Hamburg’s Sporting Director Frank Arnesen says the club will do everything to keep South Korea star Heung-Min Son, with a new deal forthcoming.
Son has impressed in the the Bundesliga this season and scored twice in Hamburg’s 2-1 win over Mainz on Saturday, taking his tally to 11 goals in 28 appearances.
Son, who arrived from FC Seoul in 2008, has just over a year left on his current deal but Arnesen is keen to sort out new terms and ward off interest from other clubs, with Tottenham reportedly leading the chase.
“Son, with his 20 years, is one of the players we would really like to keep hold of,” he told Sky Sports. “We are willing to push ourselves to our pain barrier for him.
“He still has a year to go on his contract and we haven’t had any offers from other clubs. We are at a good stage with him and his contract extension so I am positive that we will extend with him for the long term.
“We have to ensure that we extend his contract as quickly as possible so that he can be settled.”
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Son has been linked with a move to some of the top German sides, while scouts from Serie A, the Premier League and La Liga have also shown an interest in him this season.
Olivier Giroud starts a three-match suspension following his red card against Fulham. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (rib) is also missing, while Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski are vying for a starting spot in attack.
Manchester United are expected to bring Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic back into their defence. Johnny Evans is a doubt with a injury, while Michael Carrick is struggling with a knock and could be replaced in midfield by Phil Jones.
What the managers said…
“I am looking forward to our performance on Sunday more than anything else. You focus on your own team and it’s an interesting opportunity for us to achieve something special on Sunday. We want to take this opportunity. We respect Robin van Persie like every other player who has left us and came back to the Emirates. I want the player to be respected like everybody else. I always said that for every single player who left, even some of them in much more controversy than Robin van Persie.” Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will ‘respect’ Robin Van Persie (Guardian Sport)
“I don’t really bother about it and I don’t think Robin should bother about it either. There was a bit of booing when he played against Arsenal at Old Trafford and you probably expect a portion of the fans to do that. That’s the modern generation and modern society, I’m afraid. But I’m glad Arsene has done that (guard of honour) because when they came to Old Trafford some years back and Wiltord scored the only goal we did that, and that’s what great clubs should do.” Sir Alex Ferguson has told Van Persie to ignore the boos when he returns to Arsenal for the first time (Daily Mail)
Pre-match Statistic: Arsenal have scored 18 times in the final quarter of games this season, which is slightly more than Manchester United’s total of 15.
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Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United
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Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have now put Robin van Persie’s departure behind them as they chase third place in the Premier League.
The Frenchman accepts that it took his side a while to adjust to life without him after their former captain and star striker moved to Manchester United last summer.
Wenger’s own position at the Emirates Stadium has even been called into question by critics at times this season, with the Gunners at one point dropping as low as 10th in the Premier League.
However, Wenger’s men have regrouped well since seemingly dropping out of contention for a top-four finish, with the Frenchman pin-pointing the Champions League win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena as the catalyst for their upturn in form.
As a result of their improvement, third place isn’t now beyond them either heading into tomorrow’s final game at Newcastle, although they do need Chelsea to slip up to Everton.
Wenger feels it is testament to the strength of character of a squad which was rebuilt around Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud following the acrimonious departure of captain Van Persie to Manchester United for £24million.
The Gunners boss said: “This team suffered for a very long time from a lack of confidence because you take the talisman away – Robin van Persie – and get the new players in, then you lose the first big games and suddenly we are faced with scepticism around the team. You could see that.
“That was the problem and balancing the team took a while, to find a formula to have a good balance in the team. Since this has been back, we have been very efficient.
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“The Bayern Munich away game was very important, you could feel after that we could do it, that helped.
“I never felt this team lacked focus or desire to do well but we lacked confidence for a while.”
The relationship between Mike Ashley and Newcastle supporters has always been cordial at best, and insufferable at worst, but following yet another summer of false promises, the St. James’s faithful are set to launch a new wave of protests against the rule of the Magpies owner with a march before their Premier League clash with Liverpool tomorrow afternoon, headed by a group named ‘Time for Change’.
We’ve been here before with Mike Ashley; iconic images of the ‘Cockney Mafia out’ banner draped across the stands at St. James’s Park live long in the memory, and the club and the fans almost reached the point of civil war when former manager Kevin Keegan resigned 2008.
Now however, the fans seem more serious than ever in trying to force the Sports Direct mogul out of the club, playing on the fact their home fixture with Liverpool will be aired live and therefore their mass protest will receive nationwide coverage, whilst a more militant sub group of disgruntled fans have even suggested a boycott of Newcastle’s Capital One Cup tie with Leeds.
Few supporters would actively turn their backs on their club at the worst of times, so for the idea to circulate enough to be mentioned in the Newcastle Chronicle, there must be a strong section of the Newcastle fanbase that are reaching the point of no return.
And with that in mind, we ask, is it finally time for Mike Ashley to sell Newcastle United, as it appears pre-existing wounds cannot be re-healed.
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Newcastle have always held a naturally comedic place in the structure of English football; Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and Kevin Keegan are but a few of the inadvertent humorous personalities that have plied their trade on Tyneside.
But there’s now a feeling that Ashley has turned the club into a ‘laughing stock’, to paraphrase Shearer himself, and the joke has gone too far following the re-appointment of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football at the start of the summer.
Admittedly, interactions with the press aren’t everybody’s strong point, and even during his days at Wimbledon the former Ireland international wasn’t one for pleasantries. But there isn’t much of a greater public relations faux pas than Kinnear’s ad hoc interview with TalkSport earlier in the summer that pre-dated his official appointment, in which he referred to Newcastle’s French midfielder as ‘Yohan Kebab’ and the Magpies’ former Managing Director Derek Llambias, the man Kinnear was essential replacing, as ‘Derek Lambeze’.
That was embarrassing enough for Magpies fans, considering Kinnear already had an incredibly negative track-record with the supporters from his controversial tenure as Newcastle boss back in 2008, but he then continued by making audacious claims about his ability to attract any player he wanted to Newcastle via his illustrious list of contacts, that included Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.
The proof would be in the pudding this summer, and Kinnear has failed to deliver by epic proportions. Alan Pardew, who remains an almost as unpopular figure as Kinner and Ashley amongst certain sections of Magpies fans, promised new signings in the transfer window working alongside his new Director of Football, but three months’ worth of graft in the transfer market over the summer only saw two signings on Tyneside – 16-year-old Olivier Kemen and Loic Remy on a season-long loan from QPR.
In total, that’s no permanent senior additions to a Newcastle squad that showed it’s intrinsic flaws on more than one occasion last term as they recorded 19 Premier League defeats and finished just five points clear of relegation in 16th place. Rather than admitting defeat however, Kinnear argued in an interview with The Mirror; ” Alan Pardew has signed 16 players costing £60m in the last two years, Newcastle United’s wage bill is now comfortably in the top 10 in the country”, which a Newcastle fan later informed me was untrue.
But to suggest Kinnear’s appointment and actions since are the be-all-and-end-all of the anger Newcastle fans have shown towards Ashley would be incorrect. Their disdain for the running of the club is centred around a combination of issues, including the fact the Magpies owner has continually sold Newcastle’s best players for profit without putting a paralelled level of finance back into the club for new signings. Steve Harper commented after his testimonial that Newcastle require heavy investment if they are to ever get back into the Premier League’s top half, and the fear on Tyneside is that Ashley is now pushing the club to the edge of an incredibly slippery slope that could lead to another shock relegation.
At the same time, Alan Pardew has been a source of intense frustration for the fans. What he actually contributes positively to the first team remains unclear; his tactics are outdated and ineffective, the right to buy and sell players has been taken away from him by Kinnear’s appointment as Director of Football, and his post-match analyses often verge on deluded. It seems the vast majority of what Pardew offers is his ability to produce Tony-Blair-esque sound bites during press conferences. Under Ashley, the Newcastle boss has always appeared little more than a comedic stooge.
Overall, there isn’t much positive to say about Ashley’s leadership in recent years. A team that finished in 5th place two seasons ago is now a shadow of its former self, and for the sake of profit there seems to be little the Magpies owner is willing to do about it. At the same time, the sponsorship deal with Wonga, leading to a fall-out with striker Papiss Cisse, illustrated how little Ashley has considered Newcastle’s reputation and their uniquely vital standing in the local community.
But the problem emerges in imagining life without Ashley. In 2008, the Sports Direct founder put Newcastle up for sale after widespread criticism from the Newcastle faithful following Keegan’s resignation, but a year later he took the Tyneside club off the market after failing to find any potential suitors. A Kuwaiti consortium was linked last summer, but no official contact was ever made.
And history could well repeat itself if Ashley is once again forced to try and sell, with little offers for Newcastle football club on the horizon, despite the outfit’s obvious potential; few Premier League sides can claim a regular maxed out attendance of 52,000, or carry the prestigious history of the Magpies in the English game.
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I share the opinion of the vast majority of Newcastle supporters that it’s time for Ashley to move on. The problems between the owner and the fans seem intrinsic and irreparable, and apart from the occasional strong performance from the first team, there’s been little for the St. James’s faithful to be proud about over the last few years. It’s created a toxic environment on Tyneside, that can only be detrimental to the players’ efforts on the pitch, and thus Newcastle’s future.
But before Ashley can sell, he needs a buyer; one of the main aims of the march ahead of tomorrow’s game is to attract a potential suitor, and if the Newcastle fans can find one, I believe their despised owner would be convinced to part company. At this point, too many bridges have been burned to produce a positive outcome whilst Ashley is still around.
Tottenham are a side devoid of the swagger and adventure that had made them such a popular side in seasons past. The Premier League club have been reliant on an almost impenetrable defence to guide them to their lofty fourth placed position, surely Spurs are operating on borrowed time?
Nine goals from 10 games would be a return to worry any manager, and considering the ambitions of the North London club you would imagine it has given AVB one or two sleepless nights. It would be wrong for me to say this wasn’t a concern, continue in this vein and one or two of the narrow victories could easily turn into defeat, Spurs need to react fast or risk being left behind.
Sunday epitomised this exact trend, large periods of meaningless possession without any apparent drive or end product. Spurs looked directionless, Everton had far fewer attacks but when they did they broke with pace and looked all the more incisive for it.
It seems a little odd therefore that Spurs while being branded unadventurous and defensive minded have both the second best possession share and the most shots in the league. Are Spurs just not being clinical enough?
[cat_link cat=”tottenham” type=”list”]
For me it is a little more complicated than that. Spurs may well have large amounts of possession and shots, but on the whole they are long-range and pretty hopeful. I would struggle to recall more than a couple of moments on Sunday where Spurs actually had a meaningful opportunity in the box, a serious cause for concern when you have a £26m striker in your line-up.
People seem to have mislabelled Soldado as a sort of Jermain Defoe on steroids, yes he is a potent finisher but Spurs in reality are getting so much more than that. During his time at Valencia he showed his very best when operating on the shoulder of the last man or in and around the penalty spot with players breaking free out wide, food for thought in my opinion.
At Spurs due to AVB’s apparent obsession with ‘inverted wingers’ he simply doesn’t get this service. Narrow and congested, the service, while still there, is woefully inadequate. You can bandy about pass completion stats as much as you like, but the reality is that Soldado’s service is second rate. Often receiving the ball deep with his back to goal, or in other cases an extremely hopefully driven long ball, it isn’t surprising that the Spaniard is struggling.
The bedding in argument is valid, two months isn’t long enough for a team to gel and settle, the relationships between players just isn’t there. This is more a question of patience rather than anything else and by that token it will come of its own volition.
My worry is that there is a more systemic problem at Spurs.
Playing at a pedestrian like pace in the middle of the park, in no small part down to Paulinho and Sandro’s tentative and unambitious passing games, Spurs are predictable and readable. Then you have Lennon and Townsend cutting in off either flank, running almost from one side to the other with no obvious means of breaking through opposition back lines. Teams facing Spurs are all too happy to give up possession in the middle third because unless someone scores an absolute screamer there is little or no risk to their goal. Spurs’ chance creation and shooting stats are misleading in this sense; Townsend or Sigurdsson having a largely circumspect shy at goal doesn’t really count for much in the context of the match.
Spurs need to start stretching opposition. It could be a question of actually settling for less possession and allowing the team to counter with pace. Lennon and Townsend are both menacing when running from deep and when exploiting the flanks, the current blueprint just doesn’t seem to necessitate this.
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For me the jury is still out on Paulinho, I would much rather see someone with a bit more energy and desire to go forward lining up in a deeper role. Spurs look so much more penetrative with either Dembele or Holtby occupying this deep-lying role. Currently those that dictate the tempo for Spurs are doing so at a snail’s pace, something that even the most disorganised Sunday league outfit could probably snuff out.
The concern at Spurs isn’t an overreaction, clearly an inability to score goals is a problem for a side with the aspirations that Spurs have. Yet, this isn’t a question of unrelenting doom and gloom, a couple of tweaks in the coming weeks and we could well see a firing Spurs side asserting their dominance onto the score sheet.
Are a lack of meaningful chances at Tottenham a cause for concern?
We love a period of transition in English football; we simply can’t get away from it. A team goes on a run of five or six bad results; it’s usually because they’re in a transition. A poor transfer window is normally indicative rather than the consequence of a period of transition.
The England national team is no different. Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard, cornerstones of the “golden generation,” are coming to the end of their careers. One or two of those individuals may even move on from their current club at the end of the season. The leaning is now on youth and the next wave. We as a country jump on those who are perceived to be the next big thing: Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend. It’s very much a state of transition for Roy Hodgson and the FA.
It’s why I can’t really understand the sense in bringing John Terry back into the fold. Even if thoughts don’t turn into actions, the simple fact that the idea is being discussed is baffling. The last thing Hodgson needs going into a World Cup in South America is negative publicity.
In some respects it’s the easy way out. Hodgson isn’t spoilt for choice ahead of this summer, most notably at centre-back. Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka for now look to be the first-choice pairing, but beyond that there are no certainties. With Terry back in the fold as a regular at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho, the temptation is understandable.
But it wouldn’t just be for footballing reasons. With Terry it never is. There’s so much baggage that comes with the Chelsea captain that there can be little doubt that he simply doesn’t have a place in the England setup going forward. One of the important questions that need to be asked is whether he’ll feature for England, or even be in the thoughts of the England boss, for the following European Championship in France. At his age, 33, it’s highly unlikely.
You have to wonder how much dialogue there is between the FA and its clubs in the Premier League. Instead of flirting with the idea of players like Adnan Januzaj or Nabil Bentaleb turning out for England five years down the line – of which there isn’t much chance due to the players’ connection with other nations – the FA should be focusing on what they do have and can immediately turn to.
Phil Jones is one of the names who should be given special treatment. He’s comfortably one of England’s very best in his age group and could hold one of the centre-back positions for the national side for the next decade. But do England know what his best position is? Is there communication with Manchester United as to what his long-term future holds? Instead of revisiting problem cases that may or may not work out for the short-term, players like Jones need to be made the priority.
The Manchester United defender has had his injury problems, but based on what we’ve seen of him in the Champions League under Alex Ferguson, he’s more than ready to handle the physical and mental challenges that come with the approaching World Cup. If he’d been a regular fixture at centre-half for United, even for this season, you’d bet that he’d be Hodgson’s third pick behind Jagielka and Cahill. But as of now, would Hodgson be picking a centre-back or a utility man? How much will the fourth choice dictate Jones’ role this summer?
Needless to say, it’s a far more productive line of thinking than bringing Terry back. England have little to no chance of winning the World Cup in Brazil – and far from being pessimistic, it’s simply an acknowledgement of reality. But this summer can act as a very good arena of preparation for France in 2016, where the younger players will have the experience needed to properly tackle a major international tournament both on and off the field.
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Terry’s inclusion simply blocks the development of a player who can be of greater use to England in the future. And that’s completely ignoring all the negative aspects his character brings.
Chelsea went top of the Barclays Premier League after a hard fought 2-0 victory against Hull City at the KC Stadium.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game’s biggest talking points…
25 minutes: Yannick Sagbo misses a big chance to take the lead for Hull after John Terry’s fluffed clearance, but he blasts wide
33 minutes: Chelsea’s Oscar finds himself in a golden position to open the scoring, but McGregor some how manages to tip the Brazilian’s effort over from six yards
55 minutes: After a goalless first-half, Chelsea take the lead through Eden Hazards 12 yard effort
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86 minutes: And Fernando Torres secured all three points for Chelsea with a trademark finish, sending Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League
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.
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
Football – Croatia v Mexico – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group A – Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil – 23/6/14Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa warms up before the matchMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
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
Football – Spain v Chile – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group B – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 18/6/14Alexis Sanchez – ChileMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
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.
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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:
//www.youtube.com/embed/KElFlYKBcUY?rel=0
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:
//www.youtube.com/embed/Y-TeFK8uNGI?rel=0
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:
//www.youtube.com/embed/b8khiA5Io1s?rel=0
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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