Transfer Talk: The Post-World Cup Meltdown

July 14th, 2010 | by: chris | View Comments

Welcome to the most infuriating window in football: the post-big tournament transfer season. There is nothing more nauseating, unsettling or frustrating than watching transfer rumors spill out onto the pages as journalists do their best to match which successful tournament performance matches with a particular team. Often, it’s simply an exercise in insulting our intelligence.

So come be infuriated with us.

There will be plenty of time for the mid-level transfers, but for now it’s all about the big movers and shakers of world football. And Ashley Cole.

Along with captaining World Cup winning nations, Iker Casillas also moonlights as Ashley Cole’s Mr. 15% – and he’s thisclose to joining up Real Madrid’s payroll: “From what I am hearing the signs look good,” the Sun quoted the 29-year-old as saying. “I have only briefly spoken to people at the club but I am confident he can be a Real Madrid player next year. I think it will be the right move for him both professionally and personally. A clean break from England is hopefully something he is very interested in. It will be his last big contract and who better to sign for than his old coach Mourinho at Real.”

So much like Titi Henry, he will escape English shores to Spanish sunsets in the wake of a public divorce. Rumors are already circling Iker has proclaimed Cashley will look to complete this career route with a move to MLS in 3-4 years, where he’ll be looking to become “the rich man’s David Beckham”.

Luis Suarez isn’t universally beloved by fans, but he is universally loved in sporting director offices across the globe, so Ajax will be fielding calls left and right and eventually will have no choice in selling him on, the only matter is when. He’ll happily take the well-traveled and well-compensated route to the Prem, naming Manchester United and Tottenham in his little diary.

There were a number of coming out parties at the World Cup, but perhaps none quite so large as Mesut Ozil - Thomas Mueller enjoyed his in the Champions League – so, of course, big teams are banging on Werder Bremen’s doors. But he’s looking to remain in the German north for at least another year, which is wonderful; what’s less wonderful is that he has one year remaining on his contract, and though he hasn’t ruled out an 11th hour extension – which Aaron Hunt did last year – they could lose him for nothing more than a thank you note next summer, while receiving many, many treasure chests this summer. It’s quite the predicament – and the fans are split. Conveniently, Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona will be ready to foot the inevitable Bremen hierarchy’s therapy bills.

Keisuke Honda is the new face of Asian football, and as such he’s a very popular man – like head-cheerleader-with-questionable-morals popular. And despite only being on the books of CSKA Moscow for all of 11 games, his agent is still running out that trusty old line: “He is currently under contract with CSKA Moscow and there has not been any serious offers for Keisuke, only inquiries.”

Which is agent code speak for…

(Wait….wrong Jerry Maguire clip.)

Arsenal and Liverpool have been rumored – and the latter was rumored back when Keisuke was still fielding honeymoons at VVV. I suspect they’d love a time machine right about now.

In other CSKA-related news, the Muscovites would like to move Milos Krasic to Man City. Well, why would they ever want to do that….

Milos, however, only wants Juventus. Smells like an impasse; do you fancy the lightweight winger or the Moscow football club part-owned by the Russian Ministry of Defense? Thought so.

Crunch master extraordinaire Alexis Sanchez has been dubbed the second coming of Cristiano Ronaldo, but Udinese DS Giampaolo Pozzo seems to think he’s the Second Coming: “Alexis will return to Udine and will remain here,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Next season will be the year of his consecration. Perhaps he will play as a playmaker in order to be closer to goal.”

In other words: hands off, Man Utd, Roma, etc.

Luis Fabiano has been at Sevilla for five years and rumored to be leaving for six. Now he wants to stay, despite the annual interest from Milan. You have to wonder how he stays so productive through the constant rumors – apparently the man can juggle.

And finally, the obligatory Transfer Window 2010 capper: Cesc. Arsenal. Barcelona.

(Noticed anything? Club football. The Offside. Do it.)