Transfer News!

RECRUITMENT DRIVE

According to reports coming from Hamburg, Manchester City have agreed a deal to bring their centre-back Vincent Kompany to Eastlands. No fee has yet been disclosed, but it does seem that Mark Hughes was as frightened as most City fans by the horror show in defence against Villa last weekend. In my opinion, Kompany, 22, is a terrific buy (depending on the price!) He has always performed well for Hamburg, frequently being linked with some of Europe's major sides - why exactly he has chosen City is unknown to me, maybe charity - going where he is needed most. He should at least bring a bit more speed, skill and agility to Man City's wobbly back-line.





Endurance, patience, battling against desperation. Qualities that the sufferer of two separate compound fractures, Djibril Cisse, and the fans of Sunderland AFC have in common. The perfect match? Well Roy Keane certainly thinks so - or he may have just realised that new signing El-Hadj Diouf has only been prtending to be a striker all these years at Bolton (21 goals in 114 games, if you were wondering...) Keane has agreed a deal to bring Cisse, 27, on a season long loan to bring some much needed pace and prolificacy to a weak front line. Footie Frog has masses of respect for Cisse, after coming back from 2 horrific injuries but still banging goals in for Marseille in Ligue 1, scoring 22 goals in 50 matches last season.

In a career unfairly viewed as disappointing by the press, Djibril (pictured here during his open-top tour of Sunderland) has managed 149 goals in 324 games, just under a goal every two games... a shrewd swoop by Keane in my opinion.



Unlike the other player rumoured to be undergoing a medical on Wearside,
David Healy. In a move that smacks of 'adding to the numbers', Keane has offered the 29 year old Northern Ireland striker the chance to escape his Craven Cottage nightmare. Fulham, unsurprisingly, are overjoyed that anyone is interested in 'good at international-level-so-should-be-good-in-the-Premier-League-but-isn't' Healy. Will need to improve on his ratio of 35 goals in nearly 150 matches in the top flight to become a regular at the Stadium Of Light. Can't see it personally. Hope the benches there are comfy. May struggle to gel with a squad comprising of 11 Republic of Ireland-born players. Not counting manager. Or owner.


OTHER TRANSFER NEWS

Armand Traore joins Portsmouth on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
Evander Sno leaves his Celtic troubles behind to sign a 3 year deal at Ajax.
Rangers bring Steven Davies back to Ibrox permanently after successful loan last season. £3m.