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ISL Weekly Transfer Updates: Former Barcelona star Ricardo Quaresma shows interest, clubs speed up business and more

ISL Weekly Transfer Updates: Former Barcelona star Ricardo Quaresma shows interest, clubs speed up business and more
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By

Sagnik

Published: 21 Aug 2020 2:04 PM GMT

The Indian football transfer market is heating up as we approach closer and closer to the start of the new season, and consequently, Indian Super League (ISL) clubs and I-League clubs have upped their game in recent weeks.

With a view to provide you with all the latest transfer updates from Indian football, we kickoff a new weekly series today.

Here’s what happened this week:

# Ricardo Quaresma interested in moving to ISL

Ricardo Quaresma with Ronaldo Ricardo Quaresma with Ronaldo

Yes, indeed, you read that right. Ricardo Quaresma, the Ricardo Quaresma, who won the Euro Cup in 2016 with Portugal alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, has shown interest in playing in the ISL in the near future.

After former Manchester City star Yaya Toure, Quaresma is the second ‘marquee’ player to have contacted ISL clubs. The 36-year-old winger is known for his vicious outswinger that he can unleash with venom from anywhere on the pitch.

After enjoying an illustrious career that took him from Spoting CP to Barcelona to Inter Milan to Chelsea and a host of other clubs, Quaresma is currently a free agent. There is no doubt that the Portuguese would be solid addition to any team in the ISL. However, like Toure, whether or not Indian clubs will be able to afford Quaresma’s fees, especially under the current financial circumstances, remains to be seen.

# Jamshedpur FC wrapping up business quickly

The Red Miners were a little inactive during the off-season, or so we thought. However, they have quickly accelerated the pace after announcing Owen Coyle as their new head coach.

This week saw two official announcements, two big ones in fact. The signings of former FC Goa attacker Jackichand Singh and last season’s top scorer Nerijus Valskis were both confirmed by the club.

Apart from the official confirmations, it is also understood that as has been widely reported, ex-Motherwell FC captain Peter Hartley has also agreed a two-year-deal with the club.

# Sandesh Jhingan wanted by 5 clubs

Sandesh Jhingan became a fan favourite at Kerala Blasters (Source: ISL) Sandesh Jhingan became a fan favourite at Kerala Blasters (Source: ISL)

The race for the hottest prospect in the Indian football transfer market, Sandesh Jhingan, has heated up. It is no secret that five ISL clubs, ATK Mohun Bagan FC, Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC, FC Goa and Mumbai City FC, all want to rope him in. Each club has given a valid reason as to why Jhingan should chose that particular club.

While all the offers are tempting in their own way, as the 27-year-old himself admitted to Times of India in an interview, Jhingan wants to sign for a club which will ‘help him grow’. It will be exciting to be seen where he eventually ends up, because everyone is looking forward to his return from the ACL injury.

# Clubs retain important players, give out long-term deals to players

Ahead of the upcoming season, ISL clubs are actively working to retain their most vital members. After weeks of speculation, Chennaiyin managed to convince Rafael Crivellaro to stay for at least one more season.

Also, there has been a change in trend recently. In case you never really followed Indian football transfers in the past, you should know that in general players were signed on one-year deals and only given new contracts when they performed. Such was the case, rival clubs also had the option of luring away a team’s best players after one season.

Nowadays, however, the notion seems to be changing. Clubs are realising how signing players on long-term deals can be beneficial if there is a need to sell the player and not for once, ATKMB is leading the way.

The Kolkata-based club had handed long-term contracts to Prabir Das, Pritam Kotal and SK Sahil. This week they announced the retentions, on long-term deals, of last season’s Emerging Player Sumit Rathi and the signing of Subhasish Bose on a five-year deal. They also retained the services of Irish defender Carl McHugh for the upcoming season.

Kerala Blasters also announced the signing of Givson Singh on a three-year deal. Chennaiyin handed a new two-year extension to Anirudh Thapa.

# Kerala Blasters’ Oswaldo Henriquez deal falls through

Oswaldo Henríquez (Source: Oswaldo Henriquez) Oswaldo Henríquez (Source: Oswaldo Henriquez)

In one of the most disappointing news of the week, Kerala Blasters’ deal with Colombian centre-back Oswaldo Henriquez fell through. The 31-year-old experienced pro looked set to be a Blasters player for the upcoming season. He had even signed a contract after agreeing terms with the club.

However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic there were always going to be some uncertainty. Henriquez priotised his safety and health and was always keeping an eye on how things were panning out in India. But the growing number of cases concerned him and he decided to terminate the agreement.

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