EPL Gossip Friday July 3rd
Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen will have to take a 50% pay cut – to £50,000-a-week – and pass a stringent medical before making a shock move to Manchester United. Full story: The Sun
Actually, Owen could be offered a basic wage of a paltry £20,000-a-week, with performance-related bonuses taking him close to the £110,000-a-week he earned at Newcastle. Full story: Daily Mail
This would be the best move for both parties since the risk is slim yet the reward is great for both of them. Currently when Fabio Capello picks an English squad no one bats an eyelash when Owen’s name isn’t included. At Manchester United, Owen will find himself in some high profile games which he hopes can place him back on the World Cup 2010 radar. Unlikely as that may be even if he can stay fit.
Chelsea are the only club to have submitted a formal bid, of about £40m, for Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery – but the French international wants to join Real Madrid. Daily Telegraph
You know this transfer market is weird when a 40 million pound offer doesn’t even shock the senses anymore.
Real Madrid have put their bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso on hold, until mid-July when his former club Real Sociedad will no longer be entitled to a percentage of the fee.
Full story: The Sun
Liverpool are steeling themselves for two bids worth nearly a combined £60m from Real Madrid and Barcelona for Alonso and his fellow midfielder Javier Mascherano. (Daily Telegraph)
Let’s assume for a second Liverpool is willingly to sell Alonso and Mascherano. Personally can see one going but not both. Despite that Liverpool will realize what Manchester United is facing that it’s one thing to have cash on hand but another to find the right players to splash the cash on.
Manchester United will make a £16m move for Sevilla’s 28-year-old Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, but face competition from AC Milan. Full story: Daily Mirror
Sevilla must hate the fact that with all the depth at forward for Brazil, Dunga picks Fabiano as his first choice striker.
Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell is considering a shock move to Championship club Newcastle United. Daily Star
Well he isn’t a starting Premier League centre back going forward. Unless he wants to play outside of England, Campbell would get the most playing time at a club like Newcastle.
AC Milan could make a remarkable £12m bid for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch if they fail to sign Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor. Full story: The Sun
Between signing Adebayor at full price or getting Crouch at a discount i’d choose Crouch. Portsmouth is not going to sell Crouch however for basically the same price they paid Liverpool for him last year.
Aston Villa are weighing up a potential £8m bid for 22-year-old Swedish striker Marcus Berg, who impressed at the recent Euro Under-21 Championship. Daily Star
Didn’t just impress, Berg pretty much stole the show with his performances.
Hull boss Phil Brown could be set to offer veteran midfielder Dietmar Hamann a 12-month contract after he was released by Manchester City. Daily Mirror
Don’t see what Hamann can produce on a football field anymore. Having a class professional like Hamann would be good in the dressing room but on the pitch would be a different story.
West Brom have rejected a £2m bid from Fulham for captain Jonathan Greening. (Daily Star)
Greening was also on the bench when Manchester United defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Stoke are set to make a £5m bid for Manchester City’s Zimbabwean striker Benjani. Daily Star
Stoke are paying 4 million too much. Aside from scoring in the Manchester derby, Bejani’s Manchester City highlights have been few and far between.