Borussia Dortmund are set to hijack Arsenal’s move for Schalke playmaker Julian Draxler this summer, according to talkSPORT.
Dortmund have already announced the departure of Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich this summer and top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski is set to follow his team mate to join Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena.
The combined fees could be in the region of £75million, allowing Dortmund to rebuild their squad to challenge in the Bundesliga once again and Draxler has been pinpointed as their number one target.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has scouted the 19-year-old German international on numerous occasions but the Gunners may not be able to compete financially with Dortmund.
Schalke want £15million for their academy product and the attacking midfielder will have an easy decision to make if Arsenal fail to qualify for next seasons Champions League.
Plenty of European rivals may join the race for Draxler so Wenger is hoping to do his business early this summer.
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West Ham have been given a boost in their bid to sign a central midfielder as target Dejan Stankovic has been released by Inter Milan, as reported by Sky Sports.
The Hammers were rejected by Italy international Massimo Ambrosini this week who has joined Fiorentina but boss Sam Allardyce is keen to tie down Stankovic on a one year deal.
The Serbia international has seen his time at Inter disrupted by injuries but the 34 year old still won five Serie A titles and one Champions League medal.
West Ham midfielder Gary O’Neill rejected a new contract at the club and so the Hammers are keen to plug the gap on the middle of the park before turning focus on signing another striker.
“I don’t know if I can find the right words to say goodbye and to thank you properly for everything you have given me, your affection, your trust and your honesty,” wrote Stankovic in a letter to fans on Inter’s official website.
“The last ten years have been the best of my life. I have grown both as a man and, with immense joy, as a footballer.”
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Following Arsenal’s rather lukewarm campaign, another step backwards in terms of quality and league position from the year previous, Arsene Wenger has vowed to spend big in the summer. In a bid to move the Gunners back towards the Premier League title race, the Frenchman will be handed a cheque of £70million to spend on summer recruits, with a number of areas of Arsenal’s squad in need of bolstering and improving.
But if Wenger wishes to show real intent and ambition to the Emirates faithful, something which has been in short supply over the past five years or so, he will have to go back on his traditional policy of keeping transfer fees as minimal as possible by making at least one big name, high price signing that will not only raise the quality and efficiency of the starting XI but also strike fear into the rest of the top four, who have collectively taken a total of 14 points off the Gunners this season.
[cat_link cat=”Manchester-United” type=”tower”]
In a bid to kill two birds with one stone, if the Arsenal boss is to make one overzealous purchase this summer, it will be a striker. The North Londoners can lay claim to being the only club in the English top flight to have four players reach double figures in the scoring charts – Theo Walcott, 14 goals, Santi Cazorla, 12 goals, Olivier Giroud, 11 goals, and Lukas Podolski, 11 goals – yet with the majority of their goals coming from attacking midfield, there is strong justification to bring in a more prolific front man.
Earlier in the season, Arsene Wenger briefly flirted with the idea of bringing in Radamel Falcao, yet, as expected, the level of quality available to the Gunners has diminshed somewhat as we edge closer to the transfer market. Falcao, Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski – three of Europe’s leading strikers who are all reportedly up for sale this summer – appear to be out of the Gunners’ grasp, due to their price-tags, wage packages and competition from clubs with a stronger record in Europe and domestically over the past few years, whilst the tabloids have speculated the next bracket of continental forwards, including the likes Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Stevan Jovetic and Christian Benteke, are much more likely candidates to become summer signings at the Emirates.
Yet there is one striker who fills the gap between the two brackets of calibre, is already well acquainted with the Premier League and will be available for a realistic fee in the summer – Wayne Rooney. Arsene Wenger has always been an admirer of the England international, but would he be a good fit at the Emirates? Will the Arsenal boss be tempted to launch a bid for the Manchester United forward? And would Rooney reciprocate the Gunners’ interest?
Upon murmurings of discontent on Rooney’s part following Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to bench him for Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, the reply from the rest of Europe regarding acquiring the 27 year old’s services was a resounding ‘no’. With no continental powerhouse interested in the Englishman, the only link the redtops could forge with a move away from Old Trafford was PSG, whom due to their huge financial backing, have been connected to almost every player of European standard looking for a new challenge.
It seems that Rooney’s particular skills set only make sense in the Premier League. In terms of technical ability, although over the years he has produced goals of world class quality, the United forward is still a long way behind his La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga counter-parts, with a few too many simple passes failing to reach their targets, and a number of uninspiring performances against the big teams. Similarly, Rooney’s work rate, which in England he is continually praised for, is a much less desirable attribute abroad. The notion of a striker filling in at right-back for the sake of the team or clearing off his own goal-line would not be particularly welcomed in Spain, and if anything would be judged as a waste of a front man.
It seems therefore, that should Rooney seek a new home over the summer, it will have to still be in England. With Manchester City clearly off the cards due to the controversy it would cause, the England international’s options remain slim if he is to remain at a top club.
Whilst Chelsea would be a far more attractive prospect than the Gunners, as they are much closer to the Premier League title than Arsenal and now have one of Europe’s most consistently successful managers at the helm in Jose Mourinho, it seems unlikely the Blues will opt for Rooney with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski still available to them, and the power of Roman Abramovich’s purse capable of attracting almost any striker throughout Europe whom the Portuguse desires.
Arsene Wenger will almost certainly be able to lure Rooney to the Emirates, not only through a lack of better alternative for the United man, but if he is to assure him a role as a striker rather than in midfield – choice of deployment was the underlying motivation for his second transfer request in the space of three years, and it is clear where Rooney sees his future in terms of how he is utilised as a footballer.
But does he tick all the boxes as the Gunners’ new front man? First of all, Rooney can certainly score goals – a side of his game which is often unfairly underplayed by his critics. For United, the 27 year old stands with an impressive record of 197 goals in 400 competitive appearances, whilst twice scoring in excess of 25 league goals in a season and never finding the net on less than 11 occasions. His strongest campaigns in terms of goal scoring have come when United have needed his abilities the most, suggesting he would be capable of handling the pressure of increased importance should he opt for a move to the Emirates.
Yet, Arsenal’s current style of play would require modification to get the best use out of Rooney. Olivier Giroud has not been quite so prolific as his preceding reputation suggested, but there is no doubt that he has been integral in attack at times for the Gunners this season. The Frenchman’s ability to hold up the ball has been crucial for Cazorla, Podolski and Walcott, whilst his height and leap make him Arsenal’s only aerial threat barring their centre-backs. That being said, Rooney is well acquainted with playing alongside wingers, and his robust strength in addition to his technique make him a suitable target man for the Gunners’ forward-thinking midfield to play off of.
Similarly, Rooney can play in a supporting role when required to do so, and would only cause a fuss if it became his permanent position in the starting XI, whilst the North Londoners could certainly do with the added intensity, physicality and determination that the United forward provides. He would furthermore fit in well with the English contingent that is emerging at the Emirates, with Carl Jenkinson, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs all becoming first team regulars this season, not to mention the potential for an excellent on-pitch partnership with Jack Wilshere.
Rooney would be the kind of signing that could really change things at the Emirates. The message of intent that would ring out from the Three Lions man’s transfer would alone be a huge advantage to signing him, not to mention he quality he would add to the Gunners current starting XI. It seems a realistic prospect for both parties, yet the question that remains is whether or not Arsene Wenger is capable of parting with £25million – Rooney’s current price-tag.
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Any other season, you’d instantly say no, with Arsenal’s current record transfer fee set at just £16million paid for Santi Cazorla last summer. But with Wenger’s job on the line, his contract set to expire next year, he may just decide to take the risk. For £25million, he’s the most consistent, proven and talented candidate available, and the fee strikes a balance between the fans’ need for a marquee signing and Wenger’s concern with spending big for the sake of it. Rooney is the ideal solution to Wenger’s transfer conundrum, and the Gunners Gaffer would be a fool to let the opportunity to sign the United man slip by.
Everton chief Roberto Martinez is planning another raid on former club Wigan, by offering £15m for James McCarthy, according to reports from The Express.
The Spaniard recently swapped the DW Stadium for Goodison Park, and has already snapped up two of his former charges in the shape of Antolin Alcaraz and Arouna Kone.
Now, he is ready to attack his former employees once more with a big money offer for McCarthy.
The 22-year-old was one of Wigan’s star performers in their relegation season last term, turning in a number of impressive displays.
However, he is thought to be ready to move on in the coming months in a bid to avoid a campaign in the second tier.
Martinez is hopeful that he can fight off interest from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham with a £15m offer and convince the Scottish born ace to join him on Merseyside.
Wigan are thought to be demanding £20m, but it’s likely that they will accept a reduced fee as they set about coping with the reduced income of Championship football.
The sum would mark a major profit for Wigan, who snapped up McCarthy from Scottish side Hamilton for just £1m in 2009.
Can Everton persuade James McCarthy to look past interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool?
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Steven Gerrard will retire from international duty after the World Cup in Brazil next summer, as reported by talkSPORT.
Gerrard is set to captain his country in the finals at the end of the season but at the age of 34, it may not just be his last major tournament but also his last game.
Gerrard is one of a number of high profile players that could end their international career after the tournament with Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole also contemplating his future.
The Liverpool legend is set to reach 115 England caps by the time he calls it a day and Rodgers believes it is perfect timing for both his player and England.
“Steven probably looks at it as though this is his last international year and after the World Cup that will be all finished and he will have lots of time to rest then,” Rodgers said.
“He and Roy have a good relationship and I’m sure if he needs that breather in these two games he will get that.”
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Arsenal were sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League not long ago but we now enter March with them four points adrift and only in second place because teams below them have games in hand.
Arsene Wenger will no doubt blame Stoke’s physicality and the referee for his teams defeat today, but the Gunners failed to threaten the Stoke goal enough to cause real problems.
But why have Arsenal slipped? Has the pressure grown on them? Are the fans demanding too much? Let’s take a look.
Lack of January transfer business
Wenger is renowned for keeping his hands in his pockets during the transfer window but surely this January was the time to spend.
Top of the table, still in the Champions League and FA Cup – why not go out and buy some quality?
A striker was a must and their reliance on Olivier Giroud is evident, but another centre back and a winger would have been nice too – Only one man to blame here surely?
Losing their bottle
Today proved that Arsenal have not got the same steel as Chelsea and Manchester City when it comes to battling for a scrappy result. Arsenal don’t seem to do scrappy. Unfortunately for them you cannot win every Premier League game playing free flowing football and their lack of adaptability in pressure games has been their undoing.
Supporter’s expectation
A group of Gunners fans were calling for Arsene Wenger’s head after an opening day defeat to Aston Villa, but after the signing of Mesut Ozil that quickly died down. Again the fans made their feelings clear when Arsenal were booed off after drawing at home to champions Manchester United last month – so surely they need to lower their expectations? The Gunners fans celebrated finishing fourth like they had won the Champions League last season so what has changed?
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FOLLOW AND RT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO SEE ARSENAL AGAINST BAYERN MUNICH IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!
Aaron Ramsey cemented his pace in Arsenal folklore last weekend by scoring the deciding goal against Hull City in the FA Cup final, capping off a breakthrough season for the Wales international. But having finished their Premier League campaign just seven points behind eventual winners Manchester City, with the 16-goal midfielder missing almost half of the season through injury, both Ramsey and the Emirates support will have a lingering feeling of ‘what if’ when reminiscing on the 2013/14 campaign in the many years to come.
Netting the winning goal at Wembley will be a more than acceptable consolation prize for the Wales international. On a personal level, Ramsey’s stylish send-off to the campaign typified his rise from Emirates boo-boy to club talisman in the space of a single season. And for Arsenal, that low-swerving, near-post strike in the 109th minute ended the club’s growingly burdensome nine year trophy drought. It’s arguable that no goal has been more important for the Gunners during the Arsene Wenger era.
But in the back of his mind, the 23 year-old will always wonder what could have been this season. Arsenal spent more days at the top of the Premier League table, 128, than any other side, and significantly more than champions Manchester City, with a miserly 15. That pomp march in pole position was dynamically charged by the midfielder, who started the season with 13 goals, seven assists and seven Man of the Match awards in his first 25 appearances.
In fact, there was a point before the turn of the year where Ramsey had scored more goals, provided more assists and made more tackles than any Premier League midfielder, which accordingly, must have put him pretty high up in the European rankings too. Back in November, he had made more touches (1,115), than any other top flight player and in December, he and Yaya Toure were the only Premier Leaguers to have made over 1,000 accurate passes.
For an Arsenal side infamous for its limited firepower and lack of commitment off the ball, the Wales international’s inspiring displays and contributions at both ends of the pitch were vital to the Gunners cause. Most tellingly, he claimed four consecutive Player of the Month awards at the Emirates from August to November, in addition to the Premier League’s award in September.
Of course, the cut-off point came on Boxing Day, poignantly enough on Ramsey’s 23rd birthday, when he limped off against West Ham with a thigh injury. He would spend the next four months of the season on the sidelines.
The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time – Arsenal were in cruise control for the first half of their Premier League campaign, but late January to late March welcomed a string of unenviable fixtures in the most congested part of the season, including ties with Southampton, Liverpool twice (once in the league and once in the FA Cup), Manchester United, Everton twice, Tottenham, Chelsea, Stoke City, Manchester City and a double-legger against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
In that time period, the North Londoners claimed just five wins from 15 in all competitions, resulting in only eleven points from a possible 33 in the Premier League. Perhaps most tellingly of all, during Ramsey’s four-month absence, Arsenal’s win percentage dropped from 68% with him in the side to 55% without him.
It would be wrong to suggest that if Ramsey hadn’t missed a quarter of the calander year through a thigh complaint that Arsenal would be Premier League champions right now and not Manchester City.
Theo Walcott, who was ruled out for six months and subsequently the World Cup with an ACL injury in January, was arguably a bigger loss. The Gunners lacked his pace, penetration and firepower in the second half of the season, and without it, for all their quality in the middle of the park, Arsenal’s midfield became incredibly one-dimensional.
Likewise, Arsenal’s fatal flaw this season has been their poor results against divisional rivals. The Gunners have taken just five points off Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City this season, resulting in an aggregate score of 18-5.
Considering Ramsey featured in a 6-3 defeat to the Citizens back in December, even recording an assist and statistically finishing as Arsenal’s best performer of the afternoon, it’s logical to assume that in spite of his prominent form, even he wouldn’t have been able to stop the North London outfit’s regular capitulations against those closest to them in the table. Against Chelsea for example, the match was over after 20 minutes when Jose Mourinho’s side found themselves 3-0 up with a one-man advantage. It’s hard to envisage how the Welshman could have made a notable difference.
Furthermore, considering the impact Ramsey could have had in the second half of the season is in many ways a moot exercise. Not only because effective time travel is yet to be mastered by humankind, but because it takes away from the fact that squad depth is Arsene Wenger’s responsibility. A more pressing question the Emirates faithful should be asking is where Arsenal would have finished if the Welshman hadn’t undergone a major breakthrough in form from August to December.
That being said, what the Gunners lacked most towards the business end of the season was a natural leader. Maybe not in strength of voice, but in terms of his energy and dynamism, his application of a never-say-die-attitude, best illustrated by his combative tackling and numerous sublime, almost unimaginable finishes, Ramsey was that driving force for four months of Arsenal’s campaign. In that regard, one can only ponder where the Welshman’s performances could have taken the Gunners – we’ve seen a paralleled effect with Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard at Liverpool this season, with their cavalier, all-or-nothing displays inspiring similar showings in those around them.
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For that reason alone, Ramsey and Arsenal fans will always wonder how differently 2013/14 could have panned out for them, as if, in some parallel universe, the Gunners clinched the crown inspired by the 23 year-old’s breakthrough season.
But the winning goal against Hull City at Wembley does offer some bitter-sweet redemption. His performance in the FA Cup final showed the character and courage Arsenal have lacked in defining moments since their last trophy in 2005. Most importantly, it expelled a macabre shadow that had been looming over the club for nine years and was on the verge of engulfing Arsene Wenger.
Considering Ramsey’s wholesale criticism from the year previous, it’s been a stunning transformation.
Piers Morgan set the bait and Chelsea fans were all too ready to bite. The controversial Twitter user’s post on Eden Hazard prior to kick off last night drew an angry tirade of criticism from a number of supporters.
While many users focused on the inclusion of Fernando Torres, Morgan decided to concentrate his attention upon the midfielder who has only recently been named the PFA Young Player of the Year. Despite having tweeted a tongue-in-cheek criticism of the Belgian before, Morgan’s latest comments on Hazard still managed to generate the desired response.
Overrated or not, Hazard was ultimately powerless to prevent Chelsea from exiting the Champions League at the semi final stage last night.
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Raheem Sterling has his supporters. In part it’s owed to the general lack of hope for England going into this World Cup, while the rest is made up from the continued shameless hyping of young players.
What isn’t being taken into account as we near England’s first game against Italy is tactics – and if there are a few mutterings of such a concept, they’re being kept quiet and well away from the majority opinion.
Raheem Sterling deserves to be at this World Cup following the excellent half-season he had with Liverpool. He’s earned the right to be part of Roy Hodgson’s squad, but let’s not mistake a merited place for entitlement into a starting XI.
The 19-year-old has been picked for his form with Liverpool; we don’t know what he’ll be like at a major international tournament – the biggest in fact, due to its setting. What would be a positive is Sterling going out and justifying his place in the team, justifying all those who are demanding his inclusion in the XI to face Italy.
Sterling is an exciting player. Forget what he can do against opposition players, he’s the type of player who lifts supporters. He’s quickly become a symbol of hope for a nation who don’t really have much to lean on in the build up to this tournament. Wayne Rooney? Most are now disillusioned and unconvinced.
But what if Sterling comes up short? What if he falls flat and becomes yet another built-up England player to disappoint on the big stage? I’m not hoping for any of that, which is why I don’t see the point in all the commotion. Isn’t it enough that Hodgson has picked Sterling in a youth-heavy squad? If he makes it onto the pitch in Manaus, either starting or as a sub, it will be because the coach has been suitably convinced himself that Sterling should be involved.
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So let’s do away with the hype and exclamations of youthful exuberance. Let Sterling’s performances do the talking. It’s easy to forget that this is a player who doesn’t have a full season of high-level consistency under his belt. He did well this past season from Christmas up until the end of the campaign, and also for brief spells under Kenny Dalglish. There’s been nothing sustained over a period of 38 games yet.
For the player himself, this is an unbelievable opportunity to prove that he belongs, that he wasn’t just riding the feel-good wave at Anfield last season. I don’t doubt his talents. I am, however, sceptical and a little wary of the responsibility being forced Sterling’s way. Youth and naivety will do a lot for the nerves, but the clamour for his inclusion won’t be lost on the 19-year-old, and with it the responsibility becomes real and the weight that much heavier. This tournament will be good preparation for the next for the younger members of the squad, but is it wise to lay so much at the feet of young players?
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For now, Sterling is an option for England and Hodgson. He’s an option because his skills and talent haven’t been refined to the point where he’s an established star. He’s an option, unlike the big names in the Spain team, or the way Brazil are leaning on Neymar for inspiration. Sterling is an option because England don’t have a defined way of playing; despite his reputation for the conservative, we’re not entirely sure how Hodgson will set his team up in Brazil. England aren’t a team who can dominate others, so shifting tactical focus game by game makes sense.
Above all, this is an exciting opportunity for a youngster to play at a World Cup in Brazil – and I think many have forgotten that. Fans should ride alongside Sterling in the event he enjoys a positive tournament, but the key should be in letting him find his feet in an unfamiliar international environment.
Javier Hernandez has left Manchester United for Real Madrid and The Red Devils have lost a gem.
From day one at Manchester United the Mexican international won a lot of fans with his incredible finishing ability and his mesmerising movement off of the ball to create space for his more senior team-mates with far greater experience. It didn’t work out for Hernandez at Old Trafford and it was a massive waste of clear talent by Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
Overall for Manchester United the 26-year-old made 102 Premier League appearances, however over half of those outings were made from the bench (51.9%). It all looked to be a real attempt at forcing a Javier into a super-sub mould, like one-time Red Devil Ole Gunner Solskjaer.
Now at Real Madrid you would expect for ‘Chicharito’ to only get chances off of the bench as he is competing with a consistently brilliant front three of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the stats suggest that Sir Alex made a big mistake with his use of Hernandez.
In his first Premier League campaign he scored 13 goals in just 15 starts and 13 substitute appearances. In his second and third seasons with United he scored 10 in each – so therefore not failing to hit double figures despite sporadic appearances.
Sir Alex Ferguson signed him in the 2010/11 season and during the Premier League campaign he outscored Wayne Rooney 13-11.
During his second season with the club he had to compete directly with Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, and academy graduate Danny Welbeck for a starting place. It was expected that he wouldn’t be chosen ahead of talisman Rooney or £30m signing Berbatov, but many would have put him ahead of Welbeck who was making his first appearances for United. The now Arsenal striker made more appearances than Hernandez throughout the Premier League season and yet was outscored by the Mexican 10-9. Of course Sir Alex wanted to build for the future with Welbeck but he was clearly wasting Hernandez on the bench.
In his third season, which was to be Sir Alex’s last, new signing Robin van Persie was the clear top goalscorer as he carried The Red Devils to their most recent title. Rooney was still in full use as he made 22 Premier League starts and scored a credible 12 goals. Hernandez started only 9 league matches and still managed to chalk up 10 goals whereas Welbeck was again above the Mexican who started 13 league matches, scoring just one goal – make your own mind up there.
From title winners to a season of misery as David Moyes took charge and he again picked Welbeck over Hernandez but did follow in SAF’s footsteps of making ‘Chicharito’ United’s most used substitute with 18 appearances off of the bench. Javier was now well and truly cemented as fourth choice with RVP, Rooney and Welbeck all making more starts and scoring more goals than the Mexican.
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And so onto this season where we now expect ‘Chicharito’ to get just a small amount of minutes each week. His Real Madrid career is in the very early stages but he has so far played 52 minutes of La Liga football and has already netted twice in that period. With Ronaldo and Bale preferring the wider positions, Javier is now only behind Benzema and if the Frenchman was to pick up an injury, Hernanadez would surely be given the first team chances he deserves.
Sir Alex Ferguson wasted Hernandez’s ability and the Mexican was one of a few mistakes that the retired Scotsman made.
It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…