Official Transfer Thread

[TAFKA Castroneves]

Fuck if he wants to move again I'll welcome Stevie back to Leicester with open arms.

[Sir Alan LCSugar]

Claridge was at Luton for a time but we sacked him because gambling was taking over his life. Good player in his day though.

Luton are signing some Ghananian from Ajax in the coming days too, to bolster up our midfield.

Wigan paying money or even wanting Windass is stupid he can't cut it in the Prem, and he would struggle in the Champ in my oppinion.

[9 to 5]

Claridge was at Luton for a time but we sacked him because gambling was taking over his life. Good player in his day though.

Luton are signing some Ghananian from Ajax in the coming days too, to bolster up our midfield.

Wigan paying money or even wanting Windass is stupid he can't cut it in the Prem, and he would struggle in the Champ in my oppinion.

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If Windass wasn't so vital to Bradford, half a million for a 36 year old in their division would be an amazing deal.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Juventus are close to signing Cruzeiro's Gladstone Pereira Della Valentino on a one-year loan, according to the Italian press.

Reports say the club have also got an option to sign the Brazilian central defender permanently next summer.

Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi confirmed the interest for Gladstone but denied that the deal had already been done.

"The player interests us, but everything depends on his EU passport," he said.

It has been reported, however, that Gladstone already has an Italian passport as his Great Grand-father was born close to Treviso.

If the deal is confirmed, rumours say Juventus coach Fabio Capello (pictured) will use Gladstone as bait to secure a move for Antonio Cassano.

Edited August 27, 2005 by JohnnyPerfect

[Guest Ringmaster]

I have seen Gladstone play two matches, he seems to have potential, but he's still prone to mistakes.

As for Cassano, the Italian press seems to be heavily talking about a huge trade where Juve would give up Mutu or Del Piero for him. I don't see it happening, but with the way he's being booed as of late, anything is possible.

[fineintent]

I read in the paper today that Portsmouth are linked with Miccoli, any of you foreign football followers know how accurate this is? He's supposed to be decent right?

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

I read in the paper today that Portsmouth are linked with Miccoli, any of you foreign football followers know how accurate this is? He's supposed to be decent right?

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[Guest Ringmaster]

Aston Villa are understood to be closing in on a deal for PSV Eindhoven defender Wilfred Bouma.

Reports in Holland claim that the Dutch international is travelling to England to undergo a medical at Villa Park on Monday.

Bouma appears poised to become the latest player to quit the Dutch champions after Villa matched a minimum fee release clause in his contract.

The 27-year-old is now due to meet Villa boss David O'Leary to discuss personal terms ahead of clinching a move to The Premiership.

O'Leary has lined up the swoop for the centre half due to the continued concerns surrounding the fitness of Martin Laursen.

If Bouma does sign for Villa, he could be quickly followed to The Premiership by Lee Young-pyo, as the South Korea international is due to undergo a medical at Tottenham Hotspur.

PSV have little option but to accept Bouma's departure due to the clause in his contract, although it is unclear what the sum is.

An unknown Premiership club met that asking price earlier this month but they were unable to meet Bouma's wage demands.

Bouma has three years remaining on his contract at Philips Stadion and has been a key figure in the defence for several seasons.

Liverpool have also been linked with a bid for the powerful stopper but it appears Villa are homing in on his capture, with Bouma's agent Ger Lagendijk expecting the transfer to be completed.

Lagendijk told De Telegraaf: "The chance is 90 percent that Bouma will leave.

"We hope to get an agreement with the club today."

[Guest Pirate Chasin' Booty]

Yeah, Bouma rocks, always admired him, will be an excellent signing if it goes through.

[Different Cloud]

Rangers look set to go for a shock move to re-sign Greek Defender, Sotiris Kyriakos.

We are also said to be trying to bring a Striker in, Robbie Fowler's name being mentioned a lot.

Zura Khizanishvili, Michael Ball, Dragan Mladenovic and Maurice Ross all look set to leave.

[fineintent]

Going on the Hartson principle, Fowler would be a huge success in Scotland - no pace but a decent enough finisher.

[9 to 5]

Michael Bell, heh, forgot he existed. Isn't it true he doesn't play because Rangers can't afford to pay Everton x amount if he plays a certain amount of games?

[Malenko]

Juventus are close to signing Cruzeiro's Gladstone Pereira Della Valentino on a one-year loan, according to the Italian press.

Reports say the club have also got an option to sign the Brazilian central defender permanently next summer.

Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi confirmed the interest for Gladstone but denied that the deal had already been done.

"The player interests us, but everything depends on his EU passport," he said.

It has been reported, however, that Gladstone already has an Italian passport as his Great Grand-father was born close to Treviso.

If the deal is confirmed, rumours say Juventus coach Fabio Capello (pictured) will use Gladstone as bait to secure a move for Antonio Cassano.

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[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

Michael Bell, heh, forgot he existed. Isn't it true he doesn't play because Rangers can't afford to pay Everton x amount if he plays a certain amount of games?

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[Different Cloud]

Ball is a solid enough player and I like him, but it's just his wages that are a problem.

Murray has been very good though and is a good replacement.

[J-Rod]

Michael Owen has agreed to join Newcastle after holding talks with The Magpies and former club Liverpool.

The Real Madrid star held discussions with Newcastle and Liverpool on Monday and he has now agreed a four-year deal at St James' Park.

Owen is currently undergoing a medical on Tyneside and he successfully comes through that he will become the club's new record signing.

The England international's future has been the subject of intense speculation all summer with Real Madrid bringing in Brazilian duo Robinho and Julio Baptista.

Owen had been worried about his international ambitions if he was not going to be playing regularly at Real and he decided that he needed to leave the Spanish club to safeguard his England place ahead of next summer's World Cup.

The news is a massive boost for Newcastle boss Graeme Souness following his side's dismal start to the season which has seen Newcastle fail to win a game and score a goal this season.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd hailed the signing of Owen as one of his proudest moments at the club.

"Bringing Michael to St. James' Park will rank alongside the signing of Alan Shearer as my proudest moment at Newcastle United," Shepherd told the club's official website.

"Newcastle fans love centre-forwards and Michael is a fantastic goalscorer. He's someone we would love to build the team around and we hope he can help us bring success to the club."

Owen should make his debut against Fulham in two weeks should he put the finishing touches to his move.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

They needed him badly that's for sure. Newcastle have been utter shit lately and hopefully for them, Owen can change things around. Owen/Shearer up front should be quite nice to see and along with Luque and Emre, surely they can make a bit of a comeback up the table.

Liverpool have reportedly missed out on the signing of Roma defender Philippe Mexes.

The European champions are desperate to bring in a new centre half before Wednesday's transfer deadline and Mexes has emerged as the latest target.

Mexes was coveted by The Reds during Gerard Houllier's tenure as manager before the France international controversially joined Roma from Auxerre last summer.

The defender's switch to Serie A was a complex affair which eventually saw Mexes hit with a suspension and Roma landed with a transfer ban.

Auxerre complained about Roma's conduct in the case and, earlier this summer, Fifa imposed a ban on the Giallorossi being involved in any transfer deals.

That suspension has been lifted pending an appeal and that prompted Liverpool to enquire about Mexes' availability.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez wanted to take the stylish stopper on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.

Benitez's opposite number Luciano Spalletti blocked the transfer, as he perceives Mexes to be a key figure in his plans for this season.

With the pursuit of Mexes at a close, and a move for Marseille's Abdoulaye Meite reaching a dead end, Benitez will have to look elsewhere for a new centre half in the next 48 hours.

[fineintent]

He had to move, given Madrid didn't even put him on the bench - but I thought that Liverpool would have the sense to buy him, as they're screaming out for a goalscorer and Owen/Gerrard worked really well.

Shame to see him go to Newcastle as I have a soft spot for Owen, and they're utter shit. Scott Parker is good though, as is Shay Given, so it's not all bad.

[Malenko]

He had to move, given Madrid didn't even put him on the bench - but I thought that Liverpool would have the sense to buy him, as they're screaming out for a goalscorer and Owen/Gerrard worked really well.

Shame to see him go to Newcastle as I have a soft spot for Owen, and they're utter shit. Scott Parker is good though, as is Shay Given, so it's not all bad.

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Edited August 30, 2005 by Malenko

[public enemy]

I'm surprised to say the least that Owen has eventually joined Newcastle.

He's made it perfectly clear that he didn't want to join them permanently and even went as far as to drop a line to Liverpool to come rescue him. Needless to say, he'll be welcomed with open arms but I'm wondering what exactly changed his mind. It wouldn't surprise me at all for him to have both a Relegation release clause and some sort of buy-out clause in his Newcastle contract. For the mean time, he's only really using them to keep himself in contention for a World Cup place; something he was practically guaranteed by Sven anyway.

If it's goals Newcastle are after, Owen is a good buy albeit for quite the price. If Real Madrid only bought Owen to re-sell him, they've made the profit. The deal seems to work out on both sides but I'm still surprised we didn't see Owen's return to Liverpool like so many people were expecting from the beginning.