Liverpool have already made a big transfer splash at the start of this busiest of months by completing the signing of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £12m but after making such a terrible go of things in the summer, there is plenty of work left to do, so what should be right at the top of the agenda for manager Brendan Rodgers?
With the club currently seven points adrift of Chelsea in fourth place and 11 points ahead of Wigan in the relegation zone, with a Europa League campaign still to contend with, there is plenty left to play for at Anfield this term, not to mention local pride with Everton above them in the league at present.
January represents a potentially dangerous time to do business, but with regards to the various comings and goings on Merseyside, it could prove to be a season-defining month for Liverpool.
Click on Brendan Rodgers to see his full to-do list for the month
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West Ham fans have been reacting to the news that Arthur Masuaku was one of four players to walk out of international training for DR Congo.
Masuaku didn’t exactly impress West Ham fans on his arrival to the club in 2016. He was shaky defensively and positionally he was quite simply all over the place.
However, the French-born full back has delighted fans since he was given license to roam further forward, showcasing his technical ability and exciting fans with his directness.
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Having represented France at youth level, Masuaku switched allegiance to DR Congo in 2017, but has now reportedly stormed out of international training and returned to his club.
The 24 year-old has been serving a ban for spitting, and his potential return to the side against Southampton on Saturday could be a huge boost for the Hammers.
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There are conflicting reports about his absence from international duty though, with some suggesting he is injured and others reporting the players were annoyed by their travel situation.
Fans have been reacting to the news on Twitter, and most of them are just happy he won’t get injured in a meaningless international friendly…
With Arsenal’s season getting off to a rather subdued start, there’s already plenty of talk about the tyrannical, stubborn, apparent-source-of-all-Gunners-problems, Arsene Wenger, being overthrown in what would likely be a rather bloody and debasing coup. One recent opinion poll claimed around 68% want the Frenchman’s head on a chopping block.
So the question persists; who should take the reins from Wenger? Once again going on public opinion, the answer is Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp. Not for the first time, his popularity in the English press has coincided with the Gunners facing the Black-Yellows in the Champions League.
But that’s all paper talk. Brainfodder for the masses. In my opinion, there’s only one man to follow Wenger’s almighty footsteps – Everton’s Roberto Martinez.
The similarities between Wenger and Klopp are hard to ignore. Both managers have struggled but succeeded in protecting their clubs from engulfment by the financial powerhouses surrounding them, whilst remaining in the Champions League. Both managers have rebuilt and remodelled after selling key players to divisional and continental rivals. Both managers insist upon a distinctive style of attractive football. Both managers believe in the value of developing young players over taking seismic risks in the transfer market.
Yet, there’s something about Klopp, despite his outgoing, entertaining, madcap demeanour in press conferences, despite his impeccable record up until now at Westfalen, that doesn’t quite fit. He likes attacking football but it comes from a different, more industrious source than Arsenal’s expansive style.
Gunners fans will argue that’s precisely the point; perhaps qualifying for the Champions League every year wouldn’t be viewed as such a catastrophe if it was annually secured through blood, sweat and tears, rather than Arsenal’s elusive, diminutive and frankly, mercurial stars seemingly going off the boil for certain periods of the season, no logic necessary, before hitting form just in time to maintain Wenger’s 18 year-tradition.
Yet, how long would that transition take? To re-educate and re-programme an entire squad towards Klopp’s all-or-nothing mentality? To bring players in that can actually be expected to put in the leg work? To get rid of those who aren’t buying into it?
You could say that about any manager at a new club – even the legendary Brian Clough lasted just 44 days at Leeds United as the players rejected his management style and ideas – but Klopp’s Emirates arrival would undoubtedly lead to teething pains that could take two or three seasons, not to mention significant investment in the transfer market, to resolve. Klopp will have to adapt and learn from English football too.
Martinez, on the other hand, was almost born to manage Arsenal – or more precisely, succeed Arsene Wenger.
He was the mastermind behind the aesthetic football that brought Swansea City from League One to the Premier League, the administrator of Wigan’s cockroach top flight survival and the first FA Cup in their history, the overseer of Everton’s incredible philosophical transformation last season, with a virtually unchanged squad of hardmen evolving into tiki-taka enthusiasts almost overnight.
One could argue he shares too many similarities with Wenger, particularly their idealism; the correlations between the types of goal Everton and Arsenal concede, with pushed up full-backs leaving the centre-halves too exposed on too many occasions, has become glaringly obvious this season.
There’s one crucial difference however, in that Martinez is expedient enough to compromise his philosophy for crucial fixtures. Last season for example, he out-thought Wenger to claim a 3-0 win at Goodison Park, utilising Romelu Lukaku in a wide-right role to wreak havoc on the physically mismatched Nacho Monreal. Against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, he surrendered Wigan’s habitual possession-based football to grind out a 1-0 victory. Some of his other recent scalps include Chelsea and Manchester United – in a nutshell, the calibre of opposition that continue to cause Arsenal problems under Wenger.
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Not that Klopp is incapable of similar triumphs – his Dortmund side reached the 2013 Champions League final, beating Real Madrid 4-1 at the Bernabeu in the process, which is an accomplishment Martinez can only dream of right now. Admittedly, the Westfalen gaffer’s impressive track record in Europe, even amid his side’s recent relegation-threatening malaise, is a major selling point.
But Arsenal don’t need a change in philosophy. They don’t need to be rebuilt into an industrious-yet-elegant Klopp variety of side. They simply need a manager, capable of working with the players already at Arsenal’s disposal, that isn’t as outdated or stubborn as Wenger.
Klopp and Martinez both fall into that category, but whilst German ideals have the potential to fall afoul in north London, the Spaniard has been auditioning for the Emirates hotseat, whether he knows it or not, his entire management career.
Arsene Wenger has always prided himself on placing a lot of faith in youth. Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Jack Wilshere are just a small example of the huge success that Wenger has had in finding and blooding young raw talent into his Arsenal squad over the years
As with all successes, there are always failures, and players who promised so much but failed to deliver. While Arsenal have had plenty of young talent come through the ranks, the Gunners have also had their fair share of youngsters who failed to make the grade at The Emirates Stadium or Highbury and never got to wear the Arsenal shirt for an extended period. Here are some of Arsenal wonderkids tipped to make the grade who fell by the wayside…
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Click on Bentley below to see the Top 10
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Tottenham Hotspur fans still have plenty of love for their former player Rafael van der Vaart.
The midfielder spent two years at the North London outfit between 2010 and 2012.
During an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, the Dutchman revealed that there could have been an interest from Arsenal prior to his switch to White Hart Lane.
However, the 35-year-old has insisted that he made the right call by joining Tottenham.
“Yeah it did get mentioned. I had several conversations with Robin van Persie, and he’d spoken to me about Arsenal a few times, but I never heard anything. I did not regret it – joining Spurs was the best thing that happened to me.”
At the moment, Tottenham are licking their wounds following their midweek Champions League exit to Juventus.
The loss came in a crushing manner as there was so much hope, particularly from the fans, that they could get the job done.
Spurs headed into the match with the advantage of two away goals having come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Turin.
Son Heung-min gave the fans hope when he netted in the first half of the second leg at Wembley, but second-half goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala sent Juve into the quarter-finals.
After the disappointment of the result, some fans will be pleased to hear Van der Vaart’s glowing words about his time at Tottenham.
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A few took to Twitter to praise their former player.
When Mario Balotelli signed for Liverpool this summer, everybody knew that it would be a bumpy ride.Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini and Cesare Prandelli have all failed to tame the enigmatic Italian, but Brendan Rodgers understandably sawÂhis £16million valuation as a risk worth taking, accepting the inevitable highs and lows, the vast spectrum of the sublime to the ridiculous, that eternally accompanies the former Manchester City striker.Twelve games and just two goals into his Reds career however, it appears the Anfield boss is already thinking twice, recently refusing to rule out the notion that Balotelli could be moved on as early as January. Jamie Carragher has likewise speculated that the 24 year-old won’t be on Merseyside next season.So, was that £16million swoop actually good value for money? We at Football Fancast think not, and just to prove it, here’s FIVE strikers, all available for around the £16million mark during the summer (or less), Liverpool could – and probably should – have signed instead.
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DANNY WELBECK
It may have been a transfer shrouded in controversy, considering the last player to directly swap Old Trafford for Anfield was Phil Chisnall in 1964. But the contrasting fortunes of Danny Welbeck and Mario Balotelli since their summer moves is evident for all to see.
Indeed, Balotelli’s netted just twice in twelve outings for the Reds and is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League. Welbeck, on the other hand, has bagged five goals in his first seven Gunners appearances, including a hat-trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League:
But it’s not all just about the goals. Whereas the Italian international has already proved himself incredibly alien to Liverpool’s style of play, Welbeck – purchased by Arsenal on deadline day for an identical £16million fee – is quick, agile, industrious and lethal on the counter-attack, suiting the Reds perfectly.
He’s also a year Balotelli’s junior and home-grown, which again, fits into Liverpool’s transfer policy under Brendan Rodgers far better than the former AC Milan striker.
Alexandre Lacazette
Former Ligue 1 stars certainly have a mixed track record in the Premier League and I’m not suggesting 23 year-old Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette doesn’t come with obvious risks for a club like Liverpool.
But the three-cap France international was amongst Ligue 1’s most prolific front-men last season, as shown below:
And he’s carried that goalscoring form into the current campaign:
This kid’s quickly looking like the real deal. He finished off a hat-trick against Lille earlier this month with this skilful effort:
Famed for his electric pace, goals and versatility – often featuring out wide in attack as well as centrally – Lacazette more than meets Brendan Rodgers’ summer stipulation for ‘multipurpose signings’. Here’s a clip of the 5 foot 11 forward in action:
Newcastle were hot on the Frenchman’s heels during the summer, but their £10million bid fell on deaf ears. It’s likely another £6million however, in addition to Liverpool’s clout in the transfer market, could have convinced Les Gones to sell.
LOIC REMY
Loic Remy’s failed medical at Anfield remains besmirched in mystery. The France international was set to join the Liverpool ranks for a mere £8.5million in July, but an apparent heart defect convinced the Reds pull the plug.
Bizarrely however, the 27 year-old had passed a medical to make it into Didier Deschamps’ France squad just weeks previously, and by the end of the transfer window had passed yet another medical to officially sign for Chelsea – again, for a cut-price £8.5million.
Currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, Brenan Rodgers may feel his decision was justified. But there’s no doubting Remy’s goal-scoring credentials in the top flight, with a return of 21 goals in 45 Premier League appearances – including this cool finish on his Chelsea debut:
Compare that to Mario Balotelli, who has scored less Premier League goals, 20, in more appearances, 61, and cost £7.5million more. Here’s a look at Remy in action:
PACO ALCACER
Football – Sevilla v Valencia – UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg – Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla, Spain – 24/4/14Sevilla’s Diogo Figueiras and Paco Alcacer of Valencia in actionMandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
If Liverpool knew what they do now about Valencia star Paco Alcacer, perhaps we would have seen some explicit interest over the summer.
the bargain of Europe’ according to one Spanish publication.
Indeed, the 21 year-old has been nothing short of potent over the last twelve months:
And that strong form has seen Alcacer rise to the forefront of Vincente del Bosque’s plans for the Spanish national team – he’s claimed four caps since his debut in August, netting thrice in the process. Here’s a look at the 5 foot 11 forward in action:
Fernando Torres-esque dare I say? Bearing no particular defining strength but an impressively varied all-round-game.
Alcacer might be a target Rodgers wants to consider for the January window, but Valencia are planning to bump up his release clause to a whopping £40million:
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WILFRIED BONY
Liverpool were strongly linked to Wilfried Bony throughout the summer and appeared genuinely interested in the Swansea striker before Mario Balotelli popped up on their radar:
But that’s already looking like a poor piece of business from Brendan Rodgers, with the Ivory Coast international netting four times in nine Premier League outings this season – including this superb goal against Leicester City:
That builds upon a return of 16 in 34 last season to keep the Swans in the top flight, in addition to 37 goals in his final 36 Eredivisie appearances at former club Vitesse Arnhem. Here’s a clip of Bony in action:
Famed for his power, aerial ability and aggression, the 25 year-old is purpose-built for the Premier League and would offer Liverpool’s attack something a little different.
Swansea issued several hands-off warnings during the summer, but his £19million release clause – albeit, £3million more than Mario Balotelli’s transfer fee – was well within Liverpool’s financial reach.
Stoke struck twice in the last 10 minutes at the Britannia Stadium to condemn Newcastle to a fourth straight Premier League defeat.
After having their egos bruised against Southampton on Sunday the Magpies were handed the daunting assignment of ending their miserable run by securing their first away win of the season in the Potteries.
Tony Pulis’ men had gone 13 games unbeaten in front of their own supporters – a run stretching back to February – but left it late to snatch a victory that moves them up to ninth in the table.
The hosts were almost gifted an early when Mike Williamson contrived to hit his own post as he tried to clear a cross from the right.
Peter Crouch was then forced off after being caught by Fabricio Coloccini’s stray arm in an aerial challenge as the half ended on a decidedly low note for Pulis.
It got worse after the break when Newcastle broke the deadlock just two minutes after the restart, Papiss Cisse following up after Asmir Begovic spilled Demba Ba’s long range effort for his second league goal of the campaign.
The Senegalese forward was denied a second by Begovic soon after as the visitors sought to take the initiative and pick up their first domestic win since the end of October.
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But basic defensive errors have underlined their poor start to the season and they were eventually pegged back with nine minutes to go as Jon Walters rose unmarked to head substitute Cameron Jerome’s cross past a motionless Tim Krul.
And four minutes later the turnaround was complete as Kenwyne Jones’ flick into space was slotted into the net by Jerome after he gave Fabricio Coloccini the slip to earn a Stoke a thrd win in their last four games.
Liverpool fans have been in regular attendance in the Transfer Tavern this summer and it seems they might be coming back a few more times.
Liverpool are yet to find an adequate partner to Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands international has had a superb start to his Anfield career but if the reds are to push for a title next year, Jurgen Klopp needs to a defender to partner him. The next to defender to tempt the Reds is Lovren’s international teammate, Domagoj Vida.
The Breakdown
Due to Vida’s solid performances at the World Cup, Turkish TV Channel A Spor are reporting that both Liverpool and Everton bid for the defender. The 29-year-old defender has been one of the surprise stars of the World Cup and has helped guide Croatia to the quarter-finals.
According to the report, Besiktas will allow the defender to leave for £18 million, although he still has four years left on his current deal. Although he may not be the top quality signing Liverpool fans might be expecting, at £18 million, he could just be a smart piece of business.
At the moment, Liverpool’s range of centrebacks aside from Van Dijk are anything from inconsistent to completely error prone. Ragnar Klavan has never made the grade while Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren are not two centrebacks you want to use if you’re going to win a title.
Although he may not be a marquee signing, Vida might just be the low cost, high reward defensive signing Liverpool needs.
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Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp has claimed that Aston Villa’s acquisition of John Terry last summer “go down as one of the signings of the season”.
Terry represented Chelsea between 1995 and 2017 before leaving the Blues at the end of the 2016-17 campaign on a free transfer.
It was Villa that won the race to bring the 37-year-old to the Championship, and the former England captain has impressed for Steve Bruce’s side this season.
Indeed, Terry’s performances have been key in firing Villa up the table in recent weeks, with the team currently occupying third spot in the division behind Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City.
Redknapp has said that Terry’s influence in the dressing room and around the club is just as important as his form on the field.
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Redknapp told the Daily Mail:
“This week I bumped into John Terry at an Italian restaurant and it got me thinking about what a superb season he has had.
“Aston Villa invested in Terry, now 37, by taking on his wages and if they get promoted to the Premier League, he will have been worth every penny. What you don’t see is the influence he has in that dressing room.
“A bad atmosphere can set in but it only takes one or two lads like JT and that can soon change. Villa are third in the Championship and their new leader can go down as one of the signings of the season.”
Villa will attempt to make it back-to-back Championship wins when they welcome Queens Park Rangers to Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.
Daniel Levy has a reputation for entering the market late, and signing off on a few last-minute deals is very much part of the way the Spurs chairman operates.
This summer has been markedly different to last year for Spurs, who went all out in a £100million spree to offset the departure of Gareth Bale. This time around, the signings have been far more low key and well short of that total figure.
Expect Spurs to be active late on again, with the club linked with players currently plying their trade in the Premier League.
Here’s a look at five players who could join Tottenham before the transfer deadline.
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Click on Hernandez to start the gallery
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Javier Hernandez
Clubs from Italy and Spain have sounded out their interest in Javier Hernandez, but Tottenham have had the Mexican forward on their radar in the past.
Hernandez is sure to be out of Manchester United by the time the transfer deadline rolls around, and a knockdown fee may be attached to the striker.
Having plenty of experience in the Premier League, Hernandez would be a good buy for Spurs, who are looking to bounce back from a terrible campaign last season.
Morgan Schneiderlin
Football – Ecuador v France – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group E – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 25/6/14Morgan Schneiderlin – France Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Southampton may have been encouraged to sell Morgan Schneiderlin, but the south coast club have thus far held firm on the want-away midfielder.
Tottenham are reportedly the only Premier League club to register any serious interest in the player, though their bid fell well short of Southampton’s valuation.
Regardless of what may be said about Southampton, this is undoubtedly the right time to cash in on the player. A deadline day move may be possible if Schneiderlin persists with the angle of wanting to move on.
Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck is keen on a move away from Manchester United in order to get regular football, and Tottenham are one of a few teams in the Premier League linked with the forward.
Spurs are said to favour a loan move for the England international, who has failed to kick on and develop into a regular scorer.
But a move may be just what Welbeck needs. A loan deal will suit Spurs, who could make the deal permanent if Welbeck performs at White Hart Lane.
What appears certain at this stage is that Welbeck will not be playing his football at Old Trafford this season.
Loic Remy
Loic Remy is still available for transfer – though you have to wonder whether any other clubs are seriously interested in the French striker. Liverpool appeared to be his big break in English football, but with little to nothing happening beyond the failed move to Anfield, it’s debatable whether Remy will land at one of the Premier League’s bigger clubs.
But Daniel Levy is known to like a last-minute venture into the market, and with Remy obviously available, the Tottenham chairman may decide on finally bringing the forward to White Hart Lane.
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After his loan spell at Newcastle last season, Remy is sure to get into double figures for goals for any side.
Alex Song
Football – Cameroon v Croatia – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group A – Arena Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil – 18/6/14Cameroon’s Alex Song (L) in action with Croatia’s Ivan RakiticMandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Alex Song is still without a club, with Barcelona keen to offload the midfielder. Clubs in England have been linked, and it would make a lot of sense for Premier League teams to target the Cameroon international.
Tottenham have been one of the clubs mentioned, but they’ve thus far failed to act on Song’s availability.
It could simply be an act to see how low Barcelona go with their valuation of the player – which is already reportedly well below what they paid Arsenal two years ago.
This one looks like a deadline day deal, and one that could see Song end up back in north London.