Monday, May 02, 2005

A look at the week-ends transfer rumours.

Only a couple of stories from the tabloids on Sunday:

The Daily Star on Sunday suggests that Stuart Pearce is ready to splash £3 million on 6'7" Southampton striker Peter Crouch should the Saints be relegated.
A suprising one this, and an interesting one too. Without a doubt a striker is the main area that will need reinforcing this summer as although Antoine Sibierski has performed well in support of Robbie Fowler, I don't believe Jon Macken has a long term future at City and Bradley Wright-Phillips is still a way off being ready to challenge full-time.
I saw Crouch make his debut for Portsmouth against City a few years and he looked dreadful - gangly, unco-ordinated and no threat whatsoever. However, after a nightmare spell at Aston Villa he seems to have got his career on track once again and changed the game I thought at the City of Manchester Stadium this season when he came on.
Verdict - I think this could be a good move as Crouch has proved himself more than a one-trick pony and I have been impressed with his all round play and he links up with a main striker. Whether Southampton would be willing to sell if they remain in the Premiership is a different story and a lot could depend on the future of Crouch's fellow strikers Henri Camara and Kevin Phillips who have both been linked with moves themselves.

Several publications also quoted Pearce in saying he hoped to sign on loan midfielder Kiki Musampa in the summer and that he had already contacted the players agent and current club Atletico Madrid.
Musampa has performed adequately on the left hand side since he arrived in January, and has also allowed Sibierski to move further up front. He was obviously unfit and a little overweight the first month at City but appears to have worked hard since. He is not a speedster, or out and out winger as such but has a good touch, is strong on the ball and links well with the team as a whole.
Verdict - If a deal can be cut with Madrid I think it is safe to assume Musampa will be at City next season.

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