Bolton Wanderers have had a pretty terrible season. I’m sure many Trotters fans will agree.
They sit 23rd in the Championship and have one of the poorest goalscoring records across England’s top five divisions. Until this week, their very existence was being thrown into doubt on a daily basis, with a takeover needing to be completed to keep the club afloat.
Selling training ground facilities to rivals Wigan Athletic last week was a bitter pill to swallow but thanks to the £7.5m takeover completed by Dean Holdsworth, the club look set to live on.
But they need to quickly turn things around and re-write some of the wrongs from the past, with Bolton fans looking for a sturdier ship. The upporters have shown fantastic solidarity, yet now they need the longevity of a stable ownership deal that can perform on and off the pitch.
In a candid interview with the Lion of Vienna Suite website, the new owner made it clear that he wants a new, long-term and ambitious project where the club can move as quickly as possible to sort out this mess.
And the interview seemed to work. Holdsworth was witty, coherent and sounded like a proper footballing man. He was keen to comment on the importance of the supporters trust and the fans’ role in making the club great again.
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But what the interview did show was just how bad the Bolton fans have had it the past few months. On the pitch, the club been extremely poor considering the semi-decent side they have. They’ve lost against sides around them and have been plunged into the relegation battle in dramatic fashion.
last weekend they played QPR and were much the better team and really should have won the game. It finished 1-1 and it was another example of the Trotters throwing away needless points when they need them once. Since then they’ve lost 1-0 to Birmingham who, funnily enough, were saved on the last day last season thanks to a 2-1 victory at Bolton. The Blues have had their ups and downs this season and have seemingly settled down a little bit after the Carson Yeung storm that preceded their relegation in 2012.
But it just goes to show how one good season can change everything for the better or the worse. Birmingham have had one excellent season under Gary Rowett and its made all the difference for the supporters and the general buzz about the club.
Bolton have endured a terribly poor campaign, but with the takeover they have the chance to turn it around again. Holdsworth admitted that he wants former players on board to help the club get back to its former glory and that he wants to see the Trotters back in the Premier League in five years’ time.
But as in many potential footballing fairytales, Bolton can’t get carried away. Lavish spending following relegation has partly resulted in this mess and the risk and reward involved with running a football club can’t be ignored.
The most important thing is that Bolton don’t get carried away, and have no regrets.
England’s remarkable comeback victory over Germany in the most recent series of international friendlies has raised optimism ahead of EURO 2016, even if a defeat to Netherlands was slightly disappointing.
Of the side that showed such fighting character in Berlin, five of the starting line-up were members of the Tottenham Hotspur team that has impressed so much this season and continue to push for the Premier League title. It appears that much of Mauricio Pochettino’s good work at White Hart Lane will be of benefit to the Three Lions, with a handful of the Spurs youngsters set to play a role in France.
Hot-shot centre forward Harry Kane is the most impressive of the lot, while Dele Alli’s potential could make him a feature in the national side for years to come. However, of the North London youngsters making a name for themselves, there is an argument to suggest that Eric Dier should be the one to get most excited about.
The former Sporting Lisbon starlet has been reborn this season at Tottenham after being unleashed in the centre of midfield by Pochettino. A ploy that not many would have seen materialising, Dier has supplied the brawn and diligence in the Spurs midfield that has allowed others such as Alli to saunter forward and impress.
The reformed centre-back has not gained the plaudits that he deserves due to the exertions of others, but from a purely functional perspective his importance to club and country cannot be overstated. Every top team has a dominant player in front of its defence and for Spurs this season that man has been Dier. Pochettino has instilled positional discipline in the former Everton loanee, while the 22-year-old’s physical attributes have been a real boost to his club.
A commanding figure in both the tackle and the air, Dier has continuously broken up opposition attacks this season in the Premier League and been a pivotal part of a Spurs side that has conceded the fewest goals in the division.
Another really impressive feature of Dier’s play for the North London side has been his instruction to drop deep and pick the ball up from Hugo Lloris when Spurs are in possession. He has been calm and composed while on the ball and often the White Hart Lane outfit’s attacks originate through the holding midfielder.
Looking at it from an England perspective, Dier is the best proponent at Roy Hodgson’s disposal for the defensive shield to anchor the team’s midfield. Despite the presence of excellent and distinguished midfielders over recent years such as David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the Three Lions have lacked a player of Dier’s ilk – one prudent in decision-making and meticulous in positioning.
Much of the promise of a young England side comes from attacking midfield areas, with the likes of Alli, Ross Barkley and others able to hurt the opposition. However, for these starlets to have a licence to play, a reassuring and defensively minded player such as Dier is needed to balance the team.
At this point in time the Tottenham star must start for England at EURO 2016 and his presence will surely make Hodgson’s side more aggressive, combative and tactically astute.
Let’s start with a rather incredible statistic. From 74 visits to Anfield, where they will face Liverpool in a 5.30pm kickoff this Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur have won just eight times and lost an outrageous 46.
But amid a Premier League campaign not quite like any other, which has seen Spurs emerge as the only genuine competition to Leicester City in the title race, something tells me this weekend’s installment of the historic fixture will be a lot closer than usual.
Indeed, the second-place Lilywhites are flying high, boasting the strongest goals conceded record in the Premier League, whilst Liverpool find themselves amid a period of reinvention under relatively fresh managerial appointment Jurgen Klopp.
With both sides employing industrious, energetic and technical styles of football, they may end up cancelling each other out on Saturday – so the result could well be decided by which side dominates the key individual battles. With that in mind, here are FIVE Football Fancast view as the most important.
DANIEL STURRIDGE VS TOBY ALDERWEIRELD
With Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi all deemed injury doubts for Saturday’s game, Daniel Sturridge looks set to lead the Liverpool frontline almost by default – although most would select him over the aforementioned trio anyway.
The England international isn’t quite back to his best since returning from injury, scoring three times in eight appearances across all competitions, but remains one of the Premier League’s most potent goalscorers when at full fitness and should feel a little sharper after playing 70 minutes against Southampton before the international break.
That being said, Tottenham boast the strongest goals conceded record in the Premier League this season and much of that is due to the formidable performances of Toby Alderweireld at the heart of defence.
Rugged, tactically astute and technically masterful, the Belgium international has emerged as the complete centre-back package this season – but Sturridge’s notorious pace could cause him trouble on the counter-attack.
DANNY ROSE VS NATHANIEL CLYNE
Danny Rose’s marauding runs from left-back have become a defining feature of Tottenham’s attacking play this season and even had a noteworthy impact as England came back against Germany in a 3-2 win last weekend.
Indeed, the 25-year-old offers intrinsic width so Spurs’ attacking midfielders can move inside, a ploy that has seen him bag one goal and two assists in 18 Premier League outings so far this season.
But Jurgen Klopp likes his full-backs to push up as well and Nathaniel Clyne has always been a particularly forward-thinking No.2, even if he hasn’t demonstrated it to the same extent since swapping Southampton for Liverpool last summer.
So with both England internationals set to oppose each other on the same flank this Saturday and both determined to force a place in Roy Hodgson’s Euro squad, this battle could well depend on who balances their offensive and defensive duties best.
HARRY KANE VS MAMADOU SAKHO
Harry Kane’s confidence probably couldn’t be higher at the minute. Not only is the Tottenham frontman top of the Premier League’s scoring charts with 21 goals in 31 appearances, but he also netted the strike, following a cheeky Cruyff turn, that inspired England’s comeback against Germany last Saturday.
Indeed, there seems to be no stopping the 22-year-old at the moment amid a run of six goals in his last six outings across all competitions – including back-to-back braces against Aston Villa and Bournemouth – so Liverpool centre-half Mamadou Sakho looks set for an incredibly tough afternoon upon facing him this Saturday.
The France international has never been the most convincing of centre-halves and Liverpool’s backline is notoriously porous, conceding the second-most goals of any side in the Premier League’s top half this season. But if Sakho has one saving grace, it’s his ability to dominate Kane physically through great power and aerial ability.
Philippe Coutinho vs Kieran Trippier
Having played the full ninety minutes against the Netherlands on Tuesday night, I have an inkling Mauricio Pochettino will rest rest Kyle Walker against Liverpool, with understudy Kieran Trippier taking his place in the Spurs starting Xi.
Despite playing second fiddle to the England international this season, the former Burnley star is a very talented full-back, especially in the art of providing consistent deliveries from out wide – averaging 1.2 crosses per match this season.
But upon facing Philippe Coutinho, it’s the 25-year-old’s defensive qualities that will be tested most. The Brazilian has proved formidable in the left midfield role over the last month or so, scoring a stellar solo effort against Manchester United and also finding the net during the 3-2 defeat to Southampton.
With Roberto Firmino potentially sidelined, Coutinho will be under more pressure than usual to make something happen in the final third. He’s certainly capable of doing so, boasting 19 goals in 101 Premier League appearances throughout his Anfield career.
ALL OUT WAR IN MIDFIELD
Tottenham and Liverpool are both famed for their energetic style of play and much of that stems from the industriousness of their engine rooms, particularly through players like Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Adam Lallana.
And with all five scrapping for a place in England’s starting Xi ahead of Euro 2016, they’ll all be desperate to outshine their counterparts on Saturday amid ever-reducing chances to impress Roy Hodgson.
In terms of form this season, Alli and Dier remain ahead of the Liverpool trio. Dier is one of the few genuine holding midfielders in Three Lions contention at the moment, whilst Alli has exploded onto the scene with seven goals and nine assists since making the step up from League One last summer.
But Lallana, Henderson and Milner are all talented, experienced and hardworking midfielders who won’t wilt under the challenge for places in Hodgson’s plans. Logic suggests their experience should trump the Spurs duo’s energy, but few midfields have got the better of Tottenham’s this season.
After finishing 7th in Premier League following final day defeat to Stoke, Slaven Bilic’s West Ham side narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for European football next season.
Alas, all is not lost in the Hammers’ pursuit of the Europa League, however, as if Manchester United are to win the FA Cup Final this weekend, the Irons could be granted a position in the third qualifying round of the tournament, due to the fact Man United have already qualified via their fifth place league finish.
Louis van Gaal’s side’s triumph would be the icing on the cake on what has been fantastic season in east London, with the Hammers matching their second best ever Premier League finish only four campaigns after earning promotion back to the Premier League via the Championship Play-Offs.
The promise of European football, as well as brand new stadium, is set to attract a host of Europe’s top names to the Olympic Stadium this coming summer.
If West Ham want to kick on and reignite their challenge for a top four finish in 2016/17, Slaven Bilic will certainly want to strengthen.
Here are FIVE transfer targets West Ham should not miss out on this summer…
Michy Batshuayi
Having a had a £31m move for fellow Ligue 1 striker Alexandre Lacazette rejected, the Hammers should turn their attention to the equally talented Belgian forward, Batshuayi. One of the hottest young strikers in world football, the 22 year old would be a fine addition and certainly help to bolster West Ham’s front line, having scored 22 times this season for current club Marseille.
Theo Walcott
Out of favour now with England as well as Arsenal, Walcott will almost certainly be looking to move elsewhere this summer as he hopes first-team football will rejuvenate his chances of an England recall. A move across London could be the perfect solution as the Hammers look to add depth to their wide positions.
Nikola Maksimovic
One area that West Ham undoubtedly need to strengthen this summer is at the back, especially in the middle. While Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna have been solid, the Hammers lack a legitimate world class centre half to control their defence. Known as ‘The Wall’ in Torino, Serbia’s Nikola Maksimovic has been repeatedly compared with fellow compatriot, Nemanja Vidic.
Wilfried Bony
Bony has struggled at Manchester City since his move from Swansea last summer. The Premier League’s top scorer for the 2014 calendar year at his former club, the Ivorian is not used to being second in the pecking order, and it shows in his lack of confidence. Big, strong and an excellent finisher, Bony has the ability to lead the line for West Ham.
Reece Oxford
Now I know Oxford is already at the club, but having reportedly rejected a new contract yesterday, West Ham should make it a priority to keep the young defender at the Olympic Stadium next season. The Hammers’ youth system has a track record of producing quality players, including Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, so the Irons should do all they can to hang on to a player who could be the next big thing.
It’s that time of the year again! The European Championships could only hold our attention for a month of this summer of sport, and now you’re going to be forced to forget about football for a while and concentrate on cricket, golf and cycling! Exciting, right?
Well, no. It’s not. We feel your pain. Football is at its most exciting when there is actually football going on – but in order for that to happen, players need a break. And clubs need to be given the chance to strengthen.
Fortunately, during this down time, we’re here to help you out, Arsenal fans!
With your club being linked to almost every player under the sun, we felt that it was about time that all your transfer rumours fell into one place. So what better way to procrastinate / get your footballing fix than by scrolling through all the transfer dealings your club are making.
What’s more, you’ll never have to scour the underworld of tabloid newspapers again – just bookmark this gallery and keep up to date on all the summer dealings here!
Pep Off!
Arsenal have informed Manchester City that right-back Hector Bellerin won’t be sold during the summer transfer window, according to the Daily Mail. The Spain international has established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs in Europe since becoming an Arsenal regular, claiming a place in last season’s PFA Team of the Year after providing one goal and five assists in 36 Premier League appearances.
Read more here
Hammering home?
Reports from Corriere dello Sport suggest Arsenal have edged ahead of West Ham in the transfer race to sign AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca. The 29-year-old boasts a formidable scoring record from his spells with Club Brugge, Sevilla, Milan and the Colombian national team, with a career return of 223 goals in 438 appearances across all competitions. According to Mirror Football, West Ham have already agreed a £26million transfer fee with the San Siro giants, who signed Bacca from Sevilla last summer, but are yet to receive a concrete answer from the South American.
Read more here
No Gonzalo
Arsenal’s hopes of sealing a mega summer move for Gonzalo Higuain appear to be in tatters, with Sky Sports reporting that the Napoli striker is keen to join Juventus. The Argentine has emerged as a key target for the Gunners over the course of the past few days as Arsene Wenger contemplates the addition of a top-class marksman.
Read more here
Baby got Bacca!
Arsenal are plotting a move for AC Milan’s Carlos Bacca with their pursuits of both Gonzalo Higuain and Alexandre Lacazette faltering, according to reports from Gazzetta World. The Gunners have been on the lookout for a new hit-man for much of the summer after they missed out on the Premier League title last term.
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Enquiry made!
Arsenal have enquired about the possibility of signing Alexandre Lacazette this summer, but have elected to look at other targets for the time being due to Lyon’s €60m (£50m) demands, according to Get French Football News. The France international, who was excluded from Didier Deschamps’ EURO 2016 plans, has been one of Ligue 1’s most dangerous forwards over the course of the past three seasons, smashing an impressive 63 goals in total.
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Winger to go
Valencia are keen on Arsenal attacker Joel Campbell with Arsene Wenger keen to offload the Costa Rican this summer, according to reports from Estadio Deportivo. The 24-year-old signed for the Gunners way back in 2011, but has failed to make any real impact at the club.
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Willing to listen
According to reports from The Times, Newcastle United are ready to listen to offers of £20million or more for in-demand midfielder Moussa Sissoko. The 26-year-old drew plenty of criticism for his laboured displays last season as the Magpies plummeted out of the Premier League, despite notching up seven assists in 37 outings. But the France international’s potential has never been in doubt and he appeared to finally fulfil it at Euro 2016 with a Man of the Match performance in the tournament’s final – a 1-0 defeat to Portugal.
Read more here
Legend to leave!
Football – Arsenal v Leeds United FA Cup Third Round – Emirates Stadium – 9/1/12Thierry Henry celebrates after scoring Arsenal’s first goalMandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew CouldridgeLivepic
According to reports from The Sun, legendary striker Thierry Henry could continue his coaching career at West Ham after parting company with Arsenal. The Gunners icon made 376 appearances for the north London club as a player, firing his way to two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and four Golden Boots with a potent return of 228 goals. The Frenchman had been working within Arsenal’s academy set-up as part of his UEFA coaching licence course, but was recently informed by Arsene Wenger that he’d have to give up his role as a pundit on Sky Sports.
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Return of the Skip?
Football – Belgium v Russia – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group H – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 22/6/14Belgium’s Thomas Vermaelen looks dejected after sustaining an injuryMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
According to reports from Sport, former skipper Thomas Vermaelen wants to return to Arsenal during the summer transfer window. The Belgium international made 150 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal, captaining them from summer 2012 until his departure to Barcelona in summer 2014. But the centre-back has endured a torrid tenure at the Nou Camp, managing just eleven appearances during the last two La Liga campaigns amid a host of injury problems.
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No way for Turan
Football – Chelsea v Atletico Madrid – UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg – Stamford Bridge, London, England – 13/14 – 30/4/14Arda Turan – Atletico Madrid Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
According to reports from The Guardian, the agent of Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target Arda Turan has insisted his client is happy at Barcelona. The Turkish international moved to the Nou Camp only last summer, after winning a La Liga title and reaching a Champions League final during a four-season tenure at Atletico Madrid. Barcelona’s transfer embargo delayed the attacking midfielder’s debut until January 2016 but Turan struggled to impress during the second half of the season, issued just nine starts in La Liga.
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Just Talks?
According to reports from Sky Sports, Arsenal intermediaries have held talks with Gonzalo Higuain’s agent regarding a potential summer transfer to the Emirates. The Argentina international came close to signing for the Gunners three years ago and appears to be on their radar once again after setting a new record of the most goals scored in a single Serie A campaign – a whopping 36 from 35 appearances. Arsene Wenger is known to be on the lookout for another striker this summer, having already failed in a £20million approach for Leicester City front-man Jamie Vardy, and Arsenal have been linked with Higuain, aged 28, frequently in recent weeks.
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Bid rejected
According to reports from Calcio Mercato, Arsenal have seen a £25million transfer bid for Daniele Rugani rejected by Juventus. The 6 foot 3 centre-half is rated as one of Italian football’s most promising youngsters, having kicked off his senior career with two affluent campaigns at Empoli before making 17 Serie A appearances for the Old Lady as they claimed last season’s title. And Calcio Mercato claim the Gunners have tabled a £25million offer for the prodigious centre-back.
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Young Lion
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal are interested in signing Juventus defender Daniele Rugani during the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old is rated as one of the most exciting young centre-backs in Italian football, having thoroughly impressed during his two seasons at Empoli and made 17 league appearances last term as the Old Lady lifted a fourth consecutive Serie A title.
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Monster contract!
Arsenal have offered Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain a contract worth around £130,000-per-week and a meeting between officials of both club on Thursday has been requested by Arsene Wenger, according to RaiSport journalist, Ciro Venerato. The Argentine ace boosted his already stellar reputation last season with a staggering 36 goals in 35 Serie A appearances as the Naples outfit secured Champions League qualification.
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Striker swap?
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal have offered Olivier Giroud to Napoli in exchange for top transfer target Gonzalo Higuain. The Gunners came close to signing the Argentina international in summer 2013 but after a disagreement over price-tag with then-employers Real Madrid, he eventually signed for the Serie A outfit instead. The 28-year-old has gone on to claim 91 goals in 146 appearances for the Naples side, including a record-breaking return of 36 goals in the Italian top flight last season.
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Snap up a star?
According to reports from Sport, Arsenal and Chelsea are both targeting Arda Turan, who could leave Barcelona during the summer transfer window. Barcelona signed the Turkish international, who has represented his country a whopping 93 times, last summer but he wasn’t allowed to make a competitive appearance until January 2016 due to the Nou Camp outfit’s transfer ban. However, the versatile midfielder, who can operate as a wide man, a centre-mid or a No.10, endured an underwhelming debut half-season at the Nou Camp, managing just nine starts in La Liga.
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Monster Mouss!
According to reports from The Chronicle, Newcastle United have slapped Arsenal and Liverpool transfer target Moussa Sissoko with a staggering £35million price-tag.
The 26-year-old was one of the Magpies’ better performers last season, claiming seven assists in 37 Premier League appearances, but couldn’t prevent their relegation to English football’s second tier.And the France international was arguably the Man of the Match in last night’s Euro 2016 final despite his side losing to Portugal, finishing up with the most successful dribbles of any player involved – an impressive seven.
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Draft Drax
Arsenal will be free to make Julian Draxler their marquee summer signing if they offer Wolfsburg a club-record €60m (£51.1m), according to Bundesliga expert Jan Aage Fjortoft. The silky attacking midfielder was heavily linked with the Gunners during the January 2015 transfer window and has once again emerged as a shock target in the past week.
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Also Tu-rans?
Arsenal are candidates in the race for Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan, according to reports from Sport. The Turkey international only joined the Catalans last summer from Atletico Madrid, but he was unable to feature for the first-team until January 2016 due to the club’s ban on registering new players.
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Sub-par!
According to reports from German publication Express, Arsenal have tabled a £12million bid for Everton and Liverpool transfer target Neven Subotic.
The Serbian international was a key member of the Borussia Dortmund side that lifted back-to-back Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League final, but he’s suffered an almighty fall from grace since. Indeed, injury problems have reduced the 27-year-old to just 44 Bundesliga appearances during the last three seasons – including just five starts during the 2015/16 campaign.
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What they’re Lac-ing
According to reports from The Daily Mail, Arsenal have held talks over the potential summer transfer of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.
The 5 foot 9 forward has bagged 76 goals in 138 appearances across the last three seasons, including a 27-goal haul for the 2014/15 campaign that saw him pick up Ligue 1’s Player of the Year award.
The France international was left out of Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2016 squad but nonetheless remains in demand this summer, with plenty of Premier League clubs reportedly chasing his signature.
Read more here
Is Ten Too Much?
Arsenal are heading in to an important summer of business before next season, and after finishing second last time out the Gunners will want to be real challengers for their first title in 12 years.
Arsene Wenger is currently away at the Euros working for French TV during the tournament, but once he is back in North London he will need to press on with transfer business in order to keep up with Arsenal’s competitors.
Arsenal will be up against some fierce competition for the title next season with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs looking to spend big in order to restore past glories.
Wenger has already delved into the transfer market with the addition of Granit Xhaka, but he will want to press on and bring further players in to bolster his squad. Whilst additions are needed to compete it may well be time for certain players to move on from Arsenal as well.
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Cheeky enquiry
According to journalist Emanuele Giulianelli, Arsenal have made an enquiry into the potential availability of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli.
The 20-year-old was nothing short of phenomenal during his debut Premier League campaign, rightfully claiming the division’s Young Player of the Year award after bagging ten goals and nine assists in 33 appearances for the third-placed Lilywhites.
Read more here
Going back home?
According to reports from London Evening Standard, Barcelona could swoop for Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin following Dani Alves’ transfer to Juventus.
The Brazil right-back won three Champions League titles with the Nou Camp outfit but completed a much-speculated move to Juventus yesterday.
Read more here
Young Hotshot
According to reports from Esporte, Arsenal have opened talks with Corinthians over the potential transfer of promising midfielder Maycon.
The hotshot is just 18 years of age but has already registered 16 appearances across all competitions for Corinthians, following his professional debut in February.
Read more here
Another Gabriel?!
Rumours are surfacing that Arsenal are finally close to completing a move for a striker. But Alvaro Morata is not the man supposedly heading to the Emirates Stadium, nor is Gonzalo Higuain. Instead, the Gunners are set to spend £15m on young Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa.
Arsenal fans have been longing for a forward man for some time, after yet another season of Olivier Giroud leading the line, with minimal success. Now, with Danny Welbeck out for the majority of next season and Giroud fast running out of supporters in north London, a new striker has to be priority for Wenger this summer.
Read more here
Lookout, Hammers fans!
According to reports from Transfer Market Web, Arsenal will target West Ham defender Sam Byram if Hector Bellerin completes a summer transfer to Barcelona.
Since establishing himself as the Gunners’ resident No.2, the Spain international has emerged as one of the most exciting young full-backs in Europe.
Read more here
Next Inamoto?
According to reports from Sanyo News, Arsenal have tabled a formal transfer bid for Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Takuma Asano.
Despite being relatively unknown in Europe, the 21-year-old is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young players Asian football has to offer.
Read more here
Captain Clasico
According to reports from Foot Mercato, Real Madrid are targeting Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny as a potential replacement for countryman Raphael Varane.
Reports from Spain claim the 6 foot 2 France international has grown discontent with his role at the Bernabeu after finishing the season behind Pepe and Sergio Ramos in the pecking order.
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A striker at last?
Who is Alvaro Morata?
He’s probably the most sought-after striker of the summer transfer window. After having a stand-out season at Juventus, Morata put his club in an odd situation.
Having signed for Juventus from Real Madrid, the Spanish giants were able to take advantage of a buy-back clause they had negotiated in the sale. But that’s not the end of the saga. Juventus want Morata back, as do – reportedly – a host of Premier League clubs including Chelsea and Arsenal.
So Madrid feel that they can get an astronomical fee from an English club, given the money now available in the Premier League, or else they can negotiate some sort of deal with Juventus involving Paul Pogba. Or indeed involving Chelsea and Eden Hazard.
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Stay away, Arsene!
The rumours of Jamie Vardy joining Arsenal are long gone. After signing Granit Xhaka, it looked as though Arsenal were about to plunge into the transfer market and sign as many players as they could.
The Gunners clearly do need some new talent in the side, as their second place finish in the Premier League was seen by many as an under-achievement. Wenger’s men were simply not consistent enough to win the Premier League title and despite being top at the turn of the year, they fell ten points short of eventual champions, Leicester City.
Arsenal fans will be hoping that the club work hard to bring in plenty of new faces to strengthen the squad as the Londoners prepare for what looks to be one of the toughest seasons yet. Arsenal need new talent to win their 14th title, but there are some players that the Gunners are linked with that could surely damage their chances. Here are FIVE….
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Alternatives now!
With another player looking destined to snub Arsenal, Arsene Wenger must be wondering what he has to do to secure any signings in the modern game. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was superb for Borussia Dortmund last season and it looks nailed on that the Armenian will turn down Arsenal, as he looks to move elsewhere… potentially to Manchester United.
Players aren’t exactly in awe of Arsenal anymore. Their continued failure to win a truly major trophy has left Arsene Wenger under pressure, rather than in a position to demand the best players come to the club. The signings of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez may have suggested otherwise, but it could be another tricky summer for the Gunners as every Premier League club can compete financially with the new TV deal.
Could it be another summer of frustration for the Arsenal fans? Well, if not, they should probably consider one of these five stars as an alternative to Mkhitaryan…
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Meltdown again
It’s been a big morning for Manchester City. As the club celebrated the launch of a new badge and a new website, they announced the signing of Nolito from fellow sky blues Celta Vigo and the first official day of the Pep Guardiola tenure.
But that didn’t go down well with Arsenal fans, who see the £13.8m transfer of Nolito to City as a sign that their own club still hasn’t got its act together.
Over the last few seasons, Arsenal fans have been decrying their club’s performances in the transfer market, with Arsene Wenger notoriously reluctant to spend money on transfers.
That looked to have changed with the signing of Petr Cech early last summer, but then nothing happened for the rest of the window. Arsenal were the only club in Europe’s top five leagues not to sign an outfield player last summer. This summer started brightly, too, with the signing of Granit Xhaka. But you can forgive Arsenal fans for not being happy.
In fact, they’re having a bit of a meltdown this morning, as Arsenal fans are wont to do!
Sit back, grab the popcorn and watch the carnage roll in!
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Don’t mess with the Sanch
According to reports from The Daily Mail, Arsenal have rejected an approach from Juventus for star attacker Alexis Sanchez.
The Chile international has netted 42 times since signing for the Gunners in summer 2014, including a return of 29 goals in 65 Premier League appearances.
Read more here
Carlo for Kosc?
According to reports from Bild, Bayern Munich are keen to sign Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny.
The France international, who has started all four of his country’s fixtures at Euro 2016, has emerged as one of the top defenders in Europe since moving to the Emirates from FC Lorient in summer 2010.
If Liverpool’s result against Arsenal was anything to go by on Saturday, it’s that Jurgen Klopp’s side really mean business going forward this season.
Much of the pre-season build up has centred on Jose Mourinho’s introduction at Manchester United, Antonio Conte taking the reigns at Chelsea and even Arsene Wenger’s lack of spending at the Emirates.
But on Saturday the Reds showed us what a force they can be this campaign, blowing the Gunners away at times to go – at one point – into a 4-1 lead. A couple of sloppy goals gave Arsenal hope but parts of Liverpool’s play looked inspired at the Emirates and it showed the hard work that has happened behind the scenes this summer.
And after the win, many teams have tipped Liverpool with an outside chance of the title and after a display like that, it’s clear to see why the Reds have gone up in the estimations of many.
Their forward line looked in complete sync and Klopp looked enthralled on the touchline, celebrating wildly with his team as they scored goal after goal.
So with all this in mind, here’s THREE reasons why the Reds can really challenge this season….
Existing attacking players
Much has been made of Jurgen Klopp’s signings this summer and rightly so, they were excellent against Arsenal.
Much so much credit should go to the likes of Roberto Firmino, Phillipe Coutinho and Adam Lallana who were absolutely excellent throughout. They offered pace, skill and creativity as young defenders Rob Holding and Calum Chambers got an absolute education from their more seasoned opponents.
You almost felt for the pair as Liverpool went forward time after time and plenty of praise should be headed towards Firmino, Coutinho and Lallana.
Sadio Mane
This reason is arguably the easiest in this gallery.
The summer recruit from Southampton was purchased for well in excess of £35million and plenty of Liverpool fans questioned whether it was money well spent before the season got underway.
But during the win, in which he scored a brilliant left-footed goal, Mane looked every bit the player that could Liverpool to success this season. He looked dynamic, pacy and aggressive and Arsenal couldn’t deal with him at all.
If he’s this good against Arsenal, you’ve got to worry for some of the lesser teams in this division.
Klopp looks ready to bring success to Liverpool
We know Klopp is a passionate footballing man and we saw that more than ever on the sideline against Arsenal.
We lost count with how many times he lost his glasses, but it really shows just how much he feels for this current Liverpool side and how much he rates their chances of success.
He has every right to be optimistic too, not many teams make as good a start as that. They just need to iron out some slight defensive flaws and they could wreak havoc.
“I am tired of being portrayed as an idiot” – Nicklas Bendtner, December 6, 2015.
These are the words that finally suggested everyone’s favourite footballing clown might be about to turn a corner. But months later he had left Wolfsburg after posting a picture of himself alongside a Mercedes. Innocent enough? Wolfsburg’s main sponsors are rival car manufacturer Volkswagen.
It’s been never-ending outbursts of public attention that have kept Nicklas Bendtner’s footballing career ticking along over the past few years. Nothing he’s done on the pitch has reminded us of the talent he once showed during his time with Birmingham City. When he was released from the Wolfsburg, many wondered if that might be it when it came to his professional career.
But one club stepped up and took a huge risk and it was Phillipe Montanier’s Nottingham Forest. They’re paying the Dane big wages and there is quite a bit of pressure on his shoulders.
Forest are in need of some quality players and after the departure of Oliver Burke to RB Leipzig earlier in the summer, supporters have become frustrated with the emerging selling mantra at the club. Mustapha Carayol was brought in as somewhat of a replacement but we’ll see whether the former Boro man can cut the mustard, just as we will with Bendtner.
Atmosphere in the dressing room is always a huge part of success and Forest will be looking to press for the promotion places come the end of the season. Bendtner is a notorious outcast who often blames his team-mates for his inability to score. This is the sort of player that has replaced young star and fan favourite Oliver Burke and it’s safe to say there is a real air of concern breezing around the City Ground.
But putting fun, games and controversies to one side for just a minute, what exactly can the Dane, who has been capped over 70 times for the Danish national team, bring to the Forest side?
Well, if we’re being honest, we’re not really sure. His strongest season came back in the 2008/09 campaign where he played over 50 times for Arsenal, scoring fifteen goals. He had a decent loan spell with Birmingham City a couple of years previously, but apart from that we haven’t seen much from Bendtner since.
He’s scored on 19 occasions in the past five years, in spells at Sunderland, Arsenal, Juventus and Wolfsburg. It doesn’t make for fantastic reading and Bendtner has plenty of people to convince in the couple of years ahead, not least the Forest supporters.
There are many hoping he can settle and show some good form in the season ahead. If Forest are to push for automatic promotion they’ll need all the help they can get from their new signing, who will need to switch on right away.
Bendtner says he’s here for the love of the sport and not the cash. Do you believe him?
Liverpool built upon their good start to the season last week with a win against Antonio Conte’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
An opener from Dejan Lovren followed by a thunderous strike from Jordan Henderson gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. Diego Costa finished cooly to draw one back and notch his fifth in as many games, but the Reds held on and left London with a much-deserved three points.
The victory leaves them with 10 points from a possible 15, and Jurgen Klopp’s side have been good value for their haul. Their only real blip came with a 2-0 loss at Burnley, but daring performances at the Emirates Stadium and against reigning champions Leicester seem to have overshadowed that.
It is a new-look Liverpool side under former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, with the German having bought in a number of high-profile summer signings including the likes of Sadio Mane and keeper Loris Karius, who has unfortunately been out injured.
Although it is early days, the charismatic manager will be starting to eye up just who are is most indispensable players. FFC think it is this THREE, do you agree?
Adam Lallana
England and Liverpool’s man of the moment Lallana is having a fantastic season, and is starting to replicate the form he showed at Southampton that earned him his big move to Anfield a couple of years ago.
I have always been a huge admirer of the Englishman, predominantly because he doesn’t play like one. Classy touches, subtle passes and an improving eye for goal make Lallana one of the Reds’ major creative forces.
Georginio Wijnaldum
Similar in a way to Lallana, Dutchman Wijnaldum has an elegance about him that not many players possess – the former Newcastle man always has plenty of time on the ball and more often than not finds a good end ball.
Adding a cutting edge to Liverpool’s play in midfield, he looks like he will continue to link up well with his fellow midfielders and strikers.
Sadio Mane
Mane makes Hector Bellerin look like Eddy the Eel on land. His phenomenal pace is the stuff of defenders’ nightmares, but the most astonishing thing is that the Senegalese forward manages to keep tight control throughout his rampaging runs forward – as demonstrated by his wonder goal at Arsenal on the opening day. His willingness to run in behind and at players adds a new dimension to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
His willingness to run in behind and at players adds a new dimension to Klopp’s side.
It may have taken the best part of three months but Hull City have finally got a permanent manager, and it should come as no great surprise that the man in question is none other than Mike Phelan.
The former Manchester United assistant has been in temporary charge since the hasty departure of Steve Bruce back in July and many will ask the question as to why Phelan’s role at the club wasn’t made permanent a lot sooner.
The main sticking point was the contract offer, or lack of one, after an impressive start to the season, which saw them record back-to-back wins over champions Leicester and Swansea; Phelan had reached September and there was still nothing in the way of a full time job offer.
Galvanising a thread bare squad to two victories was impressive, especially as no-one gave Hull a hope of getting any points on the board, such was the crisis within the club.
With only 14 fit senior players and no manager, pundits couldn’t write Hull off quick enough, but Phelan has restored credibility to the club with some impressive performances.
Let’s not forget, they were a minutes away from holding out Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at home, only for Marcus Rashford to snatch a late winner and break Tigers fans’ hearts.
Seven points from four matches is a good enough start for any promoted side, let alone Hull in their current plight but, as of late, they have been brought back down to earth with an almighty bump.
That said, the fixture computer has been incredibly cruel to them as they have had to face Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea back-to-back, and have shipped 11 goals in the process.
On the face of it, three defeats is not good in anyone’s eyes but in a perverse way, perhaps it was that trio of losses which meant a decision on Mike Phelan had to finally be made once and for all.
If you were Hull owner Assem Allam, you could look at the start in one of two ways. You could either thank Mike Phelan for his efforts and get someone else in ,or you could give him the full backing so that he has a clear remit for the rest of the season, which is obviously survival.
Thankfully for Phelan, though, Allam has chosen what many feel is the right decision and made him Head Coach of the club on a permanent basis.
After three losses it needed this news to once again get the squad focused on the job in hand as after a good start, it’s fair to say they have lost their way slightly and, although they have come up against some top opposition, the ongoing manager saga will certainly not have helped.
With that all wrapped up and four of the top six already faced, it means Hull have a run of what they will consider winnable matches to come and now that their manager’s situation has finally been resolved, there’s no reason why they can’t add to the seven points that they have already picked.
There are teams in current worse plights as the Premier League table, which definitely doesn’t lie, but you just had the feeling that the longer they went on without a permanent man at the helm, then it can only have been to the detriment of the club.
That said, there are no excuses for this side and the performances but, more importantly, results have to come straight away, these next months will tell us whether Phelan was the right man for the job all along.
Reports in Italy on Tuesday suggested that Serie A champions Juventus are ready to make a move to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, who has seven Premier League goals to his name so far this season.
The 23-year-old is one of the most highly-rated attackers in Europe right now, and was heavily linked with a big-money return to Chelsea during the summer. However, no move came to fruition as the Blues eventually brought in Michy Batshuayi instead.
With 68 goals in 137 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees since joining them for £28m in 2014, it would be no surprise if the Belgian decided to depart Goodison Park for pastures new sooner rather than later.
That got us thinking here at FootballFanCast, if the rumours of a transfer to Italy do come true, who could Everton manager Ronald Koeman target to replace the Belgium international.
BAS DOST
Football – Wales v Netherlands – International Friendly – Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales – 13/11/15Holland’s Bas Dost celebrates scoring their first goal Reuters / Rebecca NadenLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
With Graziano Pelle and now Lukaku having been Koeman’s preferred strikers during his time at Southampton and Everton respectively, it would seem as though the Dutchman favours having a big man up top.
That’s where Dost fits the bill. The Sporting Lisbon attacker is 6ft. 5″ tall and even though he only joined the Portuguese outfit in the summer, he could be tempted by a move to the Premier League to link up with his Dutch compatriot.
SEBASTIEN HALLER
If there was a Premier League club that needed a striker in the summer, they were almost certainly linked with this guy.
Like Dost, Haller is tall at 6ft 2in, but is also a year younger than Lukaku at 22 and could be available for a reasonable fee.
The Utrecht target man, who was linked with a move to Southampton when Ronald Koeman was in charge, is also in good goalscoring form so far this term, having netted six goals in 13 appearances in all competitions.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
Football Soccer – Borussia Monchengladbach v Celtic – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group C – Stadion im Borussia-Park, Monchengladbach, Germany – 1/11/16Celtic’s hugs Moussa Dembele applauds fans at full timeReuters / Wolfgang RattayLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
The 20-year-old has been in stunning form for Celtic ever since making the move north of the border from Fulham in the summer.
The French striker has scored 16 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions for the Bhoys, including the equaliser in his side’s 1-1 draw away at Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
It is performances like those that will make Premier League clubs sit up and take notice.