Liverpool have endured a difficult season so far. Losing Luis Suarez was always going to be tough, but coupled with the absence of Daniel Sturridge through injury and the sheer number of new players having come in, things have been very hard on Merseyside.
But a scrappy home win against West Brom could well prove to be the springboard, with some positivity beginning to creep back in at Anfield. Here are three reasons we at FFC Towers think Liverpool fans can be optimistic through the international break…
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CLICK ON ADAM LALLANA TO REVEAL THE THREE
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Liverpool showed resilience
For a team in shaky form, Liverpool showed a great deal of grit to come back from Saido Berahino’s penalty. With the spot kick controversial – the striker appeared to be outside the area when fouled by Dejan Lovren – it would have been easy for a side low on confidence to sink into their shell and use the ready-made excuse. But Raheem Sterling bounced back up from a robust challenge just minutes later at the other end of the field to pick out Jordan Henderson, who coolly finished.
Daniel Sturridge WILL be back for the next game
With England boss Roy Hodgson having left Sturridge out to recover, the striker looks almost certain to back for the QPR game after the international break. And what a relief that will be for Brendan Rodgers, who has struggled to fill the void left by his now star man. He may also link well with Mario Balotelli, as the pair showed good signs of an on-field relationship during their only outing together at Spurs.
Lallana coming good
The sheer joy on Lallana’s face when he celebrated his opener was a major hint at the relief he felt. The £25m England man has been the subject of some criticism since his move from Southampton, but he looked every bit worth the cash outlay against West Brom. Now fully fit again, the playmaker may be a useful tool for Rodgers.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has praised Mario Balotelli after their 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over Ludogorets on Tuesday night, Mirror reports.
Gerrard had to score a late penalty in order to secure the three points, and believes Balotelli – who bagged the game’s first goal – can aid the club to a successful season.
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“A lot of people were wondering what we were going to see from Mario in terms of off-the-ball and work-rate, what he gives us off the ball,” the Liverpool captain said.
“But we saw tonight how hard he worked. You have got to give Mario immense credit. When you try to find a breakthrough, you keep going – which is what he did. Great strikers only need one chance and he took it.”
After losing 1-0 to Aston Villa at Anfield during the weekend, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was clearly elated as his side returned to the Champions League with a win.
“It was a vital win for us, vital. It will be really important for our season. After a great performance against Tottenham the international break has really hurt us, so we needed that,” he explained.
“I felt coming into the game that we had a wee bit of a hangover from the defeat by Villa, so the resilience and commitment the players showed tonight was really important for us.
“I do believe that in my first six months here we would have lost that game. But it shows the belief we have now in the group that we have to keep going from here. I think those three points give us momentum and belief, because this competition is about winning, and we showed we can do that.”
Liverpool’s next destination is Upton Park, where they will face West Ham United this coming weekend.
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The January transfer window has never been an ideal time to buy, but it represents an important opportunity for Premier League clubs to offload some of their deadwood.
That’s something Brendan Rodgers should bear in mind as we approach the winter window – his Liverpool squad, although designed to cope with the added burdens of Champions League football this season, includes a number of players that are quite frankly surplus to requirements.
With that in mind, here’s a list of FIVE players the Reds could axe in the New Year; some have contracts winding down, others were expected to leave during the summer and a few have simply outlasted their relevance on Merseyside.
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GLEN JOHNSON
Hot off the press this morning, England international Glen Johnson has admitted his Liverpool career could soon be coming to an end:
With his current deal set to expire at the end of the season, the 30 year-old is yet to sign the one-year contract extension offered to him during the summer. Upon the turn of 2015, he’ll be allowed to talk to foreign clubs regarding a bosman move.
The right-back’s experience and continuity could soon prove vital for a chaotic Reds defence that currently has the fifth-worst goals conceded column in the Premier League as he returns from a six-week injury lay-off, having featured as a substitute against West Brom last weekend.
But Rodgers will be keen to get a return on the former West Ham, Chelsea and Portsmouth star rather than risk losing him for free. Likewise, he now has youngsters Javier Manquillo and John Flanagan waiting in the wings.
Liverpool fans won’t mind too much either – this was their reaction when Brendan Rodgers ruled Johnson out injured back in August:
FABIO BORINI
Fabio Borini was widely expected to leave Anfield this summer, with Liverpool accepting a £14million bid from Sunderland after the Italian claimed ten goals on loan at the Stadium of Light last season.
The highlight of his Black Cats stay was this sensational strike in the Tyne-Wear derby:
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But the 23 year-old reject Sunderland’s advances, in addition to interest from QPR on deadline day, instead using Twitter to profess his manhood to the world and desire to fight for his place on Merseyside:
Brendan Rodgers has issued Borini three outings already this season but with Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Daniel Sturridge to contend with in the pecking order, clearly he’ll never be luxury to more than a bit-part role.
Sunderland and QPR appear to have lost interest but Inter Milan are reportedly eying a January loan swoop for the former Parma and Roma ace:
The Reds however, would likely prefer a permanent departure.
LUCAS LEIVA
Another fringe player expected to leave during the summer – Lucas Leiva spent the off-season being heavily linked with Rafa Benitez’ Napoli:
That was ruled out however in the latter stages of the transfer window, as the former Liverpool boss declared there would be no more arrivals in Naples.
The tough-tackling Brazilian hasn’t seen too much action since; in fact, Brendan Rodgers has issued him just two starts in all competitions this season. His performances have been largely ineffective too – against West Ham the 27 year-old was dragged off at half time with the Reds already 2-1 down.
Jamie Carragher believes Leiva struggles to play alongside Steven Gerrard in midfield – a sure-fire way to bring any Anfield career to an abrupt close.
Thus, a January departure looks incredibly likely, and recent speculation suggests the midfielder could be offered to Napoli again, in a bid to bring Gonzalo Higuain to Merseyside.
Here’s a look at the Argentina international’s top ten goals:
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SUSO
Brendan Rodgers is clearly fond of Spanish playmaker Suso. The 20 year-old impressed in a cameo role during the Ulsterman’s first season at Anfield, and Rodgers recently revealed the midfielder was in his thoughts ahead of the Merseyside derby. He also bagged this tasty strike against Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup back in September:
But a lot changed on Merseyside whilst Suso spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan to Almeria, and the Spain U21 has since struggled to break into Liverpool’s first team. Here’s the highlights of his stay with the Spanish side:
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Furthermore, the attacking midfielder’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, suggesting Brendan Rodgers will feel compelled to sell Suso on unless he’s featuring more regularly at senior level.
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That task will be made even harder with the youngster sidelined for the next two months due to a groin injury:
There are rumours however that his Anfield exit has already been masterminded; Sky Sports Italia claim Suso has agreed terms regarding a pre-contract move to Inter Milan.
JOSE ENRIQUE
Jose Enrique has only just come back from a year-long injury lay-off, and amid the absences of Glen Johnson and John Flanagan, has provided vital depth at left-back this season.
But the Spaniard is a little behind the standard you’d expect from a Champions League side, and after snapping up Alberto Moreno this summer, will unlikely return to the status of first choice No.3 any time soon at Anfield.
There’s still two years left on his current contract but Liverpool would be prepared to sell in January if they’re approached with a reasonable offer.
Some reports already suggest this, with La Liga side Villarreal emerging as potential suitors:
The left-back slot is also deputised by Mamadou Sakho and Emre Can, so the Anfield side won’t be left short if Enrique is let go in the new year. Here’s a look at the 28 year-old in action:
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is confident that Reds starlet Raheem Sterling will be fresh and ready to terrorise Premier League defences once more when he comes back to the club from a mid-season break.
The 20 year-old was allowed an extended break by Rodgers following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City on New Year’s Day, with the Reds boss desperate to ensure that one of his most prized assets does not suffer from burnout in what will be a crucial last few months of the season for the Anfield outfit.
Sterling has played more minutes than any other outfield player in the Premier League this term – making 26 starts and two substitute appearances for Liverpool in all competitions.
He was also a key member of the Liverpool side who nearly clinched the Premier League last season, and after a whirlwind 18 months in football which has propelled the England international to global fame, Rodgers feels that a rest for Sterling is richly deserved.
“If you focus just purely on the here and now then of course you wouldn’t want Raheem to miss anything,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“But he’s a young player and you have got to look after the needs of the player and ultimately the team and the club.
“He has been outstanding for us in recent months. A period of rest and the recuperation will do him the world of good. It’s been a gruelling first half of the season for him with a lot of matches and a lot of work.
“This is the break I had always planned to give him. It will set him up for the rest of the season.”
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Following Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday, Sterling is expected to return from his holiday in Jamaica ready for the trip to Aston Villa.
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The footballing equivalent of those dreaded celebrity gossip magazines that quote ‘inside sources’ on Kim Kardashian’s alleged argument with her postman, the British tabloids’ constant spewing of fact-less transfer rumours rarely produces a true story.
But every now and then, the odd rumour comes to the surface that appears to have some weight behind it, providing you’re prepared to read between the lines.
And we may be amid the Premier League’s silly season, with the January window now upon us, but there’s a few stories involving Tottenham Hotspur this month that might actually materialise into something genuine.
Just to prove it, here’s FIVE we at Football Fancast are tipping to be the real McCoy.
EMMANUEL EMENIKE
Despite the recent heroics of Harry Kane, the glaring inadequacies of Tottenham’s strike-force desperately require Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino’s attention this month – especially if the Lilywhites are planning on a late charge for a Champions League spot.
There’s quite a few names in the mix, but rumours linking Spurs with Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike have been consistent over the last week or so.
The Nigerian international was spotted in London with agent Erdem Konyar earlier this week, who has since confirmed that Tottenham are interested in his client.
Boasting impressive returns of 63 goals in 51 appearances for Karabukaspor, 36 in 42 for Spartak Moscow and 25 in 40 for Fenerbahce however, the 27 year-old has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool before, who could both revive their interest.
Right now however, the Lilywhites seem to be the front-runners. Despite a £16million release clause, it’s claimed the Turkish side could settle for just £8million.
PAULINHO
Having never really hit the heights expected since moving to White Hart Lane for a then-club record £17million in summer 2013, and since been reduced to a bit-part role after some borderline woeful performances at the World Cup, rumours of Paulinho being put up for sale this January will hardly come as a huge surprise to Tottenham fans.
Indeed, the Brazil international scored six league goals last season but has spent the majority of the current campaign on the bench, seemingly ill-fitting to Mauricio Pochettino’s high-pressing philosophy – which is finally starting to take effect. Thus far, he’s seen just 135 minutes in the Premier League.
Spurs need to sell before the 26 year-old’s value further depreciates and according to the tabloids, there are a number of suitors emerging from the woodwork. Brazilian side Cruzeiro have been fairly public about their ambitions to sign Paulinho on loan, but the north Londoners would unquestionably prefer a permanent departure.
In that regard, The Independent claim Inter Milan, Schalke and former club Corinthians could all be interested in the £12million-rated midfielder.
MOUSA DEMBELE
Another midfielder that appears unable to adapt to Mauricio Pochettino’s methods, Mousa Dembele has been issued just three Premier League starts since the Argentine’s arrival in the summer.
The Belgium international’s immense talent remains undoubted – he looked like a world-beater in the making at former club Fulham and has attracted interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid, to name a few, in the past.
But that’s rarely corresponded into immense performances for the Lilywhites and he’s now at his furthest from Spurs’ starting Xi since his £15million arrival in January 2012.
Everton were alleged as potential suitors earlier in the season and could now view Dembele as the ideal signing to end their current malaise. Admittedly however, the rumour has lost traction over the last few months.
Jay Rodriguez
It’s not a transfer saga that’s received too much attention this month, but Tottenham’s long-term interest in Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez remains undoubted.
The England international flourished under Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership at St. Mary’s, finishing last term as the Premier League’s third top-scoring Englishman with 15 goals in 33 appearances, despite missing its final two months with an ACL injury.
Pochettino clearly likes the powerful winger-forward’s style and he would address a few problems for the Lilywhites – particularly their lack of depth on the left flank and at centre-forward.
Furthermore, my hunch tells me that the Saints could be prepared to sell; after all, they’re a completely different side now and have excelled in the 25 year-old’s prolonged absence, rising to fourth in the Premier League table.There will be a temptation to cash-in whilst he’s still in demand.
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Rodriguez is still struggling with his knee injury according to friend and Burnley striker Sam Vokes however, which could force the Lilywhites into seeking alternatives this month.
FABIAN DELPH
Aston Villa contract rebel Fabian Delph has been linked with a number of bigger Premier League clubs over the last few months, most particularly Tottenham and Liverpool.
Spurs desperately need more bodies in the middle of the park if Dembele and Paulinho are to leave as expected, and the 25 year-old shares the gutsy, energetic styles of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb that Mauricio Pochettino has continually found himself depending on this term – epitomised by the above goal against Chelsea last season.
And it’s been a solid twelve months for the talismanic midfielder, earning the Villain of the Year award at the end of last season and more recently a spot in Roy Hodgson’s England squad, with three caps since his September debut.
He suits Tottenham’s style of play perfectly and with his contract now into its final six months, Mirror Football alleged a £3million offer from the north Londoners earlier this week.
The Express, on the other hand, believe Delph will wait until the summer before deciding upon his next club. Paul Lambert has also recently stated that the England international isn’t for sale.
When the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League was made, Arsenal fans were rubbing their hands at the prospect of a tie against French side Monaco; what many judged the best possible outcome for the Gunners to reach the quarter-finals.
However, after a shock 3-1 defeat at the Emirates, they were somewhat left with egg on their faces and appear to be on their way out of Europe at the same stage yet again.
Despite a poor team performance overall, with the side displaying numerous examples of schoolboy defending, striker Olivier Giroud took much of the criticism for the defeat that night, and somewhat harshly was made the scapegoat.
The French forward missed a number of chances on the night that could have completely changed the complexion of the tie ahead of the return leg next week, and has since made it clear of his personal disappointment over his performance.
Yet with the spotlight very much on him heading into March, Giroud has shown terrific mental strength to find the net in successive league games in wins over Everton and Queen’s Park Rangers; a time when other players may have buckled.
Every player is entitled to a bad game, it’s part and parcel of the sport. It’s all about how quickly they can react and put it behind them that will define an individual, and Giroud has done that brilliantly, something he deserves to be applauded for.
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His latest goals mean he now has eight in his last 10 games, a period that saw him reach the landmark of 50 goals for the club, after 117 appearances – figures that many centre forwards would be pleased with. Despite his goal scoring record, he’s still yet to convince some fans and pundits, who don’t give him the credit he deserves, and are particularly concerned with his ability to deliver in the big games like Monaco, for example.
The fact is, he gets in the right areas to give himself the chances. Continue to do this, and then a player of his ability will score goals, as he as shown in his time at the club. Yes he will miss some, all strikers do, but his movement and ability to find space in the penalty area mean he will also find the net frequently and this is vital to Arsenal, who lack any real alternatives as an out-and-out striker.
Strong and powerful in the air, the forward also holds the ball up extremely well to bring his teammates into attacks, something that can often go unnoticed. And in a side that like to play type of football that Arsenal do, this is invaluable to the side.
And despite the missed chances, some of his recent goals have highlighted once again just how good his finishing can be. No doubt he will strive to improve his shots to goal ratio, but what striker doesn’t? Giroud clearly has mental toughness to put missed chances behind him, and with continued support from the manager and fans, can keep on improving and lead the line for Arsenal for the next few years as he enters what should be the peak of his career.
For Arsenal to have any chance of progressing into the last eight of the Champions League, they will need to score at least three goals in Monaco, which is certainly no easy task given the defensive strength of the French side. But with Giroud in their side, it’s still an achievable one.
With the creative options Arsenal posses, you can bank that he will find himself with a few opportunities to cut the deficit in the tie, and with his hunger to make amends for the first leg, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Giroud lead the comeback and help Arsenal to a famous victory.
Watch this space!
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Monday night saw another disappointing performance from Manchester United as they crashed out of the FA Cup in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford; throwing away their only chance of silverware in the process.
The performance, as well as the team selection from United boss Louis van Gaal, posed further questions and concern about the fortunes of the Red Devils, who look to be set for an almighty scrap for a top four finish. To rub salt into the wound, it was a former player and boyhood fan of the club Danny Welbeck who netted the winner to send Arsenal on their way to Wembley once again.
With many pundits and fans stating the need for more money to be spent, it’s conceivable that United could rue the fact they don’t have some of their old players to call upon as the pressure grows to get results. And with many of their stars misfiring, there’s no doubt some of their former squad members would walk into the side at this present time.
In light of these problems, here are FIVE players Man United should never have let leave…
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Danny Welbeck
It was widely noted that former United man Danny Welbeck celebrated his winner against his old club, and to be honest with you, who can blame him? Depsite his love for the club, Welbeck was told in no uncertain terms that he had no future at Old Trafford, with Van Gaal of the belief that the youngster didn’t have the quality required to score the goals United needed.
But given the chance upfront, Welbeck has shown he will score goals, and his willingness to play out of position in a wide area is something that United could well still do with. Given some of the performances put in by United’s star players this season, the decision to let Welbeck leave looks stranger every week.
Paul Pogba
Despite numerous options in the middle of the park, United continue to be linked with a new central midfielder, with a certain characteristic missing from their side. They are in desperate need of a player who can attack as well as defend, a box-to-box player who can influence their team just like Yaya Toure does at Manchester City. Frustratingly for United fans, Paul Pogba looks to be just that man.
Always tipped as a promising talent, Pogba left United again after finding first-team options limited, something he would have no such worries over now. The Frenchman has become one of the top young midfielders in Europe since joining Juventus, and and just like Welbeck; found himself on the scoresheet last night as Juve extended their lead at the top of Serie A. There’s little doubting the fact he would walk into Van Gaal’s side today, and is certainly ‘one that got away’.
Gerard Pique
To say Gerard Pique has won a few trophies since his Old Trafford departure is somewhat of an understatement. He has won the lot. A World and European champion with Spain, and a Champions League winner with Barcelona, the central defender has excelled since leaving Manchester.
A solid no-nonsense defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, Pique is just the player United fans would like at the heart of a back four which has been suspect in recent times.
At the time they may have felt he wouldn’t cut it at the club with opportunities limited, but make no mistake, he would be a welcome part of the current squad.
Carlos Tevez
Man United fans could be forgiven for feeling there was still plenty more to come from Carlos Tevez before he left Old Trafford. A Champions League winner with the Red Devils, the Argentine striker found it difficult to hold down a regularly position in the United team under Sir Alex Ferguson, and subsequently came back to haunt the club after moving to their city rivals and winning the Premier League in 2012.
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Now plying his trade in Italy with Juventus, the 31-year-old already has 21 goals to his name this season, and would surely be welcome in a United side lacking goals – and apparently a 20-goal-a-season forward according to their manager.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo made his name during a sparkling six seasons at Old Trafford where he developed into one of the world’s greatest players. He won all there was to win for the English giants, before following his dreams and making a record-breaking £80 million transfer to Real Madrid.
Since then, Ronaldo has raised his game even more, and his astonishing goalscoring record saw him collect another Ballon D’or crown early this year, after helping Madrid recapture a long awaited Champions League title last season.
After he set his sights on the Bernabeu, it was widely accepted that United would lose the Portuguese star at some point – something nobody held against him after all he had done for the club. But in a side that’s lacking a spark, Ronaldo and his magic on the ball is sorely missed at Old Trafford.
This season has been pretty much business as usual for Spurs.
Early hopes of a top four finish have been crushed as we approach the final month six weeks of the season. The fans will blame that all on the Europa League, but neutrals will surely have other explanations.
Anyway, Spurs are slowly getting there. They’re flirting with the top four, and have been for so long, but they can’t seem to finish the job.
But the only way they’re going to do that is by investing well in the transfer market and getting rid of all that dead wood they’ve got hanging around White Hart Lane these days.
Ahead of the summer, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have been linked with 23 players. Some of those rumours have legs, others are just made up snippets of rubbish that help keep fans excited on slow news days.
But it’s still worth asking the fans who they really want playing at White Hart Lane next season, which is exactly what we did earlier this week.
A huge 379 voted thumbs up or thumbs down on the players they do or don’t want at their club at the beginning of next season. And here’s how they voted…
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5. Benedikt Höwedes
Tottenham’s defence does need a bit of work to it, and with World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes catching the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs with his performances for both Germany and Schalke, it’s no surprise MirrorFootball had Spurs as leaders for his signature.
Will Jan Vertonghen still be at the club beyond the summer? Youness Kaboul definitely won’t be, while Eric Dier is still a bit green around the edges.
So could Benedikt Höwedes be on his way to White Hart Lane in the summer?
Well in short. No. The £13million-rated is not leaving Schalke, according to the club’s executive chairman Clemens Toennies.
But Höwedes does have a release clause in his contract, which means Spurs’ fans dreams of having a world cup winner in their squad next season aren’t over just yet.
203 fans voted a thumbs up for the defender, while 53 Spurs fans aren’t too keen.
4. Danny Ings
Even if Burnley manage to avoid relegation this season, Danny Ings is almost certain to leave the club on a free transfer in a bid to test his skills at a club battling in the top half of the table.
He’s netted nine goals in 29 league outings for The Clarets this term and MailOnline reckon Spurs are looking to offer him a contract in the summer.
With just Harry Kane netting the goals up front for Spurs this season, Pochettino will be in the market for an out and out goal scorer, and Ings certainly fits the bill, especially for absolutely nothing.
A total of 220 fans gave Ings a thumbs up, and 57 Spurs fans appear to swinging towards actually paying money on a proven goalscorer. Wonder whether they remember the last time their club did that. *cough Soldado *cough*
3. Juan Mata
We’ve got nothing against Tottenham, but this has to be one of the most ridiculous rumours in the history of transfer rumours.
Juan Mata to Tottenham? Nah.
The Spaniard has been absolutely superb for Man United in recent months and you can’t imagine Louis Van Gaal flogging him off to a side with potential to challenge them for a top four finish next season.
Still, Metro believe Spurs have offered £18million for the midfielder and Pochettino is confident of getting himself a bargain. Though he might just be the only one on the world who is.
To some extent, it’s quite surprising that he isn’t Spurs’ fans first choice summer signing. 254 of them gave him a thumbs up, and only 50 stuck their noses up at him.
2. Kevin Wimmer
The Koln defender is on the verge of making his “dream’ move to White Hart Lane this summer, in what is Spurs’ only concrete bit of business so far.
And the fans appear to be pretty keen on seeing him next season, 240 fans voting him up and just 35 saying no to the German star.
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A fee is still be agreed between the two sides, but he’s already spoken of his delight at the move…
“The English Premier League is the only one that can match that. For me, the English league would be a great challenge,” he said.
“There I can develop, because it’s very demanding. I’m a fan of English football. It would be a dream to move to a top club like Tottenham.”
So there you have it. Spurs fans’ second choice man is pretty much in the bag already.
1. Toby Alderweireld
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The Belgium international has impressed on loan at Southampton this season, which has sparked a lot of interest in him as parent club Atletico Madrid consider selling him this summer.
You’d expect Southampton to have first refusal on the £10million centre-half, but Tottenham are also sniffing around.
The Telegraph reckon Maurico Pochettino has turned to Alderweireld after missing out on West Ham defender Winston Reid. And the fans are warming the idea of signing him, with 293 fans giving him a big thumbs up and a measly 22 voting him down.
With three of the fans’ five preferred signings being defenders, it’s pretty clear what they’re expecting from Pochettino this summer.
So if you’re reading, Poch, get yourself out there and buy some defenders!
With the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil firmly in place for the Gunners ahead of the 2015/16 campaign – with perhaps even one more consecutive marquee signing arriving at the Emirates this summer – Arsene Wenger’s team certainly look well placed going into the new season.
The notorious North London silverware drought no longer applies for Arsenal anymore, the money seems to be flowing somewhat more smoothly behind the scenes at the club these days, and the team look to be carrying an improved shape and confidence that has somewhat eluded the Emirates faithful in seasons past.
Yes, there were certainly some key weaknesses surrounding Arsenal’s squad depth throughout the course of this season – but as the Emirates faithful largely go down as some of the most optimistic fans in the country ahead of each new year – such concerns will hardly worry those who expect great things of Wenger’s side next term.
In light of such a notion, 2015/16 would therefore seem like a season in which Arsenal’s ageing boss has one last crack at regaining that all elusive Premier League title, and reminding the rest of his counterparts in the dug-out that this plucky Gunners outfit still has something to offer in the modern era.
However – even though such an outcome would seem like the most obvious course of action to take going into the new campaign – there is one factor within all of this that could nonetheless see Arsene Wenger part ways with his Emirates bosses before next season even begins…
…and that would be the recent availability of Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp.
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Obviously Wenger will always go down as an extreme Arsenal legend for his services to the club in recent history – that much goes without saying. He has simply been one of the best coaches the English game has ever paid witness to, and in successfully launching the now notorious ‘invincibles’ side of 2003/04, the 65-year-old Frenchman has achieved a somewhat untouchable status when it comes to managing in the Premier League.
In terms of sheer entertainment and displays of pure footballing excellence – the long-term Arsenal boss just can’t be beaten. The defensive minded tactics of certain characters out there, namely Jose Mourinho, ultimately don’t even come.
Even with that in mind though, all good things must inevitably come to an end. Arsenal just haven’t been at the very top of their game in recent seasons, no matter how kind history has been to Wenger in the past.
The Emirates bosses must therefore truly assess their position going into the new campaign. Do they want to simply play out another season largely defined by treading water once again, or is an air of change finally in the air?
Normally it would be unwise for such a dramatic change in attitude to take place regarding such an experienced an loyal manager at the helm – but as the old argument of ‘no one else better out there’ no longer applies in the case of Wenger – the notion of change should finally start carrying more weight in and around the Emirates now that Jurgen Klopp has called time on his Dortmund career.
If Arsenal don’t make a move for the highly valued German sooner or later, they could simply be rejecting the ideal man capable of leading them to further glory in the not too distant future, and letting him walk straight into the arms of a rival to great affect.
Like Wenger, Klopp is also renowned for sourcing unknown talents and transforming them into some of the best players European football has to offer.
He has a reputation for delivering exciting and entertaining football that closely matches the current philosophy at Arsenal, his relationship with his respective fan-base really is something to admire, and his passionate style and ambitious approach has only led him to rapid success with Dortmund throughout the last few years.
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Admittedly this season has not gone so well for the enigmatic German boss – but as many of his top stars were clearly shown the door without his blessing recently – the overall blame ultimately doesn’t lie at his feet.
Jurgen Klopp would therefore be fantastic at the Emirates – he just seems the perfect fit in all departments.
Of course the decision to move on from Arsene Wenger would be a tough one in any situation, yet because Arsenal must one day leave their somewhat romanticised view of the present and consider what’s ultimately best for the future, some difficult choices will simply have to be made if the club are to truly regain their untouchable status in the English game.
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes that Raheem Sterling is worth the £49million the club used to prize him away from Liverpool, according to reports from ESPN.
The 20-year-old was being chased by the Citizens throughout the majority of the summer transfer window, with several bids being rejected before the Reds finally agreed to a £49million sale.
The transfer and manner in which he left Anfield did not please the Kop faithful, with many believing that the Sky Blues overpaid for the Engand international.
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However, Pellegrini claims that his new signing is worthy of the incredible price tag after Sterling scored three goals in two games during pre-season.
“He is a very good player, that’s why we brought him to our team,” he said. “He has a lot of things we didn’t have in our squad. If you watch the way he played tonight he has a lot of pace and I am sure in the future he will demonstrate why we paid so much money for him.
“I was very surprised because it is not easy to score eight goals, but Vietnam is a team that must prepare for qualification for the next World Cup, and they have time. They start playing in September or October so have to work hard, but they have very good players.”
The Citizens have also signed Fabian Delph from Aston Villa via a £10million deal, but are still targeting more players before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
Wolfsburg star Kevin de Bruyne has been heavily linked with a switch to the Etihad of late, with a £40million bid being mooted by several sources.
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