We have nearly reach the halfway stage of the transfer window, with deals and rumours being discussed and speculated every day. Here we pick out some of the key deals and rumours surrounding the football world this week…
Stambouli to PSG
In one of the more head-scratching transfers seen so far, Tottenham deadwood Benjamin Stambouli was expected to join Premier League newcomers Watford, until a last minute switch changed everything and saw what looked like a Premier League struggle season for the Frenchman, turn into a Ligue 1 title challenge and Champions League season with Paris Saint Germain. Although this seems a bizarre move, the Tottenham flop is a proven midfielder in the French top flight. Stambouli was an integral part of the title winning Montpellier side in 2012 at just 21 and featuring in 37 out of 38 games in the 2013/14 season, he was also promoted to vice captain behind Brazilian Hilton and could be a good signing to fill the void of Yohan Cabaye as a backup midfield option. Tottenham fans will be scratching their heads, as will a lot of Premier League fans, but the French could see this as a coup.
Where Next For Esteban Cambiasso?
Inter Milan legend Esteban Cambiasso shocked many fans after his release from the San Siro, in signing for Premier League newcomers Leicester City. The 34-year old was awarded as Leicester Fans’ Player of the Season but was to reject a new contract with the Foxes, with other Premier League clubs heavily linked with the Argentine lynchpin. Aston Villa were said to have offered a contract Cambiasso but with reports circling today, West Ham are said to be in pole position to land the former Real Madrid midfielder. But, at 34 is Cambiasso looking to return home? Similar to players such as Carlos Tevez returning to Boca Juniors last week and Maxi Rodriguez rejoining Newells Old Boys, will the homesick bug catch Cambiasso? It seems the prospect of another season in the Premier League, but this time in London, is imminent.
Who Is Louis Van Gaal’s ‘Mystery’ Striker?
After Van Gaal admitted to press this week that his next target is yet to be unveiled by the media, it’s got the football world guessing… Who is the mystery man?
After being heavily linked with a £69m bid for Bayern Munich and Germany striker Thomas Muller this week, we can rule this man out after the publicity surrounding the situation. Whether Muller will be a United player come deadline day, who knows, but with his heart set in Munich, it seems unlikely.
With record signing Angel Di Maria set to be offloaded to the French capital with PSG, could the mystery striker be involved in the deal? Rumoured personal terms are said to have been verbally agreed so why is the move taking so long? Could there be more involved? I think so. One of the men the papers have been linking United with is Swedish powerhouse Zlatan Ibrahimovic. With odds slashed in recent days, many are beginning to speculate a swap deal could be on the cards.
Finally, the last man who has entered the frame in recent days is Juventus striker Fernando Llorente. The former Bilbao talisman has struggled to make the cut since signing in 2013, scoring just 27 goals in 90 appearances. With the signing of Palermo wonderkid Paulo Dybala, and the world class emergence of former Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata, it seems Llorente is surplus to requirements after reports he was offered to United rather than being tracked outright.
With the two prominent names in the hat being Ibrahimovic and Llorente, it seems Van Gaal is in the market for a tall, strong and experienced striker to fill the void left by Van Persie and Falcao. Will either make the switch? It seems a matter of who rather than if.
The David De Gea Saga
It has become the story of the summer, will David De Gea join Los Blancos? With United holding firm with their demands, it looks more and more unlikely by the day. United have been public with their interest in Sergio Ramos, with the Spanish defender also stating his desire to move away from what seems to be a dark cloud hanging over the Bernabeu.
Ramos seems to be the key in the proposed move, but with Real Madrid seemingly against the counter offer, United appearing to be stubborn in their demands, the move appears to be at a stand-still. Media reports suggest United have now upped their demands to now involve Goalkeeper Keylor Navas as well as Ramos, and with De Gea only having a year remaining on his deal, it would seem stupid for the Spanish giants to lose two key men when they could have their man for free come next year.
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