Liverpool are preparing a bid for Dutch international striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after it was revealed the Schalke 04 striker may be available for a bargain £6m.
According to the Sunday People, Brendon Rodgers is planning to take advantage of his current contract dispute with the German club to try and bring the clinical striker to Anfield.
Rodgers has earmarked Huntelaar as the perfect solution to their present lack of firepower with only Luis Suarez, the only fit, recognised, centre-forward at the club. However Liverpool may face strong competition for his signature from a whole host of rival Premier League clubs with Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea all also reportedly interested in his services.
Reports suggest that the 29-year-old would prefer to join a club heading for the Champions League and given their slow start it seems unlikely that Liverpool will be joining the European elite next season. Although he is eager to experience playing in the Premier League and has recently confirmed he will join a club that has a ‘right feeling’ about it.
The Netherlands striker already has an bulging CV after spending time at Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan before making the move to the Bundesliga. While he struggled to find form at both Milan and Madrid, his record in Germany has been excellent with 71 goals for club and country since the beginning of the 2010/11 season.
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He will get another chance to impress watching Premier League scouts when Schalke entertain Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny may return to first-team action for the club’s Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday.
The stopper has been side-lined with an ankle injury since mid-September, but is believed to be close to reaching full fitness.
It is thought that he could play a small part for the Gunners’ U-21 side, who are in action against West Ham on Friday, and if he comes through unscathed will challenge Vito Mannone for the spot between the sticks.
Arsene Wenger said that if the Polish international can prove he is fit he will play:
“Wojciech is No 1.” He is quoted by SkySports.
“When he is fully fit, I will make the decision who to play.”
The 22-year-old was impressive for the North Londoners last season, producing a series of fine performances which helped the team achieve third place and Champions League qualification.
The Pole has been sorely missed so far this term, with Wenger having to call upon rookie stopper Mannone.
The Italian has performed admirably, but his lack of experience has been, at times, exposed by the opposition.
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Szczesny joined the club from Legia Warsaw in 2006 and earned his spot in the first-team following a successful loan spell with Brentford.
He has now made over 50 appearances for the Emirates Stadium side and earned 12 caps for Poland.
Andre Villas-Boas is facing going into the north London derby this Saturday missing some key regulars from the Tottenham Hotspur first team.
It is doubtful whether Jermain Defoe, Moussa Dembele, Kyle Walker and Aaron Lennon will be fit enough to play in the Premier League clash at Arsenal this weekend.
Moussa Dembele will definitely not be able to play a part in the match, with Villas-Boas confirming the midfielder has not recovered sufficiently from an injury to his hip. He has carried a knock since October, but aggravated the issue when playing for Belgium.
It is expected that Tom Huddlestone will replace the Belgian and team up in the centre of midfield with Sandro.
“Dembele will not be back for this game. There is a 50 per cent chance he will be ready to play Lazio on Thursday. At the moment surgery is out of the question – hopefully,” Villas-Boas said.
Walker, Defoe and Lennon all face late fitness tests after having to withdraw from last night’s international friendly between England and Sweden as they are all suffering from hamstring strains.
However, the Tottenham boss is hopeful they will be sufficiently fit for Saturday.
“They haven’t trained with the team yet. They trained separately on Wednesday in a recovery session away from the team,” he added.
“We have to see how they return; see if there is any disturbance. Lennon had a scan on Wednesday and it’s fine on his hamstring. We have to wait and see. They have had quite enough time to rest and recover.”
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Tottenham are also still trying to cope with existing long-term problems with Younes Kaboul, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Scott Parker.
With further insinuations that Tottenham’s Gareth Bale could soon be set for a move to Real Madrid, for a huge £56million fee, it raises an interesting question that no doubt many a fan have had on football manager – is it time to cash in?
The first question that needs answering is whether the Welsh winger is actually worth such a large transfer fee. Well, I guess you’re worth whatever someone is willing to pay for you, but from an analytical perspective, does Bale rightly warrant his apparent price-tag?
In my opinion, he probably does. It’s no secret the rapid progression Bale has made since arriving at White Hart Lane from Southampton back in 2007. Originally considered a defender who can take free-kicks, the 23 year old has developed into one of the most fearsome attacking-minded players in the Premier League, having adapted his exceptional technique from dead-ball situations into his all round play, not to mention his sudden and dramatic increase in pace a few seasons ago which added a whole new dimension to his game.
Not only has he been racking up the goals from out wide, with his record improving year-upon-year, but the fact Bale is the complete package makes him a more valuable prospect than some of his counter-parts that are vastly limited in comparison when it comes to defending. The underlying characteristic to his game however, which underpins all of the Welshman’s other abilities, is his incredible engine. Bale constantly moves with play up and down the left flank, and is Tottenham’s most profitable outlet when counter-attacking. Furthermore, at full speed the left winger appears almost impossible to dispossess without fouling – apart from luring him into a theatrical dive.
But, if £56million is a fair valuation for player already considered the best left-sided attacker in the Premier League despite the fact he is still a few years short of entering into his peak capability as a footballer, should Tottenham sell, hold out for more, or do whatever they can to hang onto him?
Considering some of the more recent transfers, and the Premier League’s lusting addiction to money, Spurs should really be bleeding Real Madrid dry on this deal. The La Liga champions have only recently pinched the club’s most talented player in Luka Modric, and although Spurs have spent the most part of the money wisely, a team challenging for a top four place will always miss the presence of such a high-quality footballer.
Furthermore, consider some of the recent transfer deals. In the past, £20million plus fees were privy to the world’s elite, with a few big-money signings that turned out be stinkers. But with the influx of foreign owners and the continuing growth in wealth of World Football, rank and file squad members can still dictate a fee of £20million or more. Joleon Lescott is a classic example. Similarly, youngsters that have done nothing to prove themselves apart from a string of half decent performances, such as Adam Johnson, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll (anyone else notice that they’re all English?), have cost their new clubs an arm and a leg.
Therefore, considering the nature of the English transfer market, as well as the fact Bale has already proven his capability, having played in the Premier League for six years and has also featured in the Champions League where he ran riot against Maicon –an experienced World Cup winner and regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation – the Spurs board should be looking for more than £56million for a player who will undoubtedly be successful at the Bernebeu, with little risk of failure.
Then again, £56million would be a more than useful transfer kitty for Andre Villas-Boas, and could be enough to finally allow Tottenham to make a serious bid towards challenging for the title, although they still have a long way to go before they will become consistently competitive for league positions with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. AVB has installed a new philosophy on his Spurs team, but bringing Jaoa Moutinho to the club would finally give him an on-pitch general to marshall those around him into performing in the style AVB is attempting to bring to White Hart Lane.
Similarly, the sale of Modric allowed for the arrival of Moussa Dembele and Hugo Lloris, who will undoubtedly be a big part of the club’s future, in which they hope to move forward and up the table. Future arrivals acquired by the Bale fund could also solidify the team’s weaker areas for years to come.
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However, Gareth Bale’s departure would leave a huge hole in the team and a big share of his transfer fee would surely go towards replacing him, which would be no easy feat considering his performances and tactical importance to the first team. And furthermore, Tottenham aren’t in dire need of cash. Daniel Levy is rumoured to be providing AVB £20million in January to bring in some new recruits, with the most likely targets being reportedly being Willian or Moutinho. So perhaps, if Spurs can push on this season and get into the top four, adding some higher quality players to their squad, the pull from the Bernebeu would be somewhat blunted.
Then again, it is hard to believe Gareth Bale would be willing to spend his entire career at White Hart Lane. At some point, he will outgrow the club unless they rapidly progress in terms of resources and getting into the Champions League. Maybe this summer will be the perfect opportunity to say goodbye. It would be a transfer hugely unpopular with the fans, but the long-term benefits give Spurs more of a chance of becoming a title-challengers than simply keeping their winger as the driving force behind their team. In a few years, Bale may appear to be worth a lot more than £56million, but whether the club will manage to keep him for that long remains to be seen.
Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has confessed that he thought his football career had finished during the summer.
The German was released by Wolfsburg at the end of last season, with a series of injuries having limited his first-team chances.
He was still without a club at the start of the campaign, until Toffees boss David Moyes offered him a short-term deal at Goodison Park.
The 30-year-old has gone on to make seven Premier League appearances, resulting in the Merseyside outfit offering him an extension to his contract.
Hitzlsperger confessed that he feared for his career, but is now enjoying his time at Everton:
“When I was out in the summer I thought maybe I’d played my last game already.” He told EvertonTV.
“Now I’m back at a very, very good level in the Premier League, playing for a huge club and it’s so enjoyable.”
He also insisted that he is now fully fit and focused on helping his new team:
“It happens and I think most players go through it. It came unexpectedly to be honest but when it did come it was something I knew I had to deal with.
“I tried to be positive and I was most of the time. Fortunately that period is over now, it’s behind me and I’m just looking forward to the next few weeks and months.
“I think now I’m fully fit, there’s not any problems and I think it’s gone well.”
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Hitzlsperger has a wealth of experience in English football, having started his career with Aston Villa.
He has also played for Chesterfield and West Ham either side of spells with Stuttgart and Lazio.
New Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to make Anderlecht midfielder Lucas Biglia his first signing at the club, according to reports from Sky Sports.
The Argentine has been linked with a number of Premier League sides in recent times, including the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham.
But, Pochettino is confident that he can lure his fellow countryman to St Mary’s Stadium, as he looks to add some creativity to his central midfield options.
Biglia is reportedly keen to leave Belgium and has gone on strike in an attempt to force through a January move.
The 26-year-old arrived at Anderlecht in 2006 from Independiente, and is said to feel that he is need of a new challenge.
Pochettino is keen to bring in a few fresh faces before the end of the month as he looks to stamp his personality on the south coast club’s squad.
Although Biglia is believed to be his top target, the Argentine is also looking to bring in Joan Verdu from his former club Espanyol.
The midfielder was a key man under Pochettino during his spell in Spain, and at 29 would likely be available for a reasonable fee.
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He may also look to improve his defensive options, with the club having conceded 40 goals this season.
The conveyor belt of young talent produced by Arsenal football club seems to be everlasting and at a continually high standard. Arsene Wenger’s transfer phobia is well known, with the french gaffer preferring to nurture youngsters and bring them through to the Gunners first team.
The most obvious current example is Jack Wilshere, but Wenger has also brought in the likes of Theo Walcott from other clubs and given them a chance to shine at top level, using the training and coaches resources available to the London club.
It seems almost every season Arsenal have a new youngster on their books who could go on to great things. Well here’s five young and budding Arsenal starlets who are set to have an impact on their club and the Premier League next season.
Click on Francis Coquelin to unveil the 5
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England manager Roy Hodgson has refused to confirm whether or not Rio Ferdinand remains in his future plans.
The Manchester United defender withdrew from the Three Lions’ squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, citing a personal training regime as a major factor in his decision.
However, it has since emerged that the 34-year-old will be travelling to the Middle East to partake in media coverage of England’s fixture against San Marino.
Ferdinand defended his actions, stating that the arrangement will take place during pre-assigned down time, but it has been suggested that his decision has all but ended his chances of winning another international cap.
Hodgson refused to suggest that this was the case, but told Sky Sports he will “wait and see” if the centre-back will be in his future plans.
When asked about his decision to pull out of the squad, the England manager responded:
“The fact is I was disappointed when he couldn’t accept our invitation.
“What he actually does now and how he operates in the coming couple of weeks, that’s his business and his club’s business. I’m only interested in the players I’ve got here. That’s where I prefer to have my focus.”
Hodgson then went on to state that Michael Carrick will not be used as a centre-back in Ferdinand’s absence:
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“I’d be loath to start using someone like Michael Carrick, it would be enormously harsh on the four centre-halves we’ve got here.”
The news of David Moyes being appointed Manchester United boss undoubtedly broke the hearts of many an Everton fan, and even distant admirers of the Merseyside club, including myself. Rather than it being a simple case of a team losing their manager, the Scot’s decision to depart for Old Trafford had a sense of inevitability to it, as if the huge efforts on Moyes’ part over the years to get the Toffees constantly performing beyond their means and make them regular attendees of the Premier League’s top six, would one day come back to bite the club, with the fatal flaw being that the United gaffer-to-be was always destined for a higher calling.
It could well be the end of the Toffees as we know it without Moyes at the helm. Furthermore, the team, now without a manager until Bill Kenwright completes the difficult task of deciding on an adequate replacement, are an open target for the coming transfer window, with many big clubs throughout Europe holding a vested interest in the future of Everton’s key players.
The most bitter of blows will be if the outgoing Goodison boss decides to take his two talismanic forces with him to Manchester; Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini. The former is coming to the end of the season of his life, recording five goals and five assists in the Premier League, in addition to being the division’s most creative player according to OPTA, but at the age of 28, the move to a big club will be now or never, whilst the latter’s career, the focus of this article, is set to hit full swing over the next few years.
The Belgian afro-bearer has undoubted ability – but is it the level of quality required at Old Trafford? Will Fellaini have the same effect on a big team that he currently has on the Toffees? And at a club like United, where all aspects of a new signing are considered; does his personality present a level of risk? Essentially, does Fellaini tick all the boxes for United?
[cat_link cat=”manchester-united” type=”tower”]
As previously mentioned, the boy certainly has skills. For a player whose traditional role is in defensive midfield, a return of 11 goals and five assists in 30 appearances is sensational, even if Fellaini has been deployed as a supporting striker for the majority of the season. The Belgium international’s height and power will ensure that the end product from set pieces will always be there, yet the majority of his successful efforts on goal have not been via his aerial ability, but rather the use of his surprisingly cultured feet – often not needing to be given the opportunity twice to shoot from the edge of the box when given space, and often not wasting his chance to find the bottom corner.
Furthermore, Fellaini’s chest control alone is a unique skill in itself that even if you took away the rest of his game, would still make him an effective force in the Premier League. During the first game of the season, rather fittingly against Manchester United, the Evertonian was out-jumping Nemanja Vidic, not to provide flick-ons with his head, but use his torso to bring the ball under his control, and went on to score the winning goal in a 1-0 contest. It’s not the first time Fellaini’s presence has put some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs to the sword, and his consistent performances in important games bodes well for his potential future at Old Trafford.
Furthermore, out of Chelsea, City and United, you’d argue the Red Devils’ need for Fellaini is greatest. Whilst I believe all clubs would consider the prospect of signing the Belgium international, there has been a soft underbelly in United’s midfield for years, and despite his admirers, the vacuum of a physical presence in the middle of the park has not been filled by the over-rated Tom Cleverley.
Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly a huge fan of Lars Bender, a hard-working, technically gifted German international, but it could do David Moyes the world of good to deviate from his predecessor’s trail of thought and use the coming transfer window to stamp his own vision upon the roster at Old Trafford, by bringing in a player of good quality and utility that he is already well acquainted with.
Yet bringing Fellaini into the United midfield would require him to fulfil a far more subtle and less glamorous role than his current one at Everton. Whereas the 25 year old’s stock has risen following his first half of the season flurry of goals, undoubtedly a determining factor regarding the interest of the big clubs, he would be utilised much more defensively should he move to Old Trafford in the summer.
He’s certainly capable of doing the job and has all the attributes required in his locker -physicality, strength, height, reading of the game, ability to pass and get stuck in – but without the goals he provides from the forward role, is his apparent price tag, quoted by the papers of between £25million and £30million, justified? There may well be other targets out there, such as Victor Wanyama and Lars Bender, whose fees are far more cost-effective considering they can undertake the same tasks required in United’s midfield.
But it does provide Moyes with a sure-fire plan B. Wayne Rooney’s surprising transfer request, which may be u-turned following the appointment of the England man’s former boss from his Everton days, does leave a vacancy in attacking midfield. The role will most likely be given to Shinji Kagawa, giving the Japan international the opportunity to shine that he’s been waiting for, but Fellaini would be an effective stand-in when required to do so. Furthermore, the United gaffer will undoubtedly have some testing fixtures during his first campaign, and throwing the Belgian up front for the final minutes could well be the difference between a draw and a victory, between success and failure.
If Ferguson were still in charge however, you get the feeling that the potential transfer would be far less certain. The Belgian’s abilities are of a high enough standard, and furthermore, since his arrival on Merseyside in 2008, there has been a natural progression and improvement to his game, and due to his experience in the Premier League, you’d assume it could only extrapolate further upon moving to a bigger stage and playing regularly in Europe. But if there’s one thing Fergie could never stand for, it’s a questionable attitude, which is the biggest doubt cast over Fellaini’s head.
His three match suspension following a haunting display of ill-discipline against Stoke essentially cut the lanky midfielder’s season in two, being a much less prolific element during the latter half of the Toffees’ campaign. More alarmingly than his form however, is the danger Fellaini posed upon his future, by committing three acts that could have justified a straight red card had the referee seen him lash out with his fists at Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth in off the ball incidents.
Similarly, his showing against Wigan in the FA Cup was an embarrassment to the footballing profession. Finding themselves 3-0 down at half time after a very poor display, the Toffees needed their best players, mainly Fellaini, to really up their game if they were to get anything out of the match. Yet the Belgian was lacklustre, lazy, selfish and seemingly not bothered, often operating at jogging speed and unwilling to get himself involved in the match, to the horror of the Everton faithful. He may be able to get away with such childishness at Goodison Park, but should he pull the same sort of stunts in a United shirt, the criticism from the fans and the media would be quick, harsh and condemning, and would furthermore reflect badly upon the new manager.
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I previously mentioned that an advantage to signing Fellaini would be that it would give Moyes the opportunity to step out of Fergie’s shadow and create his own path early in the next transfer window, but the Scot should still consider what his predecessor would do. The Belgium international is a fantastic talent and has already proved himself in the Premier League, but the former Everton boss must remember that he is paying for a defensive midfielder rather than an attacking midfielder, and furthermore, Fellaini’s temperament is a far cry from the standard currently set at Old Trafford.
On the surface, Fellaini appears to be the ideal fit, but scratch away and the cracks begin to develop. Considering it could well be Moyes’ first transfer as the official United gaffer, it’s success or failure will send out a message regarding whether the Scot has what it takes to manage at such an illustrious club, or if his talents will always be best suited a niche market of overachievement with limited resources.
The last thing Moyes needs is Fellaini to let him down, and judging by some of his controversial displays in an Everton jersey, showing his childishness and ill-discipline, that could well be the case. Furthermore, I’m sure United fans would not be too happy to go back to the days of losing a key midfielder to red cards and suspensions for all their big games, in echoes of the career of Roy Keane.
Last season it was announced that StubHub would become Tottenham’s first official secondary ticketing partner, in a three-year deal. Initially being granted exposure on the club’s electronic advertising boards, the full ticketing scheme will be rolled out for the 2013/14 season. But what does this mean for fans of the Premier League club?
StubHub are an eBay Inc. company who have until late offered a secondary ticketing outlet for mainly US-based sporting events. Fans who have tickets for games, but are unable to attend, can place these on StubHub for any price they wish and sell them on to another fan.
In the case of Spurs, the facility will open once all the general sale tickets have been sold. Then season ticket holders are able to list unwanted seats for whatever price they like on the site. It will replace the previous ticket exchange, which enabled seats to be re-sold with around a 25% deduction on face value to the season ticket holder.
[cat_link cat=”tottenham” type=”list”]
Commenting on this announcement Tracey Keenan, Head of Global Partnerships at Tottenham Hotspur said:
“We’re delighted that StubHub is set to become one of our official partners and are looking forward to helping develop its brand internationally.
“StubHub enjoys enormous popularity with fans of all sports in the United States and this is built on an understanding that the fan experience is paramount – a principle we share at Tottenham Hotspur.”
I simply do not share the deluded optimism of those close to the deal at Tottenham. Several years ago Spurs ran a campaign called ‘out the tout’, with the aim of preventing tickets being sold to fans for extortionate sums of money. The deal with StubHub casts serious doubt over the club’s motivation on eradicating touts. The facility allows fans to extort vast sums of money out of fellow fans and to make matters worse, the club are also likely to get a slice of the deal.
You may think I am sensationalising things a little bit here, so let me run you through what could feasibly happen next year. The facility will only come into effect when all general sale tickets are sold. Last season Spurs sold out almost every week and therefore the system will be used for most home games. Clearly an over demand for tickets (i.e. selling out) means the market price is too low. How high could a price for a Spurs ticket on StubHub rise to then?
It would not be out of the question for a North London derby ticket to rise to many hundreds of pounds, with all other ticket prices rising too. For an economist this really isn’t an issue because with StubHub the market rules. However, in an era where football is already becoming unaffordable for the average fan, StubHub is just going to make going to games something that only the wealthy can aspire to. The once great atmosphere of White Hart Lane, which ENIC have used happily as a marketing tool, reduced to a collection of champagne sippers and corporates. This is an ethical rather than financial question, so is “fan experience paramount”?
The deal may well be advantageous to those with season tickets who can happily profit from the demand of other Spurs fans. This is not a dig at season ticket holders and I imagine most in their position would happily sell tickets for whatever price they could get for them. The problem is for members who already pay enough for a place on the waiting list and a degree of priority over tickets. Would a season ticket holder ever give up their seat when they can profit through StubHub? StubHub doesn’t even allow members priority, and the general public are all treated equally.
So what even is the point of being a member now? It certainly isn’t the free subscription to Spurs TV that’s for certain.
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The optimists among you may be aware that Everton have had this scheme in place for a few years now and it seems to work well for them. Having spoken to a few Evertonians, the difference for their club is in the demand for tickets – Everton very rarely sell out completely and this means that tickets on StubHub fetch close to face value and in some cases below it. For a club like Spurs this kind of scenario is a fantasy.
While ENIC appear to favour conservatism regarding on-field investment, they are all too keen to extort vast sums of money out of their fans. The only difference between touting and StubHub is that Spurs as a club can control the facility and sell the rights to it. Joe Lewis didn’t want to regulate touting for the welfare of fans; he just wanted to make some money out of it.
The practicalities of the deal still remain vague. Perhaps there is still a chance that the club may heed some of the fans’ concerns. But I don’t hold out too much hope for a club that is all too ready to treat its fans like consumers.