Premier League Clubs transfer activity so far

The summer transfer window will stay open until 11pm on Monday, 2 September this year.

A quick round up thus far.

Arsenal - (Gunners)
Incoming:
Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, free)

Outgoing:
Andrey Arshavin (released)
Denilson (Sao Paulo, free)
Sebastien Squillaci (released)
Martin Angha (Nuremberg, undisclosed)
Craig Eastmond (Colchester, free)
Conor Henderson (released)
Jernade Meade (released)
Sanchez Watt (released)
Johan Djourou (Hamburg, loan)
Vito Mannone (Sunderland, £2 million)
Francis Coquelin (Freiburg, loan)

Aston Villa - (Villans)
Incoming
Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan, £2.5 million)
Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland, undisclosed)
Leandro Bacuna (Groningen, undisclosed)
Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, undisclosed)
Antonio Luna (Sevilla, undisclosed)
Jed Steer (Norwich, free)

Outgoing
Richard Dunne (released)
Eric Lichaj (released)
Jean Makoun (Rennes, undisclosed)
Andy Marshall (released)
Derrick Williams (Bristol City, free)

Cardiff City - (Bluebirds)
Incoming
Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen, £7.5 million)

Outgoing
Stephen McPhail (released)
Heidar Helguson (released)
Nat Jarvis (released)

Chelsea - (Blues)
Incoming
Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen, £18 million)
Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem, £9 million)
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, free)

Outgoing
Yossi Benayoun (released)
Paulo Ferreira (released)
Florent Malouda (released)
Hilario (released)
Ross Turnbull (released)
Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, loan)
Patrick Bamford (MK Dons, loan)
Jeffrey Bruma (PSV, £2.5 million)

Crystal Palace - (Eagles)
Incoming
Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, £8.5 million)
Stephen Dobbie (Brighton, undisclosed)
Jerome Thomas (West Brom, free)

Outgoing
Jermaine Easter (Millwall, free)

Everton - (Toffees)
Incoming
Arouna Kone (Wigan, £6 million)
Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, undisclosed)
Antolin Alcaraz (Unattached, free)
Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, loan)

Outgoing
Phil Neville (released)
Thomas Hitzlsperger (released)
Jan Mucha (released)
Jake Bidwell (Brentford, undisclosed)

Fulham (Cottagers)
Incoming
Sascha Riether (Cologne, undisclosed)
Derek Boateng (Dnipro, undisclosed)
Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, free)
Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma, undisclosed)

Outgoing
Chris Baird (released)
Simon Davies (released)
Mahamadou Diarra (released)
Georgios Karagounis (released)
Mladen Petric (released)
Mark Schwarzer (released)
Tom Donegan (released)
Alex Smith (released)
Dan Burn (Birmingham, loan)

Hull City - (Tigers)
Incoming
George Boyd (Peterborough, free)
Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, free)
Curtis Davies (Birmingham, undisclosed)
Allan McGregor (Besiktas, £1.8 million
Ahmed Elmohamady (Sunderland, £2 million)

Outgoing
Sonny Bradley (Portsmouth, free)
Danny East (Portsmouth, free)
Mark Cullen (Hull, free)
Andy Dawson (released)
Jamie Devitt (released)
Paul McKenna (released)
Seyi Olofinjana (released)
Jay Simpson (released)

Liverpool - (Reds)
Incoming
Kolo Toure (Liverpool, free)
Luis Alberto (Seville, £6.8 million)
Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo, £7.5 million)
Simon Mignolet (Sunderland, £9 million)

Outgoing
Danny Wilson (Hearts, free)
Jamie Carragher (retired)
Andy Carroll (West Ham £15.5 million)
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea, £6 million)

Manchester City - (Citizens)
Incoming
Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk, £30 million)
Jesus Navas (Sevilla, £23 million)

Outgoing
Ryan McGivern (Hibernian, free)
Kolo Toure (Liverpool, free)
Wayne Bridge (Reading, free)
Roque Santa Cruz (Malaga, free)
Carlos Tevez (Juventus, £10 million)

Manchester United - (Red Devils)
Incoming
Guillermo Varela (Penarol, £1 million)

Outgoing
Paul Scholes (retired)

Newcastle United - (Magpies, Toon)
Incoming
Olivier Kemen (Metz, undisclosed)

Outgoing
Steve Harper (released)
Danny Simpson (released)
James Perch (Wigan, £700,000)

Norwich City - (Canaries)
Incoming
Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon, £8.6 million)
Javier Garrido (Lazio, undisclosed)
Nathan Redmond (Birmingham, undisclosed)
Carlo Nash (Stoke - Norwich, free)
Martin Olsson (Blackburn, free)

Outgoing
James Vaughan (Huddersfield, undisclosed)
Jed Steer (Aston Villa, free)
Chris Martin (Derby, free)
Marc Tierney (Bolton, free)
Simeon Jackson (released)
Korey Smith (Oldham, free)
Elliott Ward (Bournemouth, free)
Tom Adeyemi (Birmingham, free)
George Francomb (released)
Lee Camp (released)
Declan Rudd (Preston, loan)

Southampton Town - (Saints)
Incoming
Dejan Lovren (Lyon, £8.5 million)

Outgoing
Frazer Richardson (released)
Danny Butterfield (released)
Danny Seaborne (released)
Ryan Dickson (released)
Ben Reeves (released)
Sam Hoskins (released)

Stoke City - (Potters)
Incoming
Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven £3.1 million)
Marc Muniesa (Barcelona, free)

Outgoing
Jermaine Pennant (released)
Matthew Upson (released)
Rory Delap (released)
Matthew Lund (released)
Mamady Sidibe (released)
Michael Owen (retired)
Dean Whitehead (Middlesbrough, free)
Carlo Nash (Norwich, free)

Sunderland - (Black Cats)
Incoming
Modibo Diakite (Lazio, free)
Duncan Watmore (Altrincham, undisclosed)
Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, free)
Cabral (Basle, free)
David Moberg Karlsson (IFK Gothenburg, free)
Vito Mannone (Arsenal, £2 million)
Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, undisclosed)
El Hadji Ba (Le Havre, free)

Outgoing
Titus Bramble (released)
Matthew Kilgallon (released)
Ryan Noble (released)
Simon Mignolet (Liverpool, £9 million)
Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull, £2 million)

Swansea City - (Swans)
Incoming
Jose Canas (Real Betis, free)
Jordi Amat (Espanyol, £2.5 million)
Jonathan De Guzman (Villarreal, loan)
Alejandro Pozuelo (Real Betis, £425,000)
Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool, £6 million)
Gregor Zabret (NK Domzale, undisclosed)
Alex Gogic (Olympiacos, free)
Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem, £12 million)

Outgoing
Mark Gower (Charlton, free)
David Cornell (St Mirren, loan)
Gwion Edwards (St Johnstone, loan)
Kyle Bartley (Birmingham, loan)

Tottenham Hotspur - (Spurs, Lilywhites)
Incoming
Paulinho (Corinthians, £17 million)

Outgoing
William Gallas (released)
John Bostock (released)
David Bentley (released)
Jack Munns (released)
Jake Nicholson (released)
Nathan Byrne (Swindon Town, free)
Grant Hall (Swindon Town, loan)
Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town, loan)
Alex Pritchard (Swindon Town, loan)

West Bromwich Albion - (Baggies)
Incoming
Goran Popov (Dynamo Kiev, loan)

Outgoing
Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest, free)
Marc-Antoine Fortune (released)
Zoltan Gera (released)
James Hurst (Crawley Town, free)
Jerome Thomas (Crystal Palace, free)

West Ham United - (Hammers)
Incoming
Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk, free)
Adrian (Real Betis, undisclosed)
Andy Carroll (Liverpool, £15.5 million)
Danny Whitehead (Stockport County, undisclosed)

Outgoing
Carlton Cole (released)
Gary O’Neil (released)
Rob Hall (Bolton, free)

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Spurs BT Sport channel TV fixtures

New boys in the TV football market BT, who are promoted by Gareth Bale, have also announced their first set of fixtures for the upcoming season.

The first Tottenham Hotspur game on the BT Sport channel is the lunch time fixture (12.45) against Chelsea on Saturday September 28th at White Hart Lane.

Our only other game on BT at the moment is against Manchester United in another lunch time fixture (12.45) at White Hart Lane on Saturday November 30th.

Our complete TV fixtures so far announced, SKY unless stated:
Sun Aug 18: Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (1:30pm)
Sun Sept 1: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)
Sat Sept 28: Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (BT Sport 12.45pm)
Sun Oct 20: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)
Sun Nov 3: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur (1.30pm)
Sun Nov 10: Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (12pm)
Sat Nov 23: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur (5.30pm)
Sat Nov 30: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (BT Sport 12.45pm)

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Spurs V Palace on Sky + Arsenal, Villa, Everton, Newcastle, M City

Sky have conformed their first set of live fixtures for the new season and it sees Spurs on the box 6 times.

Our opening away game against Premier League new boys Crystal Palace, is to be shown live on Sunday 18th August at 1.30pm. The fixture should provide plenty of interest as neutrals tune in to see how Palace might fare this season.

Sunday September 1st the London derby game against arch rivals Arsenal, this time away at the Emirates, will be shown at 4pm. A regular on TV it clearly draws in the viewers.

In October the Aston Villa game on Sunday 20th will be shown, again it's 4pm and again it's an away game. Sky will be hoping Benteke moves to Spurs to give added interest to the game and the panel something extra to chat about.

November is the month it really kicks into gear for Tottenham fans though with 3 fixtures on Sky during the month. The first is on Sunday 3rd against Everton at 1.30, no prizes for guessing it's another away game.

Then follows our only confirmed TV fixture at White Hart Lane so far, Sunday 10th against Newcastle United at noon. We revert back to an away fixture on Saturday 23rd against Manchester City at 5.30pm, another fixture Sky like to show regularly now.

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Michael Dawson versus John Terry

I thought it was about ruddy time I wrote an article on Michael Dawson's exclusion from the England setup. Everyone has jumped on this wagon and so I thought it appropriate that I put this conundrum to you, the everyday Spurs/football fan.

Should Michael Dawson be included in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad?

Err, yes he should.

Imagine this...

You've been in a coma for the last 18 years (since the start of the Prem). You woke up at the beginning of this season and have been passionately watching football. If Fabio approached you and asked who the best English centre backs are, would you count John Terry in your list?

I am sure Tottenham's duo; Michael Dawson and Ledley King (if fit, but I'd take him anyway) would be in your list, as would Everton's Phil Jagielka. Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand would be a sure thing too, but you wouldn't pick John Terry surely? I mean, why would you pick him? What has the Chelsea captain offered (apart from great pub jokes) this season?

What about Matthew Upson? He's been in superb form, hasn't he? Who are we kidding?

Let's face the facts people; Fabio Capello has said that he would pick players that are playing regularly and in form. Well, we know our Italian likes his little white lies, for he picks Emile Heskey continually. This is a player that cannot get into a Villa side. Oh, and did I mention his inability to hit a barn door?

When are we going to have an England manager that doesn't yield to the power of agents and the F.A.? Probably never, although I have a feeling Michael Dawson could yet make the final 23.


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Facts

I read that Liverpool boss, Benitez, recently provided a level of insight that proves his unfathomable intelligence; Tottenham Hotspur may possibly drop some points.

Thank goodness this Earth has people like Rafa Benitez knocking around on it. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I hadn't tuned in to his pearls of infinite wisdom.

One thing did trouble me. You see, I was under the impression that the Anfield supremo only spoke facts? I may be wrong, therefore correct me if you wish, but weren't his words to the media based on speculation?

Interesting.

Well, let me add that I do believe that Mr. Benitez is right. I cannot see us winning every game from here on out, especially as we get to ink who the Premier League title could eventually go to.

If I was a betting man, which I am, I would say that "Tottenham from the North" will slip away, Everton started their run too late and Villa....well, 7-1 just about sums up their freefall when the season finally gets interesting. I do believe it will be between us and Liverpool.

I can't see there being much in it either. Maybe we'll end joint fourth on 71 points? What then? Goal difference?

I suppose we'll have to wait and see how this humdinger of a season pans out.

In the meantime, maybe Rafa should focus more on slamming all the former Anfield stars that hit out against him.

Just a thought; did Rafa Benitez throw the boot in on Spurs, because the latest ex-Anfield player to have his say (stand up Mr. Jamie Redknapp), has an affiliation with Tottenham Hotspur?

No, of course not; Rafa Benitez doesn't have a sarcastic bone is his body.


COYS!!!




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Champion's League? You're Having a Laugh

I was involved in an interesting conversation with a few colleagues of mine this morning.

Included in the group of football wannabe pundits, were Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa and one recently baptised Manchester City fan. We were discussing the teams chasing the fourth, majestic Champion's League spot.

The majority of the office is confident that Spurs can finish in the top four, with Liverpool finishing the season in fifth and City in sixth.

What I did find interesting, wasn't the fact that the majority thought that we could make the Champion's League, but that Tottenham Hotspur could be on the verge of a one-time affair with the lucrative competition.

Let's face up to the facts. Sooner or later, Manchester City are going to get it right. With the money they've got, they can and will buy the league.

If we make the Champion's League and that's a mighty big "if", I believe that it will transform us as a club. We will be able to sign a calibre of player that wouldn't have been available to us previously. Therefore, if we are to cement our place in the Champion's League, year in, year out, we need to invest. Maybe investment isn't the only key ingredient? Hope that we can evolve faster than the chasing pack is also vital.

Everton's Champion's League exhibition didn't bode well for them. Instead of making a real go of it, they went out in the qualifying rounds; qualifying rounds that have somewhat become harder in recent seasons.

Whether or not they decided they had the squad to compete, or simply didn't have the funds to invest, is anyone's guess. What is fact is that the route they took proved that the team they had back then wasn't good enough to compete for the top four position year on year.

Manchester City isn’t the only club we should be worried about. We've also got Liverpool to think of too. They are a sleeping giant, one that, once fully awake, will cause damage.

As things stand, Liverpool need some heavy investment and that could take a while, especially with the internal problems that keep erupting in the boardroom. As well as a new team, as Torres keeps alluding to, they need a new stadium. If reports of them bringing in Jose Mourinho are to be trusted, they will need to fork out some serious dough. The man doesn't come cheap. He's reported to be on £9 million net at Inter Milan. If you take into account the 50% tax scheme that's about to come into play, we're talking £18 million a year! If you get him on a 5 year deal, that's £90 million (plus additional bonuses).

There's no doubting he'd want a few world-class players to, which could mean a further outlay. How much would a few world-class players cost? City spent over £200 million on a group of players that I personally wouldn't call all world-class. Then we come to the stadium issue. That's another £400+ million. All in all, Liverpool could need an investment of near on £1 billion. Football doesn't come cheap, does it?

Aston Villa is also a slumbering giant, one that with the right playing squad could be in the position we're currently in. For them to push on any further, they to would need drastic investment, which, their owner, Mr. Lerner has said won't be forthcoming any time soon.

Therefore, if we are going to make the Champion's League and stay there, we need to reassess some issues in relation to the playing staff. Let's hope the board is game.

Of course, we have to get there first. Who else will become a Wigan Athletic fan tonight? I know I will.





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Why Everton need to sell Lescott

For those of you that watched the Everton vs. Arsenal match this evening, you would have seen an Everton side that looked a complete shambles. The same squad finished last season in 5th. So what went wrong today?

Let's go back twelve months and take a look at the goings on at the side I support, Tottenham Hotspur.

A certain Mr. Berbatov had made it clear that it was his dream to play for Manchester United, even though he was under contract. Sir Alex Ferguson openly declared how interested he was in signing the Spurs forward.

Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, dug his heels in and refused to do business with Manchester United unless they paid a premium for Dimitar Berbatov. The result? The entire squad was in turmoil. Reports at the time were doing the rounds that Jonathan Woodgate wanted to teach Mr. Berbatov a lesson or two and on one occasions, let his feelings known to the Bulgarian international during a half-time team talk.

Tottenham's then manager, Juande Ramos, had to send Berbatov home as the tensions within the Spurs camp had come to breaking point.

Lescott and Berbatov are clearly different characters. But I suspect that the results of their actions had and are having the same results.

Everton looked a shell of themselves today and for the good of the club and fans, it would be best for Moyes to sell Lescott to Manchester City. If Moyes continues to play hardball, I can see a ruined season for the Evertonians and to be honest, they don't deserve that.

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The Kyle show

The recruitment of Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker is an exciting development for the club. Not only do fans have the pleasure of having two more same-named players to confuse with their encouragement or abuse to go alongside Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas, but it seems the two former Blades are ready for first team duty.

It seems a safe football bet that the fact they have chosen Spurs is significant. The smaller squads of Everton and Aston Villa, rumoured to be interested in the pair, might have seemed a more attractive proposition for players seeking first team football.

Both cannot have failed to notice they joined in the week that another Spurs full back, Chris Gunter, returned to the Championship after failing to make a breakthrough. The fact that both specialise at right back does not help their chances.

Vedran Corluka, Alan Hutton and Pascal Chimbonda have recently arrived and will provide tough competition. This suggests the manager is not truly happy with any of the incumbents, with his repurchase of Chimbonda particularly puzzling.

It also suggests Gareth Bale, often touted for a move away from the Lane last term, is indeed on his way out. Some other big clubs are rumoured to be interested and I would only want to see him leave for a major profit – he played with more confidence at the end of last season and is still a better long-term prospect at left back than Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Both Naughton and Walker have made England representative appearances (U21 and U19 respectively) and the former, older by a year and a half, should make more of an impact this season.

He can play as a right winger as well as at left back and is clearly a good man to have on the bench. He featured in the PFA Championship team of the year last season.
The last double signings from one club were Michael Dawson and Andy Reid in January 2005. We had a hit and a miss on that occasion and it is hoped at least one of the Kyles proves to be an excellent long-term investment.

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We could have a new signing by the end of this week!

It looks as though we've gazumped Everton to the signing of Sheffield United's promising right-back, Kyle Naughton. Various ITK's have said that it's a done deal (heard that one before).

I personally have never seen the lad play. I hadn't even heard his name mentioned before the media jumped all over this story.

You can read up on Steve Claridge's comments on the player here.

If we do sign him, isn't £5 million a bit too much for an unproven Premier League player?

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