[Archived] Potential Summer Transfers (2010)

[Eddie]

Pele? How far back do you want to go?

Is this the same Frank Ribery who openly courts Real Madrid and Manchester United every time the transfer window opens up? Who would jump at a move if his club didn't slap a ridiculous 80 million price tag on him. Who will know doubt end up at one of those clubs within the next year or two. Also, a player who isn't truly world class.

[ada2020]

Frank Ribery, who was also born and raised in France, would disagree..

Here is a World Class player who has never played in Spain or England despite having ample ooportunity to do so. In 2007 he turned down the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid to stay at Marseille (as well as the club not wanting to sell either but he supported them and did the opposite to Benni by coming out and announcing he was staying and was happy to do so). And in the last summer window lots of top British, Spanisha nd Italian clubs offereds silly money and yet again he showed no sign of wanting out.

Pele would be another example...

And yet it is widely acknowledged that he will move to either Chelsea or most likely Real Madrid this summer, with united and Barcelona also monitoring his situation. Fact is Spain and England offer better wages and a better caliber league, sooner or later the ambitous players move to one or the other.

[roversam]

Nicko 15million for Gary Cahill? Could Bolton really expect that kind of fee?

Will Coyle be having a clear out in the summer?

Is there any truth sam wants to bring tel ben haim to ewood?

[Ewood and I Would]

And yet it is widely acknowledged that he will move to either Chelsea or most likely Real Madrid this summer, with united and Barcelona also monitoring his situation. Fact is Spain and England offer better wages and a better caliber league, sooner or later the ambitous players move to one or the other.

Ahhh but remember what we are discussing here, Robert Lewandowski's proposed move NOW and how that affects our chances of getting him. You are creating a strawman as my argument was never that the EPL isn't bigger than the Bundesliga, my point was that saying Robert Lewandowski should come to Rovers now just because we are an EPL club isn't relevant to his potential to become a world class (or at least world famous then if you doubt Ribery's level) player.

The example of Ribery was to show that you can be regarded as one of the world's best players despite not playing in England or Spain. The fact that Man Utd, Chelsea, Real etc sniff around him all the time prove my point and prove that Lewandowski doesn't have to come to Rovers to be exposed to those types of names (which was the original point I was answering.)

[DeadlyDirk]

Lewandowski is clearly the target that needs to be sorted out first - because the club wants to sell and there are rivals.

You can decide on Dindane later because all of the homework and figures have been discussed on that one.

Boselli's injury has come at a bad time but he is a 'live' one although I imagine that would only be if Lewandowski goes elsewhere because I can't see Rovers buying both at the cost.

Petrov is an interesting player. He is a very good free agent but those injuries would worry me - but expect his name to be linked all over the place in the summer.

Any truth in the rumour that he was due in for talks but it has been halted due to the flight delays?

[S15]

Any truth in the rumour that he was due in for talks but it has been halted due to the flight delays?

Well the bloke you're asking started the rumour, so have a stab at the answer yourself.

[RoyRover]

In a sense he may as well join one of the top teams in Belgium (Belgian sides nearly outperformed German sides in European competition this season).

It pains me to say it as someone born and brought up in France, but the fact is that every players goal should be to get to Spain or England. You forget that by playing for a club in one of Europe's smaller leagues that you will be playing mostly against players who would never make it to the Premier League or La Liga. The crowds may be better for your home games, but you don't get to travel to Old Trafford or Anfield and you also slightly reduce your chances of getting a move to one of the very big clubs.

Regardless of how well the teams from Belgium have done this season, the Jupiler League doesn't even come close to the standard of the Bundesliga. I'm confident that Borussia Dortmund is a huge club, bigger than Blackburn, with better quality players than we have. Yeah, I would say that playing in Spain or England is the pinnacle, but all we would have to offer is the chance of playing against great teams a couple of times a season, while he could play for one in an extremely good league. It sounds like I'm trying to talk him out of a move to Blackburn, which I'm not! Just that I couldn't blame him for going to them, because the Bundesliga is so good, so competitive, with so many good players and the chance to play in the Champions League. It's not like he is moving to a team in Belgium or Ukraine, where he may only have a handful of decent games every year in the league and the Champions League is the only place that he gets to test himself.

[tony gale's mic]

I think if I was in his position then since I was in my early 20s I'd probably choose Dortmund. Bigger club, more tradition, better players to play alongside, European competition and if he scores goals there then a move to one of the big three leagues would be inevitable. Would also be probably better for him developmentally to go to a slightly "easier" league first and then to make the step up to Serie A/PL/La Liga rather than going straight for the Premier League where if he fails at one of the Premier League's lesser lights (ie us) then his stock will be no better it was in Poland and probably worse as at least he's been scoring goals in Poland.

If he was mid to late 20s then I'd choose Rovers if I was him as in that position I'd feel this might be my last big chance for a move to one of the big leagues and one prolific season there could get me transferred straight across to one of the big guns. Which is exactly the reason why Benni and RSC came here.

[Amo]

It's too bad Carlos Villanueva never made it here, because he had the qualities we lack in the team. He had a creative spark and was a good set-piece taker, but unfortunately too lightweight for the PL. We should look for someone similar to complement Nzonzi in midfield.

[DeadlyDirk]

Well the bloke you're asking started the rumour, so have a stab at the answer yourself.

Must have missed that, saw it on the portal coming from tribal so didn't know what to make of it!

I'm a tool.

[The Rover of Finland]

Martin Petrov would be massive boost for our midfield and free kicks. Sure he has been injured a lot lately. If he would have been healthy and would have played his best football would Rovers have a chance to sign him? His wages are probably problem but he is a top player.

[philipl]

Latest on Dindane taken from the BBC:

1700: Portsmouth's administrator also seems very hopeful about the prospect of Pompey playing in Europe next season. All very complicated, but he thinks the club will be out of administration by end of May, first week of June.

Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou on BBC 5 live: "We've had discussions with a number of first-team players and we've resolved some contractual issues over playing in the FA Cup final - and the only player who is not available is Aruna Dindane. The chairman of his club Lens has dug his heels in - he wants four million euros for him to play another game for Portsmouth and we are not in a position to pay that. I've asked the player and his agent to go and see the club. I'm hoping something positive will happen from that a meeting will take place shortly."

[Hughesy]

Not sure if its been mentioned on here but in the people today we were linked with a striker - think it was from Espanyol

[nicko]

Nicko 15million for Gary Cahill? Could Bolton really expect that kind of fee?

IT WILL TAKE THAT MUCH...MAYBE MORE...THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST FROM LIVERPOOL AND AN INQUIRY FROM SOMEONE ELSE...

Will Coyle be having a clear out in the summer?

EASIER SAID THAN DONE...MORE ULTRA-TALENTED YOUNG UNS COMING IN IF POSSIBLE...

Is there any truth sam wants to bring tel ben haim to ewood?

I WOULD HOPE NOT...AND DOUBT IT...WAGES ARE HUGE.

Well the bloke you're asking started the rumour, so have a stab at the answer yourself.

I can't claim the 'coming for a visit' story...that was picked up in Italy on Saturday...

I knew it was moving quite quickly, just not THAT quickly...or not as the case may be when you are trying to get a flight at the moment.

[joey_big_nose]

Martin Petrov would be massive boost for our midfield and free kicks. Sure he has been injured a lot lately. If he would have been healthy and would have played his best football would Rovers have a chance to sign him? His wages are probably problem but he is a top player.

No chance for us I would say. We will not be able to afford his wages at the point they are now, let alone what he will be aiming for.

[roversam]

EASIER SAID THAN DONE...MORE ULTRA-TALENTED YOUNG UNS COMING IN IF POSSIBLE...

Coyle does certainly seem to like them young. Wilshere looks a great prospect. Will they keep him next year?

Will Sam be looking to do what he did at Bolton and bring in a few talented bosmans? There must be plenty of players being released across Europe as clubs offload ageing to earners.

Can't believe anyone would be paying 15mill for Cahill, Bolton did better when he was injured. Rafa seems to have learnt nothing after spending 17million on a full back last year.

[roversam]

To be fair I think Johnson has been one of their top performers this season, if not THE top former. Mind you, says everything about their season doesn't it?

not saying he is a bad player but 17million for a full back when you have serious weaknesses in other areas seems steep. Mind you he did spend 25million on the Italian who has hardly played. To be honest i can't believe Rafa is going to get another season.

[savage90]

He's actually been very poor defensively this season according to my Liverpool fan - mates! Who recon he's worth about 8 million.. they seriously over paid!

[The Rover of Finland]

Is there list of free agents anywhere?

[Iceman]

Im glad, that Sam is going in early for his targets. If any of the targets, are involved in the World Cup then we could struggle to land them if they have a good tournament.

[Exiled_Rover]

He's actually been very poor defensively this season according to my Liverpool fan - mates! Who recon he's worth about 8 million.. they seriously over paid!

All I see him do is put in quality ball after quality ball into the box.

[Iceman]

Not sure if its been mentioned on here but in the people today we were linked with a striker - think it was from Espanyol

Raul Tamudo

[American]

In a sense he may as well join one of the top teams in Belgium (Belgian sides nearly outperformed German sides in European competition this season).

It pains me to say it as someone born and brought up in France, but the fact is that every players goal should be to get to Spain or England. You forget that by playing for a club in one of Europe's smaller leagues that you will be playing mostly against players who would never make it to the Premier League or La Liga. The crowds may be better for your home games, but you don't get to travel to Old Trafford or Anfield and you also slightly reduce your chances of getting a move to one of the very big clubs.

The same Germany who is about to overtake Italy in the rankings to be number 3 (if not this season, then next)? The same Germany who has as many teams in the Champions League semis as Spain and England combined?

The only advantage to coming here is the wages. Will get European football and at least a hope of being able to compete for the title. Best case scenario he'd get here is finishing 7th or 8th.

[Commondore]

In a sense he may as well join one of the top teams in Belgium (Belgian sides nearly outperformed German sides in European competition this season).

It pains me to say it as someone born and brought up in France, but the fact is that every players goal should be to get to Spain or England. You forget that by playing for a club in one of Europe's smaller leagues that you will be playing mostly against players who would never make it to the Premier League or La Liga. The crowds may be better for your home games, but you don't get to travel to Old Trafford or Anfield and you also slightly reduce your chances of getting a move to one of the very big clubs.

Not really sure about the exact statistics on this, but to me it seems that it's far more usual for Champions League clubs to pick up players in France and Germany than in their own leagues. 3/4 of Chelsea consists of players bought directly from Ligue 1, Liga Ságres and the Bundesliga for example...

As for Blackburn v.s Dortmund, I think there's no question about Dortmund being the bigger club. We do however pay higher wages, and I'm quite sure that's a reason good enough for 90 % of todays (or yesterdays) players.

[niggit]

What is the tax like there though, would that make the wages even. For him to be seen, more on the big stage, then should pick us.