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

[pedro25]

Bugger that will be Bowery and Stephens then I guess, i was hoping for a bit more on top of that to be honest.

[olaftab]

That's Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves!

[MalcolmP]

Mirror Journo James Nursey has tweeted saying that we will sign a striker and a defensive midfielder before transfer deadline.

I hope defensive is wrong and he means creative/attacking! and I hope the striker is not the one from Chesterfield with a strike rate worse than Heskey!

[hartman_1982]

Essien on loan?

[Shrek]

Defensive.. Frimpong? Especially after his tweet?

[mr underhill]

 there will be lots of unhappy campers if bowery is it as far as our forward investment goes

[supertom]

Ryan Babel is, how a Liverpool friend constantly described him, Bambi on ice. If Hoffenheim are offering him around cut price, like he's tat at a market stall, then I'd suggest he's not developed any further since leaving Liverpool. I remember thinking he was really good at the U-21 tournement too. In fact I was a little jealous we were "stuck" with Ash Young while Babel look a better player. As it transpired the following season Ash was one of the best wingers in the league and the rest is history.
Babel also has a shitty attitude by a few accounts. It was one thing that eventually alienated him with Rafa. Avoid. Again, I've said it before, I'd rather steer clear of Liverpool cast offs. Granted he's a been elsewhere since, but you can't help but feel he's still a Kop cast off.

[ktvillan]

Knock down that monstrosity on Witton Lane and put the World Cup stand back.

I was at the three World Cup games but at the Holte End.  Does anyone have photos of the World Cup stand because when my mind drifts back to Beckenbauer, Rattin etc gracing our turf I think of the old open standing area.  We had a stand?

I think you may be confusing the Witton Lane Stand with the Witton End. 

[hartman_1982]

there will be lots of unhappy campers if bowery is it as far as our forward investment goes

He wont be.

[AvFc4eVeR]

Ryan Babel is, how a Liverpool friend constantly described him, Bambi on ice. If Hoffenheim are offering him around cut price, like he's tat at a market stall, then I'd suggest he's not developed any further since leaving Liverpool. I remember thinking he was really good at the U-21 tournement too. In fact I was a little jealous we were "stuck" with Ash Young while Babel look a better player. As it transpired the following season Ash was one of the best wingers in the league and the rest is history.
Babel also has a shitty attitude by a few accounts. It was one thing that eventually alienated him with Rafa. Avoid. Again, I've said it before, I'd rather steer clear of Liverpool cast offs. Granted he's a been elsewhere since, but you can't help but feel he's still a Kop cast off.

Now going to Fiorentina according to sky;

Hoffenheim forward Ryan Babel is in talks with Fiorentina over a potential loan move, coach Markus Babbel has confirmed, while Olympiakos are also thought to be interested.

[supertom]

I guess the Bowery thing is something seperate to our main striker hunt. It's not gonna be a case of Beneke/Zarate, Or Bowery. We're clearly searching for a more known option than a league 2 forward, but obviously dealing with better clubs means sometimes they can afford to hold out for a bigger offer. Chesterfield will snatch our hand off at 500k.

Ideally we'll get one of Beneke or Zarate, as well as Bowery. I wouldn't expect Bowery to feature much, if at all, this season. He'll develop in the reserves. If we can't get a deal done for one of the more established, then it won't be for the want of trying. Clearly these things take time. Look at Bennett, we were linked a couple of months back and it seems like we've taken the long road to get there. Be that looking at various options or trying to agree a fee, or raising funds, I don't know.
If we have to wait till january for a quality forward, so be it.

[Monty]

I'm still hopeful about Benteke. He clearly wants to join and Genk are being slightly insane about the amount of money. However, I do question the logic of looking this late in the window - maybe Randy has made funds available following our poor start? In which case, it's another incompetent balls-up by the chairman I'm afraid.

[not3bad]

there will be lots of unhappy campers if bowery is it as far as our forward investment goes

He wont be.

From what I gather Villa want Benteke and Benteke wants to come to Villa so it's just haggling over the price now.

[Rick_avfc]

Bugger that will be Bowery and Stephens then I guess, i was hoping for a bit more on top of that to be honest.

I think Bowery is one for the future so i dont think he is a main target in terms of first team action.
I think Benteke and a DCM will be what Nursey is reffering to.  Id take Frimpong as he is quality but i doubt he will be coming despite what he tweeted yesterday.

I still wouldnt mind seeing Andy Carroll signing for us.

[AvFc4eVeR]

Maybe we should offer Genk a sell on clause on Benteke, then if he is as good as they think he is they will benefit long term.