Ahh, Sunday. A day on which I have woken up hungover more than any other. And the day in which the rumour mill goes into overdrive.
The Sunday papers get jealous of the drip-drip-drip of transfer speculation that their daily counterparts take part in and think ‘Oh yeah? Think you’re great at this stuff do you? Well, WHAT ABOUT THIS?!!’ as they publish some piece of news that’s certainly interesting but most unlikely to ever happen.
In a cunning piece of Murdochian cohesion both the Sunday Times and the News of the World are linking us with a move for Lyon’s Karim Benzema. The NOTW says:
The Gunners board will be prepared to fund a £30million fee for Lyon’s Benzema, 21, if Arsene Wenger opts to cash in on Emmanuel Adebayor.
While the Sunday Times says:
ARSENE WENGER is ready to go head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson for the signaure of Karim Benzema in the knowledge that the 21-year-old France striker would rather join Arsenal this summer than Manchester United.
If I had to rate the chances of this happening out of 10 I would give it its bus fare and tell it to fuck off. I’d love to be surprised, I suppose, but I just don’t see it.
The Times article also gives us an update on the Felipe Melo situation. They say Fiorentina want £21m, we’re saying ‘Woooh, hold your horses there. Here’s £39.99 and Philippe Senderos’ so at the moment things are at something of an impasse.
Now, the Sunday edition of the Daily Star is obviously trying to outdo its Monday-Saturday chums by suggesting we’re on the verge of ‘one of the transfer coups of the summer’ by signing Franck Ribery in a £40m deal. Just the other day Bayern Munich said Ribery wasn’t for sale at any price but £30m in cash and a £10m Nicklas Bendtner has apparently changed their minds. It’s a good job we used the £10m Nicklas Bendtner and not the £3m Nicklas Bendtner, eh?
Again that’s not one I’d be holding my breath for. Now, something with a little bit of reality to it comes with the news that AC Milan have had a conversation with us about Emmanuel Adebayor. The Italians still hope to sign Dzeko from Wolfsburg, but vice-president Adriano Galliani said:
I’ve spoken to Arsene Wenger and Adebayor was part of the conversation.
AG – “So, any problems with him? His attitude?”
AW – “No, none at all, honestly” *uncrosses fingers*
So it seems there’s something to it and as I’ve mentioned I’m told we’re prepared to let Adebayor go, so fingers crossed it happens sooner rather than later.
I’ve had a look around the Spanish papers and there’s nothing stirring there, which can only be a good thing.
Finally for today there’s a lengthy interview in the News of the World (although I suspect it may have been originally elsewhere) in which Robin van Persie talks about football, life, winning trophies at Arsenal and his ambition to be the best player in the world. Hey, for a time when I was younger I wanted to be Tarzan, these things pass. All the same it’s a relatively interesting read.
And on that swinging from a tree making a cool wailing sound note, I shall leave you to your Sunday. Have a good one.
