Robinho enters talks with Besiktas’ rivals Fenerbahce
Last week it appeared that Manchester City’s unsettled Brazilian forward Robinho was poised to sign for Turkish outfit Beşiktaş. However, it now seems that it’s Beşiktaş’ Istanbul rivals Fenerbahçe who are in pole position.
It was rumoured that a £16million deal had been agreed for the 26-year-old, but Beşiktaş’ failure to secure a sponsor to fund the deal means that Robinho is now set for a move elsewhere.
Fenerbahçe lead the chase, although French club Lyon are also closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, Robinho’s former club Real Madrid are not interested in signing either Chelsea striker Didier Drogba or Manchester City hitman Emmanuel Adebayor. Manager José Mourinho isn’t keen on a deal for either player - reducing the chances of Real forward Karim Benzema going out on loan.
Yesterday it was reported that Liverpool’s midfielder enforcer Javier Mascherano was close to signing for Barcelona. Left out of last night’s 3-0 defeat to Man City, the Argentina international is desperate to leave Anfield, but is relying on his current employers to accept a bid of under £20million.
It’s exactly one week until the transfer window closes, and Chelsea are beginning to get a little anxious over finding a suitable replacement for the departed Ricardo Carvalho.
Benfica defender David Luiz was strongly linked at the beginning of August; but at £27million, is deemed over-priced by the Chelsea hierarchy. Subsequently, manager Carlo Ancelotti may now attempt to sign Inter Milan’s versatile Argentinian Nicolas Burdisso.
Staying in the Premier League, two England strikers could soon be switching clubs before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Tottenham striker Peter Crouch has been linked with a move to Stoke City, but could still head to Merseyside to play for Everton. And West Ham’s problems could soon worsen if influential striker Carlton Cole leaves Upton Park for Sunderland.
The Black Cats’ boss, Steve Bruce, is believed to hold Cole in high-regard, and could now make a formal offer after failing to sign Ghana’s World Cup star, Asamoah Gyan, from Rennes.
West Ham are also poised to lose Italian striker Alessandro Diamanti after the 27-year-old held talks with Serie A outfit Brescia yesterday afternoon. Avram Grant’s side have endured an awful start to the new season, and are expected to lodge an £8million bid for 23-year-old Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro.
The Hammers were close to signing Manchester City’s 21-year-old Ecuadorian striker, Felipe Caicedo, on a season-long loan deal, but reports of an administrative error suggest that the deal is now dead in the water.
Like West Ham, Blackpool were also heavily defeated over the weekend. The Seasiders’ manager Ian Holloway has conceded that his side need another six players to have a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, and is expected to swoop for Newcastle forward Leon Best and Swansea City’s Stephen Dobbie.
And finally, Harry Redknapp is looking to bring either Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar or Real Madrid’s Lassana Diarra to White Hart Lane.
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