THE INSIDER: Gomez going to Wigan, Real raiding Liverpool and Spurs star O'Hara set to cross the cap

16 June 2009 14:23
Simon Jones is Sportsmail's man on the inside of all the biggest (and littlest) transfer moves this summer. His column, published every weekday, offers an insight into the deals which will be done and those that won't - and why. A 5/5-rating means The Insider reckons it's a done deal; 0/5 means The Insider has his mortgage on it not happening Don't miss yo Don't miss your daily instalment of The Insider every weekday through the transfer window here at MailOnline.e. ............................................................................................................ Jordi Gomez Espanyol to Wigan - The Insider says: 5/5 Sportsmail exclusively revealed that Roberto Martinez has targeted Gomez as his first Wigan signing. Now chairman Dave Whelan believes he has agreed a £1.5million fee to bring the 24-year-old over from Espanyol. Gomez was impressive during his loan spell with Swansea last season, which brought 14 goals. Middlesbrough, Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion were all very keen on the player, indeed Birmingham believed they could still strike a deal this week. But Martinez, who will be unveiled as the new Latics boss this afternoon, has moved fast to bring the goal-scoring playmaker to Wigan. Gomez is one of the four players the club will pursue over the next week. Ashley Young Aston Villa to Tottenham - The Insider says: 1/5 Aston Villa want David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas, as revealed in Sportsmail, but the only way the club would release Young to Spurs would be if the winger had shot Martin O'Neill's dog. The Villa boss is intent on building a strong side and the only serious contenders for Young's signature are Chelsea and Manchester United. Those clubs have the platform to turn the England international's head and pay the wages neither Villa or Spurs could countenance. But United and Chelsea both have other priorities at the moment, although Young is a player they both admire. He is English and would give them the attacking option down the left or right that they both advocate. Alvaro Arbeloa Liverpool to Real Madrid - The Insider says: 4/5 Real Madrid want to bring in a Spanish core to the team after their pursuit of the new galacticos. Arbeloa will lead that group of players in an £8m move to the Bernebeu. Arsenal's Bacary Sagna was one of the many targets, but the pursuit of the Frenchman offered more obstacles than that of Arbeloa. Liverpool should seal a £16.5m deal for Portsmouth's Glen Johnson this week, which Arbeloa's sale will help to finance. Rafa Benitez's side will then brace themselves for another Real Madrid bid for Xabi Alonso. Jamie O'Hara Tottenham to Fulham - The Insider says: 3/5 Despite being pivotal to Harry Redknapp's plans last season, O'Hara will find himself on the fringes of the squad if he stays at White Hart Lane. Redknapp is planning a major reshaping of his Tottenham side and is in the process of off-loading around 12 players, if possible. The Spurs boss has made the difficult decision to sacrifice O'Hara, despite being a fan of the player. The 22-year-old won't be short of admirers and is also in the price bracket of many Premier League clubs. Fulham is appealing because it saves O'Hara upping roots, while Roy Hodgson's continued improvements at Craven Cottage mean they are an attractive option this summer. Louis Saha Everton to Besiktas - The Insider says: 2/5 The French striker is extremely popular at Everton and is happy with his life after three years of torment at Manchester United. But Saha must renegotiate his contract and is still to really convince David Moyes that he can last the pace of a Premier League season. His free transfer has represented a bargain for the club this year as he has chipped in with vital goals and Moyes knows that if he keeps Saha fit, few strikers offer better value. Besiktas, however, are willing to spend £2m on the 30-year-old and offer him a wealthy lifestyle away from the pitch.

Source: Daily_Mail