When Wenger first came to England, the other title contenders had more or less sewn up the scouting network on the British Isles, the next George Best or Denis Law was going to be snapped up by United or Liverpool.

He had his connections in France and other parts of the continent... he stole a massive march on Fergie and Co by signing the likes of Anelka and Fabregras whilst the rest were scouting on a cold evening at Turf Moor.

This transfer business can sometimes be similar to a game of chess between the clubs involved, but if it is a game then one thing is for sure, over the last couple of seasons Newcastle United have shown themselves to be one of the better players with the quiet but efficient aquisition of plyers [..

A lot of transfer business goes on during the last day of the transfer window. Cheick Tiote in action at Bolton That's next Tuesday in this particular window, and that's when Sky Sports seems to go crazy as they report the details of deals being closed amid all of the excitement that they say exists.

Newcastle try to conduct their transfer business quietly and as quickly as possible. Alan Pardew Newcastle try to do their transfers quickly and quietly So when it gets out in the open who they are after and bids are turned down, and other clubs become interested in the same player, that's not good news for Newcastle.

Norwich City have completed the signing of Jonny Howson from Leeds United. A fee was agreed last week, but the Canaries have now confirmed the transfer after the midfielder completed his medical at Carrow Road.

Those who assess in play betting strategy note how the signing is one of many Norwich have made from outside of the Premier League as they build a strong squad to continue the success Paul Lambert has already brought to the club.

Alex McLeish has told Liverpool that they will have to make an ‘attractive' offer for Darren Bent if they wish to prize the striker away from Aston Villa.
The Reds have been linked with a January move for the England international, as Kenny Dalglish looks to add much needed firepower to their attacking line.

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- Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates, comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general.

I think we all had a feeling, for better or worse, that Gary Cahill was going to be a Chelsea player come January after seeing Owen Coyle's comments last week. Now, we have some concrete information from Andre Villas-Boas that the club is indeed pursuing the English defender.

Only a matter time until this is closed then?

Arsenal continue their decent into the relegation zone after another disastrous Champions League match where they once again showed their defensive frailties and lack of mental strength and character, and facing the stalwart Fulham FC will offer no let up to the North London crisis situation.

Ian Ayre has rubbished a newspaper report claiming Principal Owner John Henry suggested Fenway Sports Group may have overpaid for Liverpool players.
The Reds Managing Director insists Henry's quote was not regarding the club's transfer business and was instead referring to baseball.
Ayre told LFC TV's Friday Night Live: "I have actually seen the transcript.

Liverpool coach Steve Clarke has described the decision to bring back Craig Bellamy as a "No Brainer".

The Reds re-signed the Welshman on deadline day for a free transfer after allowing David N'Gog to be sold to Bolton Wanders for £4mill. Which was a great peice of transfer business for Kenny Dalglish.

G'day Arse addicts, tis I again, that Stillman fella, come to once again dispense wisdom and bile in equal measure on behalf of you, the silent majority. Aren't you lucky that I have appointed myself to hold court at your benediction? With the internationals behind us for another five weeks, Champions League qualification secured and new signings stockpiled, I'm putting the traumas of early season behind me and considering this the start of our season.

Phil Thompson believes that "something big" is happening at Liverpool following their splurge during the summer transfer window.
The Reds brought in Charlie Adam, Craig Bellamy, Sebastian Coates, Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni during the summer, and have started the season brightly.

Three games of the season have been played and the clubs have completed their transfer business till the winter at least. This seems like a good time to make predictions but this year I am finding it hard to develop any sort of conviction regarding the hopes of most of the top teams. There have been significant changes at almost all the clubs, the results of which will only be known in due course.

Well, it's not too too surprising that a large percentage of fans are not happy with Newcastle's transfer business this summer. And with almost 900 votes in, and the poll still open, 73% say they are dissatisfied with the transfer business Newcastle have completed this summer. 16% are satisfied and 11% remain undecided.

Twitter seems to have been specifically designed to get hot heads like Joey Barton into big trouble. Joey Barton - trouble maker no way! And QPR fans will see what they will have to put up with from now on, as Joey has had the cheek to criticize Newcastle over their transfer business. Again, it's very much like what [.

Since returning to Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish has brought 9 players to the club for transfer fees of approximately £111m, and recouped £71m by offloading 14 players. After crunching the numbers, this means that Dalglish has only actually spent £36m, which consequently means we got Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing for a mere £4m each.

Premier League club-by-club guide to transfer window

They've had all summer but Premier League managers are still facing a race against time to finish their transfer business ahead of the window closing on Wednesday night.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-08-30 14:47:21 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Arsenal are on the verge of signing Brazil international Andre Santos from Fenerbahce, according to reports in the British and Turkish media.

With only two days of transfer business remaining, it is expected that the player will be unveiled immediately after completing a medical on Tuesday.

Arsene Wenger has given a little insight into how he conducts his transfer business, and he says that although the Arsenal fans are desperate for him to bring in reinforcements it doesn't mean that to do so is the right thing for the club, which he feels is more important. As an example he remembers [.

Transfer Rumors: Barton Joins QPR - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

So, the Joey Barton era is over at Newcastle. It doesn't come as a surprise, but is it a real shame or the best thing for both parties? I'll settle for somewhere in the middle, as he was arguably Newcastle's most influential player, but the relationship between player and club had perhaps reached the point of no return.

For most clubs in Italy, finishing seventh in Serie A for two consecutive seasons would be considered a positive result. But for a club like Juventus, it is nothing short of a crisis. Since their banishment to Serie B, Juventus has lacked the consistent top-of-the-table finishes they had become so used to, and as a result have lost their status as a european giant.

Liverpool's summer of transfer business continues with the news that VfL Wolfsburg confirmed the signing of Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos on a two-year deal.

'I'm up for the challenge'

Maxi Rodriguez believes Liverpool's transfer business can steer the club towards a bright future and revealed he's prepared for the fight of trying to hold down a regular starting berth.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-08-17 09:33:25 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Newcastle and Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign at St James' Park in a repeat of one of the games of last season.

The Magpies produced an astonishing comeback from 4-0 down in February to salvage the most unlikely of draws and deliver a hammer blow toArsenal's title hopes.

Liverpool FC Season Preview

With the season staring us full in the face, it's time to go one more, but the question many Liverpool fans are asking is just where will our fortunes take us come May? From the optimists who believe that Manchester United's '19′ will be equalled in short order, to the pessimists who believe that not enough has been done to reclaim a place at Europe's top table, there are wide ranging views on the success of Liverpool's summer.

Christian Poulsen has dismissed speculation that he will leave Liverpool and insists he sees his future at the club.
Kenny Dalglish has increased his midfield options with the signing of Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson this summer.
These new recruits will augment a squad already bulging with midfielders in Lucas, Steven Gerrard and Jay Spearing.

By Amy Quinn, writing from Dublin.

The summer of 2011, now nearing its close, will be remembered for many things; Joey Barton losing (or perhaps finding) his marbles on Twitter, Everton failing to make a single signing, André Villas-Boas perplexing English journalists and commentators (it's Veelash-Bowash, apparently), and last but certainly not least, the sudden spurt in clubs that, though exactly traditional super-powers of the sport, are flexing some serious muscle in the transfer market.

Sit back and watch the start of Tottenham's 2011/12 Premier League season on Sky Sports HD.

It all seemed so easy to rectify over the summer. Buy at least one striker, who didn't need someone alongside him to keep him company and we would instantly be transformed into a top-four-bound, title-chasing, goal machine.

Morning all, welcome to the penultimate Friday of the off-season. This time next week we'll be all like 'Hurrah! Football's back tomorrow. Where are my lucky pants which aren't that lucky at all now that I come to think of it?!'

Despite it all and 'it all' being the all day, drip-drip torture of not signing anyone and the having the same arguments over and over again so many times that Paddy actually sat down I'm looking forward to it.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish believes the club has gone about their transfer business "responsibly" - even though the club have spent over £100 million since he returned as manager.
Luis Suarez, Andrew Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Alexander Doni have arrived since January as Dalglish looks to rebuild a squad which had become stale.

Alonso's Reds prediction

Xabi Alonso believes Liverpool's summer transfer business will make them a force to be reckoned with this season.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-08-01 09:31:18 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Morning all.

Our transfer business continued a-pace yesterday as we provided another signing for another club. As expected Jay Emmanuel-Thomas joined Ipswich for around £1m. It's an unsurprising move considering his career trajectory and his age. If he'd stayed at Arsenal this year he would have had to be included in the 25 man squad and with Arsene Wenger clearly not considering him a player of that stature a move was the only realistic option.

While in America it turns out that Alan Pardew has been working on getting some transfer business completed. Mevlut Erdinc on his way to Tyneside? The news is that Newcastle are in dire need of another striker, and of course a left back is needed to replace Jose Enrique. We have to think the [...

Liverpool youngster Jonjo Shelvey says he is glad to see new arrivals join the club and is not worried about competition for places.
The former Charlton Athletic player made 21 appearances last season as new manager Kenny Dalglish gave younger players more time on the pitch.
But the Scot has since signed midfielders Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing as he aims to take Liverpool back into the top four.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney tips Liverpool to challenge for title

• 'Liverpool have made some really good signings' • Rooney encouraged by United's purchase of Ashley Young Wayne Rooney feels Liverpool can mount a genuine threat to Manchester United's hopes of adding another Premier League title to their collection.

Alan Pardew has talked about the transfer window, from Newcastle's base in Kansas City, and he has said he is pleased with the business Newcastle have done so far in the window. Alan Pardew - pleased with transfer business The lads will play Kansas City tonight at 7:30 pm central time, which is 8:30 pm [.

Our poll is showing that the majority of Newcastle fans are satisfied with Newcastle transfer business so far. The poll was published back on July 5th, and if you haven't voted yet the above poll will show up asking for your vote and for those who have voted the results will be shown. The [...]

Liverpool need Downing to make Adam and Carroll signings work

There is a touch of putting the cart before the horse in Liverpool's transfer business so far this summer. While the Reds desperately need one, if not two, quality wingers, they seem fixated on adding yet more central midfielders to an already-overstaffed department.

Steven Gerrard and José Reina 'fit for start of season' – Dalglish

• Both players left out of Liverpool's far east tour • Kenny Dalglish happy with transfer business so far The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, is confident his captain, Steven Gerrard, and the goalkeeper José Reina will be fit for the start of the season.