Japan MNT members on the European transfer market

[naopon]

The reports swirling recently can be a bit confusing, so I'll start a list here in case anyone is interested -

Japan WC2010 NT/support members (confirmed)
Atsuto Uchida (Antlers) to Schalke 04
Shinji Kagawa (Cerezo) to Borussia Dortmund
Eiji Kawashima (Frontale) to Lierse SK

Other World Cup participants from J-League clubs (confirmed)
Chong Tese (Frontale) to VfL Bochum

Japan NT members (wild unfounded rumors)
Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow) to AC Milan/Liverpool/Arsenal/Manchester City/Chelsea/Tottenham/Valencia/Sevilla/Atletico Madrid/Barcelona....etc etc etc
Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble Foot 38) to Deportivo La Coruna/Bordeaux/Sochaux/Valenciennes/FC Krylia Sovetov Samara/Arsenal Kyiv
Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo) to AS Roma/Birmingham City/Cesena/Bologna/Real Mallorca/Borussia Doｗいrtmund
Takayuki Morimoto (Catania) to Arsenal/Manchester United/Manchester City/Tottenham/Fiorentina/Udinese/Chievo/PSG
Kisho Yano (Albirex) to PFC Spartak Nalchik
Yuki Abe (Reds) to Feyenoord/VVV Venlo
Yasuhito Endo (Gamba) to Liverpool
Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg) to AS Roma

[Matsu]

Japan NT members (wild unfounded rumors)
Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow)

Not so unfounded, though the club will need to make a big offer to get Moscow to sell. AC Milan/Valencia/Atletico Madrid are most likely

Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble Foot 38)

Will definitely move, though it remains to be seen where his priorities lie. Bordeaux & Sochaux are the two most likely, just because I think he likes living in France

Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo)

Definitely NOT Roma. Birmingham City probably would be a good move, though I think Borussia Dortmund have the inside track, having spoken to him prior to WC2010


Apart from those, the rest of the rumours really ARE wild and unsubstantiated.
Takayuki Morimoto (Catania) is not likely to move. If he does, it will be to another Italian club.

Kisho Yano (Albirex) to PFC Spartak Nalchik
Seriously? If Albirex can get even 1000 euros for a transfer fee, they should jump at it!

Yuki Abe (Reds) to Feyenoord/VVV Venlo
Possible, but I dont think he is for sale. Maybe in the winter

Yasuhito Endo (Gamba) to Liverpool
Not gonna happen. Someones just having a good laugh . . . .

Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg) to AS Roma
I REALLY doubt Wolfsburg will sell, but if they do, Roma is as likely a candidate as any other.

[omy785]

Well Matsu, you'll be happy to know that even Komano and Okubo said that they want to go to Europe (and not on vacation)...when I learned this I was like:

The positive thing about the WC is that more and more european clubs are starting to look at the japanese market and not only (but some though) for money. Kagawa and Uchida joined already before the WC, which is good and knowing those 2 clubs, they did so because they think these 2 players are good. And they are. I hope they'll fight and find a place in the first team.

Coming to the rumours. O
-Ok Kawashima signed for Lierse (WHY GOD, WHY????? He's a good goalkeeper and it's ok to make experience in Europe, but let's be honest: Lierse, compared to Frontale, is crap!! He should have waited for a better club and league). Same for Chong Tese, he deserves better...but that can still be a good point of start.
-Honda has MANY offerings. Personally I see him in a club like Liverpool or Atletico Madrid or Valencia, not "top clubs" but just under and that are willing to go to a higher level. City and Milan...mmmh...dunno.
-Matsui had a good WC now he just has to choose the right club, unlike he did the last 2 times...I think Bordeaux is the best choice.
-Nagatomo has many offerings as well. Roma I don't know if there's anything serious. It will be tough for him but he has the talent to make it. Dortmund would be better, and we know that german teams have a particular look on japanese players.
-Morimoto. It's been a while since he's been tracked by Arsenal and ManU. I don't see him going away in this mercato, but first he has to understand whether he will play in Catania next season or not. If not than moving to an english club could be interesting...
-Yano. PFFFFFFF. I too heard that Spartak Nalchik (oh yeah, what a club!) could be interested in him, but why should this be true? What has he done? Seriously, he's not gonna move.
-Abe. Always been one of my favourite players who could have find a spot in Europe. But now for him it's a little late to try a european adventure. I have many doubts concerning him. Though in a less known club like Venlo he could have his chance.
-Hasebe. 99% he's not moving. Now that he's one of the "old players" in Wolfsburg his role is getting more important, and so is his confindence, like shown from the fact that he's the new captain of the NT.
-Endo. It would be cool imagining Endo and Gerrard playing thogether. But that's not happening and it's better this way. Endo doesn't have the level to play in that team. I mean, he has a great talent and potential, the best in his "Pirlo role" in Japan and had the level to play in Europe but not anymore. It's too late for him now and from what we have seen in the J-League this season, it's more frequent to see him playing badly than good...

Coming to the crazy duo (Komano and Okubo):
Yes, they said that they want to go to Europe...althought they didn't cosider that if they want to go to Europe there has to be a club that wants them Komano is too old to go to Europe and has no particular talent...and Okubo well, he had a good WC, but that doesn't really change anything. He already failed in 2 occasions, why would this time be different? If he stays in Kobe, that's already an achievement...