Liverpool have been linked to a handful of players over the course of the transfer window, but only one signing has been made so far.
Fabinho agreed a switch to Anfield from Monaco with the hope of providing an anchor in midfield.
Naby Keita has also arrived this summer, but his transfer was struck with RB Leipzig a year ago.
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Most of the targets have either been players that would strengthen the midfield or would replace Loris Karius in goal.
One individual, who has also been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, is Max Meyer.
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The central midfielder, who is valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, will be available on a free transfer this summer having failed to agree a new contract with Schalke.
According to a recent report in Bild, Liverpool are among a handful of clubs that have rejected the chance to sign Meyer due to his wage demands.
It is believed that the 22-year-old is requesting a salary of more than £4m a year.
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Liverpool fans have been posting their reactions on social media.
Mohamed Diame claimed that ‘little things can make the difference’ when discussing his improved form for Newcastle United in recent weeks.
Diame struggled for consistency in the early months of the 2017-18 campaign, with the midfielder often left out of Newcastle’s starting XI by head coach Rafael Benitez.
The 30-year-old has been impressive for the Magpies since the turn of the year, however, playing the full 90 minutes in five of the club’s last six Premier League matches.
Diame netted his second Premier League goal of the season in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace earlier this month, before putting in a fine performance in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United on February 11.
The midfielder, who is valued at £4.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has said that the ‘little things’ have made a huge difference in his upturn in form.
Diame told Newcastle’s official website:
“Little things – but little things can make the difference, like checking what I eat and working harder at training.
“I always listen to the manager, what he is asking me, but there are some details that you have to look after yourself.”
Newcastle have only lost once in the Premier League since the turn of the year, with that form moving them into 13th position in the table.
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That said, Benitez’s side, who will travel to Bournemouth this weekend, are only two points clear of the relegation zone in England’s top flight.
The summer transfer window may have only just slammed shut but we at Football FanCast are already looking forward toÂJanuary.And it appears Manchester United are too, despite spending £150million this summer, making it the second-most lucrative window of any club in the history of football. The Red Devils added the likes of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind to their squad this summer but further recruitment is needed if the Premier LeagueÂside are to return to their former glories.Louis van Gaal seems to share that opinion and the tabloids are already flooded with reports of his planned January swoops. Being the lovely bunch we are at Football Fancast, we’ve decided to list FIVE of them.
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Football – Inter Milan v Manchester United – Guinness International Champions Cup – Pre Season Friendly Tournament – FedExField, Washington D.C, United States of America – 29/7/14Manchester United’s coach Louis van GaalMandatory Credit: Action Images / Adam HoltLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
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KEVIN STROOTMAN
Manchester United’s plans to sign Netherlands international Kevin Strootman in January are no great secret – Louis van Gaal essentially admitted as much back in July.
In fact, the Roma midfielder, who enjoys the unofficial moniker of ‘the Dutch Roy Keane’, would likely be a United player right now if he didn’t pick up a knee injury at the end of last season that saw him miss the World Cup and the entirety of the summer transfer window. Thus, reports linking him with a winter move to Old Trafford are not hard to come by:
The 24 year-old has emerged as one of Serie A’s most dominant forces since joining Giallorossi from PSV last summer, claiming five goals and six assists in 25 league outings. This wonder-strike in the Coppa Italia also stood out:
But the Oranje international’s utility to the Red Devils in a box-to-box capacity is better represented by the below statistics:
Interestingly, Strootman has just ditched his agent, trading in Chiel Dekker for SEG – the company that oversaw Robin van Persie’s move to Manchester United in 2012.
But the £25million-rated midfielder’s situation isn’t as simple as that. Roma claim their rising star is simply ‘unsellable’, whilst interest from PSG could provide another stumbling block:
SAMI KHEDIRA
If the Strootman swoop falls through, Manchester United may find themselves thrust towards Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, who was linked with an Old Trafford switch earlier this summer:
A Champions League and World Cup winner, the 27 year-old is considered to be one of the leading central midfielders in world football. Here’s a look at the Germany international in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/RetIjHKY6pA?rel=0
And his stats from Brazil 2014:
Khedira was expected to leave the Bernabeu this summer after rejecting a contract extension from the European champions, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
The issue was downplayed by Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid eventually sold Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich instead, but we’re still waiting for negotiations to get underway.
Khedira was rated at around £15million in the summer, so if he enters the January window without agreeing new terms, he could arrive at Old Trafford for next-to-nothing.
MATS HUMMELS
Manchester United fans must be tired of this repetitive rumour but it just won’t die, suggesting there must be some truth in it somewhere down the line.
If you haven’t already guessed, after chasing after his services for the entirety of the summer window, the Red Devils have once again been linked with Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels:
United are believed to have had a £20million bid for the 25 year-old rejected in the summer and despite him recently extending his contract until 2017 in addition to being named Black-Yellows captain, the Old Trafford side are prepared to up the ante in January.
The Red Devils are clearly suckers for punishment but their interest is more than justified – as well as bieng a top-class defender, the World Cup winner is famed for his ability to play out of the back and link-up with midfield, best represented by these attacking and passing statistics:
Here’s a vid showing Hummels’ impressive all-round game:
//www.youtube.com/embed/BitBv8B48UQ
Hummels’ mixture of leadership qualities and composure on the ball is exactly what United are currently lacking in the heart of defence. Whether they can mastermind a winter deal however remains to be seen.
ANDRE AYEW
After rejecting a move to Hull City on deadline day, Manchester United have been linked with a January swoop for Ghana international Andre Ayew:
The Marseille star has emerged as Ligue 1’s most potent wideman over the last few seasons, amassing an impressive 49 goals and 16 assists in 166 appearances for L’OM. He was in good form at the World Cup too, as detailed below:
Ayew isn’t the most conventional winger but he’s strong defensively, versatile and, as viewable in the below video, also outrageously good at heading:
//www.youtube.com/embed/0gIZogfsorU?rel=0
And it’s believed that positional flexibility is what Louis van Gaal likes in the 24 year-old, seeing him as a potential option in midfield, attack and on the left-side of his 3-4-1-2 formation.
Even more appealingly, Ayew’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and a new deal is looking increasingly unlikely, meaning he can be picked up for a pittance in January.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Could this conceivably happen, or are we all being hoodwinked by the British press and our own nostalgia?
World-class forward and United icon Cristiano Ronaldo recently revealed in an interview that he plans to return to Old Trafford before the end of his career. This has lead to a plethora of speculation, with rumours that Manchester United and super-agent Jorge Mendez are already working on a deal:
These claims have been further backed up by La Liga correspondent Guillem Balague.
It goes without saying that the Real Madrid star, who has claimed 255 goals in 250 appearances for the Spanish side since leaving the Red Devils in 2009 and is widely regarded as one of the two leading entities in world football, would be a sensational addition to the United squad.
Here’s a look at Ronaldo’s twenty best ever goals:
//www.youtube.com/embed/–GlFGOT9Cc?rel=0
But likely to cost United a figure that rivals Angel di Maria’s £59million British transfer record, this mega-move will probably have to wait until the summer.
In the eyes of supporters, the ‘super-sub’ is a term used to hail those who can influence matches with time rapidly running out. They are, by definition, superheroes capable of rescuing results when all appears lost.
They can fashion chances or find the back of the net when no one else can. They can spare the blushes of the elite or secure unlikely points for the minnows. It’s an affectionate tag for all, except those who are labelled with it, as it basically means you aren’t quite good enough for a place in the starting line-up.
The most iconic super-sub is without question, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former Manchester United striker acquired the nickname ‘baby-faced assassin’, thanks to his youthful looks and prolific nature in front of goal. However, his crown of ‘most revered substitute’ in Premier League history is under threat, with fellow United forward Javier Hernandez (16) swiftly closing in on the Norwegian’s record of 28 goals from the bench.
Yet there is more to this pint-sized poacher than meets the eye. Whereas Solskjaer grew to accept he was unlikely to upset the lethal partnership of Yorke and Cole, Hernandez harbours the same movement, link-up play and eye for goal as his supposedly superior team-mates. The mindset of the modern footballer has evolved, meaning players will no longer settle for a prolonged stint on the substitutes bench.
Over in the blue half of Manchester, Edin Dzeko seemed genuinely offended when journalists bestowed him with the title of super-sub, after he emerged from the bench to complete another remarkable comeback in the recent fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
“In the last few games the situation has been like this and I’m just happy to be scoring goals. But I will never be a super-sub, I want to play.” (Eurosport)
The Bosnian is right to feel aggrieved, having netted more goals than his equally expensive strike partners despite having started fewer games. Roberto Mancini is well aware of his desire to start matches on his feet rather than his backside, which has served only to heap more pressure on a man struggling to juggle a squad bulging at the seams.
The outspoken Italian will do well to satisfy all four members of his envious strike force, especially as his persistence with the inconsistent Mario Balotelli will inevitably push Dzeko closer to the Eastland’s exit.
Theo Walcott is another frequent bench warmer slapped with the tag of super-sub, thanks to his impressive auditions to replace the goals of Robin van Persie. The case of Walcott is curious, having been confined to the bench until a resolution is reached concerning his expiring contract. The standoff is causing unrest amongst fans, who remain helpless as their team continue to suffer on the pitch. The club simply cannot afford to lose another high-profile player, but if they won’t play him in his desired role, they risk losing him to another team that will.
It’s not just the starting XI outcasts that could be heading for the exit in the New Year, as those enjoying a rich vein of form will often find their names gracing the transfer gossip columns. Take Charlie Austin for example, I dare say Norwich and Sunderland are weighing up a move for Burnley’s goal machine in an attempt to find a cure for their impotence in front of goal.
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Demba Ba finds himself decorating both columns. The Senegalese striker has rediscovered his shooting boots this season but still appears disillusioned with his part-time role in Pardew’s attack. It’s becoming increasing apparent that both Ba and compatriot Papiss Cisse cannot effectively exist in the same line-up, which coupled with his £7m release clause could see the vultures start to circle Tyneside when the window reopens.
Managers are tasked with the impossible job of keeping their 25-man squad content across the course of an entire season. This is perhaps why we witness nearly every team adopting a fairly rigorous rotation policy, but this has a habit of unsettling the team and can have a disastrous effect on results. Transfer deadline day may be all the worse for it, but you can see why so many managers concentrate on preventing their stars leaving the club rather than bringing in reinforcements.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Manchester United are facing another transfer window of drama surrounding David de Gea, with the appointment of Julen Lopetegui set to spark fresh Real Madrid interest in the player.
What’s the story?
A transfer window doesn’t seem to go by that De Gea isn’t linked with a move away from Old Trafford and it appears that speculation is set to continue for the foreseeable future after Real Madrid appointed a successor to Zinedine Zidane.
The Mail report that links between Julen Lopetegui and De Gea’s agent could see the club re-ignite their long-term interest in the player, while the Manchester Evening News say that the Spanish giants believe he could be bought for a few of around £100m.
Should supporters be worried about their star goalkeeper leaving the club this summer?
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Will he be leaving Manchester?
The main thing to consider when it comes to De Gea’s future is that United hold all the cards in a potential negotiation. With a one year option to extend his contract to 2020 and the Manchester Evening News reporting that new contract negotiations have already begun, there’s every chance that the Spanish shot-stopper stays at Old Trafford for years to come.
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The fact he hasn’t tried to push through a move to this point speaks volumes. If he was desperate for a move to Madrid it would have happened by now, but he seems more than content being the main man at Manchester United.
The prospect of him leaving any time soon seems slim. The club and supporters should feel confident he is committed to them in the short and long term.
When Paul Pogba doesn’t perform, you can be sure that there will be one point raised above all others: his price tag.
If you’re the world’s most expensive player, you probably expect that. And indeed, even after Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Philippe Coutinho have surpassed the fee paid for Manchester United’s Frenchman, Pogba still remains his club’s record signing and still has to justify the outlay spent on him.
Plenty of others have received it, too. Across Manchester, John Stones got it last year, whilst it’s been a particularly effective stick with which to beat Eliaquim Mangala, now loaned to Everton instead of being trusted at City.
Modern football doesn’t tend to worry too much about the wellbeing of its players, in truth. From the pressure of the game to the few days’ rest between massive fixtures, footballers are often seen as machines, not men, their vast salaries seen as adequate recompense for their fatigue and other problems.
That might well be fair enough. They are indeed paid extremely handsomely, and perhaps it is sufficient in order to turn footballers into the modern day equivalent of dancing monkeys.
It wasn’t always that way.
When a young Jimmy Greaves moved from Chelsea to AC Milan in 1961, he found it hard to settle. After just 14 games – and a very respectable nine goals – he wanted to come home: and both his old club Chelsea and Tottenham were interested.
In the end, it was Spurs who won his signature. The north London side had won the double the previous season under Bill Nicholson and were one of the biggest clubs in the country, and indeed they could afford to make him the most expensive player in the history of English football.
The fee paid for him, though, was £99,999, a British record, for sure, but a single, solitary pound short of making Greaves the first £100,000 player, something which would certainly have made headlines all over the country. But instead of piling that sort of pressure onto their new signing, Spurs stopped short in their bid.
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Perhaps it’s too far to talk about Nicholson’s Spurs thinking solely about their player’s wellbeing. In reality, they probably felt the pressure would lead to bad performances and as such may well have been a perfectly selfish ploy. If so, it worked – Greaves went on to become the club’s top scorer.
But perhaps Paul Pogba, Manchester United and indeed modern football can learn from that.
When Pogba moved, people did talk about the pressure of the price tag, and they did wonder if it would inhibit his performances. But at the same time, did the club take that into consideration? And in an age when both Manchester clubs as well as plenty of other elite teams around the Premier League and Europe are only going to increase their spending, it seems like a relevant lesson – should clubs take that into account more when negotiating prices for their players?
Former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that even a half-fit Luis Suarez could end the Three Lions’ World Cup dreams in Sao Paolo.
Roy Hodgson’s men enter game two of their Brazilian adventure knowing that a defeat could well send them home with one match to spare, with an opening day 2-1 deficit against Italy having left them at the foot of Group D.
Uruguay are in the same boat as England after losing to Costa Rica, but optimism in their camp is high with Suarez set to return to the starting XI after missing the clash with the Central Americans.
The Liverpool star – who was voted the Premier League’s top performer last term – only underwent surgery on a knee injury a few weeks ago, and even though he has talked up his fitness he is unlikely to be 100% for tonight’s game.
But ‘Carra’ – who played with Suarez at Anfield before retiring – says that even if the forward is not at the peak of his powers he still has enough ability to cause England serious problems:
“You wouldn’t expect him to be one hundred percent fit but Luis Suarez is different from others players in world football, he’s a phenomenon.” He told talkSPORT.
“He’s a winner and won’t be going into the game worrying about his injury. Some players go onto the pitch, when they’re coming back from an injury, and they’re not the same physically and mentally. He won’t have that in his head though.
“I know what sort of character he is and he’ll be full throttle. Whether he’s as sharp as he normally is remains to be seen but he will not be worried one iota about his injury.
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“It won’t stop him harrying people and trying things. That is what makes him a great player. I’m not expecting a one hundred percent fit Luis Suarez, but not far from it.”
Martin O’Neill says he will try to persuade unhappy Sunderland fans to attend matches by getting his side to start scoring more.
A ticket incentive by the club to get more people to come to Sunderland’s next fixture with Aston Villa this Saturday may not be enough to encourage disillusioned supporters, after a miserable defeat by Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup.
However, the Black Cats boss has set out how he will try to encourage fans to attend, understanding that some may be too disappointed to make the effort.
He said: “If a supporter chooses not to come on Saturday because he has been disappointed, I cannot tell him otherwise. The way I will change his mind about not coming here, if that is the case, is to first of all respond to the cup defeat and to secondly try and engineer some moves from which we can score a goal from and try, because of that to take away the frustration. That’s all but eventually someone deciding to come or not to come, that will be up to him or her. We know we have to do more to score goals. We have to look dangerous and when we get the ball in and around the penalty area, we can’t either pass the buck or lose it in really good positions. We have got to do better.”
O’Neill has also expressed how he is not used to having a team who are unable to manage scoring goals. He said: “Usually teams that I manage have been able to score goals and, naturally, I’m disappointed that’s not happening.”
Though Sunderland have had the bad news that Wes Brown will be sidelined until next year, the Sunderland boss is hoping that Seb Larsson, Danny Rose and Craig Gardner will return for Saturday’s Premier League fixture.
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Middlesbrough made a bid in excess of £5m for Sunderland midfielder Paddy McNair over the weekend, as covered by Sky Sports News.
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It is understood that Boro, who have also been linked with a move for Robert Huth, are confident of signing the 15-time Northern Ireland international this summer as they look to have another crack at promotion next term.
Latest reports have claimed that Sunderland are prepared to accept the offer, and personal terms will be discussed ahead of a potential move to the Riverside Stadium.
McNair only made 16 Championship appearances last season due to injury, but he scored five times for the Black Cats as they were relegated to the third tier of English football.
The Boro supporters have been reacting to the transfer speculation on social media, and it would be fair to say that they are desperate for the deal to take place this summer.
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It is worth remembering that McNair once looked at home in the Manchester United team, and he has also been linked with a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion this summer.
A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Boro fans can be seen below:
It was a surprisingly weak display from Harry Kane at Anfield, and yet it was one which proved his importance nonetheless.
Having missed a penalty which looked like it could have been a winner, Liverpool went up the other end and punished him – looking to have scored the clincher themselves. But that’s only to misunderstand the character Tottenham Hotspur have in their team and, probably, the weakness of Liverpool’s defence, even with Virgil van Dijk taking his place within it.
Harry Kane, having missed a couple of chances and generally looked out of the game for large swathes of it, still managed five shots – though two of those were penalties – and one equalising goal.
That last-minute penalty to take his own Premier League goals tally up to 100 was a pressure strike for all sorts of reasons, but the mental strength alone needed to step up and bury a pressure spot kick after missing one just minutes earlier is worthy of serious respect.
But a dispassionate analysis of Kane’s game has to take into account more than just that penalty. Over the entire game, he amassed fewer touches than any other player to start the game, including goalkeepers, and with just six completed passes, he was more of a liability than a threat for the majority of the time.
Spurs managed to come away with a draw at Anfield in a game they may well have won if Kane had been on better form throughout, and although a potential slump in performances is inevitable for a player who has been at such a high level for so long, this would be the absolute worst time for Tottenham to have to struggle without him.
With Arsenal coming up this weekend and Juventus in the Champions League on the horizon, Spurs will have to hope that Kane’s pressure penalty was the moment to jolt their star striker back into form again.
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Either way, it shows that even an off-form Kane could still decide the biggest game in the league last weekend.