Analysing the transfer gossip – 5th June Part Two: Chelsea, Dzeko, Jovetic and more

As we move in to the off-season an unprecedented amount of managerial movement around Europe will surely see an already frantic transfer market go in to overdrive. This will give plenty of opportunities for transfer rumour and gossip. So how much of it is realistic?

There is a huge bundle of transfer gossip today so I’ve had to split this in to two parts.

New Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hopes to hijack Arsenal’s £23m move for Fiorentina’s Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic, 23.

Full story: The Times

What’s the story? And why would he do that? He doesn’t think Juan Mata is doing a good job at number 10?

Does it make sense? I guess if Mourinho doesn’t rate Mata, Hazard and Oscar. Jovetic is not a striker, he’s a forward, as anyone who has watched him will see. He’s even played against England so it’s not as if they’d have had to watch Serie A.

Is the price right? It is for Jovetic, and would be for Arsenal, but why would Chelsea spend that and £20m on Schurrle with all this talent in place already.

Will it happen? 1/10 – By rule, no fuss for Chelsea, but this would be breathtakingly unnecessary.

Mourinho has made Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, 27, his top transfer target at Chelsea.

Full story: Daily Star

What’s the story? Just, no. Are we seriously saying that when Abramovich said to Mourinho ‘so, who do you want?’ he immediately said ‘Edin Dzeko’? Edin Dzeko? The Man City cast off? Rather than Cavani? Or Lukaku?

Does it make sense? Clearly not. Dzeko is a good player, but is he better than Ba and Torres? He certainly isn’t better than Lukaku.

Is the price right? What is Dzeko worth? £15m or so?

Will it happen? 4/10 – Possibly, but it would be so weird.

Mourinho faces a fight to persuade Romelu Lukaku, 20, to stay at the club, with the Belgian striker believed to favour another loan deal next season in order improve his chances of making the 2014 World Cup.

Full story: The Guardian

What’s the story? He doesn’t face a fight at all. If he says, ‘you’re not going on loan Romelu’, job done. Also, he’d favour starting for Chelsea rather than going out on loan.

Does it make sense? Lukaku is the best young striker in the world and is worth starting this year. The difference between Cavani and him is small, and can be made up with a year starting for Chelsea anyway.

Is the price right? If he goes on loan some club will be very lucky.

Will it happen? 5/10 – Mourinho will want to fully appraise him first. He’s going nowhere unless they sign a truly elite striker. By that I meant Cavani or Lewandowski, not Dzeko.

Monaco will offer John Terry, 32, a tax-free salary of around £150,000 a week in an effort to persuade the Chelsea defender to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

What’s the story? Monaco have got Carvalho, so why not Terry too?

Does it make sense? Nothing really makes sense with Monaco. If it wasn’t Mourinho coming in to Chelsea Terry would be long gone but Mourinho can overcome his attempts at managing the team himself.

Is the price right? He can’t be worth much at 32 with dodgy knees.

Will it happen? 3/10 – Big money but no trophies for him to hoist, in full kit.

Manchester City are lining up a £21m bid for Real Madrid defender Pepe, 30.

Full story: Daily Express

What’s the story? Man City have Kompany and the potentially supreme 19 year old Nastasic in central defence and they were the tightest in the league last season. So of course, they want to spend eye watering money on an inferior defender when their big questions are in attack and midfield.

Does it make sense? No. Pepe is a decent player, there’s no doubt. But why in the world would City give up on Nastasic for him?

Is the price right? No. £21m for a 30 year old central defender? When we’re saying Koscielny is £15m?

Will it happen? 3/10 – City are prone to overpaying, but this would set a new low.

Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, 28, after reaching a compromise on his buy-out clause of £42.5m.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

What’s the story? City seem to be on the verge of completing this after a year of pursuit. Fernandinho is a classy possession based central midfielder which City badly need.

Does it make sense? Yes, football wise. He will bring a variety of passing and tempo control to an otherwise one dimensional City midfield. Financially it could be a disaster. At 28, this is the most he will ever cost, they will certainly lose money.

Is the price right? At least they are compromising on £42.5m but if it’s even reduced to £20m it’s still too much.

Will it happen? 10/10 – Yes. At long last.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan says he would let Latics players join manager Roberto Martinez at Everton, with midfielders James McCarthy and Callum McManaman, both 22, the Toffees’ targets.

Full story: The Guardian

What’s the story? If Martinez is, as expected, the next Everton manager he’ll need personnel who can play his brand of football and McCarthy and McManaman are more than capable operators.

Does it make sense? Yes. McCarthy would bring his drifting elegance and creativity to an otherwise workmanlike Everton central midfield. McManaman would bring pace and directness on the opposite wing to Kevin Mirallas. Both belong in the top flight.

Is the price right? I think a £10m deal for them both would be fair to both teams.

Will it happen? 9/10 – This looks almost inevitable, especially if Whelan has said as much.