Global

Tottenham the most attractive option for a disillusioned Fred

By Matthew Day ⋅ January 11, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Brazilian forward Fred – otherwise known as Frederico Chaves Guedes - will finally have his wish of a departure from Lyons granted during the January transfer window, but the 24-year-old must decide where he wants to play for the next few years, with immediate options in France and England and further offers expected from Spain.

Lyons have been in dispute with Fred from last summer onwards yet were keen to retain the talented striker despite his unremitting appeals to exit the French powerhouse. Fred’s attitude has constantly been called into question and after he arrived eight days late from the winter break - more than a week after his team-mates had returned - Lyons president Jean-Michel Aulas said, “If he wants to leave, he can do so.”

Fred has played only 366 minutes of first-team football this season and cost Lyons 16 million euros less than three years ago, but his departure is imminent following accepted bids from three clubs.

Aulas has stated his desire to see Fred go to Paris Saint-Germain, “As vice-president of the Ligue de Football Professionnel, and for the value of television rights, I would prefer Fred to stay in France. That’s the reason we’re ready to do what we can to help him secure a move to PSG.” Their 10 million euros bid was accepted but Portsmouth and Tottenham each came in with offers, 12 million euros from the former and 15 millions euros from the North London outfit; sums his current employer could not afford to turn down.

Lyons now say it is up to the player to make up his mind, and Fred may well wait for further offers now that the asking price has been set. Interest from other Premier League clubs has been rife, including inquiries from Middlesbrough, Manchester City and West Ham, and the latter two may return with bids with the fee well within their budgets. A move to Spain is also in the offing, though only lowly Real Betis have declared an interest and they lie inside the bottom three.

Fred would act as a replacement for Defoe and an extremely useful back-up player, having scored at more than a goal every other game for Lyons with the same goal-to-game ratio for Brazil

Fred’s most attractive prospect appears to be Tottenham, with a host of January signings expected under the new management team of Juande Ramos and Gus Poyet and a surge for the Uefa Cup spots anticipated in the closing months of the Premier League campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain are just two points off the relegation zone and Portsmouth look set to lose their inspirational manager Harry Redknapp, a change which is likely to put off would-be targets. Fred is likely to bide his time before determining where his future lies, but an exit from the French champions in this transfer window is inevitable. Spain remains his favoured destination but the former Cruzeiro player is keen to join an ambitious side, preferably in Europe, and is unlikely to be swayed by Aulas’s keenness for him to remain in France, such was their fractious relationship.

Tottenham are keen to rebuild following a poor start to the season which saw Martin Jol sacked, and they now sit in twelfth position, 12 points behind a Uefa Cup position. The Ramos revolution has yet to swing fully into motion and the defeat at Aston Villa led assistant manager Poyet to insist, “We are going to have to change, maybe we are going to make big changes.” Jermain Defoe has been told he can leave and Fred would act as a replacement and an extremely useful back-up player, having scored at more than a goal every other game for Lyons with the same goal-to-game ratio for Brazil.

However, it was Fred’s lack of first-team football that was largely responsible for his desire to leave Lyons and a possibly parallel situation at Tottenham may put him off with Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane the preferred starters and Darren Bent eagerly awaiting a chance to prove he is worth his hefty transfer fee. Regular playing time would be virtually guaranteed at PSG and Portsmouth, with both sides desperately struggling for goals. The former are the third-lowest scorers in Ligue 1 and Pompey have notched just 11 goals at home - the equal second fewest.

Fred has long been a promising talent on the European football scene ever since he netted 90 times in 130 combined appearances for América Mineiro and Cruzeiro and accordingly switched continents. Fred’s peak years lie ahead: he is not yet 25 but has never been short in confidence, has a potent right foot and at 1.85m, has the necessary height for the physical and brutal nature of English football. But will England and the Premier League play host to the capricious forward come the end of the window?

A good signing for Tottenham or Portsmouth? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

Related Articles

• No related posts.