Summer Madness! Saints asset stripped, Chelsea dealing and Hazard in limbo

Article by Lee Beevor

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I had forgotten the annual insanity that infects the British media during the close season. Fortunately, this year’s epidemic will be quickly brought under control as events unfold in Brazil, with actual football reducing the need for constant and wild speculation. Nevertheless, this leaves around two weeks of sports pages to be filled, with nothing of essence to write about. Instead we are treated to the best guesses of who may or may not be transferred, which seems to include amongst others, Southampton’s entire squad.

For fans of the Saints, such a fuss will be a new experience. Of course, their club has been consistently asset stripped; albeit normally at the fairly sedate rate of a player every year or so. This time around, if the journalists are to be believed, this window could see an exodus of biblical proportions. I feel for them and their prospects, as a bright future has quickly dimmed, with their search for a manager undoubtedly hampered by the plethora of reports of sales of their prize assets.

Sadly, the media are quick to seize upon any opportunity to manufacture an exclusive, aware of the needs of particular clubs to strengthen their squads ahead of the next campaign. As such it is easy to find a buyer for every Lallana, Shaw and even Lambert, as there is plenty of money swilling around to facilitate these transfers. Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked with more names than most, as both must make multiple signings to recover/maintain their status. This state of affairs does not help smaller clubs like Southampton, whose successful youth policy will ultimately yield honours and silverware for other clubs. I sincerely hope their supporters enjoy watching their players in the England team, as by the Euro qualifiers in September; all three may well have departed.

 

Turning to the column inches generated by my own team Chelsea, and there is the usual mix of true, plausible and ludicrous. As one of Europe’s elite, we tend to be linked with many, many transfers. Chelsea’s long standing policy of refusing to comment on signings until they are confirmed is an open invitation to the nation’s hacks to be creative. That Mourinho is fairly prolific in pontificating provocatively is manner from heaven for the journalists. So for Chelsea followers, there is always plenty to read, muse upon or laugh at.

So far, Luiz to PSG, plus Eto’o and Ashley Cole as free agents are confirmed departures. There are sure to more, with Lamps likely and John Obi Mikel a fair possibility. The first team squad will be swelled by several of our legion of loanees, among whom Courtois and Lukaku are the most likely to command a place. Aside from these, our captain is staying (hoorah!), as it would seem at Jose’s request is Demba Ba. Sadly, Torres has also pledged to remain, albeit there is still hope someone will make an offer and put an end to our suffering!

Turning to the arrivals and Diego Costa from Spain has been widely reported, albeit as yet officially unconfirmed. Once again, the press are at full throttle here and it seems Costa will be bringing some friends with him, as Atlético look to challenge Southampton in the departure stakes. If true, the Spanish champions will defend their title without Costa, Courtois, Filipe Luis and Tiago, with the spine of their team on its way to West London! Quite why Chelsea would re-sign Tiago at 32 and release Frank Lampard is beyond me and looks to be one of the more fanciful of the stories doing the rounds.

Finally, there is one particularly alarming rumour which will not go away, namely that of Eden Hazard to PSG. The French champions are continuing to ignore Financial Fair Play (FFP), safe in the knowledge that a nice fat cheque to UEFA is adequate to allow their empire building to continue unimpeded. I believe Eden would prefer to continue to build his career under Mourinho, who he sees as the man to elevate him to Ballon d’Or status, as he did for Cristiano Ronaldo. However, PSG possess two forwards that could really help our squad in Lavezzi and Cavani, both of whom could be deemed expendable. With this in mind, it is not so fanciful that a deal could be reached.

If the papers and internet sites are to be believed, there are phones ringing and faxes churning out offers and contracts constantly. In truth, there is probably nothing going on, with everybody either on holiday or in Brazil. Indeed, barring the usual mischief of the agents, nothing much of substance will happen until the World Cup is over. Sadly this will not halt the stream of “Exclusive!” headlines and the endless debate, as after all there is still a fortnight to fill until the real action gets underway.

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