Manchester United fans are taking great joy in Liverpool’s failed move for Nabil Fekir, after Lyon announced he wouldn’t be joining the Reds this summer.
As reported by The Telegraph, a £53m move had been agreed between the two clubs, with his signing expected to be announced on Friday. The paper say personal terms were even agreed.
However, Lyon released a statement saying the deal was off on Saturday evening, leaving Liverpool fans gutted and their rival supporters in hysterics. The cause of the deal’s collapse is not yet known.
Fekir had a magical 2017/18 season, scoring 23 goals and contributing 9 assists in all competitions. He’s also set to star for France in the upcoming World Cup.
He could have caused serious damage to United and others in the English Premier League next season so it’s no surprise they are happy the deal is off.
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Red Devils fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…
According to The Sun, Juventus are interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on a free transfer at the end of the season.
What’s the story?
Wilshere has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround at Arsenal over the last few months. The midfielder struggled to break into the first team in the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign, but has been a key player for the Gunners in recent weeks.
Indeed, the 26-year-old has gone from surplus to requirements at Bournemouth to being mentioned as a potential captain for the London club next season.
The fact of the matter is that Wilshere is yet to agree a new contract with Arsenal, however, meaning that – as it stands – he will be a free agent at the end of the season.
According to The Sun, Juventus are well aware of the situation at the Emirates Stadium, and the Italian champions believe that they could turn Wilshere’s head with an offer.
Arsenal are said to be confident of signing Wilshere to a new deal, but the Alexis Sanchez situation will be worrying a number of the club’s fans at this stage of the campaign.
How is Wilshere performing?
Wilshere’s talent has never really been questioned. His temperament and ability to stay free from injury? Sure. But there has never been a question over his qualities on the field.
The 26-year-old has scored once and provided two assists in 13 Premier League appearances for Arsenal during the 2017-18 campaign.
He also scored once and provided two assists in six Europa League group fixtures, and has been one of Arsenal’s better players during a difficult period for Arsene Wenger’s side.
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Wilshere, who is valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has been involved in every Premier League game for Arsenal since their 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at the start of December, suggesting that his injury problems are behind him.
Arsenal simply have to agree a new deal with Wilshere in the coming weeks, but Juventus will be waiting in the wings as they look to sign a player that could thrive in Serie A.
Everton have been warned off of making a January bid for Hull centre-back Curtis Davies, according to reports from The Mirror.
The Tigers defender has been one of the season’s surprise performers, turning in a number of impressive displays for Steve Bruce’s newly promoted side.
His consistent showings have caught the eye of Everton chief Roberto Martinez, who is said to be ready to make additions to his squad in the coming weeks in a bid to build on a fine opening half of the campaign.
The Spaniard was a fan of Davies while at Wigan, and even attempted to secure his signature.
Now he is keen to make a fresh swoop, but it is understood that Hull have indicated that the 28-year-old will not be sold.
Davies only moved to the KC Stadium over the summer in a £2.25m deal from Birmingham, and is already being talked of as a potential member of Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the 2014 World Cup.
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Even if he sees his efforts for the defender thwarted in before the transfer deadline, Martinez is likely to revive his interest at the end of the season.
Since the birth of the Premier League English football has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity that has seen clubs treated and indeed traded like commodities. Not a week goes by with the announcement of a unique sponsorship deal, but are they a sign of desperation in the tough economic climate or simply an ingenious way to increase revenue?
Newcastle United’s controversial new sponsorship arrangement with loan company Wonga has attracted a swarm of criticism. The club have even risked upsetting the Muslim quartet of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa, who may view the partnership as a violation of Sharia law. It seems as though this move has the potential to be even more unpopular than the Sports Direct fiasco.
The decision to revert the stadium back to its former title as St. James’ Park will appease fans, but I can’t see how it will disguise the fact that they’re the prime targets for the companies eye-watering interest rates. Despite the disapproval, the deal is hardly surprising. Bolton, Wolves and Wigan are sponsored by online bookies, Swansea and Aston Villa by casino groups and Everton by a Thai beer brand. The move towards increasingly ‘amoral’ partnerships has been on the cards for a number of years.
Teaming up with the Toon Army is not Wonga’s first foray into the world of football as they already sponsor Championship side Blackpool and Scottish outfit Hearts. However, fronting a Premier League team presents them with an unrivalled level of exposure, which will be reflected in the inflated sum that enters Newcastle’s bank account.
Chris Walker, editor of Blackpool site Up the ‘Pool, indicated that the Tangerine Army have voiced their dissatisfaction on several occasions but admits they have little influence in the commercial ventures of their football club.
“Ultimately though, whatever opposition there is, fans of most clubs are powerless to force the owners’ hands.
“The only way for supporters to get a message across is to withhold money in the form of season tickets and merchandise, but for the many the emotional ties to their club prevent this. (Telegraph)
According to The Secret Footballer, supporters on average contribute to around 30% of their club’s wage bill which although significant, dismantles the general consensus that the game wouldn’t survive without the fans. As the wages of Premier League stars continue to soar, it’s only natural that clubs will seek out new exclusive sources of income.
Last year Manchester United unveiled a new deal that saw logistics company DHL become the club’s first training kit sponsor. The four-year contract is apparently worth an incredible £40m and exemplifies how valuable a mere whiff of publicity can be at the summit of the game. Chelsea have also been constructing intriguing sponsorship deals, which has seen them branch out into the advertising haven of Formula One with Sauber. The club has also recently announced a deal with a Burmese whisky firm, a move that has taken advantage of the easing of sanctions that had previously meant the country was effectively off-limits.
At the start the season it was revealed that the shirt sponsorship income of the Premier League’s 20 clubs had ballooned 25 per cent to £147million (Daily Mail). This figure doesn’t even include any recent developments, United’s DHL deal or the fact that Tottenham also receive an additional £5m a year from Investec as a sponsor for all cup games.
Sunderland’s new deal with Invest in Africa will now mean they pull in the same £20m annual sum as the likes of Manchester City and although Arsenal currently only acquire a modest £5.5m, their deal with Fly Emirates expires this season, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis declaring that the new arrangement will “propel us forward as a club in terms of revenue.” (Telegraph)
However, there is a contrasting situation outside the top flight as the Football League faces an uncertain future with npower’s three-year deal soon to expire. The exclusive renewal negotiation period for the energy giants ended this week and there is a fear that prospective partners will struggle to match the current £21million asking price. With the collapse of ITV Digital still the subject of nightmares, clubs will hope a resolution is reached sooner rather than later.
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Football may have sold its soul in the eyes of many, but only to ensure it stays alive. Even Barcelona, a club once revered for its stance on commercial sponsorship, have succumbed to lure of significant financial investment and ended up on the opposite end of the scale.
Michel Platini’s impending Financial Fair Play regulations mean that the level of revenue ultimately determines how much money graces the transfer budget. With this in mind, sponsorship is no longer important, but an essential aspect of the beautiful game.
Midfield maestro Thiago, who will go to the World Cup later this month with Spain, is one of four players that Bayern Munich will listen to offers for this summer, according to the Daily Mail, and he would be a perfect fit for Manchester United.
What’s the story, then?
The Mail report that the German champions are looking to trim their squad ahead of Niko Kovac’s first season in charge in Bavaria and that they are willing to countenance four departures.
They claim that along with Thiago, that quartet is rounded off by experienced central defender Jerome Boateng, combative midfielder Arturo Vidal and flying full-back Juan Bernat.
The report also says that the willingness to sell the aforementioned four also belies a desire to keep talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski.
Thiago is better than Pogba
Pogba has everything in his locker but Thiago is an artist, who has simply proved himself more capable of dominating elite games than the Frenchman.
He was brilliant as Bayern narrowly failed to qualify for the Champions League final despite a dominant performance in the second leg of their semi-final clash with eventual winners Real Madrid in April and has the class and technique United’s midfield is sorely lacking.
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He is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt but given that Bayern are open to a sale, there may be wiggle room and in the current market, anything under £50m for a man who will travel to the World Cup this summer as one of the main playmakers in a team jam-packed with midfield talent.
West Ham United manager David Moyes was spotted in the crowd as Chelsea hosted Norwich City in their FA Cup third round replay tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, and Irons fans have urged him to sign Canaries attacking midfielder James Maddison, who is also a reported £20m target for rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The east London outfit have been heavily linked with a move for Michy Batshuayi in recent days with Andy Carroll said to be wanted by the Premier League holders, but Moyes may have been more impressed with what he saw from Maddison even though the Belgium international was on the score-sheet.
The Evening Standard reported earlier this week that Spurs are keen on the 21-year-old, who has scored eight goals and provided a further eight assists in 30 appearances in all competitions this season, although any club that wants him this month will have to pay £20m.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on his display at the Bridge via social media, and while one said “would love him at West Ham”, another labelled him as the “next big talent”.
Former Arsenal and England captain Sol Campbell has slammed the FA and football in general for their treatment of black players, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Campbell believes that he would have been England captain for ten years if he was white and that the people at the top will not change their mind-set as they do not want to.
The former Tottenham and Arsenal defender wore the armband on three occasions for his country but he feels it should have been more, with Michael Owen captaining the side ahead of him.
Campbell has released his autobiography, in which he slams the FA and football fans for not wanting to change their outlook on football with black player and managers not given a fair chance.
“I believe if I was white, I would’ve been England captain for more than 10 years, it’s as simple as that.” he said in the biography by Simon Astaire.
“I don’t think it will change because they don’t want it to, and probably the majority of fans don’t want it, either,”
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And he added: “There is a ceiling and although no one has ever said it, I believes its made of glass.”
Mesut Ozil has insisted that he does not want to leave Real Madrid, despite Manchester United and Liverpool expressing an interest.
The German playmaker has been a long term transfer target for both clubs, and looked likely to make a move to the Premier League before joining Madrid two years previously.
Ozil has come under fire in recent weeks from coach Jose Mourinho, claiming that the German “lacks quality”, adding fuel to the fire regarding an impending transfer.
The midfielder has confirmed that he still will not be considering leaving the Bearnebau.
“When you play for Real Madrid, you cannot think of anything else,” he told the Mirror.
“I know nothing and I have no reason to leave.”
Ozil was dropped for the Champions League clash against Ajax, in which Madrid won 4-1, but was recalled to the starting line of the El Clasico against Barcelona which ended 2-2
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His performances earned rave reviews, but the German international claims he is not motivated by critics. He has certainly helped to quieten his critics, but finding a regular place in the starting line-up will be hard, considering Luka Modric is also waiting in the wings.
“I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, I do not play football to prove something to someone, but because I enjoy football,” he added.
Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Unai Emery as the north London club’s new head coach, replacing the legendary Arsene Wenger after a 22-year reign.
The Spaniard made his name in his home country with Valencia and Sevilla, winning three consecutive Europa League titles with the latter outfit before taking the PSG job in summer 2016.
Emery ended his stint in the French capital with a domestic treble, but couldn’t bring the Champions League success the Ligue 1 giants so desperately crave.
The 46-year-old becomes part of a new structure at Arsenal, which also includes Sven Mislintat as chief scout and Raul Sanllehi as head of football relations.
That makes Emery’s job title – head coach rather than manager – somewhat telling, highlighting a breakaway from the virtually unilateral power Wenger yielded for the vast majority of his generation-spanning stint in charge of the Gunners.
Emery actually broke the news ahead of schedule, mistakenly posting an image on his personal website on Tuesday evening that read “Proud to be part of the Arsenal family”. That’s perhaps why his appointment has been confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis told the club’s website; “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly. His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward.
“We conducted a confidential, wide-ranging and rigorous search involving extensive background references, data and video analysis, and personal meetings with all the candidates we shortlisted. All were interested in the position and we were unanimous in our choice of Unai to drive the next chapter of our history.”
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Do you think he’s a good appointment, Arsenal fans? Let us know by commenting below…
According to reports in the Daily Mail, Swansea City have made an enquiry to sign out of favour AC Milan striker Andre Silva having been rebuffed in an attempt to bring Atletico Madrid’s Kevin Gameiro to the Liberty Stadium.
New Swans boss Carlos Carvalhal is keen to bring in a new centre-forward before the January transfer window slams shut, with his team bottom of the table and four points from safety having only scored 14 goals in 23 Premier League matches this season.
Silva only joined AC Milan in a £32m deal from FC Porto last summer, but while he has impressed during their Europa League campaign he has struggled in Serie A, with French media outlet Le10Sport reporting in December that the 22-year-old has failed to live up to expectations since his move to the San Siro.
Meanwhile, Southampton are another team in danger of dropping into the Championship as they only lie one place and one point above the relegation zone following a disappointing campaign under Mauricio Pellegrino.
The Argentine boss will be desperate to boost his squad before January 31 – especially after losing out to Everton for top target Theo Walcott – and bringing Silva to St Mary’s could prove to be a shrewd move.
Here are three reasons Saints must hijack Swansea’s bid to sign the Portugal international…
They need a centre-forward
With Charlie Austin absent with a hamstring injury and expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future, Southampton are missing a target man in their side with Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini struggling to make an impact in that role.
Bringing Andre Silva to St Mary’s would certainly go some way to solving that issue as the 6ft 1in striker has proven he can perform well in the centre-forward spot for FC Porto, AC Milan and Portugal, and he looks to be available this month.
Goals
Soccer Football – Europa League – AC Milan vs Rijeka – San Siro, Milan, Italy – September 28, 2017 AC Milan’s Andre Silva celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
While Silva is yet to score a Serie A goal for AC Milan – although the majority of his 12 appearances have come from the substitutes’ bench – he has netted eight times in 10 Europa League outings.
Having found the net 24 times in 58 games for previous club Porto and with 11 in 18 caps for Portugal, the 22-year-old is decent in the air and has shown that he can score on a regular basis if he is given opportunities.
Southampton need a striker that can score consistently in the absence of Austin, and Silva may fit the bill.
Point to prove
Considering his impressive goal record in the Europa League, Silva will certainly feel hard done by that he has often found himself behind Nikola Kalinic – and sometimes youngster Patrick Cutrone – in the pecking order in Serie A.
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If the 22-year-old does move on this month – either on loan or on a permanent basis – he will certainly have a point to prove to AC Milan, and he will want to get on the goal trail before the World Cup this summer.
That is something that could be vital for Southampton as they look to secure their Premier League status this season.