Pogba to United and Lukaku to Chelsea - has the world gone mad?

Paul Pogba has been linked with a return to Manchester United for the past three transfer windows, however it is only now that the rumours have gathered serious traction and a transfer bid of €100m looks imminent. Likewise Chelsea have been reported to have submitted a bid of around £60m to lure Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge. Obscene amounts of money for two players who were formerly of their respective bidding clubs.

At 23 years of age the Red Devils are paying for potential, a risky strategy that more often than not fails to bring the expected return. Manchester United have invested in potential before, Anthony Martial for £36m and in Cristiano Ronaldo for £12.24m which at the time was the most expensive teenager in English football history. Martial has shown glimpses of why United paid so much money for him while we already know the journey that Ronaldo went on. For other players it hasn't worked out, Bebe was signed for £7m despite Sir Alex Ferguson admitting that he had never seen the player play.

Not only are United embarking on a very ballsy plan, but is Pogba himself even committed to a return to Old Trafford? Earlier in the summer reports surfaced that the young French midfielder preferred a move to Champions League winners Real Madrid over a return to his old stomping ground. This jeopardised any move that Jose Mourinho wanted to make for the player, even after Zinedine Zidane cooled his interest in the player due to price tag yet the Manchester club seem undeterred.

With Pogba leaving United 4 years ago for less than £1m, the hit on Chelsea's bank balance will not be as great. Lukaku joined Everton permanently in Jose Mourinho's first season back in the English capital for a fee believed to be under £30m, now with a price tag of £60m, the sum of money does not look as bad.

Despite being labelled inconsistent, the Belgian striker has an impressive scoring record at such a young age, 119 club goals at just 23 years of age. Before their 23rd birthday, Thierry Henry had 57, Alan Shearer had 65, Luis Suarez had 77 and Cristiano Ronaldo had 97. It's very easy to see why Antonio Conte would be willing to pay such a high fee. A powerful and athletic player, it was rumoured that Lukaku would replace Diego Costa until the Spanish international's refuted those claims. No matter what team Lukaku plays in, he will score goals. 

Juventus splashed out €90m on Gonzalo Higuain to make him the most expensive South American footballer of all time while the transfer fee was the highest ever paid by an Italian team and also the highest of a player transferring within any domestic league. At 28 years of age, Juventus have got a player who is in his prime and will be likely to get at least 4 years out of the Argentine. Higuain seems a less risky piece of business and than the Pogba debacle, however transfer fees do not take a crippling injury into consideration.

Last season, Higuain fired Napoli to second position in the league, scoring 38 goals in the process. His goal record is incredible, scoring 121 goals in 264 matches for Real Madrid and 91 goals in 146 appearances for Napoli, whom he joined from the former in 2013. This transfer further strengthens the stronghold that the Old Lady has over her competition and the Scudetto title looks likely to be remaining in Turin for the foreseeable future.

I'm not the first person and certainly won't be the last to question whether clubs should be allowed to spend these sums of money. It creates a clear gap between the sides that can afford to splash the cash and those that don't have as much money in the bank, however Leicester proved that money was not everything last year. For me it strains the link between the supporters and the players and as a fan, I can find it hard to relate to any of the players on show.

Despite the Premier League becoming out of touch, transfer fees shouldn't necessarily be capped. Manchester United brought in £27.8m in broadcasting revenue, £65.8m in commercial revenue and also £29.8m in match-day revenue in the third quarter and nine months ended 31 March, equating to £123.4m. With the signing of Ibrahimovic ringing in £76m in shirt sales there is no doubt that United can afford to spend their cash lavishly.

The Paul Pogba deal has dragged on too long and most people are looking the saga to come to a swift end. Even if Pogba remains a Juve player, it is only a matter of time when the €100m mark will be broken.

Alexandre Pato - A New Hope?

I struggle to recount a player that has fallen off the scale as big as Alex Pato. Injuries during his stint at AC Milan thwarted him from fulling his potential as one of the most exciting prospects in world football, but now aged 26, could he be about to return to the big stage?

Rumours sparked at the start of the transfer window that the former wonder kid was on his way to the red side of Merseyside. Recently however, Pato has attracted some attention from Chelsea with various outlets describing the announcement as 'imminent'.

Milan signed Alexandre Pato from Brazilian side Internacional after he impressed in his first competitive season, scoring 6 goals in 11 matches. He scored within 60 seconds on his debut for the Brazilian side at just 17 years of age, meaning that he was touted as the next Ronaldinho after leaving the field that day to a standing ovation.

His first season in Italy was very good, especially for an 18 year old. He continued his tradition of debut goals and then went on to score another 10 in all competitions. In his early years, Pato was talked up and rightly so, as he had a lot of talent, it's a pity that the injuries wrecked his chances of really making the big jump. 

He featured in every game bar two in his second season, notching 18 goals in 42 games. He also formed one third of the famous trident that tortured Serie A defences for so long in the league. The 2009-2010 season saw him make less appearances, but still record a respectable 14 goals in all campaigns.

It was the 2010-2011 season when all started to unravel for Pato. He featured in 33 games in all competitions for Milan, suffering achilles and thigh problems, as well as being out for a short stint at the start of the season courtesy of a tear in the abductor muscle. He featured in even less the following season, just 18 times before being sold to Sao Paulo in January 2013.

In his first season back in Brazil he amassed 38 appearances, fighting his way back to full fitness, but never won over the fans at Corinthians and struggled to appear interested on the pitch. They cited his poor attitude as the reason they failed to relate to him and even the players found it hard to get on with him, considering his high weekly wage - the biggest in the club. Relations were not helped with his penalty miss in the 2013 Brazilian Cup quarter final loss to Gremio.

Currently, Corinthians cannot wait to get rid of the playmaker as they he is widely regarded as one of the clubs worst ever signings for the club. With the club financially unstable, getting their highest paid player off the wage bill would prove beneficial. Step forward potential suitors.

While Alex Pato will never reach the heights that were once touted of him, he is still only 26 and will be a useful player for Chelsea if they sign him. Playing in a wide role in his younger days, the injuries have affected his pace, so is normally deployed up front. He has the ability to play on the shoulder of the defence and will cause trouble for the players.

Joining Sao Paulo on loan, the Brazilian had a 2015 to remember with the goals returning in abundance. 23 to his name as Sao Paulo finished fourth in the Brasileriao and again 4th in the Paulista.

With Diego Costa as Chelsea's first choice striker and prone to the odd suspension, Alex Pato would be a player that Guus Hiddink could take a calculated risk upon. Radamel Falcao is struggling just as bad as he did last season at Old Trafford and Loic Remy could be soon departing Stamford Bridge. His price is currently a fuzzy area with various media outlets reporting that the £8m is required to buy his services while others believe that Corinthians are looking towards $20m.

It's hard to believe that Pato is still just 26 years of age, but to completely write the player off would be foolish. I tip the Brazilian to get back to where he was envisaged he'd be at this point in his career.

Chelsea Dominate in Israel

Chelsea stroll to a comfortable victory in Tel Aviv through goals from Gary Cahill, Willian, Oscar and Kurt Zouma. Chelsea dominated from start to finish and their task was made easier with the sending off of Tal Ben Haim shortly before half time.

Right from the first whistle, it was a fast paced game. The home side had a very good chance early on when a free header was directed over the goal. Jose Mourinho will be shocked at how easily it was for the Maccabi man to lose the central defenders.

With the home crowd on side, Maccabi looked dangerous on the counter attack. It was shocking how vulnerable Chelsea's back four looked when Tal Ben Haim (the striker) ran with the ball in the 5th minute. After 15 minutes Chelsea had got a foothold in the game and were controlling the possession. It was often made easier with Tel Aviv gifting the possession back to the English side.

Chelsea made the break through on 20 minutes with Gary Cahill pouncing on a rebound after his own header. The Maccabi keeper pulled off a magnificent save to prevent the former Bolton man from scoring the first time around as he tipped the header onto the post, but was helpless to prevent Cahill smashing in his first European goal since the tie against PSG last season.

Chelsea were very comfortable and there were plenty more goals in this for Mourinho's men. They regularly found space and Maccabi had to tighten up if they wanted to prevent a hammering. One thing that was noticeable about Chelsea's play was that they were not committing men into the box. They seemed more keen on trying to walk it into the back of the net and often succeeded only for the end product to not be there.

The game was effectively over when former Chelsea man Tal Ben Haim (the centre back) was dismissed after lashing out at Diego Costa. Initially it looked as if the referee had overreacted, but replays showed that the red card was correct. At half time, Chelsea were firmly on top and there were more goals definitely in this.

Maccabi Tel Aviv did expose some of Chelsea's defensive frailties with Hazard occasionally neglecting his defensive responsibilities. These chances were few and far between, but it would only take one chance to equalise. A second goal would take all of the momentum out of Maccabi and allow Chelsea to stroll to the final whistle.

Maccabi's Serbian U21 keeper made two terrific saves before Zahavi flashed a shot towards the goal only to draw a superb save from Asmir Begovic. Chelsea were living dangerously. A long ball counter attack once again undone Chelsea.

The game was sealed by that man Willian with 15 minutes left. Yet again the Brazilian stepped up with the goods with a superb free kick - his 6th free kick goal of the season. Chelsea had got the crucial vital goal to seal their win. The third goal followed shortly after with a Baba Rahman firing a cross across the box to be met by the head of Oscar for his first goal of the season.

Chelsea had a few more opportunities to increase their lead through Pedro Rodrigues, but it was Kurt Zouma who leapt highest to bullet a header towards goal and the keeper wasn't able to keep the ball out of the net. Willian was on form and guided Chelsea one step closer to knock out qualification.

Even Stevens in Ukraine

Chelsea leave Ukraine with a point after a competent defensive performance against a side who were average at best.

Willian went closest just after the break when a free kick rattled the cross bar, but neither side really looked liked they wanted to claim all three points.

It was evident from the start that Jose had set his Chelsea team up to not lose. A rigid formation,  full backs not looking to be adventurous and holding midfielders sitting and patrolling in front of the centre-halves. A typical Mourinho side when playing away from home in the Champions League. 

Willian and Cesc Fabregas had a few early opportunities, but it was Hazard who hit the post from the left. Replays showed that it was an excellent fingertip save from the Kyiv goal keeper. Vitaliy Buyalskiy had the first meaningful attempt for Kyiv but the shot was straight at Asmir Begovic.Chelsea had a penalty appeal turned down on 16 minutes when Cesc Fabregas drove into the box and seemed to fall over a lazy leg. While Savage and co persisted that it was a penalty all night long, it looked to me as if the Spaniard fell over too easily. 

Nemanja Matic had an excellent chance to give Chelsea the lead when his mazy run into the box left him with a great opportunity, but he poked it wide with his right foot. It was a run that warranted a better attempt than what was offered. Surely if he had taken the shot with the left then it would have made the attempt much easier than it already was? Buyalskiy had another shot on the turn that was sweetly struck and would have beaten Begovic if it weren't for a slight deflection.

In the first half, a pleasing feature for Mourinho was the pressing offered by the attacking players. It hassled and hurried the Kyiv players and they often won the ball back after a long ball by the keeper. Nevertheless it remained goalless at half time. Shortly after the break, Chelsea's dead ball demon struck an absolute peach of a free-kick that cracked the underside of the bar. Willian has a track record of set piece goals have already registered one against Maccabi Tel Aviv in round one.

Kyiv had more possession early in the second half but seemed reluctant to do anything with it. Neither side looked as if they wanted to go on and win the game leaving a draw as the likely outcome. Eden Hazard had a shot blocked from the edge of the area after a drag back from Willian. On the counter, it was a good opportunity with the Belgian unmarked, but equally good defending prevented a shot on target.

After a poor delivery from a set piece by Willian, Andriy Yarmolenko broke down the left flank. Beating Zouma, he found Artem Kravets with a reverse pass but his shot was parried by Begovic. Coveted by many European clubs, Yarmolenko wasn't able to really force himself on the game in the first half when he was against Cesar Azpilicueta. Now up against Zouma, usually a centre back, he started to get on the ball and excite the Ukrainian support.

The last 10 minutes of the game saw both sides come close. Yarmolenko had a ball that flashed across the area and Begovic clutched it into his arms at the second attempt despite a Chelsea player sliding in. The ball could have easily ended up in the back of the net. The last minutes smelt of desperation from the hosts. They failed to create any purposeful attacking moves on Chelsea throughout most of the game and when they realised there were only minutes left, Gary Cahill and John Terry were able to snuff out any potential dangers.

A point in Ukraine, a place that hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for English teams in the past, is definitely secretly pleasing for Jose. Like Kyiv, Chelsea failed to create anything from open play and set pieces were where they went closest. Nothing that this Ukrainian side offered will worry Chelsea as they welcome their hosts tonight to Stamford Bridge on 4th November. 

Dominant Performance as Chelsea Brush Maccabi to the Side

Goals from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and Fabregas help sweep Maccabi Tel Aviv to the side as Chelsea start their European campaign with three points.

Chelsea dominant the whole match and they made a strong start. Willian was sent through on goal and attempted to round the keeper but was brought down. Penalty Chelsea and it was a perfect chance to settle the nerves evident from the players and supporters. An out of form Eden Hazard stepped up and sent the ball into Row Z. A penalty can be the easiest form of gaining confidence, however missing one can destroy it.

Chelsea did open their European account this year through Willian in the 15th minute. The Brazilian international whipped a dangerous ball into the box and even though no player got a touch on it, the ball found its way into the back of the net. In the opening 20 minutes the goal scorer was probably Chelsea's brightest player. He was the only player willing to take the Maccabi defence on and he was able to beat them more often than not. Unfortunately for the Blues, he was subbed off before the 25 minute mark with a hamstring injury.

Maccabi Tel Aviv didn't create many goal scoring opportunities but they had a glorious one from a set piece free kick. It was a tremendous delivery and found the head of Eran Zahavi who failed to even hit the target. The Israeli really should have done better, if he had left it, there was a Maccabi player free and arguably with a better angle to head the ball. The Israeli champions didn't get many opportunities, so aspirations of coming away from Stamford Bridge with any points briskly died when they failed to capitalise.

On the stroke of half time, substitute Diego Costa was fouled in the box and another penalty was awarded by the German official. This time Oscar stepped up and cooly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner, showing Hazard how it should be done. Two goals up at half time and the West Londoners were coasting. For the second half Chelsea need to continue to starve the visitors of possession and keep piling on the pressure. It paid dividends when Chelsea pressed from the front as they received possession in the danger zone. More of this and as Maccabi Tel Aviv tire then more opportunities will arise.

The second half represented more of the same. Chelsea dominated and didn't really give their visitors a sniff of the ball. They eventually sealed the game up with a superb volley from just inside the box. It was a terrific piece of skill and something that he needed to do to get him off the mark for Chelsea in Europe. Chelsea were now content to keep the ball without making many more headways into scoring more goals. They were more concerned about preserving the clean sheet and who can blame them?

Despite this Chelsea were getting more opportunities through Baba Rahman and Hazard and it was only a matter of time before the fourth goal was scored, much to the testament of the Tel Aviv performance. Unpredictably, it did come and was on the counter. Chelsea broke with four against two and even though Loic Remy's shot was saved, Cesc Fabregas was on hand to finish the move. Chelsea were in cruise control for the remainder of the match, just the way Mourinho would have wanted ahead of welcoming Arsenal at the weekend. It was a case of job well done, but secretly they will be delighted with the result and performance.

It was the new boys that stole the light tonight and two of them in particular have stuck their hand up for inclusion against Arsenal. Baba Rahman was impressive down the left and looked a real threat as he got forward at every stage. The summer signing will be pleased with his debut and Jose will have no second thoughts about this signing so far. Similarly, Ruben Loftus-Cheek was instrumental for the 75 minutes that he was on the pitch. He was effective at breaking up the Maccabi as well as making surging runs forward from midfield. These runs caused problems for the defence and Mourinho must include him on Saturday afternoon, particularly with his midfielders being in such bad form.

Mourinho got the win he wanted but there will be concern shown to Willian who had to retire from the game prematurely despite being one of the best players on the pitch. Looking at the Arsenal game, Jose will have some decisions to make selection wise and will look to get one over the ol' enemy.

Season Prediction 2015/2016

We're exactly a month into the new season and with the transfer window closed, let me share my opinions on how the domestic season will unfold

Relegation Battle

Last season Sunderland looked a lost cause, but managed to scrape clear, picking up 12 points in their last 8 matches. Unfortunately for them, I cannot see them surviving another season. Admittedly, I do like their summer signing in Jeremain Lens who has a goal and 2 assists to his name this season.  Also up front is 32 year old Jermain Defoe who has 9 goals in over 20 appearances for the Black Cats. Defensively is the major issue. Although good positionally, John O'Shea is not the player he once was, as is Wes Brown and both will be done for pace if a player is able to get in behind.

Bournemouth were the fairytale story from the Championship last season and even though Eddie Howe spent his transfer window bringing in many new faces, I don't see this being enough to keep them in the league. Last season, Bournemouth were somewhat a surprise package having finished in mid-table of the Championship the season before. It may be a step too far for Howe's men, but they have already thrilled the Premier League with a decent performance against Liverpool and Callum Wilson's hat-trick against West Ham and will continue to do so.

Finally, Norwich will be fortunate to beat the drop. The Canaries bounced back from their relegation in 2013/2014 with a play off win to get them back into England's top league. Norwich have several key individuals, notably Nathan Redmond. The England U21 international has the potential to be a key man and if Norwich can get him firing then they would be in with a great chance of staying up.

Champions

Similar to last year, the title is there for Chelsea or City to take. Although they have made a stuttering start to the season, I do think Chelsea will triumph in this year's campaign. Up front Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao will rotate accordingly and provide an excellent attacking threat. Defensively however they have been frail this season. Neither John Terry or Gary Cahill have performed anywhere close to the last season. Simiarly Nemanja Matic was a defensive wall last year and was a vital component behind the title victory last season. Several games in, Matic has not offered any protection to the back four. Once Mourinho rectifies this, Chelsea will be able to launch their title charge.

Champions League

Manchester City have raided the market and acquired Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Niclas Otamendi, and Fabian Delph. All of a sudden they look twice was dangerous on the attack as they did last season. The only team with a 100% record, they started like a greyhound out of the blocks. If City do not topple Chelsea then they will come second, at least five points ahead of third position. Not only are they a force going forwards, but their defensive rock in Vincent Kompany has returned from a barren spell last season and is showing why he is so highly rated by football fans.

Manchester United and Louis Van Gaal have taken a lot of stick largely over the departures of their strikers and the purchase of Anthony Martial. I think United have a strong enough squad to improve on last season, even if it is only by one position. What will hinder them from launching a proper title challenge, is their weak numbers up front. If Rooney gets injured, then United will be seriously stuck.

I seriously think Arsenal were in with a chance of pushing for the title if Arsene Wenger had got his signings right. A lot of Gooners were filled with optimism when the purchase of Petr Cech was announced, thinking that if they sign another striker and holding midfielder, then they would be on set for a great season. They missed out on key players so I don't see them finishing any higher than fourth position.

Europa League

Currently sitting in 7th with two wins, a draw and a loss to their record. Last time out Liverpool were poor defensively, showing signs that their problems at the back have not been rectified. Before their 3-0 loss to West Ham, they kept three clean sheets, which suggests that West Ham may have just been an off day. With Benteke up front, most defences will have trouble dealing with him and if they can continue to keep clean sheets then 5th place looks a certainty and can look to pressurize Arsenal who look vulnerable at the minute. A win against United tomorrow would certainly help get the momentum going.

Last but not least, Spurs are hoping to compete a bit higher than the Europa League spots. Failing to get transfer target Saido Berahino on the last day of the transfer season, Tottenham will have to struggle through the first half of the season with Son Heung Min and Harry Kane as strikers with Emmanuel Adebayor unregistered and seemingly heading for the door. They have enough to get Europa League football, but need to strengthen if they are to challenge for a Champions League spot.

Race for Europe

The race for the remaining Europa League positions is very interesting. Normally it would be Everton and Spurs leading the chase, but this season they will have competition from West Ham and Swansea.

Looking at West Ham, this season presents a massive risk. Having got rid of Sam Allardyce after the last campaign, Slavan Bilic was announced as his successor with the though of reinventing the Hammers' style of play. Bilic has built a talented squad with the signatures of Dimitri Payet and Alex Song along with the crop of players already at the side. I look forward to watching this side as the season progresses.

Swansea City Football club has grown at the same rate of their manager. Already touted as Roy Hodgson's successor, Garry Monk has been working wonders in the south of Wales. The purchase of Andre Ayew is paying dividends already, winning the player of the month for August, and Bafetimbi Gomis is on course to be one of the Premier League's top marksmen come May. Not only do they have talent up front, Jonjo Shelvey is superb at pulling the strings from deep and Ashley Williams is a superb captain and defender.

Everton struggled to cope with the pressures of balancing Europa League football and their domestic campaign last season. This season however will be different. Roberto Martinez has recruited Gerard Delofeu back from Barcelona after exciting the Toffees two seasons ago. We all know of Romelu Lukaku's prowess in front of the goal, if Deulofeu can get the correct service to the Belgian then Everton will certainly be competing for Europa League positions.

Those are my predictions as to how the season unfold. Although several game weeks in, a lot can happen in the remaining matches. I'll endeavour to cover every team at least once as the season progresses as well as others from the continent. Don't hesitate to talk back to be on one of the various social media outlets below or else in the comments below.

Transfer Round Up #5

After a week away, I'm back to bring you 5 more transfers from across Europe. Feel free to leave your opinions on the transfers in the comments or via the various social media outlets.

Bastian Schweinsteiger – Bayern Munich to Manchester United - £14m

Louis Van Gaal strengthens his midfield with the signing of Bastian Schweinsteiger. Having missed 25 Bundesliga games in the last 2 seasons, I don’t see the German World Cup winner nailing down a first team spot, but infact rotating with Michael Carrick. I’ve stated for The Big Interest how this signing will not just benefit the side on the pitch, but alsoon the training ground as he will help all the youngsters as they grow. Schweinsteiger brings the winning mentality something which United have lacked since Fergie left. Making his debut off the bench on Saturday, the first movement the German did was to look up and see what was in front of him, more of which is needed for Manchester United. A very good signing for Manchester United.

Arturo Vidal – Juventus to Bayern Munich - £24m

Bayern Munich won the race for the much coveted Chilean international after several English sides were confirmed to be interested in signing Arturo Vidal. Although a different player to Schweinsteiger, he was almost signed as a replacement and will provide more energy in the midfield than Alonso or Lahm. He won 74 tackles in the Serie A last year, more than any other Juventus player and only Paul Pogba scored more goals from midfield. He was definitely the stand out player in the Juve midfield and it will be interesting to see how he fits in among the other world class midfielders at Bayern’s disposal

Filipe Luis – Chelsea to Atletico Madrid - £11.2m

After one year at Chelsea, Filipe Luis has returned to Atletico Madrid for £11.2m, £3m lower than what Chelsea paid for him. He was never able to dethrone Cesar Azpilicueta of that left back spot and has returned to his home to where he will almost certainly get more first team football. Even though first team football was sporadic, the Brazilian featured in 15 Premier League games and had a better tackles per minute ratio than any other Chelsea player. Two seasons ago, Luis was instrumental in Diego Simeone’s title winning side as well as their march to the Champions League final. A good move for all parties as Chelsea will free up some wages, first team football for the player and Atletico have signed a decent outfit at left back.

Falcao – AS Monaco to Chelsea – Loan

After a despondent season on loan at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho is taking a chance on Colombian Falcao. Only scoring 4 goals all season, Falcao was undoubtedly a flop for United last year but Mourinho is backing on last season only being an acclimatization year for the Colombian. The move sees him reunite with former Atletico team mate, Diego Costa, a partnership that scored 54 goals in the 2012/2013 season. I don’t think Mourinho will play two up front so it is likely that Falcao will play a rotational role with Costa. At 29 years of age, I’m not convinced Falcao will ever return to the heights of his time at Atletico, but he can get key goals for the club. Already thanking Chelsea for the warm welcome, I have a feeling this year could different for the Colombian.

Jackson Martinez – FC Porto to Atletico Madrid - £24m

Continuing with the Atletico theme, Simeone’s side have signed Jackson Martinez from Porto for £24m. Coined as a ‘selling side’ Porto certainly know how to get the most money out of their players. Scoring all 7 of his goals in the Champions League from inside the box, showing he is a real poacher. In the Portuguese league, he scored 67 goals in 89 appearances, impressive no matter what league it is scored in. Martinez is a powerful player and will flourish off the aggressive tactics of Diego Simeone. After selling Mario Mandzukic to Juventus, Martinez was acquired to add a physical presence to the attacking line. 

The signings of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arturo Vidal represents the best buys out of the five. Filipe Luis and Falcao will be looking to reunite their careers after poor spells last season while Jackson Martinez will be looking to bring his form for Porto to Atletico Madrid.

Transfer Target #15 - Aymeric Laporte

Transfer target number 15 is Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte. The Frenchman is a young and upcoming prospect and has already a list the length of your arm of potential suitors.

Picked up from Bayonne in 2010, Laporte is only the second ever Frenchman to play for the Basque club after Bixente Lizarazu. Laporte quickly established himself in the Bilbao first team and made 15 La Liga appearances as well as 2 appearances in the Europa League. At 19 years of age, Laporte continued his form and only missed 3 La Liga games in the 2013/2014 season, mostly down to suspension and regularly played the full 90 minutes.

Onto this season... The 21 year old continued to attract the attention of the big European clubs. He made 49 appearances and was inducted into Squawka's best under 21 XI. Laporte won 9 less duels than the much sought after Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid (196), who is said to be one of the leading defenders in La Liga.

Last campaign, Laporte registered the most interceptions in La Liga, however also registered 4 defensive errors, one of which led to a goal. Standing at 6 foot 2 inches, it was no surprise that he came out on top in more than two-thirds of his headed duels. Impressive statistics for a young man.

On the international scene, he is yet to receive his first call up to France side, but will be knocking on Didier Deschamps' door. He has represented his country at U17, U18, U19 and U21 level. He captained the U19 to the Euro final in 2013 only to lose to Serbia through a Lukovic strike. His U21's Euro campaign culminated in a qualifying play off defeat against eventual tournament winners, Sweden.

Having just signed a new 4 year contract with a €50m release clause at the San Mames Stadium, a transfer is looking inconceivable for another year at the least. Manchester United were rumoured in signing the young centre back, with former team-mate Ander Herrera being the convincer. I'm not convinced this is a player that United need at the back, as an experienced head would prove more beneficial.

It's not just the Manchester club that were rumoured to be interested in the Bilbao player, with AC Milan looking to bolster their defensive line. Similarly, Chelsea and Manchester City are supposedly interested, however no move will be made.

Aymeric Laporte is growing name inside European football, and will continue to grow now that he has signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao. Hopefully we will see him gracing the world stage at some point and I certainly would not bet against it.

Transfer Round Up #2

I'm back with another five transfers for you to take a look at. This one may be slightly tilted towards Liverpool, but I'd like to hear your opinions irrespective of your allegiance.

Petr Cech - Chelsea to Arsenal - £9.8m

I would say this deal is a massive step made by Arsene Wenger in restoring Arsenal to the heights of the early noughties. We all know of Cech’s capabilities and even at the age of 33, £9.8m is a steal. Cech has another 2-3 years at the top, but was never going to oust Thibaut Courtois of the Chelsea number 1 jersey. Edwin Van Der Sar signed for Manchester United at 34 years of age, and was able to muster 4 Premier League titles, 2 League Cups and a Champions League before retiring at the ripe old age of 40. There is gas left in the legs of Petr Cech yet, and don’t expect the trophies to dry up either.

Memphis Depay - PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United - £19.25m

The signature of Memphis Depay signals Louis Van Gaal’s first foray into the transfer market. At the fee of just under £20m, he is not coming cheap, but he will offer another creative outlet for United, who have been criticised in the past for not fashioning enough chances in recent times. Creating 60 chances in total last season, this was more than any other Manchester United player. Not only can he create, he can score also. With 22 league goals last campaign, he was the Eredivisie’s top goal scorer. United fans will be hoping that he can continue his tremendous form in Manchester.

Roberto Firmino - Hoffenheim to Liverpool - £28.7m

Over on Merseyside, Brendan Rodgers pipped United to the signature of Roberto Firmino. Almost £10m dearer than Depay, these pair will be constantly correlated to each other throughout the season and the first derby will be an interesting affair. The Brazilian will be a key player to Brendan Rodgers, as it looks as if Raheem Sterling will be on his way out of Anfield. Forgetting some horrendous misses recently, Firmino completed more take ons than Neymar, Isco and Arjen Robben and also completed the second most duels in the Bundesliga behind Stefan Kießling. Similarly, he created 9 more chances than Depay last season. Liverpool have acquired an extremely good player.

James Milner - Manchester City to Liverpool - free transfer

Sticking with the Liverpool theme, I view James Milner as one of the signings of the season. It was always going to be difficult to replace Steven Gerrard, and while James Milner may not, it is a good start. While Liverpool were making defensive errors left, right and centre last season, Milner didn’t record a single mishap last season. Milner publicly announced that we wanted to play in a central role, despite playing most of his football on the flanks for Manchester City as well as filling in a full back and making a very occasional appearance up front. This is an excellent signing, but it will be interesting to see if he plays in the deeper role that was vacated by Steven Gerrard in the summer.

Danny Ings - Burnley FC to Liverpool - free transfer

Last but definitely not least, Danny Ings completed his free transfer to Liverpool at the end of the season. It was no surprise that he was leaving for Liverpool and he will undoubtedly add a bit of competition to a front line that was misfiring last season. The Balotelli experiment has backfired, Lambert has not been given a chance and Sturridge has been injured, it’s another attempt to replace Sturridge. It’s not a marquee signing and it’s difficult to predict how well Ings will do when he is not the number one player in the side. A real ‘fox in the box’ so to speak, Ings scored all of his league goals inside the box but only won 22% of his headed duels. I’m not too sure how the former Burnley man will get on in Liverpool.

I've given you another five deals that have crossed the line this summer, please share your opinions with me or even suggest deals that I could look at.

All statistics taken from Squawka or Transfermarkt.

Season Review

Another English season draws to a close. Chelsea were crowned deserving champions, while QPR, Burnley and Hull face the disappointment of playing in the Championship next season. Let's look at the key performances that made this season so special.

The Champions

Chelsea record their fourth Premier League title and third under Jose Mourinho. Being honest, they were never really troubled in their victory with the competition dying in various stages of the league season. At the beginning of the season, Chelsea played some nice football to build up a bit of a lead. With Jose the master of defence, the title wrapped up once Mourinho deployed his conservative tactics. The whole Chelsea team did their bit this season. John Terry and Gary Cahill formed a formidable partnership at the back, while the void left by Frank Lampard was quickly forgotten with the signing of Cesc Fabregas. Nemenja Matic was the rock in the Chelsea midfield and played a vital role in Chelsea's success, the extra man in front of the defence repelled so many attacks, as well as launching some of his own.

The Runners up

Manchester City just weren't good enough when it mattered to challenge for the title, and at one stage, looked like it was possible that they were going to finish as low as fourth. City need a massive clear out of all the deadwood in the squad. Yaya Toure hasn't been the same player since the cake-gate scandal of 2014, and neither has Vincent Kompany. With an average age of 29, youth will be the starting point for the manager at City in the summer. While they do need to bring in players, splashing the money will not solve the void. Elaquim Mangala, Fernando are examples of money being spent poorly last summer while Stefen Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo were bought the season before but have sunk into the abyss through injuries and poor form. On loan at Valencia, I doubt Negredo will ever feature in a Manchester City shirt ever again, particularly with the arrival of Wilfried Bony in January. Now, City are in pursuit of Liverpool's Raheem Sterling in order to bring the average age down, among other young English hotshots.

Relegation

In my season preview, I tipped Aston Villa, Sunderland and Crystal Palace to make the drop, and I couldn't be further from the truth, with Palace breaking into the top 10. As for the unlucky contingent of Hull, QPR and Burnley, over the course of 38 games, they were the 3 teams that deserved to be relegated. Hull saw themselves hit 10th position at the end of October, but this took a turn for the worst and culminated in an 18th placed finish with 35 points. For Burnley, they were the favourites for the drop when the season commenced (except mine!) and they fulfilled everyone's prediction. As for QPR, they flirted with the danger zone for too long and were eventually sapped into a battle that they could not win. QPR where heavily reliant on Charlie Austin, who grabbed 18 goals - the fourth best in the league - which shows where the London side would be without their star man. Similarly, Burnley relied on the prowess of Danny Ings who netted 11 times this year. With Ings already sealing a move to Liverpool and Austin looking ever more likely to leave QPR, it could be a struggle to get back into the top tier of domestic football for both sides.

The Golden Boot

With 26 goals, Sergio Aguero leads the way for the first time since his arrival in England. Even with missing the majority of December due to a ligament injury, Aguero was able to help Manchester City secure their 2nd place spot. English protege, Harry Kane, came in behind with 21 goals, which isn't a bad way to introduce yourself to the English nation. A roaring start sent the young Spurs man on his way and he collected a staggering 12 goals in the winter months as his performances help secure notable wins over Chelsea and Arsenal. Diego Costa achieved third place despite only featuring in 26 games. We know Costa is a goal scorer, so when he features for a whole season, it'll be scary to see what the adopted Spaniard can do.

The Race for Europe

Arsenal and Manchester United completed the top 4, leaving Tottenham, Liverpool and Southampton to content with the Europa League. Arsenal finally broke their duck of being unable to break into the top 4, with thanks to world class performances from Alexis Sanchez. I've always said that if Arsene gets his summer signings spot on, then the team from North London could be in for a very special year. United achieved their goals, nothing more but nothing less. After spending £150m in the summer, a fourth spot was the bare minimum in terms of expectations. The wait for Champions League football continues for a another year at White Hart Lane. It will be an interesting summer for Mauricio Pochettino as he aims to clear out the deadwood in the Spurs squad. Liverpool endured a testing spell after selling their superstar for £80m last season and will be glad that this is over. Having already dabbled in the transfer market to buy Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan, James Milner and Joe Gomez, Brendan Rodgers needs to have his signings spot on,

Notable Mentions

I purposely didn't mention Southampton under the previous heading as I want to focus on them now. Having sold key individuals last summer, many tipped them to struggle, with some thinking they will be doing well to survive relegation. Ronald Koeman took over as manager, and his signings have secured a memorable season for the southern side. Sitting inside the top 5 for a large chunk of the season, they surprised many people and fully deserve their season in Europe next year,

Both Swansea and Stoke achieved their highest position in the Premier League, finishing 8th and 9th respectively. Garry Monk is quietly building a strong squad off the back of the sale of Wilfried Bony for £28m. This year, Swansea became the first ever side to record away wins at both Manchester United and Arsenal in the same season. Having represented Swansea in 4 tiers of the English leagues, and also as a manager in the Premier League, Monk's regard for the club cannot be questioned, as he aims to push on for European spots in the next seasons.

A similar story is shaped at Stoke by Mark Hughes. His work at the Potters has largely gone under the radar. Largely inconsistent in the opening stages of the season, they recorded just one win in the month of November and also went on a 3 game losing streak at the end of March. Hughes has been shrewd in the transfer market and has acquired talent through former Barcelona man Bojan Krkic, who delivered performances until he ruptured his cruciate ligament against QPR and ruled him out for the rest of the season. Like Monk, Hughes is building a squad and will hope to maintain performances having sealed another 3 year contract at the start of the calendar year.

It has been a very intriguing year with many talking points occuring. Chelsea rule victorious while QPR get the wooden spoon along with Burnley and Hull. We can only hope for more thrills and spills to this calibre in the incoming season.

The Transformation of PSG

A stunning, disciplined performance from 10 man PSG ensured a confident victory over Chelsea in the Champions League last 16. The game was not without its controversial moments, including the red card to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a penalty shout for Diego Costa in the first half. However, the thing I found most commendable was the transformation that has taken place since the New Year.

Before Christmas, rumours of a fractured dressing room in the French capital appeared, with strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani in the thick of it. A disagreement between the pair saw, queries over the future of Cavani at the club and the future of Laurent Blanc as manager. I remember seeing one clip in particular where Ibra was in a 2 on 1 with Cavani against a defender with a simple pass to the side would have allowed Cavani to have an unchallenged shot at goal, instead, he didn't pass and the move broke down. The look of disgust on the Uruguayan's face was unforgettable.

It is worth noting that the Parisians did not lose a game until the Champions League away match against Barcelona in December and the next loss followed suit against Guingamp 4 days later. However numerous draws halted their climb up the Ligue 1 table. During the month of September they recorded just 2 wins and 4 draws, not good by the high standards set at the club. December was another bad month, as they only picked up 8 points out of a possible 18 in all competitions. Worse was yet to come.

The January game against Bastia is probably the lowest point of the season to date. PSG raced into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes through goals from Lucas Moura and Adrien Rabiot and were entirely commanding in the opening exchanges. There is only one explanation as to why they conceded 4 unanswered goals. Complacency. PSG had by far the superior starting 11 on paper, but gifting them 2 goals gave them the momentum and then it was very hard for the Parisians to get back to the top. 

The Christmas period was particularly difficult as fresh rumours of discontent rumbled in the air. Again Cavani was in the middle of it. Both him and fellow countryman Ezequiel Lavezzi were suspended internally for 2 games after they failed to report back to the training camp in Morocco after a week off. The dressing room was divided with some players jealous at the privileges others got. Players that were out of form seemed undroppable leaving those on the bench irritated and confused. Laurent Blanc had his hands full of many problems in the French capital. 

What happened last night against Chelsea and can Blanc carry this on into the closing stages of the season?

To start with, no one can deny that Chelsea were diabolical, and this would have made it a whole lot easier for Blanc's men even if they were down to 10 men for 90 minutes of the match. Blanc hit the nail on the head with the tactics and was able to take advantage of PSG's unknown superiority at set pieces. It was nothing less than what they deserved.

Looking at the controversial incidents during the match, the challenge from Ibra looked like a leg breaker but it was a 50/50 challenge with both players having a keen intent on going for the ball. It's easy to criticise the referee, but it's occasions like this where they would benefit greatly from the introduction of a television match official or 'TMO'. It is also simple to condemn the despicable Chelsea players from surrounding the ref, but it's commonplace in today's game - not that it makes it acceptable.

Diego Costa was a constant liability during the game and it amazes me as to how he was never sent off, but he had a 'stonewall' penalty appeal refuted as some would say. It was terrific skill from the ex Brazilian but it was quite clear he never had any intention of getting a shot away. There was contact but it needs to be emphasised that not all contact is considered a foul. If it was, then I would go to write about chess or something daft like that. Costa has got a tremendous amount of ability, but his temperament can cost his team.

Looking at PSG themselves, they knew all their roles. Marco Verratti was at his niggly best, Javier Pastore ran himself into the ground and Sirigu produced several fine saves to keep the Parisians in the tie. It was written in the script for David Luiz to score against his former club last night, following suit with Klass-Jan Huntelaar the night before and Danny Welbeck on Monday. As much as we all like to abuse him for his distinct lack of defensive qualities and just being an all round shambolic defender, Luiz does try his best. That statement may seem like a bit of a cop-out, but he showed a tremendous amount of passion, unlike a few others on the pitch and looking back on it, did so through out the World Cup.

PSG put in a professional performance last night, similar to Chelsea's against Barcelona in 2012. The task for Laurent Blanc will be to keep his players singing from the same hymn book and they definitely topple Lyon at the top of Ligue 1. As for the Champions League, it is probably a bit further in the distance yet. Managing a dressing room packed with egos is difficult, but I take confidence from the victory of Stamford Bridge that Blanc is the right man to lead them to glory.

Capital One Cup Final 2015

The first competitive piece of silverware in the New Year is up for grabs on Sunday as Tottenham take on the high flying side of Chelsea.

While the Capital One Cup may not mean much for many people, both Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to for their first silverware of the season. Mourinho has not won a trophy in his second spell as Chelsea manager, and Pochettino will be looking to win Tottenham's first trophy since the 2008 League Cup campaign. Both teams will be quietly confident going into this match and have a lot to prove.

An added incentive is that both sides were knocked out of the FA Cup in the early stages. Chelsea will be looking to win this trophy as a small consolation for being royally dumped out in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Mourinho came under criticism for not offering the appropriate value to the trophy by fielding a second-string side. He will certainly not show Spurs a lack of respect.

Similarly, Spurs were stunned by a 90th minute Schlupp winner for Leicester City in the FA Cup. Like this competition, it was earmarked as one that they had the potential to win and to not make it past the 4th round will be a major disappointment. Other than that, Spurs are having a decent season, particularly after a stuttering start in the league. This trophy would give Daniel Levy and the fans the much needed confidence in their manager.

Route to the Final
Chelsea's 3rd round tie saw Kurt Zouma net on his debut while Oscar scored the winner to secure an unconvincing victory over Bolton Wanderers. As for Spurs, they recovered a goal deficit to win 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest thanks to Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and Robert Soldado. An 81st minute own-goal was enough to break Shrewsbury hearts and send Chelsea through in the fifth round, while Spurs coasted past Brighton by two goals. A stylish performance from Spurs obliterated Newcastle in the quarter finals with Bentaleb, Chadli, Soldado and Kane all registering on the score sheet. Likewise, a confident performance from the Blues as they brushed Derby to the side and moved on to a semi final clash with Liverpool.

In the semi finals, both Chelsea and Tottenham faced scary situations. Spurs had a considerably easier tie on paper, facing Sheffield United but scraped through 3-2 on aggregate. Spurs took a slim 1-0 lead into the second leg after an Andros Townsend penalty inside the last 20 minutes. At Bramall Lane, Spurs looked comfortable and a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Christian Erikson, at halftime was deserved. Things got hairy in the last 15 minutes when 2 Che Adams goals sparked a comeback from United. As he has done so much this season, Erikson saved Spurs' blushes with an 88th minute goal to send the North London side to Wembley.

A tactical master-class from the 'Special One' secured Chelsea's appearance at Wembley. A 1-1 first leg draw at Anfield gave Chelsea the away goal that would prove beneficial if the tie went to extra time. Sterling's second half equaliser cancelled out Eden Hazard's 18th minute penalty. The second leg was an interesting affair. Chelsea edged the possession stats, but there was nothing to separate the sides. Scoreless after 90 minutes saw Liverpool having to score a goal to prevent exiting on away goals but it was Branislav Ivanovic who rose highest to nod in a Willian free kick and send Liverpool packing and ensure Mourinho's men booked a final clash against London rivals Tottenham.

My Prediction
Chelsea will be without Nemanja Matic for the final after his sending off against Burnley at the weekend. Remembering back to the New Years' Day fixture between the sides, Chelsea missed Matic's presence in the middle of the park and went on to lose 5-3 at White Hart Lane. It would be very bizarre if Mourinho was to prepare for this encounter by not using the events that occurred in January. It would be likely for John Obi Mikel to fill this role, with Fabregas alongside him. The threat posed by Harry Kane will need to be neutralised, particularly as he netted two goals that day and has been in great form this season. He can turn a match on it's head in a moment so Terry and co. will need to be aware throughout the game.

As for Spurs, it's obvious that Diego Costa and Eden Hazard will be the threat to watch out for. Hazard has created 8 goals this season, and finishing 11 of his own in all competitions. As for Costa, he has had a terrific debut season at the Bridge, scoring 17 goals to aid Chelsea's cause. Both scored a goal apiece the last time the sides met, so Spurs will know that they need special attention. Newbie Juan Cuadrado is a speed merchant who will pose problems for defenders. It will be an interesting battle between Kyle Walker and Cuadrado, if they play, to see who will come out on top. Although he is not your stereotypical fullback, Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the best right backs in world. He can defend but also whip a mean delivery into the box and is probably one of Chelsea's most underrated players.

This match is difficult to predict as both sides will be gunning for the win. It's easy to side with Chelsea as they have the players and a world class manager, however Spurs possess a youngster in top form. Chelsea will definitely repair the mistakes made in the last encounter. I'm going to sit on the fence and say that the match going to penalties with Chelsea edging out their London opponents. It will be a cracking final.

Anything Can Happen In The Cup

The FA Cup is undoubtedly the greatest domestic cup competition in the world. No other competition comes remotely close to the dreams that this remarkable tournament creates and the memories entwined into the history of English Football. The weekend past epitomised everything that the FA Cup stands for. 'Anything can happen in the cup' is a well known and over used cliche yet it's a one that is so true and was evident over the weekend. Cambridge, Bolton, Bradford and Middlesborough certainly ruined many accumulators this weekend, but dished out the dough to the courageous few.

But first we rewind back to the 1988 cup where the 'Crazy Gang' or Wimbledon had a spectacular cup run which eventually culminated in lifting the cup against clear favourites Liverpool. The FA Cup is about giving lower teams the opportunity to humble some of England's elite. The single games attempt to keep a level playing field, and the big teams know that if they take the foot off the gas, then they will be punished by the passion, will to win and aggression of their opposition. Not only does it offer the chance of a life time for players, but it will also bring in a decent amount of revenue to please the owners.

The weekend past proved that the FA Cup is magical. Louis Van Gaal took his Manchester United side to the Abbey Stadium to face Richard Money's Cambridge United. The fact that Manchester United towered 76 places above the League Two side, did not deter Money's players from delivering a performance of the highest quality. The discipline showed by the home side was second to none and they prevented the 13 times Premier League winners from scoring. They did pose a threat to the unsteady defence of the Red Devils through the pace of Sullay Kaikai and Ryan Donaldson on the wings. At the same time, the absence of Wayne Rooney was felt. His creative spark could have been the linchpin to unlock the defence, as Falcao and Wilson were feeding off scraps. When Chris Foy blew the final whistle, you knew what it meant by the emotion on the faces of the players and crowd alike. Cambridge deserve their moment at Old Trafford, and will certainly throw the kitchen sink at it and enjoy the occasion regardless of the result.

When news filtered around England that Manchester United had only drawn, many expected that to be the fairytale story of the weekend. The drama was only beginning. League One side Bradford are no strangers to the tag of underdogs and don't seem to pay much attention to the script, after their Capital One Cup exploits of 2012/2013, where they knocked out Arsenal, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa on their route to the final. Jose Mourinho fielded a team that contained only 3 regular starters - Azpilicueta, Oscar and Cahill - which could be one of the causes for a lacklustre and faltering performance. Chelsea opened a 2 goal lead inside 38 minutes and even though they look infallible at the Bridge, the wheels came off the wagon and they leaked 3 second half goals to lose 4-2. It has been dubbed as one of the great FA Cup come backs and rightly so. I was listening to the game on 5Live and when Ramires netted the second Blues' goal, was fearing the worst for the Bantams. Memories of 2013 will creep back into the minds of the players and fans and rightly so. They deserve another cup run after that performance. 

Middlesborough were the next lower division side to throw the script out of the window with their quality performance at the Etihad. Unlike Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini fielded much of his first team with Cabellero, Boyata and Kolarov the exceptions. With 65% possession and 8/24 shots on target, City were dominant but unable to capitalise, handing Boro the initiative to grab the winner through loanee Patrick Bamford. Tomas Mejias was in top form, and played a significant part in the silencing of the Etihad faithful and sending Middlesborough into the fifth round. With City pushing players forward in pursuit of an equaliser, gaps at the back were inevitably left and Albert Adomah burst forward and found Bamford before the ball broke kindly to Kike who tucked it in the back of the net to safely secure Boro's passage through to the next round.

I haven't even touched Liverpool's draw at home to Bolton - who had a combined age of 73 years up front. With a few teams from the top half of the Premier League already out, teams such as Middlesborough may fancy themselves stretching the cup run on for a few rounds yet. Arsenal are favourites, followed by Man United and Liverpool with West Ham in fourth. Even though my team did not win, it's moments like these that make me cherish the FA Cup. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest domestic cup competition on planet earth.