Mikk

This is a thread dedicated to who your team is being linked with over the summer months.

To start, here is the Sunderland rumored transfers and players we have been linked with so far:

Source: SAFC.com


The Times reports that Jussi Jaaskelainen is expected to complete a move to Sunderland from Bolton Wanderers for about £2m - he is already on our Rumour Mill list.

Blackburn defender Andy Todd is poised to follow in his father's footsteps by joining Premiership newcomers Sunderland, says the Daily Star and The Sun.


The list so far:
Neil Lennon (Celtic)
David Nugent (Preston)
Artur Boruc (Celtic)
Thomas Gravesen (Celtic)
Diego Forlan (Villarreal)
Michael Stewart (Hibernian)
Joey Barton (Manchester City)
Nicky Butt (Newcastle)
Sean Davis (Portsmouth)
Andy Cole (Portsmouth)
Ruud Knol (Vitesse Arnhem)
Theo Janssen (Vitesse Arnhem)
Robbie Fowler (Liverpool)
Julio Arca (Middlesbrough)
Paul McShane (West Brom)
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United)
Zat Knight (Fulham)
Craig Moore (Newcastle)
Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton)
Stuart Parnaby (Middlesbrough)
Gavin McCann (Aston Villa)
Michael Kightly (Wolves)
Russell Anderson (Aberdeen)
Sylvain Distin (Manchester City)
Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United)
Andy Todd (Blackburn)



If we could get Jussi then we would certainly have a strong keeper and some of those players on the list i would certainly welcome at Sunderland.




Now you go!

__________________

The Phantom

From ManUtd.com:

Never one to rest on his laurels, Sir Alex Ferguson is already working on strengthening his Premiership-winning squad for next season's campaign.

The United boss has openly admitted he is chasing three new recruits to boost his ranks, and the tabloids are in a frenzy of speculation as to who the targets are.

England midfielder Owen Hargreaves is widely expected to be the first new arrival, following Bayern Munich's confirmation that he will leave Germany in the near future.

The media expect a deal - rumoured to be in the vicinity of £17million - to be completed in the very near future. His expected arrival is set to spark a wave of newcomers, according to the tabloids.

A striker, a winger and a full-back are the other alleged targets, with the majority of rumours concerning potential new forwards and a host of top names being linked.

The Sun has tipped United to seal the shock free transfer of Mark Viduka from Middlesbrough, while other names being mentioned include Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Michael Owen (Newcastle) and Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham).

The least familiar name cropping up is that of Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves, who scored 34 goals in the Dutch League last season, while Portuguese starlet Nani and Welsh defender Gareth Bale continue to be linked with moves.

A glut of new arrivals would need room in the United squad, and several players have been tipped to leave Old Trafford this summer, with Mikael Silvestre, Gabriel Heinze, Kieran Richardson and Louis Saha all named as potential departures.

Crocker

I will put a list of managers linked with us

Cludio Raineri
Gordon Strachan
Martin O,Neill
Louis Van Gaal
Ronald Koeman
Frank Rijkard
Phil Le Guen
Fabio Capello
Crocker
Gerard Houllier
Sam Allerdyce
Kevin Keegan
Ruud Gullit
Gianluca Vialli

__________________

The Phantom

I wanna see Vialli back in the Prem managing!

Mikk

I hope Crocker gets it
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


And you can also add Sven to that list as its just been reported on Sky Sports News he is interested in the job.

__________________

Crocker

I forgot Sven, but please NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________

Dmac

Benitez's big challenge


To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Rafael Benitez was itching to start his summer spending after Liverpool's Champions League final defeat by AC Milan.

"We must spend big and spend now," the Reds boss told reporters following his side's 2-1 defeat in Athens.

"Our fans know what we need to do and so do I. We need to pay the price needed for each position."

The Athens defeat again highlighted Liverpool's desperate need for a world-class playmaker to create chances and a predatory striker to put them away.

Benitez will have a sizeable transfer fund this summer, courtesy of the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Definitely going: Robbie Fowler, Jerzy Dudek
Likely to leave: Bolo Zenden, Mark Gonzalez, Sami Hyypia, Craig Bellamy
Will listen to offers for: Peter Crouch, Harry Kewell, Jermaine Pennant
Linked with: Samuel Eto'o, Carlos Tevez, David Villa, Aaron Lennon, Fernando Torres, Daniel Alves

But former Liverpool striker Michael Robinson, now the leading football presenter on Spanish television, says this will not guarantee success.

"This summer will be very, very interesting for Rafa Benitez and Liverpool," Robinson told BBC Sport.

"He didn't have huge spending power at Valencia and hasn't had at Liverpool either so far. This will be the first time he has had a transfer budget to match those of the European elite and it will be fascinating to see what he does with it.

"To date, tactics have always been the star of Rafa's teams. He hasn't really dealt with star players before in his managerial career, apart from Steven Gerrard.

"He doesn't care for egos or players who can't fit into his structure. For example, he has always made it very clear to Gerrard that he must fit into the structure of the team and sometimes play out of position, if that's what he believes is best."

Liverpool have often lacked the spontaneity and improvisation to turn tight games this season. Yet Benitez has been wary of 'flair' players during his career, instead preferring discipline and stability.

His refusal to always select Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar at Valencia was a cause of friction with the club's board and he has mainly signed functional players during his time at Anfield.

He could cite a lack of substantial funds as the reason for this, although Robinson wonders whether such players fit in with Benitez's nature and footballing philosophy.

"Rafa is a very educated man who sees football tactically brilliantly," he said.

"Sometimes, for my own taste, he gets over-methodical with the tactics. Sometimes it seems to me he's sat in the dug-out with a remote control.

"The times I have enjoyed watching Liverpool play are when it seems the batteries are going low on the remote and the players do what they want.

"If you want entertainment from Rafa, you might be left wanting. But if you want to win and be extremely competitive, he's your man.

"He's won a European Cup and I don't think any other manager in the world could have done that with the same players."

What is beyond question is that there will be plenty of comings and goings at Anfield this summer.

Benitez has already cited the need for a prolific goalscorer. To make way, he has released Robbie Fowler, seems certain to sell Craig Bellamy and might also listen to offers for Peter Crouch.

Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Valencia's David Villa are rumoured to be top of Benitez's wanted list and Robinson is a firm admirer of two of La Liga's best players.

"Eto'o is an excellent all-round centre forward and a proven goalscorer," he commented. "He also makes an enormous difference to the general play of Barcelona, even forgetting his goals.

"Often we will praise Andres Iniesta, Deco or Xavi for a great pass but what we might not notice is the way Eto'o lost his marker and moved to open up the possibility of the pass.

"He is also fantastic at defending from the front, closing down and making it difficult for the opposition to get the ball out from the back."

Villa has emerged as one of the hottest properties in European football over the last two seasons.

"David Villa is simply a fantastic footballer," stated Robinson. "He would score goals in any league in Europe and the Spanish national team should be based around him. He's quick-witted, has a superb touch and is an instinctive goalscorer."

Benitez is also eager to sign top-class wide players after Mark Gonzalez, Bolo Zenden and Jermaine Pennant failed to grab their chances at Anfield.

He is a long-term admirer of Seville's outstanding right-sided Brazilian, Daniel Alves, and has also been strongly linked with Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Yet whoever Benitez lands, he will be unwilling to tolerate egos and his tactical genius is likely to remain the star of the Liverpool team.

Credit - BBC Sport

__________________

The Phantom

I think if there was any English club that could get Torres it would be Liverpool. Doubt they'll get Eto'o, although there is a lot of talk about the Reds going for him.

Mikk

I saw on TV, Liverpool may bid for Owen again as they have the money and it would be just up to Rafa if he wanted Owen back at Anfield.

__________________

God

Benitez doesnt have an unlimited amount of money so he can sign a max of three players from that list. He has a habit of spending big so imagine how much he''l spend now.

Dani Alves spends more time on the deck than on his feet. While he is good atm i dont think he'd adapt well to England.

Sammy Eto'o seems to want to stay at Barca now, and a player of his quality will attract the best clubs, Liverpool wont even be considered by him.

Carlos Tevez looks like leaving WHU but my guess would be to Spain where he would be lethal.

David Villa, Liverpool couldent afford him, only Chelsea can.

Aaron Lennon, dont think he is stupid enough to take the chance. He's doing great at Spurs why would he risk going to a team only two places higher where he wouldent even be guranteed starter.

Fernando Torres, i dont see £30m of quality in him but others do. He had a great season a few years ago but since then has been average at best. But, if he is moving, Liverpool would probably get him.

__________________