Transfer Talk - More from the rumour mill
Who? - Lionel Messi - Speculation Where is he? - Barcelona Who is he linked with? - Chelsea
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly on the verge of offering 80million for Lionel Messi in his continuing bid to inspire his side to play attacking football. The Barcelona superstar has been a long-time target for the Blues and it is thought only an offer of such magnitude would lure him from the Nou Camp. "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him," a source told the News of the World. "He has always wanted that type of player. Under Jose Mourinho he accepted the football because it was bringing in the trophies but he got bored. [Avram] Grant wants to change things but has explained it takes time and a lot of money to alter the style. Now is the time for Roman to finance that change. Chelsea are attractive because of the wages on offer and they are in the Champions League Final." Should the move go ahead, it would shatter the previous world record for a transfer fee, which is the 48million which Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Who? - Niko Kranjcar - Speculation Where is he? - Portsmouth Who is he linked with? - Arsenal
The father of Portsmouth star Niko Kranjcar has revealed Arsene Wenger is a fan of his son and may try to sign him in the summer. Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini's futures at Arsenal are currently uncertain and the Croatian star is considered a possible replacement by Wenger. "Wenger likes players with a sense of the game," Zlatko Kranjcar told Croatian TV station Index. "Arsenal plays creative football and Wenger recognises this in Niko and he would be a logical replacement for Hleb. Wenger was interested in Niko in the Croatian League and he has tracked him for sometime."
Who? - Players - Speculation Where is he? - Anywhere Who is he linked with? - Sunderland
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has said he will take his time when deciding who to buy in the transfer window. Keane is expected to be handed a 50million transfer kitty by chairman Niall Quinn, but does not want to rush in after struggling in the market last time round. I won't make the same mistake I did last year by getting bogged down by transfer targets just yet," he said. "I think most transfer business will not be done for another month or two, because the European Championships are on this summer. One or two of our targets may be involved, and anyone in that tournament will be wanting to wait until it is over before making any decisions about their future. Last summer I tried to do a lot of deals soon after the season had ended and it just didn't happen. We have already set the ball rolling, but it's not a case of making 50 or 60 phone calls every day. Even when you agree fees, you still have personal terms to sort out and medicals and what have you."
