West Brom Boss Steve Clarke has revealed he hopes to bring in “three or four” new faces during the summer to bolster his West Brom side.
The Baggies boss is keen to do his business as early as possible in the summer in order to ensure his team have the best possible preparation for the 2013/14 campaign and warned any potential suitors that his current stars will command hefty fees.
Clark feels three or four additions will allow West Brom to progress next season, but didn’t give any indication regarding the areas he hopes to strengthen.
Clarke told the Birmingham Mail: “It’s difficult to speculate how many players will come because you don’t know how many clubs are going to try to take some of your players.
“At the moment, looking at the squad, if we were to bring in three or four that would be enough – but things can change.
“Our players aren’t going to be cheap. I don’t think anyone would be wise to come for any of our players because they will cost a fortune.”
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He added: “In an ideal world we’d get early signings. The early signing last summer was Ben Foster and the other ones came in over the course of pre-season.”
With the summer transfer window fast-approaching, many football fans will be deliberating over who their club should swoop for.
Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been doing just that on social media, and for once the focus is away from current players who could be on their way out of the club.
The futures of Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele have been major talking points among the fans over the last few months.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino will want his strongest possible team heading into the new season, particularly as they will be competing at the club’s new state-of-the-art stadium.
This season, the North London outfit have been unable to sustain a Premier League title challenge due to Manchester City blowing everyone out of the water.
However, the club are closing in on a top-four position as they currently occupy the final Champions League spot with a seven-point advantage.
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The team also have an opportunity to win silverware for the first time since the 2007-08 season as they remain in the FA Cup, with a semi-final clash against Manchester United on the horizon.
On Reddit, fans have been discussing who from outside of the top six clubs would they like Tottenham to sign this summer, and an array of players were thrown into the pot, some even from the Championship.
Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.Comment from discussion If you could sign anyone outside of the top 6 at Spurs, who would it be and why?.
Manchester City have sunk from title winners into a squad fighting just to hold onto fourth place in recent months. The Citizens started their campaign strongly, pushing league leaders Chelsea every step of the way, but with key players now underperforming City have quickly seen their fortunes take a turn for the worse.
Manchester United, though, have seen a drastic improvement in all areas of their game, particularly when going forward.
United have won six or their last seven matches and have only lost six times all season. It took longer than expected fort manager Louis van Gaal to turn the squad into top four contenders but, true to his word, the Dutchman has done just that. And now there are only a handful of games between them and Champions League football.
Van Gaal’s men have been steadily picking up points all season but that has at times been down to the heroics of goal keeper David De Gea. When United were shaky at the back or not prolific enough up front, the Spaniard ensured that his team went away from the match with at least a point.
But in the last couple of weeks the Red Devils have organised their back line to be capable of dealing with even the most dangerous of forwards, cutting them off before they can do any real damage.
Then there is the attacking midfield trio of Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata, which has been United’s most successful grouping. Even expensive new signing Angel di Maria has had a tough time breaking back into the hugely confident squad. Together with Wayne Rooney excelling up front, United have become one of the best teams when going forward.
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Keeping their best XI injury free and performing as a cohesive unit has shot United up the table and once again clubs are beginning to fear playing them, something unknown since the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Where Van Gaal knows his best squad, City’s Pellegrini now appears unsure. Key players who were vital for them last season could now be on their way out of the Etihad this summer. The powerful Ivorian Yaya Toure has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, as has Steven Jovetic, and Samir Nasri is reportedly on Juventus’ radar.
All three have underperformed, so perhaps they wouldn’t be greatly missed. But the worry is that lack of Champions League football next year may tempt their better players like Sergio Aguero and James Milner to go elsewhere.
The situation has declined so rapidly that even Pellegrini, just 12 months after leading City to their second Premier League title, may not have his job for much longer. Several replacements have been mentioned, such as Napoli’s Rafa Benitez and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp who has recently announced that he will indeed be leaving theBundesliga outfit in the summer.
City may look very different with a batch of new players and a new man in charge next season. United, on the other hand, look likely to stick with Van Gaal and are only in the market for a few key additions to help boost their return to the top four.
If City fail to handle the next few months correctly they may find themselves unable to compete successfully next season, and therefore potentially forfeiting their top four position.
They are a club in transition in a league that takes no prisoners. United went through it last year when they changed managers and ended up in seventh, but after a few good decisions and patience from supporters, the club are back to where they belong climbing the table and turning Manchester red once again.
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Tonight’s clash between European powerhouses in Paris will not disappoint international football fans. Prestigious teams rarely compete in qualifying matches of such a high magnitude. With Spain in danger of missing out on automatic qualifying, Les Bleus hope to widen their 2-point lead over the reigning World Cup and European Champions.
French manager Didier Deschamps plans to take advantage of Spain’s possession style and capitalise on counter-attacking opportunities. Deschamps told the Daily Mail, “We will have to use the ball well when we have it; we will have to force them to defend.”
The manager went on to say fighting for possession against Spain is “useless.” He will count on veteran defender Patrice Evra, who was an unused substitute in Friday’s match against Georgia, to limit Spain’s scoring opportunities. The Manchester United defender will help French captain and Tottenham Hotspur Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris keep Spain’s attack uncharacteristically quiet.
Spain will enter the Stade de France unusually uneasy. The teams had quite different results on Friday. While Spain only managed to pick up one point in a disappointing home draw against Finland, France dominated Georgia 3-1. Combined with home advantage, French fans believe current their hot streak could lead to the end of Spain’s current unbeaten run.
Also, Spain will be without Jordi Alba and David Silva. Nacho Monreal is expected to fill in at left back. He will be part of a back line faced with the daunting task of slowing down his Arsenal teammate Olivier Giroud or Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Although Giroud has been in rough form during recent Premier League appearances, the Frenchman played a critical role in Spain’s last match against France. In October, his 94th minute equaliser earned France one all-important point during their away leg of this tie. The striker also netted France’s first goal against Georgia on Friday.
Deschampes alluded that Giroud’s aerial attack would be valuable late in the match to take advantage of a tired Spanish defence. The Daily Mail quoted the manager saying, “He has that ability, and that’s a weapon I can obviously use at any time.”
Spain hope to gain freshness with the addition of Xavi and Xabi Alonso, who were out with injuries during the Finland match. Both midfielders have been seen training and should be fit for Tuesday night.
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Don’t miss out on the opportunity to watch this amazing match. It will be streaming live here at 8 pm…
Everton have been named as one of a number clubs interested in signing Watford’s Richarlison, and fans aren’t all that pleased with the links to the tricky Brazilian.
According to Sky Sports, Everton will battle Manchester United and Chelsea to sign Richarlison this summer.
The young Brazilian got his Premier League career off to a red hot start with Watford, grabbing five goals and four assists in the early part of the season.
His form has trailed off massively since Marco Silva left the club though, and it is noticeable that he has not been happy since the departure of the charismatic Portuguese manager.
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Tottenham are always on the lookout for more attacking depth to add to their array of flair and talent, and the 20 year-old’s work ethic and defensive capabilities would certainly make him a good fit at Old Trafford.
However, he would get more playing time at Goodison than at a top four club, and could become a fan favourite if he found his form again.
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That said, fans don’t seem all that impressed by the links, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Steven Gerrard’s career has been punctuated by huge moments. His final duel with his club’s great adversary, Manchester United, lasted only 38 seconds. This moment, one of sheer madness, may have cost his beloved Liverpool, Champions League football.
Is it fair to place the blame on the shoulders that have carried the club for so long?
Rodgers no doubt needed his captain against Manchester United, for all of their good form going into the game; United had quietened the Anfield crowd; he needed his inspirational leader to reawaken the Kop.
Those 38 seconds will be broken down for years to come. But here they are again…..He comes onto the pitch to rapturous applause, sporting his traditional armband, one that he had, rightly or wrongly, took from Henderson. His first involvement was a trademark cross field ball, his second, a thunderous tackle on Juan Mata, his third, a petulant and pathetic stamp on Ander Herrera.
Three moments, the crowd were certainly no longer silent.
For all of Liverpool’s first half struggles, they were still in the game. Only one goal behind, after arguably their worst half of league football for a while.
His red card allowed United more time on the ball, allowing the mercurial Mata his moment. His exceptional bicycle kick was the clincher in this clash that will go a long way to deciding the top four places.
Ironically, Liverpool’s season had arguably turned due to Gerrard’s absence, the Henderson-led Liverpool had put together a superb run of form, a run of form that had allowed them to be on the brink of a European place. Something that seemed a distant memory, during the turbulent opening months of the season.
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Unfortunately for Rodgers and Liverpool, the narrative has already been written for their season. Gerrard’s early season announcement of his move to Hollywood, has meant that every event is now a ‘last.’ Imagine the furore should the manager have not put his club captain on the pitch at all yesterday.
His farewell tour has been reduced following his brainless red card. He will now miss the FA Cup replay against Blackburn and the fairytale ending at Wembley is now out of his hands.
With Man United now opening up a five point gap on their rivals, it is difficult to see Liverpool overhauling them. In positive news for fans on the Kop, Gerrard’s absence may turn out to be a huge positive, as they have already shown, this side doesn’t depend on their captain, it in fact flourishes.
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Gerrard was happy to take the blame for yesterday’s loss in his post-match interview, one that lasted substantially longer than his performance on the pitch. There is little doubt he could be blamed for yesterday. He could also be blamed for a lot more, in a season defining match, he let his team mates, his fans and his club down.
For all the good he has done for the club, for all of the moments he has had for his beloved club, his ‘last’ iconic image in a Red shirt could be him solemnly walking down the tunnel.
Norwich are preparing a summer swoop for Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, according to reports from talkSPORT.
The Canaries, who are now nine points clear of the relegation zone, have struggled for goals all season, notching just 27 in the Premier League, a tally only QPR have failed to match.
Despite bringing in Luciano Becchio from Leeds and Kei Kamara on loan from Sporting Kansas City in January, manager Chris Hughton is still believed to be keen to draft in attacking options.
He has highlighted van Wolfswinkel as his main target, with Sporting currently in a state of financial turmoil.
The Portuguese giants have mounting debt problems, which has led to speculation that they could be forced to sell a number of their star men this summer just to stay afloat.
As one of their most valuable assets, van Wolfswinkel could be one of the first out of the door, and Norwich are said to be willing to spend £10m to bring him to Carrow Road.
The 24-year-old was linked with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham prior to his move to Lisbon from Utrecht, after an impressive spell in the Eredivisie.
With 22 goals since the start of last term, the Dutchman has also been a success with Sporting, alerting clubs from across Europe.
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But, as long as they avoid relegation, Norwich are confident they can lure him to East Anglia, with first-team football all but guaranteed in a yellow shirt.
Jose Mourinho is likely to rely on a strong defensive performance from Manchester United to prevent bitter rivals City winning the Premier League title earlier than any team has ever clinched it before.
Liverpool might have rattled the champions-elect with an energetic performance of pressing and clincial finishing but the former Real Madrid manager – who enjoyed many a battle with Pep Guardiola during the pair’s time in La Liga – is more likely to try to spoil the party by parking the bus.
A conservative approach is United’s big-game tactic on the road against the big teams but it is one that has only brought one win in nine trips to face their fellow members of the top six so far under Mourinho.
Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof got the nod last time out against Swansea but it will be a different kettle of fish up against a City side still smarting from their Anfield rattling.
That’s why we asked you whether Eric Bailly – valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt – should return to the United backline and the response was as overwhelming as it can be. 100 per cent of United fans want the Ivorian to be reintroduced in central defence for the 176th Manchester derby.
Although it’s very much the same story every January, Arsenal look set to make some moves in the transfer window before the deadline passes. While it’s usually late or underwhelming loan deals – Kim Kallstrom is a prime example – Arsene Wenger looks, this time, to be after proven quality to boost his side’s top four chances. The Metro claim that one of the players the Frenchman wants before the month is out is Ilkay Gundogan, whom Dortmund are reportedly looking to sell for offers of around £15.6m.
So, does this potential deal for Arsenal make sense… here are FIVE reasons we think it does.
Good fee
£15.6m for one of Europe’s most highly-rated holding midfielders? Good deal, that! Arsenal have been linked with a host of stars to solve their central woes, yet the likes of William Carvalho, another mooted target, will cost far more. Gundogan has won all of the major prizes on offer in German football with BVB, has featured, and scored in, a Champions League Final and has represented Germany at senior level – for whom he would surely have been a World Cup winner last year had injury not blocked his route to Brazil. Bargain.
Better than Wenger’s current options
We all know that defensive midfield is a major issue for Wenger. The Frenchman has a few options in the role, but none of his trio of genuine holders are of the quality needed for a push for the title. With the stats of Gundogan crunched against Mathieu Flamini, Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta, the German, despite coming back from injury, comes out on top in may key areas. The 24-year-old boasts the most chances created, the best shot accuracy and the greatest average pass length, while his pass completion percentage (85%) ranks respectively given his greater level of attacking intent.
Defensive midfield a worry
As mentioned before, the holding role has been a major issue for Arsenal for some time. The Gunners are known for their ‘soft underbelly’, which has been ruthlessly exposed in the biggest games – think Liverpool’s 5-1 demolition job at Anfield last season. A ‘Claude Makelele’ is not ever going to be viable in a Wenger set-up, yet Gundogan offers defensive resilience and attacking flair, making him a long-term successor for Arteta.
A ‘Wenger player’
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As touched on in the last point, Gundogan is very much a player Wenger will appreciate. The Frenchman enjoys slick passing and neat movement, which the German ace brings in spades.
Slotting in alongside Jack Wilshere, Gundogan could add yet more creativity to the Gunners’ engine room, while his tendency to sit a little deeper will also help to shield the club’s backline in the biggest games.
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Still young
Even though Gundogan has endured an injury-disturbed two years, he’s still very much a young player. At 24, he has a good few years before entering his peak, and so long as he can be kept injury free, the future looks bright. He could also become a part of Arsenal’s future, alongside the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey.
Football has come under a lot of scrutiny in recent weeks, with the Let’s Kick Ballboys Out of Football campaign gathering momentum in the Capital One Cup.But as the game’s reputation is dragged through the mud, it’s nice to see a tender moment between two players at the top of their game. While Anglo-Welsh relations appeared strained as Swansea clashed with Chelsea midweek, it’sÂheart-warmingÂto witness England star Tom Cleverley helping Welsh wizard Gareth BaleÂup after the latter had a bit of a run in with some advertising boards, but can you come up with a caption for this image?
This week you can win a copy of Football Manager 2013!
Football Manager is the best-selling, most realistic football management series ever made. Football Manager 2013 celebrates 20 years of games from the people at Sports Interactive by introducing an array of new features.
This year’s version allows you to take control of anyÂclubÂin more than 50 nations across the world and includes all of Europe’s biggest leagues as well as database of over 500,000 real-world players and staff.
As well as some landmark new features in the Career Mode, there are now new ways to enjoy your Football Manager experience.
Fancy winning a copy of Football Manager 2013?
To enter you simply have to FOLLOW @FootballFanCast and Tweet your caption including the hashtag #RealOpinions
See our example below…
For the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and ConditionsÂclick here
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Check out ourÂCaption Competition GalleryÂfor some inspiration and to see theÂwinnersÂso far.
Last week’s winner:ÂTom Case HardcourtÂ-Âclick here to see all entries