Craig Bellamy is currently enjoying quite a revival in his controversial career, a well-travelled player who seemed to have found a settled home at Manchester City.
A striker turned winger, playing in an improving team, his performances have recieved praise from all quarters. Rumours of persistent confrontations with Roberto Mancini however have refused to die down and Bellamy may soon be looking for pastures new once again.
Bellamy, arguably now playing the best football of his career, will definitely not be short of offers. His blistering pace is a weapon all clubs wish in their armoury. The time spent on the wing last season has also developed his ability to create chances for others; his composure and ability to assist his teammates are skills teams will welcome.
If the rumours are true concerning Mancini, then the Italian’s desire to sell Bellamy will no doubt be matched by that of Bellamy himself. At 30 years of age he may feel he has one more big move left in him. The answer as to where that may be appears at this moment to be an easy one. Tottenham Hotspur.
Harry Redknapp, after his recent comments on Spurs and Manchester City’s previous pursuit of Bellamy, may just snare his man at the second time of asking. A confirmed admirer of the player, Redknapp is a manager known for his love of pacy, attacking wingers and strikers, as well as a preference to sign quality British players when they become available. A team of Bellamy, Bale, Lennon and Defoe would certainly strike fear into most defences. Bellamy himself would no doubt be attracted by the offer also.
He will not view signing for Tottenham, who can now offer Champions League football, as a step-down from the riches Manchester City possess and the squad they are building. Tottenham are a team seemingly on the up and thus Bellamy will be attracted to the prospect of adding himself to an already strong squad.
Other teams who may enter the bidding include the likes of Aston Villa. Similar to Spurs in many ways, Villa are managed by a British manager and building a good, young, British squad with great potential. Martin O’Neill will be aware of Bellamy’s talents after signing the Welshman on loan whilst at Celtic in 2005. Everton are another team who may come into the reckoning but with Bellamy’s links to Liverpool, he may decide against such a move. Liverpool in their current predicament and with such a lack of attacking options must surely rue the day they decided to move him on.
It seems unlikely that Bellamy, if he does move, will look at any clubs outside of the European places. Chelsea and Manchester United already appear well stocked in quality forward players and would be, in any case, very surprising suitors. Whilst Arsenal could be viewed as a possibility due to Arsene Wenger’s preference for pace in the wider areas, he may worry about Bellamy’s age and, as is frequently repeated, the threat to the progress of his young players if older ones are added to the squad. Realistically this only leaves Tottenham and Aston Villa to fight for his signature. Such is his level of confidence and desire to win, Bellamy will feel he still possesses enough quality to play for one of the top teams in the Premiership. He will wish to take his current good form into a strong and winning team, giving himself and his teammates a better chance of success.
Following what was effectively the Champions League play off between Manchester City and Tottenham, Bellamy was one of the first to congratulate Harry Redknapp on his achievement. A declared admirer of the Spurs managers work, the mutual respect and appreciation between the two may just see them meet once more at White Hart Lane come August.
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I would imagine Bellamy is fed up of changing clubs and burning his bridges. He’s playing regularly at Man City, he’s appreciated and respected, and he would probably not welcome the pay cut needed to move – if only so that he can continue funding his Sierra Leone charity work.