In a summer in which quoted transfer fees keep getting ridiculously higher, suddenly the end of summer sales are upon us, with clubs looking to pick up a bargain, according to today's transfer gossip.
It may only be Thursday today but it's Black Friday at Anzhi Makhachkala, where clubs around Europe are descending like vultures, clawing at each other to get to the megadeals on offer in the wake of Anzhi's costcutting measures. The new stringent regime has already seen former Manchester United Rene Meulensteen sacked after just 16 days as manager and all the club's top players being transfer-listed.
According to 101greatgoals.com, ESPN Brazil report that Manchester City already bid €40 million for Willian before Anzhi announced their troubles. Surprisingly Anzhi didn't bite their hands off, so City will return with a reduced bid, with Chelsea and Tottenham also hovering. Four time African Player of the Year and world's best paid player Samuel Eto'o is also up for grabs, with Chelsea and Arsenal said to be in the hunt, as are Lassana Diarra and, yes, Christopher Samba.
Manchester United are hoping Everton are also in the sales mood, as they prepare a buy-one-get-one-half-price £30 million bid for both Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, according to the Guardian, with David Moyes looking to sabotage his old club to ensure they finish below sixth place.
Moyes will recoup some of that money through the sale of Nani, with Roma interested in the Portuguese winger according to the Star. The paper reports the Italian club "are hoping to raise funds for the deal by selling Fulham target Pablo Osvaldo". Italian football must really be in a desperate state if they need to raise funds to buy Nani.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho will look to sign Raphael Varane if David Luiz moves to Barcelona, though Chelsea don't want that to happen, while Barca have already bid for Liverpool's Daniel Agger as a cheaper alternative. Julio Cesar will leave QPR for Fiorentina and West Brom want Salomon Kalou.
(Photos via Zimbio)
