Transfers of Tuesday, 19 August 2014

Source: Bleacher Report

Alex Song set for potential free loan

Barcelona made out-of-favour midfielder Alex Song available on a free loan on Monday, putting some of the Premier League’s elite on red alert. Matt Law of The Telegraph revealed the news.

Law writes that Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Manchester United could potentially move for the former Arsenal man, who finds chances few and far between at the Nou Camp.

Despite being a talented holding player, Barcelona’s quality in the middle of the park means that Song has had to take a back seat. But first-team football could be just around the corner for the Cameroon international.

That’s something that he desperately needs according to countryman Samuel Eto’o, who told beIN Sports earlier this year that moving away from Barcelona would be best for his career—per George Ankers of Goal.com, “Song has to leave Barca. At his age, he must play and he could be in the starting XI at any big club.”

At just 26 years of age, Song has a lot of football left in him, and Law revealed via Twitter that he thinks he’d fit in well back in the Premier League after performing impressively with Arsenal.

In his days as a Gunner, Song’s link-up play with Robin van Persie was impressive, and the pair will be reunited if Louis van Gaal makes the move for his signature.

Bringing Song to Old Trafford certainly makes sense on a personnel front, too, as the Red Devils’ lack of talent in centre-midfield will undoubtedly cost them dearly as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ chase of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, per the Daily Mail’s Oliver Todd, is looking more and more fruitless by the day, while the injury to Everton’s Ross Barkley will have the Toffees assessing their options in midfield.

Valued at just £8 million, Song appears somewhat of a bargain buy, though a free loan for a season is even more appealing financially.

While Tottenham, Everton and United can’t offer Song the Champions League football that he’s become accustomed to with both Arsenal and Barcelona, just walking out of the tunnel without a tracksuit on is what he really wants.

The Cameroonian footballer, Song, has proved on countless occasions, that the tempo and agility of Premier League football suits him down to the ground, and whichever club acts fastest will be reaping the benefits of a top-quality midfielder throughout the campaign.