The 2012 January Transfer Thread

[Crybaby Bunting]

There's also the chance that Barcelona decided to 'buy' him for £20m and then immediately loaned him to Santos for the next two years.

That way Santos gets a chunk of money right now to invest into theirs squad, Barcelona get a guarantee that he's their player and Neymar gets to develop at Santos.

[Lineker]

Apparently the deal is that they have paid Santos 10million euros now, basically for first refusal on him. Word is that he will probably move after the World Cup.

[-A-]

Another thing Balague said was that if Santos accept another offer then they're required to pay Barcelona 20m euros. If that's all accurate (and it seems pretty feasible) then surely if Madrid were to bid at least 10m euros more than Barcelona then Santos could still profit by accepting it? Not to mention the fact that they'd have had the payment from Barcelona for some time, using it or earning interest.

[DavidMarrio]

Balague said this? Think i'll wait until there is something more concrete.

Funny rumour of the day: Wayne Bridge being linked to Arsenal on loan.

[Lineker]

El-Hadji Diouf has signed a new deal to remain at Doncaster until the end of next season.

[Hobo]

I have decided El Hadji Diouf is like the proto-Andy Carroll as far as Liverpool forwards go. Cost way too much, scored way too few goals and will end up playing in the Championship by the time he's thirty.

[DavidMarrio]

I had Diouf on the back of my kit when he first signed....smart move that was

[The Future]

My friend still rocks Diouf and Kewell kits pretty often

[stokeriño]

The more time goes on, the more likely that Gary Cahill joining Chelsea next month seems.

AVB has done his coy little "interesting player" speech, Coyle has admitted there has been dialogue between the two clubs.

Latest rumour is £5 million. Either way, if it is going to happen I'd like it to happen at the very start of the window please...

[Crybaby Bunting]

Predictions:

Beckham will join PSG - "To re-establish France as a major European footballing power" whilst clutching a bag of cash

Gary Cahill will end up at Chelsea in this season's "It makes sense but I still didn't see it coming" move

Torres will be loaned to Athletico Madrid/Malaga. Chelsea have enough strikers to take the hit and use it as a "It benefits both parties in the short term" move.

2/3 isn't that bad

[stokeriño]

Torres will be loaned to Athletico Madrid/Malaga. Chelsea have enough strikers to take the hit and use it as a "It benefits both parties in the short term" move.

lol

[Lineker]

Newcastle will focus on buying a defender rather than a striker following confirmation that Modibo Maiga's move to Tyneside has collapsed.

The Sochaux forward, 24, was set for a £6m transfer in January.

But the deal broke down because of medical concerns over one of the Mali international's knees.

[Lineker]

Henry has apparently rejoined Arsenal. According to Twitter anyway. Kelly Sotherton and Piers Morgan!

[stokeriño]

Malouda's linked with Ancelotti at PSG. Seems logical and all that, since he's barely started more than the odd game this season, but I don't like all this supposed hemorrhaging of attacking players without any talk of who might replace them...

[DanLowth]

Henry might be okay at Arsenal as backup. Has its pros and cons, sentimentally it's quite nice, similar to why you find the odd United fan who'd take Beckham back on a loan, but it'd be sad if he was rubbish. With that said he's probably better than Chamakh (aren't we all).

If I'm a Chelsea fan... dunno about Gary Cahill. Not sure I'd be happy about that. He's another body which helps when you have a few injuries and 7 million or however much is a fair enough price but they'll need a few others in that area of the pitch. Terry/Luiz/Cahill, could be some LOLarity in those pairings. Nice to hear Sam Hutchinson will probably be registered in January though, never really saw him (at any level) but it's always sad when any team loses a youngster to injury and for him to come back from retirement and return to the first team is a nice story.

[HailtotheYo]

Coyle in for Ream ? Less than 2m ... not gonna happen at that price guy.

[stokeriño]

If I'm a Chelsea fan... dunno about Gary Cahill. Not sure I'd be happy about that. He's another body which helps when you have a few injuries and 7 million or however much is a fair enough price but they'll need a few others in that area of the pitch. Terry/Luiz/Cahill, could be some LOLarity in those pairings. Nice to hear Sam Hutchinson will probably be registered in January though, never really saw him (at any level) but it's always sad when any team loses a youngster to injury and for him to come back from retirement and return to the first team is a nice story.

It's difficult to tell, or to disassociate Cahill's quality from the team around him, without having watched Bolton very closely every week, which I of course haven't. Obviously if Alex wants to leave for whatever reason, we need another centreback. Or alternatively another right-back, which would allow Ivanovic to be centreback full-time. Either way.

Hutch was at about the same level of our other young fullbacks (e.g van Annholt) when I last saw him, but given the injury he's come back from, it seems a hell of a lot to ask for him to reach the same levels again. I imagine he's just happy to be playing, and who knows where and how he'll end up doing it.

[Cymbols]

it's all over twitter that Liverpool will make an offer for Darren Bent in January.

Bent's conversion rating is 23% whereas Suarez's is 7% and Carroll's is 6%. Plus, Suarez is missing loads of games.

[stokeriño]

The idea of Bent and Carroll playing as a front pair makes me giggle.

[Lineker]

Collectively known as 'do a Barroll roll"?