EPL Gossip for Thursday June 5th
Roma manager Luciano Spalletti has joined fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti in rejecting the chance to manage Chelsea. (Daily Star)
Good move by Spalletti if this is indeed the case. He’s comfortable at Roma and vice versa. Spalletti could easily be at Roma for the next five years. He could be out of a job at Chelsea after five weeks if things don’t go the right way.
Liverpool will unveil £7m-rated left-back Andrea Dossena as their second summer signing on Thursday. (Various)
Neither against Dossena but I do have an issue with Liverpool’s transfer policy. Most of the players that Rafael Benítez brings in have won little before with the exception of Fábio Aurélio. Players like Dossena, Voronin, Benayoun, Crouch, and even Torres are all quite frankly used to losing. Taking nothing away from those players since all can bring something to the table, I want to see Liverpool sign a player like Claude Makélélé. A player that is used to winning and will do anything to win. Makelele was the big reason Chelsea transformed themselves to the team they are currently. Liverpool is missing that piece of the puzzle. The Reds need to stop signing players from lesser teams and bring in a player that knows how to win a domestic championship.
Juventus have agreed terms with Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso but have to agree a fee with the Reds, who want £16m compared to the Italian club’s £14.5m offer. (Sun)
If the two teams are that close, something is going to happen sooner rather than later to make this deal come to life.
Sporting Lisbon have put a £23.5m price tag on Portugal midfielder and Arsenal target Miguel Veloso. (Sun)
Arsenal will now look elsewhere. Shame really since a Veloso, Cesc Fabregas midfield pairing would be great to see.
Manchester City will sign Brazilian pair Jo, who plays up front for CSKA Moscow, and Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho. (Various)
Something is wrong with this headline. Oh yes, placing the signing of Jo ahead of “the signing” of Ronaldinho almost like its an after thought.