Angel Di Maria has been excellent since his move to Manchester United, and with three goals and six assists in his 10 league appearances he’s quickly becoming the best of the bunch at Old Trafford. However that hasn’t stopped the rumours that LVG is willing to let him depart to PSG to fuel a move for preferred signing Marco Reusof Dortmund. Di Maria cost United just short of £60m – a British transfer record whereas Reus has a release clause of £20m. There’s profit to be made, which may be needed should The Red Devils fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Angel isn’t the only of LVG’s summer transfers who is rumoured to be leaving. Ander Herrera was another pricey signing for Van Gaal costing £29m. Yet the Spaniard has made just five appearances so far for The Red Devils. He has managed to score twice in his limited chances, but at almost £30m he’s a very expensive substitute, especially when there is not enough defenders to go around.
The signing of Radamel Falcao was perhaps the most bizarre from LVG. With Rooney, RVP & Welbeck in the squad LVG ditched the young ‘Welbz’ and brought in Falcao for a season-long loan for a fee of £6m and a weekly wage of £350,000, as reported by The Mirror. A very expensive player who had only recently returned from a long spell out with a knee injury. The gamble hasn’t worked thus far with the Colombian international, who has made the same amount of appearances as Herrera but scored a goal less. Of course after initially signing on a one-year loan, he was always expected to return to Monaco at the end of the season. But United do have an option to sign the 28-year-old for a fee of £43m – unlikely to happen if his current struggles continue, that’s for sure.
So that’s three of Man United’s most recent summer signings who may all possibly be straight out at the next opportunity. Is it safe to say that Louis Van Gaal got his first transfer window with The Red Devils wrong? For a start he’s doing worse than David Moyes, not great ay?! Angel Di Maria has been a revalation but when you spend a British transfer record that’s the least you expect. his stats are impressive, but seemingly not worth £60m to Van Gaal on second thought.
Man United are a team in transition since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. David Moyes took the brunt of the abuse and now Van Gaal has an easier ride. Therefore there’s increasingly less attention from the media on the Dutchman’s shortcomings. He’s doing well enough by Moyes’ standards, but like Moyes he’s miles off Sir Alex’s performances. There’s no doubting that every manager makes mistakes in relation to transfers, but it’s not a great start by Van Gaal. A very expensive window and a not so successful one so far. There is one positive though, at least he appears to be a manger who is willing to accept that he has made mistakes.
Whether there’s any truth in the various rumours only time will tell, but at least he didn’t spend £27m on Marouane Fellaini. Every cloud.
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Manchester City will have to break the bank, even for their standards if they are to land Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid, according to the Express.
The Portugese star left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid in 2009 for a record £80million fee but he is understood to have become increasingly frustrated at the Bernabeu which has put Europe’s top clubs on alert.
With the modern day culture in football of rich foreign ownership and the nature of fees that players are sold for, figures Real Madrid would be expecting for them to consider an offer for the 27-year-old forward have been reported by Spanish newspaper AS of being as much as £160million.
Ronaldo, regarded as one of the greatest players to have played the game has once again enjoyed a prolific campaign for the La Liga champions, scoring 22 goals from 27 games in all competitions so far this season.
An eventual return to former club Manchester United has also been rumoured and it would be expected that if the two clubs were to agree a deal then that would be his preferred destination, as he openly speaks about his respect for the club and what Ferguson did in developing him into the player he now is.
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Manchester City no doubt have the financial power over United at this moment in time though. If they were to put in an offer that was too good to refuse and couldn’t be matched, stranger things have happened in football although for now it is all speculation.
As reported by The Daily Record, Celtic have yet to decide to on the futures of derby heroes Scott Bain and Odsonne Edouard, with both currently due to leave the club at the end of the season.
What’s the story?
Scott Bain is currently on loan from Dundee, but his contract at Dens runs out at the end of the season and it seems unlikely he’ll still be with the Dark Blues next term.
The Hoops hold an option to buy Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain, though with that option reported to be for a fee of around £7m, how feasible that would be is another matter.
The Daily Record report that the club won’t be rushed into a decision on either and are set to wait until closer to the end of the season before deciding whether to make their move.
Are the club missing out on not making an early move for the duo?
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Are they waiting too long?
With so much money on the line in the potential Edouard deal, it makes sense that Celtic would wait for the season to play out before making a final decision on the young Frenchman. After his stunning winning goal away to Rangers, it would be tempting to rush in and sign him up, but there’s plenty of football left and while impressive in bursts, the striker’s form has been inconsistent this season.
Bain on the other hand has a proven track record of being a reliable goalkeeper in the Scottish Premiership and after his wonderful debut at Ibrox, the Hoops should already be working on a deal to make his stay in Glasgow a permanent one.
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In his case, the likes of Hibernian are still reported to be interested and if the Hoops take too long in making their decision, Bain might favour stability more than the promise of life at Celtic Park.
Hibs are unlikely to be the only suitors for his signature either and after clearly showing he has the right mentality to shine for the Hoops, it’d be a shame to see him leave the club so soon.
In part due to inadequate defensive depth, Arenal’s 2014/15 Premier League title bid is already over.
Indeed, whilst 5 foot 10 full-back Nacho Monreal continues to deputise for the injured Laurent Koscielny at centre-half, the Gunners have thrown away nine points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, not to mention their three-goal capitulation against Anderlecht in the Champions League.
So instead of being within a win’s distance of Chelsea, Arsenal are now twelve points behind the undefeated league leaders.
Something simply doesn’t add up; Arsenal’s defensive frailties were tested enough times last term, yet the north Londoners entered the current campaign with one less defender, as Thomas Vermaelen, Carl Jenkinson and Bacary Sagna were replaced by only Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy.
Quiz Wenger on the issue and the same excuses emerge; ‘we already have the players capable’ or ‘there simply aren’t any available defenders out there’.
So to prove the Emirates boss could have easily addressed his squad’s defensive weaknesses this summer without breaking the bank, here’s FIVE signings he could have made for £10million or less – in fact, some involve no transfer fee at all.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON NACHO MONREAL TO REVEAL
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TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (loan)
Having fallen by the wayside at Vincente Calderon last season as Atletico Madrid launched a surprise coup for the La Liga title whilst simultaneously reaching the Champions League final, Southampton snapped up disillusioned defender Toby Alderweireld this summer on a one-year loan.
The Belgium international, who comes with a preceding reputation from his six seasons at Ajax, winning three consecutive Eredivisie titles under Frank de Boer, has already put in a number of strong displays for the Saints, who currently boast the best defensive record in the Premier League.
That’s certainly not all down to the 6 foot 2 centre-back, but his form has been consistent as regular partner to Jose Fonte:
It makes you wonder what Arsenal were up to while the Alderweireld deal was going on, having been strongly linked to the 25 year-old before he moved to Spain in summer 2013 and again in January this year after admitting his desire to leave the Mattress Makers.
Famed for his versatility, being capable of playing anywhere across the back four, the now-Southampton star would have been the perfect signing to cover for injured French duo Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny. Here’s a clip of Alderweireld in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/RFL2-xH2cis?rel=0
FABIAN SCHAR
Statistically speaking, FC Basel prodigy Fabian Schar was the best defender in the Champions League last season:
He comes with an impressive and intoxicating front-footed presence too, a style reminiscent of Jan Vertonghen’s that would have suited the Gunners perfectly. Here’s a clip of Schar in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/ZpiVFCUXbz0?rel=0
And a wonder-goal from his FC Wil days, because, why not?
//www.youtube.com/embed/Dr8-L3tWaOU?rel=0
It appears Arsenal could be lining up a January bid for the £10million-rated centre-back:
But they could have signed him for precisely that sum during the summer and due to the Gunners’ lack of defensive depth this season, their title bid is already over.
ALEX SONG (loan)
Clearly Arsene Wenger had no interest in re-signing former Gunner Alex Song this summer on a season-long loan, instead surrendering that privilege to West Ham, but it’s difficult to understand why.
Not only is the Cameroon international well acquainted with Arsenal’s unique style of play – bagging twelve assists in his final season at the Emirates and coming second in the Player of the Year award to top-scorer Robin van Persie – but he would have added vital variety to the north London outfit’s midfield, in addition to extra cover at centre-half. Here’s a look at Song in action for the Gunners:
//www.youtube.com/embed/Dgw0H1KA-XI?rel=0
The holding midfield role has been a real problem for Arsenal this season, with Mikel Arteta clearly on the decline and Mathieu Flamini hopelessly out of form, but the 6 foot 2 Song would have been perfect for it – at least until next summer.
Furthermore, the 27 year-old’s availability had been well documented for some time, having made just 39 league appearances – the majority as a substitute – during his two full seasons with parent club Barcelona.
Instead, he’s spending the season with the Hammers, adding vital physicality and quality to their midfield as the East London sit two places above Arsenal in fourth. Here’s a look at his stats this term compared to the Gunners’ other central midfield options:
JOLEON LESCOTT
Now 32 years of age and having made 227 appearances in the Premier League, at this point, we all know the strengths and weaknesses of Joleon Lescott.
The occasional England international can be clumsy, especially in possession, and often looked a bit out of his depth when representing the Three Lions, or Manchester City in Europe.
But the now-West Bromwich Albion man has forged a Premier League-winning centre-back partnership with Vincent Kompany before and is famed for his consistency when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the defensive trade; tackles, interceptions, headers and positioning.
Furthermore, former club Manchester City let him leave the Etihad on a free transfer last summer, which the Baggies wasted no time in taking advantage of.
Experienced, proven and impeccably reliable, Lescott would have been perfect back-up to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielney, even if for the duration of the current season alone. Here’s how Lescott’s form has compared to Arsenal’s centre-backs this term:
Rather tellingly, West Brom have kept three clean sheets out of a possible seven with the Premier League veteran in the side this season, compared to just one without him.
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And for those of you keen on nostalgia, here’s the highlights from Lescott’s legendary 2007/08 campaign at Everton, where netted ten times across all competitions:
//www.youtube.com/embed/xm49e-plhow?rel=0
Stefan de Vrij
Following an impressive World Cup campaign with the Netherlands, where he was statistically the best defender at the tournament:
..Lazio wasted no time this summer in striking up a £7million deal for former Feyenoord defender Stefan de Vrij.
And the 22 year-old is already proving to be quite the revelation in Serie A as Le Aquile lay sixth in the Italian table, averaging an impressive 3.5 interceptions per match:
Young, versatile and clearly talented, the Dutch international would have slotted in to the natural hierarchy of Arsenal’s squad, providing competition for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny and extra cover at right-back.
De Vrij is already proving to be one of the best deals of summer 2014, but once again, Arsenal were nowhere to be seen as the 6 foot 3 centre-back swapped the Eredivisie for Italy. Here’s a look at de Vrij in action:
West Ham United legend Julian Dicks has claimed that he expected more from loan star Andy Carroll this season and that a permanent deal is a long way off.
Carroll has scored just once for the Hammers this season since arriving on loan from Liverpool in the summer and after all the expectancy in him, Dicks has been disappointed by the Geordies’ impact.
Carroll has also suffered two injuries in his four months in East London, as well as being involved in off the field incidents at the teams Christmas party.
West Ham will now be without Carroll until the new year after the England striker picked up a knee injury against Manchester United last month and will rely on Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga to keep the Hammers in mid table.
Dicks is unconvinced that West Ham will currently be prepared to pay big money for the tall striker, but a few more goals could change that opinion.
“Andy has to do a lot more for West Ham to keep him because he isn’t going to come cheap,”
“I just think we need someone who can score 20 goals a season — and I really can’t see him doing that.
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“In terms of his all-round game, he is good enough, but I still expect more from him.” (PA)
As reported by The Scottish Sun, fringe Rangers player Jordan Rossiter has re-iterated his desire to make a big impression at Ibrox, hoping to thrive under new manager Steven Gerrard.
What’s the story?
Rossiter and Gerrard know all about each other of course having both spent time at Liverpool, but the 21-year-old is up against it to be considered a big part of the new Light Blues boss’ first team squad next season, having made just 11 appearances in his two seasons in Glasgow.
Injuries have blighted his spell at the club but he remains determined to put those issues behind him.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, the former Reds man said:
This is a massive summer for me because everyone knows my injury record hasn’t been great in my first two seasons.
My aim is to get through pre-season, stay fit, take part in all the games I am selected for and I think if that happens then fingers crossed I should be okay.
Everyone knows the manager has played at the highest level of football. It is perfect for the club at the moment.
I learned a lot when I was training with him at Liverpool and I want to learn as much off and on the pitch with him as my manager.
Can Rossiter be inspired by his Liverpool hero and finally reach his potential at Ibrox?
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Make or break
There’s definitely the impression that this upcoming season is one that will define not just Rossiter’s Rangers future, but his entire footballing career.
He is still very young at 21 years of age, but with the amount of injuries that have hampered his progress, there are really question marks about his ability to play regularly, never mind play to a high standard.
The arrival of Gerrard gives him fresh motivation and desire to find fitness and a place in the team.
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If he doesn’t do it this term, will he ever?
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255574″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Four World Cup myths debunked”]
Chris Coleman says Sunderland’s form is painful, but escaping the drop is not impossible.
The Black Cats were outclassed at home once again on Tuesday night as Aston Villa romped to a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light.
“It’s painful, it’s brutal at the moment,” the Welshman said, as per Chronicle Live.
“There’s still a chance for us, we keep on refusing to take it, and we keep on digging holes for ourselves, but there is still a chance we have to keep fighting.”
The Black Cats have now picked up just one point from their last four home games, and Coleman was brutally honest about the team’s performances.
“It’s the goals we concede,” he sighed. “It’s hard to take when you give away goals like that.
“They are a good team Aston Villa, they are going to be there or thereabouts, but you don’t have to give them goals – they can earn goals themselves.”
The home side were set to go into the break 1-0 down, but a scrappy goal for Villa’s James Chester doubled the visitor’s lead in first half stoppage time.
“How many times have I sat here after we have conceded the second goal seconds before half-time? It’s a bitter pill to swallow for us.”
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To make matters worse for Sunderland fans, Lewis Grabban scored the opener for the visitors. Grabban is Sunderland’s top scorer in the league this season – he left in January.
Still, Coleman says there is light at the end of the tunnel, and his side can do the improbable.
“I feel the negativity, I feel the pull of it because it is such a big club heading in the wrong direction, and to turn it round is incredibly tough.
“But it is not unthinkable, it is not undoable, it is not impossible.”
Sunderland travel to London to take on QPR this weekend before a home tie with Preston and a trip to playoff hopefuls Derby County.
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“I can handle it, I’ve had plenty of slaps in the face, plenty of failures, loads of defeats, but there is a manner in which you lose,” Coleman said.
“I have to get them ready for QPR because that’s the one good thing about the Championship, the games come thick and fast, and there is another one just around the corner.
“Maybe it is good that it is away from home because we don’t perform here, not enough.”
Sunderland’s home form is certainly cause for concern for Coleman, but if they can pick up three points at QPR it would be a huge boost going into the tie with Preston next weekend.
Sunderland fans, do you think you can stay up? Let us know your thoughts…
West Ham’s owners laid it on the line for Sam Allardyce this summer. Attractive football, more goals and at least a top half finish in the table was demanded. After a season mostly of struggle last year, with the Hammers spending too much time fighting off relegation and eventually finishing in 13th place, the 2014/2015 campaign was in dire need of improvement.
However, with the introduction of no less than nine new recruits, including three strikers, aswell as former West Ham player Teddy Sheringham joining on board as an attacking coach, the Upton Park outfit have made a very promising start to the new campaign. Sitting pretty in eighth, scoring nine goals in five games in the process, Big Sam is certainly fulfilling the requirements ordered by David Gold and David Sullivan.
Well on course to achieve a top ten finish in the Premier League, the BHammers side have averaged 1.4 points per game so far, meaning they would finish the season on 53 points, a that would have put West Ham ninth last season. Goal scoring has also been impressive, scoring an average of 1.8 goals thus far, meaning if this form continues, West Ham would score 68 goals over 38 games, 28 goals more than last season.Only the top three clubs last season scored more than 68 goals.
This impressive form and goal scoring tally is being helped by West Ham’s two new strikers, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho.
When you think of a West Ham striker under the stewardship of Big Sam you would think a strong target man. However, Valencia is the complete opposite. The forward, who can also play as a winger, is quick, strong, has an incredible leap and a powerful right foot to his name. The £12m signing started his career in his homeland with Emelec, before making the switch to Mexican outfit Pachuca in January this year, where in just 17 outings he scored 12 goals. Valencia, who scored three goals in the World Cup in Brazil aswell as a goal in friendly against England, finally came to everyone’s attention in the Hammers’ recent 2-2 draw away at Hull City, scoring a 25 yard screamer that was clocked at 61.2 mph. Valencia truly has the potential to cause problems with his latest strike partner, Diafra Sakho.
Sakho, a £3.5m signing from French outfit FC Metz, on evidence is not as eccentric as Valencia, but his instinct and class in front of goal is exactly why Allardyce gambled on signing the 24-year-old. Last season in Ligue 2, Sakho produced his best season as a player; scoring 20 goals in 36 appearances, helping his side lift the title, and was voted the Ligue 2 player of the year for 2013/2014. The 6”1 forward has already carried on his form since joining the Hammers, scoring three in four games in all competitions for the club. The Senegal international was a very similar signing to flop Modibo Maiga, which worried many associated with the club. However, after the fantastic previous season in France, Sakho has entered the best league in the world full of confidence and will surely score more important goals in the future.
In West Ham’s penultimate season at Upton Park, it’s very clear that both Gold and Sullivan are planning ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016/2017 season. Starting with player recruitment, the days of signing a ’34 year old’ forward for one season have firmly gone, and now the Hammers can look forward to the quality of both Valencia and Sakho in the future.
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Former Real Madrid superstar Christian Karembeu believes that Atletico Madrid striker Falcao should wait until the summer before moving to the Premier League.
Karembeu expects Falcao to be a star in England in the future, as the likes of Sergio Aguero and Fernando Torres has been in recent years, but hopes that he doesn’t dive in to a winter move.
“He is incredible.
“For me he is one of the best strikers. Players from Atlético have come to the Premier League and done well in the past with both Aguero and Torres being good examples.
“Falcao has all the talent and skill needed to be a great player in the Premier League.
“I think it would be better for him to wait until the summer because then he can have a full pre-season and get to know his new team mates.
“Coming is January is more difficult and will also require a player to use his mental strength to help him settle in.”
Karembeu has claimed that Falcao should head to Manchester rather than settle for Chelsea as his next club.
“Manchester United because they create a lot of chances and he would score a lot of goals there.
“He is so talented that he would score goals at any club though.”
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Christian Karembeu was speaking to promote the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world’s largest online gaming tournament. For more information and to take part visit www.fifa.com/fiwc
Football fans tend to keep a close eye on their club’s players whenever a major tournament rolls around.
Southampton do not have a huge amount of members competing at the World Cup in Russia, but one of theirs was in action on Sunday.
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Jan Bednerak, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, was named as part of a back three for Poland in their must-win Group H clash against Colombia.
It was a disappointing night for the Southampton player as he was seemingly required to be a ball-playing defender, which does not fit in with his traditional attributes.
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Overall, it was a match to forget for the nation as they were dumped out of the tournament in a 3-0 defeat.
Bednerak joined the Saints from Poznan in 2017 and last season made eight appearances in all competitions for the first team.
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The 22-year-old featured five times in the Premier League and even scored a goal, but he is yet to cement a regular spot in the first XI.
It remains to be seen whether he will get more chances under manager Mark Hughes, but the fans have been having their say on his international outing for Poland.