Liverpool should consider making a move for Sporting Lisbon forward Bas Dost if Daniel Sturridge ends his Anfield career.
What’s the word?
It would be no big surprise if Sturridge left this summer due to the fact that he has dropped down the pecking order at the Merseyside outfit.
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Injury problems have hampered the 28-year-old over the years, and when fit, he struggled to break into Jurgen Klopp’s side due to the impressive form of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
In January, Sturridge was loaned to West Bromwich Albion for the second half of the season, but he failed to make an impact due to another injury issue.
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The Reds are not in desperate need of a striker, but if they do lose one from the pack it is worth looking at a low-cost option.
Who should Liverpool target?
The Merseyside outfit could find themselves in a unique position due to the situation surrounding a handful of Sporting players.
Bas Dost is one of a handful of players who have asked to have their contracts terminated due to the recent attack on the squad.
Fifty masked fans stormed the club’s training ground in May and left some players beaten.
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A number of Premier League clubs have been linked to Dost, and Liverpool should join the party.
The striker towers at 6ft5 and does not necessarily slot into Klopp’s attacking system, but he would provide a different option as target man.
He could be useful in games when the team are struggling to break down defences, and he would be attainable on a free transfer.
Ragnar Klavan has made 20 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool during the 2017-18 campaign, but the centre-back might find first-team football difficult to obtain in the final months of the season.
Indeed, the £75m January arrival of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton has done Klavan no favours when it comes to securing a regular spot in Jurgen Klopp’s first XI.
Klavan, who is valued at £3.1m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has not actually played for Liverpool in the Premier League since the middle of last month, and he has not even made the squad for their last three league fixtures.
The 32-year-old arguably out-performed Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren in the opening months of the season, but it appears that he has now fallen behind both of those players when it comes to the race to be Van Dijk’s partner at centre-back.
The Liverpool fans have not forgotten about Klavan, however, and many have taken to social media to reveal their respect for the Estonian.
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Indeed, one supporter even claimed that he was the best centre-back of all time. A selection of the Twitter reaction can be found below:
The current campaign has been a rather taxing experience for Jack Wilshere. While the rest of the Arsenal cast have dazzled and delighted, holding top spot in the Premier League table for a good four months, the midfielder’s performances have ranged from impressive to absent, with the dynamic displays of old few and far between.
Back in the summer, if through knowledge of a crystal ball you were informed the Gunners would awaken from their dormant state and take up a pivotal role in the Premier League’s title race, you would have automatically assumed that Wilshere would be at the centre of it. Having found just three goals and four assists in 23 league appearances however, the much-heralded England international has been a sideshow attraction, leaving his Arsenal team-mates to revel in the limelight.
After picking up a variety of niggling knocks throughout the season, the regularly-crocked midfielder now faces six weeks on the sidelines after being upended on international duty by Denmark and Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. He faces a race for fitness ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Based on form and fitness throughout the season, the Gunners midfielder should not be going to Brazil. But through reputation alone, harking back to that award-winning 2010/11 campaign where Wilshere picked up the Premier League Young Player of the Year and Arsenal Player of the Year accolades, was anointed into the PFA Team of the Season and his world-class potential was obvious for all to see, the Emirates starlet’s name has already been written on Roy Hodgson’s team sheet in permanent marker.
Wait a second – doesn’t this story sound awfully familiar? An injury-striken Arsenal midfielder producing by no means his best form despite the obvious potential? In the mean time, his starting role for club and country almost virtually guaranteed? Barring the references to the England national team, for lack of a more applicable terminology, is Jack Wilshere doing a bit of an Aaron Ramsey?
The contrasting fortunes of the Welshman’s Emirates career are well known. Sourced from Cardiff City as a prominent teenager, the then-long-haired Ramsey arrived in North London as a high-in-confidence young buck, twisting. turning, creating and scoring in midfield and demonstrating the kind of promise that would make his £4.8million signing seem like absolute peanuts a few years down the line.
A leg break in 2010, courtesy of Stoke City shin-shatter enthusiast Ryan Shawcross, severely halted the 23 year-old’s development, not only due to the many months he was forced to spend out of the game in recovery, but furthermore the psychological fear of another serious injury that was left imprinted upon the youngster’s mindset.
Resultantly, Ramsey spent two years in the Arsenal first team verging upon boo-boy status at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger’s trust in the midfielder saw him miss just six Premier League fixtures in the space of two seasons, but the Wales international’s performances on the pitch failed to justify such a guaranteed role in the Gunners starting XI – much like Wilshere this season.
The breakthrough came this year – Ramsey claimed a sensational eight goals and six assists in 18 appearances in the first half of the season before being sidelined with a thigh injury in December, also averaging an astonishing 3.7 tackles per match. A far cry from his reputation just a matter of months earlier, where many suspected Ramsey’s lack of progress at the Emirates would result in an abrupt summer departure.
Back in September, Wenger told reporters regarding the Welshman’s almighty improvement; “He was resistant to go into the fights for a long, long time but now he’s over it. He had a difficult period last season where people became a little bit impatient with him. He lost confidence and sometimes, if you give the players a little rest, it can rebuild their confidence.”
Comparisons with Wilshere’s recent plight are obvious. Like his midfield team-mate, the England international burst onto the Emirates scene in a blaze of glory, heralded as a future star for club and country in his first season and his technical talents regarded as worthy enough of Barcelona’s legendary midfield. Inevitably unable to live up to that reputation since has been Wilshere’s biggest failing. The same can be said of the former Cardiff midfielder before this season.
But once again, likewise to the Welshman, the 22 year-old missed an entire campaign of his career through injury, and although he went on to make 25 Premier League appearances last term, the brief from Arsenal’s medical department was ‘to be used sparingly’ – starting runs in the first team were a noticeably rare occurrence. The following campaign – the current one – has been a period of frustrating stagnation for the Englishman, where performances have fallen some way short of lofty expectations.
With that in mind, could it be that Wilshere’s malaise in form this season can be sourced to the same psychological blockade that plagued Aaron Ramsey? Should we as fans have learnt from the Welshman’s episode not to overhype a talented youngster too soon, especially when injures are regularly involved?
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The Three Lions midfielder is often regarded as combative in nature, and although his repetitive injures may be a subliminal concern, by personal feelings are that Wilshere hasn’t been challenged enough throughout his career – his place in the Arsenal team, providing full fitness, has always been certain, and the same can be said for the midfielder’s regular participation in England starting XIs.
Either way, if in parody of Ramsey, this is Wilshere’s darkest hour before the dawn, Arsenal fans will feel little cause for concern. Wenger put his utmost faith in the Welshman and he’s become a far better player for it, after defeating his own personal demons. The Frenchman has made it abundantly clear that the Three Lions starlet will receive likewise backing.
But for England supporters, they’ll be hoping that this Ramsey-esque phase of Wilshere’s career doesn’t last too long. If they could pick between the Ramsey now and the Ramsey of the last two years to represent them at the coming World Cup, the result would be unanimous.
Manchester City are ready to make another attempt to sign Daniele De Rossi, according to The Sun.
The Italy international midfielder has been a transfer target for Roberto Mancini for some time, with Roma rejecting a number of offers from the Premier League champions in the summer.
With the signings of Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia in the last window it was believed that Mancini had given up hope of signing De Rossi, but City may well try to tempt the midfielder once more.
De Rossi recently signed a new contract with the Stadio Olimpico club, but has clashed on a number of occasion with new coach Zdenek Zeman.
After the Giallorossi were beaten 4-1 by Juventus the pair were caught up in a heated argument, which saw De Rossi benched for the next game against Atalanta.
As such Zeman is ready to offload the Rome hero, with City prepared to pay £30 million in January for the combative midfielder.
De Rossi currently earns £180,000 per week with the Serie A club, however City are ready to match the players wages to bring him to the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea have also been linked with a move for the Italian, but it is believed that De Rossi would prefer a move to City to join countryman Mancini in England.
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City’s potential bid would not be a positive step for the clubs finances with Financial Fair Play regulations coming into effect, however Mancini believes De Rossi’s signing would be a major boost for the club mid-season.
According to an exclusive report by TEAMtalk, Southampton are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia, who faces an uncertain future.
What’s the word, then?
Well, TEAMtalk says that Saints, along with newly-promoted duo Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, are all keen to sign the 26-year-old, who is keen on a move to the English top flight.
TEAMtalk says that the Argentine is keen to leave the Portuguese club to come to the Premier League after he and his teammates were attacked at their training ground by some angry supporters last month after they missed out on Champions League qualification.
The report adds that Battaglia, who would be competing with the likes of Oriol Romeu, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mario Lemina for a spot in central midfield if he did move to St Mary’s, was also the subject of public criticism for Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho.
How did Battaglia do during the 2017/18 campaign?
It was a tough season for Sporting, but the 26-year-old was a regular fixture in the starting XI.
The Argentine midfielder made 57 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing a further three assists, while he featured for all but three minutes of their Champions League group campaign.
According to WhoScored.com, he successfully completed 24 of the 39 dribbles he attempted in 45 outings in Liga NOS and in European competition, while he won 83 aerial duels.
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Would he be a good signing for Southampton?
He certainly would be.
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Saints, who should sign a 6ft 4in England colossus once Man United seal huge £50m deal, only just narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship last season and the addition of the 26-year-old would have to be seen as a huge positive, given the experience he has at playing at the highest level for Sporting.
The midfielder’s arrival at St Mary’s would surely seal Lemina’s fate with the south coast outfit however considering the options Mark Hughes would have in the centre, with the Gabon international being linked with a move to Napoli and Manchester City – among others – in recent times.
Michy Batshuayi must have felt as if the west London sun was beating down on him like a spotlight as Chelsea strolled to a convincing, almost unopposed 3-0 win over Newcastle. With so much talk about his future and the lack of faith Antonio Conte places in him over the last few months, the need for goals in the only competition that offers the Blues a likely chance of silverware this season, in the absence of £60million striker Alvaro Morata, inevitably put Batshuayi’s turbulent Chelsea career at centre-stage on Sunday.
In terms of finding the net, Batshuayi certainly didn’t let his side down. He opened Chelsea’s account after just 31 minutes, giving them a real foothold in the match, and then completed his brace just before half time to put the home side in complete control. But in truth, scoring goals has never been Batshuayi’s problem – he’s already hit double figures across all competitions this season and averaged one goal per 93 minutes throughout his spell at Stamford Bridge.
The real problem though is Batshuayi’s all-round game; his positional awareness, his intelligence when making runs, his first touch and his hold-up play; and Conte will have seen little on Sunday to really change his mind.
The 11-cap Belgium international still suffered four unsuccessful touches and was dispossessed three times (the most of any Chelsea player on both fronts) while he won just one aerial duel and didn’t provide a single key pass in the space of ninety minutes – despite the two players either side of him, Eden Hazard and Pedro, taking seven efforts at goal.
There are rumours of the 24-year-old completing a loan move to Borussia Dortmund before the transfer window slams shut on Wednesday and regardless of his impressive brace at the weekend, Conte certainly won’t stand in the deal’s way.
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The World Cup is a special event. Fans have the opportunity to watch the best players on the planet represent their nation, in an attempt to be crowned champions of the world. Expect trickery, flair, passion, and the odd upset. But one of the biggest anticipations in Brazil is goals. Lots of goals. The deadliest strikers, all in one place, looking to terrorise defenders. This could be fun to watch.
Whilst some of them, like England’s Wayne Rooney, will be looking for their first goal at a World Cup finals, others will be eyeing up their own personal award, the Golden Boot. Whist legends such as Gerd Müller and Brazil’s Ronaldo have won the award, the list of players to miss out is even more impressive. Zico, Karl-Heinz Ruminegge and Maradona all fell short of winning the star prize during their playing career. So who are the favourites to win the Golden Boot this year? Here are the bookies’ top 5.
Lionel Messi, 8/1
The Argentine is currently off the field recovering from a hamstring injury, but everyone is expecting him to return with a bang. The 4 times Ballon d’Or winner is expected to watch his rival Ronaldo win the end of year award, which could fuel Messi in the summer. The Barca star will be keen to show the world that he’s better than his Real rival, and what better way than to score stunning goals at the World Cup.
Messi has a relatively easy group on paper, facing Iran, Nigeria and Bosnia in Group F. But there will be two tough tests for the small forward. Firstly, he must outscore his teammate Sergio Aguero, who is in fine form for Manchester City. And secondly, it will be a test to see how he does without the service provided by Xavi and Iniesta. Whilst Barcelona’s Tika-Taka football suits Messi perfectly, how will he do with Banega and Biglia in the centre?
Neymar 14/1
Another Barca star, the Brazilian has the opportunity to repeat, or even improve on, his strong performances at the Confederations Cup. His 4 goals, and stunning tricks, earned him the Golden Ball award at the tournament, and Neymar will be eager to earn the award again at the World Cup, along with the Golden Boot. Starring at the Nou Camp, especially in Messi’s absence, Neymar is supposed to lead Brazil to tournament glory in the fans’ eyes.
The forward, who normally plays on the left, loves to confuse defenders, tying their legs together with stepovers and stunning tricks. As long as he remembers to shoot, and doesn’t focus on doing too much unnecessary footwork, then the Brazilian youngster has a great chance of being the tournament’s top scorer. Not bad odds either, averaging at 14/1 across most major bookmakers.
Cristiano Ronaldo 14/1
The Golden Boot is just one of many awards that Ronaldo could win in the next 12 months. With a possible Ballon d’Or coming his way this month, the Real Madrid superstar is also the joint top scorer in La Liga, with 17 goals from just 15 games. But he will have his work cut out in Brazil. Portugal have been drawn against Ghana, USA and Germany. Not the easiest of teams to play.
But with Ronaldo in the side, anything is possible. The former Manchester United star’s hat-trick against Sweden in the play-offs secured Portugal’s place at the World Cup, and the nation could be relying on his goals to get out of the group. The powerful forward can blitz past defenders comfortably, before unleashing a stunning, precise shot from long range. Could he win the Golden Boot?
Sergio Aguero 16/1
The striker has been deadly for Manchester City this season, scoring 13 goals in the Premier League and 6 in the Champions League. The scorer of City’s famous league winner back in 2012, Aguero has often been described as unstoppable. With pace and precise accuracy, the Argentine has delicately dribbled his way through tight gaps in the defence before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper.
In a strong team with Messi and Higuain, Aguero could be forced to share his goals tally with his star teammates. But often the finisher and not the creator, this summer could be the perfect end on what looks set to be an incredible season for the Argentine. Let’s just hope he can find his good form again when he comes back from his calf injury.
Luis Suarez 16/1
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England fans beware, as Luis Suarez is on fire this season, Despite missing the first 5 games of the season, the Uruguayan has 17 goals to his name from just 11 fixtures. With two hat-trick balls already, the Liverpool forward has pretty much dominated every defence he has come up against this campaign, scoring in a variety of ways. Be it headers on the edge of the box, or 45 yard volleys, Suarez can score in every fashion.
Teamed up alongside Edinson Cavani for Uruguay, the Red could be key in deciding who qualifies out of group D. England, Italy and Costa Rica will face the forward, who is currently one of the most feared strikers in Europe. A strong dribbler, he must be tracked every second by the defence, because just half a yard is all he needs right now.
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Swansea have been given a boost by the news that goalkeeper Michel Vorm has signed a new four-year contract with the club.
The Dutch stopper has impressed since moving from Utrecht last summer, and has been linked with a move to a bigger club after a solid first season in English football.
After breaking into the Netherlands international set-up also, Vorm is happy to have extended his stay at the Liberty Stadium.
“I’m delighted. I’m enjoying my time here very much and it is one of the reasons why I’ve signed an extension,” he revealed to the side’s official website.
“I can also only see things at Swansea getting better and better. I can see a lot of positive things happening here and I believe the club has a bright future ahead of it.
“The club has signed a lot of its quality players for longer periods, which is a good thing,” Vorm concluded.
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Sometimes it just comes down to the minor details.If Mohamed Salah’s arm didn’t land underneath the full weight of Sergio Ramos’ body (whether by accident or sly design), would this Champions League final have ended differently?The stats – even at half time – seem to suggest that it might well have done.
What if Loris Karius hadn’t bestowed two goals on a team who really aren’t in need of gifts?
The first, may – on another day – have been ruled out. It’s probably not a foul, but you’ve seen similar efforts chalked off in the past. Like Thierry Henry at Blackburn in 2003. Either way, it was an incredibly brainless attempt at a throw.
The second was, perhaps, much more costly.
With the score just 2-1 at the time, a third goal for Madrid meant the game was well and truly up. Liverpool couldn’t get themselves back into the game, and Karius too is down and out. How does he come back mentally from something like this? Indeed, how do Liverpool?
But in between two veritable howlers was a goal which simply had to win the game.
Gareth Bale’s overhead kick was a perfect feat of pragmatism and improvisation from a man who always steps it up in the big games. It wasn’t shinned, he leapt high in the air – it was everything you want in an overhead kick. Perhaps his own manager, Zinedine Zidane, has scored a Champions League final goal to match it, but there’s a case to be made for Bale’s.
After the ball hit the net, and the Welshman slid towards the corner flag, you got the feeling that there couldn’t possibly be a Liverpool comeback – that goal just had to be the winner.
So good was it that Cristiano Ronaldo declined to celebrate with the goalscorer. If you want to judge the quality of a crucial goal in a Champions League final (so long as it’s scored by anyone other than Ronaldo) then watch the Portuguese’s reaction. If he doesn’t celebrate, you know it’s because his limelight has been stolen.
There’s not much heart to take in a defeat like this for Liverpool, either. Absolutely nothing went right on the night, and not all of it was their fault. This seemed to be an occasion made up of a patchwork of small moments, of which few – if any – went Liverpool’s way.
Heaven and Earth seem to move in order to facilitate them. Like a time traveller attempting to kill his own grandfather only to be taken out by a cartoon anvil falling out of the blue, the world just does whatever it can to make Madrid champions of Europe. It just won’t seem to let another side take the crown.
But there is a greater reality to Liverpool’s defeat, one that lands squarely on their shoulders and evades attempts to pin this on the details.
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The issue in goal is clear and Karius would do well to be the club’s number one in August. But beyond that there were more issues tonight, too. When Salah went off, the balance of the front three changed as Adam Lallana is hardly a like-for-like replacement. Later on, there were simply no options available to Jurgen Klopp to change the game. In the other bench, Zidane could call on Bale. And to great effect. That was arguably the difference.
In the end, this may well have been a game which hinged on minor details, but it also came down to fundamental differences in squad depth. And Liverpool just didn’t have the players in the long run.
They know they’re good enough to belong at this level, that they should be challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title and that they should be competing for European honours. But this summer it’s clear that adding depth will be the key.
According to Sky Sports, Liverpool will hold further talks with German international Emre Can over his future before the end of the month.
What’s the story?
Can’s current deal with Liverpool will expire at the end of the season, meaning that he is currently free to discuss terms with foreign clubs.
Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the midfielder in recent weeks, although it is understood that the German has not yet decided his future.
According to Sky Sports, Liverpool plan to sit down with Can once again over the next week or so in a bid to convince the 24-year-old to pen a new long-term contract.
It is understood that Can wants a buy-out clause inserted into a new deal, but Liverpool are currently unprepared to meet those demands, which has led to a stand-off.
Why Liverpool have to keep him
Liverpool, understandably, are reluctant to break their club precedent when it comes to inserting a release clause into Can’s contract.
The Reds, however, are facing the prospect of losing a very good footballer, who is rated at £25.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, for free.
Can has been a Liverpool player since the summer of 2014, and after initially struggling for consistency, the midfielder has developed into a key player for the Reds.
This season, he has scored four times and registered three assists in 27 appearances in all competitions.
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In the current market, it would take at least £40m for Liverpool to replace a player of Can’s ilk, and that is why they have to bite the bullet when it comes to contract negotiations.
It might well be that a Real Madrid or a Barcelona come in with a big offer in a few seasons, but that is a much better scenario than allowing Can to walk away for nothing this summer.