Two transfer battles that will affect many teams this summer
The summer transfer window tends to bring about one or two feisty battles to clinch that final deal. Will this summer deliver the usual clashes between the biggest clubs for the biggest players?
To kick-off with, Everton vs. Sunderland. Granted, it’s not Chelsea against Madrid – we’ll get onto that one later – but a pretty tasty one to start us off.
Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United. 89 international caps, 40 goals. With his prolific playing history, Michael Owen is not a bad player to have in your squad. Despite his recent decline in pitch time – just six league appearances for United this season – this guy can still score valuable goals when the heat is on.
Sunday, 20th September 2009. It’s the Manchester derby and Owen is on as a substitute for Dimitar Berbatov. United are three points behind Chelsea and need to take every point available to keep the pressure on. 3-3, 95 minutes gone, looking like two points dropped having conceded in the 90th minute. An eternity later, in the 96th minute, Giggs slides a pass through the City defence and Owen slots it into the bottom right hand corner, announcing himself as a club icon. He can score.
Moyes and Bruce are said to be chasing the 31-year-old who they should be able to secure on a free-transfer. I don’t think many people would argue that Michael Owen on a free transfer is a seriously good deal, but who will manage to snap him up? His career at United will almost unquestionably be at an end at the end of this campaign, be he a champion or not. With both Everton and Sunderland impressing so far this season, who will he opt for? My prediction; Sunderland, as an overdue replacement for Darren Bent.
Now, from one goal-scorer to another, here’s one that will certainly whet your appetite. As promised, I give to you Chelsea and Real Madrid, and I’ll throw in Barcelona just for kicks. Three of the biggest clubs in world football longing for the latest up-and-coming Brazilian superstar – Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. Neymar, to me and you.
This kid’s record speaks for itself. 3 goals in as many appearances for Brazil, 59 goals in 116 appearances for Santos – more than one every other game – and he’s only 19 years old. He is, without doubt, something special.
In the press recently David Luiz, Chelsea’s audacious Brazilian defender, has commented that he would love his international teammate to join him at the Bridge, but with two of the richest, most influential clubs in the world interested as well, he will surely come at a price.
Despite him very nearly moving to Chelsea last season, it is looking increasingly likely that he will end up at the Bernabeu, especially given the proposed offer. It is rumoured that Mourinho will offer Neymar’s Brazilian counterpart Kaka as part of a lucrative deal to tie-up the striker who has been dubbed ‘the new Pelé’. Wherever he ends up, be it Barca, Madrid or Chelsea, it is clear that this battle will unfold with surplus entertainment and finalised with great expenditure. Personally, I think and hope that he will end up at Chelsea. My logic; David Luiz’s recommendation to Ancelotti accompanied with how close he came to sealing the deal with the Londoners last year.
So then, we have one battle for Michael Owen – the experienced, humble, veteran striker – and one for Neymar – the gifted, cocky, prodigy striker. Man City and Chelsea are also battling it out for Kaka and Pirlo, suggesting that this summer will, as ever, supply an adequate amount of eyebrow-raising, delight and despair.
