Re: January Transfers/Rumours Thread

[zander]

Maurice Edu to Bursaspor on a 6 month loan.

BBC understands Sunderland have lodged a formal bid for Danny Graham.

[zander]

Norwich are also in for Graham after submitting a £5m bid according to SSN

Martin Petrov has left Bolton and signed for Espanyol

[zander]

Remy reveals a game of FIFA helped QPR move

By Joe Doyle | Goal.com

New QPR striker Loic Remy has revealed what it took to seal the deal between him and the Premier League club - a game of FIFA 13 with owner Tony Fernandes.

With the former Marseille man said to have his pick between the Rs and Newcastle prior to his switch to west London, a four-hour talk with Fernandes - culminating in a head-to-head video-gaming session - was "a special moment" for both of them.

"It was a special moment that followed our chat about QPR," Remy told the club's official website. "We just played a game of FIFA - it was good and showed to me what a good person Tony is. He showed his human side to me as an owner of the club I wanted to join. It was a special moment for us both."

The 26-year-old signed for a club record fee on a four-and-a-half year deal and chief executive Philip Beard insisted that "this move isn't motivated by money."

"Loic has a passion and desire to achieve in his career and similar to [Julio] Cesar, he wanted to be part of our project," he declared. "We know we haven't achieved our goals so far this season but he wanted to come in and help us build for the future.

"Tony is remarkable, he never gives up - that is his style - and he is as delighted as anyone that we've got this deal done."


:49:

[EJL]

Remy reveals a game of FIFA helped QPR move

By Joe Doyle | Goal.com

New QPR striker Loic Remy has revealed what it took to seal the deal between him and the Premier League club - a game of FIFA 13 with owner Tony Fernandes.

With the former Marseille man said to have his pick between the Rs and Newcastle prior to his switch to west London, a four-hour talk with Fernandes - culminating in a head-to-head video-gaming session - was "a special moment" for both of them.

"It was a special moment that followed our chat about QPR," Remy told the club's official website. "We just played a game of FIFA - it was good and showed to me what a good person Tony is. He showed his human side to me as an owner of the club I wanted to join. It was a special moment for us both."

The 26-year-old signed for a club record fee on a four-and-a-half year deal and chief executive Philip Beard insisted that "this move isn't motivated by money."

"Loic has a passion and desire to achieve in his career and similar to [Julio] Cesar, he wanted to be part of our project," he declared. "We know we haven't achieved our goals so far this season but he wanted to come in and help us build for the future.

"Tony is remarkable, he never gives up - that is his style - and he is as delighted as anyone that we've got this deal done."


:49:

Who needs footballers any more?

[Lighthouse]

This reminds me of the time we nearly signed the Serbian Grabsdosh Andrun.

' Both the manager and myself joined the Chairman on our knees. We just flicked to kick and played a game of Subbuteo. But I realised the tactics of the manager would not fit my play. He refused to take a shot and one of his men kept falling over or hitting his own players. Then I took a shot and his keeper stopped the ball, the ball hit his own player and rebounded in.

The Manager said he needed to find a few Subbuteo players that didn't keep breaking. I left there and joined QPR because they have electricity. They are very bad but they have somewhere to hang my coat and they pay me millions even if I don't want to play.'

[cottage cheese]

dont know whats worse,  the story of the fact Tony still plays video games.

[FC Silver Fox]

I'm enjoying this thread no end.  Don't know whether to laugh or cry sometimes.

[cmg]

Remy reveals a game of FIFA helped QPR move

By Joe Doyle | Goal.com

New QPR striker Loic Remy has revealed what it took to seal the deal between him and the Premier League club - a game of FIFA 13 with owner Tony Fernandes.

With the former Marseille man said to have his pick between the Rs and Newcastle prior to his switch to west London, a four-hour talk with Fernandes - culminating in a head-to-head video-gaming session - was "a special moment" for both of them.

"It was a special moment that followed our chat about QPR," Remy told the club's official website. "We just played a game of FIFA - it was good and showed to me what a good person Tony is. He showed his human side to me as an owner of the club I wanted to join. It was a special moment for us both."

The 26-year-old signed for a club record fee on a four-and-a-half year deal and chief executive Philip Beard insisted that "this move isn't motivated by money."

"Loic has a passion and desire to achieve in his career and similar to [Julio] Cesar, he wanted to be part of our project," he declared. "We know we haven't achieved our goals so far this season but he wanted to come in and help us build for the future.

"Tony is remarkable, he never gives up - that is his style - and he is as delighted as anyone that we've got this deal done."


:49:

A wonderful, wonderful story. Tells you all you need to know about modern footballers, football moguls and Queen's Park Rangers FC.
The window should now be closed by the descent of the giant foot that closed the Monty Python credits.

This reminds me of the time we nearly signed the Serbian Grabsdosh Andrun.

' Both the manager and myself joined the Chairman on our knees. We just flicked to kick and played a game of Subbuteo. But I realised the tactics of the manager would not fit my play. He refused to take a shot and one of his men kept falling over or hitting his own players. Then I took a shot and his keeper stopped the ball, the ball hit his own player and rebounded in.

The Manager said he needed to find a few Subbuteo players that didn't keep breaking. I left there and joined QPR because they have electricity. They are very bad but they have somewhere to hang my coat and they pay me millions even if I don't want to play.'

Top class! Winner of the 'Wish I'd thought of that One' award for this week.

[Lighthouse]

EXCLUSIVE: Fulham in £5m swoop for Malanda but Jol faces battle to sign Belgian teen star
By John Edwards
PUBLISHED: 11:14, 18 January 2013 | UPDATED: 11:26, 18 January 2013
Comments (0) Share
Fulham have met Zulte-Waregem's near-£5million valuation on top transfer target Junior Malanda but still face a battle to sign him this month.

Craven Cottage boss Martin Jol wants the powerful 18-year old to strengthen his midfield and made two bids in quick succession a week ago, as revealed in Sportsmail.
Both were turned down, as the Belgian side held out for the full asking price, which Fulham have now met by offering around £3.4m up front, with the rest to follow in instalments.
Teenage kicks: Midfielder Junior Malanda is Fulham's top transfer target
Powerful: Fulham have bid £5m for Malanda (left)
But Malanda has returned to Belgium, following talks in London, and Waregem are keen to keep him for the rest of the season and only allow him to become a Fulham player in the summer.

Still in the midst of his first full season at senior level, they feel he needs more experience before being pitched into the Barclays Premier League.

Jol wants him now, though, and believes his strength and versatility, as a midfield anchor man who can operate in central defence, can help guard against any danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

He is continuing to negotiate with Waregem in the hope of convincing them to release the Brussels-born teenager in the next few days.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2264438/Fulham-transfer-latest--5m-Junior-Malanda-bid-launched.html#ixzz2IKL2UhS9
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[twang]

EXCLUSIVE: Fulham in £5m swoop for Malanda but Jol faces battle to sign Belgian teen star
By John Edwards
PUBLISHED: 11:14, 18 January 2013 | UPDATED: 11:26, 18 January 2013
Comments (0) Share
Fulham have met Zulte-Waregem's near-£5million valuation on top transfer target Junior Malanda but still face a battle to sign him this month.

Craven Cottage boss Martin Jol wants the powerful 18-year old to strengthen his midfield and made two bids in quick succession a week ago, as revealed in Sportsmail.
Both were turned down, as the Belgian side held out for the full asking price, which Fulham have now met by offering around £3.4m up front, with the rest to follow in instalments.
Teenage kicks: Midfielder Junior Malanda is Fulham's top transfer target
Powerful: Fulham have bid £5m for Malanda (left)
But Malanda has returned to Belgium, following talks in London, and Waregem are keen to keep him for the rest of the season and only allow him to become a Fulham player in the summer.

Still in the midst of his first full season at senior level, they feel he needs more experience before being pitched into the Barclays Premier League.

Jol wants him now, though, and believes his strength and versatility, as a midfield anchor man who can operate in central defence, can help guard against any danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

He is continuing to negotiate with Waregem in the hope of convincing them to release the Brussels-born teenager in the next few days.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2264438/Fulham-transfer-latest--5m-Junior-Malanda-bid-launched.html#ixzz2IKL2UhS9
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

If true, let's hope we get him in straight away. In the situation we're in there's no point in paying that kind of money on a player that won't be able to play for us this season.

Can't help to get a bit excited about this rumour though.

[Bassey the warrior]

EXCLUSIVE: Fulham in £5m swoop for Malanda but Jol faces battle to sign Belgian teen star
By John Edwards
PUBLISHED: 11:14, 18 January 2013 | UPDATED: 11:26, 18 January 2013
Comments (0) Share
Fulham have met Zulte-Waregem's near-£5million valuation on top transfer target Junior Malanda but still face a battle to sign him this month.

Craven Cottage boss Martin Jol wants the powerful 18-year old to strengthen his midfield and made two bids in quick succession a week ago, as revealed in Sportsmail.
Both were turned down, as the Belgian side held out for the full asking price, which Fulham have now met by offering around £3.4m up front, with the rest to follow in instalments.
Teenage kicks: Midfielder Junior Malanda is Fulham's top transfer target
Powerful: Fulham have bid £5m for Malanda (left)
But Malanda has returned to Belgium, following talks in London, and Waregem are keen to keep him for the rest of the season and only allow him to become a Fulham player in the summer.

Still in the midst of his first full season at senior level, they feel he needs more experience before being pitched into the Barclays Premier League.

Jol wants him now, though, and believes his strength and versatility, as a midfield anchor man who can operate in central defence, can help guard against any danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

He is continuing to negotiate with Waregem in the hope of convincing them to release the Brussels-born teenager in the next few days.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2264438/Fulham-transfer-latest--5m-Junior-Malanda-bid-launched.html#ixzz2IKL2UhS9
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

If true, let's hope we get him in straight away. In the situation we're in there's no point in paying that kind of money on a player that won't be able to play for us this season.

Can't help to get a bit excited about this rumour though.

Have you seen him play?

[ToodlesMcToot]

Well, this Malanda kid sounds like a nice signing. But, if it's true that Jol believes that an 18 yr old with half a season's experience in the Belgian 1st Division is going to right our ship in the Premier League, then I'm truly worried now.

I sincerely hope that this is typical transfer window reporting.

[atleTheodor]

Sandro has now officially been ruled out for the rest of the season. That really lowers the chances of us getting Huddlestone, I think.

[twang]

Have you seen him play?

Unfortunately not. Just like the sound of him, and he would at least add some much-needed strength to our central midfield.

[Bassey the warrior]

Sandro has now officially been ruled out for the rest of the season. That really lowers the chances of us getting Huddlestone, I think.

Not necessarily. They're keeping hold of Livermore and Holtby may be coming in.

[Bassey the warrior]

Have you seen him play?

Unfortunately not. Just like the sound of him, and he would at least add some much-needed strength to our central midfield.

He's very young though and not much experience. I'd rather we signed someone with more experience.

[twang]

Have you seen him play?

Unfortunately not. Just like the sound of him, and he would at least add some much-needed strength to our central midfield.

He's very young though and not much experience. I'd rather we signed someone with more experience.

Sidwell 30, Baird 30, Diarra 31 and Karagounis 35 aren't enough experience for you?

[westcliff white]

Have you seen him play?

Unfortunately not. Just like the sound of him, and he would at least add some much-needed strength to our central midfield.

I have seen Malanda la for Zulte two times this year. He is a good player, but remember this is Belgian football, the level is ok but not great, also remember when your new you look good until people figure your style out, there were signs before Xmas that this had happened. However he is a good prospect but I doubt (and if we sign him. Hope to be proved wrong) that he is ready for the premiership just yet

[Northern Cottager]

Have you seen him play?

Unfortunately not. Just like the sound of him, and he would at least add some much-needed strength to our central midfield.

He's very young though and not much experience. I'd rather we signed someone with more experience.

Sidwell 30, Baird 30, Diarra 31 and Karagounis 35 aren't enough experience for you?

I think he means someone around 25-26 who knows the level but also has the legs and creativity to last 90 minutes.

[Lighthouse]

Not sure we have the money to buy a ready made Prem player. Old or young are the extremes we are having to go for.