The Rivals: Odds slashed on Ribery joining Liverpool

Odds slashed on Ribery joining Liverpool - Daily Mirror
SkyBet are among a number of bookmakers to slash their odds on the Bayern Munich midfielder joining Liverpool. Bookmakers were forced to cut their price from 66/1 to 8-13 on in the wake of huge interest last night.

Gary Jacob's verdict: Seems incredibly bizarre because of Liverpool’s lack of financial muscle, the price Bayern want for the winger and Ribery's preferred destination of Real Madrid. Liverpool would need to sell at least three players, including Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, to fund the move. Rating: 1/10

City D-Day for Eto'o - The Sun
Manchester City have given Barcelona a weekend deadline over the deal to bring Samuel Eto'o to Eastlands, which would make the Cameroon striker the best-paid player in English football.

Gary's verdict: It’s nothing to do with Barcelona, who are willing to sell. Bottom line is that the forward does not want to move to City, so he is ether looking for the Catalan team to improve their offer or he will try and find another Champions League team. Barcelona want him to sign or cash in, because he has one year left on his contract. 4/10

City bank on Terry swoop - Daily Mirror
Mark Hughes is increasingly confident of tempting the England captain away from Stamford Bridge despite Chelsea's offer of a new contract which would make the 28-year-old their highest-paid player.

Gary's verdict: Don’t be surprised if Terry signs an improved contract at Chelsea, using City’s interest as a lever. But if only Chelsea had the guts to pull the rug from under him and take the £40 million on offer. 5/10

Barca in new bid for Cesc - The Sun
Barcelona have stepped up their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal midfielder, after club president Joan Laporta claimed signing the £40m-rated Spaniard is high on their agenda this summer.

Gary's verdict: Even if Arsenal agreed to let Fabregas leave, it would not be for another year to give them time to consider options to replace him. There is always one on-going transfer saga, remember Patrick Vieira and Ronaldo flirting with Real Madrid only to stay in England? Eventually Arsenal and Manchester United said yes when it was in their interest. Fabregas will go next summer. 3/10

Bruce told to up £12m bid for Bent - Daily Mirror
The Sunderland manager has made a club record £12m bid for Darren Bent - but Tottenham are holding out for £16m.

Gary's verdict: As of a few weeks ago, Bent didn’t want to go to Sunderland and was hoping that Everton or Aston Villa would come in for him, both of whom are unwilling to spend more than £8 million on the forward. Tottenham always want to recoup the money they paid for a player, but maybe they should cut their losses on Bent. 6/10

Potteries of Gold - Daily Mirror
Stoke are willing pay a club-record £10m for Stephane M'bia, the Rennes midfielder.

Gary's verdict: The player, previously linked with Everton, wants to move to Marseilles. M'bia's desperation, or that of his agents, to link himself with English clubs each summer is tiresome. 2/10

Delph the top target for O'Neill - Daily Mail
The Leeds United midfielder has emerged as the Aston Villa manager's top target but he will face competition from Everton.

Gary's verdict: Linked with Fulham in January and will probably leave Elland Road this summer if a sizeable bid is forthcoming. 7/10

Comments

[j1rag]

Is one of the bookmakers offering a 'double or quits' deal to anyone who bet on liverpool winning the title last season?
i cant think of many other reasons for this surge of interest on what's one of the most ludicrous transfer stories since Man Utd signed that old has-been Owen...

[owlfella]

I hope Fabrigas goes this summer and he might learn some manners and maybe stop spitting as well!

[owlfella]

It takes time to make a team, not money. Sir Alex Furguson knows how, so make a note of that Mark Hughes.Getting John Terry will not guarantee success, anyway he's getting on now. There will be someone younger and probably better!

[Hammond Dee]

At this rate football will loose its salt and flair because of extreme desires. Big pity for the fans of smaller clubs HD Nigeria

[les]

Why do I find this position of "Chelsea for ever" John Terry so amusing. There seems to be a contradiction in his stated love of his club and his threat (by silence) of moving on to Man City.

Is it just a posture before negotiating a pay increase, or, as he seems to suggest, the need for assurances of Chelsea's near future ambitions? Seems a strange question to ask at a club which has won 2 of the last 5 EPL titles and in the top 3 every other year, been into the final or semis of the Champions League every year ( a record which, with a little bit of luck,and more skill by Terry, could have been even better)and won a few cups en route.
From his point of view, I marvel at an increasingly injury prone player approaching 30 having any problems making a decision if titles are what he truly seeks. Chelsea are still more likely to provide them than Man City.

From Chelsea's point of view, £35-40m for a player who is still good but certainly past his best is a very attractive offer. Maybe this 'Mr Chelsea' tag is something the club and new manager are better off without?

[Ham Dee]

Hood alone does not make a monk. Football managment is about skills and creativity not money bag .Wenger will be my witness though I do not admire his present judgments at Arsenal. HD

[Hilton]

£40m for Terry? What a total and utter waste of money. As is a weekly salary of £150,000. Who does Terry think he is?
He's not the player he once was (and even when he was, he wasn't THAT good).
City are still the massive joke they always were.
I hope they do sign him - it'd be hilarious for both City and Terry. 2 entities trying (and ultimately failing dismally) to punch above their weight.

[clive Gwilliam]

It makes me smile how people say money is not the route to success. Wake up and smell the coffee! Utd, Chelsea andLiverpool have all spent a fortune and have the highest wage bill - and that is why they are successful. Why do you think Real Madrid are spending so much? it seems strange how as soon as Man City start to spend it is everything that is bad. Jealousy is a terrible thing. Get over it!

[Phil Toronto]

Terry's employing the same MO as Lampard last year. It's a rouse to get more money but unlike Lampard who was near the end of his contract JT is in the middle of his. Betrays a complete lack of integrity and for that reason alone CFC should bite City's hand off if they offer anything over 30mil. We can still perm any 2 from Ricky C, Alex, Ivanovich, all of whom are as good (in RC's case better) than the Greedy One

[Jude Ujor]

To be honest, Chelsea should without further delay, sell Terry to City for that sum. These perennial demands and arm twisting for pay rise need to be checked by swiftly pulling the rug off the biggest culprit. Let him go and let us be!

[Katy]

I like John Terry I think he has nice legs

[daniel]

i dont think spending money is everything... Probably ManU, Chlsea, City or Real Madrid think so... but there are also other clubs with a little bit different philosophy like Sevilla, Arsenal or Barcelona... (yes, they expend but nothing compared with the previous) cause they prefer to use money in their basic divisions (soccer school). So, pretty different to create an Owen, Xavi o C. Ronaldo... than pay abnout 90 millions for this one for example.

[Ben]

People always insult United for spending large sums on players but of the large outlays only one has proved to be a genuine success. Wayne Rooney. All the other players at United that have previously been successful cost a great deal less.

Also I don't know what Lampard signed to Chelsea for or what Joe Cole signed for but I am sure it was not the kind of money that has been spent on big name failures. I think that Lampard and Joe Cole have consistantly been the most entertaining part of Chelsea over the last 5 years they are both great to watch. Gerrard at Liverpool is the same(and I am a United fan)Even Ronaldo was signed for a relatively low fee incomparison to the money that he generated from his sale. He was 12 million, that's what Tottenham paid for Bent.. No one is complaining about that transfer. What I am saying is the best Transfers are profitable for the club and have helped the club win tournaments, their value has increased as they have been viewed as an integral part of the team that won a tournment or did well in a tounrament or league. Those same players often transfer and achieve nothing.

So why is everyone talking about clubs buying leagues? It seems to me that good clubs buy cheaper
young quality players and then mould them into a strong team. Based on this expect the likes of Real and City to achieve nothing.

Star players become stars because of the clubs they play for. Star players coming to clubs usually fail to live up to their price tag. Berbatov and Veron hardly set the world on fire?

Basicly the league has gone insane. No one can actually buy success, City fans might think they can but even the billions at chelsea were not the reason for the clubs success, no it is astute smaller signings that build cup and league winning sides. Superstars are only useful for crashing their supercars.

[Robin]

I like JT's legs too. Esp the way he wears long socks so they look even better.