In Thursday’s Transfer Window we take a look at all the latest transfer rumours, including one about Rooney moving to the MLS.
By Conor Hogan
First there was David Beckham. Then there was Thierry Henry. Now Rooney is heading stateside to hook up with an MLS team. It isn’t Wayne I’m talking about, but his younger brother John Rooney, who is currently on trial with the Seattle Sounders. He has rejected a new offer from Cheshire giants Macclesfield Town. Wayne Rooney is, of course, staying with Manchester United.
Alex Ferguson’s team just can’t get enough young strikers. Despite capturing 20-year-old Portuguese forward Bebe for £7.5million last night, and already having 18-year-old Federico Macheda, 22-year-old Mame Biram Diouf, 19 year-old Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck and 22-year-old Sinead O’Connor look-alike Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, the wily Scot is apparently considering a move for 17-year-old Belgian starlet Romelu Lukaku. It is obligatory, in every mention of Lukaku, to call him the ‘New Didier Drogba.’
Man United are also looking into a move for the even younger Bertrand Traore. The Burkina Faso native shone at the Under-17 World Cup, and is still only 14 years of age. United face stiff competition from Chelsea. Set to leave Stamford Bridge is Ricardo Carvalho, who is having a medical at Real Madrid.
Steven Spielberg presents
Trading Places is a 1983 comedy, in which two wealthy men, played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche, arrange to have banker Dan Aykroyd and bum Eddie Murphy swap places. Hilarity ensues. Finally, 27-years later, a sequel is being muted and this time they are to raise the stakes.
Instead of two wealthy men, it is three, to be played by Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner, Arsenal chairman Peter-Hill-Wood and Fulham owner Mohamed Al-Fayed. Then instead of two men swapping places, it’s three. Mark Schwarzer joining Arsenal will lead to Fulham signing Brad Friedel which will lead to the Villains plumping for Manuel Almunia.
Liverpool are also set to sign a goalkeeper, Middlesbrough’s Brad Jones, for £2million. The Anfield club have confirmed the £4.5million signing of Christian Poulsen, and look very likely to add West Ham’s Carlton Cole. The price of Cole is going up, according to one newspaper. The fee they quote for Carlton is an outrageous £20million.
Used to paying exorbitant prices are Manchester City. They have been told by AC Milan that they will have to pay £30million for Brazilian midfielder Thiago Silva. Someone who won’t be joining Citeh is YouTube hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic, though he does want to play in England someday. West Ham are considering replacing Cole with Manchester City’s Jo. Jeremie Aliadiere is also a target.
Tottenham are apparently set to offer Robbie Keane and £8million for Aston Villa’s Ashley Young. Villa are considering making Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark Kevin MacDonald their new manager. Burnley are trying to sign Jack Cork on loan, while Blackpool are in talks with defender Chris Basham. Basham’s club Bolton have signed Tom Eaves for £200,000.
SPL in a bucket
Celtic have made an approach to Manchester City for Craig Bellamy. The Welshman wasn’t named in City’s Europa League squad.
Rangers have made a bids for Portsmouth’s Tommy Smith, and Stoke’s James Beattie. They should both cost between £1million and £1.5million. Their move for Georgie Welcome has hit a snag, however, after the Honduran wasn’t granted a work permit.
St. Mirren have decided not to sign trialist Greg Cameron.
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