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The Bleacher Report listed 6 of the biggest Premier League summer transfer targets of 2011 and Gambling911.com has your latest odds on each of these players. Bleacher names Liverpool: Stewart Downing, Tottenham Hotspur: Leandro Damiao, Arsenal: Christopher Samba, Manchester City: Hulk, Chelsea: Radamel Falcao and Mancester United: Wesley Sneijder.
Stewart Downing was a 1/5 favorite to land in Liverpool a la Aston Villa.
Downing is a natural winger with a lot of pace and a brilliant left foot. He was one of the chief campaigners for Aston Villa last season and scored eight goals in 44 appearances for the Villans, including seven assists.
Downing has gone ahead to openly state that he would like to play for the Reds next season.
Christopher Samba’s Premier League summer transfer window odds had him as a huge 1/10 favorite to be playing for Arsenal this coming season.
Arsenal scored the second-highest number of goals among the top four in the Premier League last season. But they also conceded the highest number of goals in that bracket.
Arsenal's defense just does not intimidate, regardless of the credentials of the opponent. This is one area where teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea have been scoring bonus points over the Gunners.
Arsenal need someone of the stature of a Nemanja Vidic—someone who can provide the element of brute force in the back four, someone who can innocuously get away with fouls in the 18-yard box due to his presence, someone who can rally the forces from behind.
Arsenal's search this time around has led them to Blackburn's Christopher Samba.
The 6'4", towering and beefy center back has very good aerial ability and physical presence. He would bring in to the Arsenal defense something similar to what Sol Campbell did back in the hay days.
Wesley Sneijder represents the biggest intrigue of the summer transfer window as no one team is favored to land the Dutchman. Chelsea was listed at 4/5 odds but Manchester United was a close 6/4 and Man City sat at 5/2.
Sneijder is known for his pin-point, Scholes-esque crosses and displays impeccable placement ability. The Dutchman is ambidextrous and is also a superb dead-ball specialist—an area United have struggled in following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
United are sorted out on the winger front with the recent acquisition of Ashley Young. The only piece missing from their midfield puzzle that would elevate it to a world-class level is someone of Sneijder's expertise and experience.
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
