http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/7711949/Marin-to-make-Blues-move Chelsea have announced that they have a deal in place which will see Werder Bremen midfielder Marko Marin arrive at Stamford Bridge over the summer. The Blues revealed on their official website that an undisclosed offer for the Germany international has been accepted. Marin has also agreed personal terms with the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finalists and will open a new chapter in his career in England once the Bundesliga season comes to a close. The 23-year-old, who joined Bremen from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2009 and was contracted to the club until June 2013, has already passed a medical in London and will sign a contract with the Blues in the next few weeks. Speaking ahead of Bremen's match with Wolfsburg on Saturday, Marin said he cannot wait to play in the Premier League. "I had a really good time with Werder together with many great guys here, and I have lots of nice memories, but of course I am looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League with such an established club," he said. Marin made his Germany debut in 2008 and was part of their 2010 World Cup squad. However, he has spent much of this season on the sidelines due to injury and is not assured of a place in Joachim Low's squad for Euro 2012. Bremen's director of sport Klaus Allofs said in a statement: "We have always said that we would be open to talk if any of our players receives a good offer which was also interesting for Werder and we had good talks with the management at Chelsea, so that we were able to reach an agreement quickly. "In the coming weeks, we will then deal with the last formalities. "We wish Marko all the best for this new challenge."
Wicked story mate Anyway, that's a bit annoying. He's a player I'd like to have seen at Spurs and it also means that Chelsea are getting their buying in early which is what we should be doing so our targets don't go up in value over a good Euros. I guess that means Mata will be kept out on the wing next season.
Was in Bremen when he scored the equaliser against us. He is a useful little player from the few games I've seen; not spectacular, but a good signing all the same. When was the last time we did a significant bit of early business instead of waiting till the last minute. Modric before Euro 2008 ?
Yep and that worked well for us. It's a nice idea but I can't see us being able to do it again, atleast this summer. Unfortunately with 'Arry on the way out we could struggle to get a new manager and for him to identify targets early enough to allow us to get them before the Euros.
A pretty clear replacement for Malouda and, at a guess, on lower wages I think Sandro was the last player we tied up early - about six months before he actually arrived, thanks to the South American transfer window - but, again, it does underline we need to act early. Especially this summer, where we need to bring in strikers, and not before they have their values inflated by exploits at the Euros which would likely be the case for Remy or Llorente, to name two.
Very true. Interesting one really, should a quality player become available at a decent price I wonder if Levy would step in regardless ? Perhaps not, but a great player is a great player regardless of formations. Didn't Daniel persuade Redknapp to part with Crouch and Woodgate, and practically brought in VdV? This bloody Redknapp/England could potentially start to take its toll on next season too !
Lets hope that Levy has his list of managers to approach already picked and we can begin talks as soon as the Fulham game is finished.
He's a wise guy, I'm sure he drew one up as soon as Capello quit the job. Aghh, CL really is patently crucial on so many different levels. Unfortunately, it seems agonisingly inevitable that if we do somehow grab 4th, Chelsea will go on and beat Bayern in the final. We'll see.... Enjoy the game tomorrow lads
the "best signing of the summer" has already been made, potentially. Cracking signing for the chavs. We need to do business, pronto. If we're going to do business this year it needs to be early on those that we bring in, and late on those that we dispose of. (i.e, modric, if he goes.) we need to keep under the radar, identify our targets and get them in. Then as soon as the euro's finish and every player out there is "worth a fortune", we sell modric to get as much money as possible, on the back of an inflated transfer window. (should we choose to cash in on him, that is). I believe this is our only option this year, otherwise we're going to get no one. we cannot be bringing in players on deadline day because... a) it means that we play 2-3 games without those additions (look at us this season when we played united and city without adebayor and parker) b) the players don't have a summer to "gel" with their own team mates. Last summer united identified their targets early, I.e, young and Jones. they got them in, got them used to their new team mates and it made such a difference come the start of the new campaign. we must learn from our mistakes and to the same. Although I feel, it'll probably just be "same old Tottenham"
Before anyone uses the excuse of guaranteed CL football and not knowing who the manager will be next season, both of those apply to Chelski. If that is the case they have clearly 'made him a deal he could not refuse'. Under those circumstances I would suggest it didn't matter if/when we were in for that player, he was going to the $.
Very good point Vim. if the rumours are true that he rejected us for Chelsea, then in addition to the money, perhaps he just looked at the fact that the chavs have a better record of CL football and didn't want to take the risk in joining us. If i was in Marins position, I would do the same. not really a lot of competition for first team football, either.
True Roo, as a midfielder there is actually more competition for places at Spurs (he said, and then Bale and Modric left).
Marin may have looked at Pienaar's situation at Spurs, as he plays a similar role. He also looked at the earning potential at each club, regardless of whether Chelsea actually offered him more wages than we did, if it became an issue. Good replacement for Malouda, if he can stay fit.
If as seems likely we have a new manager come June we may push on with transfers sooner rather than later as he makes his position felt. Or! I suppose he might want to work with the existing squad before deciding. I will sit on the fence with this one.
