The summer transfer window is also known as ‘silly season’ by some, and a few of the rumours being banded about certainly make that phrase seem spot on.
Firstly, Andre Schurrle’s signature was finally tied up, in a deal that most of us probably already thought was completed. The 22-year-old has signed up on a five year deal that saw £18m head to Bayer Leverkusen in exchange for him.
One outgoing was also confirmed today, as the young Dutch defender Jeffrey Bruma returned to Holland, to join up with PSV on a four-year deal. He had spent the last three seasons on loan, at Leicester City and Hamberg, and with just nine appearances in six seasons for us, it made sense to let him go.
However, we have the first option to buy him back, which could well prove fantastic business, as Bruma is still only 21.
Sticking with youth, and most of you will have seen Courtois tie up another loan deal with Athletico Madrid. After a brilliant two years there, both sides seem happy with the obvious arrangement, that the Spanish team can keep him until Cech becomes surplus to requirements at the Bridge.
Despite my personal view that we require a defender first and foremost, it seems the majority of this window will be focused on signing Edinson Cavani from Napoli. Despite rumours, reports, and news from the neighbours dog, it seems nothing yet is completed transfer fee wise, although Napoli’s official radio station suggested a £49.3m deal had been agreed. Other reports suggest that they refuse to budge on £53.6m, which is the Uruguayan’s release clause.
I foresee a couple of weeks of negotiations, a cooling off period, and then a bid of around £53m being accepted on deadline day. Would he be worth signing, or can we do enough with just Ba, Torres, and Lukaku? Let us know!
Another name that has been linked with us is Marco van Ginkel, who is available for around £15m from Vitesse, should we want to pursue him. The midfielder’s move is probably not high on the radar though, as his agent wants to make sure game-time will be available for the man next season, as places in Holland’s World Cup squad are highly contested.
With our depth and quality in midfield, that looks doubtful, so its pretty likely that a bid will not surface for the Dutch man.
Elsewhere, former Chelsea target Wilfried Bony has joined up with Swansea for around £12m, which of course shouldn’t matter much now we have Schurrle signed up.
Also, another youngster to keep an eye on is Jorginho. The 21 year old could well be a replacement for van Ginkel, and certainly one for the future. The reports are a £6m bid, with the option of loaning him back out for a year or two, like we have done countless times before.
Who would you have at the club? Anyone else you think we should be focusing our thoughts on?
By Brad Smith
Follow @BrummieBrad
From the semi final I saw last night between Brasil and Uruguay I do not think Cavani is worth £50 million or so. He does not offer anything more than Torres.
we should keep in-form Torres rather than spending on out-form Cavani