LONDON—After a lot of huffing and puffing in the Premier League transfer market this week, not a great deal has actually changed.
Fernando Torres looks more and more likely to remain at Liverpool, despite indications earlier in the week that Manchester City were prepared to smash the transfer record for the much sought after Spanish striker.
Adding to fans’ relief at Anfield, it appears that even Javier Mascherano may stay in Merseyside, as talks with Internazionale falter and new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson emphasizes that the Argentina captain is contracted to the club, according to The Guardian.
Liverpool have played their first competitive match of the season, a reassuring 2–0 away victory against Macedonian club Rabotnicki in the Europa League qualifiers. Two goals from David Ngog will have settled the nerves at Anfield after last seasons disappointing performance and a summer of transfer speculation, especially as the win came without 10 senior players who are still on World Cup breaks.
However, a deal for Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli is still on the cards, and should it go through the 19-year-old striker will join Jerome Boateng, David Silva, and Yaya Toure in City’s swelling ranks.
Also, World Cup star Robinho looks set to return to Manchester, as Brazilian club Santos, where he has been on loan, cannot afford City’s asking price. This may prove to be a mixed blessing, as there is a huge rift between player and club, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Macheda, still only 18, missed much of last season through injury, but is now fully fit and scored twice at the Reliant Sadium; Twenty-two-year-old Mexican international “Chicharito” Hernandez also got on the score sheet on his debut after appearing as a second half substitute.
Hernandez also scored in Manchester United’s final game of their tour, a 3–2 defeat to Chivas Guadalajara on Friday. However, Hernandez played one half for each side, having recently been signed from the Mexican club, and his goal actually came against his new employers!
In other news for the Red Devils, Rio Ferdinand remains injured and may not be available for selection until mid-September.
Despite maintaining recently that they would continue with caretaker manager Ray Lewington, Fulham announced on Wednesday the appointment of Mark Hughes for the managerial position.
Sacked by Manchester City eight months ago, Hughes will be keen to reestablish his credentials, and has immediately made known his designs on Craig Bellamy, the Eastlands striker whom Hughes signed first for Blackburn and later for City.
Fernando Torres looks more and more likely to remain at Liverpool, despite indications earlier in the week that Manchester City were prepared to smash the transfer record for the much sought after Spanish striker.
Adding to fans’ relief at Anfield, it appears that even Javier Mascherano may stay in Merseyside, as talks with Internazionale falter and new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson emphasizes that the Argentina captain is contracted to the club, according to The Guardian.
Liverpool have played their first competitive match of the season, a reassuring 2–0 away victory against Macedonian club Rabotnicki in the Europa League qualifiers. Two goals from David Ngog will have settled the nerves at Anfield after last seasons disappointing performance and a summer of transfer speculation, especially as the win came without 10 senior players who are still on World Cup breaks.
Man City Making Noise
Over at Eastlands, negotiations with Aston Villa concerning the future of James Milner have also stalled, with Manchester City’s summer spending spree seemingly not extending to the 30 million pounds the Birmingham club have demanded for the England international.However, a deal for Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli is still on the cards, and should it go through the 19-year-old striker will join Jerome Boateng, David Silva, and Yaya Toure in City’s swelling ranks.
Also, World Cup star Robinho looks set to return to Manchester, as Brazilian club Santos, where he has been on loan, cannot afford City’s asking price. This may prove to be a mixed blessing, as there is a huge rift between player and club, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Chicharito and the Red Devils
Manchester United are looking in good shape after defeating the MLS All-Stars in Houston 5–2 last Wednesday, and will be particularly pleased with the performance of Federico Macheda and new signing Javier Hernandez.Macheda, still only 18, missed much of last season through injury, but is now fully fit and scored twice at the Reliant Sadium; Twenty-two-year-old Mexican international “Chicharito” Hernandez also got on the score sheet on his debut after appearing as a second half substitute.
Hernandez also scored in Manchester United’s final game of their tour, a 3–2 defeat to Chivas Guadalajara on Friday. However, Hernandez played one half for each side, having recently been signed from the Mexican club, and his goal actually came against his new employers!
In other news for the Red Devils, Rio Ferdinand remains injured and may not be available for selection until mid-September.
Despite maintaining recently that they would continue with caretaker manager Ray Lewington, Fulham announced on Wednesday the appointment of Mark Hughes for the managerial position.
Sacked by Manchester City eight months ago, Hughes will be keen to reestablish his credentials, and has immediately made known his designs on Craig Bellamy, the Eastlands striker whom Hughes signed first for Blackburn and later for City.
Elsewhere, United States World Cup star Landon Donovan has begun preliminary talks about a possible return to the Premier League; despite interest from Man City, Everton, where Donovan spent a successful two month loan period last season, appears a more likely option.
However, Major League Soccer will be keen to keep their brightest star on home soil, and the L.A. Galaxy player may have to wait once more for the break in the MLS season, before fulfilling his ambitions.
Hard Luck Pompey
Finally, spare a thought for poor Pompey; as the old saying goes, “It never rains but it pours.” FA Cup winners in 2009, relegated last season, the club in administration, and a transfer embargo imposed, it couldn’t get worse for Portsmouth, could it? Yes, it could.A cancelled flight saw them take 42 hours to get from England to San Diego for the first game of a pre-season tour of North America. A lightening storm made a subsequent flight to Washington a 27 hour ordeal. Two players have been sent home with injuries, one a suspected broken leg. And to add insult to injury, they lost their luggage in transit, and were hammered 4–0 by DC United wearing borrowed kits, after only a few hours sleep and three days without training, as reported by The Guardian.
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