Transfer Updates

With Manchester United on a good run of form going into the second half of the Premier League season, Jose Mourinho might be looking at bringing in some January additions to the squad. Here are three transfers that the Red Devils could complete in the next seven days.

1) M’Baye Niang

Jose Mourinho has reportedly already had a bid turned down for the AC Milan star, but could return in an attempt to make a January swoop for the forward.

It has previously been reported that the Manchester United boss is on the lookout for a long-term replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and has his eye on Harry Kane in the summer transfer window should Spurs finish outside of the top four.

However, looking into the more immediate future, Mourinho is ready to take a gamble on this AC Milan forward according to Il Giornale, who has struggled to hit top form this season, having not scored in his last eight appearances for the Italian outfit.

Niang looked to be on a good run of form at the start of last season, but his season was ended early after a car crash, and has never returned to top form since. Obviously Mourinho feels that Niang can hit top form once again at United.

As the long season of English football starts to affect Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Niang could come in and provide some backup, but can also influence games from the wider areas. As I have mentioned, Mourinho has already had a bid knocked back, but with a strong second bid, and contract extension talks stalling, Niang could become a Red Devils players in the very near future.

Chelsea and Arsenal are set to battle over the course of the January transfer window for Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, with both clubs reportedly keen on signing the Bundesliga man.

The Sun claim that Chelsea have made the first move in an attempt to secure the services of Rodriguez, with Antonio Conte keen to strengthen his squad ahead of the title race and run-in, which is set to reach boiling point in the next few weeks.

Arsene Wenger is also keen to bolster his defensive options ahead of a title push, which took a huge blow last point despite the Gunners earning a point against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium after being three goals down with just twenty minutes to go.

The Gunners currently have Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs in their squad that can fill in that left-back position, but Arsene Wenger is reportedly targeting this area for strengthening over the January transfer window.

The Blues have reportedly contacted the player’s agent regarding whether his client would be interested in a January switch to Stamford Bridge in an attempt to get negotiations underway.

Arsenal have been keeping track of the left back’s progress for a couple of months now, but Antonio Conte is keen on securing the services of Rodriguez for £21m as he starts his New Year squad strengthening ahead of the title run-in.

Who will win the race for Ricardo Rodriguez?

The 24-year-old seems like a player who likes to get forward and cause problems for the opposition defence. The left-back has scored two goals this season as well as providing two assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances. If he does enjoy getting forward and becoming an attacking threat down the left, then a move to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea might be the move for him.

Conte’s 3-4-3 system has proved to be a real success this season in the Premier League, with the Blues sitting proudly at the top of the table, despite a stuttering start to the season. The 3-4-3 formation allows a lot of freedom for those wing-backs. Although they have to work extremely hard down their respective wings, their positions give them a license to regularly join the Chelsea attack as well as help out defensive tracking wingers. This seems like a system that Rodriguez would enjoy playing in.

With Chelsea making the first move ahead of Arsenal, and with the Blues reportedly willing to offer £21million for the left-back, it seems that they are in pole position to sign the 24-year-old in this January transfer window.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton are all interested in signing a German sensation after all clubs were found to be scouting the midfielder.

A report from The Sun suggests that all four previously mentioned clubs have been extensively scouting impressive German midfielder Julian Brandt. The news was originally picked out from this piece in the Mail.

The 20-year-old wonder kid has been in exceptional form thus far this season and is scoring goals and assisting as Bayer Leverkusen attempt to get back on track and fight for the European places after a slow start to the season.

The impressive versatile midfielder has been in exquisite form in the first half of the season and has attracted interest from major clubs around Europe, as scouts from the four clubs mentioned were in attendance in Leverkusen’s matches in recent weeks.

Premier League top gun Manchester United and Arsenal are the most eye-watering names for the youngster whilst Spurs and the Toffees have also sent representatives out to check out his performances in the past.

Brandt is considered as one of the finest talents coming out of Germany in a new German era of colossal talents, with the player already being capped a handful of times for his country.

Something which will attract top clubs to this fine talent is his versatility, he can play on either wing and can also be deployed in the attacking midfield role, as he has the brilliant capability at driving at defences and attack the space provided.

The German youngster is tied down until 2019 with the Germans, and with the inflated prices with regards to the transfer market, any interested club will probably have to cough up around £25-30 million to secure his services.

It is clear why some of the biggest European top guns are sniffing around Leverkusen’s prized asset, he is quick, direct and technically superb on the ball. He has developed rapidly in recent seasons which is mostly down to his maturity, as his attitude is simply admirable.

Sporting director, Rudi Völler classes Brandt as “one of the most talented players in German football” and he is certainly living up to his high praise.

Being so young in his premature career, of course, he is not yet perfect, the German youngster needs to work on his defensive attributes as he often gets beaten too easily, or bypassed in a defensive phase.

Brandt has played a part in all 16 Bundesliga games for the German side thus far this season and has showcased his quality already. Predominantly playing on the wing, he has an eye for creating chances and has created 1.89 chances per 90 minutes already this season.

When he has the ball he will drift in from the wing and occupy the #10 space as he looks to drive at defences and create chances or use the byline as his attacking approach. As previously noted, he has already created chances this season but has managed 0.45 assists per 90 this season, an impressive end product, then.

All Premier League clubs mentioned with interest usually dominate play and have an identity of keeping the ball and racking up possession. Clubs like United and Arsenal would expect the winger to be efficient on the ball, and Brandt is OK in this area with 75% pass completion thus far.

Modern day football relies heavily on wingers contribution to goals, with the likes of Sadio Mané, Dimitri Payet, Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez all sharing the same versatility trait of being able to play anywhere across the front three midfield positions, with the latter also covering the #9 role.

These players all chip in with goals and are relied upon by their respected managers to score and create at will. Brandt, although not as efficient in front of goal as the players above, has still scored 0.15 goals per 90 thus far to show he has an eye for goal, although this is an area that will certainly need work on in the near future.

The exciting youngster would be a top class signing for any of the clubs mentioned and would certainly help boost competition for places within their ready-made squads. Although Leverkusen will be hopeful of keeping hold of their prodigious playmaker, a move to England could be the stepping stone he needs to reach the next level of his career which promises to be beautiful, as he looks to blossom from his colossal potential and reach the heights many expect him to reach.

Manchester United are lining up a sensational £80m move for Tottenham striker Harry Kane as a long-term replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho’s side currently sit 6th in the Premier League table, and CalcioMercato say that United are ready to splash the cash in the summer in an attempt to bolster their long-term attacking options.

However, the Daily Express say that in order for the deal to be remotely realistic, the Red Devils must secure a finish in the top four and Mauricio Pochettino’s side must miss out on a place in the Champions League.

Harry Kane made it a 100th Premier League appearance to remember, bagging himself a brace as Spurs began the new year in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road. Kane did sign a new deal with Spurs as recently at November, but the Daily Express report that this might not be enough to keep him at White Hart Lane beyond next summer.

Kane is a proven prolific Premier League goalscorer as proved by his record, netting 59 times in 100 Premier League appearances, and is a player that every top flight club can only dream of having in their team.

Is this deal realistic, and could it happen in the summer?

The short answer to that question is in my opinion no. Spurs are in a very good stretch of form, winning their last four Premier League matches since their defeat at Old Trafford, making a move into the top four for the first time since October.

The way things are looking at the moment, Spurs are much more likely to finish in the top four than Manchester United, so come the summer, Spurs may have Champions League football, whereas the Red Devils may not.

Despite the wages that United would be likely to offer being very lucrative indeed, that might still not be enough to persuade Kane. The Englishman has repeatedly talked about how he wants to become a one-club man, become club legend and achieve great things with Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino is building something special at Spurs. Performances in the Premier League have been good over the last couple of seasons, a new stadium is coming up in a few years, and the club are making huge steps to keeping this current team together. The future is bright for Spurs, and would Kane really trade all that in and leave White Hart Lane for a move to Old Trafford to an unsettled, inconsistent team. I very much doubt it.

Chelsea are top of the Premier League table, but according to reports, Antonio Conte is still looking for reinforcements in the January transfer window, and is not afraid to spend big in order to land his key target.

Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk is at the top of Antonio Conte’s January wishlist, having impressed the Chelsea boss with a strong string of performances on the south coast. In fact, the Italian has been so impressed with the Dutch international so far this season that he is prepared to pay up to £60m for his services according to the Daily Express.

The Blues are on a highly impressive winning streak in the Premier League that stretches back thirteen games, a run which has seen Conte work his magic since the switch to a three-at-the-back system following the loss at Arsenal.

Chelsea are top of the league, and Conte is keen to consolidate their position at the summit of the top flight, and sees the signing of Virgil Van Dijk as a way of strengthening the defence and helping Chelsea to lift the Premier League trophy come May.

Southampton boss Claude Puel is reportedly adamant that Van Dijk will not be leaving the club over the January transfer window. With this knowledge, Conte is ready to make an offer that Southampton simply cannot refuse that will make Van Dijk the latest big player to leave St. Mary’s in the last few years.

Despite sitting 9th in the Premier League table, the Saints have struggled in front of goal, scoring just nineteen goals this season, often having to rely on their defence for results. Despite conceding six goals in their last two games, Southampton’s defensive record remains solid, shipping 23 goals in total this season.

A £60m deal would not only see Virgil Van Dijk make the move to Stamford Bridge, but it would also see Pep Guardiola at Manchester City miss out on one of his key targets. Manchester City’s defensive problems have been well-documented this season despite the £47.5m signing of John Stones over the summer. Guardiola also appears keen to bolster his defensive options over the January transfer window.

Is this deal possible or likely?

Yes, the deal is possible. Chelsea could well offer £60m for Van Dijk at some point in January. They certainly have the financial capabilities to do so, and I am sure £60m for the defender is an offer that Southampton would not be able to refuse.

Is it likely though? Not for me. Chelsea’s defence has been very good this season, and they hold the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just thirteen goals this season. If they were to look to bolster their defensive options, Chelsea might do that with a £60m bid for Van Dijk in the summer, but I can’t see this deal happening in the January window.

Liverpool Football Club are reportedly considering a very ambitious move this winter with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain topping their wish list with the January transfer on the horizon.

Jürgen Klopp has identified the England international as an ideal addition to his red-hot squad and sees Chamberlain as an ideal temporary replacement for Sadio Mané, who is set to leave Liverpool in January to link up with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. According to The Telegraph, the Reds are considering a bid.

Chamberlain has just 18 months left on his current Arsenal contract and there has been no sign of contract negotiations beginning despite Arsene Wenger insisting he wants the 23-year-old versatile midfielder to sign a new deal and extend his stay with the Gunners.

And according to the Telegraph, Chamberlain has been told very positive things about Jurgen Klopp with England compatriots Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson singing his praises whilst away on England duties.

Arsenal, who have many players with just 18 months left on their contract find themselves in a very sticky position regarding the Ox, they could sell this winter for a fee of around £25 million or risk him not renewing his contract and losing him for free next summer, something the Gunners will be reluctant to let happen.

There is plenty of evidence to show why Klopp is chasing the England man who is also being scouted by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City extensively with contract talks yet to take place. Chamberlain has also scored six goals and provided six assists thus far this season, being his best yet for the club.

But, there is growing frustration from Chamberlain’s side, wanting to seek more regular game time, with himself admitting it is frustrating to continuously be subbed off after the hour mark.

Chamberlain said; “There is that in my mind that I do want to get more game time. There comes a time in your career where you have to re-evaluate things and think, ‘Is that going to be here or elsewhere?’ which is a clear warning to the Arsenal manager.

Liverpool lose their star summer signing Mané in the next week to due international commitments, and as they stand just six points behind Chelsea, they may feel a signing of Chamberlain’s calibre will help them push on to catch and hopefully overtake Chelsea.

The Reds managed to deal with the absence of Philippe Coutinho who is due back imminently, but heading into the crucial part of the season they cannot afford to lose the goals which Mané provides without having a ready-made star to take his slot.

Chamberlain’s versatility is a key attraction to Liverpool, with him having the ability to deploy many midfield positions including on either flank or in an attacking or defensive midfield role with all positions being tested with the Gunners, but yet able to cement a place.

A deal between Arsenal and Liverpool will be extremely difficult to materialise, though. Since the Luis Suarez saga, there is certainly some sour feelings between one and another, with Liverpool reportedly inserting a clause in Roberto Firmino’s contract which stop’s Arsenal signing him for less than £80 million which shows the extent to which they will go to.

Both Mane and Chamberlain predominantly play on the right flank for their clubs but have the ability to cut inside and interchange with others, playing the position both players occupy you are expected to have the ability to create chances and both players impress in this trait. They are inseparable with the amount of chances they have created thus far this season with Chamberlain and Mané creating 1.77 chances per 90 minutes.

Creating chances is a natural trait that wingers should carry, but being able to contribute with that and assisting others is also very key and important for the team. The Arsenal man has double the assists of the Senegalese international with 0.50 assists per 90 thus far with Mané behind on 0.24.

Another trait versatile wingers carry is key passes, it shows they’re efficient in offensive areas and has hawk-eye vision in getting behind defences with defence split passes. Mané impresses in this stat and has thus far managed 1.52 key passes compared to Chamberlain’s 1.26.

Wingers usually have great stamina and have the ability to take on their man with pace / beautiful skill and this is something in which both players possess. Chamberlain has great upper body strength and pace which allows him to beat his man whilst Mané has pace and elegant skill whilst having the ability to glide past and in behind his man. The Arsenal man comes out on top for successful take on’s with an immense 65.85% with the latter narrowly behind on 57.53%.

Liverpool are top goal scorers in the Premier League and with their excellent Mané leaving in January may look to the market to replace his goals/creativity. Chamberlain has managed just 0.25 goals per 90 thus far this season compared to the Liverpool man who has managed 0.49 after having a prolific time in front of goal.

As you can see, Chamberlain, at just 23-years-old would be a decent addition to any club in and around Europe as he is still yet to fulfil his colossal potential but is blossoming this season. Klopp himself rubbished the rumours of a potential move for the Ox by saying “I don’t usually talk about other players, but I can make an exception - nonsense,”.

Klopp, as you thought has rubbished the rumours, which you would expect, but if he felt the Gunners man may be available this winter I have no doubt he would capitalise on it, Chamberlain would certainly be an exquisite signing for the Reds, but Arsenal will be reluctant to sell to a direct rival as they look to extend his current contract.

Much has been made of a potential move launched by Manchester United for Benfica centre back Victor Lindelöf, who could, eventually, be joined by defensive counterpart Nélson Semedo in a historic double swoop.

The latest murmurs surrounding the multi-million-pound operation, however, suggest any hope the Red Devils may have had of gaining the Sweden international’s signature may have been dampened.

At the heart of the deal’s supposed collapse is the public dispute between Benfica and Lindelöf’s former club, Västerås, over alleged fees owed in his initial transfer to Portugal, although José Mourinho may also have had a hand in United turning their backs on a £42 million transfer. Just how accurate might that decision be?

Beyond the media storm surrounding Renato Sanches in Lisbon last season, Lindelöf proved to be equally as impressive and pivotal to Benfica’s run en route to the Liga NOS title last season, as he capitalised on injuries to first-team centre-backs to forge a stellar partnership alongside Jardel for over half a season.

The 22-year-old tasted defeat just five times in 45 games since breaking into Benfica’s XI, three of those coming in the UEFA Champions’ League against Napoli (2x) and Bayern Munich, with FC Porto and Maritimo also claiming rare victories against the Swede.

With 22 clean sheets under his belt, Lindelöf picked up “The Iceman” nickname for his composure and calculated interventions that has seen the defender gain just five yellow cards in the last 12 months.

Additionally composed and exemplifying qualities that fall within the modern-day ball-playing defender template, his talents didn’t go unnoticed by his national team when earning the call-up for Euro 2016, and now it appears Man United have followed suit in attraction to his traits.

Up against his United counterparts, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, none of the aforementioned options to Mourinho have completed as many successful passes (51.71 per game), or indeed successful forward passes (47.21 per game) as Lindelöf in their respective league competition.

Only Bailly with 1.64 tackles won per game beats the rumoured United target, whereas it is Chris Smalling who is the only defender to lose out fewer times than the man lauded for his precision when defending. Although he’s some way off the top with a statistical register of 1.71 interceptions per game versus Bailly’s 2.82, the Swedish star does mix in well with Rojo’s 1.80 and Jones’ 1.75 score, both second and third ahead of Lindelöf.

Blocks made by the defenders paint a similar picture, with Bailly leading the way with 0.45 made per game to Lindelöf’s 0.36, but there’s one fact the core stats don’t highlight and that’s the degree to which the defenders in question are exposed to the threats of high-quality attacks.

Lindelöf has, undoubtedly, emerged as top performer for Benfica, but this has all come in a visibly inferior league. One shouldn’t have to remind many of the below-par figure that was ex-Liverpool and Sunderland centre-back Sebastian Coates, the same man who now, at the same time as Lindelöf, leads by example as one of the Portuguese league’s most consistent players at the back.

Likewise, Manchester City’s £32 million flop, Eliaquim Mangala, was totally imperious for much of his three-year-spell in Portugal when starring for the then champions FC Porto, meanwhile memories of the Frenchman in the blue half of Manchester weren’t as fond as his record deal promised.

A common attitude within the realms of Portuguese football sees most sides outside the traditional top four of Benfica, Sporting, Porto and Braga opt to “park the bus” and time-waste from the first minute as if it were the last when facing a big boy. In turn, that limits the pressure that key defenders like Lindelöf, Mangala etc. are subjected to, thus making it very tricky to truly judge the qualities that they possess.

It’s a decision Mourinho will undoubtedly continue to mull over, with the rumour mill still at its birth. In the meantime, the recent pairing of Jones and Rojo has stabilised the ship at Old Trafford, with Smalling still to return to the first-team, one would assume, following a lengthy foot injury.

The investment made in Bailly appears to have been a good one, and despite international duty making him unavailable for the best part of a month during the African Cup of Nations, United still have the versatile Daley Blind to fall back on.

And so for all the promise (and doubts) hanging over Lindelöf’s shoulders, just how necessary to Man United is the £38 million-rated man?

Chelsea could target Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart with fears that Thibaut Courtois could leave for Spanish giants Real Madrid, according to AS.

Real Madrid were a fax machine away from signing David De Gea last summer and have now lost interest in the United shot-stopper whilst reigniting interest in former Atletico Madrid star, Thibaut Courtois.

With the Blues fearing the worst, they are said to be looking to sign 29-year-old Joe Hart after impressing in his loan move in Italy with Torino by slowly getting back to his best after being shown the door by City manager Pep Guardiola in the summer.

The likelihood of Courtois returning to Spain will be dealt with severity by the Chelsea board, with the goalkeeper himself never hiding his ambition of returning to the City where he won the La Liga title.

Joe Hart is a ready made England international and has all the experience you need for a goalkeeper after winning numerous titles with Manchester City, but any deal between Chelsea and Manchester City will be very tough considering ‘bis clubs’ do not like doing business with each other.

Thibaut Courtois is a crucial player for the Blues and helped them win the League title after returning from his loan move in 2014, he has gone on to become one of the top five goalkeepers in the world and at the age of just 24-years-old will only get better with goalkeepers being known to peak in latter years of their careers.

We take a look at how Joe Hart measures up against current Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and if he would be a good replacement if the Belgian star was to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

A bonus for any goalkeeper is to finish the game with a clean sheet and Thibaut Courtois comes out on top here managing 0.61 clean sheets per 90 minutes thus far this season with Torino man Hart behind with 0.25. You could argue that this stat may be unfair with Courtois having one of the best defences in Europe in front of him as they sit top of the Premier League table.

The most crucial trait any successful goalkeeper must inherit is the number of saves he makes, this can be simple saves to game winning / immense saves, and Joe Hart certainly blossoms in this area making 2.69 saves per 90 minutes with Courtois trailing with 1.72. That said, Courtois impresses immensely with 3.10 saves per goal with Hart somewhat behind on 1.87.

Pep Guardiola shipped out Joe Hart to Italy for one main thing; his lack of distribution accuracy. The City manager is all for this new trait in goalkeepers where they must basically act as a fifth centre-back and have the ability to play out from the back, much like his former goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. But again, Hart (just) top’s Courtois in his distribution accuracy with 69% with the latter narrowly behind on 68%.

The goalkeeper’s job is to ensure he does not concede a goal within the 90 minutes, although new era of managers may want them to be more technical in build-up play, the most important asset for the man between the sticks is to ensure he does not concede. Again, the Chelsea man shows his form by conceding just 0.61 goals per 90 minutes thus far with Hart conceding more than double of the Chelsea man with 1.44.

Both goalkeepers are very good shot-stoppers and have both played a major part in their sides winning major titles, at just 24-years-old Chelsea’s Belgian star will only get better and for me, they have to do everything in their power to keep him at the Bridge. Although Hart is still respected as a very good goalkeeper. In my opinion, he is levels below the Chelsea man and I would be very surprised if Antonio Conte made a move for him with many talented young goalkeepers breaking through around Europe.

Ronald Koeman is reportedly eyeing a bizarre swap deal in the January transfer window that would see Moussa Sissoko swap clubs with £30m-rated Ross Barkley.

On summer transfer deadline day, we saw Frenchman Moussa Sissoko seal a move to Tottenham Hotspur in dramatic circumstances. The Frenchman snubbed a move to Goodison Park, turning his phone off as Everton tried to get in touch regarding a deadline day move having agreed for a medical to take place.

It seems now that Ronald Koeman could use Tottenham’s interest in Englishman Ross Barkley to try and land his man that he dramatically missed out on back in August according to The Mirror. Whilst some reports have suggested Spurs will wait until the summer to make their move, others insist that Barkley is a January transfer window target for the Lilywhites.

Ross Barkley has endured a spell out of the Everton side this season following constant warnings from manager Ronald Koeman that he needs to offer more out on the pitch, but after another under-par performance against Liverpool at Goodison Park, the Englishman may now be seen as surplus to requirements. Especially following Koeman’s comments claiming that Barkley may never reach his full potential in his footballing career. With Tottenham interested, this might be seen as a good time for the Toffees to get rid of Barkley.

Moussa Sissoko’s start to life at Tottenham has been a struggle. He has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular in his first few months as a Spurs player, but the Frenchman has put in a couple of encouraging displays in games against Manchester United, Hull City and Burnley. Sissoko has two assists in the last few weeks, and will be looking to build on this going forward.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino challenged Sissoko to offer more in training and in turn out on the pitch after the Lilywhites forked out a substantial £30m for the 27-year-old in August. It seems that the former Newcastle man has responded to his manager, with a few positive displays in recent weeks. With Sissoko’s performances improving, it seems unlikely that Spurs would let him go in the January window.

It seems bizarre that Spurs are reportedly willing to pay £30m for Ross Barkey, considering the uninspiring form he has been in this season. It seems even more bizzare that Moussa Sissoko would join the club he snubbed just a few months earlier leaving the club he favoured a move to. This deal looks so unlikely it’s unbelievable, but stranger things have happened, that is for sure.

It is fair to say that this season has not gone to plan for Slaven Bilic and West Ham. In a bid to turn the Hammer’s fortunes around, the club have reportedly sent letters asking their Premier League rivals for help in the January transfer window, according to The Telegraph.

Tottenham are the only one of the Premier League big hitters not to receive a letter from West Ham chiefs as the Hammers plan some very smart January transfer business. Letters were reportedly sent to Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City asking if any of those clubs have fringe players that the Hammers can sign on loan for the rest of the season.

With many players not becoming available that Slaven Bilic will want to sign until the summer transfer window, this plea to sign players with Premier League experience at the top clubs would seem like a good plan. Having sent a general letter to those five clubs, The Telegraph claim that West Ham have further enquiries regarding loan moves for Michy Batshuayi, Daniel Sturridge, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as their search for a striker to sign in January begins.

In addition to this, the Hammers are also going to make enquiries over the availability of Chris Smalling, Branislav Ivanovic, Mamadou Sakho, Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson. However, many of the highlighted players above are unlikely realistic targets for West Ham for two reasons.

First of all, it is well documented that clubs are often not prepared to loan out or sell players to Premier League rivals, unless it is at the right price. With loan moves being proposed by the Hammers, it is unlikely that clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool will allow key players such as Sturridge and Martial to leave the club, even if it is on a loan basis.

Secondly, I feel the wages that West Ham would have to pay these players would not be within their price range, they simply would not be able to compete with the Premier League big boys. Would the players highlighted take a pay cut in favour of a move to West Ham when many get regular game time anyway? Probably not.

Although West Ham’s idea of taking Premier League players on loan for the rest of the season seems good business at first glance, the proposed deals not only look unlikely, but they look impractical as well.

There are some players there that are more realistic though, with the Gunners reportedly willing to allow Debuchy and Jenkinson to leave should the offer be right. But Jenkinson’s most recent spell at West Ham didn’t go too well, so I’m not sure how the fans would feel about that one should it happen. Smalling is also an interesting one should Manchester United sign their reported target, Victor Lindelof. The young central defender is being linked with a big-money move to United and with Eric Bailly already at the club and Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones impressing at the heart of defence at the moment, how much football will Smalling be playing in the new year?

Arsene Wenger is said to be planning ahead of new signings in the summer, despite his own future still remaining in doubt.

Arsene Wenger is chasing a new left-back with the promising talent, Jose Gaya leading the list of potential candidates, according to the Daily Mirror.

Gunners boss Wenger has identified the left-back position as a weakness that will need rectifying come next year with the likes of Nacho Monreal ageing and Kieran Gibbs being a squad player. The Frenchman wants to sign someone who can make that place their own for years to come.

Monreal has struggled thus far this season and has not been himself since hitting form in the 15/16 season where he was arguably amongst the top five left back’s in Europe for his ability and consistency. He became a fan favourite that season, with many labelling him ‘Mr. Consistent’ - but he doesn’t look the same player this season.

Kieran Gibbs’s position within the club is also a predicament, with just 18 months left on his contract and uncertainty arising whether he will be offered an extension - it is likely we will see the Gunners man leave the North Londoners next summer.

21-year-old Gaya is thought of as one of Europe’s brightest prospects and has been linked with the Gunners in previous years. After suffering from non-stop muscle injuries in recent months it seemed to take a hit on the defender, halting his progress but the Spaniard is now looking to realise the colossal potential he possesses.

Gaya has been a huge success since his breakthrough from the Valencia academy and has gone on to make 56 appearances for the club in the league. The academy graduate is one of the only things right at the club right now with the club sitting in 17th position in La Liga and being on a downward spiral.

Gaya is yet to make his international debut despite being called up twice to the Spanish national squad, but his arrival would increase the pressure on Monreal.

Gaya has been a potential target for the likes of Real Madrid in previous years. The Spanish man loves bombing up and down the flank and helping out offensively whilst remaining defensively sound and this is something which will attract potential suitors, with managers expecting their defenders to become an outlet at all times when going forward. He’s of similar ilk to Hector Bellerin, but on the left side.

Playing as an attacking full back, this has allowed Gaya to play more as a wing-back, ensuring he gets into greater attacking positions, this would be a much welcome strength for Arsene Wenger as it gives him options if he did decide to change up his famous 4-2-3-1 formation.

Arsenal have been known to be vulnerable on the counter-attack, and the thought of having an attacking full-back may worry some fans, but another trait the Spaniard carries is electric pace which certainly rescues him/team in a defensive sense.

We take a look at how he measures up against current Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal and how he would fit the Arsenal system.

Being a defender in the modern game, although you are asked to possess many different qualities the number one trait all managers will want is tackles won, and Gaya comes out on top of the Gunners man Monreal by winning 2.24 tackles per 90 minutes with the latter managing 1.26 thus far this season.

The 21-year-old also impresses with successful take ons, having the burst of pace and ability to get past their man in a defensive transition is key, and the Valencia man again comes out on top ahead of the Arsenal star by completing 59.09% with Monreal just behind on 58.33%.

The Premier League, as many people know, it is the toughest / most physical league in the world and as a defender you must be cut out to win aerial duels against the opponent, and again Gaya comes out on top, standing at 5 ft 7, managing to win 54.55% of his aerial duels with Monreal managing just 40%. You could argue La Liga is far less physical in that aspect but the stat itself is still very impressive.

Arsenal Football Club holds an identity which is well known across Europe, and that is to play beautiful football, which the man himself Arsene Wenger brought to the club. Being prodigious in possession is key for any member of Arsenal’s squad and Monreal does top his Spanish compatriot in this trait with 83% pass completion which is just ahead of the Valencia full-back (75%).

But, being efficient in possession is even more key for Arsenal with Gaya again impressing with key passes, accomplishing 0.85 per 90 minutes which is far better than Monreal, 0.38.

As you can see from the stats above, Gaya would be a great signing for the Gunners. He is still very young and raw, but given Wenger’s speciality for developing young talent, Gaya has the potential to be a significant upgrade on his compatriot Monreal and with much more time on his side.

Looking at the prospect of having Hector Bellerin (21) and Jose Gaya (21) the North Londoners would potentially have their full-back pairing for the next decade sorted. They’re both extremely exciting talents and are destined to become world class players, the club will likely have to cough up around £30 million for his services, but investing in someone carrying such ability, the club should prioritise his signature next summer and save him from the crisis at Los Che Els Taronges.

It’s worth remembering that Arsenal recently dealt with Valencia, bringing Mustafi to the club.

Jose Fonte could be on the verge of leaving Southampton after the club refused to offer him a long-term contract in addition to a pay rise, but the club refused to extend his deal beyond 2018.

The centre-back’s current deal runs until 2018, and the 32-year-old now looks like he wants to leave St. Mary’s after a contract dispute, leaving Manchester United on red alert, who are reportedly interested in his services. The defender is also upset by the fact he does not feature in the Europa League for the Saints - a competition they are not out of.

MaisFutbol, a Portuguese publication claim that Southampton will be willing to sell up if they receive a bid upwards of £5m, which is more than within Manchester United’s capabilities.

Manchester United were widely linked with Fonte in the summer, so, of course this news is likely to have alerted Mourinho.

Would Fonte be an upgrade on what United currently have at centre-back?

Due to injuries, Jose Mourinho has had to revert to a centre-back partnership of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo. This has worked well recently, but when all fit, Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly are likely to be Mourinho’s first choice centre-backs. So, how do they compare to Jose Fonte, and would the Southampton man be an upgrade on what United already have?

In terms of tackles won, Fonte wins on average 1.23 tackles per game, and that sits right in between Smalling and Bailly. The Englishman wins just 0.43 tackles per game, Bailly winning the most 1.78. However, Smalling loses the least tackles, also 0.43 per game, Fonte and Bailly both lose 1.44 and 1.46 tackles per game respectively.

Eric Bailly is the best at bringing the ball out confidently from the back, successfully completing 85.71% of take-ons. Fonte completes 50%, whereas Smalling has failed to complete any take-ons this season in the seven Premier League games he has played in this season.

However, Smalling wins the most aerial duels out of the lot. He wins 78.26% of his aerial duels, Fonte wins 58.49% whereas Bailly wins the least with 53.33%. In terms of total duels, Smalling also wins the most with 70.59% of his total duels, Fonte wins 51.30%, again Bailly wins the least with 50% of total duels.

Looking at the stats, it looks like Fonte would bring the best of both worlds. He wins for duels than Bailly, but more tackles than Smalling. With United struggling to see out games, they could really do with another defender at the club. At the price of just above £5m, I think that Jose Fonte would be an excellent signing for Mourinho and Manchester United.

Arsenal’s squad looks stronger than ever and considering their performance to date, the Gunners fans must surely be happy with the team’s performance and their summer activity in the transfer market.

But with the title race so close this season – Arsenal could always benefit from additional talent. But signing a player in January is always a risk, especially if it is a player that will have to adapt to a new league and possibly a new language – so winter signings can often have an adverse effect on momentum. But the possible signing I want to talk about is Dimitri Payet, who has been linked with a move to the club in recent weeks. The experienced West Ham midfielder rose to prominence last season and excelled in England and on the international stage at Euro 2016. But this season he has seriously struggled in a very poor West Ham team, he looks disinterested and appears to be pushing for a move away from the club. Aged 29 it would be understandable if Payet was eyeing a move to one of Europe’s bigger clubs before the sun sets on his career. West Ham are seriously struggling this season – after their European adventure was cut short, they are now languishing around the relegation zone and it does not look like they will be able to match the player’s ambitions moving forward – he wants to be playing Champions League football and his quality deserves it.

Should he become available I’m sure there would be a long list of admirers. The likes of Real Madrid and Paris-Saint Germain were linked in the summer, but if Arsene Wenger were to offer him an option to stay in England and London then I think he would certainly be interested.

Do Arsenal need Payet? Should he join the club I think he would have to settle for a role on the wing, but I think he can still play very well in that position. Whilst Arsenal do have plenty of wide options, they are all still very inexperienced and inconsistent, I think a player of Payet’s quality would certainly aid the squad in their title quest and in Europe moving forward. The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide would not see their development damaged too much with the arrival of Payet. Iwobi is still only 20 and has proven that this season he cannot perform at a high level consistently, he still has a lot to learn and players like Payet are brilliant to learn from. Jeff, aged 18, is not yet ready for the limelight – a loan spell would do him good. Whilst Arsenal are looking to give the Ox a new contract, the 23-year-old is also one who struggles for consistency. Welbeck (26), Lucas (28) and Walcott (27) are the other wide options with Alexis Sanchez now finding his best form through the middle. Walcott and Welbeck can both be considered injury prone after their records in the recent past and Lucas is still settling in to English football, with his best form coming in the Champions League.

A player of Payet’s quality is always welcome in my opinion. He’s proven his quality in the Premier League and for France – and Wenger will not have missed that.

Yes Arsenal’s options would be crowded should Payet join, but Arsenal so often suffer from injury problems in the latter stages of the season and that derails their title challenge. They also struggle when trying to contend in Europe, the league and the FA Cup, with the squad being stretched and tired legs seeing the team drop points. Not only would Payet be an option out wide, but he’d provide a great rotation or backup option for Ozil at number 10. Arsenal have no natural replacement for the German should he suffer an injury and trying to shoehorn Ramsey or promote Jeff too quickly would surely not be a good idea. Payet could provide that extra bit of quality that helps Arsenal go all the way in the title race, and perhaps to the next stage in Europe.

Arsenal fans, would you pay £30million for Dimitri Payet should he become available for that price in January? Let me know in the comment section below.

Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League table after a 5-1 win over London rivals West Ham on Saturday, and having already secured qualification into the knockout stages of the Champions League, Arsene Wenger will be looking to add to his squad depth over the January transfer window so that he can make a push for the Premier League title as well as progress in the Champions League. Here are three players that Arsenal should try to sign in the new year.

1) Cesc Fabregas

Arsene Wenger has always rejected the idea whenever put to him that he wants to bring Cesc Fabregas back to the Emirates Stadium, but if he was given the opportunity to work with the Spaniard once again, then I am sure he would.

The Gunners could have the chance to secure the services of Fabregas over the course of the January transfer window according to reports emerging on Sunday morning from the Sunday Express. The 29-year-old has not featured regularly under Antonio Conte this season, despite playing in the 3-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday.

Santi Cazorla has been sidelined for three months, and despite denying it, Arsene Wenger will be keen to find a replacement in the new year. The signing of Fabregas would also add to Arsenal’s squad depth as they look to make a charge for the Premier League title whilst progressing as far as they can in the Champions League.

If Arsenal were able to secure the services of Fabregas, it would be an excellent signing for the Gunners. The Spaniard still has a lot to offer in the Premier League, and you just have to look at the ball Fabregas played up to Diego Costa for the equaliser on Saturday to see the quality he can offer.

With the January transfer window right around the corner, clubs are preparing themselves to sign the right players, whether that be to push them for the league title or to guide them to a European place / relegation freedom.

One rumour in England that has caught everyone’s eye is that West Ham United are apparently preparing to offer up to £25 million for Bournemouth hot shot Callum Wilson once the transfer market reopens in January, according to the Guardian.

The Hammers have been injury riddled thus far this season with injuries to the likes of Andy Carroll and a fresh injury to Diafra Sakho, which will see the West Ham forward miss six weeks. They’re stretched for depth in the forward department, with England born Wilson leading the list of potential incomings to reduce the problems for Slaven Bilic.

After fighting hard for a European place last season, their poor start to the season see’s the Londoners just one point ahead of the relegation zone after struggling to settle into their new home after leaving Upton Park.

Summer signings Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri have struggled to settle in the Premier League and are both shadows of what abilities they posses, with the former coming under strong criticism from the Irons faithful with a new petition going around with fans willing to pay for his flight back to Turin.

Although West Ham are willing to offer up to £25 million for the striker, Bournemouth will remain resilient and not flirt with any ideas of a sale for their top goal scorer, especially after the start they have made sitting 12th in the league after some great displays. After rejecting a £15 million offer from West Ham back in May, it’ll be interesting to see what happens after the player signed a 4 year contract in July.

Wilson himself seems happy in Bournemouth and is a key player to Eddie Howe’s impressive project, he would certainly challenge the likes of Zaza and Calleri to become number one at West Ham but we take a look at how he compares with the Hammers forwards.

Playing the number 9 role is all about scoring goals, of course. But, in modern day football you are also relied upon to create chances too with Zaza coming out on top in this trait by creating 1.56 chances per 90 minutes thus far this season, Wilson is in second place with 0.72 with Hammers man Calleri third 0.65.

Speaking of more responsibilities than just scoring goals in the number 9 role, assists is another key ability to possess as an attacking player and the attacking trio are yet to manage a single assist between them in the league with 13 games gone, which, to be honest is quite a worrying stat to say the least.

When you receive the ball in between the lines as a striker you can often be expected to pick up the ball and run at the defence. Zaza again impresses significantly with successful take on’s managing 60% with West Ham compatriot in second place on 50%, Cherries man comes last in this race with 26.32%.

Of course, now the most important trait deadly strikes must carry, goals. Bournemouth hot shot Wilson annihilates his two opponents in this genre with 0.41 goals per 90 minutes thus far, with both West Ham players hitting blanks, scoring zero goals so far this league campaign. This is one stat which will certainly sparkle in Bilic’s eye as goals for the London side have dried up, and Wilson will certainly add to that.

At 24-years-old, Wilson would be an immense purchase for West Ham, he is still young and will only improve as times goes on. The problem for them is, Eddie Howe will be reluctant to sell and has no need at all, after the TV money injection last summer clubs the size of Bournemouth are in no need or desperation for money, money which 5 years ago they would only dream about.

The plus side for Hammers fans is the club look set to sign a striker in January, but in my honest opinion I don’t think they will persuade Bournemouth to sell, better yet, I do not think Wilson will want to leave either with his current club currently in a promising place under the talented Eddie Howe.

We are coming up to the festive period and that means one thing… silly season is back! And so are the rumours. Throughout this period we will be monitoring the rumours and adding our unique analysis to the stories that catch our eye.

Jon Obi Mikel to Manchester United? That’s the claim from The Sun who earlier this week claimed an ‘Exclusive’ and said that Mourinho is aiming to raid his former club with an ‘incredible cut-price deal’ January.

Mikel is the forgotten man at Chelsea as with Matic and Kante excelling in the central roles, there’s no real space for the Nigerian in the team. It’s very believable that the player would be open to a move away from a club where his opportunities have been so restricted this season.

But would Jose Mourinho want him? The former Blues boss used Mikel sparingly during his time at the club, but certainly more regularly than Conte and I would imagine that Mikel would be open to a reunion with his old manager.

It is no secret that United have been most impressive this season when playing with Michael Carrick at the base of the midfield. But aged 35, the Englishman struggles to play regularly and the club cannot afford to be reliant on him. Mikel is of a similar ilk, perhaps less perfect in possession and more proactive defensively. He might be somewhere between Carrick and Fellaini, both of whom Mourinho is a fan. The Portuguese manager also said that he’d love to have Carrick ? years younger. Aged 29, Mikel is 6 years younger than Carrick and that may mean he has the extra durability to be relied upon.

Of course United nearly signed Mikel ahead of Chelsea when he first came to England, so, despite all the change at the club since then, there is a long standing admiration of the player, even though he has failed to reach the heights many expected.

Despite that Mikel is a seasoned international with 78 caps and having played regularly in the Premier League for some years now (more than 200 games for Chelsea in his 10 year spell), he would certainly bring something to the United squad.

Considering he would be competing with the likes of Carrick and Fellaini, I thought I’d take a look at the stats and compare the trio.

What do you want from a defensive midfielder / deep lying playmaker? The 5 areas we chose to analyse were pass completion, interceptions, tackles won, aerial duels won and total forward passes. We opted to use the statistics from last season to use a larger data set. Mikel leads the way in two of these areas with an impressive pass completion rate of 90%, Carrick is 2nd with 86% and Fellaini last with 83%. Mikel also wins the most tackles on average with 1.86 per 90, Fellaini is not far behind on 1.52 and Carrick last on 1.23. In the 3 areas Mikel is not 1st, he is 2nd! With 1.61 interceptions per 90, 0.85 aerial duels and 40.91 forward passes per 90.

Mourinho has spent millions on the likes of Paul Pogba already so maybe it is a low key signing like this that United need to compliment their squad. I’m not saying that Mikel would get into the starting eleven, but in a January market where options are not aplenty, Mourinho may have to look for shrewd additions like these to add to the quality and depth in his squad.

Jose Mourinho’s start to life in Manchester hasn’t gone exactly to plan. The Red Devils are already eleven points below Premier League pace-setters Chelsea, who extended their winning streak with a 2-1 home win over Tottenham on Saturday.

Mouinho’s men sit in sixth place in the top flight, and the Portuguese coach could be looking to plan a massive squad overhaul in January and the proceeding transfer windows, some players leaving, and some coming in. Here are ten players that could leave Old Trafford in the New Year according to Manchester Evening News.

1) Bastian Schweinsteiger

The midfielder has struggled for first team minutes, and has virtually been frozen out of the Jose Mourinho setup since he arrived at Old Trafford. The World Cup winner has become extremely frustrated with his treatment this season, and could seek a move away from England.

Schweinsteiger did however return to the squad in the Premier League 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday. Sky also say that he could in fact start in the same fixture but in the league cup tonight. Chicago fire are reportedly interested in his services, and could make the move there over the January window.

2) Memphis Depay

The £26m signing has failed to make a big impact since his arrival at Old Trafford, and that can mostly be put down to the lack of first-team minutes, particularly this season. He has appeared just four times for the Red Devils in the Premier League this term, not creating a single chance, but he has just played 42 minutes.

Depay has not been the preferred choice in the Europa League, playing just 65 minutes in that competition this season. There are still a few clubs that would quite happily make use of the services and talent of Depay, and United might look to cash-in.

Press the navigation for the rest of the list…

Although it is only November, the transfer rumours are already in full swing ahead of the January transfer market, and it seems as if Chelsea are already preparing well ahead of January and have an offer prepared for a certain Sampdoria forward.

Massimo Ferrero, the president of Sampdoria said on Muriel to Chelsea (as quoted in Fanta Gazzetta); “Yes, there is an offer, so tell me. But Muriel is not for sale, 35 million (euros) we can talk.”

So, from the president’s comments it seems the striker is available for the right price and Chelsea can get their man if they firm up their interest once the transfer window opens, but of course will have to spend the money Ferrero is demanding.

Chelsea have found top form since Antonio Conte changed the set up of the Chelsea squad, often playing a 4-2-3-1 formation prior the arrival of Conte, they are now playing a 3-4-3 formation which has seen the Blues play some immense football, with speed, aggression and flair in abundance.

With Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro finding excellent form in the new formation. It is difficult to see Muriel coming in and taking one of their positions, but he could certainly add something and we take a look at what he could bring to the club.

The 25-year-old Colombian International has been in fine form for Italian club Sampdoria this season and has gone on to create 1.29 chances per 90 minutes thus far this season which shows he is very efficient going forward. Diego Costa has been one of Europe’s best strikers in the early stages of the season and has created 1.49 chances per 90 this season which puts him just ahead of the Sampdoria man.

Costa, who has been majestic under Conte, has also made 1.21 key passes per 90 minutes this season, which again shows the influence he is making in Chelsea’s attacking flair, again this puts him ahead of Muriel, who managed just 1.18, which is still quite impressive.

The Chelsea man has been in immense form in front of goal, showing signs of his first season in England again this term, scoring 0.84 goals compared to Muriel who has managed just 0.43 per 90. On the topic of goals, Costa also has a much better shot accuracy than the Colombian with 68% and the latter managing 47%.

As the stats show, the Chelsea man is head and shoulders above the Sampdoria striker, which is not a bad thing as the Spanish International is a level above most strikers this season.

But there is a spot for Muriel at Chelsea if he was to sign for the in the winter, summer signing Michy Batshuyai has failed to make an impact at the club since his big money arrival so his position could come under severe pressure if they do pursue the man in their sights. Muriel is also capable of playing in a wide berth or behind the striker.

Of course, the plus side of playing a 3-4-3 would allow Costa, Hazard and target Muriel to all start together which would be very impressive. It is clear to see why Conte is interested in the man who has impressed thus far this season, and with the Blues pushing for the league title he could be the extra piece to push them on over the finish line.

Arsenal could be making a January bid for a Roma midfielder according to reports in Italy, we take a closer look at the story and the player in question and analyse whether or not he’d be a good fit.

TuttoMercatoWeb claim an ‘exclusive’ that Arsenal are targeting 22-year-old Paredes and they suggest that they might make an approach in January for the player.

The 22-year-old has burst onto the scene this season, getting himself in the Roma starting XI and his performances have not gone unnoticed, with Arsenal thought to be one of many clubs interested in signing the uncapped Argentinean.

Paredes started his career at Boca Juniors and after several loan spells and 28 appearances for Boca, joined Roma permanently in 2015. It is only this season where he has truly established himself in the team though and he is excelling in a holding midfield role.

With the signing of Granit Xhaka in the summer and Mohammed Elneny in January, Arsenal don’t particularly need another holding midfielder, but as Arsene Wenger has said many times, he will buy a player based on quality and not on position. Also with Arsenal’s conductor Santi Cazorla now 31, could Wenger be eyeing a younger midfielder to take over?

Now Paredes is not of a similar ilk to Cazorla, but he does have the potential to dictate play from deep, something Cazorla has been shoehorned into in the last few seasons. Paredes stands at nearly 6ft tall and plays almost always with the game in front of him. So far this season he has managed an impressive pass accuracy of over 90% and his strong passing is certainly one of his best attributes, but that is not all he has.

Paredes has started 5 Serie A games and 4 Europa League games this season. During the Europa League games he has averaged over 100 passes per game, highlighting his ability to take control of a game deep in midfield.

It’s also worth noting that he is well known for his set pieces and has scored several free kicks in his short career. Like Xhaka, he is also a sucker for a long shot every now and then - so a Xhaka - Paredes duo would certainly add more to Arsenal’s attacking artillery.

So will Arsenal sign Paredes? At this stage it is far too early to say something like that, but I would not be surprised at all to see him on the radar of Arsenal after his start to the season.

I would expect Paredes to stay at Roma until at least the end of the season, but he’s certainly a player that has the right attributes to play for a club like Arsenal. Should Arsenal need a central midfielder at any point in the near future then you can expect to see Paredes’ name pop up more frequently.

Things haven’t been going to plan so far for Slaven Bilic and West Ham United this season. They crashed out of Europe at the first hurdle (again) and are languishing in the bottom half the Premier League. Despite making several additions in the summer, it just hasn’t worked out. The Hammers need reinforcements in January, but they need to be the right ones. I take a look at three signings I feel would be suitable.

1 - Jermaine Defoe

A lot of the experimental signings West Ham have made from outside the Premier League have not worked out. That, and the fact that the next transfer window is in January, the middle of the season, shows that Bilic should not take risks and invest in some proven Premier League players. Few come more Premier League proven than Jermaine Defoe. His previous with Tottenham may irk a few fans, but the fact is he would greatly improve West Ham’s attacking options – even if he is just used as a sub. He wouldn’t cost a lot of money and with Sunderland (even at this stage) looking certain to go down, Defoe would surely jump at the chance to play for a club like West Ham.

It might only be October, but there’s already talk of what Conte is planning for the January transfer window at Chelsea.

When Chelsea opted to sign Marcus Alonso in the summer for so much money, many question marks were raised by fans. The concern was only multiplied by the fact that Alonso had already been in England and not really excelled at all. Yes, during his time at Fiorentina he improved, but whether he warranted his price-tag is another matter.

One of the reasons Chelsea fans were perhaps puzzled by the signing of Alonso, was because Swiss left back Ricardo Rodriguez was seemingly available for less money. Whilst the Wolfsburg defender didn’t have the best of seasons last year, he is still widely considered as one of the best left backs in Europe, and certainly almost every fan and pundit would say that he is a superior player to Alonso. Transfer Market Web, an Italian source cited in the Daily Star are now suggesting that Conte is not satisfied with summer signing Alonso and that he will look to bring in Rodriguez in January to replace him. Would this be a good idea?

Let’s take a look at the stats, how do the two defenders compare? I’ve decided to look at both players statistics from last season as there is more data to compare - however it is worth noting that both were not playing in the Premier League, which is a very different environment.

Looking at the stats, it’s a pretty close match in every department (all stats per 90 minutes). Alonso edges Interceptions (2.03 vs. 1.92), Tackles won (1.46 vs. 1.44) and Chances Created (1.65 vs. 1.57) – whilst Rodriguez comes out on top in aerial duels won (2 vs. 1.88) and is the clear winner in total forward passes per 90, averaging 33.61 to Alonso’s 23.17.

There is also the fact that Rodriguez is very strong in attacking areas traditionally, apart from last season he is known for scoring and assisting goals. With Conte looking at perhaps deploying 352 formation, or 343, Rodriguez could be the ideal candidate to play in the wide left role. I think this would help us to see the very best of him, because if there is a criticism of his that I have found whilst watching him in action for club and country, it is that perhaps he lacks the pace and offensive work rate to be a defensively-sound left back, he looks more naturally wingback. A 3 at the back formation would give that security behind him and allow him more freedom to excel with his attacking play.

Rodriguez is likely to cost in the region of £20million should he leave, and it is thought that the player is not currently happy at the German club, so a move is possible if Chelsea really want him.

When Moussa Dembele became available on a free transfer in the summer, several top clubs were interested, including Arsenal.

Last season Dembele excelled in the Championship, but many were concerned that he was still a one season wonder, not capable of performing at that level outside of the Championship. Now at Celtic the youngster has proven he has a lot to his game and is capable of performing at a different club in a different environment and even excelling on Europe’s biggest stage, the Champions League.

Dembele reminds me a bit of Romelu Lukaku. Despite his young age, he is capable of holding his own in a lone forward role, holding the ball up, bringing others into play, whilst his finishing is clinical. On paper he has everything you would want in a striker. Like most young players, all he lacks at the moment is a bit of consistency. With the right guidance and development this will come as he matures. Like Lukaku, he also struggles to hold onto the ball.

He has scored 6 goals in his first 8 league games as a Celtic player and aged just 20, this is very impressive. He’s also netted 2 in 2 in the Champions League. Physically he’s built very well, standing at 6ft tall, with a strong frame. He’s also a very strong dribbler of the ball.

Arsenal do have attacking options, but currently all of them are 27 or older. The likes of Lucas, Alexis and Giroud will not be around in 5 year’s time (or will be far from their best) and Arsenal need to keep one eye on the future. With Chuba Akpom looking like he will not make the grade, the Gunners must be on the lookout or else they will end up having to invest a huge amount of money when the need for a new striker becomes essential and urgent in a few years time.

The sticking point is cash. With Arsenal failing (or not trying hard enough) to land Dembele for free when they had the chance, Celtic are likely to demand in excess of £10million now that they have the forward tied to a long term contract. Whether Wenger would be willing to shell out such an amount remains questionable. There’s also the fact that Danny Welbeck is due back around January time and Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud are currently not playing regularly because of Alexis Sanchez’ form. That means Dembele’s game time is likely to be heavily restricted if he were to join Arsenal. That’s why I’d offer Celtic the chance to loan him back immediately.

Dembele chose Celtic so he could play regularly and a loan deal back to them would enable him to do that. But ultimately the former Fulham striker will want to play for a better club and I’m sure he wouldn’t hesitate if such a deal was offered to him. Although Dembele’s value has already risen rapidly, signing him now could potentially save the club a lot of money. In this market, young striker with his kind of potential can demand in excess of £40million.

Chelsea could be about to make a very strange and massive transfer offer, if the papers are to be believed.

The report comes from The Sun, who lets face it, are not the most reliable source - so lets remember that before dissecting this story. The story suggests that Chelsea really want Leonardo Bonucci, and I can believe that. They also suggest that Juventus do not want to sell unless it is for a huge amount of money, also, understandable. They discuss the possibility of Cesc Fabregas being involved in any deal, that does make sense, with Conte clearly not a fan and the player offering obvious value to Juventus.

To me this doesn’t make sense and even after the season Eden has had, Chelsea would be able to sell him for in excess of £50million to a whole host of clubs. I can believe that Conte isn’t the biggest fan of Hazard, who prefers to roam rather than strict on the field discipline - however Conte isn’t stupid and offering Hazard plus cash for Bonucci makes zero financial sense. Hazard is younger and for me, has a higher value, despite the obvious brilliance of Bonucci.

It’s fair to say that these rumours have been met with a fair amount of scepticism and fear from Chelsea fans on Social Media. Here’s some of the best reaction.

I’d never sell Bonucci. Never!

But for Hazard…? Damn.

— Kareem (@JuveFC1897) October 10, 2016

Bonucci for Hazard?
1️⃣ Didn’t EH say that he’s only leaving #cfc as a boss?
2️⃣ How many swap deals happen IRL?
3️⃣ Can Juve afford him?

— Kristof Terreur 📰 (@HLNinEngeland) October 10, 2016

“Chelsea are willing to offer Hazard plus cash for Juve Leonardo Bonucci”.Yeah right,Chelsea swap their best player 4 an over-rated defender

— Matty McGinn (@wanna_be_dj) October 10, 2016

Errrrr imagine if Juve got Hazard 😷

— Irn Dru (@DrewHinsh) October 9, 2016

Amazingly the paper claims Juventus would rather Fabregas than Hazard. I find that incredibly hard to believe. Yes Cesc may be more needed right now, but turning down the chance to sign a prime Hazard and instead opting for a ‘past it’ playmaker would seem incredibly odd. It makes the story even less believable.

Any deal for Bonucci, if it were to happen, cannot happen until at least January, so Chelsea fans need not worry for the time being. However if you are a Chelsea fan and an admirer of Hazard, you need to hope that he finds his best form soon and adapts to the Conte way of thinking, otherwise he may be moved on. At the end of the day Chelsea have opted to go with Conte as their manager, so they must buy into his style of play or leave. If Hazard leaves, Conte would more than likely replace him with a big name player that can play in his position and more to Conte’s style.

Sitting seventh going into the international break, the Chelsea’s start to the season has been fairly unsatisfactory, and it has been reported that manager Antonio Conte is planning a major overhaul of the squad over the next couple of transfer windows.

The Telegraph report that Roman Ambramovic is willing to give Conte the funds he needs to complete this squad overhaul, including funding a spectacular £60m move for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, who they will attempt to land in the January window.

Chelsea fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal a couple of week ago, in what was nothing short of a defensive horror show from a Chelsea point of view, sparking the plans of a major squad overhaul. The Blues kept a clean sheet at Hull at the weekend in a 2-0 win, but the former Juventus and Italy manager is still set to go ahead with his plans.

The Telegraph also claim that Juventus and Inter Milan officials were in London this week, but they are unsure whetehr this was regarding the transfer of Bonucci and Marcelo Brozovic, who Chelsea also have eye on.

Conte fielded a team with a back three on Saturday, and it is understood that this is system Conte will want to play in the long run at Stamford Bridge, but feels that he has to dip into the transfer market and acquire the players that will suit this system.

Leonardo Bonnuci has previously worked with Conte on two occasions, once while Conte was at the helm at Juventus, and also when he took charge of the Italian national team. The Juventus man is more than used to playing Antonio Conte’s three at the back system, and would be viewed by Conte as one of the best possible signings Chelsea could make.

So how does Bonnuci compare in the statistics department to other defenders at Chelsea? Looking at the stats from this season of Bonnuci, Gary Cahill, David Luiz and John Terry. The latter has won the least tackles with just 0.25 per game, followed by Bonnuci, who makes 0.8 successful tackles per game. Gary Cahill makes a fraction more with 0.86 per game, but David Luiz makes the most with 1.33 per game.

Bonnuci wins the least of his total duels with 40.63%, then come David Luiz and John Terry with 42% and 48% respectively. Gary Cahill leads the way, winning 61.9% of his total duels.

Cahill also tops the pile in tackles lost, losing just 0.57 per game. Luiz and Terry lost around 1.3 per game, and Bonnuci loses the most tackles, on average, 1.60 lost tackles per game.

However, Bonnuci does make the most interceptions per game than the rest of the defensive quartet. He makes on average three per game, whereas Luiz makes two, Cahill 1.57, and Terry just 0.5.

Looking at those statistics, is Bonnuci worth £60m? Certainly not in my opinion. However, his experience of working with Conte could prove to be invaluable as the manager looks to guide Chelsea to domestic and continental success in the next few season.

Would signing Bonnuci at £60m be a good move for Chelsea?

Having spent £150m over the summer, Manchester United haven’t had a terrific start to the season that many expected them to have. They sit 6th in the Premier League table after seven weeks, and as we head into the October international break, Jose Mourinho may have one eye on the January transfer window. Here are three players he could potentially bring to Old Trafford in the New Year

1) Danny Drinkwater

The United defensive midfield may not look like it needs strengthening, with Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marouane Fellaini battling for first-team places, but according to The Sun, Jose Mourinho wants to add to his midfield options with the acquisition of Danny Drinkwater.

The Sun claim that Mourinho is willing to pay up to £30million in order to land his January target, which would see the Englishman return to the club that turned it’s back on him just four years ago.

Drinkwater featured alongside N’Golo Kante last season in Leicester City’s title-winning season, and having seen Kante move to Chelsea over the summer, Claudio Ranieri won’t be keen on Drinkwater also leaving the club.

Mourinho is reportedly keen on making another defensive midfield signing not only to bolster his options in that area, but to also allow Paul Pogba to feature in a more attacking role in the midfield, implying that the Portuguese boss is not content with the current defensive unit protection of Ander Herrera, who has featured in that role for United this season.

Comparing the two, Danny Drinkwater has won more tackles than Herrera, winning on average just under three per game, with Herrera winning just 2.25 per game. However, Herrera makes almost two more interceptions per game, wins a higher percentage of total duels, makes more clearances, and just about loses less tackles per game.

Looking at those facts, is Drinkwater really worth the reported £30m investment?

According to a report in The Times on Monday night, Hector Bellerin could be set to reject a new 5-year contract offer extension at Arsenal as his preference is to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Barcelona have been the club most regularly linked with a move for the Spaniard, but if you believe the papers it may be Guardiola’s side that makes a successful move for him. Bellerin joined Arsenal as a teenager, opting to leave the Spanish club. It was a similar move to how Cesc Fabregas ended up at Arsenal, although Gunners fans will hope that with Hector, there is a different conclusion.

City though, are desperate for a full back of Bellerin’s calibre. On the right hand side of the defence they currently have the aging duo of Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna – it’s clear the improvement he would make to Manchester City’s team, especially because of the way that Pep places emphasis on his full backs in build-up play, Bellerin would thrive in such a role.

Bellerin was developed at Barcelona and Arsenal, so he has had a brilliant football education and because of that, good ball skills – a must for all Pep’s jigsaw pieces. Another huge asset of Hector’s is his blistering pace, often providing a safety barrier for Arsenal when other defenders are left behind. Most recently he demonstrated this with a quality last man tackle on Pedro in the clubs 3-0 win vs. Chelsea, but in his short time in the first team, Bellerin has already saved several points for his team because of his pace.

Personally I find it hard to believe that Bellerin - a player who has matured and excelled at Arsenal, would leave to join Manchester City. Yes Pep’s influence is massive, but the player loves London, he’s thriving at Arsenal and right now at least, there’s no real reason for him to leave. He has often made sly digs at the likes of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas for joining English rivals and when publicly asked, he has always refuted suggestions that he may leave The Emirates any time soon.

Honeslty I expect Bellerin to sign a new 5-year contract with Arsenal this season. I think he sees his immediate future at Arsenal and although there may be a silent acknowledgement amongst the Arsenal fans that one day he may go back to Barca, everyone hopes that Arsenal will be the only English club he ever plays for. I also think that even if Hector would like to play for Barcelona, he doesn’t need to go and do it yet. A 5-year contract would put to bed the rumours for at least another 3 years, allowing him to keep improving. Arsenal no longer need to sell their star players and in Bellerin, aged just 21, they have a real asset, perhaps the most valuable at the club.

As an Arsenal fan I’m not going to pay much attention to this rumour, and after looking at the facts and quotes, it makes even less sense. I can’t see The Times being right this time.

The transfer window may be closed but according to Matt Law from The Telegraph, Chelsea and Manchester United are already looking ahead to future windows with a move for Antoine Griezmann.

Griezmann is a special player and it is now being recognised across the world. The fact that he is in the top 3 shortlist for the best player award alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo speaks volumes. Although it is too early to suggest that he is at their level, he does have the potential to one day hold that title with Cristiano (31) and Messi (29) now entering the latter years of their career. Griezmann is just 25 and since his move to Atletico Madrid he has made huge improvements. Previously at Real Sociedad, Griezmann was known for being a winger that could play through the middle. Now he has made the central striking spot his own, ideally alongside a more physically strong striker like Oliver Giroud for France and Fernando Torres for Atletico. He may thrive alongside a ‘bigger’ striker, but Griezmann, despite his small frame, does have a lot of the tools to be able to play as a lone striker. He’s good in the air, with a magnificent leap (he won 1.57 aerial duels per 90 last season), he’s good creatively, notching up 5 assists and 1.39 key passes per 90 last season. He’s also very quick, which stretches opposition defences and allows his teams midfield more freedom.

I think the next step for him will be to see if he can develop a deadly instinct and close control skills similar to Sergio Aguero. The Argentinean is of similar height, but built up a stockier build to help him handle big defenders, I feel Griezmann will have to tactically do the same if he is to play as a lone striker in the Premier League. Both Chelsea and Manchester United typically play with one striker up front – although the idea of Griezmann playing alongside Ibrahimovic next season would surely make fans drool. But in the long term Griezmann will have to adapt if he is to be considered the very best – I’m sure the Premier League would help him do that.

At 25 it’s not like Griezmann is just starting his career, but he is moving into his prime years and has only recently established himself among the top calibre of players. His efficiency in front of goal has helped him raise his status, managing a brilliant shot accuracy of 57% last season and a brilliant 0.65 goals scored per 90, scoring a massive 22 La Liga goals. If he can replicate that goalscoring form again this season then his stock will only rise further.

But who needs him more, Manchester United or Chelsea? Well currently both teams have a top class striker (Ibrahimovic and Costa), both also have young strikers coming through who need to play (Rashford and Batshuayi) but if Griezmann were to become available then you simply cannot say no. Antonio Conte has previously played with 2 strikers at clubs like Juventus, so Griezmann could be viewed as the ideal partner for Costa in attack.

Despite all the rumours, the Frenchman has previously said though, that he will only move should current manager Diego Simeone also leave, having built up a close relationship with him.

I wonder if the bid will be £40,000,001?

According to the latest rumours, Arsenal may be about to move for Daniel Sturridge, who reportedly wants to leave Liverpool after falling out of favour under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. I’ll leave it up to you what you think about this story.

Sturridge is however out of favour under Klopp, who appears to prefer the pressing options and more energetic alternatives offered by Roberto Firmino, Divick Origi and Sadio Mane - all of whom can play as a striker, they also have Danny Ings as an option through the middle.

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Sturridge has immense quality but with him not suiting Klopp’s style and struggling to consistently find fitness, should Liverpool cash in if Arsenal bid more than £40million?

We are sceptical on this one, but its one worth keeping an eye on as stranger things have happened.

Chelsea are about to resign David Luiz for €40million in what could be the biggest deal on deadline day.

We understand that a €40million fee has been agreed between the two clubs and Luiz is currently travelling to London for a medical as we speak.

A big stereotype is that Luiz makes a lot of defensive errors, but was this the case last season? Yep. Despite only playing 25 Ligue 1 games, Luiz made 4 defensive errors, Cahill and Terry combined only made 3.

Luiz also struggles in other key defensive areas. For example he only made 0.34 blocks per 90 last season, and won a miserable 1.16 aerial duels. His weakness in the air is particularly worrying and could see him exposed in the physical Premier League.

With John Terry’s time at the club nearly over and Gary Cahill continuing questionable form, Luiz may be a wise addition. His unpredictability and inconsistency in defence is something that would need to change in order for him to be worth the £30million, in my opinion.

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Luiz is 29 and has 55 international caps for Brazil, he is a pretty experienced defender and perhaps he has developed his defending and maturity since the last time we saw him in the Premier League. Chelsea fans will hope this is the case should Luiz rejoin, whilst also hoping that Conte can bring the best out of the defender.

Liverpool look set to do some business on deadline day after all..

The club appear ready to offload Mario Balotelli finally and he looks set to move to France, with the player currently in France ready to complete a deal, according to reports from The Telegraph. Several other sources have confirmed the player is having a medical currently in what appears to be a permanent deal for the Italian misfit.

Mario has so much potential but his style could not be more of a contrast to Jurgen Klopp’s pragmatic, hard-working tactics. Aged 26, Balotelli needs to be playing regular football and he is not going to get that under Klopp at Liverpool.

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Nice will be a good fresh start for Mario and hopefully we can see him find some of his previous form - then he may join another big European club.