Transfer Time: Strikers A Go-Go

By: Sam | January 3rd, 2007

Dario Srna (Croatia), Frédéric Piquionne (France), Gonzalo Vargas (Uruguay), Paulo Cesar (Brazil), Luigi Pieroni (Belgium), Bakari Sagna (France), Nilmar (Brazil), Pauleta (Portugal), Nicolas Anelka (France)…

Sigh. So many strikers to write about, so little time. These nine fellows have been featured on French websites to kick off the transfer month, so I’ll be in charge of telling you all about them in a nutshell.

Dario Srna, an instrumental piece in Croatia’s (however short) World Cup adventure this summer, has been shouted at by Paris Saint-Germain recently. Currently at Shaktar Donetsk, a move to a more competitive league could be a possibility for the Croat.

Frédéric Piquionne, Saint-Étienne’s gem, is doing the mysterious thing right now. That being the “Oh I don’t know, I’m happy here, I’ll maybe leave, blah blah blah” gibberish. But with Lyon breathing down his neck, he could be doffing his green shirt to sport another one, that of Celtic. Gordon Strachan, the latter club’s manager, has made the New Caledonian one of his priorities.

Gonzalo Vargas, Monaco’s undeservedly benchwarming striker, who’s played a whole lot of not a lot since his arrival, is walking towards a certain departure from the principality.

Paulo Cesar, PSG’s wild card striker with a great right foot, is sought after by Betis Sevilla’s French manager, Luis Fernandez, who recently took up the job and is looking for reinforcements.

Luigi Pieroni, Auxerre’s Belgian giant with an ability to finish very strongly, could be joining another not-very-prominent side in Ligue 1, along the lines of Valenciennes, Troyes or Nantes.

Bakari Sagna, also with Auxerre, is being talked about in the capital, where defense is not at an all-time high point, and Bernard Mendy’s career winding down. Sagna, a youth international and a healthy 23 years old is one of France’s hopes for the future.

Nilmar, the young Brazilian that still belongs to Lyon but played last and this season on home soil, was the center of transfer rumours sending him to Benfica. Nope, says his agent. But his next club should be decided in the next ten days.

Pedro Miguel Pauleta, Ligue 1’s top scorer last year, and true to his Parisian colours, said he will end his career at the end of next year. Already retired on the international front, the aging striker is having a difficult year with PSG.

Nicolas Anelka, quite happy with Bolton this year, recently talked with the media to tell them about what he thought of joining a French club. No to Marseille, because he’s from Paris, no to Lyon, even if they were one of the top in Europe. That’s that, apparently, so that should be enough to shush France bloggers from World Cup Blog named Laurie once and for all!