Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho says that he is happy with life at the Etihad Stadium and that he is looking to enjoy a long spell at the club.
The Brazilian international became a Sky Blues player last year, arriving from Eastern European giants Shakhtar Donetsk.
Despite making an unspectacular start to life in the Premier League, he has now settled and formed a formidable central pairing with Yaya Toure.
The 28-year-old has played a key role in both the club’s domestic and continental pursuits, and helped them to lift the Capital One Cup last weekend.
Fernandinho says that he is happy to have joined City, that he is hopeful of making his nation’s World Cup squad and that he may well finish his career in the sky blue jersey:
“I settled very quickly in Manchester, but in the beginning I had to overcome many difficulties,” he is quoted by The Express.
“People were not looking at me favourably because other Brazilians at City had not done so well. Also, Ukrainian football is not rated very highly in Europe.
“But now I have shown that I deserve to be a regular for City. The World Cup is my big goal. I want to convince Luiz Felipe Scolari by continuing to play well here and by winning trophies with City.
“I am fine in Manchester, it is a very quiet city. City were not the only club interested in me last summer, but they were the only one who made an offer.
“Finish my career in Manchester? Yes, anything is possible. I am fine here, I have a four-year contract and I have no reason to think about anything else.
“I believe in this project and I believe that we will win important trophies.”
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City are still in the hunt for another three trophies this term, and could end the season by claiming a fantastic quadruple.
It’s often a mystery as to what goes on in the minds of many football managers.
The words that cascade from their lips during interviews and press conferences at times don’t necessarily reflect their mood or their true feelings. So here’s an idiot’s guide to translating football talk.
1. “This club has a great tradition” – We don’t want to separate the past from present because we’re rubbish nowadays
2. “I have a philosophy and I won’t change it” – Philosophy. Hmm, I sound clever. I also have no ‘Plan B’
3. “The atmosphere was incredible” – I’ve never heard so many people swear so many times in such a short space of time
4. “Every game is a cup final from here” – Do I get a trophy if I win?
5. “He was absolutely unplayable” – My name is Paul Lambert and Christian Benteke scored today
6. “The ref has had an absolute shocker” – We lost
7. “The ref has had a good game” – We won
8. “I retain the board’s full support” – Maybe this will divert their attention while I sneak out the backdoor
9. “It’s a must-win game” – As opposed to last week’s must-draw game
10.“I don’t want to comment” – I’m happy with my bank account as it is thank you
11. “It was a game of two halves” – According to my observations
12. “It’s a transitional period. It will take time” – I’ve inherited a bunch of losers
13. “We’re just taking it one game at a time” – Last season we took it two games at a time and it didn’t work
14. “I don’t know what we’ve got to do to win.” – No seriously, I don’t know what we’ve got to do to win
15. “I didn’t see it” – I saw it
16. “It was a game full of passion” – It was one of the most violent games I’ve witnessed
17. “We’re now just focusing on the next game” – We want to forget about this one
18. “In football you never know” – I would like to announce my departure from (insert club here)
19. “There’s never an easy game in this league” – Forgive me if we lose
20. “There’s never an easy game at this level” – We’re really looking forward to this week’s home game against Hyde FC
21. “It wasn’t as easy as it looked” – I could have played my Nan in goal
22. “The scoreline flatters them” – The scoreline flattered us
23. “We could have had double figures” – We could have had triple figures
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24. “He worked his socks off tonight” – He was terrible
25. “He’s a passionate lad” – He’s a bit of a thug
26. “He’s experienced” – He hacked their striker down deliberately, good decision
27. “He’s inexperienced” – He hacked their striker down deliberately, bad decision
28. “The lads are really fired up for this one” – They’re ready to go out there and smash it
29. “He’s a real character” – He’s an idiot
30. “We’ll just keep on fighting” – All hope is lost
Liverpool have wasted no time following the curtain drop of last season. Where PSG have taken an almighty swing at the transfer window with the signing of David Luiz, the rest of this summer’s transfer activity from Europe’s elite is simmering, waiting, more than likely, for the end of the World Cup before the scramble begins and the football world is sent into an off-season frenzy once again.
Liverpool, however, have gotten in early because the club can’t afford not to. While most were enthralled by the swashbuckling displays from Brendan Rodgers’ team last term, it wasn’t hard to identify the weaknesses, both in terms of quality and quantity.
The signing of Rickie Lambert was a surprise move by Liverpool, but one that made plenty of sense. The 32-year-old, who will take part in Brazil, isn’t arriving at Anfield to displace Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. Liverpool don’t need that. As the best one-two punch in the Premier League last season, there is no need to permanently disrupt that chemistry and winning formula.
But like Roy Hodgson’s selecting of the former Southampton forward for his England squad, Rodgers isn’t oblivious to the qualities Lambert can provide. As he’ll do for Liverpool next season, England’s answer to a direct option will back up Sturridge and Wayne Rooney, both comfortably better but without question in need of someone like Lambert to get into the mix when Plan A isn’t running smoothly. Age aside, £4 million is a snip for an international forward who knows the Premier League.
And Liverpool and Rodgers haven’t stopped there. They’ve recently tied up a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Emre Can. The 20-year-old former Bayern Munich player is known for his versatility. Last season he performed regularly at left-back, despite arriving from Bavaria as a midfielder. The number 10 on the back of his shirt isn’t exactly fitting of a full-back.
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But that’s what Rodgers likes and wants. Can isn’t arriving off the back of a stellar season. He’s a good prospect with a high ceiling, but there are things in his game that need to be ironed out. But then again we could have said the same about both Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.
For around the £15 million mark, Liverpool have added to their squad in areas requiring address. As mentioned, the best attack in the league didn’t need much work, rather sufficient depth to successfully handle the addition of Champions League football to the calendar. Emre Can, however, will help out at left-back, where Jon Flanagan is also able and looking promising, and in the midfield. Liverpool’s best midfield partnership of Steven Gerrard and Jordan can’t play every game of the upcoming season.
Liverpool’s work in the market looks to be building to a crescendo. Neither Lambert nor Can are stars of the game, they’re not household names and they won’t singlehandedly transform this team. But they’re not being asked to do that. The team do, however, need something major, a blockbuster signing, something that befits a club who are clearly on the up and in need of making an announcement as such.
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Luis Suarez’s future is hazy at this time, but even if the Uruguayan stays on for one more season, the club will need to spend big in order to take that step forward and remain there. This is a club who are after Champions League football on a year-on-year basis. It’s no secret to say they need that added revenue in order to consistently compete. But there are no guarantees for next season, where each of the other four major Premier League clubs will have improved and will be as ravenous for a place in the top four.
Liverpool’s no-nonsense policy in the market is pleasing to see and it will certainly appease supporters. The club look to have a taste for adventure now under Rodgers, and there can be little doubt that these shrewd buys in the market are the prelude to a much-needed hammer fall this summer.
Since promoting and stabling the ship of the side that currently sits atop the Premier League – Swansea – Brendan Rodgers has proven himself to be an elite manager.
How long ago it seems that Liverpool were launching long balls up to Andy Carroll. These days they are the epitome of football. Great tactics, fluid movement, blistering pace, deadly finishing… What more could you want?
Brendan Rodgers is the man behind this transformation. He has adopted Arsene Wenger’s philosophy of fast-paced flowing football whilst developing a youthful squad capable of plundering goals from any scenario.
Last season Liverpool went from finishing seventh to challenging for the title until the very death. It took courage from the manager but sometimes it takes risks to reap rewards. He has taken Liverpool to that ‘next’ level witch many thought was beyond them.
Rodgers has finally restored the fear factor that has been non-existent since the departure of Rafa Benitez. Following his departure, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish did the club no justice at all.
But under Rodgers this Liverpool unit has gelled perfectly. Versatile formations such as the attacking 4-3-3, the new 3-4-1-2 or his 4-4-2 diamond has benefitted England more than anyone else.
His tactical genius has helped England star’s Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge develop in to top class players. It has also allowed for an experienced Steven Gerrard to remain just as effective from a deeper role slotting balls through to the younger attackers. Within his system England’s stars have flourished.
A reformed Henderson saw me bite my tongue on my previous opinion. He never stops working and of recent has been threading through some audacious passes. And Sterling is arguably the best teenager on the planet right now.
Even Sturridge has reformed, it’s not that I ever doubted his talent but I never would have called him world class. Now he is currently one of the best finishers in the game. Playing a wide role at Chelsea held him back but, under the tutelage of Rodgers, he has blossomed.
Changing formation and line up from game to game. Often switching formations within the game. The versatility of the Northern Irishman’s system allows for a healthy midfield rotation that includes the likes of Lucas and Joe Allen.
It has also helped Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho reach his full potential. Coutinho currently operates as their chief craftsman to carve out attacking opportunities. It’s no wonder fans call Jon Flanagan “the red Cafu.” They are the Premier League’s Brazil, their game plan is to simply score more than you. It made for some spectacles last season.
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Eleven 4+ goal wins and eleven consecutive wins last season earned the LMA Manager of The Year Award becoming the first Liverpool manager to win the prestigious accolade in its 20-year history.
Losing Luis Suarez to Barcelona seemed like it would be a huge blow to the Reds but so far you wouldn’t have noticed. With the addition of Mario Balotelli the team could be back on course to a first ever Premier League title.
Liverpool’s shaky 2-1 opening weekend victory over Southampton was completely undone by their 3-1 loss to Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Despite spending over £100m on players this summer, many have been underwhelmed by the calibre of players Brendan Rodgers has brought in to the club. That was until Mario Balotelli arrived in a £16m deal from AC Milan.
That should go some way to ensuring Liverpool are just as impressive this season as they were last. It was also an impressively cheap transfer fee that got him to Anfield – just as impressive as TrustFord’s new Signing on Fee offer, which gives you £500 off the purchase of any new Ford car.
But Monday’s result and performance proved that there’s still some work to be done, particularly if the void left by Luis Suarez is to be successfully filled.
Last year, Liverpool’s bumpy title bid ride was hampered by their leaking defence, so Rodgers will need to address that quickly between now and Monday’s transfer window deadline.
So expect a few defensive stalwarts to be included in the SIX players Rodgers should be looking to rush through the Anfield door by Monday…
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Alex Song
The midfielder is almost certain to leave Barcelona before Monday’s 11pm deadline and his likely destination will be a return to the Premier League.
The fact he’ll be available on the cheap, or even a free loan, should get Brendan Rodgers going all out to tempt him to Anfield.
His defensive capabilities in midfield will go along way in protecting what currently looks like a shaky defence that will be expected to ship goals this season.
Liverpool will not challenege for the title or enjoy a fruitful Champions League campaign if that remains the same, so Song should be the first piece in the puzzle as Rodgers addresses his biggest problem.
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Morgan Schneiderlin
In a similar scenario to Alex Song, the chances of Southampton keeping the Frenchman beyond Monday are wearing extremely thin.
He’s told the club he wants to leave after seeing most of his team mates sold (mostly to Liverpool) this summer, and he’s upset that he’s been told he can’t follow them out of the St. Mary’s exit door.
He’ll no doubt jump at the chance to be reunited with the likes of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren, which means trying to persuade him to come shouldn’t be a problem.
His performance against the Reds for Southampton on the opening day should have been enough for Rodgers to warrant a fairly big bid to force the south coast club to sell up.
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Micah Richards
Micah Richard’s career has been on hold in recent years while Manchester City win silverware and he goes in and out of the physio room for fun.
But his chance to finally leave the Etihad has come and it’s likely he’ll be playing for someone else by the beginning of next week.
And with Glen Johnson becoming increasingly unreliable at right-back, Richards could be seen as a cheap but more than capable replacement.
Both West Ham and Newcastle are expected to do battle for him over the weekend, but Liverpool will no doubt win that with the Champions League football they have on offer.
Richards’ next move could make or break his career, and going to Liverpool could make it, while Liverpool will need someone physical in defence to help fill the gaps currently at fault for a number of goals.
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Xherdan Shaqiri
The 22-year-old’s performances for Switzerland in the World Cup have made him one of the hottest properties in Europe this summer.
The Bayern Munich winger has mainly been linked with a move to Anfield, although Rodgers had put his interest in him on hold while he pursued further options.
But now that La Liga champions Atletico are back in for him too, Rodgers will need to turn up with an offer too good to turn down if he’s going to get the man he hopes will help provide Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge with the goals to fire them to Premier League glory.
Shaqiri is expected to leave Bayern before Monday’s deadline, with him still expected to play second fiddle to Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery if he stays.
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Winston Reid
Football – West Ham United v Sampdoria – Pre Season Friendly – Upton Park – 14/15 – 9/8/14Winston Reid – West Ham UnitedMandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
A shock inclusion but still a defender who would provide a no-nonsense approach to defending at Anfield.
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Arsenal have shown huge interest in him in recent weeks and are considering a bid at the final hurdle to try and force West Ham to sell up.
Reid only has one year left on his Hammers contract and has reportedly turned down a new one worth around £75,000-a-week, which suggests he knows of interest from bigger clubs elsewhere.
The 26-year-old Kiwi has been West Ham’s best player for three seasons now and has earned a reputation of being the type of defender who will throw himself at everything and get results in the process.
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Marco Reus
Football – Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg – Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany – 24/4/13Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus (L) and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane in actionMandatory Credit: Action Images / John SibleyLivepic
Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp insists Reus is going nowhere this summer, but that’s still not expected to successfully warn off clubs across Europe hoping to tempt him away from Westfalen before Monday’s deadline.
He may cost Rodgers between £20-£25m but he’ll undoubtedly prove to be worth every penny.
However, Liverpool may need to move quickly with a bid and contract bigger than anything they’ve ever seen before, with rumours today suggesting Reus already has a deal in place to move to Real Madrid next summer.
That shouldn’t end Liverpool’s hopes, though, with the youngster thought to be looking for a move away this summer instead. If that’s the case, then Liverpool may find their efforts successful by Monday.
With FIFA 15 having been sat in our consoles ever since its release a couple of weeks ago (let’s be honest, it hasn’t been dislodged by any other games!) it’s a virtual guarantee that Career Mode has had a little outing. It can be frustrating to play against the computer’s ‘wriggle and pass’ AI, but hone your skills and you can give it the run-around and get quite a lot of enjoyment from doing so.
The focus of the game mode is to build a side to dominate the world of football, and to do so you will need to pick up some great signings in the transfer market. Anyone who’s played it before will know that getting top-class potential is the best method, so we at FFC Towers have put in some leg work to let you know who to snap up…
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Simone Scuffet
//www.youtube.com/embed/Dp2L5xVw36U
The bedrock of any decent team on FIFA 15, as in real life football, is the goalkeeper, and there are few better options out there on the new game than Simone Scuffet. The Udinese stopper is one of the very best young goalies around at just 18, and is already being tipped for a future in Italy’s senior squad – the Azzurri have a decent record when it comes to producing glovesmen.
With potential to reach rating of 88, Scuffet is one to pick up before it’s too late.
Raheem Sterling
Pace is key on FIFA 15, and they don’t come a lot quicker than Sterling. The Liverpool winger may not be the absolute quickest player on the game with a pace rating of 91, but his supreme dribbling skills make him rapid with the ball at his feet. The Reds won’t sell cheap, but with the potential to reach a rating of 85, the Jamaican-born England international is well worth the outlay.
Hakan Calhanoglu
//www.youtube.com/embed/nK58AssP9tc
While pace and trickery grabs the headlines, Calhanoglu brings something different to the table. The Hamburg midfielder is an absolute tank in midfield, with his range of shooting and passing making him a great tool to sit in midfield and spray the ball around. He’s not immobile by any stretch of the imagination, so get him within 30 yards of goal, and the opposition’s ‘keeper will certainly have plenty to worry about.
Memphis Depay
//www.youtube.com/embed/MiRW90BBv_o
After shining at the World Cup over the summer, Depay has been given a little bump in terms of ratings in FIFA 15. The Dutch winger has a great skill star rating, which combined with his pace and dribbling, make him lethal from a wide position in a counter-attacking team. PSV Eindhoven won’t demand mega money for their man either making Depay – who will reach a rating of around 84 – a wise buy.
Luke Shaw
He may have been deemed unfit by Louis van Gaal this season, but Shaw is certainly ready on FIFA 15. The now Man United left-back boasts great physical stats to start with, and as the weeks, months and years pass his technical attributes will creep up to make him one of the very best full-backs available.
Ross Barkley
Now, Barkley will cost an absolute fortune but he’s worth every penny. His playing style on FIFA 15 is reminiscent of Steven Gerrard in his pomp, with the Everton man strong, quick and ferociously good in front of goal. There may be better passers around, but for blunt force, Barkley is the one to get.
Julian Draxler
//www.youtube.com/embed/pj_ERKpktKI
Draxler is certainly not a surprise name on this list, but we thought he should be brought back to your attention. With the potential to reach a rating of close to 90 overall, the German is certainly one to hoover up early on to avoid other big clubs getting their grubby mitts on him. Draxler’s main strengths are dribbling and passing, making him a lethal option in the No 10. role.
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Kurt Zouma
Football – RZ Pellets WAC v Chelsea – Pre Season Friendly – Wortherseestadion, Klagenfurt, Austria – 14/15 – 23/7/14Kurt Zouma – ChelseaMandatory Credit: Action Images / Alan WalterEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Zouma may be impossible to get early on, but bide your time and this colossus of a centre-back could be the future of your backline. The Frenchman is a monster physically, with his strength, pace and aggression stats all high from the off, while ratings for tackling and heading are by no means embarrassing.
Mateo Kovacic
//www.youtube.com/embed/_vFMqwIR67s
Not dissimilar to Draxler, Kovacic is another lethal playmaker. The Croatian boasts excellent passing and dribbling stats to compliment his pace, but he also possesses good strength and decent height for a player of his type. Inter Milan won’t let him go cheap, but with potential to reach an 86+ rating, he’s worth it.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
//www.youtube.com/embed/as9C1YAuXcg
Old fashioned and barrel chested are not usually descriptions of a video game striker worth snapping up, but Mitrovic breaks that mould. The powerful 19-year-old is a great target man for players who like to use the big ball forward or work crosses down the wings. Don’t expect much right stick fun with Mitrovic, but he’s (relatively) cheap and will develop into a top class forward.
The 11th of May 2013 – the greatest day in the history of Wigan Athletic football club. They reached the FA Cup final for the first ever time, going up against a Manchester City side worth hundreds of millions. Ben Watson’s last minute goal gave Wigan a fully deserved victory and unexpected FA Cup glory.
This sort of success would have been unimaginable in the mid 1990’s with the club lingering in the bottom half of the fourth tier. Unfortunately however, this glorious victory was short lived as three days later they were relegated to the Championship following a 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. Fast forward a year and a half and Wigan are sat second from bottom of the second tier in all sorts of trouble, needing one hell of a turnaround to avoid relegation to League One.
The rise of Wigan Athletic started when Dave Whelan bought the club back in 1995. With his help they quickly went from a mid-table Division Three side to a team capable of reaching unthinkable heights. In the 2002/03 season, they stormed Division Two amassing 100 points and winning promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in the club’s history. But their stay in the league was short lived, as the Latics achieved the improbable when they were promoted to the Premier League in 2005.
The club enjoyed a memorable first season in the top flight, finishing 10th and reaching their first major final, losing 4-0 to Manchester United in the League Cup. This was as good as it got for Wigan in terms of their league position, as in the years that followed they were regularly in a relegation battle. But they survived against the odds for eight years before finally perishing in 2013.
Over the years the club has seen some fantastic players come and go. Players such as Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia, Leighton Baines, Emile Heskey and James McCarthy were the main reasons why Wigan stayed in the Premier League for so long. But, due to the size of the club, keeping hold of these types of players proved difficult and many went onto bigger and better things.
That lack of ambition to a certain extent is why they find themselves where they are today. The loss of Roberto Martinez in 2013 certainly didn’t help and they haven’t replaced his high quality management skills since.
Last season saw the club finish 5th before falling short in the play-offs, but this season has seen the club hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The controversial appointment of Malky Mackay, coupled with Dave Whelan being charged for some unsavoury comments, not to mention the bad run of form on the field, have all capped off a tough few months for the Greater Manchester outfit.
The 1-0 defeat at home to Norwich at the weekend means Mackay is still without a win since taking over last month. They haven’t won for six league matches, since a 2-1 away victory at Derby in late October. Their failure to replace key departures in the summer has led to the struggles on the pitch. Key players such as Jordi Gomez, James McArthur and Jean Beasuejour left in the summer with McArthur attracting the highest fee of £7million to Crystal Palace.
There is still talent in the squad but the change of personnel and management has certainly disrupted their chances of moving forward. The once highly rated Callum McManaman is still impressing and with international experience in the likes of Scott Carson and James McClean, there is still quality in the side to survive.
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It has been a roller-coaster last few of years for Wigan, reaching new heights and achieving many firsts, but they need to careful they don’t fall back to where they once were.
After missing out on eight (yep, EIGHT) potential deadline day additions, West Ham’s winter window is one to forget. Even though chairman David Gold urged fans to keep their Ovaltine warm and see out the yellow bonanza that was Sky Sports’ coverage of the big day, the Hammers didn’t quite get deals for the likes of Younes Kaboul and Emmanuel Adebayor over the line, but even though the deadline was just hours ago, we can now focus on the looming summer window.
With a new era beckoning for the Hammers at the Olympic Stadium, the club are at a crossroads. Good business could ensure they maintain their role as top four candidates, but in order to have a chance failings cannot be repeated… here are FIVE deals they should get over the line next time around.
Alexandre Song
While other clubs were reluctant to offer Alex Song a route back to the Premier League after his Barcelona hell, West Ham took the gamble, and have been, thus far, rewarded for the roll of the dice. The Cameroonian midfielder has been a key cog in the Irons’ engine room through the opening half of the season, and although some may have exaggerated his performances, he’s certainly been a terrific signing.
Naturally, the ‘bigger boys’ are now circling the ex-Arsenal man – Liverpool are particularly keen – but West Ham are, according to ‘Big Sam’, eager to make the arrangement a permanent one, which is surely a priority for the summer.
Winston Reid
Not strictly a signing, Reid should be a priority for the coming months, and potentially the summer. The New Zealand ace is currently in the final six months of his Irons contract, and the prospect of the star centre-back walking out of Upton Park and, potentially, to Arsenal or Spurs is a realistic one.
A new contract can be tied up at any point, and to build on, or even maintain, the form from this season in 2015/16, the key men in Allardyce’s XI must be kept.
Yevhen Konoplyanka
Although the January 2015 deadline was not as dominated by the name Konoplyanka as the January 2014 edition, the Ukrainian has remained in the thoughts of many Premier League fans, particularly those of Spurs.
The Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk wide-man’s future looks to be, at long last, away from his homeland, with a free move in the summer when his contract expires appears increasingly likely to happen. West Ham were linked with ‘Kono’ last year, with the winger open to a deal, and the prospect of getting in a top class player on the flanks for no fee is one ‘Big Sam’ surely cannot pass on.
Andre-Pierre Gignac
Among the flurry of late transfer links yesterday, Frenchman Gignac made a somewhat surprise appearance. The Marseille striker, now 29, has been linked with Premier League moves more times than we’d care to mention over the course of the past few years, but it had looked, until this season, that his time had passed.
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Yet, with l’OM flying in Ligue 1, Gignac has notched 14 goals in 23 games, alerting the Hammers. Even with Sakho, Valencia and Carroll on form, another goal-getter is always a bonus, particularly if European action is secured…
Carl Jenkinson
While Song is the loanee getting the attention, Jenkinson has been quietly impressive in the claret and blue. The dependable full-back joined the club from Arsenal, and in spite of their defensive troubles, there is every chance his future at the Emirates Stadium could be a bleak one.
A mooted £12m fee may be a little on the steep side, but with the young England international possessing the potential to get even better, he may be worth the gamble.
While Sami Khedira remains close to returning to the Real Madrid first team after suffering a lengthy spell on the sidelines this season, his ultimate future at the Bernabeu remains in doubt beyond the end of the 2014/15 campaign. The 27-year-old German international, through a mixture of form-related and external circumstances, seemingly hasn’t been able to tie down a guaranteed place in Madrid’s starting XI since first signing for the La Liga giants back in 2010.
He may have made over 100 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti’s current side – but as the combative midfielder has remained the subject of widespread transfer speculation with every passing window – the writing seems to already be on the wall for this former Stuttgart man. A potential move to England, where Khedira has supposedly long been admired since his successful stint at the 2010 World Cup, could therefore prove a promising opportunity for the half-Tunisian/half-German star.
With Schalke reported as the most recent front-runners to land the Real Madrid man however, are the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United ultimately going to miss out on the highly sought after World Cup winner this summer?
When pushed on the subject, current Schalke 04 manager and former Champions League winner with Chelsea, Roberto Di Matteo, has been quick to sing the praises of Ancelotti’s in-demand midfielder;
“Khedira? We all know he’s a great player. If he wants to come, the door is open. He’s a world class player.”
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The former Bundesliga man seemingly could do the business for a number of Europe’s top sides next season then. He possesses an important ability to read the game effectively and make the most of his chances when they arrive. Just ask any Brazilian fan who had the displeasure of seeing the midfielder take apart their side in this summer’s dramatic 7-1 semi-final destruction of the host nation for evidence of the German’s talents.
Khedira displays a distinct intelligence on the ball, plays the box-to-box role better than most on his day, and alongside another midfield maestro in the centre of the park, the current Madrid man can simply boss proceedings with maximum ease. The player’s somewhat bulky stature makes his technical ability all the more impressive, and although he certainly doesn’t ply his trade with the same level of grace as someone of David Silva’s ilk, the determined no. 6 still benefits from putting his foot in and performing the ugly side of the game when the time comes.
At a side as illustrious and as high profile as Real Madrid however – where all the aforementioned abilities are considered no more than basic necessities to make it at the Bernabeu – a player like Sami Khedira was never going to fully take the world by storm. The 27-year-old simply fails to command the spotlight when playing alongside the likes of James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Ronaldo, which when all things are considered, shouldn’t take away from what the German international could potentially offer another of Europe’s top sides.
Although both Chelsea and Manchester United have reportedly been after the midfield enforcer in recent months, Arsenal simply remain the Premier League team most in need of Khedira’s services. He may not be the all-out holding midfielder that many among the Emirates faithful have been calling for of late – but as the Real Madrid man would certainly offer Arsene Wenger than bit more steel and power within the heart of Arsenal’s midfield – any move to bring the no. 6 to North London would likely receive a very warm welcome.
The Gunners really don’t need another name to add to their busy treatment room however, so with the German international seemingly failing to keep away from those frustrating niggles and long term injury concerns this season, perhaps Arsenal would be better served by looking elsewhere.
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With Schalke nonetheless in strong contention to land the World Cup winner though, it seems that the Premier League is ultimately going to miss out on the signing of Sami Khedira – no matter how important he could have potentially been throughout the course of next season. As nothing remains confirmed at this current stage however, the future remains open for Real Madrid’s talented midfielder enforcer.
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Too good to go down? We hear the same expression almost every season in the Premier League, with one ‘fallen giant’ nearly always seen slipping towards the brown stuff at this time of year.
Everton are the unfortunate team this season, which is a remarkable fall from grace given that 12 months ago Champions League qualification was a genuine and realistic aim at Goodison Park.
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Roberto Martinez’s men have stuttered this term, though. Perhaps the weight of expectation is too much now? The responsibilities of European football too demanding? Or maybe they just got lucky last season? Whatever the case, the drop to the Championship is just six points below the Merseysiders at time of writing, making second tier football an all too realistic prospect. However, ‘Bobby M’ has changes he could make, and here are FIVE…
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Get Barkley firing again
Everton were a bright, vibrant and exciting attacking force last season, and a major part of the feel-good factor was Ross Barkley. The youngster truly broke through under Martinez after years of hype and talk, with his youthful exuberance in the middle of the park and willingness to get forward and beat his man infectious. As with many emerging talents, the England international’s form has tailed off a little this term, though, with a lack of confidence in the team almost dragging him down and the criticism of his mistakes forcing Barkley into his shell.
A little patience and a free role as a ‘No. 10’ could be the remedy, with the 21-year-old a player with enough quality to turn games.
More flexibility from Martinez
A football purist, Martinez has always been reluctant to divert away from his neat passing, attacking style. At Wigan he eventually surpassed his nine lives, and dropped, but all looked fine last season as the system truly clicked for the Toffees. But now with confidence low, playing in such a manner is tricky, with players overthinking passes and taking too long on the ball.
With an outlet such as Romelu Lukaku, Everton have the ability to go more direct, which would relieve the pressure on the midfield and creaking backline and perhaps inject some belief into the team. There’s no shame in adapting to circumstance.
Turn Barry’s suspension into a positive
Garth Barry’s two-game ban for picking up yet another yellow card last night may actually be a positive. The former England international is a walking caution-magnate, and even though his experience and know-how are useful, his lack of mobility and drive in a flat midfield three are drawbacks.
With his hand forced, Martinez may opt to go a bit more attacking, perhaps pushing Barkley into an advanced role with James McCarthy and Muhamed Besic sitting behind.
Use European action as a springboard
While the Europa League is often harangued for its tiring effects and fixture congestion, the competition has been a welcome break for Everton this term. Arguably the Premier League team with the greatest chance of continental success, a feel good factor from getting deeper into the tournament may be enough to breed confidence at Goodison Park, which is vital in the way Martinez likes to play.
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With Young Boys convincingly dispatched, Dynamo Kiev await in the last-16, and, as Fulham proved a few years back, punching above your weight is a realistic aim in the competition.
Add some width
A flat three in the middle of midfield and Steven Naismith on one flank made Everton very narrow at Stoke. A complete disregard for the wing cut off the chance to whip balls into Romelu Lukaku, while the threat of overlapping full-backs – Baines and Coleman were so good last season – seems to have disappeared.
Aiden McGeady may return soon and Christian Atsu impressed for Ghana at the AFCON, so Martinez has options.