Everton manager Ronald Koeman has gone into overdrive this summer, spending a fortune on all number of deals and is showing no sign of slowing down.
Having finalised the deal to bring Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park after 13 years at Old Trafford, it would appear that the Dutchman has no time for sentiment, with Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol claiming the former Saints boss is moving swiftly on to his next target.
That next target would be Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, with the club supposedly believing they have a 50% chance of bringing the Frenchman to Merseyside after a frustrating season at The Emirates.
Aside from the Gunners clear lack of success having fallen out of the top four for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s tenure last season, the 30-year-old grew frustrated with a lack of game time, often turned to as a plan B and then, having more often than not delivered with a goal or assist, being returned to the bench come the next game.
With that in mind a move could well be on the cards this summer, however, there are a number of Arsenal fans out there who are keen to keep hold of the talisman…
However, there are a few Gooners who would love to see the back of Giroud…
Three years on from a £20million arrival that made him the most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history and promised so much following an exceptional single season at Southampton, the jury’s still out on Dejan Lovren.
A frankly horrendous 2014/15 campaign, not only for the Serbian international but the club in general after a second-place finish the term previous, was followed by steady improvement the subsequent season and arguably Lovren’s best form to date in a Liverpool shirt last time out.
Yet, question marks still linger over the 6 foot 2 centre-back. Does he really possess the quality of a top four defender? Does he actually suit the way Jurgen Klopp wants his side to play? And although there has been clear improvement from that disastrous first season onwards, has Lovren ever come close to bettering the form that earned him a lucrative move to Anfield from Southampton in summer 2014?
In some ways, it’s hard not to feel sorry for Lovren; under both Brendan Rodgers and Klopp, Liverpool have been one of the toughest teams in the division to defend for. Their full-backs relentlessly push forward, their centre-halves are expected to build attacks from deep without giving away the ball in dangerous areas and their midfield offers limited protection – it speaks volumes that Jordan Henderson, traditionally a box-to-box midfielder, was Klopp’s first choice of anchorman at the start of last season.
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Manchester City’s centre-backs face similar problems, which is why the Reds and the Citizens ranked in the bottom two respectively for shots conceded in the Premier League last season, but still allowed in over a goal per game and kept the joint-fewest clean sheets of the top seven clubs with twelve apiece.
At the same time, Lovren is yet to spend two seasons at Liverpool operating in the same back four, disallowing him the familiarity defenders crave.
In fact, he’s actually the longest-serving member of Liverpool’s current defence at just three years, with Joel Matip arriving last summer when James Milner was also converted into a left-back and Nathaniel Clyne moving to Anfield the year prior. The only constant Lovren’s had to work with is goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and even he fluctuated in and out of the starting XI during that period due to bouts of poor form.
But that’s precisely what Lovren was bought for; to have the quality, both with and without the ball, to cope with the huge demands placed on the centre-backs in an offense-oriented side and to become a pillar of the backline the rest of it could be rebuilt around. Upon his arrival in 2014, it was already clear that Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel wouldn’t be around for much longer, although Liverpool will have hoped Alberto Moreno became another mainstay.
Similarly, the statistics make rather worrying reading. Whereas certain returns are relative to the situation at hand – for example, it’s logical that clearances will reduce as successful passes increase and that overall, Liverpool players have less defending to do than Southampton counterparts because they tend to keep more of the ball – statistics like defensive errors and clean sheets per match particularly stand out.
In both regards, the single year at Southampton remains Lovren’s best season which, still bearing in mind the caveat previously mentioned, is the same case for clearances and interceptions, whilst he also committed second-fewest fouls per match during his solitary term on the south coast. Collectively, the statistics suggest Liverpool are still waiting for Lovren to produce to the levels that earned him the £20million move.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said all transfer fees should be judged when the player in question leaves the club, rather than when they arrive. In the context of the current market, where even Kyle Walker can set you back £50million, it would seem Liverpool have got a pretty good deal – a decent defender they’ve reached two cup finals and qualified for the Champions League with, even if his form has ranged from sub-par to solid-yet-unspectacular.
But if Liverpool were to float Lovren on the transfer market this summer, even with five years remaining on his contract, it seems unlikely any suitor would pay back Liverpool’s original investment, let alone provide a profit on top – at least not in England anyway.
Interlinked, it’s also unlikely any other team in the top six would actively move for him; Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, City and United all have equal if not superior options to call upon already.
Which makes you wonder how Liverpool can justify demanding £30million for Mamadou Sakho. If they genuinely think he’s worth that much despite not kicking a ball for Liverpool for over a year, then he’s a better defender than Lovren. And if he’s a better defender than Lovren, regardless of his infamous fallout with last summer Klopp, then he should be getting another chance in the Liverpool first team.
In some ways, that really puts into perspective how Lovren’s Liverpool career has panned out, arguably inferior to a player Klopp can’t wait to get rid of this summer and still dividing opinions after three years at Anfield. So, Liverpool fans, which side of the fence do you stand on – at £20million, has Lovren been a transfer hit or a transfer miss for the Reds?
A large number of Tottenham Hotspur fans have been frustrated with the lack of transfer activity at the club this summer.
Mauricio Pochettino is yet to bring in a new face, but he is regularly linked to players in the gossip pages.
The latest report to emerge came from RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi, who claimed at the weekend that Spurs have had a bid for Manchester United forward Anthony Martial rejected.
The North London outfit were linked with the Frenchman before he made his £36m move from Monaco to United in 2015.
Now it seems that Spurs have revived their interest in Martial, who was in and out of Jose Mourinho’s team last season.
In Sunday’s Premier League opener against West Ham United, the forward started on the bench, but he came on to score the third goal in the 87th minute of the Red Devils’ 4-0 triumph.
There have been no more developments as yet with regards to Tottenham’s rumoured interest, but the fans have had their say.
According to reports in The Mirror, West Ham United may turn their attentions to FC Porto midfielder Danilo – who is rated at £18m according to Transfermarkt – after a £31m move for Sporting Lisbon star William Carvalho stalled.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Mirror says that the Irons had been in pole position to sign the Portugal international from Sporting, but after holding advanced talks the deal has hit a stumbling block after the Portuguese club upped their demands.
The Mirror says that Hammers boss Slaven Bilic still wants to bring the 25-year-old – who is keen on a move to the Premier League – to the London Stadium, but they may be forced to look elsewhere for a new defensive midfielder if Sporting continue to demand in excess of €40m (approximately £36.3m).
The report adds that they could now look at Danilo, who has previously been watched by Arsenal scouts and was in the same Portugal team that won Euro 2016 as Carvalho, as well as Benfica’s Ljubomir Fejsa, who has won 10 straight league titles with the Eagles, Olympiacos and FK Partizan.
Would Danilo be a good alternative?
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He certainly would be.
The 6″2″ 25-year-old is a regular in the Porto midfield and made 41 appearances in all competitions for them last season, scoring four goals and providing one assist.
The highly-rated defensive midfielder has also played the full 90 minutes in both of the Portuguese giants’ opening two Liga NOS fixtures this term.
Danilo showed his defensive capabilities by making 63 interceptions and 40 clearances in 28 top flight appearances throughout the previous campaign, while he also showed his strength in the air by winning 96 headed duels.
What happens next?
Having seemingly made a lot of progress in a deal for Carvalho West Ham are likely to give that one last attempt before turning their attentions to Danilo or Fejsa, but the former in particular could prove to be an inspired buy if he can purchased for smaller fee than the Sporting Lisbon star.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, while signing Carvalho would be seen as a huge coup for the Irons, it would be a similar situation if they were to get Danilo and if they are guaranteed to get either, then it would be a no-lose situation for the east London outfit.
Sky Sports pundit and former Chelsea player and assistant manager Ray Wilkins says the club’s decision to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United this summer is the “worst” transfer business the west London outfit has ever done.
The 29-year-old completed a £40m move to Old Trafford in July to reunite with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, and he has been an impressive performer for the club in their opening three Premier League matches of the season as they have taken nine points from the possible nine available.
Wilkins told Sky Sports: “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen, if I can say. I cannot see that for the life of me.”
The Serbia international was a key player for Chelsea as they lifted the top flight trophy last term, but the club obviously felt that it was time to cash in on him and he was replaced in the middle of the park by Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko and Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater.
Chelsea supporters were quick to have their say on Wilkins’ comments via social media, and one person even went as far as saying that he will be ‘eating his words’ by the end of the campaign.
Liverpool will take huge confidence into their Premier League clash with Manchester City on Saturday, knowing recent history is firmly on their side; the Reds have beaten the Citizens four times from their last five meetings in the top flight, the only exception being a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium last season.
And Jurgen Klopp’s exceptional record against Pep Guardiola is yet another point of inspiration Liverpool can draw from for the Premier League’s 12.30pm kickoff. This isn’t exactly a managerial rivalry of the Arsene Wenger-Jose Mourinho variety where neither man can stand the site of each other, but there will certainly be a sense of competitiveness from the City dugout particularly; Pep knowing no manager has dished him out more defeats than his opposite number.
Indeed, starting with their first ever encounter in the 2013/14 German Super Cup and ending with a 1-0 victory at Anfield last season, the former Dortmund boss has claimed five victories from ten meetings against his one-time Bayern Munich counterpart, including a famous win in the 2014 DFB-Pokal final.
Why the dominance, I hear you ask? Some would argue Klopp is one of the few managers able to get into Guardiola’s head, but the real cause appears to be in style of play. Much like how Mourinho’s use of 4-3-3 stopped Arsenal’s Invincibles in their tracks, a tactical trend Wenger’s yet to truly recover from, the gegenpressing style Klopp employs found success amid an era in which most teams were still trying to replicate the possession-based philosophy Guardiola famously developed at Barcelona.
But will it be another victory for Klopp on Saturday, or will Guardiola manage to reverse the tide? Let us know by commenting below…
According to reports in the printed edition of the Sunday People on September 24th (Page 47), Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to go head-to-head with Serie A giants Inter Milan in the race to sign Rennes centre-back Joris Gnagnon, who is rated at £14m by his club and has already rejected a move to Chelsea.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Sunday People report says that the 20-year-old is considered to be one of the top young talents in France after becoming a key first team player for Rennes, and Tottenham are said to be watching him closely despite only signing two young centre-backs – Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez – during the summer.
Chelsea wanted to sign the defender before the transfer window slammed shut at the end of last month, but in an interview with Foot Mercato the Ivory Coast international said he turned down the move to Stamford Bridge this summer as he didn’t believe that he would be playing regularly.
How good is Gnagnon?
Well, he has already started all seven of Rennes’ Ligue 1 fixtures this season and he even scored in the impressive 3-1 win away at Marseille earlier this month.
He has shown his defensive capabilities by 38 clearances and seven interceptions in those domestic appearances, while he has also proven just how strong he is in the air by winning 22 of the 31 headed duels he has contested.
He had his breakthrough campaign during the 2016/17 season, and he has been catching the eyes of scouts from the likes of Tottenham and Inter since.
Would he be a good signing?
Gnagnon looks to be a proper defender and if Spurs believe that he has the quality to go right to the top and that £14m could prove to be a bargain in the long run, then they simply have to make their move.
Mauricio Pochettino has proven that he can nurture young talent and the 20-year-old could be the next impressive player to make it in the Tottenham first team.
Is the rumour likely to be true?
It may well be true that they are monitoring Gnagnon, but having signed Sanchez and Foyth – who are 21 and 19 respectively – as well as having Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier in their ranks, it would be something of a strange addition in the near future.
With the player also rejecting Chelsea because of fears he wouldn’t play, this would surely be a problem for him, too.
According to reports in The Scottish Sun, Aston Villa are tracking Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis despite the fact that he only signed a new deal with the Scottish Premiership club in the summer.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Scottish Sun says that the Midlands club sent former Manchester United and Manchester City stopper Tony Coton to go and watch the 30-year-old in action against Hibernian on Saturday.
Coton certainly would have been impressed with what he saw too, with Lewis securing a third clean sheet in his last four league games as he continued his fine form for the Dons following a move from Cardiff City in 2016.
The Scottish Sun adds that while Steve Bruce currently has Red Devils loanee Sam Johnstone between the sticks, he is keeping his long term options open as the Championship outfit look to secure a return to the Premier League this season.
How good has Lewis been for Aberdeen?
He has been excellent.
The 30-year-old was named in PFA Scottish Premiership Team of the Year last season ahead of Celtic’s Craig Gordon and the goalkeeper, who has five caps for the England Under-21s, has kept 28 clean sheets and conceded 60 goals in 68 appearances in all competitions for the Dons.
Would he be a good signing for Villa?
He certainly would be.
Lewis made his name with Peterborough but despite struggling in spells at a number of clubs after leaving London Road, he looks to be getting back to his best north of the border.
The tall stopper would certainly have a point to prove if he did make the move back to the Championship having failed to make the grade there for Fulham and Cardiff City in recent years, however Bruce would need to question whether he is good enough to make the step up to the Premier League seeing as that is the aim for the club.
What about Sam Johnstone?
While Villa probably would have been hoping that they could sign Johnstone from Manchester United at the end of his second loan spell for the club, the scouting of Lewis would suggest it isn’t quite going to be that simple.
Perhaps Bruce already knows that he won’t be able to get the 24-year-old on a permanent basis from the Red Devils, which has meant that he has had to turn his attentions elsewhere.
According to reports in The Times, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to double midfielder Harry Winks’ current £20,000-a-week wages after he made his England debut on Sunday.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Times says that the 21-year-old is set to be handed a new contract by the north London outfit following an impressive start to the campaign, even though he only extended his current deal in February which still has four-and-a-half years left to run.
The Times says that Spurs like to give regular pay rises to their young stars as they establish themselves in the first team and reach major milestones, and that has certainly happened for the Three Lions man in recent weeks.
As well as becoming a regular under Mauricio Pochettino since the start of September with Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama missing through injury, he played 90 minutes on his bow for his country against Lithuania at the weekend as he looks to secure a spot in England’s squad for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
How has Winks done for Tottenham this season?
Having started the campaign relying on appearances from the substitutes’ bench, the 21-year-old has started three of Spurs’ last four matches in all competitions as he looks to stake his claim for a regular spot in central midfield under Pochettino.
The fact that the team won and failed to concede in those three starts certainly reflects well on the midfielder, who has shown his abilities in his 121 minutes on the pitch in the Premier League this term.
The England man has made four clearances, two interceptions and one block, as well as winning both of the aerial duels he has contested and winning two of the three tackles he has attempted.
Does he deserve the pay rise?
He certainly does.
While it is still early days in his career for club and country, Winks is already showing the promise and potential to go on to have a big impact for both in the future.
The fact that his wage demands shouldn’t be too high also mean that his new contract is likely to be sorted out before Dele Alli’s or Toby Alderweireld’s are, with the duo also in discussions with the north London outfit over extending their current deals.
According to Haberturk, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have both joined the race to sign Besiktas forward Cenk Tosun in the January transfer window.
What’s the story?
Wolfsburg, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have all been linked with a move for Tosun, who has scored nine times in 15 appearances for Besiktas this season.
It had been thought that Newcastle and Palace were the only two Premier League clubs in the hunt, but according to Haberturk, both Tottenham and Everton are interested in bringing the Turkish international to English football.
The report claims that Spurs and the Toffees have already been in contact with Tosun’s representatives over a potential winter move, although Besiktas are expected to drive a hard bargain for a player that is wanted by many European clubs.
Is Tosun worth all the fuss?
Tosun’s 20 league goals last season fired Besiktas to the Turkish title, and he has also started the 2017-18 campaign in impressive fashion.
In addition to scoring four times in nine league matches this season, Tosun has registered three goals in three Champions League appearances. Meanwhile, at the age of 26, the forward certainly has time on his side when it comes to development.
Tosun is valued at £9.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, although it is thought that Besiktas will hold out for at least double that sum due to the amount of interest.
Finding regular goalscorers for an affordable price is not exactly straightforward, and it is therefore not difficult to understand why so many clubs are considering moves.
Tosun’s record of eight goals in 24 Turkey caps is also impressive, and it seems that Palace, Newcastle, Everton and Tottenham are the four Premier League clubs in the mix as the winter transfer window draws closer.