Tag Archives: Bernardo Silva

Manchester City are circling Alexis Sanchez like vultures. Vultures returning to their favourite feeding site, in fact. Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri have all been sold by Arsenal to the blue segment of Manchester. Depending on who you listen to and how many unhealthily speculative rumours you care to read, Alexis is either destined to become a City player or is happy to stay at the Emirates despite not having Champions League football in 2017/18.

It’s going to be ‘saga of the summer’. Well, that’s what Sky Sports and rumour mill beneficiaries would like us to believe, isn’t it? In reality, it’s a football transfer and one that seems to be covered with more mindless speculation than truth. Opinions presented as fact – which is seemingly the norm now – and a whole barrage of unpleasantries between fans on social media.

The transfer, however, is not one that Alexis should be really considering at this juncture in his career.

The Premier League has become the home of the most expensive transfer additions in recent years, with billions being splashed out to bring the finest talents to English football.

Despite this, English sides have failed to kick-on in their quest to conquer European football and have fallen behind the likes of Spain, Italy, Germany and even France in the race for the Champions League trophy.

The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City will be looking to change that next season though when they return to European action and the Premier League will boast five clubs in Europe’s elite competition, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also in the running.

Spectacular fees are likely to be spent once again this summer, potentially setting world records, but we’ve moved to assemble the most expensive XI in Premier League history so far- in a set-up that’s dominated by both Manchester clubs and Chelsea.

Before we start, it’s worth noting that all fees and records are correct as of 26th June 2017 and all figures were taken from TransferMarkt.

GK: Ederson (£34m)

Signed by Manchester City from Portuguese outfit Benfica this month, the £34m price-tag for Ederson easily surpassed the previous record-figure paid by a Premier League side for a goalkeeper and was narrowly ahead of the £30m fee Everton paid for Jordan Pickford two-weeks later.

The 23-year-old Brazilian is set to become City’s first-choice goalkeeper for the forthcoming campaign after last summer’s acquisition of Claudio Bravo proved to be a failure, as the Chilean failed to live-up to expectation and endured plenty of troubles.

Chelsea weren’t meant to lose this FA Cup final. Everything was pointing towards the Blues sweeping an injury-riddled Arsenal aside having been able to rest after securing the title. Antonio Conte was going to notch the club’s second double and Arsene Wenger would be left in a muddle once again.

From the off Arsenal were far the better side. Chelsea were dominated centrally, as N’golo Kante and Nemanja Matic could not handle the quartet of Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Conte could have seen his side fall behind by several goals and, in truth, the Blues were fortunate not be humiliated.

Whether we want to buy the ‘complacent’ narrative or see this as a renaissance for an Arsenal side that have recently embarked on a rare tactical adaptation, it was a reminder that this Chelsea incarnation are far from invincible. Impressive at their best, sure, the Blues have been flawed all too often and comparatively limped over the line this season. Defeats to Crystal Palace and Manchester United are hauntingly familiar memories, while the 93 point total still represents a remarkable achievement.

Chelsea’s squad appeared weak in August. Those weaknesses have been masked by a lack of injuries and superb management from the ever-likeable Italian manager. Those holes remain, however, and cannot be simply papered over this summer.

After other title wins, Chelsea have floundered and faffed in the transfer market. Cutting corners or pinching pennies, the Blues have left themselves in too weak a position the next season to reach their objectives or been forced to splash excessively in January.

As a Manchester arms race begins, Liverpool are linked with half the Bundesliga and Spurs’ young squad will improve, Chelsea cannot afford to lean on a roster that’s flaws have gradually reached greater prominence. It does not need to be brash, flash or brutally expensive like the spending from the northwest will be, but Chelsea’s summer is as definitive as anyone’s.

Bad team performances like Saturday’s will happen, but the club will not compete domestically or in Europe without significant additions, even if the financial burden can be lessened by the return of Andreas Christensen and Bertrand Traore from loan spells at Borussia Monchengladbach and Ajax respectively.

Tiemoue Bakayoko or Romelu Lukaku would not have avoided defeat at Wembley, but the defeat and relative indifference in 2017 should serve as a stark wake up call for a club that must be ruthless in this window.

Chelsea have enjoyed a fantastic season this term but Antonio Conte’s side face a challenge in the summer to bolster their ranks and prepare for a return to the Champions League next season.

In truth, Chelsea’s squad depth is fairly lacklustre across the board and injury problems this term could have created havoc, had they occurred. Therefore, it would be unwise to run the same risks next season by failing to strengthen.

Whilst Chelsea have been defensively solid and impressive in attack, it turns out that those areas are where the Blues are keen to strengthen most this summer- with star striker Diego Costa looking inevitable to leave, whilst veteran skipper John Terry is also on his way out.

Conte has identified targets already though and these four signings could leave the Blues boasting an exceptional side, as shown by this incredible line-up.

GK: Thibaut Courtois

Chelsea’s goalkeeper is widely regarded to be one of the best in the world and the Blues will face a battle to retain his services in the summer, with Spanish giants Real Madrid reportedly eyeing the Belgian as an alternative to long-term target David De Gea.

Courtois seems loyal to Chelsea though and the Blues would command an audacious fee for any move to materialise, so it seems highly likely that the goalkeeper will remain at Stamford Bridge for the forthcoming Premier League campaign.

These are Fresh Football’s player ratings for Manchester City’s 5-3 win in the UEFA Champions League at home to AS Monaco:

Manchester City

Willy Caballero - 7

A victim of Pep Guardiola’s expansive system, Willy Caballero constantly found himself in trouble with his short deliveries, but the Argentine was able to show his true qualities with a penalty save and a crucial stop in the final stages of the game versus Radamel Falcao.

Bacary Sagna - 5

Not quite as solid as he’s so often proven to be, which will stand as a disappointment for the Frenchman.

John Stones - 6.5

A mismatch for Falcao in Monaco’s third of the night, but the Englishman redeemed himself when placing City ahead at 4-3.

Nicolas Otamendi 4

Poor for both Mbappe’s goal and the foul that subsequently earned Monaco a penalty at 2-1, which was eventually missed by Falcao.

Fernandinho 4.5

He’ll have better games, perhaps a consequence of being, rather surprisingly, deployed at left back.

Yaya Toure - 6

Good in possession, but massively outnumbered in midfield.

David Silva - 7

Close to no contribution defensively, as expected, but Silva found all the right pockets and passes going forward.

Kevin De Bruyne - 7

Did his fair share of running and was typically good in the final third.

Raheem Sterling - 8

Sharp, direct and with a goal and assist to his name. Sterling’s fine form under Guardiola continues.

Leroy Sané - 8

Another who is beginning to thrive at City, bagging a terrific assist for Sterling’s opener and killing the game off eith the hosts’ fifth goal of the night.

Sergio Agüero - 9

A real menace with his runs in behind, as he brought City level on two separate occasions. A priceless performance.

Subs

Pablo Zabaleta - 6.5

A positive switch for City, cementing the defence somewhat and offering greater confidence for Guardiola’s man to charge after the desired result.

Jesus Navas - N/A

Fernando - N/A

AS Monaco

Danijel Subasic - 4

Disappointing stuff from the Croatian number one, who might have been lucky not to give away a penalty in the first half and offered City a way in with a clanger for Aguero’s goal.

Djibril Sidibe - 7

A little clumsy in places, but the right back’s anticipation and quality of passes shun through his imperfections.

Kamil Glik - 5

The better half of the two centre backs, but Glik won’t be looking forward to facing Agüero in a hurry.

Andrea Raggi - 4

Showed his age, as he struggled with that pass in behind to City’s forward line all night.

Benjamin Mendy - 6.5

Didn’t link up as nicely as he has done with Thomas Lemar during the current campaign, but his deliveries from wide areas were brilliant.

Bernardo Silva - 7

The diminutive playmaker put his dribbling traits on show, but tired towards the end.

Fabinho - 6.5

Decent, but another who lost influence as the game went on.

Tiemoué Bakayoko - 8

There are a handful of top Premier League clubs with their eyes on the box-to-box midfielder and it was easy to see why. A capable match against Yaya Toure’s imposing figure, Bakayoko read the game well and didn’t stop doing so until the final whistle.

Kylian Mbappé - 7

The next big thing out of Monaco’s ranks, the 18-year-old provided a threat in behind and even bagged a goal for himself to undoubtedly increase his stock.

Radamel Falcao - 8.5

In hot form domestically, the Colombian carried his good habits over to the European stage with two excellent goals, despite also missing a penalty.

Subs

Valerie Germain - N/A

João Moutinho - N/A

It’s been a long time coming, but alas, Tottenham Hotspur have their UEFA Champions League spot back after a five-season hiatus. Competing against Europe’s elite isn’t the only thing that the north Londoners can look forward to, as they kick off their campaign at Wembley Stadium for the first time versus AS Monaco.

The Ligue 1 outfit are no strangers to Spurs, of course, with the away side losing 4-1 in their last visit to White Hart Lane. Monaco are, however, a year wiser and have since bolstered their squad with the likes of Torino’s Kamil Glik, French full-backs Benjamin Mendy and Djibril Sidibé and their loan returnee Radamel Falcao.

Here’s how Tottenham’s opposition presents themselves ahead of their Group E clash:

The Journey

The club from the Principality will look back on a pair of 4-0 victories versus Angers SCO and Toulouse with some pride, as well as inflicting one of only two defeats amassed by Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain with a 2-0 win, helping the Group E side finish third in the league table behind Olympique Lyonnais.

For Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim, that meant trying to battle his way into the Champions League group stages via the qualifying rounds with a team that conceded more goals (50) than any other in Ligue 1’s top six, whereas the 57 goals scored was also the lowest count among those in the top four.

Serving as obstacles in Monaco’s route to the Champions League group stages were Turkish club Fenerbahçe and Villarreal, beaten on aggregate, respectively, by 4-3 and 3-1.

Form

The Monégasques are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Ligue 1 table, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 so far this season. Among the successes of the new season is their second consecutive triumph over PSG, winning 3-1 this time around, and, more recently, the 4-1 demolition job against Lille as early as last Friday.

On the other hand, prior to Monaco’s last two games, the Ligue 1 club started their league campaign with a 2-2 draw at home to EA Guingamp and a timid 1-0 victory over Nantes, whereas they’ve also scored just four goals from open play this season.

One to Watch - Bernardo Silva

Despite not being blessed with big names, there are plenty of rough diamonds in Monaco’s set-up, in particular Thomas Lemar, Tiemoué Bakayoko and 17-year-old Kylian Mbappe. The pick of the bunch, however, could well be Bernardo Silva.

Originally placed on the right flank, the left-footed playmaker is often given licence to roam inwards, which earned him seven goals from 32 league appearances last season. The 22-year-old Portuguese starlet is already underway on goal scoring terms this season with strikes versus Villarreal and a late equaliser against Guingamp back in August.