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Blackburn Rovers to take look at Annan in action
10:56am Friday 8th August 2008
By Gary York »
PAUL Ince is set to have one last look at Anthony Annan before completing a move for the highly-rated midfielder.
The 22-year-old Ghanaian – regarded as the ‘new Michael Essien – has impressed the Blackburn Rovers boss during his time on trial this week.
And after ticking all the right boxes at Rovers’ Brockhall training ground, it looked likely that Annan would clinch a deal ahead of tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against NAC Breda at Ewood Park.
However, despite the fact that Blackburn have reached advanced negotiations with Annan’s Norwegian club IK Start, Ince has made it clear that he wants the young African assessed in competitive action before finalising matters.
Instead of lining up against Breda, Annan will now be watched by Rovers scouts in Scandinavia on Sunday night, when he turns out for Norwegian league leaders Stabaek against Aalesunds FK.
Annan, who featured heavily for Ghana in the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, has been on loan at Stabaek since March, playing an integral part in steering them to the summit of the Tippeligaen.
Although a deal is expected to be wrapped up early next week, a good performance for Stabaek will only enhance his prospects of cementing a move to Rovers.
“Anthony is going back to Norway to play at the weekend,” said Rovers chairman John Williams.
“The reasoning behind it is that Paul wants to see him play in a competitive game.”
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gosportdunc, manchester says...
11:35am Fri 8 Aug 08
I fear this one gould get away weve told the world how good hes
weve told the world how cheap he is and the club he is at have no money now were open to a bidding war
ripleywonder, Chester says...
12:03pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Why oh why when a player has apparently impressed as much as Annan when on trial and is hailed the 'new Essien' are we taking so long to conclude the deal? I dont think it has helped that Williams and Ince have come out giving a running commentary on the situation - get him in.
If he signs i'll eat humble pie but i am concerned.
gosportdunc, manchester says...
12:05pm Fri 8 Aug 08
i know it not a competitive game but with all the rovers staff. their should be some one on their staff that can see if he can play a bit or not.
i just think we shouldnt show our cards to everybody else that plays the game.
eg when harry rednapp gets somebody in he gives them a knickname then he cant be outbid by rival teams .he dosnt tell everybody how good he is and that he is availlable
I think we can learn from them here!
Robbie, Manchester says...
12:07pm Fri 8 Aug 08
gosportdunc, manchester says...
12:15pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Robbie wrote:well said robbie !
have we not already scouted this guy?
with the sound off thinks we look our players of you tube
and dvd's
we should have done all the homework before the player arrives on trail not back to front like we doing
gosportdunc, manchester says...
12:19pm Fri 8 Aug 08
jinkyjase, Preston says...
12:41pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Midfield is looking quite strong for next season, Vogel started to look the part towards the end of last season and with a pre-season under his belt he may be key.
gosportdunc, manchester says...
12:50pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Trev Manchester, Manchester says...
12:56pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Skelf, Stavanger says...
1:18pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Start has gone out a said that the deal is far from done.
Arsenal is in a fresh link and other clubs is coming to watch this weekend, for 2M I think he surely must be worth it. '
I also can't understand why we haven't tried for Salvadore Cabana, this Paraguayan striker has pace, shooting skills, good with the ball, great placement. That is what we need linked with Wigan and Man U. Look him up on youtube. If Benni is going for the sake of............get him signed he has over 50% presentage goalscoring in Mexico and Chile and I don't know but he was almost out of contract and he wants to Premier League.
MikeD, Oslo says...
1:27pm Fri 8 Aug 08
ossy rover, oswaldtwistle says...
1:28pm Fri 8 Aug 08
if its meant to happen it will.
as for playing this weekend, he's contracted to Stabaek and they have a league game this weekend so that must be the priority
keep the faith
gosportdunc, manchester says...
1:35pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Annan, who plays for Norway's IK Start, has been one of the successes at the African Cup of Nations.
And big pal Essien, who started at the same Hearts of Oak club in Accra, is pushing his Blues bosses to take on the 21-year-old.
Now Chelsea are taking no tice, especially with Annan available at around £1million.
Annan's club Start also know it is time to sell, as they were relegated at the end of the last season.
Skelf, Stavanger says...
1:36pm Fri 8 Aug 08
gosportdunc, manchester says...
2:16pm Fri 8 Aug 08
we should have 11 mill min(tv money walkers £3mill bentleys 8mill min) instead of signing loan players and trailist why cant we buy 2 £5mil player's that will walk in to first eleven.
Skelf, Stavanger says...
2:51pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Why are we missing this possibility to sign south american player of the year 2007. That partner's up Roque in Paraguay international.
To my knowledge he will be cheap because he har one year left of his contract if it's not renewed latley. It is some good stuff about him on youtube. I really hope that if Benni is on the way, we do know that he is available. Overall complementary skills to Roque.
ossy rover, oswaldtwistle says...
2:56pm Fri 8 Aug 08
if these players bring us any success then the better players will want to sign for us.
keep the faith
bburnrover, Wilpshire says...
3:10pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Players contracts plus the cost of buying them add up to vast sums of money which we cannot throw away to regret later.
Tricky, Poulton-le-Fylde says...
4:00pm Fri 8 Aug 08
gosportdunc, manchester says...
4:05pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Submitted by Jake Briggs on Fri, 2008-08-08 15:27. Arsenal Premiership Transfer News
Arsenal have taken Ghanaian International Anthony Annan on a weeks trial at the Emirates Stadium, following the midfielder being put through his paces at Ewood park with Blackburn Rovers.
22-year-old Annan currently plays for Norwegian side IK Start, but was on loan at Stabaek from January in the Tippeligaen. With the abrasive midfielder attracting attention from Chelsea and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
However due to Start’s relegation from the Tippeligaen last season, Annan has declared his desire for a move away from the Sor Arena.
Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille have also shown interest in the Ghanaian, but no firm offer has arrived from the Stade Velodrome. With Annan spending a week on trial at Blackburn recently.
Now reports in the Norwegian media are claiming that the Gunners are to hand Annan a weeks trial at their London Colney training ground, where he will work with the reserves in a bid to earn a deal at the Emirates.
Jarred, Bristol says...
2:16pm Sat 9 Aug 08
Added to this, the whole affair was taking place in public, Ince and Williams were raving about how positively he'd impressed at the trial.
I'd like to be angry at Arsenal, but I can't be. We waved it under their noses.
Really poor way to do business.
I would love to be proved wrong by us signing him anyway, but it looks all ends up like we've lost this guy.
Ex-Pat, 2000 Miles Away says...
2:48pm Sat 9 Aug 08
He is already at Arsenal for a weeks trial, come on Telegraph report how we missed that one!
Rover100, Norway says...
10:50pm Sun 10 Aug 08
Annan is not at Arsenal... According to Start`s own webside he`s back in Norway...
Start has told interested clubs that they will not get Annan on trial, but can watch him playing for Start... They say several clubs are interested, inkluding Arsenal...
Ince should sign him asap, before Wenger makes him a gooner...
Rover100, Norway says...
11:00pm Sun 10 Aug 08
"Watch him play for Stabæk"
Rover100, Norway says...
2:10pm Mon 11 Aug 08
MikeD wrote:In the deal between Start and Stabæk, there is a clause that Start can sell Annan in the loan period...
Annan is on loan to Stabæk until the end of august, and it may be that we can't sign him before that anyway - perhaps that is why we are being cautious, but as Skelf says, Start have asked a lot of clubs to come and watch him play for Stabæk - they are keen to get as much money as they can for him - and Arsenal is one of the clubs that have declared an interest. However Start don't want him to go out on trial anywhere else, so we have that advantage. I certainly think that it would be well worth a risk for 2 million since he has impressed in training. I would hate to miss out on someone who could be the next Vierra!
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Anthony Annan
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MikeD, Oslo says...
11:34am Fri 8 Aug 08
Stabæk are top of the Norwegian league, despite having an extremely low budget in comparison to the other teams, thanks to players like these. Hopefully we don't lose out on Annan by playing a waiting game.