Football Dispatch

Summer Football
17 August 2007
Nicolas Anelka, football's globetrotting version of J.J. Danieault, has indicated that he may be looking for an exit from Bolton Wanderers. The 28-year-old Frenchman has played for eight clubs over a 12-year career and is likely to find a ninth before the transfer window closes in two weeks time. Portsmouth and West Ham are the most likely destinations. Even with new signings David Nugent and John Utaka in the mix, Pompey manager Harry Redknapp is not content with his current group of forwards and covets a veteran striker with a goalscoring pedigree. Anelka fits the bill; but he won't come cheap. Redknapp is rumored to have offered 10M-pounds and left-sided midfielder Matt Taylor as compensation. West Ham, having become something of a haven for troubled, sulking veteran players, are prepared to offer comparable money and a wage package worth 90,000-pounds per-week.

Everton are set to finalize the permanent acquisition of Manuel Fernandes. The 21-year-old Portugal international scored twice for the Toffees in nine appearances last term after moving northward from Portsmouth, where he was also on-loan. Fernandes' parent club, Benfica, are expecting upwards of 6M-pounds for the player; although Kia Joorabchian's Media Sports International (MSI) is believed to own his playing rights. The third-party ownership could put a wrangle in the transaction. The Premier League has already come under massive scrutiny for approving the usages of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano -- also MSI-owned players -- by West Ham last season.

Everton manager David Moyes is also hoping to seal the acquisition of Yakubu before September. Middlesbrough unveiled Mido at The Riverside, yesterday, and are likely to consider the sale of the 24-year-old Nigeria international. Yakubu is believed to be unsettled at Boro; and, given his side's chances this season, manager Gareth Southgate may be forced into a fire-sale, anyway. Moyes is said to be pondering an 11M-pound offer for Yakubu.

Chelsea are looking more and more unlikely to sign Daniel Alves before the transfer window closes in a fortnight. Their latest bid was rejected by Sevilla this week and another is unlikely until after the club's trip to Liverpool on Sunday. Owner Roman Abramovich remains steadfast in his desire to come out ahead from the sale of Arjen Robben to Real Madrid and the acquisition of Alves. Ironically, the Russian billionaire's sudden bout of financial common-sense may end up costing his squad the chance to include a world-class right-back.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goren Eriksson have never got on particularly well. As England manager, Eriksson was the focus of frequent Fergie chides as his United squad was raided for each international match. Now, with the Swede having taken the job of managing Manchester City, the two will go head-to-head for the first time. Still, Eriksson is keen to put the past behind and get into Fergie's good books. With that in mind, he has purchased a 415-pound bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to share with Ferguson after this Sunday's Manchester derby. It is a tradition which Ferguson and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho have popularized over the past three seasons, and Eriksson is eager to impress his counterparts. Ferguson, however, is having none of it. Except, perhaps, the wine. "If he gives me a present, I will accept it," stated the United manager, yesterday. He continued, "But I will not be sharing it with him. I will take it home instead."