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A stunning hat trick to send Manchester United through  in the Champions League doesn’t disguise the fact that there is something clearly not right with Robin van Persie this season.

The Dutchman, who was lauded as the key to United’s title triumph last season, has often been absent or cut a forlorn figure under new manager David Moyes.

With the club currently languishing in 7th place in the Premier League right now, van Persie is obviously not the only player at Old Trafford failing to replicate last season’s form.

Having featured in every league fixture during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final year in charge, the Dutchman has only appeared eighteen times in the same competition for Moyes in this campaign.

Although he managed to stay fit for the previous two seasons, injuries that had plagued the entirety of van Persie’s career seem to have returned to haunt him once more.

Even so, some will point to the fact that he has still notched 11 league goals in this injury-hit campaign as evidence that there is nothing wrong with the striker.

11 from 18 is a record that all strikers would be proud of.

But to suggest that all is well for the Dutchman at Old Trafford would be to ignore the player’s body language and performances at times this season.

Talks of a rift with David Moyes remain unfounded. Accusations mounted that van Persie’s numerous absences from the side were due to disputes rather than any injury. If all newspaper reports were to be believed, nearly every player at the club has had some issue with the manager this season.

But despite this, van Persie’s criticism of his team-mates “sometimes occupying the spaces I want to play in” after the first leg defeat in Greece revealed a very telling disillusionment at the club.

The Dutchman added in the same interview that his fellow United players are “often playing in my zones”, which forces him to alter his natural game.

How often does a player ever come out publicly and express concerns with the team’s tactics? Although he was very clear in not pointing the finger at Moyes, these remarkable comments reveal the striker’s discontent with his side’s setup this season.

In the discussion after the second leg triumph, the Sky Sports panel noted how Moyes’ alterations had managed to bring the best out of van Persie.

Gary Neville pointed out that the inclusion of Ryan Giggs’ forward passing from midfield and Danny Welbeck’s industry out wide served to create the space and opportunities that the Dutchman thrives upon.

For a player that was often decisive in fixtures last season, van Persie has been nothing more than a passenger in too many of the big games this year.

Heat maps and analyses of the Dutchman’s touches in some of these matches reveal just how little impact the striker has had in many of United’s disappointing results this season.

In the recent devastating home loss to Liverpool, the striker was essentially a bystander. Even with Adnan Januzaj, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney surrounding him, van Persie was unable to exert any influence on the game.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where journalists such as Neil Custis of The Sun have suggested that the club may actively look to sell the player in the summer. Talk of a return to Arsenal or a move to Juventus has been mooted.

Only last week, van Persie publicly outlined his intention to stay at the club. But the January arrival of Mata and Rooney’s recent contract extension perhaps suggests that United are planning for a future without the Dutchman.

The levels of finance involved in both of these deals implies that the pair are considered integral to Moyes’ plans.

Mata is clearly not suited to the wide role which the manager has at times asked him to occupy which begs the question, can these three players actually play in the same side?

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Injury plagued and thirty one in the summer, van Persie may be the one ousted either from the starting XI or even the club altogether.

Provided that the knock he suffered in the closing stages against Olympiakos doesn’t prove to be serious, maybe the hat trick will rejuvenate the striker and the club’s fortunes.

But there have been many false dawns at United this season. And something is still clearly not right with Robin van Persie.

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The Premier League is represented by 110 players in the World Cup – more than any other league in the world. And whilst we, in England, have a selection of the world’s greatest names in the sport, we look set to welcome a whole host of new stars to our shores come the start of the 2014-15 campaign.

During World Cup season, transfer speculation is rife, with everyone getting the chance to assess their team’s next top transfer target almost every day.

With unprecedented levels of excitement – attacking football, end-to-end games, goals galore – it’s hard to argue against the 2014 World Cup being the best on record.

Despite many big moves already having been made in the transfer window this summer, many more look set to occur, including a host of the World Cup’s top performers.

Here is a list of the top Premier League-bound performers this summer.

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Click here for the TEN players set for the Premier League

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Guillermo Ochoa

Mexico’s sturdy defence was greatly assisted by the heroics of Guillermo Ochoa. The Mexican stopper put in a man-of-the-match performance against Brazil, shutting out the hosts in a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Ochoa is currently a free agent after being released by Ajaccio following their relegation to Ligue 2. Liverpool and Arsenal are both reported to be seriously considering a move for him.

Ivan Perisic

Croatia were unable to progress beyond a tricky group, but this didn’t stop Perisic from doing what he could. The Wolfsburg winger was by far and away his country’s best performer in their three games, netting twice and getting one assist. He provided a constant threat from the left wing, impressing in the final third. Roberto Martinez has been strongly credited with an interest in Perisic as he looks to bolster Everton’s squad ahead of European football this season.

Alexis Sanchez

Chile were one of the surprise packages this summer, and found themselves very unfortunate to be eliminated on penalties against Brazil in their last 16 tie. Amongst their star players, Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez was the brightest as he scored twice, and beat players at will. The Spanish club are looking to cash in on the Chilean, with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool all being keen admirers.

Memphis Depay

Three substitute appearances have resulted in two goals so far this World Cup for PSV’s Memphis Depay. The lightning-fast winger has demonstrated his eye for goal in his three cameo roles, with game-changing performances each time. Manchester United are in serious need of fresh ideas, with their wide midfielders not providing enough creativity and goal threat last season. Depay has links with van Gaal, and could be on his way to Old Trafford.

Joel Campbell

Technically, Campbell is already a Premier League player, having been on the books of Arsenal since 2011. However, work permit issues have prevented him from making his club debut. Now, however, Campbell looks ready to step up to the plate for the Gunners. He is Costa Rica’s most potent threat up top, and put in a match-winning display as they upset the odds, beating Uruguay 3-1 in their opening match before topping the ‘Group of Death’. He will be given a chance to impress with the Gunners in pre-season, and could finally make his mark in England this year.

Enner Valencia

The tragic passing of Ecuador’s captain and star striker, Christian Benitez, last year struck the nation deeply. Enner Valencia was tasked with shouldering much of the vacated attacking burden, and he performed admirably as Ecuador fell at the group stage. Three goals in as many games, and some powerful displays to go along with his goal return, have alerted the likes of Newcastle and West Ham. Currently based in Mexico, Valencia will no doubt be intrigued by Premier League interest.

Jefferson Montero

Another Ecuadorian who took the chance to shine in Brazil was Jefferson Montero – also based in Mexico. The left winger’s speed and fast feet in possession caused problems as Ecuador briefly threatened to qualify through to the last 16. He has recently announced he will come to Europe this summer, with both West Ham and Arsenal having been attributed with an interest in bringing the £4 million-rated winger to the Premier League.

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Xherdan Shaqiri

It took until Switzerland’s final group game for Shaqiri to come to the fore, but when he finally arrived, it was worth the wait. A classy hat-trick against Honduras, including a wondrous 25-yard strike, helped secure his country’s progression into the first knockout round. The diminutive winger is Switzerland’s primary creative threat, but he doesn’t have the same importance at club level. Liverpool are hot on his case, and look certain to finalise a deal for him this summer.

Emmanuel Emenike

Nigeria managed to progress from Group F with favourites, Argentina, and the industry of Emmanuel Emenike up top has been no small contributory factor. He tormented Bosnian defender, Emir Spahic, all evening as the Super Eagles triumphed 1-0, virtually securing qualification. The combination of physical might and powerful running is a nightmarish prospect for any defence. Chelsea have been strongly linked with the Fenerbahce man as Jose Mourinho tries to strengthen a weak front line at Stamford Bridge.

Divock Origi

In a team full of Premier League stars, Belgium’s biggest threat this summer has been 19-year-old striker, Divock Origi. The Lille man was an unknown quantity for most in England until the past few weeks, but three substitute appearances have alerted the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham to his talents. He has the pace to run in behind defenders, and likes to pick the ball up and beat his marker. A winner to secure qualification against Russia capped off what has been a great World Cup so far for Origi. He looks destined for a Premier League switch in due course.

There’s only four days remaining of the summer transfer window but plenty of work is still to be done at Manchester United.

The Red Devils wrapped up a record-breaking deal for Angel Di Maria earlier this week, yet few would argue, following a shock 4-0 defeat to MK Dons, that United’s squad is ready for the Premier League campaign.

As deadline day looms however major deals become less and less likely, forcing clubs to seek last-minute viable alternatives.

So with that in mind and Jim White filling up the gas tank on the Sky Sports News helicopter, here’s SIX deadline day deals – some surprising, others less so, that the Carrington outfit could (and should) make.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON DANTE TO REVEAL ALL

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DANTE

A suggestion fuelled by conjecture perhaps, but could we see Manchester United make a late bid for Bayern Munich centre-back Dante?

Manchester United have taken a look at the Brazil international before, and could be enticed to revive their interest now that the German Champions have wrapped up a deal for Roma sensation Mehdi Benatia.

The 30 year-old endured a disappointing World Cup, with his only appearance coming amid Selacao’s 7-1 semi-final thrashing at the hands of Germany. But he’s been incredibly consistent after moving to the Allianz Arena in 2012, as shown in the below statistics, notching up an incredible eight trophies since:

Here’s a look at the 6 foot 2 defender in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/-yO0SYaI-UQ?rel=0

As you can see, his greatest gift is winning the ball back and quickly moving it in the right direction. Manchester United need a defender like that right now, and the Bundesliga veteran would further add crucial experience to an incredibly young Red Devils defence, the oldest member being 26 year-old Johnny Evans.

Dante signed a one-year contract extension back in March but that suggests more that the Barvarians are protecting his value, rather than warding off viable suitors. The South American is still rated at around the £20million mark however and United will be reluctant to spend such a costly sum on a 30 year-old.

RON VLAAR

Paul Lambert claims he’s yet to receive an offer for key centre-back Ron Vlaar, but after an impressive World Cup campaign with the Netherlands, he’s been billed as a potential Manchester United target for much of the summer:

Concrete Ron may not be the most talented centre-back to ever grace Old Trafford but he’s as tough as, well, concrete, and Manchester United’s youthful three-man defence is crying out for a dominant figure to take on the central centre-back role.

The Aston Villa skipper would fit that requirement, having shone as the inside centre-back in Holland’s 3-5-2 formation at the World Cup. As viewable below, he showed outstanding form in Brazil:

Here’s a look at the defender in action for Oranje:

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He may not be the world-class centre-back United fans are hoping for but they’re a bit of a rare breed nowadays. And after losing out on Mats Hummels, who is now Borussia Dortmund captain, the 29 year-old would be an interesting short-term alternative.

NIGEL DE JONG

Another budget Dutchman reportedly in Manchester United’s transfer crosshairs is AC Milan defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong:

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The 29 year-old, affectionately known as ‘The Lawn-mower’ for his bone-crunching tackles, was one of the better of a bad bunch at AC Milan last season and enjoyed a solid World Cup campaign with Oranje, as detailed below:

United’s midfield lacks physical menace but De Jong offers it in abundance. His Premier League experience is a major advantage too, having spent four seasons and won the English title with noisy neighbours Manchester City.

Here’s a look at the kind of ball-winning service De Jong provides:

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Admittedly, sometimes he can be little overzealous:

And Manchester United will expect to land De Jong on the cheap, with the midfielder’s San Siro contract set to expire at the end of the season. It’s been alleged they could prize the Netherlands international away for as little as £8million.

ALEX SONG

Manchester United’s midfield is in serious need of reinforcements, so it’s rather fortuitous that Barcelona have placed a talented midfielder virtually in their laps.

Allegedly, after struggling to impress during his two seasons at the Nou Camp, the Catalans are prepared to let the 26 year-old leave on a loan deal this summer – no fee required – with the view to take his services permanently for £8million.

Song’s no world-beater but he’s well proven at Premier League and Champions League level, having amassed 217 appearances during a seven-year stay with Arsenal. And in his last top flight campaign, the Cameroon international claimed an impressive eleven assists.

Here’s a look at Song in action for the Gunners:

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There are certainly more attractive targets on Manchester United’s radar but if their arduous pursuit of Juventus star Arturo Vidal comes to no avail, expect their interest in Song to rapidly increase.

MARCO REUS

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed reports that Marco Reus will be allowed to leave this summer, but until Borussia Dortmund tie down their star forward to new terms, Manchester United will be determined to prize him away from Westfalen.

The 25 year-old unfortunately missed the World Cup through injury, but he was in absolutely lethal form last season, as detailed below, earning him the Bundesliga’s Player of the Year award:

Reus can adopt the roles of scorer or creator, capable of playing anywhere across the front or as a No.10. But his immense technical qualities are underpinned by his road-runner pace – something which the current United squad is desperately lacking in. Here’s a look at Reus in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/rlYrndbblKk?rel=0

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The Germany international would give Louis van Gaal great options in attack – paralleling the goalscoring exploits of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, or allowing him to return to his more favoured 4-3-3 formation, used at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax. Perhaps most importantly, his pace would add a new, more direct dimension to the Red Devils going forward.

And as previously stated, Reus finds himself in a rather unique and appealing transfer situation. A £20million release clause was revealed earlier this month, and although it’s not set to come into effect until next summer, Dortmund will be aware that they’ll get a significantly greater mark-up on the Mannschaft forward if they sell now. Or more specifically, on deadline day.

Juan Cuadrado

It was assumed Manchester United’s pursuit of Juan Cuadrado was left dead in the water following the signing of Angel Di Maria, with the Carrington club’s transfer attentions firmly set on other targets, namely Arturo Vidal.

But the Fiorentina winger has given United a way back in, should they choose to take it, after refusing to rule out an Old Trafford switch earlier this week:

The Colombia international was nothing short of incredible in Serie A last season, as detailed below, and did his price-tag no harm at the World Cup, tipping the tournament’s assists charts:

That includes this rather special set-up to James Rodriguez:

Combining his pace, trickery, athleticism and ability to finish from long-range, this goal typifies the 26 year-old:

//www.youtube.com/embed/DUlRxcSaxZo

Furthermore, Cuadrado is incredibly versatile. He’s predominantly considered a winger, but featured in a plethora of positions for Fiorentina last season and has also been billed as Dani Alves’ successor at Barcelona.

That could make him the perfect choice as the right wing-back in Louis van Gaal’s 3-4-1-2 system, and the midfielder is rated at around £32million.

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Who remembers Ravel Morrison? You know – the guy that was once Manchester United’s best young talent and the same at West Ham. Just another wasted talent?

Sir Alex Ferguson once described Ravel as the most talented player he’d had during his time with United – quite an accolade when you consider the wealth of talent that has come through the ranks during that time, especially the ‘class of 92’.

Morrison then moved to West Ham after Sir Alex finally lost his patience. After moving to Upton Park and after an initial struggle to settle, he exploded onto the scene with a wonder goal vs Spurs. His performances were incredibly exciting to West Ham fans as he was far and away the standout player during the early part of a dismal season. Morrison was also finally receiving the mentoring and guidance under the wing of Kevin Nolan.

Following a loan spell towards the end of the season to QPR, Ravel returned to West Ham and was involved in the pre-season with the Hammers. However, after coming on as a substitute against Southampton he was deemed surplus to requirements as the Irons changed their formation and subsequently excluding the need for another attacking midfielder.

He was effectively chosen behind Kevin Nolan, and he’s not the most liked man in East London so Big Sam was criticised for his decision to let Morrison out on loan as he joined Cardiff City up until December.

Yet, so far, the 21-year-old has started only one game for Cardiff and made five appearances as a substitute. Unsurprisingly, during that time, he has failed to score or assist a single goal. The Bluebirds are currently sitting mid-table of the Championship and yet Morrison is yet to convince Russell Slade that he is worthy of a starting place.

Meanwhile, West Ham have had a somewhat dream start to life this season and sit joint on points with Arsenal after the first 10 games. When things are going so well, there’s nothing to moan about, and even Allardyce is starting to get some praise. Consequently, you rarely hear Ravel’s name murmured around the Boleyn Ground anymore – a shame really.

I, along with many West Ham fans, was a massive fan of the 21-year-old and had not seen a youngster with as much potential as Ravel at West Ham in a long time. However, despite still being a West Ham player and possibly due for return as a Christmas present, he’s starting to become a distant memory.

At the end of the day, if he can’t prove himself at Cardiff in the final two months of his loan spell then he certainly won’t be getting back into this West Ham side anytime soon.

He’s gone from the best of a bad bunch, to a fringe player not deemed worthy of a place on the bench. That may tell more about the improvements of the club over the past year than of the player himself, but a lot has been said about his attitude and there is no other reason why a player of his ability shouldn’t be cutting it in the Premier League.

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Watch below to see Ravel Morrison’s latest antics as he got only a yellow for slapping Bolton’s Darren Pratley during Cardiff’s 3-0 defeat on Tuesday.

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Although it is highly unlikely that Brendan Rodgers will be sacked during the course of this season due to his success in the previous campaign, Liverpool may still need to look towards the future whilst keeping their options open.

The Reds aren’t having the best start so far, with shock losses to Aston Villa, West Ham United, and most recently Newcastle United punctuating a difficult start.

If Rodgers fails to see his squad improve in the coming weeks, the board could decide to let him finish the current campaign before they consider their search for a new manager.

However, based on how they perform, here are FIVE potential candidates they should consider if the worst case scenario does take place.

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CLICK ON JURGEN KLOPP TO SEE THE FULL LIST

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Harry Redknapp

Name:Harry Redknapp

Age: 67

Nationality: England

Current Club: Queens Park Rangers

Having been part of the English game for most of his career, both as a player as well as a manager, his knowledge of the Premier League could be seen as an asset should Liverpool decide to consider a new boss. He was also linked with the Anfield job in the past and could be once again if a vacancy does open up.

He isn’t enjoying the best time at Queens Park Rangers at the moment with his side currently in the relegation zone after 10 matches. Depending on how QPR do during the course of the season, Redknapp is surely under pressure to prove his worth to the club.

Rafael Benitez

Name:Rafael Benitez

Age: 54

Nationality: Spain

Current Club: Napoli

Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could also be in the running to return to Anfield after managing the club from 2004-2010. He enjoyed a rather successful spell, winning the FA Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.

Benitez is already a proven manager and could be the spark the Reds need in order to dominate in Europe once more. He was also previously interim manager at Chelsea in the 2012-2013 season where his squad were crowned UEFA Europa League champions.

Jamie Carragher

Name:Jamie Carragher

Age: 36

Nationality: England

Current Club: None

The possibility of Jamie Carragher stepping up as the next Liverpool coach at the moment is rather slim, but he could become one in the future should the club consider him as a candidate. Having spent his entire senior career at Anfield, making over 500 appearances, he is someone who knows everything there  is to know about the squad.

He could start as an assistant, similar to what Ryan Giggs is doing at Manchester United before eventually stepping up to the plate when the time is right. He also previously revealed that he believes he could be a very good Liverpool manager.

Diego Simeone

Name:Diego Simeone

Age: 44

Nationality: Argentina

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Current Club: Atletico Madrid

When it comes to picking a successful manager, Diego Simeone’s name easily comes to mind. In only two short years, he turned Atletico Madrid into a championship winning side, picking up five titles from 2011-2014. One huge achievement was to be crowned La Liga champions, beating both Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona to the award.

Although he has never managed in the Premier League, his hard-man coaching style and passion for success could be exactly what Liverpool need to guide them back into the top four. The club undoubtedly has the quality, but they might need someone who is willing to push the players week-in-week-out to guarantee the results.

Jurgen Klopp

Name:Jurgen Klopp

Age: 47

Nationality: Germany

Current Club: Borussia Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp is one of the most notable managers due to his passionate coaching methods, especially when seen screaming and urging his team from the sidelines. He enjoyed huge success with Borussia Dortmund in the past few seasons, picking up two consecutive Bundesliga titles and even coming second in the UEFA Champions League only the way.

He is a manager that is constantly being linked with a move to the English Premier League with a number of clubs already considering him as their next manager. Chelsea, Manchester City, as well as Manchester United were said to be after him at the end of the previous season and is also tipped to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. If Klopp ever decides to leave Germany, many believe his next destination will definitely be the English Premier League.

Dwight Gayle’s favourite pass-time is scoring against Liverpool

The Crystal Palace striker is hardly what you’d call a prolific striker, well, he would be if the Eagles could play Liverpool 38 times a season! The 24-year-old striker added to his three goals in two Premier League appearances against Brendan Rodgers side by equalising for Palace in the first-half.

Rickie Lambert is a better option that Mario Balotelli

On his day, no matter how rare they’re, Balotelli is up there as one of the best strikers in world football, however, as of yet, it hasn’t quite worked for the former Manchester City striker on Anfield. Rickie Lambert was given a start against Palace today, with Balotelli not even in the matchday squad. And it didn’t take the former Southampton man long to find the back of the net and in turn, give Brendan some food for thought.

Brendan Rodgers is on thin ice

Four defeats on the bounce for Liverpool now and they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League; you have to question how patient Liverpool’s board are? Will Rodgers be given time to turn this around?

Southampton have been truly exceptional so far this season, and at the forefront of their success is skipper Jose Fonte. The defender has been as solid as a rock in the Saints defence, and he is a major factor of why Ronald Koeman’s side are exceeding all expectations.

Fonte celebrated a new three-year deal at St Mary’s in August by being handed the captaincy by Koeman. Championship side Cardiff City had a £3m bid rejected by the Saints in July, as the 31-year-old pledged his future to Southampton. But nobody, not even Fonte himself, could have envisioned just how well the Saints’ new-look team would be doing, or how he would become their most vital player.

Pundits Garth Crooks, Glenn Hoddle and Jamie Carragher – are just a few names who have praised the Portuguese defender recently. The ex-Crystal Palace star was faultless in Southampton’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, and he just emphasised his importance on the side even further. Fonte stifled the likes of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria, and in truth United’s superstars didn’t get too much of a look in. The Portugal international didn’t put a foot wrong in Southampton’s FA Cup third round replay with Ipswich Town on Wednesday either – as the Saints won 1-0 at Portman Road, with Fonte as dominant as ever.

Fonte has been at St Mary’s ever since the Saints were battling it out in League One. The skipper has been part of Southampton’s monumental rise all the way from the third tier of English football – to third in the Barclays Premier League. In his five years with the Saints, the South Coast club have gained back-to-back promotions to the top flight, and have had two very successful years in the Premier League – developing every year.

As for this season, it’s been truly remarkable for everyone involved with the club. After the well documented loss of the majority of their stars (apart from Fonte) and indeed their manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Saints were widely predicted to struggle this season. But with the arrival of the experienced boss Ronald Koeman, who’s had spells of managing the likes of Ajax, Benfica and most recently Feyenoord, they had a more than capable manger coming into St Mary’s.

The Dutchman’s shrewdness in the Summer Transfer Window, has been another major factor of the Saints’ success this term. The likes of Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic, Fraser Forster and Shane Long – to name a few, have all been outstanding. But keeping hold of Morgan Schneiderlin and Jose Fonte, could well have been the best bit of business Southampton did over the summer – the St Mary’s faithful will be hoping their club can keep hold of these two, as they push for a European place.

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It’s anyone’s guess how far the Saints can go this season – After two outstanding results against Arsenal and Manchester United recently, and with four wins in their last five Premier League outings, the Saints are going to be extremely hard to dislodge from the top four places.

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Everton have had a tough season, results have not quite gone as planned on the pitch and an endless list of injuries have left them languishing in mid-table.

The Toffees’ draw against Swansea at the weekend means they are unbeaten in the last four but boss Roberto Martinez is still feeling the strain. After dropping out of the Europa Cup after losing to Dynamo Kiev, Everton fans have been looking for someone to blame. It has been an extremely disappointing season – they have struggled to perform and after a 5th place finish last season fans were expecting a lot better.

Martinez is currently 50/1 to be sacked but has been as low as 6/1 during the season. Everton’s chairman is famed for his loyalty but in this day and age no one is immune from losing their job. While things have started improve with their first back-to-back wins since October, many involved in the club are not happy with how their season has progressed.

Recently graffiti appeared at Goodison Park saying “Martinez out” and “Not good enough” which show some fans have grown angry at the way their team is performing. After beginning the season with genuine hopes of being able to compete for a Champions League place and really challenge in the Europa League fans are looking towards the man in charge for someone to blame. While these fans are still in a small minority it only takes one person to think it before others join in.

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One of Everton’s biggest issues has been with injury. Since Martinez arrived 18th months ago 13 players have had an incredible 22 hamstring injuries between them. It is clear that something needs to be looked into about the training plans of the squad – something is not right and it needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.

Martinez is seen among many as a stubborn manager. He has shown a reluctance to adapt and change his style when things have been going wrong. Sam Allardyce is another who refuses to change his ways and it looks like he will be heading out of the West Ham door before next season. Could the same be about to happen to Martinez?

When Martinez took over at Everton in 2013 he spoke very clearly about building a team for the long term. This season Tim Howard, Sylvain Distin and Gareth Barry appear to have shown their age while last season’s star, Ross Barkley has struggled to emulate his success. Before fans make their decision on Martinez they need to see how he builds his team in the summer. If they get to Christmas next season and things haven’t changed and problems haven’t been addressed, then the cries of “Martinez out” will be a lot louder.

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While this season has been a huge test for those involved in the club many believe that in the long term Martinez’s decisions will pay off. It is unlikely that Martinez will be sacked now. It will be all down to how he plays the summer transfer window as to whether he will still be in a job this time next year.

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A massive transfer fee is a burden for some players. It is something they will have to justify during their time at the club that dug deep to secure their services.

Fernando Torres never lived up to his £50million fee whilst at Chelsea, and Angel Di Maria is struggling to justify his at Old Trafford this season. And Luke Shaw is no exception. He is the most expensive teenager in the world, and his debut season as a Manchester United player has not been all he’d hoped.

But the best is yet to come for Shaw.

He may not have been the key player of the season, but when given the opportunity, Shaw has made the most of his minutes. His Manchester United debut was their home game against West Ham, and Shaw was outstanding. He came back from the criticism given by Louis Van Gaal over his fitness in pre season and proved his worth.

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Shaw has dipped in and out of the squad, and has been no stranger to injuries. But, in the first half of the season almost every United player picked up some form of injury. He has had problems with his ankle this season – a knock he picked up against Arsenal – and missed a few weeks of playing time.

Yet having not played regular football, and with Daley Blind sidelined, Shaw made his return to the side at Stamford Bridge last weekend. United may not have been able to pick up the three points, but they played exceptionally well against the league leaders. And Shaw’s performance stood out alone. With youth being dropped for experience in the last few weeks, it was important for Shaw to prove his worth, and he did just that.

Youth is a advantage factor for Luke Shaw. Whilst it is on his side, in the case of being chosen over older and more ‘tired’ legs, it is also the justification of why the media need to lay off the youngster. He is only 19-years-old, and if he isn’t putting in his best performances week in week out, there is still time for him to perfect his craft.

Although he is in the same league, he still has to adjust to a new manager, new tactics, new formations, and most importantly with Louis Van Gaal, a new philosophy.

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If he can keep fit next season, he’ll undoubtedly live up to his price tag and show why he was the world’s most expensive teenager.

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Manchester United legend Andy Cole does not believe Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane is ready to move to Old Trafford, according to reports from the Mirror.

Kane has been heavily linked with a switch to United following an incredible breakthrough season, in which the 21-year-old scored 31 goals in all competitions.

And the Red Devils are reportedly mulling over a £40million offer for the striker, who is currently on international duty with the England U-21s.

Manchester United Transfer News | Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News

However, ex-United forward Cole insists that the pressure to play for United would be too much, and that the club should look elsewhere for a consistent goalscorer.

“There’s talk of Harry Kane,” said Cole. “He’s had a brilliant first season, but [just] half a season really good.

“But can he come to Manchester United – if it is true – for £40m and bring what the club need?

“I think the kid’s talented, but we have to be honest. He’s had half a season where everything went for him – penalties at the keeper and rebounds coming straight to his feet.

“He’s scored some goals. But to take that leap – because your second season in the Premier League is always tough – if it did happen and to leave Tottenham and come to Man United and for them to pin all their hopes on him.

“For the money, and if it did happen, that’s a helluva lot of pressure. United need to compete in Europe and for the championship as well. He [Kane] is a baby, still learning his trade.”

Cole then suggested that his former club should instead invest £60million to sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, whom he rates as the best in the Premier League.

“If I was being cheeky, I’d say, ‘I’ll give you £60m for Aguero’ because Aguero – when fit – is the best centre-forward in the Premier League. Fit, firing, he’s unbelievable. You can imagine him playing alongside Wayne Rooney.

“It wouldn’t be bad, would it?”

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Cole scored 121 goals during his eight years with Man United, in which he won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one Champions League trophy.

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