Could Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United move for the stars of Great Britain’s Olympic team?
On Saturday night, Team GB bowed out of the Olympic football competition after losing to South Korea on penalties. The experience has been a great one for all of Stuart Pearce’s 18-man squad – Here we take a look at four players who thanks to a great tournament, could be moving on to bigger and better things.
Jack Butland
The Birmingham City goalkeeper spent the majority of the second half of last season on loan at League Two club Cheltenham Town (his second loan spell at the club), before being recalled to the Birmingham squad for their final three games of the season after injury to first-choice keeper, Boaz Myhill. Butland has represented England up to under-21 level and was called up as a last-minute replacement for John Ruddy in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad.
Butland has enjoyed a good Olympic tournament, making a number of important and quality saves and it has been reported that he has attracted the attentions of a number of top clubs, including Manchester City and Liverpool. The club that could be the best destination for the young English keeper though, is Arsenal. The North Londoners have recently parted ways with back-up goalkeeper Manuel Almunia after he joined Championship club Watford and could be set to do the same with Vito Mannone as Hull City look to sign him on a full-time basis – their other keeper and official number two, Lukasz Fabianski has picked up a number of injuries in the last couple of seasons so a space in Arsene Wenger’s squad could be up for grabs for Butland.
Neil Taylor
Swansea City’s Neil Taylor enjoyed a fantastic debut season in the Premier League as he helped Welsh side Swansea finish eleventh in their first season in the top-flight. During the Olympics, Left-back Taylor showed his versatility by being deployed by Stuart Pearce as a right-back – not once did he look out of place when either defending or going forward.
Taylor, who has played nine times for Wales, was linked with a move to Arsenal in January and given their ongoing injury-jinx and recent long-term absences of both right-back Bacary Sagna and left-back Kieran Gibbs, this move made a lot of sense to a lot of people.
Another club in need of a full-back is Chelsea. Ashley Cole is entering the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and the club this summer, released Jose Bosingwa, leaving no real back-up for right-back Branislav Ivanovic – a player who loves a yellow card or two. With Manchester United seemingly getting nowhere in their pursuit of Everton left-back Leighton Baines, don’t be surprised if they come calling.
Scott Sinclair
Another one of Swansea’s star men from last season, Sinclair is said to be a target for Roberto Mancini and Manchester City. The former Chelsea man, who scored the second goal in Team GB’s 3-1 victory over UAE last Sunday, is enjoying the most settled period of his career with the Swans but after the departure of manager of Brendan Rodgers, could Sinclair be persuaded to leave?
Mancini has reportedly inquired about Theo Walcott but Arsenal will tell him where to go on that one and given now Robin van Persie may have changed his mind about leaving the Emirates, Walcott may be even keener to get his own contract sorted. So Sinclair would be a good alternative for City and a cheaper one at that – who himself has just one year left on his own contract.
Adam Johnson has failed to nail down a first-team place since he arrived in Manchester and has been left frustrated with his lack of opportunity, so don’t rule out the winger being used as part of the deal. Will Sinclair, who was sent home after breaking a curfew whilst on duty for England under-19s in 2007, be able to resist the financial lure of Manchester City, if they come calling?
Joe Allen
This one could be the most likely of the lot. Liverpool have been heavily linked with Joe Allen, one of their stars last season. New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is being hotly tipped to bring the midfielder to Anfield, although the manager has so far been coy on such a deal.
It has been reported that discussions have taken place between Swansea and Liverpool over a move, but the fee is considered to be a sticking point. Swansea want nearer to £15 million, but Liverpool are reluctant to pay over £12.5 million.
Still with money secured for Alberto Aquilani, and possible cash incoming if the club offload Andy Carroll, the extra £2.5 million may well be met by the Reds yet. With Team GB’s involvement over, these negotiations are likely to progress, and a deal could even be struck by time the season kicks off.
Which of these deals do you expect to happen?
image: © markhillary
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