All the latest transfer gossip doing the rounds.
By Alex Brodie
Marseille’s Algerian midfielder Brahim Hemdani has signed for Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers on a free transfer. After impressive performances in the UEFA Cup two seasons ago with the French side, the former skipper has found himself out of favour this season.
Rangers Chairman David Murray has revealed why he feels Hemdani chose Scotland.
“I arranged for Sean Connery [of James Bond fame] to meet the player at Cannes Airport to help sell Scotland to him,” revealed Murray.
Evidently the legendary Scottish actor managed to work his charm, convincing the Hemdani to choose Scotland over sunny Spain or Germany as the player has signed a four-year deal with the club.
Inter are reportedly looking for a new defender and have eyed up former Roma centre back Walter Samuel, currently at Real Madrid.
The Italian side are looking to take the Argentine defender on a full season loan but it is reported that he would have to take a wage cut which according to the Italian media, seems unlikely.
Fellow countrymen Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso are hoping to convince Samuel to move. Former Real team-mate, Santiago Solari, has already made the switch to Italy and Inter hope this will also be a decisive factor for Samuel.
Czech midfielder, Vladimir Smicer, has joined French side Bordeaux on a free transfer from European Champions Liverpool.
Despite scoring the English side’s second goal in their dramatic comeback against Milan in the Champions League Final last month, the 32-year-old struggled to make the starting eleven last season.
Formerly of Lens, Smicer is used to life in France and said: “It was my natural choice as my family and I have got good memories of this country.”
Inter midfielder Emre Belozoglu is apparently on his way to the Premiership after his agent says he has received six offers from English clubs.
The Turkish international is looking to leave the San Siro and has apparently been approached by the likes of Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
His agent, Ahmet Bulut confirmed “It is 90% certain that Emre will be playing next year in England.”
Spanish side Sevilla are apparently eyeing up Crystal Palace star striker Andy Johnson.
Jose Antonio Reyes’ former team are looking to bolster their front line and have been impressed with Johnson’s 21 Premiership goals despite Palace’s relegation this season.
Sold by Birmingham three ago in exchange for Clinton Morrison plus £3.5m, Johnson has been a revelation at Selhurst Park. His career high came this year when he made his England debut in a friendly against Holland.
Barcelona star forward Samuel Eto’o is reported to be on his way to England with Chelsea and Man United offering in the region of £18m for the African Player of the Year according to Daily Mirror reports.
However Barca are reported to be asking £25m for the second top scorer in Europe. Eto’o’s agent says he’s sure that Eto’o will remain in Spain but that the Premiership is obviously a very attractive proposition FOR the Cameroonian striker.
Boca Juniors rising star, 19-year-old midfielder Fernando Gago is said to be on his way to Spain with Atletico Madrid making a formal offer for the player.
Boca are refusing to sell the player at the moment but admitted that they would be prepared to offload him before the 2006/2007 season kicks off.
Gago has attracted plaudits throughout Argentina with Diego Maradona being the most high profile admirer, pleading with national coach Jose Pekerman to cap the youngster as soon as possible.
Fallen Galactico Luis Figo has been offered a place in Quatar’s super team Al Rayyan. The out of favour Real star is said to be the next target of the Quatari side who already boast former Barca stars Sonny Anderson and the De Boer brothers.
The team want to build up a team of legends but in Figo’s case they have strong competition from European champions Liverpool who are apparently after the Portuguese star. However a spokesman for the club claimed that they would match any offer Liverpool put on the table.
panish giants Real Madrid are chasing Uruguayan international Carlos Diogo with his current club, Argentine side River Plate, looking to offload the player whose contract runs out in July.
Juventus have been chasing the star for months but Real have swooped and with Diogo’s agent also being representing fellow Uruguayan Pablo Garcia, who is set to join Real next month, there is no surprise that the Spaniards have the upper hand in proceedings.
Chelsea’s roaming Chief Executive Peter Kenyon has been sent to have talks with Milan defender Kakha Kaladze with a view to a permanent move.
Milan are looking for £10m for the player who is also hoping for big wages and this could surprisingly be a stumbling block for the free spending English champions. Added to this is Milan’s insistence on keeping a deal for Hernan Crespo, currently on loan at Milan, separate. Chelsea were hoping to include the Argentine striker in the Kaladze transfer.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Austrian international left back Emanuel Pogatetz is set to sign for Middlesbrough for £2m, The player has been on loan at Spartak Moscow this season and Graz AK last year, but it looks likes Leverkusen are finally ready to sell him on. Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has been interested in the 22-year-old for some time and wants cover for his defence as his team was hit hard by injuries last season.
Argentine winger Kily Gonzalez has been put up for sale by Italian giants Inter, English side Tottenham Hotspur are expected to make a loan bid, as they have long been admirers of the player. However it is expected that Inter will want to sell Gonzalez outright
Brazilian wonder kid Anderson is being looked at by Italian Serie A clubs Inter Milan and Palermo. The 17-year-old forward is currently playing for his country in the World Youth Championships in Holland but he took time out to say that he doesn’t care where he plays. “My transfer is in the hands of god.”
It has been rumoured that the Italian clubs have offered around £6m for the player.
