Transfer Deadline – Players to watch on ‘Frantic Friday’!

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Ted Menmuir

Premiership PA’s better oil up their fax machines, as football clubs prepare to strengthen their squads. The top transfers may have been signed off, but there are still many players that can be picked up as a final 24hr bargain.

Oddslife predicts the ten players that will be making the headlines this Frantic Friday…

1. Dimitar Berbatov

The 2010/11 Premiership top scorer has not had much playing time of late. His style of play has fallen out of favour with Sir Alex, but nevertheless the Bulgarian forward tops our list as the transfer to watch. Linked with West Ham, QPR and Fiorentina this summer, Berbatov still commands a high salary which may put off his suitors. Entering the twilight of his career, Dimi can still offer future clubs creativity and plenty of goals up front.

2. Moussa Dembélé

A player whose profile sky rocketed last season, Oddslife expected Dembele to make a move this summer to a bigger club. The Belgian international has made transfer headlines in UK, Italian and Spanish newspapers making him very hot property. The disciplined midfielder with a great engine has many top tier suitors with Real Madrid, Tottenham, Arsenal and Juventus all wanting him to bolster their midfield. With this level of interest we expect this transfer to be  dragged to the wire.

3. Charlie Adam

Last summer Charlie Adam represented a marquee signing for the Kenny Dalgliesh era. A season at the Kop and it appears that the Scottish midfielder does not fit into Brendan Rogers game plan. The Scottish international has received lots of criticism regarding his weight, rough game play and lack of consistent play. Labelled by many commentators as a small club player, Adam may be more suited to a club that concentrates their midfield play around his (as we saw with Blackpool). We expect interest from Southampton, West Ham and Wigan.

4. Nicklas Bendtner

The young, confident Dane views himself as a top level striker who should be showing his skills at a major club on a weekly basis. Throughout his career, the striker has failed to show goal scoring consistency to match his self-belief. Bendtner did demonstrate his potential this summer with his display at Euro 2012, and there is no doubt that at his peak he can cause havoc to defences. Will a big name invest in his talent? The Dane has been linked with Juventus, AC Milan and Aston Villa…

5. Andy Carroll

Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that Andy Carroll will not be in his plan this season. The £35 million signing of Carroll will represent a huge loss to Liverpool and there can be no doubt that Liverpool will want to recoup some money on their outlay. At the start of the summer rumours circulated of a transfer to AC Milan, however this seems less likely at present. A loan spell at a Premiership club would revive Carroll’s career, so don’t rule out a possible return to Newcastle United.

6. Michael Dawson

Dawson, like Carroll, appears not to feature in his new managers plans. After an injury plagued season, Dawson’s stock has plummeted at the Lane, seeing him move down the pecking order for centre half. A proven Premiership defender, Sunderland and Aston Villa have shown interest in the ex-England international.

7. Yann M’Vila

The Rennes midfielder has long been labelled ‘well suited’ to the Premiership, as a hard working player who can quickly move from defence into attack. This player has been connected with all top six clubs in the Premier league, without any signing him. Tottenham could be his destination if they do not land Moussa Dembélé.

8. Clint Dempsey

Fulham’s summer long soap opera with Clint Dempsey may be over in the next three days. Many have been surprised that no one has attempted to sign this 20 goal a season midfielder, who desperately wants to move to a bigger club. Detractors state that Dempsey may require a club to hone their play to his style. Dempsey has been one of the most dynamic midfielders and has become the poster boy for US football,  but it is now time for him to shine in a bigger playing field – will someone take a chance on the Texan?

9. Joey Barton

Today’s tabloids are linking the cultured midfielder with a move to Olympique Marseille! Training with Fleetwood Town, the midfielder has fallen out of favour with Mark Hughes. Barton may bring the wrong types of headlines to your club, but he is a proven Premiership midfielder who knows that rigours of survival. Serving a 12 match ban at the moment, we do expect interest from clubs that may need his attributes in their midfield.

10. Michael Owen

Oddslife is not scrapping the barrel! Michael Owen the forgotten striker of the Premiership needs a home, and we suspect his service pamphlet/brochure will be making its way round several Premiership clubs. Owen is looking for a pay as you go contract and has been linked with a move to Stoke. Rangers have also shown interest!

Will Everton be in the running for any of these 10 players? You can win a 2011/12 signed Everton shirt this week by topping the Oddslife Predictor!

AND you can WIN A £50 FREE BET by guessing the time of the first goal in Everton’s Premier League match at West Brom on Saturday!