What Next For PSG's Unai Emery?

Having led Sevilla to three consecutive Europa league titles big things were expected of the Spaniard when he moved to PSG in 2016 as the Parisien side were looking for a coach that will finally help them conquer Europe.

With the announcement by PSG last month that Emery's contract won't be renewed; which brings up the question on how will he be remembered in Paris and what are his next steps. This is not the first time  Emery will be experiencing disappointment having seen the sack for poor results in Spartak Moscow after lasting only six months before moving to Sevilla and rebuilding his career. With over €350m spent last summer with the signings of Neymar and Mbappe, PSG underachieved during his time at the club losing 5-2 on aggregate to Real Madrid in the round of 16 (this season) as well as becoming the first side to be eliminated in the knockout stage after having a 4-0 first leg win (losing 6-1 to Barcelona in the second leg).

This season, the Spainard has won three trophies already (French Ligue 1, French Cup and French Cup final) which has banished the memory of last seasons league loss to Monaco. Emery might not have done the magic in Paris but he will be leaving with his head held high considering his record in his final season despite coming short in Europe. It will be a great injustice to quickly forget how he led Almeria to the Spanish top flight as well as finishing a record  eight in the league with the Andalusian side with a below average squad. As if that was not enough he moved to Valencia twice qualifying for the Champions League despite the sale of key men David Silva and David Villa. In Sevilla, Emery led them again to a record three consecutive Europa leagues . While people might feel he underachieved in Paris the record of previous managers Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc (two managers who also failed in Europe with PSG) should be taken into account. Emery might have failed in some aspects but he still remains a top manager who is highly rated.

How Will Zlatan Ibrahimovic Be Remembered In Manchester United?

Having seen superstars Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao fail to shine in Old Trafford despite their high profile signings , Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a different class after his free transfer move in 2016 despite aged 35 at the time .

At 6ft 3in , the Swede was a global star on and off the pitch winning league titles in Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France although his signing was considered a risk by some as United had youngsters like Marcus Rashford and Jese Lingard waiting for the opportunity to make their mark . Like a fairytale , the forward scored on his league debut against Bournemouth as well as scoring twice in the EEL cup final win against Southampton . In the end , Ibrahimovic finished the season with an impressive 28 goals in 46 apprerances as well as making the PFA Team of year and Europa League Team of year .

With United struggling post Ferguson era, Ibrahimovic was signed by Jose Mourinho to bring back not just the goals but the experience, swagger, and winning mentality which had gone missing since the retirement of Fergie; an assignment he not only fulfilled impressively but also brought the global  spotlight on the club once more like it was in the past . In the peak of his form for United last season , it was so devastating that he had a knee cruciate ligament injury in April in the Europa league game against Anderlecht which abruptly ended his season .

This season despite extending his contract in the summer, the Seede has struggled to see game time playing only seven games scoring only a goal with Romelu Lukaku not only taking his jersey number 9 but also his place in the team and goals ; making the Swede's exit inevitable. It is only befitting that he will be remembered as an icon in Old Trafford despite having only a single impressive season having won the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League during  his time at the club as he helped bring back the winning mentality which has made United one of the most successful sides in Europe.

Is Alfie Mawson Swansea's Best Player At Present ?

Swansea City might be struggling at the moment as the Welsh side struggling to avoid relegation despite a recently beating Arsenal and Liverpool, yet one player who has distinguished himself from the rest is no one else but central defender Alfie Mawson who moved to South Wales from Barnsley for just £5.5m In the summer of 2016.

Having scored seven goals despite playing at the back in League Two as Barnsley got promoted to the Championship in 2016, Mawson moved to Swansea as a direct replacement for captain Ashley Williams who had moved to Everton the same summer. The England U21 defender did not take time to settle as he was awarded the Man Of the Match in his debut league game against Watford, as if that wasn't enough, the defender went on to score four league goals in 27 league games as Swansea narrowly escaped relegation under Paul Clement despite having three managers in the season. Having started where he left from last season, Swansea have recorded seven clean sheets (ninth best in the league) with goalscoring their greatest problem struggling to score only 18 goals in 25 league games which mean (worst record in the league). While their defensive record 36 goals conceded is better than the likes of Watford, West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Stoke.

He might not be the most exceptional or flawless yet the youngster (24 years) plays the game with his heart as he gives his all when called upon. Despite playing 24 league games this season, the centre-back has already scored twice yet having only one yellow card to his name (impressive). Good in the air (62% aerial duel success this season) , able to play with both feet, fearless in tackling (16 tackles this season), humble and ability to read the game; Alfie Mawson's days might be numbered in South Wales if he continues with his form. Although his form has been impressive, the youngster will hope the offensive players who have been struggling this season will click as the likes of Winfred Bony, Tammy Abraham and Andre Ayew have been far from convincing if Swansea are to stay up when the season ends .

What Does The Signing Of Alexis Sanchez Mean For Juan Mata In Manchester United?

While Manchester United fans were over the moon with regards the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal this winter, one United player in particular might not be really impressed as Sanchez's signing might mean the end of his Manchester United career . Despite being successive Chelsea Players Player of the Year winner (2012 and 2013), Jose Mourinho infamously traded him to United for £35m in 2014 , six months after his second return to  Stamford Bridge.

At that time , the Portuguese made it known he didn't see Mata as his no.10 with Oscar the preferred choice . Known for favouring physical traits over creativity and skill, the Special One has never been a fan of the Spaniard's attacking  flair. As if that wasn't enough, in his first official match in charge (2016 Community Shield with Leicester City) having joined United in the summer of 2016, Mourinho substituted Mata in the dying minutes of the game despite only sending him on in the second half . Like a cat with nine lives, Mata went on to make 42 appearances across all competitions (only five other players made more appearances) that season playing 25 EPL games scoring six goals, assisting three and creating four big chances.

Usually deployed in the middle   of attack slightly behind the striker (Zlatan Ibrahimovic before his injury then Marcus Rashford) with Anthony Martial playing on the left  and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the right in a 4-2-3-1 formation; this season a lot has changed as the little Spaniard has been moved to the right side of attack (Mkhitaryan struggled to even make the match day squad). With the signing of Sanchez who scores and assists more, Mata appears to be the attacking player to be sacrificed to accommodate the Chilean. While Mourinho is yet to change his formation; Martial (23 league games , nine goals, four assists and seven big chances created) has retained his attacking left position , Jessy Lingard in hot form (21 league games, seven goals, four assists and three big chances created) and Rashford (24 league games , four goals , five assists and seven big chances created) waiting to roar. Statistically, Mata has had an inferior record as regards to goals, assists and big chances created this season (20 games, three goals, three assists and four big chances created)  compared to the trio. With his contract set to run down this summer and no move by United to extend it, the former Valencia attacker who will be 30 in a few months time might be in his last season at the club. With Sanchez, Mourinho knows what he is likely to get from the Chilean considering his ability to chase the ball and press high on the opponents, make hard tackles and counter at speed as well as aerial duels all of which are part of Mata's weakness. A rare attacking player who performs better when he is at the heart of the team's attacking play, Mata is best when creating chances for teammates as well as producing moments of magic with little or no defensive responsibility which doesn't suit the Portuguese.

With four months to go before season end, it may be premature to speculate what might happen in the summer yet one thing is for sure, and that is that Alexis Sanchez will be given chances to impress from the start which means a regular starter is likely to drop to the bench soon .

Is £18m Transfer Fee For Roma's Emerson A Fair Deal For Chelsea?

Six goals, one assist, two big chances created in 24 league games is an awesome stat for a wing back (Marcos Alonso) yet this is might not be the case at Chelsea as they  have moved to sign Roma's Emerson who appears surplus to requirements in the Italian Capital. 

In an already inflated market , it might look shocking that Roma received £18m for the 23-year- old left back , yet on the other side it might also look a hefty fee for a player who has played just two games this season since returning to fitness in December. Quick, creative and able to shoot , Emerson is an ideal Antonio Conte's player who can also play as a wing or full back when needed . Last season, the Brazilian born midfielder who naturalised in Italy was the second most creative and attacking full back in Europe's top five league (Juventus' Alex Sandro ahead of him). In total , Emerson averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.5 completed crosses, 2 successful dribbles every 90 minutes last season . He also won more tackles and was dribbled fewer times when compared with Chelsea's Marcos Alonso. Such was his form last season that he was linked with virtually every top European club. Despite being so attack minded, the defender is a hard tackler as well as one who is difficult to beat on one on one situations when defending . At 23, the defender still has a lot of years in him and will surely give Alonso a fight for the starting spot and having recovered from injury this might be the perfect opportunity for Chelsea to sign him for a bargain; just the same way Antonio Rudiger was snapped up in the summer having recovered from the same anterior cruciate ligament damage before his move to Stamford Bridge. 

One big flaw of the defender is his poor interception records as well as being passive in aerial duels  which are one of  Alonso's greatest strengths . Also to be noted is his lack of experience having played only 47 times for Roma since his signing for €2m as Lucas Digne's back up in 2014. Unable to upsurge Araraf Lazaar in Palermo during his loan deal in 2014, the defender ended up making only nine league appearances before joining Roma. An early bloomer having made his debut aged 17 for Santos, Emerson has only had one good season which was last season (36 appearances across all competitions) before his injury on the last day of the season . 

Though he is not an upgrade on Alex Sandro (currently having a bad season in Juventus) who Chelsea have courted for a long time , his signing fee of £18m is surely modest considering his age and promise .  In Chelsea he will be working under a manager who understands Italian football as well as brings the best out of average/young players pushing them to excel in consistent basis with the example of Alonso, Victor Moses, Andres Christensen. In Emerson, Chelsea not only have a perfect player for the future but also the present .

Manchester City Finally Got Their Man In Athletic Bilbao's French Aymeric Laporte.

Manchester City might be leading the EPL by 12 points as well as in the race in all four competitions which makes it difficult to decipher why they are linked with Atletico Bilbao's central defender Aymeric Laporte .

A close look at City's defense in their last 12 league games explains it all. City have conceded 11 goals in the last 12 League games which is in contrast with their first 12 league games (seven). The Frenchman has been Pep Guardiola's first choice center-back ever since his appointment in the summer of 2016, only for the centre-back to extend his contract with the Spanish side which made his signing more difficult. Moving on from the failed bid to sign him, City signed John Stones from Everton for £48m to plug the gap in their defence. Having been a near disaster last season, Stones has improved this season partnering Nicolas Otamendi as City became more defensively organised and difficult to beat.

With only four recognised centre-backs , Guardiola appears ready to meet Laporte's exit clause (£56m) , so how did it get to that ? Out of the four recognised City central defenders, only Otamendi can be relied on as Vincent Kompany has struggled with fitness for three seasons now , managing to play only nine league games . Stones on his own appears to be rusty and  lacking confidence as he was at fault for both goals against Bristol City in the Carabao Cup and Liverpool in the league having suffered an injury in November needing six weeks recovery time which made Guardiola recall Eloaquim Mangala (made 10 league appearances). To add to that, left full backs Fabian Delph and Mendy are both out for extended periods which makes the signing of a left footed defender a near necessity. With more than 14 league games to go as well as the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup final, City need to strengthen their backline in order to challenge in all competitions rather than putting round pegs in square holes.

At 23, Laporte has an extensive experience playing at the top level having played over 161 league games for Athletic Bilbao since his debut in 2012. Such as been his consistency that he has been linked with Barcelona and Manchester United almost every transfer window. Ball playing, strong in the air as well as ability to read the game , the Frenchman is the best at his age in the position as he has grown from strength to strength each passing day. With the transfer market getting more and more inflated and Laporte getting better and better as well as becoming more appealing to many clubs, seizing the opportunity to sign him now will be the right thing for City to do rather than wait and then lose him like they lost both Dani Alves and Alexis Sanchez.  £56m might be much but with the capture of a player of such quality and one that will play on for years, it might end up a bargain.

Is Edin Dzeko The Solution To Chelsea's Inconsistent Attack?

As Chelsea continue to drag their feet towards the signing of 31-year-old Bosnian and Roma striker Edin Dzeko, it is becoming more glaring to even the most loyal fan that the West London club need reinforcements this winter.

With 10 league goals , three assists in 21 Seria A games this season , Edin Dzeko might be the immediate answer to Chelsea's offensive  woes, yet it remains to be seen if his signing is rational long term . Turning 32 in March and costing over £25m as well as demanding a massive €100,000 weekly wages in a side who are reluctant to offer more than a year contract to players over 30 is a problem Chelsea will have to rethink before sealing his transfer . Why shouldn't such funds be used to sign younger less proven players rather than spent on a player who is likely to decline sooner or later. Tiemoue Bakayoko, Zapacosta, Antonio Rudiger,  Alvaro Morata (all costing over €35m) are young players  Chelsea signed this summer yet none has hit the heights expected (inconsistent)  despite delivering in selected games. Based on such factor, what is the guarantee that another younger player will immediately turn out better in Chelsea going by the lessons of last summer?

The duo of Morata and Mitchy Batshuayi have scored a paltry two goals in the league since December to say the least ; while Dzeko guarantees at least a goal every two games since his time in Wolfsburg. Under Conte, the Bosnian will be the focal point of attack considering the style the Italian employed in Italy with Graziano Pelle which is something Batshuayi has failed to add to his game.  Conte it appears wants to  switch his pattern of play like he did last season with a 3-4-3 formation. The Italian has realised he needs a physical and technical player who is able to play alone upfront at the same time allowing the other attackers to finish off attacks. Hold-up- play , shooting accuracy, aerial prowess, keeping possession, winning mentality/playing under  pressure and finishing are some of the qualities Conte wants.  As target man, Dzeko will play with his back to goal, holding up the ball and creating chances for the likes of Eden Hazard and Pedro at the same time being a nightmare for defenders on the air. Last season, Dzeko attempted more shots than any other player in Seria A with only Christiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Harry Kane the only players attempting more shots than he did in Europe's top Five leagues.

In 89 Seria A games, the striker has scored 52 goals while in Roma; at the same time scoring 39 goals across all competitions last season  having joined Roma for €11m. With a less spectacular goal this season, Chelsea must be sure the Bosnian is not in decline as he ages considering that was the same case when Fernando Torres and Andry Shevchenko joined the London club. It might also be better for Chelsea to keep the cash and wait until the end of the season to sign a striker as the rush might not be worth it considering Dzeko is ineligible to play in the Champions League. With his game not based on pace and physicality, Dzeko might even play until his mid 30s as he his more of a predator (able to be at the right place at the right time) and also keeping the ball for long . While in Wolfsburg the Bosnian scored over 66 goals in 111 Bundesliga games  as well as 50 goals in 130 EPL games for City which makes this season return of 10 in 21 games probably a sign he might be on the decline.

Tammy Abraham (four goals in 20 EPL games)  has shown in Swansea that he needs lots of time before he can turn out consistently for Chelsea which makes the signing of a striker a priority for Chelsea. Also to be considered is the fact Antonio Conte might not be around much longer judging from his difficult relationship with the Chelsea board which makes sense that the Bosnian shouldn't be signed as the new manager might not fancy him. Whatever decision Chelsea takes, the signing or non-signing of Edin Dzeko will either be a gamble or masterstroke this winter.

Why Mitchy Batshuayi Is Probably A Victim Of Antonio Conte's System Rather Than A Big Flop.

Very few people at present can recall that Belgian Michy Batshuayi was actually Antonio Conte's first signing after the Italian's appointment prior to the Euro's in 2016. Since making the €39m move to Chelsea, the Batsman has hardly seen game time as he has struggled to upsurge Diego Costa and now Alvaro Morata. On Sunday in the FA Cup against Newcastle, Batshuayi scored a brace in a game which was his fourth start in three weeks; making him two goals behind Chelsea's top scorers Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata.

Unlike the duo mentioned above , Batshuayi has flattered to impress often failing to seize the opportunity when given the chance (woeful in Carabao Cup semi-final agaibst Arsenal last week), despite scoring the winning goal that won Chelsea the EPL last season (against West Brom). Having scored 26 goals in 62 Ligue 1 games in two years, Batshuayi arrived Chelsea with very high expectations and with the Blue fans elated having seen him dazzle for Belgium at the Euro's in the summer.

Fast-forward to this winter and Batshuayi might be on his way to Sevilla on a six month deal with Chelsea linked with  about £25m rated Edin Dzeko of  Roma (31-year-old) who will be 32 in March. So where did it all go wrong for Batshuayi?

First and foremost, despite being a decent striker at a young age (24), the Belgian isn't an ideal Conte central striker. This is because Conte favours playing a physical , tall striker who is the focal point of his attack rather than part of an attack . Conte also favours a striker who can play with his back to goal with flawless hold up play as the likes of Graziano Pelle (Conte's striker for Italy), Mirko Vucinic and Fernando Llorente  (both at Juventus) come to mind. It is unfair to judge Batshuayi with his poor goal returns (seven goals in 32 league games) as it should be noted he has only completed the whole 90 minutes once which was in the game against Brighton last weekend. Such has been his plight that he didn't even start in three games in mid-December with Eden Hazard getting the nod as a false 9 in the absence of injured Alvaro Morata.  Also to be noted is that the Belgian has played only 300 minutes across all competitions this season scoring seven goals  which translates to a goal every 42 minutes ; did I hear you say Impressive? This season despite starting from the bench, the Belgian has scored three decisive goals (a double against Watford in the league and one against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League) not excluding his hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Carabao Cup with the icing on the cake his goal against Norwich in the return leg of the FA Cup third round game as well as his double against Newcastle United in the FA Cup .

Batshuayi is a victim of Conte's system when properly  analysed. A look  at strikers linked with  the Italian proves it (Peter Crouch, Fernando Llorente, Barnes, Andy Carroll and now Edin Dzeko) ; players who can bring their teammates into play , physically dominant , big aerial presence and target men. This is in stark contrast to Batshuayi who is more of a poacher as well as perfect when he plays facing the goal rather than backing it. Against Brighton, the Belgian showed glimpses of his quality as he linked perfectly with Eden Hazard and Willian with deft touches (see Willian's goal). Batshuayi is a central forward rather than a target man; he strives better by passing to his attacking teammates rather than turning and shooting as well as decent when his team is in transition .

With the World Cup in five months time, Batshuayi probably knows he needs game time to make it to the star studded Belgian team which is something Chelsea might not offer him . As he plans to depart on loan, Chelsea fans hope that he improves while on loan  coming back to Chelsea in the summer a better player. Although that will mean Tammy Abraham will have to be sent on loan again in the summer and Conte changing his style to play two strikers in a game to fit in the trio of Alvaro Morata, Edin Dzeko and him.

Bargain Loan Signing, Excessive Weekly Wage; João Mario Is No Solution To West Ham's Attacking Deficiencies.

West Ham might have improved substantial under David Moyes who has restored a measure of solidity to the Hammers defence having recalled Adrian in favour of Joe Hart in goal . With the side now 11th in the table (five points above relegation); it is logically that Moyes is supported in the current winter transfer .

Though he has shown some flashes of talent, it is shocking that West Ham are signing João Mario on loan from Inter. With his fee at £1.3m, it is a bargain in the current inflated transfer market ; yet what is mind blowing is that the Hammers will pay his weekly wages of £137,500. Signed by Inter after an impressive Euro in 2016 where he played all games as Portugal won the tournament, the former Sporting Lisbon attacker has been inconsistent in Seria A scoring only three goals in 44 league games. Good in set-piece as well as dribbling; Mario's inability to finish off moves and weak tackling means he is sometimes  a liability in both defence and offence.

In East London, Moyes is not a manager who favours flair players or creative players as he loves players with physical talents (tough tackling , shooting, aerial duels to mention but a few) which is the reason he plays attacking midfielder Marko Arnautovic as a false 9 as well as starting three defensive minded players as central midfielders (Mark Nobel, Pedro Obiang and Cheik Kuoyate). In a 3-5-2 formation where three central defenders are started and two wing backs (Zabaleta and Masuaku), it is puzzling where exactly Mario will play considering he is a right attacking forward or a central attacking midfielder; two positions Moyes play defensive minded players . With Lanzini in hot form at the moment and improving every game, it is unlikely Mario will start ahead of the Argentine .

Make no mistake, João Mario is no flop, but in David Moyes he is the wrong player for such a manager. Mario excels in a team that he has little or no defensive responsibility where he can use his pace and trickery to unlock defences, creating big chances; a responsibility he carried out perfectly while with the national team . At Inter, Croatian  Marcelo Brozovic starts ahead of him coupled with the signing of Rafinha from Barcelona some days ago which complicates his problem having fallen out of favour with Luciano Spalletti.

Earning in excess wages around £137,000 is not an easy baggage for a side like West Ham who are struggling to offload the likes of Dede Ayew, Sahko Diafra and Chicharito to mention but a few. West Ham seems to be fixing a square peg in a round hole with the signing of the Portuguese who has started only five games for Inter  as well as nine substitute appearances with three assists  in the League) but time will tell.

Reasons Why Danny Sturidge Must Quit Liverpool This Winter.

Very few Liverpool fans remember Danny Sturidge the way they used while the striker was in his best form (2013/2014 season) under Brendan Rodgers. Reason simply due to the fact that the Three Lions forward has become surplus to requirements since the day Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Liverpool manager in October 2015.

Having played only 514 minutes this season (14 games across all competitions) an average of 37 minutes, Sturidge hasn't seen the field since December 06 when Liverpool played Spartak Moscow in the Champions League. This season in the league the 28 year old has scored only two goals in nine  games , recording one assist and creating one big chance.

This is in stark contrast to the striker who has scored 64 goals in 133 league  games  for the Reds since his 2013 winter move to Anfield for £13m. Highly sought and full of promise since his debut in Manchester City, Sturidge has struggled for game time and injury which have made him a shadow of himself. In total, the striker has made only 12 league starts since May 15,  as well as seeing 18 minutes of football since November 16 which is a far cry from his spectacular 21 goals in 2013-2014 season having played with Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez.
 
Such has been Sturidge's fall in grace, that attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino and 20 year old Dominic Solanke are preffered ahead of him on game days. With his inability to play Klopp's high intensity pressing spirited style the main reason for the snub, Sturidge will need to fast track his exit from Liverpool so as to prolong his football career . Fast, skillful as well as having an eye for goal, the striker cannot play with his back to goal which has made it difficult for Klopp to start him as well as his inability to hold up play and allow his team mates to occupy offensive positions ; a task Firmino performs admirably.

Rather than join, a big European club, Sturidge's main focus should be securing a move to a modest club who play his style so as to get regular game time to dazzle the world like he used to do in the past.

How Watford's Marco Silva Went From Coveted League Manager To Most Recently Sacked Manager

Marco Silva has gone from the "Most Covetted EPL manager" to the "latest manager to get the boot" within eight weeks; that is how fast things change in football. Despite inheriting a team that barely survived relegation (finished 17th) last season under Walter Mazzarri, Watford under Silva recorded four wins , three draws and a loss in their first eight games sitting 4th in the table. Such was the improvement that Silva was the first  choice to replace Ronald Koeman shortly after the Dutchman was sacked by Everton in November.

Fast forward to Sunday evening and the Portuguese was sacked by Watford having recorded eight losses in their last 12 league games (five points from a possible 33 ). It was also immature and unprofessional for Silva to have publicly courted Everton in November just nine League games into his Watford appointment. This might have shown a lack of commitment and affected the players who might have felt their manager's head was turned and on the move .

 Though he is partly to blame, it should be noted that injuries have not been fair with his squad (12 players out injured). Star man Richardlison also looks jaded and fatigued having started his season in May before moving from Fluminense  in the summer. Now a victim of his own success considering his season target was EPL survival , the 40-year-old took Watford to 10th , four points above the drop zone before his sacking. Watford's highest finish in the EPL era is 13th (Quique Sanches Flores); their last finish in the EPL top half in 1987. Seven managers in five years for Watford is a nightmare for any manager clearly showing why Watford is the wrong choice for any manager eying stability.

Having improved Hull City although he suffered relegation with the squad last season as well as getting the boot in Watford ; Marco Silva leaves Vicarage Rose with his shoulders high and not short of suitors.

Is Alexis Sanchez Manchester United's Attacking Missing Jigsaw ?

Jose Mourinho finally has his hands on a sort of player he has always wanted to complete his missing Manchester United jigsaw in Chile's Alexis Sanchez and to think that he got the highly rated Chilean for a free swap is much more impressive especially considering Arsenal rejected Manchester City's $90m offer for him in the summer with a year to run on his contract.

80 goals, 41 assists in 166 games for Arsenal is legendary not to talk about his ability to shine in big games as well as his commercial and marketing brand which makes him a poster boy for United. At 30, Sanchez shows no signs of stopping as he continues to dazzle although he will have to alter his game if he losses the pace which made him defenders worst terrorist. Despite looking uninterested and unhappy at Arsenal, the former Barcelona star has scored seven goals , assisting three and creating seven big chances in 19 league games this season which is far from his sizzling hot return of 24 goals, 10 assists, 10 big chances created in 38 league games last season . A target for most top EPL clubs in the league, Mourinho and his team must be congratulated for making the rare deal a reality without paying any signing fee although Henrikh Mkhitaryan was paid the remains of his contract before making the move to the other side.

Sanchez is already made and one for the big games, he is free to play in the UEFA Champions League as he is not cup tied (Arsenal compete in the Europa League) which is an added advantage. United also lose nothing as an unhappy and sulking Mkhitaryan was traded to acquire the Chilean star. Able to play in any attacking position, Sanchez might end up becoming Mourinho's best signing if he replicates his Arsenal form while in Old Trafford.

Despite all these Impressive records, one problem with Sanchez's signing is the problem it might create in the dressing room considering his £400,000 per week salary which makes him the league's highest earner. With reports that Paul Pogba is already asking for a pay rise despite only signing last season ; making it obvious Sanchez's signing might unbalance the wage bill in Old Trafford which will be a long term problem if it does happen . Other than that it promises to an explosive scene when United line up with Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Rashford to say the least.

Arsene Wenger Proves He Is Still A Transfer Guru With Henrikh Mkhitaryan's Signing.

Arsene Wenger has been perhaps the most despised coach in the EPL at the moment yet he is about to pull one of the league's best transfers this winter (Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan). With Alexis Sanchez's (30 years) contract about to expire in six months time, Arsenal have traded the Chilean directly to Manchester United in direct exchange for a year younger Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan with no fees involved . Sanchez was the fulcrum of Arsenal's attack since joining the Emirates side having scored an astonishing 80 goals in 168 games across all competitions in four and a half years yet, Arsenal have shown this season that there is life after Sanchez with the Chilean playing a less important role each passing game this season. At 30, Sanchez might be in decline soon although so many players have played successful beyond 30 (Christiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba to mention but a few) .

On the other hand, acquiring an out of favour Mkhitaryan is a masterclass act. Although the Armenian has been poor this season failing to even make the match day squad most of the times since November 25 , it easy to see why Wenger did not hesitate to send Sanchez the other side. Having started the season in scantilating fashion scoring two goals and assisting five times in his first three games, Mkhitaryan grew frustrated working under Jose Mourinho who did not grant him the offensive freedom to maximise his potential. Under the Portuguese, the Armenian became more mechanical, defending his fullbacks at the same time required to make tackles on several occasions just like the case of Kelvin De Bruyne now at Manchester City , who did not agree with the coach and was later proved right . With his work rate and commitment questionable at times, the Armenian is world class on his day as his record 25 league goals in the Ukrainian league while at Sharktar Donesk (2012-2013) still remains a record since the league's inception in 1992. As if that was not all, the Armenian assisted a record 15 league goals, scoring 19 goals and assisting 24 across all competitions in his final season with Borussia Dortmund claiming the Bundesliga's Players Player of the Season award in the process. Just like his early  struggles in Manchester during his 18 months at the club, the Armenian suffered the same fate while in Dortmund before turning out the League's best player in his third season  earning a £27m move to Manchester United in the summer of 2016.

Though his record in United is poor (four goals in 24 league games last season season, one goal in 15 league games this season) ; the pattern and style of play under Mourinho always meant that physical strength and ability was always favoured over flair and talent with a classic look at Anthony Martial a an example. The goals of Sanchez might be difficult to replace but imagine an attacking line-up of Emerick Aubameyang as the point man flanked by Mesut Ozil and Alexander Lacazette on the wings with Mkhitaryan playing slightly behind the main striker Aubameyang pulling the strings in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Deadly and Blazing if I heard You right. Let the games roll!!!!

Ronaldinho's Quick Decline Proves Talent Alone Is No Mantra To Success

In an era where goal scoring and goal scorers take all the glory with little given to creators or artists in the game, one player who will forever remain an exception is no one else but Ronaldinho. With an impressive stats yet behind that of Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Brazilian is not only a Legend of the game but also the Best worldwide in his prime . He might have been too ugly for Florentino Perez's Real Madrid, yet he was so beautiful on the field that he was given a standing ovation by the Bernabeu crowd after his scantilating performance in the 3-0 demolition of Real Madrid in 2006.

One of seven players who won the World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Balloon d'Or, the Brazilian was also the main player responsible for the rise of Barcelona in the modern game having delivered Barcelona's first Champions League title (2006) in over 14 years . He made the game look so easy,  impossible skills, quick change of pace, step-over, back-heels, blind pass as well as scoring impossible goals were all what made him stand out among his peers. Statistically he was a match for anyone as he scored 17 goals in 55 league games for PSG (2001-2003),  70 league goals in 145 games for Barcelona (2003-2008), 20 goals in 76 games for AC Milan (2008-2011) during his time in Europe.

Even with all his talent , the Brazilian's fall from grace to grass is a lesson that talent is no mantra for success. Having crashed out of the 2006 World Cup in Germany in the quarter-final (France eliminated Brazil), Ronaldinho's career was never the same after the game with reports of late nights, loss of commitment, loss of motivation and weight issues. Also to be noted is the emergence of a young Lionel Messi who took the mantle from him never looking back after Ronaldinho's infamous exit to Milan for €25m from Barcelona in 2008.

Though that might be harsh on the Brazilian, the one certain thing is that he will be remembered until the end of time as one of the Greatest Players to ever grace the field.

Barcelona's Rafinha Gets Second Chance At Inter.

Having suffered two career threatening injuries in two years , Barcelona's Rafinha has not been the same as he is yet to play this season despite recovering fully from the knee injury suffered in April. Although another reason is the offensive strength of Barcelona under Ernesto Valverde who has made the Catalunya side more defensively solid. 

With his recent struggles it quite easy to forget that the winger was named La Liga's Breakthrough Player of the Season back in 2014 having scored four goals in 32 games for the side while on loan . With a blistering pace and ability to shoot from any angle , Rafinha has never been a regular at Barcelona partly due to the high profile offensive  players ahead of him at the time (Neymar , Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi). The younger brother of Thiago Alcantara and son of former Brazil international  Mazinho who won the FIFA World Cup in 1994; it is difficult to completely feel his best years are past him even with his record injuries . To buttress further, the attacker was impressive last season scoring six goals in 18 league games despite coming off the bench most of the time . With an ability to play in any attacking position , the winger only needs game time at a club who will give him the platform and patience to get back to his best . 

Even with the array of stars that have played for Barcelona in the past 

four years , it is not impressive that the Brazilian has made 48 league appearances scoring eight times for Barcelona despite his two career injuries that put him out of the game for kids more than 18 months in total . With Inter all but confirmed to be his next destination for a loan and permanent signing of around €17m, the winger should be praised for seeking another challenge having discovered his present predicament  at Barcelona might only get worse with the recent signing of Philipe Coutinho for £142m from Liverpool days ago. At Inter he is joining a family club at the same time a side gradually returning to its glory days (nine points behind league leaders Napoli) under Luciano Spalletti. The Italian is a decent tactician and will relish having Ivan Perisic and Rafinha attacking on the side while Mauro Icardi  operates  from the middle to tear down stubborn defences. With João Mario struggling for consistency, Inter have surely made a bargain signing (Rafinha) provided he returns to form . Quick, decent crosser, humble coupled with his ability to play in tight spaces, Inter appear to have made of the best transfers in Seria A this winter. At 24, Rafinha is already a Champion having won La Liga, Champions League and then the Olympics despite being only 24. The  winger still has so many years ahead of him and must surely look ahead rather than look back to the past.

Andy Carroll Now Peter Crouch; How Did It Get This Bad For Chelsea?

Didier Drogba, Andry Shevchenko, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres and Diego Costa to mention but a few are strikers signed by the Chelsea in their prime although some flopped in West London. Now compare the aforementioned strikers with the likes of Peter Crouch (37 years ) and injury prone  Andy Carroll(29) and a question comes to mind "where did it all go wrong for the men in Blue"?

Accepted Chelsea cannot sustainably compete financially with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, it still isn't enough reason for the Chelsea executives to continue to be linked with players who are in decline or average . The purpose of this article isn't to bash the duo of Crouch and Carroll but to spot the sudden fall in grace of Chelsea. While Manchester City and United spent well over £150m in the summer without a notable departure except City's Kelechi Iheanacho (joined Leicester City for £20m), Chelsea had to sell the likes of Nemanja Matic,  Ake, Begovic, Nathan Chalobah and Diego Costa (all in excess of £110m) before signing Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater and Zapacosta (excess of £150m). Agreed Chelsea have to balance the books before making any signing, yet it is shocking that Crouch and Carroll are the best for the Blues in the market.

At 29, Carroll has played over 20 EPL games once since his 2013 summer move to West Ham. You have to go back to the 2010-2011 season to see the last time the striker scored over 10 goals (his most productive and breakthrough season ), a form which earned him a big money (£35m) move to Liverpool where he flopped scoring six goals in 44 league games before moving to West Ham for £15m. That is not all, Carroll has scored only 25 goals in 86 EPL games for West Ham (5566 minutes) ; which shows a conversion rate of 15% and a goals per minute of 222.64. The stat excluded his one season loan in West Ham prior to a permanent deal 2012-2013 (seven goals in 23 EPL games). With such stat it is not just shocking but mind blowing  that Chelsea have been linked with him as an upgrade on Michy Batshuayi . This season, the Englishman has  played only 12 league games (two goals ) coupled with his 18 league games last season (seven goals).

On the other hand, Stoke City's Peter Crouch is already 37 having struggled to play 18 league games this season (mostly as a substitute with three goals) coupled with his 27 games (seven goals) last season . On what account are these two stats of both strikers Chelsea quality unless the West London side have decided to  punch down.

Even though Chelsea might be appearing to exploit the winter transfer , what has happened to scouting ? Is Tammy Abraham who is on loan at Swansea (four goals in 20 EPL games, 21 goals in 43 last season for Bristol City in the Championship) not an upgrade on the two ; and couldn't Dom Solanke who joined Liverpool this summer after running down his contract have done better than the duo. Financial Fair Play or book balancing  , Chelsea  fans  deserve better from who ever is in charge of recruitment at the club. With Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas the only two creative players at the club and the club struggling with creativity all over the field , it is shocking that it is players with aerial strengths and physicality that get  linked with the club. Ross Barkley might have underachieved while at Everton considering his talent but he is not the answer to Chelsea's dull and blunt offence . Ngolo Kante, Bakayoko, Drinkwater all lack creativity as well as the Inconsistencies of Willian and Pedro (aging), Chelsea do not have a top class winger as well as a creator in chief in the middle of the park .

On paper as present the current winter transfer sums up how the mighty have fallen considering how the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with Alexis Sanchez, Virgil Van Dijk, Emerick Aubameyang and Malcom while Chelsea target Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch.

Can Bordeaux's Brazilian Malcom Really Replace Manchester United Bound Alexis Sanchez At Arsenal?

Born Felipe Silva de Oliveira, the Bordeaux no.7 was given the nickname Malcom in reference to one of his father's favourite civil rights activist (Malcolm X). A natural left footer with a blistering pace as well as the ability to shoot accurately even from 30 yards. With Alexis Sanchez soon to depart from the Emirates this winter, there might be no better player best suited to fill the attacking void the Chilean will leave behind at Arsenal. With an 83% pass accuracy and a shot percentage of 3.3 per game , Malcom is worth every penny of his £35m price tag in an already inflated transfer market .

Although not as direct as Sanchez, the Brazilian excels in tight spaces as well as when given the freedom to roam in attack. With the ability to play in any attacking position as well as his sizzling quick feet and skills, Malcolm is miles ahead of the likes of Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott  and Danny Welbeck in terms of creativity as his game is more of flair rather than anything else. Signed in the winter of 2016 for a mere €5m from Corinthians, the attacker has already scored seven goals, five assists ,four times Man of the Match , as well as creating 43 chances for his teammates in just 19 Ligue 1 games this season despite his team struggling (five points off relegation placed Angers in 18th). While Sanchez was lauded for his individual brilliance when they team needed it most , Malcolm is not an exception having being coach Jocelyn Gourvennec's fulcrum of attack since his signing .

At 20, the midfielder still has a lot of time to grow under Wenger and will thrive with the attacking freedom which most top managers will not grant him ; a look at the likes of Eden Hazard, Anthony Martial and Sergio Aguero illustrates how these creative players have been restricted by their managers (Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola). Although a winger who prefers to attack from the right , Malcom can also play as a no.10 or on the left which will be handy at Arsenal . Though French football might differ from English football, the Brazilian has shown he is not one that wastes time to acclimatise to a new environment having shone in Bordeaux despite arriving just 12 months ago. Arsenal will have to sign big in order to arrest their steady decline and matching an attacking South American flair to the poaching skills of Alexander Lacazette as well as the directness of Granit Xhaka and Jack Whilshere in midfield will go a long way to cushion the effects of the loss of Manchester United bound Alexis Sanchez although Malcom will need to work on his defensive side as his inability to hassle and tackle when out of possession is a side of his game he must work on before dreaming of becoming one of the best players in the Premier League.

How Will Theo Walcott Be Remembered At Arsenal?

Theo Walcott was the hottest youngster when he joined Arsenal for £12m from Southampton in the summer of 2010 holding the record for the most expensive signing of a British 16-year-old.  Such was the youngster's promise that he became the Youngest player to ever  play for the Three Lions at the time (17 years, 75 days). In his 11 years at the club , Walcott has scored an astonishing 108 goals in 397 appearances for the Gunners. At Arsenal , the attacker won two FA Cups as well as earning 47 caps for the Three Lions scoring eight goals in the process as well as playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012.

Despite all these achievements, Walcott will always be remembered as a player who never lived up to his potential. At 28 presently, the attacker finds himself behind the likes of Anthony Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, and even academy graduate Alex Iwobi who only made the senior side in 2015. What this entails is that the longest Arsenal player has become almost surplus to requirements  barely struggling to play six games this season mostly coming from the bench (68 minutes of EPL actions all three as substitutes).  In reality , Walcott has become a regular starter in cup competitions as evidenced from his regular appearance in the League Cup and Europa League. So how did things get this bad for the promising youngster who at one point was compared to French legend Thierry Henry?

First and foremost though he has struggled in the final third with decision making, often choosing the wrong option after creating chances; injuries have often held him back during his time in Arsenal . With the pace that could match that of a bullet , Walcott was at the time the fastest winger in the Premier League , running down defenders and exploiting spaces in defences until his anterior cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup game against Spurs in January 2014. Such was his form before that sad injury that he had  recorded five goals in five games going into the game . As if that wasn't enough the emergence of Oliver Giroud as the vocal point of Arsenal's attack relegated him to the wings which also saw the likes of Alexis
Sanchez and Mesut Ozil block his chances since last season's switch to a 3-4-3 formation .

Also not to be ignored is his last season's appearance of 28 (10 goals and recording two assists). Often favouring the no.9 position rather than playing on the wings, the Englishman never really grew his game lacking  the decisive final pass or touch which is what often separates average players from the very best . With a very impressive 2012/2013 season (14 goals and 10 assists in 32 league games - Arsenal's top scorer) to look back on, Walcott surely knows that at 28, he is entering his peak period and must become that player his potential showed he come become while at Everton after the Toffees paid around £20m for him  although that is a big ask considering he will be playing under a defensive minded Sam Allardyce who favours defence and physicality over offence so often .

Javier Hernandez's (Chicharito) Situation At West Ham Makes A Winter Move A Priority.

 Javier Hernandez might have been unknown when he signed for Manchester United shortly before the World Cup in 2010 but fast forward to the end of the 2010-2011 season ; he was already a "Hero" for fans of the Red Devils mainly because of his impact from the substitute bench. Game after game , the Mexican scored goals for fun wearing down tired defenders even when Wayne Rooney and Dmitri Berbatov were all preferred ahead of him . In total Chicharito ended the season with an impressive 13 goals from 27 league games .

A natural poacher who timed his runs perfectly, always finishing attacking moves , Chicharito thrived under Fergie's system as the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nani and Michael Carrick fed him . Though he was never the strongest physically nor able to dribble , the Mexican's game was all about finishing off moves and scoring those vital goals as he again finished his second season with 10 goals again winning the Premier League for the second time in the process.

So how did it all go wrong for Chicharito in  West Ham at a time he is supposed to be in his peak ? The Answer is no one else but David Moyes, the same coach who used him only 17 times in his Ill fated time at Old Trafford. This is not to say that Moyes is a terrible manager but rather to point out that both manager and player can't co-exist at the same club as their pattern differ. This season  just like in 2013/2014 season, the Scot has only started the Mexican once 1-0 loss to Spurs (January 04 2018), a game Chicharito made only 26 touches , completinv seven passes despite being on the field for 64 minutes. Having discarded the Mexican while at United for a mere £7m preferring the likes of Danny Welbeck, an aging Van Persie and Wayne Rooney  , the attacker went to prove Moyes wrong scoring a whopping 28 goals in 54 Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen before joining West Ham for £16m this summer. With the best minute-per-goal ratio in  Premier League history before his exit to Real Madrid on loan then Bayer Leverkusen, it is clear why he has struggled to win the trust of the Scot.

A look at West Ham's system this system proves that Chicharito must move this winter away from the Olympic stadium if he wants to feature at the World Cup for Mexico in the summer. Preferring forwards who have decent hold up play and able to play with their backs to goal , Moyes has often played with Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini in a 3-5-2 system ; a system which has so far yielded impressive results as West Ham have moved out of relegation places to 11th in the league.
 Though the former Chivas striker was out for one month when Moyes took over from Slaven Bilic, his situation has turned from bad to worse when compared to his early season struggle under Bilic having scored a goal last since October 28 .

This is not to say that the striker is no longer his old self rather Chicharito appears to be lacking confidence as well as an attacking system where he is surrounded by skillful and creative players as was the case in the Leverkusen and United unlike West Ham who are more physical and defensive. With the transfer still open , Javier Hernandez must cut his loses and move on quickly for regular game time even though it's a side of less European glamour; Game time has to be his priority for the moment .

Arsenal's Sale Of Francis Coquelin Show Latest Failure To Adequately Replace Patrick Vieira.

Having joined Arsenal as a teenager in 2008 from Laval, Francis Coquelin made history as the only outfield Arsenal player not to score a single goal for Arsenal Wenger despite making over 160 games across all competitions .

With his £12m move to Valencia confirmed this winter, Arsene Wenger has shown he is no longer one that holds unto underperforming players for too long ; a trait which has seen him keep the likes Theo Walcott, Calum Chambers and David Ospina to mention but a few.

At 26, the French man is approaching his peak which might make his signing a bargain for Los Che if that eventually happens. Starved of game time this season having made only seven EPL starts , Coquelin is seen as out of depth and unable to perform consistently at a big club like Arsenal. Passionate, loved and a hard tackler, the defensive midfielder was unable to sustain his 2014-2015 form which saw him chalk up stats upon stats at the same time one of the best in the league at the time. Having being recalled in the winter  from Charlton where he was on loan , the midfielder played in the middle alongside Santi Cazorla, protecting the back four as Cazorla showed his wizardry in attack . His form was so impressive at the time that Arsene Wenger even claimed he would have been a bargain if he was signed by £40m by the club . Coquelin's world will soon crumble after his long term knee injury which made Wenger splash £7m on Basel's Mohammed El'Neny as his direct replacement. Things will only get worse after the £35m signing of Granit Xhaka in 2016 which made the Frenchman surplus to requirements at the Emirates.

This season, Coquelin has also seen less game time after the recovery of Jack Wilshere as well as Wenger's switch to 3-4-3 which is a departure from his 4-2-3-1 meaning only one defensive player is named in the starting line -up.

At Valencia he will join up with Los Che who are third in the table while Arsenal are sixth (five points behind Liverpool) who are third.

How Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool Humbled Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Having gone 22 league games without a single defeat (20 record wins) , Pep Guardiola's side came into Sundays game with Liverpool as favourites despite struggling in Anfield in recent years with their last win coming in May 2003. On the other hand, Jurgen Klopp rightly showed there is life after Philip Coutinho with his side beating the runaway league leaders 4-3 on the night .

Klopp showed the rest of the league managers how to beat City with his tactical decision to man mark City's wingers with his defenders. City might have scored a lot of goals and are the best side in offence at the moment yet they are less potent when forced to play down the middle as most of their attacks come from the wing (Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane). In total Sane has scored seven goals, recorded nine assists, creating 11 big chances in 21 league games while Sterling has scored 14 goals, recorded four assists and creating six big chances which illustrates how important both men are to City. Wing backs, Joe Gomez and Robertson both did not venture forward, playing so close to the City attackers and pushing them to the middle where they are less potent. Such was the perfect tactical work of Klopp that City scored their first goal after Gomez misjudged a cross to Sane , freeing him to level for City.

Kun Aguero might be world class but under Guardiola who now seems a shadow of himself , often feeding on tap ins or drifting to the wings to influence games unlike the old Argentine who held shot more often at the same time dropping deep to get the ball. Under Guardiola, Aguero is less selfish, passing quicker and less likely of trying to do everything himself which is one of his greatest strengths. This has made it easier to defend against him as he depends extensively on the wingers and Kelvin De Bruyne.

Liverpool also showed they are a force to be reckoned with when on the offence with Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino firing from all corners feeding from the individual errors of an unsettled City defence. Unlike other managers who sat deep to invite City to attack , Liverpool took the initiative with Emre Can bossing the midfield, retrieving every ball allowing the others to concentrate in attacking. With a 4-3-3 formation, Liverpool played a high pressing game, vibrating with energy at the same time playing an all out defence and attack. With the win, Liverpool have now recorded 13 wins and remain unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions . Pep Guardiola has also lost five times to Klopp which is the highest for him .

Though Liverpool showed their inability to defend leads having let two goals slip, they have also shown they are a march for any European side on the offense considering how good their attackers performed on the night.

The Emre Can Liverpool Transfer Saga.

 C

Emre Can might not be everyone's favourite player but that doesn't change the fact that he might walk out of Liverpool on a free in the summer having rejected the club's £85,000 weekly contract extension. Having joined Liverpool in 2011, Can hasn't been an ideal signing although he has improved every season as well as still only 23 years of age. Arriving as a defensive midfielder for €10m in the summer of 2011 from Bayer Leverkusen , the German found it difficult to dislodge Lucas as well as Jordan Henderson who is regularly preferred ahead of him. Such has been Can's inability to secure a regular starting berth that he has played in almost every midfield position as well as defence.

Liverpool inability to convince him to extend his contract might see them lose around €30m-€40m from his sales as he already has earned 20 caps for Germany and regularly improving in every game. Strong, runner, scorer of odd and exquisite goals as well as ability to shoot accurate long range shots; Can is miles ahead his peers who cannot even get game time in less big clubs . With his agents insisting on a release clause before he extends and Liverpool unable to consent to that due to the consequent problem of other players demanding for the same before extending. This is also not the best period for Liverpool to be losing players having lost Philipe Coutinho to Barcelona. The Reds have become a selling club of recent and most be commended for not allowing the Turk's agent dictate terms for them but also the club must be sure they are on the right side. Refusing to insert an exit clause for Can now and losing him for nothing and then turning back to insert the same thing for another player in the near future will only made them worse. Simply put , Liverpool must be sure this policy of not inserting release clauses is sustained as this was the main reason Barcelona were made to pay so much for Coutinho (€160m) as a release clause would have meant they might not have received such huge fee.

Although he has shown the bright side of his game, the midfielder slows down the pace of the game and also losses concentration rushing into tackles recklessly. At his age, he should be praised for raising his game and must move to a club that will afford him the patience and guidance to peak just like Juventus did with the likes of Paul Pogba, Leonardo Bonucci and Arturo Vidal.

Naby Keita is only a few months from joining Liverpool and at such is a big upgrade when compared to Can but at the same time both could play in the same system which makes it more difficult for the Red fans as the potential loss of Can and Coutinho far outweighs the gains of Mohammed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Naby Keita. Liverpool must decide the right thing to do; lose Can on a free and make a big statement or bow to his demand and make €30m and above but lose some power in player extensions in the future.

Is Chelsea The Right Place For Ross Barkley?

Having missed out on the signing of 24-year-old Ross Barkley in the summer , Chelsea have clinched the signature of the English international from Everton for £15m.

While it might look like borne out of opportunity rather than need as Chelsea boast four regular central midfielders at the moment (Cesc Fabregas, Ngolo Kante, Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko), it still doesn't take away the fact that the youngster might turn a bargain in years to come considering his talent and  the highly inflated transfer market at the moment .

With the ability to drive and make runs from midfield into the penalty box of the opponents, as well as his incisive forward  passes; Barkley is sometimes called the little Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney when in top form.

His versatility will also be an advantage given his ability to play not just in central midfield but also on the flanks which will come in handy as Pedro and Willian have both not enjoyed the best of form this season . Also to be noted is his quick feet, strength which is a little different from what the trio of Kante, Bakayoko and Drinkwater offer (high pressing and hard running) making him the best offensive player to play halfway line supporting the attack , offering the killer pass.

Last season , the midfielder created nine big chances, registering nine assists and scoring five goals in 36 league games which isn't the best stats but at the same time not bad for a 24-year-old who has already played 150 Premier  League games scoring 21 goals in the process.

Although one part of the midfielder's game that needs help from Antonio Conte is his inability to help his team when without the ball as he is poor tackler and man marker as well as his poor defensive positioning .

Unable to play until mid-February due to a hamstring operation, Chelsea will hope the once inconsistent Barkley can become a world beater at the club considering his unique talents.

Why Mark Hughes Was Fired By Stoke City.

Peter Coates is one of the most patient owners in the EPL which is one of the reasons why Stoke has had only two managers since their promotion to the EPL in 2008. So why then was Mark Hughes sacked last week after taking the club to a record ninth place finish three successive seasons ?

Having inherited a defensively sound side from Tony Pulis in 2013, Hughes took the side to the Semi-final of the League Cup in 2016 losing on penalties as well as playing a more attractive brand of football , finishing a record ninth three times.

On the other side , Stoke lost their defensive discipline conceding 47 goals in 22 league games this season (worst goal difference in the league -24) with only two sides having survived relegation after such abysmal defending Swansea (51 goals) 2017 and Wigan (47 goals in 2010). Presently Stoke lie 18th in the league winning just five games and losing 12 times (14 points from 11 home games).

Also to noted is his failure in the transfer market with flops Giani Imbula costing a then record £18m, Kevin Wimmer £18m, Saido Berahinho £12m going blank in 23 league games despite 11 starts, Xherdan Shaqiri then record £12m blowing hot and cold. With the last straw the FA Cup third-round loss to Lesgue Two Coventry City last week.

Clearly it is obvious Coates felt Hughes was no longer the right one for the job at the moment which is understandable.

Is Mavropanos Konstantinos Arsenal's Solution To Inconsistency?

Not many soccer fans might have heard about a certain 20-year-old PAS Giannina defender Mavropanos Konstantinos but that is a thing of the past as Arsenal's capture of the youngster this winter was a trending headline on social media.

Possessing the power , agility and height (6ft 4in) to succeed in the EPL, the youngster has already played 16 games in the Greek Super League having made his debut in November 2016. Though he might be unknown outside Greece, PAS had to refuse a €1m first right of refusal on the player by Olympiakos this winter.  In future it is highly likely that the €2.2m spent on his transfer might be a bargain after he adapts to the fast pace and physicality of the EPL. Difficult to beat on one-on-one situations, good on the air, a humble character and a hard-working lad explains the  reason  new Arsenal Recruitment Head Sven Mislintat made him a priority this winter.

While all these attributes are sure to bring envy from most football clubs; the real question is whether or not Arsenal need a high calibre and highly rated central defender at this point rather than a young prospect considering their inconsistent showings this season. A look at the clubs above Arsenal in the table show most splashed big to sign quality defenders who have become a corner stone of the clubs at various points (David Luiz, Eric Bailly, Nicolas Otamendi) not mentioning Liverpool's £75m signing of Virgil Van Dijk. At present Arsenal are 6th in the league, having lost five times winning 11 after 22 games (13 points behind run away leaders Manchester City and five behind fourth placed Liverpool who occupy the final Champions League qualification berth). Failure to qualify for the Champions League will be  a massive disaster which will automatically mean the Gunners are no longer a Top Four EPL side having also failed to qualify for the competition for the first time since Arsene Wenger's reign (appointed in 1995). Rather than doing everything possible to at least make the competition next season including signing top players who will make immediate impact , Wenger is repeating the same mistakes he has made over the years since his last league trophy in 2004.

A look at Arsenal's defence causes big panic to fans with three of the six senior central defenders already in their 30's as well as looking Jaded and in need of grooming successors (Per Mertesacker -33 years, Laurent Koscielny -32 and Nacho Monreal -31), while the Calum Chambers (22) has failed to step up; making Rob Holding (22) and Shkodran Mustafi (25) although inconsistent the other options .

Already out of the FA Cup, Wenger seems to be out of depth with modern coaching making the signing of the Greek youngster more shocking . With doubts on his technical qualities (ball passing and control), Mavropanos still has ample time to grow into one of the best in his position considering the now realiable Koscielny was far from finished when he arrived as a youngster in 2010 from Lorient.

The purpose of this article isn't to criticise the signing of the Greek defender rather to point out the need of addressing the present rather than planning for the future without a present.

Have Everton Found Romelu Lukaku's Successor In Cenk Tosun?

Have Everton Now Found Romelu Lukaku's Successor In Cenk Tosun?

Everton appear to have learnt their lessons after burning their hands while trying to game the system by signing no immediate replacement for star striker Romelu Lukaku who left Goodison Park for Old Trafford in the summer . Having scored 68  goals in 141  league games for Everton after making a £28m move from Chelsea in 2014.

With the team highly reliant on Lukaku for goals as evidenced from his 25 league goals last season and 18 last two seasons , it was clear Everton needed to spend big to adequately replace the Belgian . Rather than splashing big to replace Lukaku, Everton felt Dom Calvert Lewis was good enough for the spot as well as  signing  Wayne Rooney on the free and Henry Onyekwuru who could not secure a work permit to play in the Premier League and is presently shinning on loan in Anderlecht. The end result was the sacking of Ronald Koeman after his team slip to 18th in the league last year with the team struggling for goals upfront although they have moved to ninth under Sam Allardyce yet goals still remain difficult to come by.

This is the reason the €22m signing of 26-year-old Turkish international Tosun this winter from Besiktas on a four and half years deal  wasn't a shock especially when the striker's talents are noted. With a knack for scoring stunning goals as well as scoring in big games , the Turk might be considered a bargain if he truly settles in England as many of his country men have struggled to adapt to life in England in recent past.   Having scored four goals in the Champions League,  13 goals in all competitions this season as well as 24 last season in Besiktas it is clear why he is highly thought of at Everton.

Born in Wetzlar, the striker joined his first club Eintracht Frankfurt having made his debut in 2010 before moving to Gaziantepspor in Turkey the following season scoring 10 goals as he tried to adapt to life in Turkey having lived all his life in Germany even representing the German U21 side before switching allegiance to Turkey.

With the ability to play with both feet after his father Senol banned him from using his favourite right foot while growing up, the Turk is also near perfect with aerial duels (heading ) which he compliments with his finishing and dead ball shooting. One weakness of him though is the lack of physicality on his part , something he will have to work on as the Premier League is a very physical and fast paced league .

Everton will only hope the addition of the Turk will be something they will look back and be proud of just like that of Lukaku.

Does The Sale Of Philipe Coutinho Make Liverpool A Selling Club?

18 League titles, Seven FA Cups, Five UEFA Champions League Titles to mention but a few makes Liverpool one of the most successful European clubs although they haven't been so successful in half a century. With the announcement that the Reds have traded star man Philip Coutinho for a club record €160m to Barcelona; while this might appear a perfect deal from a business perspective as the Brazilian becomes the second most expensive player in football history, yet this is a step backwards from a sporting perspective and this is why .

Luis Suarez, Javier Mascharano, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso have been the best players for Liverpool in the past seven years yet all of these players were sold in their peak due to the Reds inability to keep their stars with two of these players moving to Barcelona. To make matters worse the Reds would have also traded Steven Gerard in 2005 if he decided to move to Chelsea as the focus then was selling the best players rather than losing them for free.

You can argue that Liverpool might have acquired the likes of Naby Keita (Leipzig) and Virgil Van Dijk through the same way but none of these players can be compared to Coutinho. €160m might look fantastic and so was £50m and £70m made from the sales of Suarez and Torres who Liverpool could not replace for years despite spending a fortune before the signing of Moh Salah this season.

With Adam Lallana back from injury and the attacking vibe of Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, Coutinho might not be immediately missed by the Reds but finding a permanent replacement for him might take longer than expected as the likes of Oxlade Chamberlain and Marko Grujic will find his shoe too to wear.

Where else can one find an immediate replacement for a player who has scored seven goals, assisted  six, created seven big chances, hitting 17 shots on target  in 14 league games this season as well as 13 goals, assisted seven, created 17 big chances and hit 38 shots on target  in 31 league games last season.

What message is Liverpool sending to the agents of in form  players like Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane who if they continue to perform at this rate might be attracted to moving elsewhere as the Reds continue to sell. A close look at PSG showed how to deal with the advances of Barcelona as the French giants kept Marco Verratti at the club as well as signing Barcelona's Neymar. Liverpool will have to splash the cash to keep their stars like Chelsea and Manchester City have done or continue to sell their stars in their prime . Football is a capitalist business hence the highest bidder takes it all, footballers and their signings should grow with the revenue generated by the ever growing sport in the world as they live from the income made from playing the game .

Liverpool must step up and splash the cash or keep losing their stars with Mohammed Salah next on line .

Is Marcos Alonso Proving A Point At The Moment In Chelsea?

Is Marcos Alonso Proving A Point At Chelsea At The Moment?

Ngolo Kante, Eden Hazard, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta might all have taken the spotlight for Chelsea's last season success yet, despite the inconsistent form of the London Blues this season one player who has stepped up and become a new star is Spaniard Marcus Alonso , who is presently the highest scoring defender in the top five European leagues (Spain, England, Germany, France and Italy).

Having seen Chelsea linked with Alex Sandro of Juventus all through the summer , Alonso had a point to prove this season despite scoring six goals in his debut season after his £24m transfer from Fiorentina. To understand properly his exploits this season,  it is important to note that Alonso is  Chelsea's second highest goalscorer ; tied on six goals with star player Eden Hazard ; four behind Alvaro Morata.

Though he is yet to earn a call up to the Spanish national team , the wing back has been nearly unstoppable this season making attacking runs and darting to the oppositions penalty box , finding the right spot, finishing , scoring dead ball absolute stunners and being an aerial prowess (6ft 2in). What makes it easy to overlook him though is his playing position as he is better as a wing back rather than a left back as shown by his stats. Yet this does nothing to take away his defensive abilities as he averages almost two tackles every 90 minutes which is only behind Chelsea's trio of Ngolo Kante, Andreas Christensen and David Luiz and way better than his fellow wing back Victor Moses (1.3). In total Alonso has made 38 tackles, 31 interceptions , 136 recoveries in just 22 league games this season  with only one error leading to goal while creating an assist and two big chances.

Despite not being the fastest, the left back is physically strong and rarely swings a wrong cross as he compliments Eden Hazard on the wings. With games coming thick and thin for Chelsea , Antonio Conte will hope more good things can come from Alonso as they "Pensioners" sit in third and 19 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City.

Is Virgil Van Dijk Really Worth £75m?

Having criticised the expensive signings of Paul Pogba and Neymar Junior in the past Jurgen Klopp shocked football fans with the £75m (seventh most expensive player in football, most expensive defender) ,  purchase of Dutchman Virgil Van Dijk this winter from Southampton. To illustrate better it is good to know that the transfer market is already inflated hence the huge amount paid for him is not any fault of his.

Having seen Liverpool pay such huge amount , Van Dijk silenced his critics last night with the winning goal in the Merseyside derby against Everton in the FA Cup as Liverpool progressed to the next round . What sets him apart from the rest of defenders of his generation isn't his defensive abilities but rather his composure and control on the ball which makes him an attacking outlet for a team which priorities pushing from the back . Even when closed down the Dutchman has a bursting pace and ability to hold unto the ball which is rare for a defender. On the other hand, he can also pick teammates in the other half when given the freedom . Such is his quality that he could walk into any team in the EPL as he was wanted by Manchester City and Chelsea during the summer.

At 26 years, the Dutchman still has so many years left in him to become one of the world best in his position and make the price paid for him a bargain. He is also a natural leader who organises his defence, often seen shouting instructions to his teammates when the need arises. Also £75m becomes a bargain when compared with the £49m signing of John Stones and £35m signing of Lindelof by Manchester United and City respectively.
Possessing an aerial ability, strength and playmaking skills it is easy to see why the player has been Klopp's priority since last summer.

Although one major criticism of the Dutchman is his lack of game time In recent times having played only 12 league games last season and 21 last two seasons due to a succession of injuries. Which if managed properly by Liverpool shouldn't be an issue.