Weekly Football Round-Up: 27th July 2008
July 27, 2008 by CLDsport
Near the end of last season we started a weekend football round up, with a promise that we will continue the weekend summary in the forthcoming season.
Well, we are not ones for breaking promises. But, there is a small difference - every Sunday from this day on, we will summarise the weeks football action for you. Welcome to our first of many ‘CLDsport Weekly Football Round Ups’.
With transfer rumours still hitting the headlines, and supposedly millions to be spent before the transfer market closes at midnight on the 1st August, we are still not clear on what’s true, or what is just pure fantasy - probably made up by over ambitious journalists who need to catch their editor’s attention by providing false news to fill column inches!
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is still not certain, although it seems more likely every day that he will at least start the season at Old Trafford. The midfielder is set to miss United’s first 5 games of the season following his ankle operation, and is currently spending time in Los Angeles. This is inevitably causing certain members of the press to question his partying lifestyle, but manager Alex Ferguson does not seem to share their scepticism, saying;
“He was always scheduled to have this time off in Los Angeles. There was no harm in going there. He’s doing some commercial things. I think he’s signed up with an LA-based company. I’ve someone there with him.”
The Old Trafford supremo also dismissed claims of Ronaldo drinking excessively as “a load of rubbish”.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are reportedly interested in Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, and Spanish Euro 2008 star David Villa. If these reports are true, then this surely signals the end of their pursuit of Ronaldo.
Real’s Robinho is still strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, with reports that the winger/striker is set to become a Chelsea player before the start of the season - at a cost of £35million. However, it’s unlikely that Real will allow him to leave before they have secured a replacement.
The biggest rumours of the week seem to be focused on Robbie Keane and his £18million move to Liverpool. Many reports in this weeks press suggest that the deal IS going to happen in the next week.
His Spurs’ strike partner Dimitar Berbatov has been linked with a move to Manchester Utd for months now, but reports in today’s press suggest that Alex Ferguson has given up hope of signing the Bulgarian after a bust-up with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
However, there are reports that claim Berbatov will sign for United in a £24million deal this week.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is apparently set to sign a new £150,000 a week contract to end speculation of a move to Inter - and a link up with former boss Jose Mourinho. Inter are still hopeful of securing Lampard’s services however, but may have to wait until the summer transfer window.
Ok, enough rumours and media speculation for one day, let’s move on to the deals that have actually taken place this week.
West Ham captured Swiss international winger/right-back Valon Behrami for a £5million fee from Lazio. The versatile 21-year-old was initially valued at £11million by the Italian club, but the player moved for less than half of that fee due to his expiring contract.
Spurs’ keeper Paul Robinson has moved to Blackburn for £3.5million after his future was in doubt following the arrival of £8million Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven. Robinson’s arrival enabled the departure of American Brad Friedel to Aston Villa for a fee believed to be around the £1.5million mark.
Staying with Spurs, Sunderland have completed the signings of both Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda for undisclosed fees. Manager Roy Keane is still hopeful of completing the transfers of Younes Kaboul and Steed Malbranque - with the quartet thought to be costing around £23million.
That’s pretty much it for this weeks round-up. I hope you enjoyed our first instalment, but we welcome your comments and/or suggestions.
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