When a new manager takes over, fringe players feel a renewed sense of hope that they can turn their fortunes around.
The same can be said for first-team members who have been playing poorly, much like Shkodran Mustafi at Arsenal.
The defender suffered a miserable end to the season as he was personally at fault for a handful of goals conceded.
Unsurprisingly, plenty of Arsenal fans called for the German World Cup winner to be axed from the squad.
Now that Unai Emery has replaced Arsene Wenger at the helm of the Emirates, the slate could potentially be wiped clean.
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Mustafi will have to prove to the Spaniard that he is deserving of a centre-back spot, and plenty will be dependent on whether or not Emery dips into the market to buy a new defender.
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The former Paris Saint-Germain boss regularly plays with a back four, but Mustafi has work to do to impress.
Interestingly, even though many Arsenal fans have been heavily critical of the German, our poll suggests that there is some backing for the under-fire defender.
Manchester United have reportedly been told that an offer of €25m (approximately £22.1m) could be enough to sign Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker this month, and Red Devils fans have been quick to have their say on the potential addition.
The Mirror reported in August that United had made an enquiry for the 22-year-old after he impressed against them in the Europa League last season, but no move materialised as Jose Mourinho signed Nemanja Matic from Chelsea instead.
However, the Portuguese boss could choose to reignite his interest in the Belgium international – who is able to play as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back – following the latest comments of the Belgian outfit’s general manager Herman van Holsbeeck, who told Belgian media outlet DH: “If there’s €25m or €30m on the table, it [a move] can be done, yes.”
Man United supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the update, and while one said the player would be the “perfect replacement for Matic” in the future, another said “I’d rather Dendoncker than Lucas Moura” with the club also being linked with the Brazilian winger.
Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has called for his teammates to show strength ahead of their Capital One Cup tie against Manchester City.
The Toon were beaten 2-1 by local rivals Sunderland on Sunday, but have no time to lick their wounds as they face title contenders City in the cup on Wednesday night.
But Tiote, 27, believes the club can handle their tough fixtures, as long as they overcome their derby pain and stay together as a team: “I think it’s going to be a tough week for us – it’s two massive games against Man City and Chelsea. But I think if we stay together and do the right things, we have a chance,” Tiote told Sky Sports.
“I’m really disappointed because we didn’t win at Sunderland. I think we deserved more than that, but they scored the winning goal. As a captain, you need to show an example, so I tried to do that in the right way. That’s important. I’m really disappointed, because we didn’t win. That’s football. We have to stay as a team, stay compact and try to win the next game.”
Newcastle have only won 3 matches in the Premier League so far, and could kick start their season with a cup win over City. After beating Leeds United in the third round, victory against the Sky Blues will put the Toon in the draw for Round 5 of the competition for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
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A transfer window just wouldn’t be the same without some laborious saga that seemingly runs for months and months, causing nothing but endless frustration for supporters and the managers who desperately want to use the money to strengthen other areas of their playing staff.
The Luka Modric saga has finally taken over the Wesley Sneijder to Manchester United as the biggest one of recent times and I’m certain that Andre Villas-Boas is ruing how long it took his chairman to finally cash in on the Croatian, especially as the North Londoners were apparently only minutes away from securing a deal for Moutinho on deadline day.
Let’s be honest this failed deadline day move certainly isn’t the first and won’t be the last to fall through at the last knockings as clubs continue to fail to get their business done early, or a side’s brinkmanship ensures that their months of negotiation have simply been wasted.
This list is a celebration of such dramas and those transfer deals that never passed the post.
Click on Downing to unveil the top 10
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As reported by The Express, Rangers are interested in bringing Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn to Ibrox this summer.
What’s the story?
The Light Blues have already made transfer moves in the close-season with the likes of Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield and Jamie Murphy all making permanent switches to the club.
With Steven Gerrard set to officially take charge of the Gers shortly, many more are expected this summer, with the prospect of him using his Liverpool contacts a real possibility.
The Express report that Ben Woodburn is one of the new manager’s priorities, looking to sign him on a loan deal and giving him a taste of regular first-team football.
Rated at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, can the Gers secure the immediate future of one of Britain’s most talented teenagers?
Is he ready for first team football?
Woodburn is still just 18 and Jurgen Klopp has been sure to limit his exposure to the high pressures of the Liverpool first team, making just 10 appearances since his initial stunning debut in November 2016, becoming the club’s youngest ever goalscorer.
He is also the Welsh national team’s second-youngest goalscorer and has won seven caps with the national team.
While his experience isn’t exactly huge, he clearly has immense talent and no-one will know that better than Steven Gerrard, who worked with the play as a youth coach at Anfield.
The Scottish Premiership is a tough but achievable standard for the youngster and well supported by Gerrard, he could definitely be a hit at Ibrox next season and add the excitement of youth to their attack.
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Should Rangers sign Ben Woodburn?
You can have your say on his potential signing in our poll below…
Last summer was dominated by the will-he-won’t-he saga involving Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho and Barcelona’s pursuit of the playmaker.
The season has now entered the January transfer window, and once again, the Brazilian is a regular feature on the back pages.
The Spanish media are convinced that Coutinho will be a Barcelona player before the month comes to an end.
Don Balon report that the deal could be signed, sealed and delivered within the next few days, with rumours bubbling that the fee could be in the region of £150m.
Liverpool were determined in their efforts to keep hold of the 25-year-old in the summer, but it seems that the club’s stance has not put off the Spanish giants.
After being refused a switch to the Camp Nou, Coutinho re-integrated himself back into the Liverpool team.
So far in the campaign, the attack-minded player has made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and creating eight assists.
Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter after hearing the latest speculation surrounding their number 10.
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Some are keen for Coutinho to stay put until at least the end of the season, while others express that they would not be torn apart if he left.
Liverpool striker Iago Aspas has admitted he is ‘unhappy’ with his start to life as a Liverpool player, after failing to score in the club’s opening four games of the season, reports the Metro.
Aspas completed a £7.7million switch to Anfield from Celta Vigo in the summer, and was tipped for big things by manager Brendan Rodgers after an impressive pre-season, which saw the Spaniard hit the net three times.
The 26-year-old started the first three games of the season, before coming off the bench in the second half of Monday’s 2-2 draw with Swansea.
And Aspas has admitted he is not currently enjoying life on Merseyside after his failure to find the back of the net.
“Over the last four or five seasons I haven’t gone as many games as this without a goal,” Aspas told Liverpool’s website.
“I’ve never been an out-and-out goalscorer but it’s true that over the last three seasons I have scored quite a number of goals.
“I suppose on a personal level I’m not entirely happy as I would want to be because I still feel I can do better.
“I’m working hard every day to improve and to be able to show that on the pitch to my team-mates.”
Aspas is set to get another chance to break his duck tomorrow against Southampton, especially since Brazilian playmaker Phillipe Coutinho has been ruled out for six weeks with a shoulder injury.
And while the forward is not satisfied with his own form, he still believes this campaign will prove a positive one for the Reds.
“What I have done is aimed at playing as many games as possible and to try and help the team to get into the top four, which I think is the most important thing for us,” he added.
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“It’s all about focusing on the group as a whole in order to qualify for the Champions League.”
Kolo Toure’s agent has clarified that the player will not be moving away from Manchester City, despite interest from Galatasaray.
The Ivory Coast international has fallen behind Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany in the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, whilst Roberto Mancini has splashed the cash to bring young centre-half Matija Nastasic to the club on transfer deadline day.
As such Toure has been linked with a move away from the Premier League champions, but rejected the chance to join Buraspor earlier this summer.
However, despite links to Galatasaray, Toure will be staying in England.
“Kolo is flattered by the interest from Galatasaray but he is happy at Man City,” agent Saif Rubie told Sky Sports.
“Kolo has spoken to the manager and owners (of City) and he remains as committed to the club as the day he signed.
“All Kolo’s focus is on helping Manchester City be successful this season in every competition they are going for.
“Kolo is happy to stay and play his part and is looking forward to the next game after the international break,” the representative concluded.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had plenty of pressure on his shoulders when he made the move to Liverpool from Arsenal last summer.
After spending six years at the Gunners and struggling to hold down a regular spot, the onus was on the England international to step up and prove his worth at Anfield.
It was a slow start from the midfielder as he had to earn his way into Jurgen Klopp’s team, but he soon began to find his stride.
Oxlade-Chamberlain eventually became a regular feature in the first XI, creating seven assists and scoring five goals in 42 appearances in all competitions.
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In April, though, the 24-year-old suffered a huge blow as he damaged knee ligaments during the Reds’ 5-2 victory over Roma in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on home soil.
The injury ended the midfielder’s season, meaning that he will not be able to compete in the Champions League final, and his chances of making the England squad for the World Cup are zero.
Now, according to the Liverpool Echo, Oxlade-Chamberlain will be on the treatment table for around six months after recently undergoing successful surgery.
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The report claims that the best-case scenario will be that the midfielder will return to action in November, four months into the new season.
Understandably, Liverpool fans have been left devastated for Oxlade-Chamberlain, and many think that the club need to find a temporary replacement this summer.
Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.Comment from discussion Oxlade-Chamberlain expected to be sidelined for six months… #LFC.
Manchester United have been one of the Premier League’s busiest clubs in the transfer market this summer, signing five players at a cost of just over £76million whilst rightfully parting with the likes of Tom Cleverley, Nani and Robin van Persie.
Yet the Red Devils are still very much a work in progress and especially in regards to claiming next season’s title – which would be their first since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement two years ago – there’s plenty of areas within the squad that require further improvement. Another dose of fat trimming certainly wouldn’t go amiss either.
So with that in mind – and to give Louis van Gaal some guidance on what his next move in the market should be – we’ve listed FIVE burning ‘transfer issues’ the Old Trafford outfit are yet to resolve.
Which of these FIVE do you think van Gaal should be addressing first Man United fans? Let us know by commenting below!
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WHICH CB SHOULD LVG TURN TO NEXT?
Louis van Gaal has made his preferred template of centre-half abundantly clear; a top class defender with leadership skills, an array of international and European experience and perhaps most importantly of all, quality and confidence on the ball.
Mats Hummels and Sergio Ramos both firmly fall into that category, as World Cup-winning centre-backs famed for their ability to bring the ball out of defence, but both have snubbed the chance to move to Old Trafford this summer. The former rejected a United switch back in May, whilst reports this morning claim the latter is now set to sign a new contract – outrageous pay rise included – at the Bernabeu. Likewise, Manchester Evening News claim van Gaal has never been interested in mooted back-up target Nicolas Otamendi.
So who could the Red Devils feasibly turn to next? In terms of ball-playing defenders, Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen and Everton’s John Stones particularly come to mind. But neither are what you’d define as ‘top class’ defenders and both would require substantial transfer fees to convince their respective clubs to sell to a Premier League rival.
Meanwhile, Zenit’s Ezequiel Garay has been on the United radar ever since the Sir Alex Ferguson days, whilst Schalke’s Benedikt Howedes and Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci, who have all featured in either World Cup or Champions League finals over the last year, often feature in the tabloids’ rumour columns too.
But the latter duo have both rejected the chance to leave their current clubs already this summer – Howedes deciding not to take advantage of his £12million release clause and Bonucci signing a contract extension until 2020 earlier today – and you get the feeling LVG would have snapped up the easily obtainable Garay already if his interest in the Argentina international was genuine.
Suddenly Manchester United are running out of options. But by hook or by crook, they need to find a solution by the end of the summer window.
SEND THE YOUNGSTERS OUT ON LOAN
Traditionally, Manchester United have always been luxury to rather enormous squads, predominantly propped up by the sizable amount of young talent bursting through from their academy ranks.
But few would dispute that loan moves are an important stage of development for most young players and despite having a wealth of youthful prodigies on the books, only a handful have secured a temporary switches so far this summer – striker Will Keane joins Preston North End on loan until next summer, whilst academy duo Joe Rothwell and Ben Pearson will both be representing Barnsley in League One.
Plenty could – and in my opinion, should – be added to that list, not least including Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett, Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira, Sam Johnstone, Guillermo Varela and Nick Powell. One could even argue Belgian wizzkid Adnan Januzaj would benefit from a short spell at another club, having struggled for form under Louis van Gaal last season.
Of course, there’s still over a month of the transfer window remaining and many loan deals end up being confirmed in the summer’s final hours. But in the interests of partaking in a full pre-season to ensure match fitness and familiarity with their adoptive clubs, United’s youngsters are better off securing loan moves as soon as possible.
MORE FIREPOWER?
Football – Manchester United v Manchester City – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 12/4/15Marouane Fellaini celebrates scoring the second goal for Manchester United with Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Juan MataReuters / Darren StaplesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
Louis van Gaal clearly has faith in Wayne Rooney as his first-choice centre-forward for next season, claiming he’s capable of matching Sergio Aguero’s 26-goal tally to claim the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
Yet, the Manchester United skipper hasn’t exactly enjoyed a superfluous run of the goals over the last three seasons, his last 20-goal campaign coming all the way back in 2011/12.
The argument that the 29 year-old has spent as much of his time since in midfield as up front certainly has some substance to it, but Rooney still isn’t a player you’d define as a natural goalscorer, in the same manner as Aguero, former team-mate Robin van Persie or Chelsea’s Diego Costa.
In my opinion, the Red Devils need a bit more firepower to clinch next term’s title. The striker market is hardly booming at the moment, with the likes of Jackson Martinez, Carlos Bacca, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Christian Benteke already completing big money moves this summer, but there are still a few options out there.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for example, is probably the best stop-gap solution United could ask for at the age of 33, with his PSG contract now into its final year. Likewise, Robert Lewandowski’s agent believes Bayern Munich would only sell the Poland international – famed for once netting four past Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – for in excess of £35million which, in the grand scheme of things, is hardly an unjustifiable sum.
GET PEDRO BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES
There may not be a better value-for-money player on the market this summer than Barcelona’s Pedro.
The winger-forward has done it and won it all throughout his tenures with the Catalans and the Spanish national team, winning five La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, a World Cup and a European championship, and at 27 years of age is still firmly within his footballing prime.
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In my opinion, the 5 foot 7 attacker would be the ideal replacement for apparently PSG-bound Angel Di Maria and with a release clause of just £22million, he’s well within the Carrington outfit’s financial reach.
Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign the 51-cap international but they need to get a move on. World-class players without world-class price tags don’t come around too often, so the majority of Europe’s top clubs will be more than happy to take advantage of any hesitancy from the Red Devils.
DECIDE WHEN DE GEA SHOULD LEAVE
Manchester United have been playing hardball regarding Real Madrid’s lengthy pursuit of David De Gea, insisting that they’ll only part with the PFA Player of the Year nominee if they get Sergio Ramos in return.
But with Ramos set to sign a new deal at the Bernabeu and Los Blancos already signing Kiko Casilla as Iker Casillas’ replacement, suddenly the Red Devils have lost pretty much all of their leverage around the negotiating table – which is a huge issue, considering De Gea’s contract expires in a year’s time.
United are in a position where they can probably afford to lose De Gea on a free transfer; they’re one of the few clubs in world football who don’t have to worry about Financial Fair Play and thus many would argue another season with the world-class Spaniard between the sticks probably trumps the incentive of accepting a £30million bid from the European champions.
But at the same time, if United do want a return on the 24 year-old – let’s face it, allowing world class players leave on free transfers hardly makes financial sense or sends out a particularly positive message to the fan base – they’ve only got a month to broker a deal, with Real more than happy to wait until next summer.
Likewise, the Old Trafford outfit don’t have long left to find a viable replacement. Louis van Gaal has already revealed back-up goalkeeper Victor Valdes will be sold this summer after refusing to play for the reserves. Netherlands No.1 Jasper Cillessen has been strongly linked but many would prefer to see Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris between the Old Trafford sticks next season.