Are Liverpool about to snatch Roberto Soldado from Tottenham Hotspur? Valencia have already rejected two bids from Spurs for the Spanish international striker, and Liverpool are poised to jump ahead of their Premier League rivals. With Luis Suárez’ situation becoming more precarious by the day, the Reds have lined up Soldado as his replacement. The 28-year-old will leave Valencia this summer, as they have big money problems. The Premier League would suit his style of play and if he’s in a team that want to attack and get balls into the box from wide areas, he’ll be a perfect fit. Liverpool would have to pay $36 million for him, something Spurs aren’t prepared to do.
Cardiff City are closing in on a club-record signing, as French midfielder Etienne Capoue may arrive in the Welsh capital. Tolouse have reportedly accepted a $15 million bid from the Bluebirds. Capoue, 25, can play in a variety of roles and if Malkay Mackay does pull this one off, it will be a major coup for the PL newcomers. So far they’ve only signed Danish forward Andreas Cornelius, but Cardiff are staying patient in the transfer market and Capoue’s possible arrival will strengthen their midfield options.
Queens Park Rangers aren’t any closer to finding out if Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar is on his way out of Loftus Road. The 33-year-old ‘keeper has been linked with Arsenal and Napoli, but both of those moves have stalled. However, Fiorentina are apparently in the hunt for Brazil’s No.1. On huge wages and unwilling to play in the Championship, La Viola could snap Cesar up for a reasonable fee after he proved just how good he is during Brazil’s triumphant Confederations Cup campaign this summer.
Ex-Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou is planning on a move back to the Premier League after French side Lille have accepted two bids of $7 million for the Ivorian attacker. Kalou is said to have turned down West Ham as they wanted to play him on the wing, instead of a central role. While West Brom are the other club interested and Steve Clarke worked alongside Kalou for many years at Chelsea. The Baggies need to replace Romelu Lukaku’s goals and Kalou would add pace and bags of experience following his successful spell at Stamford Bridge.
Sam Allardyce has turned his attention to Southampton’s Rickie Lambert, after the Hammers failed in a bid to lure Lambert away from the Saints last season. The 31-year-old striker scored 15 goals in his first-ever season in the Premier League last year, making him the highest scoring English forward. He has just signed a new Saints contract and is a hero at St. Mary’s, so Big Sam could be wasting his time on this one. One thing is for sure, Lambert would thrive under West Ham’s direct tactics and certainly score plenty of goals alongside Andy Carroll. But I doubt he will want to go from being Southampton’s main man to West Ham substitute.
More: Wednesday’s Transfer Rumor Roundup, Bent to Newcastle, Soldado to Spurs
More: Tuesday’s Transfer Rumor Roundup, Bernard to Arsenal, Nani to Monaco
