Sunderland get busy on D-Day
Sunderland have today been busy on this the last day of the summer transfer window. They have completed the signing of former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke from Sydney FC for a fee of £200,000 and of course this is new Sunderland boss, Roy Keane first signing as a manager. The player completed a medical earlier today and he was happy to meet back up with his former Man United team mate Roy Keane.
The pair spent four years together at Old Trafford and helped the club to win the treble in 1999 but Yorke left the club in 2002. Sunderland have also signed Graham Kavanagh from Wigan today for a fee of £500,000. The Irish international joined Wigan in 2005 from Cardiff and has helped Wigan gain promotion to the Premiership but he has now decided to team up with his former international partner Roy Keane.
Sunderland may also complete the signing of Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller by the end of the night. The player has been frozen out of the first team at United ever since his move from Celtic two seasons ago and I have to say that it would do the player the world of good if he joined Sunderland.
Cole moves South
Andy Cole has today signed for in form Premiership side Portsmouth for a fee that is believed to be about half a million pounds. Portsmouth have signed the player from Manchester City and the player has signed a two year contract for the South Coast club. He is the second player to make this same move in the last few weeks after for City keeper David James also moved to Pompey.
"It's an opportunity for me to play for another two years and I hope to do my best for Portsmouth football club, score a few goals and get the club into the top ten which is what they're aiming to do this season," Cole told his new club's website. Cole says that he is looking forward to joining up with former team mates at Fratton Park.
"I know Jamo (David James), I know Sol (Campbell) and I've played with David Thompson as well which is always important when you come to a new club because you can fit in straight away. "I know the club are trying to push forward, buying players and trying to start something new and I want to be a part of that."
Spurs capture Steed
Tottenham have today completed the signing of Steed Malbranque from their London rivals Fulham. The fee is undisclosed and Tottenham have agreed to let Wayne Routledge go in the other direction. The Frenchman hasn't played at all for Fulham this season because of the player refusing to sign a new contract at Craven Cottage and wasn't even given a squad number this season.
Many clubs were said to be interested in the player including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Bolton but Tottenham have but Tottenham have scooped to sign a him much to the delight of Spurs boss Martin Jol.
"Steed is a skilful, versatile midfielder of real quality," Jol told the club's website. "He is a player we have always admired and we are delighted he has come to us, there were a number of other clubs interested. He is a player who can cover the left, centre and right midfield positions and will work well within our system."
Fantasy Football League
I would just like to inform people that I have created a new fantasy league on the premierleague.com website and if you would like to join just copy the codeat the bottom onto the page entitled "Leagues", but don't worry if you haven't yet created a team because you still can. Just go onto www.premierleague.com and follow the instructions (and by the way it's free as well)!
The code: 326801-114368
Premiership Predictions
In this post I will give my predictions for the new Premiership season and I will tell you who I think is each individual team's key player and I would like to know your views on wheter or not you agree or disagree with my assetment of how the season is going to go.
1st- Chelsea. Key Player- John Terry.
2nd- Liverpool. Key Player- Steven Gerrard.
3rd- Man United. Key Player- Michael Carrick.
4th- Arsenal. Key Player- Thierry Henry.
5th- Tottenham. Key Player- Dimtri Berbatov.
6th- Newcastle. Key Player- Scott Parker.
7th- Everton. Key Player- Andy Johnson.
8th- Man City. Key Player- Joey Barton.
9th- Blackburn. Key Player- Morten Gamst Pedersen.
10th- West Ham. Key Player- Anton Ferdinand.
11th- Portsmouth. Key Player- Gary O'Neil.
12th-Bolton. Key Player- Kevin Nolan.
13th- Middlesbrough. Key Player- Fabio Rochemback.
14th- Charlton. Key Player- Darren Bent.
15th- Aston Villa. Key Player- Gareth Barry.
16th- Watford. Key Player- Marlon King.
17th- Fulham. Key Player- Jimmy Bullard.
18th- Wigan. Key Player- Arjan De Zeeuw.
19th- Reading. Key Player- Steve Sidwell.
20th-Sheffield United. Key Player- Phil Jagielka.
Reds complete Kuyt move
Liverpool have today completed the signing of Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt after the 26 year-old signed a four-year deal at Anfield. The Reds agreed a fee for the much wanted striker on Thursday after weeks of talks with his club Feyernood. Newcastle and many other top clubs were interested in the striker but it now appears that Liverpool have won the race to sign the player. Kuyt is Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez' sixth signing of the summer and he has tipped him to become a favourite with the Liverpool faithful.
"I am really happy. We were looking at Dirk for a long time and I'm pleased we have signed him because he will be a good player for us," said Benitez. "He's a player with good game intelligence. He knows what to do with the ball and without the ball and he's also a very good worker. "His movement is good, his finishing is fantastic and I know he will score a lot of goals for us because we now have more possibilities in the wide areas and also between the lines."
I believe that this is a good move by Liverpool but I'm not sure Robbie Fowler will be to happy that Benitez has went out and bought another striker which will make him fourth in the pecking order of striker behind Crouch, Bellamy and Kuyt. Kuyt is a very good player and I think that if Liverpool are to challenge Chelsea for the title this year they will need plenty of goals and I am backing this man to bring Liverpool the goals.