Liverpool must move to sign a top class striker or forget about qualifying for the Champions League again next season, according to former defender Steve Nicol.
The Reds enjoyed a fantastic 2013/14 campaign in which Brendan Rodgers took the title fight with Manchester City to the final day of the season.
Much of their success was put down to the form of Luis Suarez, with the Uruguayan netting 31 goals in the league.
WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news
But despite the Uruguayan having penned a new contract over the winter he is now a Barcelona player, with the La Liga giants having swooped to land the striker in a £75m deal.
Liverpool have since been active in the transfer market to snap up fresh talent, yet the collapse of a potential deal for Loic Remy over the weekend is seen as a big blow with no like-for-like replacement for Suarez having been drafted in.
Nicol feels that unless Rodgers gets in a top class goalscorer to help Daniel Sturridge his old club have no chance of finishing in the top four:
“If they don’t sign another centre-forward they’ll struggle to get back into the top four,” he told talkSPORT.
“There doesn’t seem to be anybody available who has Loic Remy’s track record. It’s bad news for Liverpool more than anyone else.
“Remy is going to go back to QPR and he’s going to score goals. Harry Redknapp is the one who is going to benefit.
“You can’t expect Daniel Sturridge to do it all on his own.
“He’s shown he can play up front, score goals and carry the team for a certain amount of time. Without another striker though, in case he gets injured, they are up the creek without a paddle.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“There isn’t another striker currently at the club that is going to take them into the top four, never mind challenge for the Premier League title.
“Liverpool are in trouble. They have to find somebody and I’m not sure where they’re going to find them.”
The past few months saw some big-name players make big moves in the transfer window, with the dead-line day signing of Radamel Falcao to Manchester United making the headlines.
There were also early deals which sent a clear message of a club’s intentions, such as Chelsea signing La Liga’s Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas to make them favourites for the Premier League title.
However, even with the window just finished, clubs are already planning on players to target once the transfer market reopens in January.
Arsenal over the course of the past few months have been heavily linked with a defensive midfielder and a striker, but the only big name entry was Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez.
Will Arsene Wenger go big in the winter transfer market if the Gunners are behind in the title race? Or will his stubbornness get the better of him (again) and let fans see his side trail off after a good start?
Here are SIX transfers Arsenal could complete in January…
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON EDINSON CAVANI TO SEE THE LIST
[/ffc-gallery]
Edinson Cavani
The transfer for Edinson Cavani will depend greatly on the performance of new £16million man Danny Welbeck, as if the Englishman scores regularly it is very unlikely Arsene Wenger will splash the cash on the Paris Saint-Germain star.
However on the other hand, the availability of Cavani will also depend on his happiness playing second-fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Uruguayan is frustrated playing out of position on the wings, which could open the door for a possible swoop.
Cavani would be an excellent acquisition for any club, but if the Gunners really want to challenge for the title, Welbeck leading the forward line is not on the same level as Radamel Falcao for Man United or Sergio Aguero for City.
Sami Khedira
World Cup winner Sami Khedira was close to an Arsenal move during the summer, only for the German’s salary demands too high for the Gunners.
Despite the failed transfer, it is very likely that Arsene Wenger will go in for another crack to bring the Real Madrid midfielder to the Emirates.
The Gunners are still without a true player to sit in front of the back four as an anchorman, but Khedira offers much more as he combines technical ability with defensive contribution.
Also with a starting berth at Madrid extremely competitive, Khedira could lower his wage demands and makes a switch to the Premier League.
William Carvalho
Another defensive midfielder linked with Arsenal all summer, William Carvalho would be the perfect replacement for an aging Mathieu Flamini.
The Portugal international is the perfect definition of an anchorman, a midfield destroyer who is also capable of precision passing.
Sporting Lisbon have already rejected several bids from the Gunners, but have reportedly lowered their asking price from the £35million release clause to £24million in the attempts to offload the player before he runs out his contract.
If the Gunners aren’t in the top three during December, expected another raid for the 22-year-old come January.
Morgan Schneiderlin
Morgan Schneiderlin has publically made his feelings known that he wants a move away from Southampton, but due to the mass exodus early in the transfer window at the St. Mary’s, the Frenchman was blocked from making an exit.
The want-away midfielder would be the perfect alternative to Sami Khedira, playing in a similar style but would not command such a high salary.
Schneiderlin would also blend in quite well with the young Gunners squad, and with Tottenham Hotspur also hot on the trail for the 24-year-old, Wenger should act quick to sign the highly-rated star.
Marco Reus
Marco Reus has been linked to every top Premier League club during the summer window, but his style of play and the amount of German players at Arsenal make the Emirates the perfect destination for the attacking midfielder.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The 25-year-old is extremely quick, technical, and possesses a deadly finish. His versatility also allows him to be deployed anywhere in the attacking third, and would already have experience combining with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski.
The Borussia Dortmund star also has a low £20million buy-out clause that will be activated next summer, which will open a bidding war from all over Europe for his signature.
If Arsenal want to be on the same level as the likes of Chelsea or Man City, Arsene Wenger will need to bring out his cheque-book.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Out of the four defensive positions, opponents will be aiming Arsenal’s left-back as a chink in their defensive armour.
Kieran Gibbs is first choice, but although he possesses speed and tenacity, the youngster does have occasional lapses in concentration defensively. But that isn’t the biggest issue, as Gibbs also has the tendency to be on the injury table.
A move for Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez could therefore benefit the Gunners, as the Switzerland international is a marauding left-back that will fit Arsenal’s attacking style of football.
Last season the 22-year-old made 34 league appearances, scoring five goals and providing another nine assists, impressive for a defender.
With the summer transfer window now closed, silly season is officially over – that magical timeÂof year where any amount of gibberish with the word ‘transfer’ thrown into the middle of it falls into the category of legitimate news according to the British press.Not that Football Fancast aren’t equally as guilty of contributing to the annual transfer nonsense that dictates every summer window, and in truth, we’re all a little sad that all the speculative rumours, based on very little fact, will be far less prolific until we’re a bit closer to January.This intermittent period does give us the opportunity to reflect and reminisce however, and thus, we’ve decided to take a look at FIVE of the summer’s most absurd transfer rumours involving Premier League side Liverpool.So without further ado…
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON BRENDAN RODGERS TO REVEAL
[/ffc-gallery]
JOE ALLEN TO MANCHESTER UNITED
No player has directly crossed the Liverpool/Manchester United divide since Phil Chisnall way back in 1964.
So when this rumour hit the tabloids towards the end of August:
…you can imagine the male populations of Merseyside, Manchester and yonder spitting out their morning coffee and erupting into fits of uncontrollable laughter.
The amount of holes one could pick in this audacious transfer rumour is simply mindboggling. Why would Joe Allen want to leave a Liverpool side that claimed second-place in the Premier League last season to a club that finished in seventh?
Likewise, although Brendan Rodgers clearly rates the Wales international, nobody else does, and nothing in Allen’s Premier League career thus far suggests he has the quality to bring any noteworthy improvement to United’s struggling midfield.
And finally, £20million?!?! For a player Liverpool splashed £15million on two seasons ago and has since shown absolutely no signs of improvement? Complete madness.
Needless to say, this rumour was laughed off from the first minute and Allen remains at Anfield.
ANTONIO VALENCIA
Here we meet the same issues as the mooted Joe Allen switch but with the roles in reverse.
Back in July, rumours surfaced that the Reds were plotting a swoop for Manchester United wide man Antonio Valencia:
Admittedly, the rumour has a little more legs than it’s Joe Allen counterpart. With Liverpool welcoming Champions League football back to Anfield this season, the Mersey outfit were expected to add some experience to their roster in the summer.
The Ecuador international fits that requirement, with 215 Premier League appearances under his belt – in addition to 34 Champions League outings – throughout spells with the Red Devils and former club Wigan.
Furthermore, his contract had entered its final 12 months in the summer, suggesting Brendan Rodgers could have snapped him up on the cheap.
Yet the 29 year-old’s performances have been so stale over the last few seasons that he’s now more commonly featuring at right back for United, a position Liverpool already have firmly filled.
Unsurprisingly, the rumour turned out to be hogwash and a few days later Valencia signed a three-year contract extension at Old Trafford.
LUIS SUAREZ ON LOAN TO HAJVALIA
To give credit where it’s due, this rumour appears to be legitimate and you can’t rule anything out when it comes to the crazy, flesh-addicted world of ex-Liverpool cannibal Luis Suarez. But this is simply a case of a transfer that would never, ever actually happen.
After receiving his four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup – remind yourself of the incident if need be:
Kosovan side KF Hajvalia came up with a very interesting solution. The war-troubled nation’s top flight isn’t actually recognised by FIFA, which would allow Suarez to play competitive fixtures -albeit at a quality lower than League 2 – for the next four months, until his suspension had expired.
The Telegraph quotes club director Xhavit Pacolli as saying:
“As we are not part of Fifa yet, I think he can play in Kosovo, so we have an offer that we will send to Liverpool. We offered £25,000 and a salary of £1200 for each month. This is the maximum we can offer.”
Needless to say, Liverpool weren’t even tempted by the offer – it’s total value amassing to just £39,800 – and less than two weeks later they flogged Suarez to Barcelona for a whopping £75million.
YANNICK BOLASIE
Football – West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace – FA Cup Third Round – The Hawthorns – 13/14 – 4/1/14Yannick Bolasie – Crystal Palace Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ìliveî services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
There is nothing wrong with Yannick Bolasie. I like Yannick Bolasie, which is saying a lot because I’m a Charlton Athletic fan.
But Yannick Bolasie is in his time and place at Crystal Palace. A mid-table Premier League side matches the 25 year-old’s quality perfectly – you could even call him ‘The Big Lewbowski’ of Selhurst Park, if you’re into cult classic films.
So you can imagine the surprise when the Congo international was linked with a switch to Anfield this summer, courtesy of the Daily Star:
Admittedly, the powerful winger comes with a hint of the ‘Brendan Rodgers pet project’ vibe about him, and with his contract entering its final twelve months this summer, the Reds could have landed Bolasie in a cut price deal.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
But come on – Yannick Bolasie? If the Anfield faithful couldn’t stand the sight of Victor Moses, they’re certainly not going to enjoy Bolasie’s laid-back style.
The mooted move never materialised and Neil Warnock’s first port of call as Palace boss was to issue the wideman a new three-year contract.
ROMELU LUKAKU
Liverpool were on the hunt for a new striker this summer and it was no secret that Chelsea would likely say goodbye to Premier League prodigy Romelu Lukaku after splashing out £32million on Diego Costa.
Thus, the prevailing theory emulated that the Reds were planning a £26million swoop for the Blues hot shot back in mid-July.
You can’t question Lukaku’s credentials as a front-man who could improve the quality of the Liverpool roster – the 21 year-old has claimed 31 goals in 69 Premier League appearances and would clearly have been a sound long-term investment for the Reds.
But Chelsea are no fools; they flogged Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool back in 2013 and he’s been punishing them ever since. It would be an incredibly bizarre move to sell such a talented player to a club who finished a place above them last season.
Likewise, Lukaku had spent the previous season dazzling fans, pundits and suitors alike at Everton, where he netted 15 times in 31 outings. The last player to cross the Stanley Park divide was Abel Xavier way back in 2002, so you can imagine the furore Lukaku’s switch of allegiance would cause.
Just in case you’ve forgotten who Abel Xavier is…
Liverpool quickly switched their attentions to Mario Balotelli and Lukaku joined Everton permanently in a £28million deal.
Fabio Borini says that he wants to striker up a fruitful partnership with compatriot Mario Balotelli in Liverpool’s attack.
The Reds snapped up the former Manchester City ace over the summer in a £16m deal, while the man whom was Brendan Rodgers’ first signing at Anfield returned to the club after a season on loan at Sunderland.
Borini was expected to be shifted out following the addition of his fellow Italian, yet he opted to reject the Black Cats and QPR to fight for his future – even though rumours suggest he was told he’d be given little playing time.
WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news
Daniel Sturridge’s injury woes over the course of the past month have afforded the 23-year-old some opportunities for game time, with a place alongside Balotelli in the loss at West Ham, arguably, his most notable chance to impress.
Although Borini failed to make a genuine impact, he is hopeful of lining up alongside ‘Super Mario’ regularly in the future:
“I have played with him (Balotelli) before and found it really well on the pitch.” He s quoted by the Daily Star.
“Not just because of the language but we were born with the same idea of football, as Italians, so it’s really easy to understand each other even without talking.
“He’s a player that can change the game whenever he wants. It’s a tough league, probably the toughest in Europe – and I think he understands that.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“In the games, he runs a lot and is really giving himself to the team, being very unselfish.”
Fill out our survey and win a pair of PUMA EvoPOWER boots as worn by Mario Balotelli, Cesc Fabregas and Marco Reus!
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
Week in, week out, Sam Allardyce’s West Ham United just keep on defying the odds, and are seemingly going from strength to strength in the Barclays Premier League. Saturday’s 2-0 win over Leicester City, was the Hammers’ fourth win in five league games – with only two points dropped from a possible 15 in the process. The Upton Park faithful are enjoying every minute of what has been an incredible campaign so far, and it seems like the sky’s the limit for Big Sam’s team.
Before the season started, West Ham were predicted for another campaign of struggle and strife, with even Allardyce himself not too sure if he was still going to be the Hammers boss when the season kicked off against Tottenham Hotspur in mid-August. But after a very active summer, where the Hammers brought in the likes of Alex Song (on-loan from Barcelona), Carl Jenkinson (on-loan from Arsenal), Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Mauro Zarate, Diego Poyet, Morgan Amalfitano, Aaron Cresswell and Cheikhou Kouyate – West Ham currently sit fourth in the Premier League table. Nobody, not even Big Sam could have envisioned how successful his new recruits were going to turn out to be. They have all gelled together extremely quickly and are a big part of why the Hammers are flying so high.
Despite the new signings having a major impact on West Ham’s recent success, the Hammers’ existing players have performed equally as impressively too. Sam Allardyce made the decision to play the natural winger Stewart Downing in a more central role. The move has turned out to be a stroke of genius, with the 30-year-old enjoying a new lease of life at Upton Park. Downing has gone on to score four times this season, including the second in West Ham’s 2-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday.
Andy Carroll has returned from injury to find himself in magnificent form. The 25-year-old has scored three times in his last three outings, and is looking more like the £15m player they signed from Liverpool last year. Spanish goalkeeper Adrian, is another player who has been a revelation this season. The 27-year-old stopper has been a Premier League ever-present for the Hammers this term – he’s made four clean sheets – and produced a number of outstanding saves.
Sam Allardyce seems to have the perfect blend of ability and experience. Everything seems to be fitting into place at Upton Park this season, and the Hammers are showing no signs of giving up their Champions League spot anytime soon. After the weekend’s results, the east London club sit two points above Southampton – who occupy 5th, and four points above Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in 6th and 7th respectively.
The fact that we are even mentioning the Hammers and Champions League in the same sentence speaks volumes of their current success. The sign of a good team is the ability to bounce straight back after a defeat, and every time the Irons have suffered a loss this season, they have hit back with a positive result.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Nobody can predict just how far West Ham can go this season, but after already winning nine times this term – including home victories over Liverpool and Manchester City, the level-headed Hammers fans are going to enjoy every single minute of it.
Steven Gerrard’s end of season Liverpool exit may be the result of a behind the scene’s power struggle at Anfield, according to former Wimbledon ace Marcus Gayle.
The Reds skipper announced last week that he will be signing for LA Galaxy at the end of the current campaign, where he’s likely to end his glittering career, after opting against penning a fresh contract on Merseyside.
Gerrard’s Merseyside deal is up in just under six months’ time, and the club’s decision to stall on extending his stay beyond 2015 is understood to have been a major factor in the 34-year-old’s impending exit.
WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news
And Gayle believes the whole saga may have something to do with a struggle for power off the pitch between the skipper and manager Brendan Rodgers:
“There must be something behind the scenes that has triggered the departure of Steven Gerrard, I am sure of that, because it doesn’t make much sense.” He told Zapsportz.com.
“It is only six months ago that he quit as England captain, retired as an England player, all in order to prolong his Liverpool career.
“Everyone at Anfield applauded that decision; that he put his club before his country, a tough decision for Stevie G. Yet here we are soon after that decision and he has been eased out of the club.
“Many people think that Stevie G might be managerial material, or at least be part of a managerial set up, and that might have happened sooner rather than later if the current manager was replaced in the summer.
“I am not saying this is all down to Brendan Rodgers, but there must be some underlying issues that have yet to emerge.
“There is more to it than we have been told, there is something missing. Because this player is not just a Liverpool legend, he is an England legend, not just an inspiration to his club but has been an inspiration to his country.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“It doesn’t make sense to allow such a big influence to leave Liverpool, and I can see him back at Anfield before too long.”
Gerrard is set to join LA Galaxy half way through the MLS season, where he will be one of the reigning champions’ Designated Players, alongside former Anfield team-mate, Robbie Keane.
It’s often said there’s no such thing as incompatibility between great players. Regardless of circumstance or individual style, the world’s best should possess more than enough talent to gel together and adapt their games accordingly – but Manchester United’s Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao could well be the anomaly defying that old rule.
Singularly, both are considered to be amongst the top strikers in world football. RVP, a two-time Premier League Golden Ball winner with two different clubs, immortalised by a stunning volley against Charlton Athletic in 2006 and perhaps the greatest header of all time at the 2014 World Cup; Falcao, a striker with a career return of 225 goals in 375 appearances, boasting the highest goal record for a single Europa League campaign to date, 17, two nominations for the Ballon d’Or and the runner-up strike for the 2011/12 Puskas award.
Yet, their combination as a strike partnership for Manchester United this season has bore worryingly limited fruits. They’ve scored just ten times combined in the 13 games in which both have featured, and perhaps most tellingly of all, only against Leicester City in January have both scored when starting together in the same fixture.
A decent contribution perhaps for a club lower in the Premier League table, but for two strikers that tend to score around 25-30 league goals per season when at full health, and would cost the Red Devils £70million combined if they were to sign the Colombian permanently this summer, it’s certainly below par.
To give some comparison, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, a partnership that were purchased for half of that aforementioned fee, netted 34 goals in the 24 fixtures in which they both featured last season, whilst RVP and Rooney claimed 29 goals from their 29 appearances together during United’s last title campaign, with their assists haul also firmly into the double figures.
[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]
This should be a match made in heaven, so why isn’t it quite working out? The Dutchman and the Colombian have both endured injures for periods of the season – Falcao, still on the mend from his mysterious leg injury at Monaco – and United are hardly playing the best football at the minute, summarised perfectly by Sam Allardyce’s recent ‘long ball United’ quip. But in my opinion, their incompatibility can be sourced to one factor – the countless similarities between the two strikers.
Although expert finishing will be the defining attribute of the majority of strikers in world football, for RVP and Falcao, ruthlessness in front of goal engulfs the vast majority of their respective games. There’s some elusive movement and acrobatic athleticism thrown in too, but whilst front-men like Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero provide a variety of services and a holistic all-round contribution, RVP and Falcao are obsessed with just one thing – screaming the ball into the back of the onion bag whenever possible, be it from the most acute of angles or audacious of distances.
In short, they’re both the player you want to receive the ball last in any given attacking move – the clinical spearhead exploiting the supply line. In theory, the inclusion of both should lead to almost every United attack resulting in a goal, but in practice it’s left the Red Devils imbalanced in the final third, as if they’re one creative presence short of breaking down opposition defences.
And just as they share the same defining strength, United’s defunct strike partnership are also cursed by the same weaknesses.
Neither were blessed with prolific pace or strength even in their younger years, so now 31 and 29 respectively, they lack the physicality and energy to keep defences on their toes. Throughout United’s starting XI, the penetration and threat in-behind that often defined them under Sir Alex Ferguson is abundantly absent, and as a result, their attack’s become worryingly static this season, especially when facing deep defences, with everything getting too predictable, too linear and too congested in the final third.
As a consequence of their limited physicality and devotion to shooting, neither offer significantly much to United’s build-up play. Whilst some of the best partnerships in world football are created through combining a link-man with spearhead, United’s front men both belong in the latter category, neither averaging more than 0.9 chances created per match this term. In contrast, former Red Devil Danny Welbeck has averaged 1.5 created chances per match when deployed at centre-forward for Arsenal, Burnley’s Danny Ings boasts 1.2 and Chelsea’s Diego Costa is streets ahead with 1.7.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Only time on the pitch can lead to a greater sense of familiarity between the two strikers, but counter-intuitively, both have struggled for form in recent weeks. Despite facing the likes of Yeovil, Cambridge United and Preston in the FA Cup, Falcao has scored twice and van Persie just thrice in their last ten outings for the Red Devils. It feels important to highlight United’s less affluent displays in recent weeks once again, but whether that’s a cause or consequence of their strike partnership’s bluntness remains open to interpretation.
To get the best out of both, one will have to modify their game to better accommodate the other. With both around the 30 mark and Falcao’s loan deal unlikely to be extended come the summer however, such a transition process, in my opinion at least, simply isn’t worth the hassle. If Louis van Gaal wishes to keep United as efficient as possible, it should now be a case of choosing between the two strikers until the end of the season.
In the coming transfer window, Burnley striker Danny Ings will make a decision that could go on to define the rest of his career.
A 22 year-old, home-grown prospect whose 21 nets fired the Turf Moor outfit to promotion from the Championship last season, now boasting nine goals and four assists in his last 18 top flight appearances, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, amongst others, are reportedly prepared to pounce on the England U21 this summer when his Burnley contract comes to an end.
For such a prodigious talent, a nominal compensation fee could well prove to be one of the deals of the century, and manager Sean Dyche has already admitted that Ings should be plying his trade at the top end of the Premier League table. Burnley hero Robbie Blake – famed for his superfluous winner against Manchester United in 2009 – has also advised the striker to take up the opportunity before some of his many coveted suitors move on to alternative targets.
Yet, there’s another option on the table for Ings, an unusual one for young British players but could nonetheless transform him into the top-class talent he’s heralded by many to become – a move to La Liga, courtesy of David Moyes’ Real Sociedad.
The Premier League is considered to be the best top flight in world football, so why would a young product like Ings, attracting attention from the division’s highest powers, want to turn his back on it for La Liga, a league that in comparison, lacks competitiveness and a fair spread of quality throughout its twenty sides?
Well, Greg Dyke once described the Premier League as a ‘finishing school’ for the world’s elite, and that’s exactly what it’s become – players with incredible talent are brought to England and fine tuned towards a better rounded, higher intensity and more physical game.
[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]
As a consequence however, it’s not a league that particularly aids the development of young players – especially technically. We’ve seen a buck in this trend recently, through the likes of 2014’s European Golden Boy Raheem Sterling and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, but a quick glance at the sorry state of the national team tells all about how difficult it’s become for young English players since the Premier League’s incarnation.
Whilst Burnley can guarantee Ings weekly first team football, at Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea or United, he’d be reduced to just one of the pack – and when fortunes turn foul at major clubs, it’s nearly always the younger players that get pushed towards the peripheries, as it becomes harder and harder for them to impress in a team struggling for form.
At Real Sociedad he’ll be rivalling the likes of Alfred Finnbogason, Imanol Agirretxe and Carlos Vela for the striker slot, but the route to the starting Xi is far less congested, and the relentless pressure for results in the Premier League – that, once again, often comes at the expense of young players – is almost incomparable to the more relaxed, less hyperbolic tones of La Liga.
Likewise, Ings is a rather unique home-grown product in my opinion. Lacking the pace or power of your generic Premier League striker, it’s his movement, creativity, technique and intelligence as a footballer that stand out most. An education in La Liga, the home of tiki-taka, would only underline those defining attributes, as a league that will oblige the Burnley forward to develop them further if he’s to prove successful at Anoeta.
Just take a look at Gareth Bale; he left the Premier League as one of the top counter-attacking threats in world football through his relentless physicality, but the Welsh wizard has since emerged as a master of the tight spaces also, with tidy nutmegs, deft flick-ons, reverse passes and nifty footwork aplenty.
When Roy Hodgson is selecting his England squads in the years to come, choosing between Ings and fellow poaching prodigies Saido Berahino and Harry Kane, such an influence of more exotic, continental philosophies would really make him stand out against the herd – and potentially, aid a Three Lions side that’s constantly failed to transition it’s basketball-paced brand of domestic football to the international scene.
At any other club, it would likely be a poor fit. After all, this is a 22 year-old verging upon one of the most important stages in his career, so throwing a new language, culture and style of living into the equation could quickly result in catastrophe. But the important link at Sociedad is David Moyes – a manager who knows English football like the back of his hand, has experience developing young British players and is already attempting to imprint some of the Premier League ideology onto his Anoeta squad. Moyes knows the kind of service Ings is used to in England, and if he struggles to transition his style to La Liga, the Scot has the knowledge to hone in on exactly why.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Don’t get me wrong, upping sticks for Spain a sizeable risk on the striker’s part – one that today’s papers claim he’s unwilling to take. Yet Sociedad represent a stepping stone well within Ings’ reach – I still hold large doubts over the amount of first team football he’ll receive at Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea or United – that would add something uniquely continental to his game.
La Liga doesn’t suit everybody, but in my opinion, Ings has more than enough about him to be a success there. And just ask some of England’s older generation that went abroad – Chris Waddle, Glenn Hoddle, David Platt and Steve McManaman, for example – the introduction of foreign philosophies, formations and styles only improved them as players. It’s hardly an unheard of theory, and one that Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany has recently endorsed, particularly regarding young English players that often ignorantly isolate themselves from the rest of the footballing world.
The chance to sign for Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea or Manchester United doesn’t come around too often. But if Ings is as talented as the current hype suggests, and if he continues to prove it at Real Sociedad, the Premier League’s top clubs will undoubtedly come calling for his services again a few years down the line.
With the season slowly drawing to a close, it’s time to consider what some Premier League clubs will be up to in the transfer market this summer.
And the first port of call, in Football FanCast’s opinion at least, should always be to raid those unfortunate clubs who just have plummeted out of the top flight; firstly for players they can no longer afford to keep and secondly for players who’ve indisputably proven themselves to be too good for another season in the Championship.
With just seven points currently separating Leicester City at rock-bottom and Sunderland in 15th – or perhaps more importantly, just three points separating the Black Cats and a 19th-placed Burnley – there’s plenty of relegation-bound stars on offer at the moment.
And knowing full well how Everton are obliged to reduced costs in the transfer market wherever they can – despite some more sizable coups over the last few summers – we’ve listed FIVE players facing Championship doom the Goodison outfit should target this summer.
MO DIAME
Kicking off this list is a player Roberto Martinez will already be well acquainted with from his Wigan Days; Hull City’s Mo Diame, having signed the Senegal international for the Latics in summer 2009.
The 27 year-old is a rare kind of midfielder, offering the somewhat unique combination of shin-shattering tackles and mazy counter-attacking runs – this year averaging 3.7 tackles and 1.4 successful dribbles per-match.
He’s been the best of a bad bunch at the KC this term, with four goals in eleven appearances making him the 17th-placed club’s second-top scorer alongside Abel Hernandez.
Injures have kept him sidelined for much of the season – sitting out from early December until a substitute appearance against Swansea City last weekend – but Diame’s talismanic performances earlier in the campaign, in addition to his consistent showings during prior spells at Wigan and West Ham, prove he’s far too good for the Championship.
Having signed him on a three-year deal only last summer, however, the Tigers are unlikely to let the 6 foot centre-mid leave on the cheap.
KIERAN TRIPPIER
Although Danny Ings has grabbed the vast majority of the headlines at Turf Moor during the last few seasons, the contribution of right-back Kieran Tripper has been equally as vital to Burnley’s top flight ascension.
He won consecutive slots in the PFA Championship Team of the Year prior to the club’s promotion last summer and during the 2013/14 campaign amassed the most assists of any player in the Championship – an impressive 14.
This year, the 24 year-old has continued to impress, particularly going forward. He’s claimed four assists in 31 appearances – featuring in all but four minutes of Burnley’s league campaign – whilst creating the most chances per match, 1.7, of any player in Sean Dyche’s squad.
With Seamus Coleman known to be on the radars of several top Premier League clubs, Trippier is certainly worth Everton’s consideration as a likeminded replacement. Even if they plummet back into the Championship, however, Burnley will be reluctant to sell a player so crucial to their attacking efforts.
JORES OKORE
The heart of defence has been a real problem area for Everton this season, leading them to concede, on average, 1.4 goals per game. With Sylvain Distin now 37 years of age and Antolin Alcaraz clearly not at the Toffees’ level, Roberto Martinez enhancing his centre-back options will be a top priority for Roberto Martinez this summer.
One relegation-inspired solution comes in the form of Aston Villa’s Jores Okore, who turned down a move to Chelsea to sign for the Birmingham outfit in summer 2013.
The Danish international has spent much of his Villa career overcoming an ACL injury, sidelined from September 2013 to November 2014.
But Okore’s impact since returning to the starting line-up has been enormous; the Villians have conceded more than one goal on just four occasions from the defender’s 19 Premier League appearances – against Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea – whilst he’s claimed averages of 2.1 tackles, 3.1 interceptions, 6.5 clearances and 2.3 successful aerial duels per match.
At 22 years of age, the Ivory-Coast born centre-back still has a lot to learn. But he’s emerged as Villa’s brightest prospect this season and the Toffees would be wise to launch a bid before the rest of the Premier League cottons on.
COSTEL PANTILIMON
With Tim Howard now 36 years of age, the goalkeeper department is yet another area of Everton’s squad requiring some fresh blood this summer – although the USA international probably has a few seasons left in him.
And in terms of goalkeepers at the less flattering end of the Premier League table, Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon has really stood out, making 73 saves in just 22 appearances whilst keeping eight clean sheets – ranking him seventh in the division on both counts.
In addition to his impressive reflexes, the Romanian international offers a beastly 6 foot 8 frame, fitting the ever-growing Premier League trend of monolithic rather than agile No.1s.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
After blooding himself in at Manchester City and now performing superlatively for the Black Cats, the 28 year-old appears to be verging on his peak. Although Everton fans will be upset to see Howard go, Pantilimon is a more than adequate replacement.
CHARLIE AUSTIN
Although Danny Ings remains obvious choice of home-grown centre-forward to target this summer, having demonstrated prodigious ability during the final year of his Burnley contract, well-documented interest from Liverpool and Manchester City suggests Everton might find themselves eclipsed in the race to sign the 22 year-old.
Fear not Toffees fans, however, for QPR’s Charlie Austin represents an equally enticing alternative. 17 goals in 29 appearances this term has left the 25 year-old third in the Premier League’s goal rankings, making him the division’s second-top scoring Englishman after Tottenham’s talismanic Harry Kane.
Austin combines natural predatory instinct with the work-rate, physicality and enthusiasm of a former non-leaguer, working his way up from Kintbury Rangers to the Premier League in the space of eight years via prolific spells with Poole, Swindon and Burnley.
Often struggling without the assistance of target man Bobby Zamora, if there’s one obvious criticism of the QPR forward it’s his inability to serve as a lone striker, despite a powerful 6 foot 2 frame.
That being said, he’s clearly capable of scoring regularly at Premier League level and would be a strong addition to Everton’s forward cast, keeping the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone on their toes.
With QPR almost certain for the drop and Austin’s contract entering its final year, the west Londoners may find themselves obliged to sell this summer. How highly they value the striker, however, remains to be seen.
With the ultimate ambition of claiming their first Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement next season, Manchester United are expected to keep themselves exceptionally busy in the transfer market this summer.
There’s been talk of audacious £100million bids for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, £50million scoops for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and a £40million prizing away of Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, in what could well be yet another record-breaking transfer window for the Old Trafford outfit.
But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way; providing you know where to look, there’s still deals to be had in the transfer market, and amid the new age of Financial Fair Play, finding good value-for-money has become more important than ever
So they may not be the most exciting, talked about or lucrative of signings, but we at Football Fancast have come up with FIVE bargain buys the Red Devils should be making this summer.
BENEDIKT HOWEDES
Although Schalke’s Benedikt Howedes may not be in the same calibre as some of Manchester United’s other centre-back targets, such as Mats Hummels and Nicolas Otamendi, he has plenty to offer the Old Trafford squad.
Of course, the 26 year-old is famed for his versatility, proving himself equally adept at playing anywhere across the backline and even in defensive midfield on occasion.
But he boasts a wealth of experience too, with 53 appearances in European competitions and 32 caps for Germany – for whom he served as a left back during their successful World Cup bid last summer, which is no easy feat when you measure in at 6 foot 2.
Howedes has also held down the Schalke captaincy since 2011, and those natural leadership qualities represent exactly what United currently lack at the heart of their defence.
Throw in a £12.5million release clause and the versatile defender is an absolute steal. Perhaps the only criticism, however, is that Howedes wouldn’t hugely improve United’s starting Xi.
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD
Another defender certainly worth Manchester United’s consideration is Atletico Madrid’s forgotten man Toby Alderweireld, who has just come to the end of a promising campaign on loan at Southampton.
Indeed, the Belgium international played a pivotal role in Ronald Koeman’s side finishing the season with the second-healthiest goals conceded record in the division after Premier League champions Chelsea, averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.2 interceptions 1.4 successful aerial duels and 5.5 clearances per match from his 26 outings.
The 26 year-old’s ability to play at right-back, centre-back or central midfield makes him all the more enticing. And a product of Ajax’s illustrious academy, something tells me he’ll have a fan in Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal.
Southampton have the option to acquire Alderweireld permanently but Atletico are reportedly planning to remove that right at the previously agreed cost of £1.5million.
That would then allow the Mattress Makers to sell at their preferred valuation of £10million, but reports today suggest they’ve already offered the 6 foot 2 centre-back-come-full-back to Chelsea.
NIGEL DE JONG
He may not be the most glamorous of acquisitions but Nigel de Jong’s shin-shattering tackles and all-round tenacity is something Manchester United’s midfield currently lacks.
Dubbed ‘the lawnmower’ and famed for THAT challenge on Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final, the 30 year-old is notorious for the 1990s manner in which he tends to kick lumps out of the opposition.
But there’s no doubt he’s good at his job as a ball-winning midfielder, this season averaging 2.1 tackles and 3.4 interceptions per match at AC Milan.
The Netherlands international looked more than handy under Louis van Gaal’s leadership at last summer’s World Cup and is proven in the Premier League too, claiming a domestic title with Manchester City during the 2011/12 campaign.
Perhaps most appealingly, De Jong’s set to leave the San Siro on a free transfer this summer upon the expiration of his contract. Manchester United have already been linked with the feisty midfielder but reports this morning suggest he could be heading to Galatasaray.
Pedro
Winger-forward Pedro has done and won everything throughout his Barcleona and Spain careers, namely lifting five La Liga titles, two (almost three) Champions League titles, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, whilst generating a return of 114 goals in 367 appearances.
At 27 years of age, he’s still firmly within his prime, but the Spaniard’s Nou Camp tenure could come to an abrupt end this summer. He’s slumped down the pecking order since the £75million arrival of Luis Suarez at the start of the season, and is now on the verge of entering the final year of his Catalans contract.
Alexis Sanchez has completely transformed the Premier League since signing for Arsenal last summer and his former team-mate, blessed with a similar blend of trickery, tenacity, speed and netting prowess, has the potential to do the same.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
According to The Express, Barca are willing to sell for just £7million – an absolute bargain for such a proven forward still at his footballing peak. But resultantly, there’s plenty of interest with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham also linked.
DANNY INGS
Home-grown goalscorers are becoming an ever-rarer breed but there’s one available this summer for just £5million in the form of Burnley prodigy Danny Ings.
The England U21 bagged eleven goals and four assists during his debut Premier League campaign, which is a fantastic return all things considered – particularly, a 22 year-old spearheading a Burnley outfit who finished second-bottom of the English table.
A particularly clever and skilful striker, Ings’ performances this term suggest he’s capable of playing at a significantly higher level.
Of course, it’s still a bit of a punt and he’s probably not at the level to fill the void of Robin van Persie or Radamel Falcao just yet.
But available through a £5million compensation deal due to his Turf Moor contract expiring, the former Bournemouth youngster seems well worth the gamble for a club like Manchester United.
Tottenham jumped ahead of the queue with a £12million bid last week, however, (PL clubs have only been able to negotiate with English-based free agents since the start of June) which could have an effect on the prodigious forward’s compensation fee.