The January transfer window

[King Binny]

Didnt Costa sign a new contract in the summer? whys he getting linked with everyone all of a sudden? also be arsed with loan signings

[article]Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has admitted that striker Diego Costa has a release clause set at €38m in his contract.

Costa is in red hot form for Los Rojiblancos and has scored 19 goals in 18 La Liga games so far this season. Such performances have brought him to the attention of a number of clubs, especially in England.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dubbed Costa "an animal" and predicted he will soon be in the shake-up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, while Manchester United manager David Moyes has also been linked with making a move for the Brazil-born marksman.

Liverpool tried to sign Costa in the summer, even lodging a bid for his services, but the striker opted to pen a new contract at the Vicente Calderon.

And Caminero has confirmed that deal contains a release clause.

"The player has a clause of the amount of €38m and the big English clubs know that", he told Spanish daily Marca.

"Costa is a grown up and he can take intelligent decisions", Caminero added.

Atletico Madrid are desperate to keep hold of Costa, at least in the current campaign where they are putting together a genuine La Liga title tilt, currently level on points with league leaders Barcelona.[/article]

 

[Hansern]

I dont think he'll leave in this window. Will be one of the players that loads of top clubs chase this summer mind.

 

[King Binny]

[article=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/01/napoli-bid-for-lyon-captain-rejected/?utm_source=forzaitalianfootball-twitter&utm_medium=twitter]Napoli have had their bid for Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons rejected by Les Gones president Jean-Michel Aulas.

The 24-year-old had been linked with a move to the Partenopei for months but it appears as though the Azzurri will have to look elsewhere for a new midfielder.

“For Maxime the answer is no,” he told RMC Sport.

“He will 100% stay here. I just told [Aurelio] De Laurentiis who is a person I respect.

“The Partenopei had offered €15 million plus €2m in bonuses.”

Gonalons has made 17 league appearances for the French club this season.[/article]

 

[RedZeppelin III]

Liverpool have made Real Madrid a concrete offer for young forward Alvaro Morata, according to reports in Spanish newspaper Marca this morning

does this guy even play that often for them ? his name pops up alot but it's not as if he bags them in . Is his rep based on the spanish u21s?

 

[Buddha]

Interesting. He's a very different type of striker to Suarez/Sturridge, no?

 

[Mors]

He's good, I like him. A big lad, 6'3" or 6'4". Quite skillfull. Comes on quite regularly as a sub, but very rare he starts. I doubt they'd sell him, they're not flush for strikers.

 

[Buddha]

If Madrid were to sell they'd likely push for some kind of 1st option on Suarez clause.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

does this guy even play that often for them ? his name pops up alot but it's not as if he bags them in . Is his rep based on the spanish u21s?

I saw him quite a bit in the recent U21 tourney in Israel and I have to say, he was very impressive. Strong, confident, good on the ball and seems like a good finisher.

He's a pretty capable dribbler I must add - which means he'll find positions on the flanks to get the ball (i.e. suits our style of play).

Just wiki-ed his current league stats: 2 goals in 10 games (don't know how many starts, but assume most are subs).

The youtube clip:

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Source: Soccernet

1 start, 9 subs. He usually gets about 10 - 20 minutes coming on as a sub.

His stats for last season when he played for their B team in the Segunda was pretty impressive. 11 goals in 12 starts. His stats in the La Liga last season: 2 goals and an assist in 5 starts and 7 subs. I didn't know they could play the same player in their senior and B squads in the Segunda in the same season, but that's apparently what he did, playing a La Liga game one week, and a Segunda game the other.

Arsenal are rumoured to be working on a loan deal for him as well.

 

[Markeh]

why the fuck haven't we signed anyone yet!!!!

sorry I went on redcafe for a look, got carried away...

 

[ILD]

I really like Moratta. The fans seems to love him too. He reminded me a bit of a young Torres in the bits I have seen.

Any idea what the fee is? I'd be suprised if they sold him. They allowed Callejon (sp?) to leave for Napoli but presumed Moratta was going to be kept for their first team squad.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Any idea what the fee is? I'd be suprised if they sold him. They allowed Callejon (sp?) to leave for Napoli but presumed Moratta was going to be kept for their first team squad.

Moratta seems well ahead of Callejón's curve though (Callejón is 26 ... has had a great start to life in Serie A, 8 goals in 16 appearances) ... and I think he's mostly an attacking mid, while Morrata is a striker.

I'd be surprise if the fee isn't around the 8-10 million mark.

 

[jimmy]

I really like Moratta. The fans seems to love him too. He reminded me a bit of a young Torres in the bits I have seen.

Any idea what the fee is? I'd be suprised if they sold him. They allowed Callejon (sp?) to leave for Napoli but presumed Moratta was going to be kept for their first team squad.

I think Jese is ahead of him in Madrid.

Like LTW I saw him in the U21 Euro in the summer. He used to come on as sub and score. I was at the game against Germany when he cam on as sub and scored a very well taken goal.
I wouldn't mind having him, Isco and Iaramendi (sp.). W/o selling Suarez to them...

 

[keniget]

I'd be surprised if Madrid sold Morata.

 

[rurikbird]

Good young player. I am worried that Arsenal will get him; he would be perfect for them.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I'd be surprised if Madrid sold Morata.

We've gotten lucky recently with clubs selling us excellent young players on the fringe of the first team - Sturridge Coutinho etc

@jimmy raised an excellent point - they seem to be higher on Jese (who's a very good player too) ... Maybe we get lucky again

 

[rurikbird]

LFC target Sidney Sam just signed for Schalke. Quite unexpected, since Bayer has been doing much better than Schalke this year.

 

[tombrown]

If Madrid were to sell they'd likely push for some kind of 1st option on Suarez clause.

No problem. I would be quite happy with the lizards telling RM to f'k off before they repeat the message to other clubs

 

[Hansern]

Graham Hunter thinks Arsenal, Utd and ourselves are interested in Costa.
40 mill euros + 20% VAT.
Cant see us going for him or him leaving in January regardless

 

[Fox]

Graham Hunter thinks Arsenal, Utd and ourselves are interested in Costa.
40 mill euros + 20% VAT.
Cant see us going for him or him leaving in January regardless

Why would they sell costa. They are flying. Going nowhere.

 

[King Binny]

Linked with Caner Erkin again.

[article=http://www.turkish-football.com/news_read.php?id=5520]Fenerbahçe left-back Caner Erkin is being scouted by a number of Premier League clubs according to his agent Batur Altıparmak.

"A few Premier League clubs have been scouting Caner and a few are interested," Batur Altıparmak said speaking to Turkish-football.com.

"However, no offers have been made yet."

Liverpool have been closely monitoring Erkin as they continue their search to strengthen at left-back.

The Reds first choice left-back Jose Enrique underwent knee surgery recently and will be out until February.

Aly Cissokho is currently Liverpool's only senior left-back however, the on-loan fullback has come under fire for poor performances.

The Reds can enter direct talks with Erkin as he has yet to extend his contract which is set to expire at the end of the season.

Despite the interest Altıparmak underlines that Erkin is happy at Fenerbahçe and will hold talks with the Yellow Canaries before deciding on his future.

Altıparmak said, "Caner is happy at Fenerbahçe and will hold talks with the club first."

Erkin joined CSKA Moscow for €3 million aged 19 and later went onto play for Galatasaray on loan after which he joined Fenerbahçe on a permanent move for €3 million in 2010.

The Turkish international is a versatile left-back who can also play on the left-wing in attacking roles.

Erkin has provided the highest number of assists in the Super League (9) this season and also has two goals including a candidate for goal of the season.

The 25-year-old lifted the Turkish Cup for the second year running and played an important role in Fenerbahçe reaching the Europa League semi-finals last season.[/article]

 

[Mystic]

If we ditched Moses and got Costa, we'd be in with a real chance of winning the league, never going to happen unfortunately.

 

[Skullflower]

i'd sell studge if we could get costa.

 

[hmmmmm1]

Costa could make us champions this year

 

[doctor_mac]

Why would they sell costa. They are flying. Going nowhere.

He has a release clause. Quiffer.

 

[Hansern]

Caner Erkin has a ponytail. And for that reason I'm out. Got no idea if he's decent or not.

 

[rurikbird]

index.php?threads/caner-erkin.8350/#post-328929

 

[rurikbird]

Xabi Alonso has signed a 2-year contract extension with Madrid….

 

[Modo]

Xabi Alonso has signed a 2-year contract extension with Madrid….

unexpected

 

[Red Bird]

unexpected

Really? I always thought he was never going to leave Spain, certainly not for England. This was a classic contract negotiation.