Summer Transfer Window 2013 (General)

[spud_gun]

Norwich have gazumped QPR to sign Gary Hooper

Bollocks.

I enjoyed winding up the Celtic fans in work yesterday.

'I see your top scorer last season has joined a first division English club'

'Yeah well he's no Henrik Larrson' was one of the baffling replies.

[Neil Young]

Ngee is brainless.

[Lee]

[Chazza]

David Luiz's future at Chelsea in doubt as Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola prepares £34.5m bid

Bayern Munich are understood to be considering a €40 million (£34.5 million) move for Chelsea’s David Luiz.

The European champions insisted this month that they had no interest in the 26-year-old who has been a long-term target of Barcelona.

But it is believed that Bayern’s new coach Pep Guardiola is now asking for a move for the Brazilian and contact was made over the weekend.

Chelsea have also denied that they have any plans to sell Luiz following claims that he could be a makeweight in a deal to sign Wayne Rooney from Manchester United and may not fit into the plans of new manager Jose Mourinho.

Luiz, who returned to training on Sunday having missed Chelsea’s tour to the Far East because of his participation in the Confederations Cup, is not pushing to leave.

However, if he is sold by Chelsea it is believed he would prefer to leave the Premier League and has no interest in playing for another English club.

Luiz signed for Chelsea in January 2011 from Benfica in a deal that amounted to £25 million – £21.5 million cash and midfielder Nemanja Matic moving in the other direction – and his swashbuckling style of play has divided opinion.

Luiz has become a fans’ favourite and also a first-choice at Chelsea where he has also been used in central midfield. He has even been talked about as a future Chelsea captain and signed a bumper new deal only last year to fend off rising interest in him. He has also become a key player for Brazil under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Barcelona are in the market for a central defender and were thwarted in their efforts to sign Luiz’s international team-mate Thiago Silva from Paris St-Germain.

It is understood that Barcelona would be Luiz’s preferred destination but he would not balk at the opportunity to join Bayern and work with Guardiola should Chelsea decide to sell.

If Bayern do offer €40 million — plus €5 million based on bonuses and targets being met – then it would be a tempting offer for Chelsea.

Mourinho has stated that there is “no chance” that he will sell Luiz. However, a deal could give him the opportunity to strengthen other areas of his team.
Mourinho has also spoken of the need to improve Luiz’s decision-making on the pitch and the player will have to be far more disciplined if he is to fit into the Portuguese’s plans.

Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer declared this month that the German club were not interested in signing Luiz this summer – and would not be adding to the squad. Bayern then bought Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

Bayern lost the German Super Cup 4-2 to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening in what was Guardiola’s first competitive match in charge.
Central defence has been identified as a relative weakness in what is a formidably strong Bayern side with Jerome Boateng regarded as vulnerable. There have been suggestions that with Thiago signing then Javi Martínez could drop back into the defence.

Mourinho has publicly declared that Rooney is his only transfer target – and that Chelsea could bid £30 million for the 27-year-old striker, who wants to join them, having had an initial offer of less than £25 million rejected by United.

However, Chelsea may have to bid higher for Rooney, with discussions having been held over an offer closer to £40 million, given that United insist the England international is not for sale this summer.

Mourinho may also want to add a holding midfielder to his team, especially if John Obi Mikel moves on, and he has considered a move for Xabi Alonso, who is currently injured, from his former club Real Madrid although Chelsea’s priorities this summer is to continue to buy young players – such as André Schürrle and Marco van Ginkel – and reduce the average age of their squad.
Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Brazilian under-20 defender Doria, an 18-year-old central defender with Botafogo.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10207666/David-Luizs-future-at-Chelsea-in-doubt-as-Bayern-Munich-coach-Pep-Guardiola-prepares-34.5m-bid.html

[Lee]

£34.5 million for Luiz.

Snap their hand off.

[Bender]

Newcastle are intensifying their efforts to secure QPR striker Loic Remy, 26, on a season-long loan deal after being deterred from a move for Lyon forward Bafetimbi Gomis by the French club's demands for a fee in excess of £6.9m for the 27-year-old.
Full story: Chronicle Live

[Gibbo]

Jenas to Hull City is word on the street

[Chazza]

That will help keep them up.

[Chazza]

Blimey...

BBC Sport @BBCSport
Cardiff City break their transfer record by signing defender Steven Caulker on a four-year deal from Tottenham for around £8m

[RichC]

Decent signing for Cardiff.

[Chazza]

Spurs must have a CB lined up then.

Alderweireld maybe?

[Fivex]

If they're genuinely getting £126m in their pockets from selling Bale then there's only one player they should go for.

Phil Jones.

[RichC]

Surely not nearly enough to get him in though?

[Shaggy]

MrBoywunder @MrBoywunder
If Tottenham were to sell Bale, that they will offer €35m to Roma for Erik Lamela. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

[Bender]

Tottenham without Bale imo hardly an attractive option,unless you fancy sight seeing in London