re: 2012/13 Winter Transfer Rumor Thread

This is interesting.

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Manchester City and Real Madrid striker Neymar got on the scoresheet 15 minutes from time.

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Looks as though ESPN is slipping out some insider information on Neymar's move.

Looks like City and Real Madrid will be sharing him. Possibly like divorced parents? One week here, one week there?

there are some rumors on bayern boards that david villa is a target, but i hold 0 weight in those claims at this point.

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interesting read on De Rossi's situation at Roma.

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A bit in this article is overblown. However, it's true that De Rossi doesn't seem convinced with the move to intermedio.

It's abundantly clear that DDR doesn't want to leave Roma however the real wildcard in this situation is probably PSG more than Man City for one reason, Marco Verratti.

Verratti is tailor made for the regista role in Zeman's attack where he flourished at Pescara. As angry as many fans would over the club selling DDR, if cash plus Verratti came in return I could easily see Baldini/Sabatini thinking it made a lot of sense for the youth movement.

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I was hoping you'd see that post eventually. Didn't PSG just buy Verratti? Would they swap him that quickly?

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Yeah, they just bought him this summer.

I'm really just speculating based on PSG's interest this summer in DDR coupled with the fact that Roma/Zeman wanted Verratti badly but couldn't match PSG's offer.

Ancellotti certainly seems to think Verratti's going to be a star sooner rather than later as he's about the last manager you'd expect to be throwing 19yo kids out in CL group matches but DDR would potentially offer more in the short term.

With Ibra, Silva etc, PSG has to have aspirations of competing for the CL title in the next couple of seasons and a DM with DDR's ability is a harder piece to find than a world class striker etc for a serious CL title contender.

One catch for PSG is that they've touted Verratti as the example that they're not just trying to buy up superstars in their prime but also world class youth.


I still think DDR stays at Roma but the only reason it may be a possibility is that DDR/Baldini save face with the fans since the deal could well be seen as a positive for Roma.

It's really what most speculation missed in the Man City saga this summer. Roma isn't desperate to sell anybody just to get an influx of cash or even buy more youth projects (the primavera is loaded with young talent) so any deal has to have first team ready players coming in that promise to improve the team (like Borini/Destro).

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How is Pescara looking in Serie A this year? Losing the Zeman, Verratti, Insigne and Immobile has to have hurt a lot...

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They actually still play pretty open and they do have some other good young talent but nothing like what they lost. .
Their GK Mattia Perin may end up being the heir to Buffon.

However, it'll still be a struggle for them to stay up. It would have been fun to see them keep that team together for at least one season in Serie A.

That article (if Google Translate is any good at all) doesn't seem to correctly relate our position. We can certainly afford him. Don't see exactly why Man City need him. Spurs seem logical, but as that article points out, they aren't the most exciting option for him.

I'd be fine with the signing, but I don't really see him fitting our style, but who knows. Would think Jovetic would be a better fit for us, especially since we already have a bigger striker in Giroud (though Llorente is definitely more of an aerial threat and a bigger presence). Wouldn't make much sense to carry two big strikers who need game time in a one striker formation. Buying a more versatile player seems more likely for Arsenal.

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Jovetic


Interested to see where he ends up... love this guy

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I hope he ends up at Fiorentina.

They've made some great offseason moves, the owners seem to have made an increased financial commitment including plans for a new stadium and I feel Montella is going to be a top notch manager.

I'd really hate to see him leave to join a brigade of 6 other world class strikers somewhere else.

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Is Arsenal really looking to unload Johan Djourou

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Yea he is our 4th choice center back and isn't getting playing time. He is really not a that bad of a defender. A couple years ago he played really well for us when he had a run in the team due to injury.

Would love to see Jovetic at Arsenal.

Not really sure why Llorente would go to City when they are trying to offload strikers. I guess Tottenham is an option but I don't see them laying down the cash when they just spent a decent amount on Adebayor.