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Will.I.An

No-one has a fucking clue what's going on...complete guesswork.

The player himself probably doesn't know either.
 


André Villas-Boas has denied reports that Tottenham have bid for Willian, a player who Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal for, although he concedes he is a fan of the Anzhi Makhachkala forward.
Tottenham have spent almost £60m on signings this summer but Villas-Boas is still looking for additions to his squad as he looks to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
The Tottenham manager was interested in signing Willian when he was at Shakhtar Donetsk last season and the Portuguese was also linked with the Brazilian when he was in charge of Chelsea.
Anzhi's owner, Suleiman Kerimov, is looking to sell most of the club's highly paid personnel in order to shrink their vast wage budget.
At a press conference to announce Tottenham's support for the NHS campaign "Get to know cancer", Villas-Boas was asked whether he had made a bid for the 25-year-old former Shakhtar player.
"No, no," he replied.
When asked whether he admired the player, the Tottenham manager said: "Yes. This is a player who I have spoken about in the past, not very long ago. He is a player who I appreciate. He belongs to them and I respect them so I wouldn't like to extend myself too much."
Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal with Anzhi, moreover, but they know the player has other options and are cautious having missed out on several expensive targets this summer.
Aly Cissokho is underwent a medical on Merseyside on Monday to cement his season-long loan move to Liverpool, however. A deal for the French left-back – a loan with a view to a permanent £5m transfer next summer – was agreed with Valencia at the end of last week.
Tottenham broke their transfer record twice, to sign Paulinho and then Roberto Soldado, this summer, while Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue have also joined in the past few weeks.
Yet it was clear from Sunday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, which came courtesy of a Soldado penalty, that the team are far from the finished article. They are light in defence after the sale of Steven Caulker and Villas-Boas concedes there is a good chance of at least one more player arriving before 2 September.
"We haven't finished," the 35-year-old said. "We have a very, very good squad. We have done most of our activity in the market, but we are looking further on that. There is a possibility [of new signings], yes."
Despite the host of new arrivals on show in at Selhurst Park on Sunday, the one question Spurs fans want clearing up is whether Gareth Bale will be at White Hart Lane after September.
Real Madrid are willing to break the world transfer record to sign the 24-year-old Welshman but talks appear to have reached an impasse.
Bale wants to leave for the Spanish capital, but when asked whether he thought the forward, who has been out with a foot injury, had played his last game for them, Villas-Boas said: "No. Not at the moment.
"He is a player who has had a clearing session [a light training session] today. Hopefully if everything goes well the player will be involved and I can give you further news in the future."
Bale will not travel with Spurs to Georgia on Tuesday for the club's Europa League play-off with Dinamo Tbilisi on Thursday. "He is in our Europa League squad, but he is not available [for Thursday's game] because he is injured," Villas-Boas added.


http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/19/tottenham-hotspur-willian

 
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Willian should reject Liverpool and sign for potential title contenders Tottenham

19 Aug 2013 17:33
Darren Lewis, despite being a Liverpool fan, reckons that the Brazilian should choose White Hart Lane over Anfield
Willian-1288680
Wanted: Liverpool and Spurs are both keen on Willian, but where will he choose?
Getty
A month ago he was marooned in Russia when he would rather be here in the Premier League.
Now Willian has a choice to make - Does he fancy a move to Spurs or Liverpool?
Don't read too much into claims from Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas that a formal bid from the north Londoners hasn't gone in yet.
Anzhi simply want to get the big-earning player off their books. So the club are happy for Willian to get himself fixed up with someone else then they'll agree a fee with the outfit concerned.
Liverpool believed they were that club until as late as Sunday with Spurs briefing that they had pulled out of the running.
The Reds went on to agree terms with the Brazilian who by then was even talking publicly about how excited he was to go to a club of Liverpool's great standing.
Spurs, however, have come back in to give the 25-year-old Brazilian a real conundrum.
And it pains me - as a Liverpool fan - to say it but Willian would be mad not to choose Tottenham.

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London calling: Former Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian should choose Spurs over Liverpool
Getty


They are the club with the better chance of breaking back into the Champions League. They are the club bringing in the better quality players.
Liverpool are a massive club, steeped with history and tradition, yes. But the harsh reality of the here and now is that, in World Cup year, Spurs can offer Willian European football.
They can match anything Liverpool offer in terms of wages. And for all the promise of the Reds' opening day win over Stoke (they really were terrific), Liverpool are still hostages to one man.
Even if Luis Suarez - who hit 30 goals last season - does stay, an injury to the Uruguayan would be catastrophic. Daniel Sturridge is talented but has yet to prove that he can maintain his form over a season.
Jordan Henderson doesn't score that often and Iago Aspas has it all to prove at a higher level.
Compare that with Spurs who also have their own concerns about Gareth Bale.
Let's not kid ourselves. The 24-year-old winger looks all set for Real Madrid. It is simply a case of Spurs getting the time to bring in replacements.
But if the north Londoners get that part right, then in the most open title race for years who is to say that Tottenham wouldn't have an outside shot at the title?

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Hug talent: Spurs keeper Lloris is an outstanding keeper
Robert Cianflone


Right the way through the team there is already quality. Hugo Lloris is the French no.1 keeper. Jan Vertonghen would walk into any team in the top four.
Paulinho was one of the best players at the Conderations Cup, Nacer Chadli - who himself can play second striker - comes with Champions League experience.
If Tottenham lost Soldado they could turn to Jermain Defoe - a proven poacher. Whatever happens, they are going to bring in at least one more quality striker anyway. They simply have much better depth than Liverpool.
To help him settle in the Reds may have Willian's Brazilian countrymen Lucas and Coutinho in their ranks but Spurs have Paulinho and Sandro AND a manager who knows the player.
Villas Boas, who tried to sign Willian at Chelsea and in January for Spurs has remained in constant contact with him - despite his decision to move to Anzhi. The pair have a good relationship.
Willian would fit easily into either team formation. Assuming Luis Suarez stays at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers would have a rather tasty trio of Suarez on the left, Coutinho in the hole and Willian on the right - all interchanging.

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He's got Sol: Spurs' record signing got off the mark against Palace on Sunday
Jamie McDonald


In the Spurs team, with Roberto Soldado up front, Willian would either play just off the striker, with Nacer Chadli on the left and Aaron Lennon on the right.
Or Willian would move to the right and if, say Spurs brought in Christian Eriksen from Ajax or Adem Ljajjic from Fiorentina - both entering the final year of their contracts - to play in the hole.
Speaking earlier today, Villas Boas confirmed that the club are not finished with their transfer dealings (why would they be with so many good players available cut-price in the market?) and are looking at increasing their depth.
"We haven't finished." said the Spurs boss who also wants another defender and a left-back.
"We have a very good squad. We have done most of our activity in the market, but we are looking further."
Willian himself needs to look further. Liverpool are a magnificent club. An institution in this country. But the Champions League beckons if he chooses Tottenham.



Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/willian-should-reject-liverpool-transfer-2188661#ixzz2cRYB4Vxc
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@BrazilStats: BREAKING - Liverpool will this week announce the signing of Willian, according to Central da Bola. #LFC

Lets hope this is true!!
 
Anyone else think that we don't need this guy? I'd much rather we found a successor to Stevie with that money, especially with Luis returning next month.

I understand the concerns, but we only have an 18/17 yr olds as impact players once one of our key attackers is out - we need serious firepower for forward options - this guy will create chances, score goals and more importantly create space for others.
 
Pretty sure I saw his stats the other day, they weren't that impressive. Much prefer to get erikson (sp) than him. With Suarez, sturridge, coutinho, Aspas/sterling/ibe I think we have enough in that front 3-4.
 
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