£33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & captain
Wed May 28, 2014 6:34 am
Wednesday 28th May 2014.
Cardiff City and Swansea City could lose their captains AND highly-rated goalkeepers this summer as Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool plan a £33million quadruple swoop on the finest talent in south Wales.
Bluebirds stopper David Marshall is being linked with a £15m move to Arsene Wenger’s FA Cup winners, with Swans skipper Williams also said to be subject of a £3m Gunners bid.
Arsenal’s double move follows news last week that Liverpool are ready for a £15m raid of their own on Welsh football by moving in for Cardiff captain Steven Caulker and Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan will want to recoup at least the £8.5m fee Cardiff paid to Tottenham to land Caulker last summer, while Vorm is rated in the £7m-plus bracket by the Swans’ hierarchy.
Losing four players of that quality would come as a huge blow to Cardiff and Swansea.
Marshall was the stand-out goalkeeper of the Premier League season just finished, while Caulker was a captain colossus for Malky Mackay and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Without the stoic efforts of those two, the Bluebirds would have been relegated from the Premier League way before the end of the season.
Williams and Vorm have also excelled at centre-back and goalkeeper for the Swans, the bedrock around which their success in the top flight has been built.
The Arsenal links with Marshall and Williams gathered in momentum yesterday as Wenger seeks to bolster his squad further following their Aaron Ramsey inspired Wembley success against Hull.
The £15m fee Cardiff are said to be demanding for Marshall is eye-opening, but the Bluebirds powers-that-be are in a strong bargaining position.
Marshall only put pen to paper on a new contract in February, a deal which protects Cardiff’s valuation of their star goalkeepr.
Tottenham are also being heavily linked with a summer swoop for Marshall, so the battle between the two north London giants for his signature will bump up the price.
Wenger is keen on a new keeper to put pressure on first-choice Wojciech Szczesny and provide top-class cover.
He sees Marshall as the ideal replacement for Lukasz Fabianski.
In one of those twists of fate only football can throw up, a Marshall move to the Emirates could see Fabianski come down the M4 the other way to join Swansea as replacement for Vorm, should the Dutch international keeper sign for Liverpool.
Wenger is unlikely to match Cardiff’s £15m asking price for Marshall, but is hopeful a compromise agreement can be struck.
Whatever figure is agreed, it seems likely Marshall will smash the record paid for a British shot-stopper - the previous best being the £9m paid by Sunderland for Craig Gordon in 2007.
If Cardiff do hang out for £15m, it would make Marshall the fifth most expensive goalkeeper in world football history and the best value signing the Bluebirds have made after former boss Dave Jones picked him up from Norwich in May 2009 for just £500,000.
The record fee for a goalkeeper was £33m, paid by Juventus to Parma for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.
Next come Manuel Neuer (Schalke to Bayern Munich £19m), David de Gea (Atlético Madrid to Manchester United £18m) and Peruzzi (Inter Milan to Lazio £15.7m).
View gallery AP Photo
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Most expensive keepers
View gallery
Gunners boss Wenger is also ready to make his move for Wales captain Williams, whose contract talks with Swansea have stalled.
Wenger is said to be ready to bid £3m for Williams, although the Swans are likely to want closer to treble that figure for their best defender.
However, Williams only has a year left on his current contract and would be able to walk away for free in 12 months’ time if he does not get a transfer this summer. That weakens Swansea’s bargaining position.
Williams is believed to have five firm offers on the table, with clubs at home and abroad closely monitoring his situation.
Italians Napoli, impressed with the way Williams performed against them in the Europa League, and French side Lille are ready to rival Arsenal in bids for Williams, while Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp also wants to bolster his back four following promotion from the Championship.
Arsenal would clearly be Williams’ first choice. But as with Marshall, who would have Scezny standing in his way, Williams would have to weigh up the merits of joining a club of their magnitude against the fact he may not get in the team.
Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker are Wegner’s first choice centre-backs, with Belgium ace Thomas Vermaelen, a certainty for the World Cup this summer, not able to break into that starting X1.
The Liverpool double move for Caulker and Vorm also appears imminent as Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who signed the two men during his time as Swansea manager, seeks to strengthen his squad for UEFA Champions League football next season.
Rodgers has Simon Mignolet in goal at the moment, but he has always seen Vorm as a number one able to play football from the back... something the manager believes is essential in his ‘keeper, given the passing style of play he insists upon.
Vorm is currently on duty with the Dutch national team and is hoping to cement his place as the Netherlands’ number one goalkeeper for the World Cup.
While once-rated at £10m, Swansea could be prepared to accept less as they look towards other options, including out-of-contract Arsenal FA Cup winner Fabianski and Reading’s Alex McCarthy.
Rodgers is also looking to bolster his defence and believes Caulker’s footballing ability as a centre-back fits the bill perfectly.
Cardiff City and Swansea City could lose their captains AND highly-rated goalkeepers this summer as Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool plan a £33million quadruple swoop on the finest talent in south Wales.
Bluebirds stopper David Marshall is being linked with a £15m move to Arsene Wenger’s FA Cup winners, with Swans skipper Williams also said to be subject of a £3m Gunners bid.
Arsenal’s double move follows news last week that Liverpool are ready for a £15m raid of their own on Welsh football by moving in for Cardiff captain Steven Caulker and Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan will want to recoup at least the £8.5m fee Cardiff paid to Tottenham to land Caulker last summer, while Vorm is rated in the £7m-plus bracket by the Swans’ hierarchy.
Losing four players of that quality would come as a huge blow to Cardiff and Swansea.
Marshall was the stand-out goalkeeper of the Premier League season just finished, while Caulker was a captain colossus for Malky Mackay and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Without the stoic efforts of those two, the Bluebirds would have been relegated from the Premier League way before the end of the season.
Williams and Vorm have also excelled at centre-back and goalkeeper for the Swans, the bedrock around which their success in the top flight has been built.
The Arsenal links with Marshall and Williams gathered in momentum yesterday as Wenger seeks to bolster his squad further following their Aaron Ramsey inspired Wembley success against Hull.
The £15m fee Cardiff are said to be demanding for Marshall is eye-opening, but the Bluebirds powers-that-be are in a strong bargaining position.
Marshall only put pen to paper on a new contract in February, a deal which protects Cardiff’s valuation of their star goalkeepr.
Tottenham are also being heavily linked with a summer swoop for Marshall, so the battle between the two north London giants for his signature will bump up the price.
Wenger is keen on a new keeper to put pressure on first-choice Wojciech Szczesny and provide top-class cover.
He sees Marshall as the ideal replacement for Lukasz Fabianski.
In one of those twists of fate only football can throw up, a Marshall move to the Emirates could see Fabianski come down the M4 the other way to join Swansea as replacement for Vorm, should the Dutch international keeper sign for Liverpool.
Wenger is unlikely to match Cardiff’s £15m asking price for Marshall, but is hopeful a compromise agreement can be struck.
Whatever figure is agreed, it seems likely Marshall will smash the record paid for a British shot-stopper - the previous best being the £9m paid by Sunderland for Craig Gordon in 2007.
If Cardiff do hang out for £15m, it would make Marshall the fifth most expensive goalkeeper in world football history and the best value signing the Bluebirds have made after former boss Dave Jones picked him up from Norwich in May 2009 for just £500,000.
The record fee for a goalkeeper was £33m, paid by Juventus to Parma for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.
Next come Manuel Neuer (Schalke to Bayern Munich £19m), David de Gea (Atlético Madrid to Manchester United £18m) and Peruzzi (Inter Milan to Lazio £15.7m).
View gallery AP Photo
""""
Most expensive keepers
View gallery
Gunners boss Wenger is also ready to make his move for Wales captain Williams, whose contract talks with Swansea have stalled.
Wenger is said to be ready to bid £3m for Williams, although the Swans are likely to want closer to treble that figure for their best defender.
However, Williams only has a year left on his current contract and would be able to walk away for free in 12 months’ time if he does not get a transfer this summer. That weakens Swansea’s bargaining position.
Williams is believed to have five firm offers on the table, with clubs at home and abroad closely monitoring his situation.
Italians Napoli, impressed with the way Williams performed against them in the Europa League, and French side Lille are ready to rival Arsenal in bids for Williams, while Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp also wants to bolster his back four following promotion from the Championship.
Arsenal would clearly be Williams’ first choice. But as with Marshall, who would have Scezny standing in his way, Williams would have to weigh up the merits of joining a club of their magnitude against the fact he may not get in the team.
Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker are Wegner’s first choice centre-backs, with Belgium ace Thomas Vermaelen, a certainty for the World Cup this summer, not able to break into that starting X1.
The Liverpool double move for Caulker and Vorm also appears imminent as Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who signed the two men during his time as Swansea manager, seeks to strengthen his squad for UEFA Champions League football next season.
Rodgers has Simon Mignolet in goal at the moment, but he has always seen Vorm as a number one able to play football from the back... something the manager believes is essential in his ‘keeper, given the passing style of play he insists upon.
Vorm is currently on duty with the Dutch national team and is hoping to cement his place as the Netherlands’ number one goalkeeper for the World Cup.
While once-rated at £10m, Swansea could be prepared to accept less as they look towards other options, including out-of-contract Arsenal FA Cup winner Fabianski and Reading’s Alex McCarthy.
Rodgers is also looking to bolster his defence and believes Caulker’s footballing ability as a centre-back fits the bill perfectly.
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 6:42 am
looking at those 5 keepers who are the most expensive, i think Marshall is up there with all of them!
we shouldnt be settling for 15m
we shouldnt be settling for 15m
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 9:03 am
Of those 4 players mentioned the one who will be the biggest loss is Williams. From my understanding he is a huge influence behind the scenes and is a very good captain.
Marshall was a great keeper last season but is never worth 15 million. 7-8 max. However if arsenal are prepared to pay that much sell him and clear some debt.
Marshall was a great keeper last season but is never worth 15 million. 7-8 max. However if arsenal are prepared to pay that much sell him and clear some debt.
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 9:24 am
Gareth (Wilts) wrote:Of those 4 players mentioned the one who will be the biggest loss is Williams. From my understanding he is a huge influence behind the scenes and is a very good captain.
Marshall was a great keeper last season but is never worth 15 million. 7-8 max. However if arsenal are prepared to pay that much sell him and clear some debt.
Spot on.
Vorm can go with my blessing, i dont want him as first choice anyway. Williams is vital on and off the pitch.
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 9:37 am
Roath_Magic_ wrote:Gareth (Wilts) wrote:Of those 4 players mentioned the one who will be the biggest loss is Williams. From my understanding he is a huge influence behind the scenes and is a very good captain.
Marshall was a great keeper last season but is never worth 15 million. 7-8 max. However if arsenal are prepared to pay that much sell him and clear some debt.
Spot on.
Vorm can go with my blessing, i dont want him as first choice anyway. Williams is vital on and off the pitch.
From the limited things I've seen vorm has gone backwards since his debut season and anyone paying over 3 million is getting ripped off.
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 9:38 am
Agreed. He has the bravery of a mouse. If the choice was a 50:50 challenge or concede a goal then he chooses concede the goal every time.
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 9:42 am
Roath_Magic_ wrote:Agreed. He has the bravery of a mouse. If the choice was a 50:50 challenge or concede a goal then he chooses concede the goal every time.
I think you should keep him......
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 8:12 pm
if we make £20m back from Caulker and Marshall, and £5m from Medel, then great!
in regards to Swansea, Williams will be a huge loss to them, but they won't miss Vorm as they have Tremmel who's a decent keeper!
in regards to Swansea, Williams will be a huge loss to them, but they won't miss Vorm as they have Tremmel who's a decent keeper!
Re: £33m raid could leave City & Swans without keeper & capt
Wed May 28, 2014 8:42 pm
Gareth (Wilts) wrote:Of those 4 players mentioned the one who will be the biggest loss is Williams. From my understanding he is a huge influence behind the scenes and is a very good captain.
Marshall was a great keeper last season but is never worth 15 million. 7-8 max. However if arsenal are prepared to pay that much sell him and clear some debt.
This is a tricky one. Probably less of a loss to Swansea as Vorm has not been brilliant the past year, whereas Marshall's game never dips. The money is the issue with Marshall. He could easily command top dollar and if he wants to go, we should show him some respect for that.
I bet the jaxx will be gutted to lose Williams. His role extends beyond the field. They've had some difficulties behind the scenes at times, especially with some of the Spanish contingent. He has calmed things down.
Caulker is probably too good for Championship so we should recoup our investment maybe. He may become frustrated next season if we persuaded him to stay. Caulker's departure along with Marshall could go a long way to funding our restructuring of the squad!