Liverpool eye Kiko Casilla

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Oct 14, 2014

Liverpool are now closely monitoring Espanyol goalkeeper, Kiko Casilla, as their hunt for a new shot-stopper intensifies.

Despite reports of Victor Valdes turning down a trial being dismissed by his agent, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, is still exploring other options as he looks to sign a suitable ‘keeper to give current number-one, Simon Mignolet, some real competition.

According to Spanish media, Rodgers has turned his attentions to Casilla from Espanyol and could go through with a move in January, unless he continues to try and lure Valdes to the club, who is currently a free agent after he left FC Barcelona in the Summer.

However, there are still fears over Valdes’ fitness levels after he sustained a serious knee injury at the beginning of the year, and that is one of the reasons Rodgers is thinking about other targets.

The 28-year-old La Liga shot-stopper has become one of the top performers in the league, with Real Madrid once linked with him, and it’s believed that an £8million offer would be enough for the Spanish club to accept.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Chelsea to offer player-swap deal for Sami Khedira

By

Alex Batt

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Oct 14, 2014

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Chelsea are ready to beat Premier League rivals, Arsenal and Manchester United, to the signing of Sami Khedira, by offering Real Madrid Petr Cech in return.

The trio have been closely monitoring the German international over the past few months, and with the midfielder set to leave once his contract expires in the Summer, reports have claimed that Madrid are desperate to sell him in January in order to raise some funds from the sale.

According to numerous reports, Arsenal had already agreed a deal with Khedira and just had to agree a tranfser fee with the Spanish outfit, but it now looks like Chelsea are in pole position after preparing to throw in Cech as part of the deal.

The veteran goalkeeper could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge due to lack of first-team football, and with Iker Casillas expected to leave the Bernabeu, a Cech-Khedira swap could work for both clubs, leaving Arsenal and United empty-handed.

It’s believed Madrid are more interested in the player-swap deal with Chelsea, rather than agree a fee with Arsenal, despite Khedira favouring a move to the Emirates due to their German contingency.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

United target Gundogan as Strootman and Vidal alternatives

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Oct 13, 2014

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United boss Louis van Gaal has been keen to bolster his midfield options and had Roma’s Kevin Strootman at the top of his wishlist.

However the Serie A side were not willing to let the Dutchman go and United would have to have paid £75m to bring him to Old Trafford, meanwhile Juventus star Arturo Vidal was another option.

The Chilean has had his professionalism called into question by new boss Massimo Allegri after going on a night out before the table-topping clash against Roma, but the Italian champions have confirmed that he will be staying at the club despite concerns over a knee injury.

Van Gaal has recognised it will be tough to bring either midfielder into the club and so has been monitoring Borussia Dortmund man, Ilkay Gundogan.

Dortmund have been suffering a poor start to their Bundesliga campaign, losing four of their first seven matches, and Gundogan faces a challenge to make the starting line-up against the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

However he is keen to prove himself in the team after being sidelined with injury and is confident he will start against Cologne.

He told Sky Sports Deutschland: “I am now available. The plan is that I am fully integrated into the team as soon as the national players are back.

“I am assuming that I am in the squad on the weekend against FC Cologne.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Wilshere shock as Welbeck reveals Arsenal move

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Oct 13, 2014

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Welbeck was heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane this summer before he completed his £16m to Arsenal on the final day of the transfer window.

Wilshere was with the 23 year-old training with England and the Gunners midfielder has admitted his surprise when his international team-mate told him he would be joining Arsene Wenger’s men.

He said: “I remember speaking to Danny in the England camp on deadline day and he said it was on.

“I thought he was joking. I was reading that Tottenham were interested and then he said that Arsenal were interested.

“As soon as he said we were interested I was telling him ‘you’ve got to come’. He gives us something different, he runs behind. Because we lost Olivier Giroud, we needed a key man.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Szczesny feared for Arsenal spot

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Ben Reardon

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Oct 13, 2014

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Arsenal goalkeeper Wojiech Szczesny had admitted that he feared for his place in the Arsenal squad during the summer, due to Arsenal being linked with Cardiff’s David Marshall.

The Gunners were a proposed destination for Cardiff shot stopper Marshall in the summer, following City’s relegation from the Premier League, back to the Championship in May.

However, despite the Bluebirds losing their to-flight status after just one season, with the 29 year old Scot winning many plaudits in-between the sticks last season.

And the fine form of Marshall had Szczesny worried, with the Polish keeper admitting that he thought that was Marshall to sign, he would be knocked off his perch as current number one.

He said: “He was one of the best keepers in the Premiership last season and I was worried he would take my place if he joined us. It was that simple.

“I heard rumours he was going to sign for Arsenal and I don’t mind admitting I definitely wasn’t looking forward to that happening.”

Arsene Wenger eventually signed Colombian keeper David Ospina, with Marshall and the Bluebirds currently 15th in the second tier, following a poor start to their return to life in the Championship.

by Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Kompany: ‘Origi can become the best’

By

olliebrowner

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Oct 13, 2014

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Manchester City and Belgium rock Vincent Kompany has heaped praise on youngster Divock Origi after his performance against Andorra on Friday.

The forward is currently on loan at French club Lille, but secured a move to Anfield during the summer window after catching the eye of many during the World Cup finals.

And now Kompany has high expectations of the Belgium youngster, as he said: ”He is very gifted and talented,Technically, he’s a monster”

“More importantly, he is an outstanding worker in training. I see him working like crazy.”

“If he continues in this way, in a few years he will be among the five or ten best strikers in the world.”

Origi revealed last week he was in regular contact with Brendan Rodgers, who is a big fan of the youngster.

Rodgers said: “We took a player in Divock Origi who we believe will be world class and we’ll get him next summer.

“He is a top player. He has everything – the speed, the profile and he can play now but our deal was that we couldn’t bring him in now.

“That was unfortunate because he can run in behind, he can keep the ball, he can press and he can run.”

By Ollie Brown

Van Dijk is on Arsene Wengers radar

By

Alex Batt

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Oct 13, 2014

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Arsene Wenger is looking to beef up his threadbare defence in January and Celtic central defender Virgil Van Dijk is top of his wishlist.

The Dutch defender has stated he is commited to Celtic, however, an offer from a top club like Arsenal may be hard for the defender to turn down.

Wenger sent scouts to go and watch the defender when Celtic took on Dinamo Zagreb and the Arsenal boss was presented with a glowing report from his scouts, who were full of praise for Van Dijk.

A number of injuries have limited the defenders at Wenger’s disposure and Van Dijk, who was linked with both Sunderland and Southampton during the Summer transfer window, would provide some much needed cover for Arsenal and their defence.

The Gunners only currently have two recognised centre-backs at the club in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, but it’s believed that Wenger will look to add in the January window.

Written by Ben Waterhouse – @BenWaterhouse_

Why I joined Real Madrid over Chelsea and Man Utd

By

Michael Horne

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Oct 13, 2014

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Toni Kroos, the 24-year old German midfielder nearly crossed the channel from the Bundesliga in the summer, seemingly heading to Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge.

With Bayern Munich not able to agree extended terms with the 6-foot World Cup winner, Kroos had the world at his feet. He eventually opted for a move to the Bernabeu in a £20million deal, apparently citing that playing alongside Christian Ronaldo was too good an opportunity to turn down. Who could blame him to be fair?

‘I know what it means to play in a team with great individual quality,’ he told Die Welt. ‘We all respect each other, the spirit is amazing.

‘At the moment, there is no better player than Cristiano. He was one of those who looked out for me at first, he’s a really nice guy.

‘I was lucky to come from a club with great standards. In Munich, it’s more than stepping out on to the field to win – you start the season to win titles. So I didn’t have to adapt a lot.

‘I enjoy playing in Madrid. Although people may not believe me, it’s a family club. I feel that people trust me.

‘I was happy for the chance to do something new, I feel it was the right step. Madrid are a great club and were the challenge I sought after my long and successful Bayern career.

‘Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona and Chelsea are the four greats right now. So I just changed one for another.’

Kroos has won the World Cup, Champions League, Super Cup as well as being three-times winner of the Bundesliga with Bayern. The Premier League missed out when he became available. England’s loss is Spain’s gain.

Written by Michael Horne

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelHorne777

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Manchester United once tried to sign Real Madrid star!

By

benwaterhouse95

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Oct 13, 2014

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After rising through the youth ranks at Lyon, Karim Benzema joined Real Madrid in same year as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso. However, the French internationals career could have been very different as it has emerged that Fergie was interested in taking the forward to Old Trafford five years ago.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has said United were interested, however, Benzema prefered to move to Real. In an interview with Canal+ Aulas stated.

“For a long time he wanted to play one day at Real Madrid and when operations began to fall into place, we did not object. The proposal was superior to Manchester United’s but he was given the opportunity to go where he wanted.I am very happy for him. This is the best striker in La Liga and one of the best in the world. The criticism he has received are part of the life of a professional football player, but we had to be above it all.”

The former Lyon striker has scored 116 goals in 246 appearances for Los Blancos.

Written by Ben Waterhouse – @BenWaterhouse_

Arsenal target Adrien Rabiot speaks about his future at PSG and a potential move to the Emirates

By

SteveMilne

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Oct 13, 2014

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It has been a gruelling season for Rabiot with PSG boss Laurent dropping The 19-year-old French midfielder to the reserves with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The PSG midfielder intends to run down his contract with the big-spending Ligue 1 champions and leave on a free transfer next summer.

Rabiot, who admits he is unsure whether he will play for PSG again, expressed his frustration by the breakdown of the move to Roma.

“With Roma, everything was done. It was my choice. I had already decided to wear their shirt,” he told Canal+.

“And to be honest, I don’t understand why the deal collapsed.

“I don’t know if I will play again for PSG. It was not my choice to play for the reserve team team but it’s a pleasure to play football, even training and playing in the fourth tier.

“I’m available to the coach [Laurent Blanc] and he’ll decide. We speak very often and he told me that he would love this situation to be resolved.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was hoping to bring the France U-21 international to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

But a deal failed to materialise, with PSG demanding £24m to allow Rabiot to leave the Parc des Princes.

There have been suggestions that Wenger will revive his bid in the new year.

And when asked over a potential move in the winter transfer window, Rabiot added: “Now, we just have to will wait until January to see what we can do.”

Szczesny full of praise for Chambers

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Oct 13, 2014

0

The former Southampton man has seen his Arsenal impact rewarded with an England call-up and Szczesny has spoken praise of the young defender.

The 19 year-old made his switch to the Gunners in July and his string of impressive performances for Arsene Wenger’s side have resulted in him being included in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 set-up.

Chambers started both of England’s last two matches against San Marino and Estonia and Gunners team-mate Wojciech Szczesny has praised him in his maturity and mentality since joining the club.

He said: “It is a strange one because I would imagine that to be very successful at 19 you need to be massively confident, maybe overconfident at times,” he told the club’s official website.

“But Calum isn’t – he’s very humble, very quiet and he shows his confidence on the pitch. It is a massive quality because he looks very comfortable, whether you play him at right back or centre back.

“He is comfortable on the ball, he is comfortable defending and he is very strong as well. He has been a massive signing.

“The pressure was on him as well because he was 19, he came to a big club and he went straight into the starting XI but he has been coping very well.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Szczesny full of praise for Chambers

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Oct 13, 2014

0

The former Southampton man has seen his Arsenal impact rewarded with an England call-up and Szczesny has spoken praise of the young defender.

The 19 year-old made his switch to the Gunners in July and his string of impressive performances for Arsene Wenger’s side have resulted in him being included in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 set-up.

Chambers started both of England’s last two matches against San Marino and Estonia and Gunners team-mate Wojciech Szczesny has praised him in his maturity and mentality since joining the club.

He said: “It is a strange one because I would imagine that to be very successful at 19 you need to be massively confident, maybe overconfident at times,” he told the club’s official website.

“But Calum isn’t – he’s very humble, very quiet and he shows his confidence on the pitch. It is a massive quality because he looks very comfortable, whether you play him at right back or centre back.

“He is comfortable on the ball, he is comfortable defending and he is very strong as well. He has been a massive signing.

“The pressure was on him as well because he was 19, he came to a big club and he went straight into the starting XI but he has been coping very well.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Liverpool sniff Reid is up for grabs

By

Joseph Richardson

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Oct 13, 2014

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Winston Reid looks increasingly likely to be on his way out of West Ham as the London club have refused to increase his current contract.

West Ham are not willing to change the terms of Reid’s current offer at Upton Park, despite interest from several Premier League teams.

We reported last week that Liverpool were linked with signing Reid, although Arsenal and Manchester United were also interested.

The defender’s contract runs out at the end of this season, so he could leave for free if terms cannot be agreed between him and the club.

For the time being though, the Kiwi remains an integral part of Sam Allardyce’s squad and the club say they will only sell if a lucrative offer comes in for him.

By Joseph Richardson

@Jj147Joseph

Jose Mourinho reveals how close Manchester United were to signing Varane

By

Alex Batt

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Oct 13, 2014

0

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he signed Raphael Varane from right under Manchester United’s noses back in 2011.

The Spanish giants secured the signing of the Frenchman after the defender agreed to leave Lens, and he has slowly become one of the best young centre-backs in world football, with Mourinho claiming he is the best there is.

Mourinho, who was Madrid manager at the time, has been interested in bringing the French defender to England in order to play for Chelsea, but the Portuguese man has revealed that Varane was very close to signing for Manchester United.

“Varane had one foot at Manchester United but Real Madrid are very strong and Rapha came to us,” he said.

“I was on holiday and in Madrid. Zinedine Zidane arrived with a DVD and I thought ‘that player, with two years’ work with us, would be fantastic.”

Ever since re-joining Chelsea, Mourinho has been strongly linked with signing the 21-year-old.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

United failure Bebe to develop like Nemanja Matic

By

Joseph Richardson

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Oct 13, 2014

0

The Benfica manager Jorge Jesus has claimed that former Manchester United flop Bebe will come good given time.

Described by some as Sir Alex Ferguson’s worst ever signing, Bebe was sold in the summer to Benfica, having made just seven appearances in four dismal seasons at Old Trafford.

Jesus insists that Bebe can follow in the footsteps of Nemanja Matic, who left Chelsea for Benfica in 2011, before returning in January for £21 million.

Jesus told Portuguese newspaper Record: “He was introduced to football late and he lost a lot of time in England. Tiago’s [Bebe’s] development will be equal to Talisca’s, Matic’s and Andre Gomes. They were all late bloomers.”

Bebe returned to his homeland after a successful loan spell at Pacos de Ferreira last season, where he scored 12 league goals.

Jesus added that Bebe’s time in England stunted his development.

By Joseph Richardson

@Jj147Joseph

SillySeason.com

Liverpool eye Kiko Casilla

Chelsea to offer player-swap deal for Sami Khedira

United target Gundogan as Strootman and Vidal alternatives

Wilshere shock as Welbeck reveals Arsenal move

Szczesny feared for Arsenal spot

Kompany: ‘Origi can become the best’

Van Dijk is on Arsene Wengers radar

Why I joined Real Madrid over Chelsea and Man Utd

Manchester United once tried to sign Real Madrid star!

Arsenal target Adrien Rabiot speaks about his future at PSG and a potential move to the Emirates

Szczesny full of praise for Chambers

Szczesny full of praise for Chambers

Liverpool sniff Reid is up for grabs

Jose Mourinho reveals how close Manchester United were to signing Varane

United failure Bebe to develop like Nemanja Matic

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