Tuesday 6 July 2010 12:32, UK
Which stars have seen their transfer value rise or fall at the World Cup? Tony Gale gives his verdict...
The transfer window is open and the World Cup has provided a shop window for many big names looking for a move this summer. But how many players have enhanced their reputations in South Africa and how many will be returning with a lower value? Sky Sports expert Tony Gale has been keeping a close eye on the World Cup and some of the stars who were hoping to catch the eye of Europe's top clubs. He gave Sky Sports News his verdict on six players - Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Joe Cole, Diego Forlan and Robinho - all of whom have been linked with summer moves. But who has impressed and who has flopped? Read on for Gale's lowdown...
We haven't seen the best of Torres, but his transfer valuation won't have come down because of the World Cup. We know how good he is in the Premier League and how good he's been in Spain, but it certainly hasn't gone up because he hasn't really done it. But you never know.
Chelsea are likely to do anything because they have got that type of money, but it would be a strange one with the likes of Anelka and Drogba there. How are you going to fit Torres into the system? Torres is always better suited with a player dropping deeper - ie Steven Gerrard at Liverpool - so who would drop deeper for him? I don't think Drogba or Torres would like being left out for some games and being brought back in for others. If they played the two together, Chelsea would have to change their system. But if a player like that becomes available and you are a top club, sometimes it's good to get them in the bank anyway because you're stopping others from buying him.
Arsenal are desperate to keep him. They must hold on to Cesc Fabregas but the lure of Barcelona is so great and then there's the fact that (Pep) Guardiola will be going over (to South Africa) and seeing the players and maybe having a little crafty chat with him.
He's with the likes of Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta every day and I think the signs are there that he's going to go. But Arsenal fans, I don't think, can grumble about that because he's stayed there for a couple of seasons now and the signs haven't changed. But he is irreplaceable for Arsenal. If they did get £40million for him where would you get a replacement for £40million?
You look at Schweinsteiger and I just thought he was absolutely incredible. He's not a great runner and he has actually played left and right for Bayern Munich and now they've converted him to a central midfield player.
I think he's been a revelation at this World Cup. He's my standout player so far. We knew about the Xavi's, the Iniesta's, the Fabregas' and the Alonso's who are great midfielders. But Schweinsteiger, who we knew was good, has turned out to be great at this World Cup. If there's anyone out there who's trying to buy him, the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea, Man Utd, his price has gone up incredibly.
I thought it was incredible that Joe didn't come on in the first game (for England against USA), but I still think all the clubs will be after him. At the moment his agent's probably trying to drive up the wages and the percentage he gets from the transfer! But for me, Joe Cole is a super player and a player who should have been trusted far more for England. I would rather have Joe Cole in the middle of midfield than the players that have been playing there for England. Joe's going to make something happen and we were too stagnant; nothing happened in the middle of midfield.
I still think, although Harry's said no, that Spurs have got an outstanding chance of getting him. That's because Harry may play him in the position he wants to play.
I think he's a good player. Obviously he played well in Spain [for Atletico Madrid] and they won the Europa League, beating Fulham in the final. But for me, he got a chance with a big club when he was with Manchester United and he failed the audition. That was the top club and he wasn't good enough for Manchester United. Now in a World Cup he's playing in a side with players around him that play for him. That's great and they get the best out of him that way. That's how England should play for Rooney and Gerrard.
He certainly has played well for Uruguay, but I still have my doubts if he really is top quality for a top-four side over in the Premier League. He failed the audition miserably at Manchester United.
He has done well in the World Cup, but I still think Manchester City will want to cash in. He does well for Brazil when he plays in the formation that he plays because he's released to play how he wants. For Manchester City he has a job to do as well as his individual flair and I don't think Man City would say: "You're better than Bellamy or you're better than Tevez". They can't give them all a free role, so I think they're going to let him go.
They've done a lot of dough on him, that's for sure, both in wages and in transfer fee but he looked good in the World Cup. I thought Brazil were unfortunate - they were in control of the game against Holland until that crazy own goal. But Robinho had a good World Cup.
