Former Manchester United midfielder Ray Wilkins has claimed that the club will not sign Arsenal star Mesut Ozil due to the German’s lack of work ethic.
The World Cup winner has often been criticised for going missing in ‘big’ games.
However, in recent fixtures, particularly against Tottenham Hotspur and United, the 29-year-old has performed at a high level.
Ozil’s future at Arsenal has been a talking point for some time given that he is yet to sign a new contract.
Like Alexis Sanchez, the midfielder will come to the end of his current deal, which means that he will be allowed to leave the Gunners for free.
Ozil is also eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club when the transfer window opens in January.
Given that Arsenal’s only chance of pocketing a fee for the ex-Real Madrid star is next month, the club may end up selling mid-season.
However, Wilkins does not believe that United will be the club to sign him.
In an interview with Sporting Bet, the football pundit claimed that the Red Devils could end up bringing in Chelsea’s Willian instead.
“Mesut Ozil won’t go to Old Trafford because he doesn’t have the work ethic that Mourinho looks for in his players. I actually see Willian as being the likely player to head to Old Trafford. Jose is an enormous admirer of Willian and he would be a special signing for United, but I pray that Chelsea don’t let him go.”
Swap deals used to be pretty commonplace across football and they still crop up from time to time on the continent. For reasons hard to deduce in the Premier League however they have become as rare as hen’s teeth.
Which is a great shame because it’s an arrangement designed to benefit both parties and when done right it sees two players revitalised at new clubs with everyone a winner. Better yet, they rarely failed to ignite furious debate among the fan-bases over who got the better end of the trade.
The five straight swaps suggested below for this coming January window will never happen in a million years. They are implausible in the modern market place; utterly infeasible in fact. That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t happen though because in basic terms they make perfect sense.
Danny Rose to Manchester United, Luke Shaw to Tottenham
Each left-back is reportedly highly coveted by the other club and with both players presently exiled on the periphery of the first-team this one is potentially a no-brainer.
Rose’s ill-judged criticism of Spurs’ wage ceiling and supposed lack of ambition has left him with nowhere to go at the Lane other than the exit door, a situation that has only been exacerbated by a long-term lay-off that has seen his former understudy Ben Davies excel this term. Now fit and available for selection the England international has found himself cast in purgatory with Mauricio Pochettino showing no signs of succumbing to forgiveness anytime soon.
Britain Football Soccer – Manchester United v RSC Anderlecht – UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg – Old Trafford, Manchester, England – 20/4/17 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaks with Luke Shaw Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic
Until Luke Shaw’s horrendous leg break in Holland in 2015 he was fast on track to establishing himself as Manchester United and England’s go-to left-back for years to come. Since then it’s been a long road back to fitness only to encounter a manager who clearly doesn’t fancy him and worst still who thinks nothing of publicly diminishing his reputation at want.
With a World Cup on the horizon a fresh start for both is surely the way to go.
Islam Slimani to Crystal Palace, Jason Puncheon to Leicester
Palace’s desperate need for a centre-forward was crystal clear back in the summer and their failure to land one led to strong criticism of the board from fans who feared the worst. With just eight goals to their name in December, languishing in the bottom three, and already a manager down it’s fair to say that those fears have come true for the south Londoners who need to start scoring soon or face the dreaded drop.
However, if isolating a problem is one thing solving it is quite another for new gaffer Roy Hodgson who might find that clubs want to hold onto their best forwards halfway through a campaign. Which is precisely why Islam Slimani could well be a godsend to the former England boss.
Disenchanted and dispensable in the Midlands but thoroughly capable of bullying defences when in the mood, the Algerian is expected to be moved on this coming window with Leicester looking to recruit more creative options. Step forward Jason Puncheon whose failure to land a regular spot in a struggling side – not to mention a long-standing divisive relationship with the supporters – could mean that he would leap at the chance of writing a new chapter to a well-travelled career.
Aleksandar Mitrovic to Everton, Morgan Schneiderlin to Newcastle
There is no disputing Mitrovic’s qualities. Here is a striker who can terrorise centre-backs single-handedly on his day and score goals into the bargain. Unfortunately there is just as much chance of the Serbian self-combusting and it’s this ill-discipline which is why Rafa Benitez dare not trust starting with his erratic firecracker in any game of substance.
Such is Everton’s desperation for firepower however they would presumably be willing to overlook the rough to take the smooth and factor in too Sam Allardyce’s past record in getting the best out of temperamental talents and Mitrovic to Goodison begins to add up.
As for Schneiderlin, few Gwladys Street regulars would mourn his departure while Newcastle’s midfield would be greatly enhanced by his steady guile.
Michy Batshuayi to Southampton, Ryan Bertrand to Chelsea
Antonio Conte’s desire to improve his left-back options is clear from his prolonged chasing of Juventus’ Alex Sandro but it seems no matter what price is offered the Turin giants are loathe to budge. Perhaps then the solution lies closer to home with a defender who began his career at the Bridge before finally moving on to establish himself elsewhere after a multitude of loans. All due respect to the Saints, but such has been Bertrand’s consistency he deserves another shot at a top six club.
Regarding the Belgian hitman, quite why Conte fails to see what most others do – that the 24-year-old is a prolific and lethal finisher who would embellish any side – is unknown but certainly whichever club eventually swoops for him will be rewarded with goals galore. Southampton have hardly been blessed in that area in recent months.
Daniel Sturridge to Newcastle, Jamaal Lascelles to Liverpool
A long shot on both counts but with Sturridge increasingly resembling Pete Best to Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ and Lascelles proving himself to be a composed and pragmatic defender of the highest order let’s just say that Liverpool should be delighted with this exchange.
The Toon Army meanwhile would be aghast at losing their young captain until Sturridge began doing that annoying dance celebration on a weekly basis.
One major factor behind Manchester City’s record-breaking title win was the club’s squad depth. From defence to attack, manager Pep Guardiola had a wealth of talent to choose from.
Ilkay Gundogan, for instance, was a player that always delivered when called upon. And if City are to top their incredible 2017/18 campaign, then Guardiola must retain and keep his more fringe players happy.
That includes Gundogan who, according to Transfermarketweb (via the Daily Express), is interested in a move to Barcelona this summer.
The Breakdown
Gundogan was Guardiola’s first signing at the Etihad but, due to injury and the incredible form of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, he has failed to nail down a regular spot in City’s starting XI.
Nevertheless, the £36m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Germany international showed himself to be of great value to Guardiola last season, scoring goals in some of Manchester City’s biggest games including clashes against rivals Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Although he was mainly used as an alternative to Fernandinho in the deep-lying midfield position, Gundogan is a great option to have further up the pitch if De Bruyne or Silva are unavailable.
The 27-year-old has the vision, a good range of passing and at City, has shown he is capable of scoring goals from midfield and set pieces.
Guardiola is looking to bring in another midfielder – although he looks set to miss out on the Chelsea-bound Jorginho – but the former Barcelona boss should do all he can to keep Gundogan at the club regardless of who comes in or not.
It is vital that Guardiola keeps Gundogan and the rest of his squad together while adding to it, rather than let it become weakened like what has happened with previous Premier League champions Chelsea after their recent title successes.
Multiple Premier League teams are sniffing around Lille midfielder Yves Bissouma, and West Ham should join the hunt to grab themselves the perfect partner for Jack Wilshere.
What’s the story?
According to Sky Sports, Brighton are in talks to sign Bissouma, and reports in France suggest a deal is close at around £17.7m.
The tough tackling 21 year-old has also been linked with Tottenham, Everton and Fulham, although the Cottagers record deal for Jean Seri probably rules them out.
While Bissouma isn’t a name many fans will be familiar with, he had a breakout season in Ligue 1 last year, and the Hammers would be brilliant in midfield for years to come if they added him to the capture of Wilshere.
£17.7m is an absolute steal for a 21 year-old in the form of his life, and with Felipe Anderson expected to be the latest in a string of West Ham signings, grabbing Bissouma would be the cherry on the cake of their fantastic summer.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”270847″ player=”12034″ title=”England’s 1966 World Cup Omens”]
How good is he?
Bissouma is everything you want in a defensive midfielder, but he also offers an extra attacking element that most players of his ilk simply don’t possess. First and foremost though, the young Mali international just loves getting stuck in, averaging 2.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 1.6 clearances per 90 minutes last season.
For such a young player, the 21 year-old has excellent game intelligence, able to read attacks before they even happen, break them up, and then launch counter attacks of his own. This is what separates him from your average tough tackling defensive midfielder – his ball playing ability.
Aforementioned, Bissouma is an absolute beast at pressing opponents and breaking up play, but he is also skilled enough on the ball to resist the press when it’s used against him. His tight control and wiry strength allows him to weave himself out of difficult areas in midfield, similar to Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele.
His passing takes him one step further than Dembele, as the Belgian is often criticised for his lack of forward passing. Bissouma has no such problem even at 21, completing 85 per cent of his passes last season in a struggling Lille side. He also averaged 0.5 key passes per game, which is good for a player whose main purpose is breaking up play.
All in all, West Ham would be getting a sturdy, smart and tenacious young midfielder, with all the tools to allow Wilshere to go and help the attacking players create chances. At £17.7m it’s an absolute no brainer.
So, West Ham fans, would you take a punt on Bissouma? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…
The Rangers fans are excited for the future under Steven Gerrard having seen the Englishman get off to a perfect start in the Europa League qualification.
A lot of new faces have arrived at Ibrox this summer ahead of the new Steven Gerrard era at the club and that should continue if Rangers are serious about challenging Celtic for the Scottish Premiership. A former team-mate of Gerrard in the form of Peter Crouch could be an interesting move for both parties as the 37-year-old could prove he still has great ability in those long legs.
Last season, the Stoke City man proved a number of doubters wrong as he still managed to score 5 Premier League goals in only 14 starts, a tremendous return for an ageing forward. Crouch provides goals as well as experience and knowledge around any club he is at, something that could be useful in the Rangers dressing room.
He also offers something completely different in attack, if the Gers are in need of a goal, more likely than not you can find his head in the box. Having been relegated with Stoke, Crouch may find a new, exciting challenge alongside former team-mate Steven Gerrard.
Time is soon to expire on his football career so a late move to Rangers could reignite his playing chances and prove that he is more than capable in another league as well. Steven Gerrard has already brought Jon Flanagan to the club, another former team-mate of the Englishman so could Crouch similarly follow suit?
Manchester City are continuing their search for a new midfielder after seeing Jorginho join Chelsea.
And one name that has come up as a potential alternative to the Brazilian-born Italy international is Bayern Munich’s Thiago.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is, of course, a huge admirer of Thiago having worked with him at Barcelona before signing the Spain international for Bayern Munich when he was in the Allianz Arena dugout.
Goal, however, reports Thiago is likely to cost a fee that Manchester City are not willing to pay.
Thiago’s team-mate Arturo Vidal, though, given his current contract situation, could also be an option worth looking at.
According to the Daily Mail, as well as Thiago, Bayern Munich are open to listening to offers for Vidal, whose current deal expires next summer.
At 31, £31.5m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Vidal would be a short-term fix to Guardiola’s defensive midfield dilemma. And albeit Vidal is more of a box-to-box midfielder than a defensive one, the Chilean is still more than capable of playing there.
Vidal is a complete central midfield player; he can tackle, pass, carry the ball and shoot. And having played under Guardiola, the Chile international would have no problem integrating into Manchester City’s team – even in a less familiar role than what he is used to.
There is no guarantee Guardiola goes through with signing a midfielder this transfer window with most of the club’s rumoured targets being too expensive.
Vidal’s price tag, however, should be more reasonable and is something for Guardiola to possibly think about if he cannot wait until January or the next summer window to bring in another midfielder.
Manchester City surely remain favourites to lift the Premier League title next season.
Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to the trophy last season, finishing 19 points ahead of rivals Manchester United in second. City became the first side to break 100 points in the Premier League and also lifted the Carabao Cup. The Spaniard is aiming to become the first manager since 2009 to retain the Premier League title.
The former Barcelona boss is still adding to his squad despite the abundance of talent on offer at the Etihad. City moved quickly to secure the services of Riyad Mahrez, who made his debut in pre-season defeat against Borussia Dortmund, to strengthen his forward line. Guardiola also aimed to sign Jorginho who instead moved to Chelsea.
Instead, Guardiola should attempt to reunite with Bayern Munich maestro – Thiago Alcantara. Valued at £54m by Transfermarkt, the Spaniard has been linked with an exit after starting just 12 games in the Bundesliga last year. Despite Bayern’s insistence he won’t be sold, the arrival of Leon Goretzka from Schalke threatens his place in the line up even more.
Guardiola is a huge fan of the La Masia graduate and prioritised his signing during his time in Germany. He would slot seamlessly into the system in Manchester and would be an excellent long-term replacement for David Silva in the City midfield. At just 27-years-old, his best years are still to come.
Thiago’s arrival would lessen the creative burden on Kevin De Bruyne’s shoulders and add a world-class option in the engine room. Should the opportunity arise, Guardiola must not turn down the chance to work with Thiago again.
A humbling Community Shield defeat to Manchester City in which Willy Caballero’s occasional heroics managed to spare a significantly more painful scoreline stopped dead in its tracks the optimistic momentum Maurizio Sarri’s reputation as a manager of fine football has brought to Stamford Bridge.
For all the positivity beforehand, it’s now clear this Chelsea team has a long way to go before it starts replicating the entertaining threat of Sarri’s former club Napoli, let alone consider themselves genuine competitors with last season’s Premier League champions.
But the 2-0 loss did answer some key questions facing Sarri, perhaps the most important being the complexion of Chelsea’s midfield this season. While N’Golo Kante is an obvious permanence on the team sheet as arguably the best playbreaking midfielder in the world, the acquisition of Jorginho has completely changed the dynamics of what was, for the most part at least, a two-man engine room under Antonio Conte.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”273907″ player=”12034″ title=”4 Potential Replacements for Chelsea’s Courtois”]
Chelsea still haven’t quite got to grips with the deep-lying quarterback style of their only major acquisition this summer; the defence didn’t spread out enough against City to create the space on the ball the Italy international needs, just as those playing in front of him failed to provide a recurring, consistent outlet to flick passes onto.
But amid a worryingly underwhelming performance from the west Londoners, Ross Barkley’s individual display stood out – partly because of the backdrop of depressing blue it was held up against and partly because he looked a far more natural supplier of what Jorginho needs to thrive in midfield than Cesc Fabregas on the other side.
In contrast to a largely static performance from Fabregas, Barkley jinked his way through City’s midfield with two dribbles, caused their defence problems with two created chances, won two tackles and two aerial duels, and showed his ability to link up with Jorginho by completing 88% of his passes. In fact, no player received more Barkley passes than Chelsea’s new signing, five from his total of 40.
“I like him, he is a technical player. I like him very much. He has to improve on the defensive phase I think, it is difficult in this moment to play with Jorginho, Cesc [Fabregas] and Ross altogether.”
Maurizio Sarri on Ross Barkley
It was by no means an exceptional performance, but its variety and dynamism shouldn’t be overlooked. While Fabregas remains an immensely talented technician, he should probably be playing where Jorginho is rather than just in front of him at this point in his career, because he’s no longer capable of the surging runs the eight-cap international needs others to make to create space at the base of the engine room.
Barkley, while not completely flawless on Sunday, can surge forward to make the opposition second-guess themselves before closing Jorginho down, and he can also take part in a more studied, methodical buildup in the way Sarri often asked of his exciting Napoli side.
With Jorginho and Kante certainties to start most of Chelsea’s game this season, Barkley’s already made himself a strong candidate to complete the three-man engine room – something Sarri directly alluded to after the full-time whistle. So, would you give the England international the nod for Chelsea’s opening Premier League clash? Let us know by voting below…
According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, Tottenham have been made a ‘take it or leave it’ bid for defender Toby Alderweireld. The 29-year-old’s future at the North London club has been subject of speculation throughout the summer given his contract situation, what with the centre back having just 12 months left on his current deal, and while there is an option of a one-year extension, it would bring a £25 million release clause into play.
And with Manchester United having reportedly made a final offer believed to be no more than £40 million for the Belgium international, Mauricio Pochettino’s side face a dilemma that will no doubt impact upon their chances of challenging for the Premier League title this season.
The Breakdown
It has so far been a remarkably quiet window at Tottenham given no new players have been brought in by the club, while there have been no notable departures either despite speculation surrounding several first team players.
And while Pochettino’s men finished 23 points adrift of champions Manchester City last term, there is a feeling among many that Spurs have arguably the best starting eleven of any team in the division, while they have been able to add greater depth to their squad in recent times to suggest that they could well sustain a title challenge.
However, there is little doubting that, despite only featuring 14 times in the Premier League, Alderweireld is one of the most influential players in the Tottenham squad, and as such would be a massive blow to their chances of competing at the summit were they to let him go.
The 29-year-old has proven his qualities ever since moving to Spurs back in 2015 to become one of the best centre backs in the Premier League, helping Pochettino’s side to the best defensive record in the league back in both the 2015/16 season, and indeed the one after.
Yes, Davinson Sanchez came in and deputised outstandingly last season to keep the Belgian out of the team, but any side would suffer from losing a player of the calibre of Alderweireld – there aren’t many centre backs in Europe better than the 29-year-old.
Thus, chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs hierarchy face a huge dilemma in the last knockings of the window.
Take the £40 million for Alderweireld, which itself is a huge sum for a player who will turn 30 next year and has just 12 months left on his contract, and Pochettino would be losing a mainstay of the success he has built at the club in recent seasons – that would no doubt put a serious dent in their title hopes.
Leave it and retain the 29-year-old beyond Thursday’s deadline, and he could reportedly be available for as £25 million in January and potentially nothing this time next year – yet they would keep one of the best defenders in the division.
Clearly, it’s a tricky one for the Tottenham hierarchy, as whatever decision they make has both pros and cons attached.
But in purely footballing terms, the decision they make will have a massive say on whether or not Pochettino’s men can indeed challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Chelsea started the season with a bang last weekend as they dismissed Huddersfield with ease to get their Premier League campaign off to the ideal start.
The Blues, under the new management of Maurizio Sarri, put in a solid and accomplished display to put to bed some of the fears in pre-season that they had not gone hard enough in the transfer market in terms of new signings.
However, with the window remaining open for clubs across Europe, the Blues face an anxious wait to see if they can keep hold of their key men such as Willian, Eden Hazard, and Alvaro Morata.
One man who will draw particular attention is Belgian star Hazard, who is wanted by the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, and we at the Transfer Tavern think that Chelsea should have pre-empted the loss of Hazard by signing Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.
The Frenchman was one of the stars of the show over in Russia this summer as Les Bleus marched to World Cup glory, and despite Griezmann saying earlier in the summer he would be staying in Madrid, there is a feeling that he could well have been tempted to move elsewhere, and Chelsea should have made their move.
Griezmann, much like Hazard, is a player of world class ability, and one of few in the world who can walk into any team, and missing out on his signing – especially if Hazard is tempted away – could well come back to haunt the Blues.
Chelsea fans, what do you think? Would you have tried to tempt Hazard? Let us know in the comments!