Summer 2010 Transfer Talk / Unfounded Speculation

[packoman]

True.. but "this" is getting a bit old imo.

Time for change!

Amen to that, brother! :winkold:

[Ponky]

It's anyone's choice to be as skeptical or as gullible as they like. There's a dud peosting over at the 606 boards who claims to know an "MM" - same initials different bloke, supposedly high up in media circles - with some interesting stories, which I quite enjoy reading. Some of them are plausible some of them don't seem to be but in the end it's up to me whether or not I lose any sleep over them.

[LewisH]

Jeez chaps it's only a bit of piss taking, I look forward to MM's posts like the rest of you.

It's genuinely good to have someone who has more info than 'My cousin saw Huntelaar in an estate agents in Solihull'

[beasley14]

True.. but "this" is getting a bit old imo.

Time for change!

don't like change I don't...... :winkold:

Amen to that, brother :winkold:

Edit:Ah packoman ruined my joke.

[bannedfromHandV]

Jeez chaps it's only a bit of piss taking, I look forward to MM's posts like the rest of you.

It's genuinely good to have someone who has more info than 'My cousin saw Huntelaar in an estate agents in Solihull'

Which estate agents?

[Rob182]

Woo hoooooo it's catching!

[Reality]

He had a good reputation but joined Valencia wehn in a major crisis under Koeman and hasnt been same player

Aye, he had a fantastic reputation on Football Manager, before Valencia.

[Stevo985]

Don't justify yourself MM. Last summer your post right at the start of the window had about 4 of our signings on it, with 2 or 3 others that we were interested in (Distin for example)

[stewavfc]

Would just like to add my two pence worth MM. Your posts are always a welcome sight and add a little hope to our drawn out transfer windows! So when are we likely to sign Huntelaar and Witsel?!

[NorthEnder]

read the post wher mm said we werent in for dunne, and suprised at how many people at the time were dead against us signing dunner, and seemed so pleased when they thought we werent in for him

[Wainy316]

read the post wher mm said we werent in for dunne, and suprised at how many people at the time were dead against us signing dunner, and seemed so pleased when they thought we werent in for him

Shows how well positioned we are to judge other teams players that we don't see week in week out.

[DANVANDAL]

As Bjork would say this is pretty quiet on the transfer front!!!

In's and Out's

[BOF]

I'm looking forward to the violent happiness.

[VillaN.I]

So is there a list of this summers possible signings MysteryMan?

Always like to see your posts.

[Brumerican]

We could end up with half the Ireland team by the sounds of it. Dunne, Ireland, Keane, Doyle and McGeady ... who says O'Neill doesn't buy foreigners !

[Stevo985]

Be just like the days of McGrath, Staunton, Townsend, Houghton and Farrelly

[DANVANDAL]

We're already the England squad team, why not the Ireland one as well.

Maybe Trappatoni can get a seat next to Cappello?

[Dante_Lockhart]

My mate just told me that his 'source' told him that Paulo Ferreira is on his way to us for £4million and a 3 year contract

I told him to behave.

[BOF]

My mate just told me that his 'source' told him that Paulo Ferreira is on his way to us for £4million and a 3 year contract

I told him to behave.

On his way to us WITH £4m maybe. One of the few RB's in the league who would be a step down from Beye.

[theboyangel]

clicky

Reports in Croatia suggest Aston Villa are closing in on Croatian duo Anas Sharbini and Mario Mandzukic in a double transfer coup. Here is our rundown on attacking midfielder Sharbini dubbed the ‘New Boban’.

The latest Croat star to be linked with a move to the Premier League is 23-year-old Hadjuk Split midfield star Anas Sharbini. Celtic reportedly made a tentative enquiry two seasons ago and Liverpool were strongly linked in the Croatian press last summer but it is Aston Villa who look set to sign the talented player. Sharbini moved to Hadjuk Split last summer from Rijeka after scoring a hat-trick for his old club on the opening day of the season. The attacking midfielder had an excellent scoring record for his first club Rijeka but has found things more difficult since his move. This has not deterred Martin O’Neill who sees the Croat as the ideal cheap replacement for James Milner if he does secure a move to Manchester City.

Last season Sharbini made 22 league appearances for the club (19 starts) and scored 3 goals, two of which were penalties. Hadjuk would like to keep him but Villa’s financial backing may be too much for the Croatian club to resist despite finishing runner-up to Dinamo Zagreb last season. The player was played in a more withdrawn role last season which explains why the goals dried up. If O’Neill does bring the player to Villa Park he is sure to play in a more advanced attacking role where he has built a reputation as the Croatian Frank Lampard.

Sharbini’s talent was brought to public attention in the 2007/08 season after a superb campaign in which the attacking midfielder scored 11 goals in 28 League appearances (27 starts). This superb form led to a call up to the Croatian national squad as a reserve in case of injuries for Euro 2008. He’s yet to play for his country at full international level but that’s no surprise with the likes of Spurs pairing Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar ahead of him. Villa are resigned to losing Milner which will give the club the funds to bring in some much needed goal scoring talent and Sharbini fits the Aston Villa bill perfectly.

The young star enjoyed another excellent season in 2008/09 with a further 14 League goals in 27 League appearances. Sharbini’s goal tally was only bettered by two other players that season. The talented star started the 2009/10 season for Rijeka in sensational style with a hat-trick in the club’s opening league match and a further strike in their Europa League qualifying defeat to Ukrainian outfit Metalist before moving to Hadjuk Split. The player has been tracked by Aston Villa for some time but once Milner’s future is confirmed, Martin O’Neill is expected to make his move. Even if Milner is not sold, Villa may still look to bring in the Croat as the current squad is relatively small and for £4m, Sharbini is relatively inexpensive.

Sharbini is a technically gifted, quick, two-footed playmaker and could prove a bargain buy for Martin O’Neill as he aims to add to the creativity of his Villans side. The club are looking to strengthen their midfield options with more attacking players to build on a strong 2009/10 season which ultimately ended with defeat in both cups and failure to compete with big spending Spurs and Man City for 4th spot. With Steven Sidwell and Nigel Reo-Coker both expected to depart Villa Park, new recruits are definitely needed and Sharbini fits both the requirement for quality and price.

The Croatian star’s father was born in Damascus but moved to Rijeka in the 1980’s, therefore Sharbini could have opted for Syria at international level but instead chose the country of his and his mother’s birth. At 5 ft 11 he is not as lightweight as compatriot Luka Modric so may settle quicker in terms of the physical nature of British football. He is also renowned for his set-piece capabilities and has been tagged the ‘new Boban’ by the Croatian press which is high praise indeed. He would add a further goal threat to Aston Villa’s midfield as either a replacement for Milner or a player to compete with for a starting place at Villa Park.

How many posts before someone says 'but he's foreign and MON don't....... etc etc'????

Know nothing about either Shabani (although heard the name) or Mandzukic - any ideas what position he is?

**edit** here's the bumf on Mandzukic (a striker!!!) clicky

Reports in Croatia suggest Aston Villa are closing in on Croatian duo Anas Sharbini and Mario Mandzukic in a double transfer coup. Here is our rundown on striker Mandzukic who has hit double figures for league goals in each of the last four seasons.

Interest is growing in one of Croatia’s brightest young talents Mario Mandzukic but it is Aston Villa who are currently leading the queue. The Dinamo Zagreb striker was expected to move to Werder Bremen last summer but reports in the German and Croatian media suggested the deal fell through due to the player’s price-tag. However, the player is pushing for a move and Villa will have the funds if James Milner is sold to Manchester City. Martin O’Neill is also expected to sell the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker, Emile Heskey, Nicky Shorey and Steven Sidwell which will also boost the transfer kitty further.

The player’s agent Ivan Cvjetkovic has confirmed that the player wants out. He told German newspaper Bild, “We have told Dinamo that Mario wants to leave the club.”

Interest in England and in particular Aston Villa has been growing and the player revealed his ambition when he declared, “My goal is to join a strong club where I will continue to progress.”

Aston Villa are not the only club to have shown an interest as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is a keen admirer although he is unlikely to make a bid following the capture of Marouane Chamakh.

Mandzukic finished as 4th top goal scorer in the Croatian league last season following 14 goals in 24 league appearances (all starts). This haul didn’t include any penalties and explains why he is so highly-rated in his homeland and now Europe. The previous season the Aston Villa target finished as top scorer with 16 goals in 28 league appearances (27 starts). He has started this season in the same vein with two goals in a 5-1 Champions League qualifying win over FC Koper this week. Aston Villa scouts were in attendance and could not have failed to be impressed with the big target man’s contribution.

The 24-year-old joined Dinamo in the summer of 2007 as a replacement for Arsenal bound Eduardo da Silva and has been a big success after scoring 42 goals in 81 league appearances (75 starts) for the current Croatian champions. He is seen as the ideal man to compliment the Aston Villa attack with his quality link-up player coupled with a great work-rate and physicality. John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor enjoyed impressive seasons but Mandzukic can play in both of their roles as well as wide or in the hole. Therefore, his signing would give Martin O’Neill a host of attacking options.

The 6 ft 1 striker was born in Slavonski Brod but started his career with German outfit Ditzingen before returning to his homeland to join NK Marsonia. Mandzukic did not feature in the first team before leaving to join NK Zagreb. In two seasons with the club, the tall striker scored 14 league goals in 51 appearances before Dinamo made their 1.3 million Euro move.

Mandzukic has proven to be a huge success as Dinamo have won back to back league and cup doubles in his first two seasons with the club followed by his third title success last season. Having dominated the Croatian league, the Dinamo Zagreb striker is now looking to depart with Aston Villa looking the likeliest of options. Martin O’Neill is facing a very difficult summer in keeping his best players and recruiting new stars but after last season’s bitter disappointments, Villa are aiming to significantly strengthen. Mandzukic is renowned as an excellent finisher who is sharp in the box and is a regular member of the Croatian international squad.

The 24-year-old has only scored once in 13 international appearances and that goal came against England in the 4-1 home qualifying defeat back in September 2008. He’d been on the pitch just 6 minutes when he scored.

Man City were linked with the striker when Sven Goran Eriksson was in charge but it would seem that Villa Park will be the player’s next destination. He could prove to be the perfect foil for Gabriel Agbonlahor in a typical big man, small man pairing but he is also capable of playing the lone striker role or playing off a player like John Carew to good effect. His fee is expected to be in the region of £10m but with the financials constraints around Europe, a £8m offer may well be enough to bring Mandzukic to Aston Villa.