We are well into summer as EPL players return to their clubs for pre-season training after their holidays. But as we peruse the various training fields we inevitably find a few unhappy faces or, even worse, some missing persons. Clubs are chasing aggressively in the transfer market and those who want a way out are getting desperate.
Among the Aston Villa squad that headed to Germany for their pre-season training camp, we couldn’t spot Christian Benteke, the club’s top goal-scorer last season. The 22-years old Belgian joined Villa last summer from Genk for £8 million and was quick to stamp his mark in his first EPL season with 19 goals. But after successfully attracting the attention of the bigger clubs, the £25 million-valued Benteke handed in his written transfer request on Monday. Villa’s club statue and £20,000 weekly salary are not enough to keep the promising youngster at Villa Park with Chelsea’s José Mourinho, Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers and Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger among those with a strong interest in the player.
Benteke lost his patience at Villa Park and handed in a transfer request
Wenger looked to have another option up-front with negotiations for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuaín reported to be “in the advanced stage”. It was suggested Higuaín was in North London for his medical a few weeks ago but we couldn’t find any evidence the Argentinian had ever been to Arsenal’s training ground. This week, Spanish media spotted him at Madrid airport as he returned for pre-season training and he will meet new Manager Carlo Ancelotti face-to-face this week to discuss his future at the club. Unwilling to meet Real Madrid’s valuation of £26 million for Higuaín, Wenger is most likely to miss out one of his top targets this summer.
The medical that never happened? Higuaín is poised to stay at Real Madrid
Another who may never show in North London is David Villa. Although closely linked with Tottenham Hotspur, the Barca striker is headed to the Spanish capital instead where he will play for Atlético Madrid next season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s £30 million bid for Liverpool’s Luis Suárez is baffling to say the least. Due to his involvement in the Confederations Cup, the Uruguayan will not come back to Mersyside until the end of July but has cited unhappiness with the English media as his major reason for wanting to move abroad. Turning down Arsenal’s bid, Liverpool told his representative, Pere Guardiola, that the club was willing to keep Suárez this summer although it is understood that handsome bids from Barca and Real Madrid would sway the Red’s determination.
