A quick round up of the latest rumours surrounding the January transfer window…
The latest transfer rumours are as follows:
City are apparently to “tempt” Celtic`s Gary Hooper with a £30k a week offer.
This is according to the Daily Mirror, who I have to say I don`t have a lot of faith in.
While Hooper has declined to sign a new contract with the Glasgow club and he has made noises in the past about testing himself in the Premier League, it seems that this would have to be a very big transfer for Norwich City.
The Hoops would probably want £6-8m for him and his wages may be prohibitive at that price. I`m inclined to think that The Mirror`s report is little more than speculation on their part – lazy reporting.
Another interesting one is the Japanese attacking midfielder, Takashi Inui. The Eintracht Frankfurt player is 24 but only joined the German club in summer 2012 and is valued at £3.5m.
A quick check of the web shows he has played 17 times and scored 5 goals for them. Seems unlikely that they`d let him go so soon after joining?
Meanwhile Chris “stroller” Martin has extended his stay at Swindon for another month with both Paulo di Canio and the player himself reportedly having one eye on the 24yr old`s contract running out this summer. Indeed, Martin has now expressed a desire to stay at Swindon until the end of the season, although it seems finances could be an obstacle, hence the further one month loan.
I can`t imagine that he would be offered anything else at City. He`s been a decent youth product and performed well in the League One promotion season but has struggled at Championship and Premier League level. It certainly looks as though Martin will move on at the end of his contract.
Alex McLeish has made no secret of his desire to see Elliot Ward back at the City Ground and it looks as though this may well come true for Alex.
Ward seems unlikely to make the next 25 man squad so a move back to Forest for the rest of the season would seem a logical one for all parties, perhaps with a view to a permanent move.
Meanwhile, today`s Evening News and Sky Sports have Chris Hughton quoted as saying that he is prepared to bide his time in the transfer window and only make a move if it will improve the squad at a reasonable deal for everyone. “What we have seen, certainly in the last few windows, is a tremendous amount of transfers being done in the last few days,” said Hughton.
“That allows teams to lift the prices and perhaps a little bit of desperation comes into play as well. Invariably what happens is a late rush so for as much as everybody says it might not happen, the last few days are always busy for most clubs.
“We are doing as much work as we can, not just these weeks during January, but the months leading into this period. If it is right and appropriate to do some business then we will do.”
“I don’t expect to be busy. We are, as most clubs will try to do, looking to strengthen the squad. If there are players there we will endeavour to do that but I don’t envisage massive changes,” he added.
“It is difficult because it is not a good time to bring in players. Last January we brought in a couple, but we will continue to try working. January is notoriously not a great time to bring in players.
“You have to make sure they are the right players at the right price and value which is why at this moment not a lot of business has been done.”
I get the impression that he doesn`t want or indeed need to act in desperation or at inflated prices.
And all the while, Danny Graham to any one of Sunderland, Reading, QPR or Norwich continues to rumble on in the media.
OTBC