Who is that mysterious “other team” chasing Tevez?
Well there is Chelsea (we know that), Manchester City (who doesn’t know that?) and “one other team”. Kia Joorabchian says.
City are reportedly in “pole” position to wrap up the deal, but it is tough to read too much into that. After all, Manchester’s richest have been in pole position to recruit the entire Tottenham Hotspur squad.
Tevez’s advisor primarily insists there is a third offer on the table which is to contest that of Mark Hughes and Carlo Ancelotti, but he will need pigs to fly to force him into revealing whoever made that a trio of Tevez demanders.
That underlines the imagination here. Could, just could Arsene Wenger be the shy bidder for this superb Argentine talent?
Any possibilities? Well…
1. Wenger has for long been on the trail of Carlos since his days at Boca Juniors and Corinthians. Arsenal’s chief once sensationally admitted Tevez had been on his radar until his chase was ceased when Alex Ferguson came calling for the 25-year-old in the summer of 2007.
2. Arsenal Football Club is notoriously famous for preferring to be anonymous buyers in the transfer market until the selling club just refuses to help but let the business be transparent. It is one strictly obeyed policy of the club which Marseille and Zenit’s negotiators decline to respect once the transfer saga stresses for an eternity.
3. If, and IF Arsenal will ever cash in on Emmanuel Adebayor this summer, then a replacement has to be lined up. You cannot be too skeptical about a bet on the lanky Togolese’s departure.
After all, Ronaldo’s eventual pursuit of a life-long dream and fortune at Real Madrid did come to a successful end weeks ago. And so can Adebayor’s dream of a Milan move or £500,000-a-week wage elsewhere (whether being at Chelsea or Leeds United) come true.
His creditable agent Stephen Courbis revealed yesterday that a ‘very important team’ had made contact about the striker. What’s your gut feeling then?
Those above, are what a swoop for Tevez hinges on.
But this below, may be why it is just wishful thinking to suggest Arsene Wenger is hot on the heels of the man they dub ‘Carlitto’.
1. It took some divine persuasion for Arsene to cough up £12-16 million for Andrey Arshavin even at a time when the squad was clearly calling for the Russian’s services. At a time when Wenger’s squad only cries for help at the back not up front, try to convince the boss to organize that £25 million fund Tevez’s owners are demanding and you will regret asking.
2. Even Manchester United failed to persuade Tevez with a lavish offer of £130,000-week and a 5-year contract. If Arsenal were to equal that offer and lure the often tireless but scarcely prolific striker, he would be the highest earner in only his transition year at the club.
3. Arsene Wenger once declared he does not “collect” strikers. Even the loss of Adebayor as an option can be well compensated with the presence of Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela, Nicklas Bendtner, Robin van Persie, Eduardo and perhaps Andrey Arshavin. In that fairly formidable depth of forwards, there is choice of pace, lethal finishing or height and power.
He may be advised to add, but Wenger will certainly not be desperately shopping for another striker should Adebayor’s name be ticked off that list.
Even so, according to Kia Joorabchian:
“Right now we are evaluating the proposals from City, Chelsea and one other team,”
Which “other team” is more familiar with such purchasing tactics?
And it is only safe to know this is just an inference, not a start of another silly transfer rumor.
