The rumor mill starts to turn
As I sat down this morning with my laptop and my customary bowl of oatmeal to peruse through the various football sites that I frequent, there it was right in front of me – the rumor mill starting to rear its ugly head. With international friendlies being played out yesterday and the world poised for the 2014 World Cup that is less than one hundred days away, the rumor mill for the summer transfer window is beginning to warm up. Three stood out to me most and given the fact that Soccernet.com felt it prudent for them to be put on their homepage of headlines, I figured I’d weigh in with my own two cents.
Man City to consider a 165million pound bid for Messi
Well, to be honest, City fans can keep dreaming about this one. While the fee would be attractive to anyone, it must be remembered that Messi arguably the best player of his generation and one of the top fifty greatest footballers of all time at the absolute minimum (debate amongst yourselves about that one). While they did purchase Neymar this past summer, Messi truly is Barca and unless the board want to be strung up by their toenails on the trees of La Rambla, he will never leave. And why would he want to, especially to City? Barca are simply a different class and Barca has his heart, plus they can afford to pay him whatever wages he likes should it come to that.
Verdict: It just won’t happen – he owes Barca everything and likewise, they owe him whatever he likes.
Mourinho eyeing Raphael Varane
The Lille born youngster is certainly one for the future, and anyone that has seen him suit up for the capital club knows this – that includes his former boss Jose Mourinho. Now at Chelsea, the Portuguese manager has to consider whom he will bring in to replace John Terry and Varane is seemingly topping his list. Mourinho has recently stated that he feels the French international is the best young defender in the world and having worked with him at Madrid, surely he would like to reunite under the Chelsea banner. Does Varane have the incentive to leave the Spanish capital for it’s English counter-part? This is a tough one to gauge truthfully – Varane is certainly held in very high regard at Real and with Zinedine Zidane on the coaching staff, it’s doubtful that they would consider letting him go. However Mourinho does have the unlimited supply of funds backed by owner Roman Abrahmovic at his disposal, but will he want to break the bank it what could potentially amount to the largest sum discussed for a center back in footballing history?
Verdict: I would have to think more about this one truthfully, but my gut tells me that Varane stays in Spain – for now.
David Moyes scouts Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba
Two more highly rated Frenchman are on the radar of an English club here as both were scouted by the United headmaster during this recent international break. Griezmann is highly touted for his masterful performances in La Liga with Real Sociedad, while Paul Pogba has become the second name on the team sheet (behind Gianluigi Buffon) at Juventus. Everyone is expecting a massive overhaul of the United squad this summer and these two could certainly fit the bill. United crave quality and creativity out wide and Griezmann certainly provides that, along with his eye for goal that could easily ease the goal scoring burden off of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. Pogba would be a massive acquisition for Moyes as United are seriously lacking in both grit and creativity in the center of the park. Pogba’s willingness to get forward and be involved coupled with his work ethic and steadfastness in tracking back would make him invaluable. However, did we forget that Pogba was already slighted by United once before when he was let go?
Verdict: Not only does Griezmann make sense for United, I can truly see this happening. Sociedad are not exactly swimming in money so if a bid of 20million comes their way, they would be hard pressed to turn it down. Pogba on the other hand I do not see changing Turin for a Manchester return. I do however see him potentially going to Arsenal as Arsene Wenger has been eyeing him for quite sometime and he is exactly what the Gunners have been missing since the departure of Patrick Vieira.
As always, have your say! What do you think of these rumors? Are there other rumors or possibilities that you would like to discuss and debate? We’d love to hear from you, as always!