EPL Gossip Friday July 8th
Liverpool will make an improved offer of £18m for Aston Villa midfielder Stewart Downing.
Full story: Daily Telegraph
Aston Villa would be fools to hang on to Stewart Downing. Clubs should really focus on good business and getting ust about double what you paid for a player falls in that line. Sell Downing, then call Wolves asking how much for Matt Jarvis.
Meanwhile, the Merseysiders are to offer Lyon £12m for Brazilian winger Michel Bastos as boss Kenny Dalglish refuses to increase his bid for Downing. Full story: caughtoffside
Bastos seems like a player who needs to move on to his next challenge be it with Liverpool or Juventus.
Aston Villa want to tie up a deal for Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia as they seek a replacement for Downing. Full story: Daily Mail
Plus you know Wigan gets it when it comes to player values. If a club offers an above market price for a player they will sell.
Championship outfit Southampton have laughed off Arsenal’s £6m bid for winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – the Saints say they will not do business for less than £12m. Full story: Daily Star
Southamption aren’t the only ones laughing at Arsenal these days.
Tottenham must fork out £20m to sign striker Pablo Osvaldo from Espanyol.
Full story: the Sun
Osvaldo has turned around his carrer nicely in Espanyol after flopping at previous clubs which is why Tottenham should not even think about paying that price for him.
Spurs midfielder Niko Kranjcar is waiting to discover if Italian side Fiorentina have made a bid for him – the Croat remains unhappy at his club’s £12m asking price.
Full story: the Sun
Liverpool wants to pay 18 million for Downing yet you can easily make the case of Kranjcar being the better player.
Arsenal want £15m-rated Valencia winger Juan Mata – but to play alongside Samir Nasri rather than to replace him. Full story: Daily Mirror
Good luck convining Valencia Matais worth 15 million.
Barcelona are set to tempt the Gunners into accepting a cut-price transfer offer for Cesc Fabregas by throwing either Maxwell or Eric Abidal into the deal. Full story: Metro
Oh yeah I’m sure the two players Arsenal would want from Barcelona are Maxwell and Abidal.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is preparing an ambitious bid to sign Liverpool pair Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky. Full story: caughtoffside
Allardyce can have them for free as I’m sure Liverpool would love to clear their salary off the books.
Villa have also moved ahead of Tottenham in the pursuit of West Ham’s Scott Parker, because Spurs must sell before they buy. Full story: Daily Mirror
Aston Villa will finally sign Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given for £4m by the end of the weekend.
Full story: the Sun
Both Parker and Given would be nice pick ups for Villa.
Fulham are set to sign Roma defender John Arne Riise for £2.2m. (The Times – subscription required)
Smart move by Fulham as Riise would still be better than half the right backs in England.
Liverpool legend John Barnes believes his former club’s summer spending spree could take them into the Premier League’s top four next season. Full story: Talksport
I realize you gotta take baby steps before you can walk but you know somewhere Rafa is throwing his hands up in the air with Liverpool’s goals now only being in the top 4. His goals were always much higher.