Rival Watch

Thought it made sense to keep an eye on what our rivals were up to as well. The age old saying is, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. So we can keep tabs on what ManUtd, Chelsea, Liverpool and ManShitty are up to in the transfer market.. Maybe, when there is a lack of things to do, we can also have a laugh at the spuds..

So as things stand right now, we have

Liverpool :

Jordan Henderson ~ 20 mil {CONFIRMED}

Man Utd :

Phil Jones ~16.5 mil {RUMOURED}
Ashley Young ~ 20mil [130k a week!!!] {RUMOURED}


ManUtd are also close to finishing the David de Gea deal for another rumoured 20mil.

Nothing yet from Chelsea and ManShitty, though Chelsea is going to get really active only after their manager situation is resolved..

EDIT: We'll use this thread to keep watch over 'em rivals during the season as well..

Manchester United have splashed £20 million to bring Ashley Young from Aston Villa to Old Trafford.

According to reports in the Sun,the 25-year-old Englishman, has passed a medical United's Carrington Training Ground and put pen to paper on a four-year contract.

This takes the Sir Alex Ferguson's expected spending this summer to an astonishing £55 million so far.

In comparison, title-challengers Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have not made any big purchases so far, with only Arsene Wenger spending an underwhelming £1 million for Charlton defender Carl Jenkinson.

But that's not all the spending that Ferguson is planning on, with the Scot also bringing in Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea from Atletico Madrid for £18.5million.

United already nabbed Phil Jones from Blackburn on Wednesday in a £16.5m transfer.

The move may have even prompted Young to cancel his own wedding.

The Englishman was due to marry sweetheart Nicky Pike on Saturday, but guests invited to their lavish wedding were told not to bother showing up, according to further reports.

Asked at the doorstep of his home as to why he cancelled his wedding, Young said: "No comment."

Pike confirmed the nuptials were cancelled, saying: "Yes, we have cancelled our wedding."

She apparently forced a smile, and said:"Do I look upset?"

The two have been dating for about a decade, and have two children together.

Young is, however, still expected to fly out to Las Vegas on Sunday.

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item630690/Ashley-Young-joins-Manchester-United/

phil and young aren't confirmed so add rumored next to them

so if he signs De Gea and Jones, SAF's transfer kitty is finished right? except of course if he sells...Fantastic idea with the thread btw!

I want to include Tottenham in this...

Ze_GunMan wrote:so if he signs De Gea and Jones, SAF's transfer kitty is finished right? except of course if he sells...Fantastic idea with the thread btw!

Thanks man

ali8775 wrote:I want to include Tottenham in this...

They haven't signed anyone yet have they?

srigooner wrote:

ali8775 wrote:I want to include Tottenham in this...

They haven't signed anyone yet have they?

They signed Friedel on a free transfer...

Oh yeah.. That.. Looks like Gomes has made enough errors for them.. Forgot about it..

David De Gea will cost United £17,000,000, I think.

Next season they'll probably have one of the most exciting teams about. We'll probably won't be the team with the most potential; they will.

Can't help but like the look of this future backline for them:


I'm hoping that them signing Ashley Young will stop any interest in Samir Nasri.

does anyone else think that nani, valencia, young is overkill? not to mention park or giggs(if he's not really retiring)

Remember Young can play as a CAM too.
And with Berbatov leaving as well.

You can pretty much assume Lukaku will be joining Chelsea.

The new Drogba they call him, be worried.

Though he still has plenty of things to work on lol

16M + 3 (Bonuses based on caps, trophies, etc) for Henderson

Sepi wrote:16M + 3 (Bonuses based on caps, trophies, etc) for Henderson

Is N'gog going the other way?

Jones' Man United deal hits snag
Blackburn defender Phil Jones' transfer to Manchester United has reportedly hit a snag after both clubs were unable to reach an agreement on the transfer fee.
Jones, who is rated as one of English football's hottest prospects, had reportedly arrived in Manchester on Wednesday to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with United.
While the England U-21 international passed his medical and was able to agree on a contract with the club, it is now revealed that the transfer has not been able to go through due to Blackburn's valuation of the player.
It was initially suggested Jones had a minimum fee release clause of £16million which would enable any club who meets that valuation to purchase the player.
However, The Guardian believes the clause only allows a club to initiate contact with Jones should they make a bid in that region, but does not necessitate that Blackburn accept the offer.
Aware that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all keen on Jones as well, Blackburn's owners, Venky's, believe the player is worth much more, and are reportedly holding out for a better offer.
The Guardian further suggests that lawyers may be called in to investigate the fine print of Jones' contract to assess whether the clause means the defender has to be sold if a club bids £16m, or if he is merely allowed to speak to his suitors.
United look set for a summer of rebuilding, and are said to have no significant concerns that the Jones deal will not be completed.
Aston Villa winger Ashley Young and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea are two more players who are rumoured to be extremely close to a move to Old Trafford.

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item630842/Jones'-Man-United-deal-hits-snag/

english_jewel wrote:

Sepi wrote:16M + 3 (Bonuses based on caps, trophies, etc) for Henderson

Is N'gog going the other way?

Thats a separate deal . We have accepted their offer of 3.5 mil and N'Gog will hold talks with them once he returns from holiday .

Liverpool to hijack Phil Jones deal

Liverpool have made an offer to Blackburn Rovers for Manchester United target Phil Jones in a bid to gazump their old rivals.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Blackburn Rovers are incensed by what they consider bullying tactics from Manchester United, and have said: " We will not be bullied".

Further reports also indicated that Liverpool have made an offer of £22 million for the defender, which will spoil Sir Alex Ferguson's holiday in the south of France.

Arsenal have also submitted a bid over United's original £16.5m offer, and with Chelsea also considering their interest in the Englishman, it appearances that the player will be auctioned off.

In a meeting on Saturday in Pune, India, a decision was made by Rover's owners and manager Steve Kean to stop Jones' United move. He had been offered an amazing £80,000-a-week contract by the Red Devils, but his current club are prepared to pay more, and give him the position of club captain in the future.

However, if that fails to keep the player, they have told Jones: "If you go, you go where we get the best money."

Sources from Rovers added: "United can't do what they want in this case. Jones is a Blackburn player and while there is a clause that could mean he leaves, it's far from the straightforward issue everyone assumes it to be."
It was expected that the transfer of Jones to United was a formality, as United triggered a release clause in his contract with their offer, but Rovers have taken legal advice and believe that te clause does not mean they have to sell to the first club that makes an offer.

Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli has already promised the club's fans there will be more transfer activity this summer.

The Reds signed number one target Jordan Henderson from Sunderland this week in a deal reportedly worth up to £20million.

The 20-year-old is the third major signing since Kenny Dalglish's return as manager, with Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez joining in January.

Now Comolli has said there is more to come.

"We wanted to make a signing early. The earlier the better because we can then re-adjust our strategy or decide we aren't going to do any more - which won't be the case now!" Comolli is quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror.

"I'm very pleased, because Jordan was one of the big targets we had. When you get your first target it's always a good sign because you think the others will come through as well."

Liverpool look set to miss out on both Phil Jones and Ashley Young to Manchester United, but with the likes of Ipswich's Connor Wickham and Blackpool captain Charlie Adam also on their radar, it is clear they are prioritising homegrown talent.

"If a player is English, or British or has played in the Premier League, we'll look at that over someone abroad," confirmed Comolli.

"We go for a player because he ticks all the boxes. It's what we need at this time in this window, and we have seen that with Henderson."

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item631091/Liverpool-to-hijack-Phil-Jones-deal/

With Jones wanting to go to United i dont think we can do much apart from upping the price . Would be great if we can make Fergie sweat and spent few more million on him .

Hahaha, i like how u think! & send Mancini on a few wild goose chases while we're at it!

Looks like Jones is actually heading to liverpool, according to recent reports at least. A 22 million bid is on the table

Ze_GunMan wrote:Hahaha, i like how u think! & send Mancini on a few wild goose chases while we're at it!

The irritating thing is it seems we are the ones who have financed the United deal indirectly . Sunderland have bid the money received from Henderson deal to sign O'shea Brown and Gibson .

BeautifulGame wrote:

Ze_GunMan wrote:Hahaha, i like how u think! & send Mancini on a few wild goose chases while we're at it!

The irritating thing is it seems we are the ones who have financed the United deal indirectly . Sunderland have bid the money received from Henderson deal to sign O'shea Brown and Gibson .

And Wickham too..

Nishank wrote:

BeautifulGame wrote:

Ze_GunMan wrote:Hahaha, i like how u think! & send Mancini on a few wild goose chases while we're at it!

The irritating thing is it seems we are the ones who have financed the United deal indirectly . Sunderland have bid the money received from Henderson deal to sign O'shea Brown and Gibson .

And Wickham too..

Nah Wickham is not a problem . Echo has reported that he wants to come to us . Its just what sort of deal that is negotiated that is holding the deal . Apparently they want Shelvey on loan for a season .

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-City-transfer-news-ex-Manchester-United-star-Cristiano-Ronaldo-wants-400-000-a-week-to-join-City-article746398.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Crstiano Ronaldo has told friends that Manchester City would have to break the bank to get him.

Sunday Mirror Sport has learnt that the Real Madrid superstar is bragging to friends that he is wanted by City’s Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour as he strives to make the Blues football’s No.1 club.

Ronaldo has told confidantes in Manchester that someone connected to the Sheikh’s family has contacted him informally with a mindblowing package that is tempting the former Manchester United hero to move to Eastlands.

However, last night City insisted that no approach had been made by them or on their behalf.


Ronaldo has put together a list of astonishing demands if he was to return to England.

The Portuguese star told a friend:

- He wants £400k a week.

- The No.7 shirt and captain’s armband.

- A guarantee that he will always be the club’s highest paid player.

The 26-year-old forward has claimed that City would have to pay Real a near 100 per cent profit on the £80million world record transfer fee they paid to United for him two years ago.

And Ronaldo believes that City would pay him a £350,000-a-week basic wage with a bonus and image rights package that would see his earnings soar even higher.

However, he wants £400,000 a week.

A source close to Ronaldo confirmed: “Cristiano says there has been contact between him and a third party. He says that he is extremely flattered at the lengths they’re willing to go to.

“He claimed that they will pay him what it takes to make him a Manchester City player.

“He says he wants £400k as taxes are higher in England.”

Ronaldo also claims that he was invited over to Abu Dhabi.

However, he did not go to the Middle East, but the source added he would want to become the captain and wear his favourite No.7 shirt.

Ronaldo also claimed he would want a guarantee that he would always be the club’s highest paid player.

His future at the Bernabeu has become uncertain in recent months.

United finally sold him to the Spanish giants in the summer of 2009 after years of speculation linking him to Real. But in two seasons, Madrid have been second best to bitter rivals Barcelona.

Ronaldo scored 53 goals last season – including the winner against Barca in the Copa del Rey final last month.

But that remains the only trophy he has won in the all-white kit of his boyhood idols.

Reports in Spain suggest that Ronaldo has become ­disillusioned with the tactics of Jose Mourinho and that Real were ready to cash in for £150m.

Only City would be able to meet such a valuation – but club officials were quick to dismiss claims of a move for Ronaldo last month.

Real Madrid took the unprecedented step of ­announcing: “There is no substance in these reports whatsoever.”

Ronaldo, himself, has previously insisted that the only team he would play for in England is United.

He still keeps in contact with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and calls the Reds boss his “football father.”

Becoming a City player while Ferguson is still in charge at Old Trafford would be a massive step for the star to take.

However, the figures being mentioned would turn any player’s head.

It would cost City a staggering £250million just to meet Real’s asking price and Ronaldo’s basic wage.

But Sheikh Mansour has an estimated personal fortune of £20billion and his family has assets of almost £600billion.

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Woah. Don't know if it's true, but damn, something needs to be done about City!