All the major papers have covered our interest in Peter Crouch this morning so this might have more substance to it than first thought. The trouble is that the Independent are leading with the fact that AC Milan are also interested in the Portsmouth forward and I guess Crouch could be tempted to try his luck abroad. A spell with an Italian side, particularly Milan, might make Fabio Capello sit up and take notice too. The price seems to have rocketed up to £15m as well.
Sam Wallace suggests that Crouch has made it onto Milan’s list of targets after they failed to tempt Emmanuel Adebayor away from Arsenal for the second successive summer. Coach Leonardo’s interest is apparently genuine and it follows previous interest from Italian sides. It wouldn’t just be Milan we’d be battling for Crouch’s signature as Sunderland are keen too and Aston Villa and Crouch’s former club Tottenham could make an offer if they can raise funds through summer sales.
Wallace does believe that our participation in Europe does hand us a bit more bargaining power in the hunt for new players, though.
Fulham’s seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season means they have a place in the Europa League – formerly the Uefa Cup – and can be more flexible on wages than before. Their striking options include Andy Johnson, Bobby Zamora, Eric Nevland and Diomansy Kamara, as well as Eddie Johnson, who is likely to leave this summer. Andy Johnson and Zamora managed nine Premier League goals between them last season; two fewer than Crouch scored for Portsmouth.
