback Phillip Degen has joined Liverpool, rejecting an offer from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to extend his stay.
• Liverpool has been linked with Brazilian keeper Diego Cavalieri, in Europe trying to secure a work permit, as a backup to Pepe Reina.
• Everton has been linked with midfielder Mehmet Aurelio. The Turkish international has said he will move to England, with Newcastle also being mentioned. A deal sending Aurelio to La Liga’s Real Betis fell through.
• Aston Villa has made last year’s loan of defender Curtis Davies from West Brom permanent, signing him to a four year deal.
• Villa has settled in on Tottenham’s Paul Robinson to replace Scott Carson, with the club hoping to complete personal terms this weekend, finishing a £5 million deal.
• News that Pompey manager Harry Redknapp was in pursuit of Harry Kewell was quashed when the Australian attacker signed with Turkish side Galatasaray.
• Out-of-contract striker Kanu confirmed that he intends to return to Portsmouth, denying speculation that he was unhappy with Pompey’s last offer.
• Whereas it once looked like captain Richard Dunne was set to leave Manchester City, Mark Hughes is close to securing the center back to a new contract. Hughes has said Joe Hart will also receive a new deal.
• West Ham United defender Anton Ferdinand has dismissed last week’s reports of an approach by Aston Villa as mere speculation.
• Middlesbrough target Didier Digard, midfielder for Paris St. Germain, has been suspended by his club for speaking out against PSG’s inability to finalize a deal with Boro.
• Sunderland back-up keeper Martin Fulop wants to move to Stoke City for first team football. Sunderland wants £3 million while Stoke is hoping to pay less.
• Striker Dwight Yorke has signed a new deal with Sunderland that will keep him with the Black Cats for one more season.
• Winger Ross Wallace will also be back with Sunderland after declining a move to Preston North End.
• Bolton has re-upped out-of-contract goaltender Jussi Jasskelainen to a deal which will keep him at the Reebok until 2012.
• Finish defender Toni Kallio, who has been on loan with Fulham since January, completed a permanent move to the Cottagers with a two year deal.
• Fulham remains in negotiations for another Scandinavian defender, Swede Fredrik Stoor, for whom Rosenborg BK in Norway are said to want more than £7 million.
• A transfer to Scottish side Rangers is still a possibility for Fulham midfielder Steven Davis. Rangers’ manager Walter Smith said he will meet with Fulham this week to try and finalize a move that has been in the works since season’s end.
• Roy Hodgson is said to be looking at Reading’s Dave Kitson to fill the void at striker caused by the injury to Diomansy Kamara. Wigan is also interested in Kitson.
• West Brom striker Kevin Phillips is set to return to the Championship, ready to join relegated Birmingham City.
• In the interim, the Baggies shored up their defense with the £3.2 million purchase of Holland’s U-21 right back Gianni Zuiverloon from Heerenveen of the Eredivisie.
• Former Manchester City midfielder Geovanni, released earlier today by the Blues, has drawn immediate interest from Hull City.
• Hull City has also signed forward Craig Fagan from relegated Derby for £700,000.

Popularity: 33%