The 2012 Summer Transfer Window thread

[GoN_]

Seedorf does have a preference to play in Brazil, according to FM!

His wife is brazilian I believe. I know he speaks portuguese.

[Rafael]

Another one going to Brazil is Diego Forlán. According to newspapers in Argentina and Uruguay, Forlán has agreed terms with the club and now he only needs to sign the contract. Forlán's reason to go to Brazil is because he's going to be close to his family, since Internacional is from Porto Alegre ( the closest Brazilian State to Uruguay ).

[Lineker]

I may be on the move, guys! Or so the Mirror says, anyway:

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker may quit the BBC for broadcaster BT, leaving the popular Saturday night team without its frontman.

The 51-year-old was facing a big pay cut to his £2million-a-year salary at the Beeb and with his contract due to expire at the end of next season, a move to a rival could be on the cards.

Lineker, who was never booked during his ­illustrious playing career, threw his future on MOTD into doubt after his agent expressed an interest in him working for BT’s new sports channel which paid £738million for the rights to 38 Premier League games a year from 2013.

A BT source said: “Gary Lineker’s agent has been on expressing Gary’s interest.

“Obviously we’re keen that our coverage is hosted by a big name presenter with a proven track record, and few people in sports ­broadcasting can boast Gary’s credentials.

“He’s popular and experienced, and looking for a new deal at exactly the right time, so everything is falling into place nicely.”

BT is said to have set aside “serious money” to fund its football coverage.

The insider added: “We have paid an enormous amount of money for the games, so it has to be a success.

“The budget for presenters is a secret, but suffice to say there is a big chunk put aside for the main host and some pundits, and that should be adequate to tempt someone away from another broadcaster if necessary.”

Apart from the paycut, Lineker – who will host London 2012 Olympics coverage – also has a 500-mile round trip each weekend to get from his Surrey home to the new BBC studios in Salford where MOTD is now filmed.

And his is the sort of megabucks deal bosses have been told should end.

Pundit Alan Hansen, who makes up the MOTD team along with Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson, has taken a pay cut from £1.5million to £1million as deals are ­renegotiated.

Lineker, who last night presented the BBC’s coverage of the Euro 2012 final between Spain and Italy, will be expected to do the same.

Beeb insiders claim the former England and Spurs star is disappointed by the absence of live Premier League football on the station.

Lineker already works for Middle East ­broadcaster al-Jazeera, fronting their Champions League coverage, in a deal allowed because the footage is not aired in the UK.

The BBC said yesterday: “We never comment on individual contracts.”

Plans for the new BT channel have yet to be finalised. But insiders expect it will be available to “as many viewers as possible”.

[Hobo]

Jake Humphries is licking his lips!

[IAceI]

Jake Humphries definitely needs to get a football gig.

Sunderland have signed Carlos Cuellar. Not the most amazing signing but solid back up in defence given Kilgallon and Bramble could be going, and he can play in a couple of positions at the back so a perfectly acceptable signing I suppose. Will also keep the pants shitters from thinking every other club is signing players except us.

[Summers]

Strange. MON signed him and rarely played him, when he did play him it was usually at RB. Better than O'Shea but still a poor right back. Puts his body on the line for everything though - often because he's out of position and has too. I loved the lad though. Good professional.

Surprised to see him go in for him again.

[Summers]

El Ahmadi signs for the Villa

[HailtotheYo]

13.18 BST Some movement of the transfer variety. Journalist Paolo Bandini just fired this out on the Twitter: "Alessandro Nesta has signed for Montreal Impact in MLS, where he joins Marco Di Vaio."

[brenchill]

Montreal... Impact?

[Guest mr. potato head]

Montreal... Impact?

Correct.

[Hobo]

Sheffield... Wednesday?

[Adam]

Not even close to being the daftest MLS name.

I think it'd suck if Lineker moved to BT, can't imagine someone else hosting Match of the Day, but it'd be great if Jake Humphrey got the gig especially now the F1 isn't live every week.

[Guest mr. potato head]

Not even close to being the daftest MLS name.

[supergrass]

The BBC could probably find someone a lot cheaper to say: "Next up, xxxx play xxxx...so what did you think of that, Alan?"

[Matt]

I'll do it for £100 per episode.

[IAceI]

Just do away with them in fact and just show the football.

[Summers]

Montreal... Impact?

[Adam]

Not even close to being the daftest MLS name.

Ah yes, I forgot that the Red Bulls used to be called the New York/New Jersey MetroStars.

[Summers]

Just do away with them in fact and just show the football.

I think they should get rid of the old guard and bring in actual insightful people. I enjoy football discussion, but I want actual insightful and interesting discussion.

[Hobo]

A lot of football clubs have silly names when you look at them: Arsenal, Accrington Stanley, Hamilton Academicals, MK Dons, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest are all a bit odd if you look at them in isolation.

More football clubs have really sinple names ending in FC or Town or City or United.

I like most of the MLS team names and some of them have changed their names to less more traditional football style ones Dallas Burn to FC Dallas, Kansas City Wizards to Sporting Kansas City, MetroStars to NY Red Bulls.