Less than 48 hours to go before the transfer deadline. This is one of the best part when you're playing Football Manager. I remembered very well my futile attempt at signing Ronaldinho in 2005, how i restarted the game over and over again but the twat just won't move to Everton. In reality, this is the time where fans hold their breath, hoping for one last signing the club made which could re-define the whole season for them. I am already disappointed that Moussa Dembele didn't go to Man Utd, but luckily he didn't defect to other leagues - instead joining AVB second London revolution. Tears aside, these are some more transfers that i wish to see happening. They didn;t come fromany rumors, but more wishful thinking on my part.
1. Bastian Schweinsteiger to Arsenal
Arsenal got Santi Cazorla in the fantasy role in the squad. But with Alex Song gone, the squad looks even more lightweight than ever. To rely solely on Abou Diaby is simply ridiculous, and no matter how many posession they will get, they would need somebody to break up attacks int he middle of the park. Hell, even '99% posession' Spain got Sergi Biscuits to looks uglier than everyone else in the park.
Enter Bastian Schweinsteiger. I have always had some degree of man crush on the man, and i never fathom why he's still at Bayern. Imagine him sitting in the middle of the park next to the more aesthetic Arteta (jeez, that phrase sounds good), both nor AM nor DM, both great exponent of the ball. In theory, it could work. Moreover, it would add some manliness to Arsenal pretty boys squad.
2. Klaas Jan Huntelaar to Liverpool
So now Liverpool gonna turn themselves into some sort of Swansea-lite, which themselves are Barcelona-lite. So that makes them Liverpoolona. So they gonna practice the art of passing the opposition to death until acres of space are opening up for Andy Carroll to score. Ouch. Or maybe Fabio Borini. No, not im either. Dirk Ku- oh, he already buggered off to Persia.
So unless they unearth the new Messi, they would really need someone to turn all the posession into goals. A mobile striker which can run into space and have enough technical ability and intelligent to fit into the Brendan Rodgers philosophy. How about Klaas Jan Huntelaar? The hunter has sit on the fringe of the elites for quite some time already. Time for someone to believe in him and give him the chances he need.
3. Leighton Baines to Arsenal
Instead of letting their best left back bugger off to other clubs who is the richest in the land at the time being, how about if Arsene gets himself one who has - for some time - threatened to displace Ashley Cole in the national team? Leighton Baines has been linked with big clubs in the past - Man Utd, Bayern Munich. Since Sir Alex's interest in Baines is well documented, how about Arsene getting one up on him by signing him?
Of course, Baines had to bring some dimension to the team. Though arguably similar to Andre Santos, Baines offer better crossing ability and that extra bit of grit they have been lacking in recent years. Andre more than make up for it with his repertoire of skills tho, so this is one transfer that might not be a win-win situation for both club tho. I just really want to see Baines at a big club, and make that final step as England's no one leftback.
4. Giovanni dos Santos to Swansea
Another lost talent? Not quite. Everyone seems to forget that he's relatively young, and still have lots of time to display the kinds of explosive talent he really posess. Remember - he and Messi used to be whispered in the same breath at Barcelona dressing rooms.
Swansea would be a team that fits him, provided he makes some tweaks to his playing style. Michael Laudrup could be the man to get the best out of him, utilising him somewhere in the attacking third. Provided he adds more teamwork and intelligence to his play, he might still not fulfill his vast youthful potential, but he could be the player that can propel Swansea as a regular top half club.
5. Daniel de Rossi to Man City/Chelsea
Now why would i want de Rossi to go to either of these two moneybags? Simple. Because he would be the perfect addition to both squad brimming with attacking talents, where he would simply concentrate on destroying the opposition. The man is a gladiator. The man is AS Roma. Well, that last analogy might be the one that prevented him from seeking pastures new elsewhere, but Daniel de Rossi would be two handfuls for all the trequartistas in the EPL right now. Sitting next to Yaya Toure, or Nigel de Jong, or Vincent Kompany, or even Jack Rodwell (christ, this team are tough - don't they?), de Rossi have the Gerrard-like ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck should they come up against teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona.
In Chelsea, it would be a different scenario. There, he would be entrusted to protect all the young ducklings behind and in front of him, a probable source of inspiration to the likes of Hazard, Mata etc. While his addition to Man City would make it a more intimidating team, his addition to Chelsea would lean more towards necessity. De Rossi would give greater protection than what Ramirez and Obi could offer, giving space to all the Chelsea fantasistas to create without having to worry about defending.
Bonus:Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to swap clubs. It would be a fun exercise to debate about.
