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ReoCoker_20 · 02-01-2009, 04:06 AM

January Transfer Window

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar--Ajax > Real Madrid £17 mill
Lassana Diarra --Portsmouth > Real Madrid £20 mill
Andrei Arshavin-- Zenit St Petersburg > Bremen £18 mill
John Obi Mikel-- Chelsea> Atletico Madrid Loan
Landon Donavon LA Galaxy > Bayern Munich Loan
Gerald Pique Barcelona> Athletic Club Loan
Olivier Dacourt Inter> Stade de Reims Free
Elano Man City > Tottenham £15 mill
Stefano Fiore Unattached > Sampdoria
David Beckham LA Galaxy> AC Milan Loan
Anthony Vanden Borre Genoa > Aston Villa £4 mill

Transfer News

1st January 2009

Even before the January transfer window officially opened, a number of big name transfers had already been agreed to. Real Madrid’s injury plagued season saw the Spanish giants sign Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra for a joint fee of £37 million, suggesting any move for Cristiano Ronaldo is now far from the club’s thoughts.

Huntelaar’s expected move away from the Dutch Eredivisie finally materialised with Real Madrid paying £17 million for his services. The star striker stating the move will be an easy transition for him, with the club starting to represent a second Netherlands team with the likes of Van der Vaart, Robben, Sneijder, Van Nistelrooy and Drenthe all there to welcome their fellow countryman.

Lassana Diarra’s £20 million transfer fee was the news that many in footballing circles were talking about this week. His failures with Arsenal and Chelsea saw him join Portsmouth last season where he finally got the opportunity to shine. While many suggest a £20 million fee was a little overpriced for the Frenchman, it will only be a matter of days before he gets the chance to silence his critics, with Lassana set to step in for the injured Mahamadou Diarra in Real’s clash with Valencia.

Another big name to sign before January 1st was Andrei Arshavin, who’s deal with Werder Bremen ends weeks of speculation suggesting he would join English club Tottenham Hotspur. Arshavin’s decision to join Bremen was due greatly to the club’s manager Thomas Schaaf who visited Arshavin personally, a move that impressed the Russian hero who will now lead Bremen’s attack. With Brazilian Diego to play off Arshavin should be a huge boost for Bremen who are just outside the qualification zone for a Champions League spot.

With Arshavin joining Bremen, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp turned to Manchester City’s Brazilian play-maker Elano to bolster his club’s attacking prowess. The £15 million deal for the midfielder will mean Redknapp will have to sell a number of players if he wishes to bring any more players into his squad, with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy stating he would only be looking to invest around £15 million in this transfer window. Elano is likely to play just behind Bent or Pavlyuchenko in a centre forward position or on the left wing.

John Obi Mikel’s loan to Atletico Madrid has come after a training argument with Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who stated in a press conference, after the loan was confirmed, that the move would be good for both parties and Mikel would be back in the squad for the start of next season. John Obi Mikel has remained unavailable for comment on the situation, but his manager is said to be looking into a possible deal with Italian club Juventus after his loan spell with Atletico subsides.

David Beckham and Landon Donavon will both go on a short loan spells to AC Milan and Bayern Munich respectively. The LA Galaxy duo both looking to keep fit in the MLS off season, which will end on the 21st of March. Milan manager, Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear Beckham will have to earn his way into the club’s starting eleven and he will not play him in order to sell the expected £3 million worth of jerseys the club is expected to make in the period Beckham will be at the club. Landon Donavon stated before leaving the U.S that he did not expect to get a game with Bayern but just being able to train with a team with standards like theirs would be great to keep him up to scratch for the MLS season ahead.

Transfer News

January 4th 2009

Aston Villa Seals Vanden Borre Deal.
Anthony Vanden Borre has been unveiled as an Aston Villa’s latest signing, the Belgian defender signing a 4 year deal with Villa, as a direct replacement for the injured Luke Young. Starting his professional career at the age of 16 with Belgian club Anderlecht, Vanden Borre was a product of the club’s youth system. In 2007, Vanden Borre joined Italian club Fiorentina, later that season joining Genoa on a loan deal which was made permanent in June 2008. Due to the club’s poor financial situation, Vanden Borre was allowed to search for a new club to take over his contract. Aston Villa paying a rumoured £4 million for the Belgian’s services, who is likely to take part in the club’s match against Hull in 3 days.

02-01-2009, 04:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
ReoCoker_20 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 49	January Transfer Window Klaas-Jan Huntelaar--Ajax > Real Madrid £17 mill Lassana Diarra --Portsmouth > Real Madrid £20 mill Andrei Arshavin-- Zenit St Petersburg > Bremen £18 mill John Obi Mikel-- Chelsea> Atletico Madrid Loan Landon Donavon LA Galaxy > Bayern Munich Loan Gerald Pique Barcelona> Athletic Club Loan Olivier Dacourt Inter> Stade de Reims Free Elano Man City > Tottenham £15 mill Stefano Fiore Unattached > Sampdoria David Beckham LA Galaxy> AC Milan Loan Anthony Vanden Borre Genoa > Aston Villa £4 mill Transfer News 1st January 2009 Even before the January transfer window officially opened, a number of big name transfers had already been agreed to. Real Madrid’s injury plagued season saw the Spanish giants sign Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra for a joint fee of £37 million, suggesting any move for Cristiano Ronaldo is now far from the club’s thoughts. Huntelaar’s expected move away from the Dutch Eredivisie finally materialised with Real Madrid paying £17 million for his services. The star striker stating the move will be an easy transition for him, with the club starting to represent a second Netherlands team with the likes of Van der Vaart, Robben, Sneijder, Van Nistelrooy and Drenthe all there to welcome their fellow countryman. Lassana Diarra’s £20 million transfer fee was the news that many in footballing circles were talking about this week. His failures with Arsenal and Chelsea saw him join Portsmouth last season where he finally got the opportunity to shine. While many suggest a £20 million fee was a little overpriced for the Frenchman, it will only be a matter of days before he gets the chance to silence his critics, with Lassana set to step in for the injured Mahamadou Diarra in Real’s clash with Valencia. Another big name to sign before January 1st was Andrei Arshavin, who’s deal with Werder Bremen ends weeks of speculation suggesting he would join English club Tottenham Hotspur. Arshavin’s decision to join Bremen was due greatly to the club’s manager Thomas Schaaf who visited Arshavin personally, a move that impressed the Russian hero who will now lead Bremen’s attack. With Brazilian Diego to play off Arshavin should be a huge boost for Bremen who are just outside the qualification zone for a Champions League spot. With Arshavin joining Bremen, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp turned to Manchester City’s Brazilian play-maker Elano to bolster his club’s attacking prowess. The £15 million deal for the midfielder will mean Redknapp will have to sell a number of players if he wishes to bring any more players into his squad, with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy stating he would only be looking to invest around £15 million in this transfer window. Elano is likely to play just behind Bent or Pavlyuchenko in a centre forward position or on the left wing. John Obi Mikel’s loan to Atletico Madrid has come after a training argument with Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who stated in a press conference, after the loan was confirmed, that the move would be good for both parties and Mikel would be back in the squad for the start of next season. John Obi Mikel has remained unavailable for comment on the situation, but his manager is said to be looking into a possible deal with Italian club Juventus after his loan spell with Atletico subsides. David Beckham and Landon Donavon will both go on a short loan spells to AC Milan and Bayern Munich respectively. The LA Galaxy duo both looking to keep fit in the MLS off season, which will end on the 21st of March. Milan manager, Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear Beckham will have to earn his way into the club’s starting eleven and he will not play him in order to sell the expected £3 million worth of jerseys the club is expected to make in the period Beckham will be at the club. Landon Donavon stated before leaving the U.S that he did not expect to get a game with Bayern but just being able to train with a team with standards like theirs would be great to keep him up to scratch for the MLS season ahead. Transfer News January 4th 2009 Aston Villa Seals Vanden Borre Deal. Anthony Vanden Borre has been unveiled as an Aston Villa’s latest signing, the Belgian defender signing a 4 year deal with Villa, as a direct replacement for the injured Luke Young. Starting his professional career at the age of 16 with Belgian club Anderlecht, Vanden Borre was a product of the club’s youth system. In 2007, Vanden Borre joined Italian club Fiorentina, later that season joining Genoa on a loan deal which was made permanent in June 2008. Due to the club’s poor financial situation, Vanden Borre was allowed to search for a new club to take over his contract. Aston Villa paying a rumoured £4 million for the Belgian’s services, who is likely to take part in the club’s match against Hull in 3 days. Last edited by ReoCoker_20; 03-01-2009 at 06:17 AM..