THE INSIDER: Greece is the word for McCarthy, Silva lining to Alonso sale and Downing to wing Spurs

01 July 2009 16:14
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 your daily instalment of The Insider every weekday through the transfer window here at MailOnline.e Benni McCarthy Blackburn to Olympiacos - The Insider says: 2/5The Greeks are desperate to bring in a big-name striker from the Premier League having signed Matt Derbyshire from Blackburn but failed in a bold bid for Michael Owen and would be willing to offer McCarthy a net salary of £2m-a-year. The South Africa international is prepared to wait for the right offer to come along, but knows Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce favours big powerful strikers and he cannot afford to be stuck on the sidelines if he wants to play a part when his country hosts the World Cup next year. David Silva Valencia to Liverpool - The Insider says: 2/5Valencia continue to insist the Spain winger will not be allowed to leave the Mestalla, but Liverpool may test their resolve with an offer of between £18-20m once they have banked the money from Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid. Alonso's departure will disappoint Liverpool supporters, but manager Rafael Benitez knows that partnering Silva with his Spain teammate Fernando Torres at Anfield would go a long way to softening the blow. Raul Tamudo Espanyol to Wigan - The Insider says: 4/5New Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is keen to tie up a £2m move for the 31-year-old Spain striker but feels Espanyol are dragging their heels over the deal. Tamudo, who has scored 129 goals in more than 300 games for the Barcelona club, has also attracted interest from Birmingham, Bolton, Blackburn and Sunderland, but Martinez remains favourite to bring his fellow countryman to the Premier League. Stewart Downing Middlesbrough to Tottenham - The Insider says: 3/5Tottenham's long-running interest in the England left winger has been complicated by the foot injury Downing suffered towards the end of last season. He will not be fit until October, so Spurs may look at a loan deal with a view to a permanent move. Any hopes Boro had of keeping Downing at the Riverside were ended by their relegation from the top-flight, and they need to generate around £15m from player sales to balance the books. Michel Bastos Lille to Aston Villa - The Insider says: 1/5Villa are one of several Premier League clubs looking at Bastos, who has been promised a place in Brazil's senior squad by coach Dunga if he can secure a move from France to England. For club and country: Highly-rated Bastos has been promised a place in Brazil's squad if he can secure a switch to a Premier league club this summer from Lille An exciting left-sided midfielder with an eye for goal, the 25-year-old would certainly interest Villa but not at the £8m Lille are asking for him.

Source: Daily_Mail