Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[Concrete John]

So let's get rid of all the shit ones before we think about Given!

[JUAN PABLO]

whos Bellamy-lite?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

sportinglife.com

Newcastle have made a bid for Ajax midfielder Vurnon Anita, according to the player's agent.

The 23-year-old has established himself as a key member of the Ajax side and helped Frank De Boer's side win the Dutch title this season.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew is believed to have watched Anita in action on several occasions and the player's representative, Harry Lulofs, claims Newcastle have tabled an offer to Ajax for the defensive midfielder.

Lulofs also revealed former Norwich boss Paul Lambert was keen on Anita and has hinted he could move for him now he has switched to Aston Villa.

"Ajax are very satisfied with the guy [Anita] and want to keep him, but Newcastle have been watching him for a long time and really want to sign him," Lulofs is quoted as saying in The People.

"This is the first offer Ajax have received for Vurnon and we'll soon see how they react."

"The only other Premier League club to get in touch was Norwich. Paul Lambert called me to ask about him.

"Now he has moved to Aston Villa so maybe they will be in touch. I don't know."

[JUAN PABLO]

Anita  can also play left back

[PaulWinch again]

I think replacing Given is way down the list of priorities at the moment. He can still perform at the top level and I've got no problem with him being our keeper next year.

[The Situation]

I thought Given was good last season. Made some big saves.

And not sure why people keep going on about his age when only last summer we let go a certain 40 year old goalkeeper who still plays like one of the best GK's in the league...

[TheSandman]

I think it's been said here before countless times, but Given is very much a highlights goalie. He pulls off the fantastic saves and that is enough for a lot of people to ignore his deficiencies. For example, his poor command of his area and back four. Friedel got some stick for this as well but Given is even worse at it. This is why the back fours he plays in front of can at times appear calamitous. I'm not saying he's a bad keeper, far from it, as finding a keeper who can do it all is very difficult. I'm just saying that he is not as good as some seem to think.

If you take that in combination with his recent fitness record and the contract offered to him it makes sense to sell him. I'm not saying he should be ran out of the club or that he's a bad player. Just that selling him makes sense and if QPR offered what we paid for him we should take it.

[Toronto Villa]

I'm of the position that as much as I like Given, was happy when we signed him, if the right offer comes along for a 36 year old then you sell. After Mark Hughes there likely won't be may suitors for Given, so if his form drops, or he does get injured, at his age it's generally a steep fall. I wouldn't sell for much less than we got him and if we could reinvest that money in someone younger, even paying a million or so more then it would be worth it. GK is one position where we don't really have an issue, but by the same token would be one of those positions if replaced where there would be minimal affect on our overall ability. In fact getting a Foster or equivalent for about the same price would keep us the same, possibly improve us.

[TheSandman]

And not sure why people keep going on about his age when only last summer we let go a certain 40 year old goalkeeper who still plays like one of the best GK's in the league...

Friedel is an anomaly. His fitness is legendary and he hasn't missed any of the last 300 league games his clubs have played in. Given has had a hip injury that has niggled him for the last two seasons. He is only going to miss more and more games. Four years left on his contract, probably on a massive wage. That doesn't make sense for the club.

[Steve R]

How Given played last season or how well he is likely to play next isn't the issue. We are committed to paying him a fair whack of money for the next four years. There is significant risk - especially for an injury prone player - that we will be paying a small fortune for him to sit on his arse for the last year or two of his contract.

If QPR are willing to pay up to take over that risk, I'd sell him.

I wouldn't be averse to letting given go and offering Guzan a contract at near enough his old terms (20k per week?). He's won't do better elsewhere and is a known quantity to us. I thought he finally looked a PL goalkeeper last season in the few games he got and was very unlucky to be dropped when Given came back from injury.

[OCD]

The point Sandman makes about Given not having a command of his box or of his defence really showed yesterday with Ireland falling deeper and deeper, with the third goal being a header from about 6 yards out. For another of the goals (I think it was the first), he was very slow to react.

Re: Guzan, his weakness always used to be with crosses but he had eradicated that. For me, the 2 Stoke games really highlighted the differences between Guzan and Given. Given looked like he was panicking every time they launched the ball into the box. Guzan was happy to come for crosses and took the ball cleanly. The defence looked a lot more comfortable to me in that run of games where Guzan played. Guzan is what, 25? We've really let him go at the wrong time. If we don't benefit, someone else will.

[nigel]

The point Sandman makes about Given not having a command of his box or of his defence really showed yesterday with Ireland falling deeper and deeper, with the third goal being a header from about 6 yards out. For another of the goals (I think it was the first), he was very slow to react.

Re: Guzan, his weakness always used to be with crosses but he had eradicated that. For me, the 2 Stoke games really highlighted the differences between Guzan and Given. Given looked like he was panicking every time they launched the ball into the box. Guzan was happy to come for crosses and took the ball cleanly. The defence looked a lot more comfortable to me in that run of games where Guzan played. Guzan is what, 25? We've really let him go at the wrong time. If we don't benefit, someone else will.

Agree

[Nirog72]

I thought his save against Warnock v Everton was world class.

[Steve67]

Given can go, I'm certain there are better deals out there for Villa.  Given can only head in one direction given his age.  Dunne to follow and if Ireland is to be sold, so be it.  He's a liability. Fresh blood needed and I fully trust Lambert to tinker with the squad. Get rid of the high earners and it might free up even more transfer funds.

[Karl Bridges]

An ITK on Twitter says that Whitingham is in talks over a return. Supposedly from the horses mouth.