[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Eddie]

I heard at the game last night that Rovers are looking at bringing in Mahmadou Diarra from Real Madrid, he has not figured much this season and could be available, whether he wants to join Rovers of course could be another matter. Allardyce must like players named "Diarra" as also heard that we are looking at former Liverpool player Alou Diarra.

Well, Diarra is a lot less interesting than Sunny, but he's a good player. He did really well when he was in France (leading to that huge price tag that took him to Real) and he is probably suited to the premiership. Good be a smart move.

[Guest Kamy100]

How has Alou Diarra done eddie since returning to France?

If we can get Mahmadou it would be superb, he is a very good player who would excel in the Premier League.

[philipl]

Joe Lewis - Wiki

Answered this so many times.

They never spent the Berbatov money, they cancelled debt and a sell-on clause to "pay" for Defoe and have players to sell.

[Eddie]

Just been looking at the l'equipe articles and I didn't realise how serious his injury was. He had to have surgery and is considered to be out for the season, so I can't see that one coming off. He certainly isn't in a position to play straight away and most likely wouldn't play this season. Wouldn't pass a medical.

[philipl]

Just been looking at the l'equipe articles and I didn't realise how serious his injury was. He had to have surgery and is considered to be out for the season, so I can't see that one coming off. He certainly isn't in a position to play straight away and most likely wouldn't play this season. Wouldn't pass a medical.

Who is he?

[Blue n White Rover]

M.Diarra from Madrid I'm presuming?

[Eddie]

Mahmadou Diarra.

As for Alou, he's been a key figure in a Bordeaux side who are 1 point off the top of the table. I'm sure that wouldn't stop him from being interested in a return to England, but I think it would take a rather large fee to get Bordeaux to sell.

[nicko]

ROQUE - Interesting that the Inde had the same story as the Mirror...I know where their tales come from on the Spurs front...anyway enough of that...the price is up, Rovers can only win...but there HAS to be a striker coming in.

REPLACEMENTS - Cheers for the news about the Bosnian NOT playing...another scouting mission wasted...the Russian deal seems unlikely...he has told a mate over here that he doesn't fancy it...he's not really fit anyway...so no great loss.

Things are bound to move today all over the place, will keep you posted on what I can.

[JohnS]

Well, Diarra is a lot less interesting than Sunny, but he's a good player. He did really well when he was in France (leading to that huge price tag that took him to Real) and he is probably suited to the premiership. Good be a smart move.

We have next to no chance of getting this guy. He is injured and out for the rest of the season, thats why they spent 20Million of Lassana Diarra. Plus if he was fit and available i doubt he'd come to us.

ROQUE - Interesting that the Inde had the same story as the Mirror...I know where their tales come from on the Spurs front...andyway enough of that...the price is up, Rovers can only win...but there HAS to be a striker coming in.

REPLACEMENTS - Cheers for the news about the Bosnian NOT playing...another scouting mission wasted...the Russian deal seems unlikely...he has told a mate over here that he doesn't fancy it...he's not really fit anyway...so no great loss.

Things are bound to move today all over the place, will keep you posted on what I can.

Lets just take 25Million of Spurs or a few players in exchange like Bent/Lennon?

[LeChuck]

If we're looking to spend around £7-8 million on a replacement, do you know if we're also lining up targets elsewhere with the rest of the money nicko?

The main factor in me not minding if Roque leaves is that it would allow us to buy quality players in other weak areas, but we're so late in the window now. Things being as they are with our board as well, if the money wasn't spent in this window it would mysteriously disappear by the summer, just like the Bentley money (and trustees' £3m) have done.

[thenodrog]

Answered this so many times.

They never spent the Berbatov money, they cancelled debt and a sell-on clause to "pay" for Defoe and have players to sell.

I think the game would be a lot healthier, transfer fees and wages lower if players had to be fully paid for within the month and without borrowed money.

ROQUE - Interesting that the Inde had the same story as the Mirror...I know where their tales come from on the Spurs front...anyway enough of that...the price is up, Rovers can only win...but there HAS to be a striker coming in.

There has to be 2 strikers now.

[LeChuck]

I think the game would be a lot healthier, transfer fees and wages lower if players had to be fully paid for within the month and without borrowed money.

Given the last 12 months that's probably something that should have applied to everything, not just football...

[jim mk2]

I think the game would be a lot healthier, transfer fees and wages lower if players had to be fully paid for within the month and without borrowed money.

The amount of money (borrowed or otherwise) sloshing around the game reinforces my view that the clubs are using the transfer market as a money-laundering exercise. The game's bent.

Given the last 12 months that's probably something that should have applied to everything, not just football...

Quite so. Lack of rules, lack of regulation. Laissez-faire capitalism does not work in sport any much as it does in the commercial world.

[thenodrog]

The main factor in me not minding if Roque leaves is that it would allow us to buy quality players in other weak areas, but we're so late in the window now.

If we sold RSC for 20m now we'd be right over a barrell and getting rogered for all we were worth. Every other club would up the asking price for their players and their agents would press for big money too.

Hate to say this but given our situation, our finances, and our squad requirements etc etc the best player that we could possibly hope for would definitely be Spit.

Yesterdays match illustrated that selling RSC for approx £5m would be absolutely suicidal.

Megson turned Notlob around last season before Christmas but selling Anelka in January left them only surviving on the last day by an absolute fluke!

Given the last 12 months that's probably something that should have applied to everything, not just football...

Uncanny that LeChuck. I actually wrote a final sentence to that effect then deleted it before posting. Great minds eh?

[herbergeehh]

What's the story then, Nicko? Is the Hungarian winger signing? And will we buy Dzeko without having watched him live? Surely there's DVD's available?

I'm glad I'm not in charge of this, what a busy weekend they will have.

Also, you were right about Makulula. What a terribly mediocre striker.

[briansol]

From Sentana:

However, Allardyce says that any offers will fall on deaf ears as Rovers will not have enough time to bring in a replacement.

“It’s not happening now as there isn’t the opportunity to get in the quality of striker that would allow us to even consider allowing Roque Santa Cruz to move to Manchester City,” said Allardyce on Setanta Sports News.

Why are people still thinking Roque is leaving after that quote?

[herbergeehh]

Yesterdays match illustrated that selling RSC for approx £5m would be absolutely suicidal.

Megson turned Notlob around last season before Christmas but selling Anelka in January left them only surviving on the last day by an absolute fluke!

Selling RSC without finding a replacement is suicidal, but we're in a better shape upfront than Bolton was. But with Derbyshire leaving, it makes everything a lot more difficult. We now need two strikers before selling Roque, to be honest, unless we start using Blackman or Julio SC. Or Villanueva......

Re the quote: Is this after finding out we were unable to watch Dzeko?

[rovers1993]

what about the egyptian? he said yesterday himself that his 6-month loan deal is being finalised.

[socngill]

what about the egyptian? he said yesterday himself that his 6-month loan deal is being finalised.

The LET reported yesterday that we had dropped our interest. Although that could just be a re-posting of the story from the summer

[modes98]

Why are people still thinking Roque is leaving after that quote?

Because given enough money we would sell, you can't doubt that, any club is the same. The price we put on his head will be rising by the hour, but it will be the same for any replacement.

[Sandiway Blue]

From Sentana:

However, Allardyce says that any offers will fall on deaf ears as Rovers will not have enough time to bring in a replacement.

“It’s not happening now as there isn’t the opportunity to get in the quality of striker that would allow us to even consider allowing Roque Santa Cruz to move to Manchester City,” said Allardyce on Setanta Sports News.

Why are people still thinking Roque is leaving after that quote?

Best way to bump up the price in my opinion especially now Spuds are involved as well.

[Guest Kamy100]

Manchester Evening News reporting that Mark Hughes will demand that City make one last offer of close to £20 million today for Roque, if it is not accepted by Blackburn then City's interest in Roque will be dropped and they will look elsewhere.

I hope Rovers tell them where to go.

[philipl]

Manchester Evening News reporting that Mark Hughes will demand that City make one last offer of close to £20 million for Roque, if it is not accepted by Blackburn then City's interest in Roque will be dropped and they will look elsewhere.

I hope Rovers tell them where to go.

I guess that was written before Rovers rejected Spurs' £20m.

If City stay below £20m, rejecting them is a no brainer. Sam apparently answered the question about the Spurs bid saying it was too late to get a replacement so had been rejected.

[Bobby G]

Hmm...From what I saw from Roque last night, Id be more than happy to have him in the squad and he has the quality to really make an impact against at least all the teams in trouble near us.

I guess that was written before Rovers rejected Spurs' £20m.

If City stay below £20m, rejecting them is a no brainer.

When did we reject their bid exactly?

[socngill]

I guess that was written before Rovers rejected Spurs' £20m.

If City stay below £20m, rejecting them is a no brainer. Sam apparently answered the question about the Spurs bid saying it was too late to get a replacement so had been rejected.

But I think there is one major difference between accepting £20m from Spurs and £19m from City. With the City bid the money will be in the bank, with Spurs it will be paid in smarties over a period of 10 years.

Keep him anyway. Even if he goes in the summer we will still get £15m for him (if Nicko is right about the amount of the clause) and the summer is always the best time to bring new players in for a decent price.

With regards the clause, am I right in thinking that it doesn't matter how the money is paid, it is simply the over all amount which triggers it? So Spurs could offer £15m in payments and add-ons and we would still have to accept it?