With deadline day fast approaching, Premier League clubs are frantically scrambling for that final piece in that ever important jigsaw. Every man and his dog will linked to multi-million moves to the Etihad Stadium, Anfield et al but here are three transfers that we think will be getting the Sky-copter’s motor running and make Jim White spontaneously combust live on television in the minutes leading up to 11pm on Wednesday 31st August:
Luka Modric – from Tottenham to Chelsea
Yes, this is finally going to happen. The game of brinksmanship played by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will result in Chelsea shelling out well over the odds for the Croatia international. With the Blues failing to prise Raul Meireles from Liverpool and unprepared to splash out huge sums on Porto’s Joao Moutinho due to his unfamiliarity with English football, a £40m bid will be made and grudgingly accepted to enable everyone to save a bit of face and allow the sulking schemer to complete his ‘dream’ move. Spurs’ imminent acquisition of Scott Parker from West Ham will help soften the blow of the departing Modric with the transfer fee received from his sale also likely to be spent on other areas.
Eden Hazard – from Lille to Arsenal
Everyone has been having a pop at Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in recent weeks and the 8-2 spanking administered by Manchester United on the weekend has only increased the clamour. However, by the dawn of September ‘Le Professeur’ will have answered his critics’ call and spent what is technically known as ‘a shedload’ on Hazard to help plug the creative gap left by Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. Lille are holding out for £26m with Arsenal having only previously offered £33m but with the club having missed out on other targets for the sake of a few quid here and there – notably Manchester United new boy Phil Jones – Wenger is unlikely to make the same mistake again with the Belgian whizzkid. Lille have also signed Dimitri Payet from Saint Etienne and are on the verge of sealing the loan switch of Liverpool’s Joe Cole meaning cover for the 20-year-old is already in place.
Lassana Diarra – from Real Madrid to Tottenham
Another long drawn out transfer saga will be put to bed when Diarra finally puts pen to paper at White Hart Lane. The aforementioned signing of Scott Parker could possibly cast some doubt on the move though with Wilson Palacios destined to complete his move to Stoke, Modric Chelsea-bound and Jermaine Jenas linked with QPR, Harry Redknapp will be determined to add another body to his squad. Diarra has voiced his reluctance to leave the Santiago Bernabeu but with even new boy Fabio Coentrao now preferred in the France international’s preferred midfield slot by manager Jose Mourinho despite being a left back by trade, he is likely to accept a switch to London in a bid for regular first team football.
COMMENTS