THE signing of a top striker remains the number one priority at Blackburn Rovers this summer – despite reports linking the club with a sensational swoop for Real Madrid star Guti.
Transfer funds for manager Sam Allardyce are limited, despite a top-10 finish in the Premier League, and he is keen to bring a leading attacker to Ewood Park before the start of the World Cup.
Frederic Piquionne, who played in Portsmouth’s FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea on Saturday, remains a top target.
But Allardyce has a history for attracting big names, and is also eyeing a move for Guti – with the help of defender Michel Salgado, a former Real Madrid team-mate.
The Lancashire Telegraph can reveal there has been no official contact between Rovers and the player, and the Spaniard’s wage demands could be a huge sticking point.
Real Madrid star Guti
Born in Torrejón de Ardoz, Community of Madrid, Guti began playing for Real Madrid’s cantera in 1984, initially as a striker, but was later moved to midfield, and remained there for the vast majority of his career. On 2 December 1995, he made his first-team debut against Sevilla FC, with Real Madrid winning 4–1. He finished the season with one goal in nine appearances.
In 1997, Guti added two trophies to his cabinet, the league and the Spanish Supercup. He played 17 games that season, scoring once. In 1997–98, he helped the Merengues lift the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup, while Guti himself added the UEFA U-21 Championship.
The 1999–2000 season started badly for Guti: struggling with the responsibility of replacing Clarence Seedorf, he was sent off for kicking a fallen adversary. This negative trait was often recurrent in his career, as he was shown his marching orders eight times during his career in the league alone. In the campaign, in which he also captured the Champions League, he scored six goals in 28 games. The following year he had his best scoring season for Real Madrid, scoring 14 goals and playing most of the season as a striker, due to injuries to Fernando Morientes, contributing greatly to Madrid’s 27th league title, and subsequently another Spanish Supercup.
After the purchase of Ronaldo in 2002, Guti returned to midfield, and his goalscoring rate went down drastically. During the next two seasons, he would score eight goals in 63 games. Along came another Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and an Intercontinental Cup. In 2003, he added another domestic Supercup.
During 2004–05, Guti had his lowest season in terms of goal scoring, as he failed to score for the first time in seven seasons with the first team. He only managed to score only one goal, in an international against San Marino in February 2005. In 2005–06, he played 43 games and scored six goals (four in the league and two in European competition).
With the election of Ramón Calderón as club president and his subsequent vow to bring A.C. Milan’s Brazilian star Kaká to Real Madrid, Guti’s future at the Bernabéu appeared insecure. He was linked with a move away to cross-town rivals Atlético de Madrid but, in the end, decided to stay with Real while Kaká stayed in Italy.
Just a couple of updates.
GUTI…His demands are too high, which may explain Sam saying he is ‘looking for strikers.’ There are talks going on with one agent who is specifically working on this for Rovers – with Guti willing to come if the cash is right. No other clubs are paying the wages he wants either. So this one is still ive, but expensive.
STRIKERS…A couple of name sare buzzing about but would probably have to be watched in pre-season games.
It sounds a bit becalmed at the moment, but it’s the same everywhere.
http://www.brfcs.co.uk/mb/index.php/topic/23199-summer-transfer-topic/page__st__520__p__919144&#entry919144
STOKE City would welcome a Blackburn Rovers move for out-of-favour James Beattie and would be tempted by a bid for the striker in the region of an initial £1million.
The Ewood Park outfit have already made tentative enquiries about bringing Beattie back to Rovers and Stoke City sources have confirmed they are hopeful Allardyce will swoop for the former Sheffield United man.
With boss Allardyce on holiday though, Rovers have yet to identify their preferred striking target, with the likes of Kris Boyd, Benjani and Frederic Piquionne joining Beattie on the club’s wanted list.
Beattie, who started his career at his home town Blackburn Rovers in the mid 1990s, would jump at the chance to revive his top flight career in East Lancashire – and still lives within easy commuting distance of the club.
Stoke boss Pulis and Beattie allegedly squared up to one another in the dressing-room at Arsenal in December in a row over the players’ Christmas party – and then relations deteriorated further when Beattie instigated internal grievance proceedings that were later dismissed.
BLACKBURN Rovers are unlikely to ‘gamble’ the majority of their summer transfer fund on Polish ace Robert Lewandowski as they attempt to sign a striker who would bring immediate returns from their investment.
Borussia Dortmund’s delay in completing the signing of the Lech Poznan striker had led to reports that Rovers had re-entered the race for the 21-year-old.
However, the Lancashire Telegraph can confirm no further official contact has been made since they dropped their interest a fortnight ago.
Lewandowski remains on Allardyce’s radar, with the club well aware of his potential, but remain unlikely to pay the £4.5million fee being asked by his Polish employers.
GUTI’s agent has revealed a move to Blackburn Rovers for the Real Madrid midfielder is still “possible” – although Sam Allardyce’s immediate priority remains in solving their striker shortage.
The Lancashire Telegraph can confirm preliminary contact has been made between Rovers and the Spaniard’s representatives with Guti believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League.
His expected high wage demands would prove a stumbling block for any potential move though, while Rovers are unlikely to follow up any initial interest before they complete their search for extra firepower.
James Beattie, Benjani, Frederic Piquionne and Kris Boyd are all believed to be on Rovers’ wish-list, although reports linking Burnley striker Steven Fletcher with a move to Ewood are understood to be wide of the mark.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8194360.Guti_Blackburn_Rovers_deal__still_possible_/?ref=mr
Blackburn are back on the trail of Poland striker Robert Lewandowski after his proposed move to Borussia Dortmund hit a hitch.
The German club is still to finalise terms with Lech Poznan over a £6m transfer for the 21-year-old.
Manager Sam Allardyce is weighing up alternatives at striker but held talks with Lewandowski before the end of last season only to be priced out of the move.
The impending £2.5m sale of Rovers midfielder Vince Grella to Galatasaray though would offset the cost now.