Spanish giants Barcelona are closing in on a move for Arsenal midfielder Alex Song according to reports in the Catalan press reports The Independent.
According to daily papers Sport and Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s sports vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu and director of football Raul Sanllehi flew into London on Tuesday to finalise a deal, and it is believed it could be completed within hours.
Reports have claimed Arsenal turned down an initial bid of €15 and are hoping to hold out for over €20 million. However it is believed Barcelona will get their man for a fee of between €18 and €19 million.
The deal would see Song reunited with former teammate Cesc Fabregas, who made the same switch from North London last summer.
There has been no official word from Barcelona on the transfer, but Javier Clemente, who was Song’s International manager with Cameroon from 2011 to 2012 believes Song would fit into new coach Tito Vilanova’s plans perfectly according to ESPN.
“He is a player with some things from (Seydou) Keita and some from (Yaya) Toure. For me he has more imagination in attack,” Clemente said.
“Physically he is very strong, dynamic, he works very hard and is very good technically. He is at Barca level.”
Barcelona are confident the deal will be tied up in time for their first La Liga game of the season against Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp this weekend. The Cameroon international will become only their second summer signing, following their move for full back and Euro 2012 star Jordi Alba from Valencia.
Arsenal fans, who are still preparing themselves for life without Robin Van Persie, will not welcome the news.
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Song, who provided countless assists for the Dutchman last term, is a firm fan favourite at the Emirates, and even the news that Rennes’ midfielder Yaan M’Vila has been lined up, as a replacement will do little to appease the Arsenal fans.
Controversial midfielder Joey Barton has revealed that he spoke with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over a possible transfer to North London before joining QPR in the transfer window.
Prior to moving to Loftus Road, Barton faced Arsenal on the opening day of the season for old employers Newcastle, and clashed with Gunners forward Gervinho, resulting in the Ivorian forward being sent off.
This altercation left a sour taste with the Emirates club, and may have cost the combative midfielder a move to Wenger’s men.
“If I hadn’t played against Arsenal on the first day, I may have signed for them. There were a couple of conversations (with Wenger) but that’s different to actually signing,” he told Sky Sports.
“The Gervinho incident happened and there’s nothing I can do about it now. If it happened again, I’d like to think I’d deal with it differently.
“Things happen for a reason and there’s a lesson to be learned from it. Right now, we sit above Arsenal in the table – hopefully that’s the case in May,” he stated.
Instead of joining The Gunners Barton moved to an ambitious QPR side, and has claimed he is happy to be playing with his new team.
“There were a couple of offers on the table but now I’m really happy to be at QPR and in London. We play an expansive and exciting brand of football and can hopefully surprise a few people this season,” he concluded.
QPR have been competitive so far this campaign since their promotion, and take on Aston Villa on Sunday.
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As Liverpool fans still try to get rid of the bitter taste left by Fernando Torres’ departure to Chelsea, another star player has hinted that he may be the next one out of Anfield if the club does not get back into the Premier League’s top four. Spanish Goalkeeper Pepe Reina is supposedly the target of Manchester United and Arsenal in the summer as both clubs will be looking to sign a top quality shot stopper. Reina is certainly that, making around 102 clean sheets in 208 league games for the club – compare that to a striker’s appearances to goals ratio, it’s highly impressive. Will Liverpool have a fight on their hands to keep Reina?
The rumours of Sir Alex Ferguson perusing their rival’s ‘keeper were started in January, especially since Edwin Van der Sar announced he will be retiring at the end of the season. However, Reina has not helped matters when talking to the Spanish media recently – when asked about Fernando Torres, he showed a more sympathetic and understandable approach compared to others associated with Liverpool. These comments will not sit well with the Anfield faithful who will not want to see another star player leave for a rival Premier League club.
Reina was also asked about a possible return to playing in Spain but the Liverpool ‘keeper said he believed that his future is in England whilst also highlighting his desire to play regular Champions League football. I believe it all comes down to where Liverpool finish this season and after the start Kenny Dalglish has made at the club, there is still a possibility that the Reds can sneak into 4th spot come the end of the season. Reina would not have a case for wanting a move if this can be achieved but it is a huge ask for the current team to keep up momentum until the end of the season. Plus they will have to rely on the teams above them like Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester City to lose points.
Alternatively, if Liverpool’s recent impressive results start to dwindle and their season ends up drifting into mid table mediocrity, Reina will be looking to go. Liverpool will of course try anything in their power to persuade him to stay, but just like Torres, he knows what he has to do if he wants out of Anfield – especially if the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United are prepared to put in a significant bid, the outcome just seems inevitable.
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With less than three weeks to go until the start of the season, Neil Warnock seems to be assembling a squad that is capable of getting out of this league and back to the big time. The main squad building has been done and all that is needed now are the two or three players that can win a match out of nothing.
At the end of last season the main priority was to sort out the defence and it was something that the gaffer got straight on with, bringing in Portsmouth captain Jason Pearce, then the experienced duo of Adam Drury and Paddy Kenny. All three of these are likely to be regular fixtures in the starting line up throughout the season which will give the side a more solid out look. With Martin Crainie possibly signing up it will give added competition for Tom Lees to get that centre back spot which can only be good for the team. One position in the defence is yet to be filled however with no new right back and Paul Connolly looking ever the more likely to be leaving it is something that Warnock needs to address. Rumours that Lee Peltier is the man that Leeds want have been going on for most of the summer but seem to have died down over the last few days.
One thing that will be key this season is that the club cannot concede as many sloppy goals as they did last season. Silly little mistakes need to be cut out if the club are to make a serious challenge for the title. I’m sure the gaffer will have been working on this throughout pre season and improve the composure of our players.
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One area where the club now has real strength in depth is the middle of the park with David Norris, Paul Green and already fans favourite Rodolph Austin. These three will provide the necessary steel as well as going on to score goals as well. Luke Varney came into the club last week when his deal was finally agreed and hopefully he will fill the void left by Robert Snodgrass when he departed for Norwich City. I would expect another wide man to come into the club as it is an area where we are pretty light on the ground, possibly a loan from a Premiership club might be the way off adding extra competition.
Probably the most surprising signing of the summer so far has to be the return of Andy Gray. He will provide good cover for Luciano Becchio and Ross McCormack as well as giving an extra option until Davide Somma returns from injury later this year. The club are still actively searching for another striker and Craig Mackail-Smith seems to be the man on the top of the list with rumours of talks taking place could he be the man that Warnock wants in by Saturday. Another name being thrown around is that of George Boyd. A quality wide man with an eye for a goal, he is just the type of player Leeds need. A match winner some would call him but whether or not the club make a move for him we have to wait and see.
This Championship season looks like it could be the closest one yet with most clubs doing good bits of business. However if Neil Warnock can get these crucial signings that he is talking about to the club then I don’t see another team better equipped than us to get back to the big time. Elland Road needs to be a fortress this season and the fans can help that by turning up week in week out singing their hearts out for the team, almost sucking the ball into the back of the net at times.
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This could be our year!
Thomas Johnson – @tomsjohnson – borninyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk
Sir Alex Ferguson is set to watch Mario Gotze with interest over the next few months after identifying him as a potential replacement for Paul Scholes.
Reports after the transfer window suggested that Arsenal had offered £35m for the young German, however Borussia Dortmund were understandably very reluctant to accept any offer.
Footybunker.com reports that Manchester United have offered £1.5m to have the first option to buy Gotze but the article gives no details of whether this was accepted or not.
Gotze will undoubtedly draw plenty of attention from Europe’s biggest clubs this year as he prepares to make his Champions League bow with Dortmund. But raises another issue as far as Mr Wenger is concerned.
Dortmund have of course been drawn in Arsenal’s group. If Wenger is serious about wanting to sign Gotze, which a £35m bid certainly indicates, surely he will be, at the very least, having a word in the ear of Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp . It is fair to say Alex Ferguson would not allow that opportunity to pass him by.
Still aged only 19, Gotze has already been capped 8 times by Germany. His international career has started with a bang too having scored a fantastic goal against Brazil and the final goal in the 6-2 demolition. With the European Championships at the end of the year, at which Germany are expected to be Spain’s closest challengers, Gotze’s stock is only going to rise.
If true, Sir Alex’s first option deal could be the most astute bit of business of the transfer window.
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Article courtesy of Chris Smith from the excellent Transfer Tavern
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Moroccan international midfielder Houssine Kharja has been included in Inter Milan’s squad for Sunday’s game at Palermo.
Kharja completed his loan transfer on Saturday from Genoa and manager Leonardo immediately named him in his squad.
“I am very happy,” Kharja said on Inter Channel.
“After some difficult days of waiting, I am finally here. I want to thank President Massimo Moratti for giving me this opportunity and all those who worked to complete the transfer.”
“I have joined the strongest team in the world. I’m still a little stunned and excited after the first training session with my new teammates. I am ready for whatever the coach needs starting from tomorrow’s game.”
“I have taken on many midfield roles during my career and at international level I even played as a centre-back.”
Kharja will wear the number 14 shirt in honour of former Inter star Patrick Vieira.
“I hope and want to give a contribution to this team that is still so hungry for victory. I thank my teammates for the warm welcome.”
Inter will welcome back Diego Milito, Philippe Coutinho and Julio Cesar from injury.
Dejan Stankovic, Ivan Cordoba and Cristian Chivu are suspended, while Wesley Sneijder, Walter Samuel and MacDonald Mariga are injured.
Meanwhile, Palermo coach Delio Rossi has told his players to “forget about the table and play for the win against Inter, as we always do.”
The Sicilians have a history of entertaining clashes with Inter, losing 5-3 in Milan last season and losing 2-1 on home turf in September.
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“Every game is unique and self-contained,” Rossi insisted. “Since our last meeting many things have changed and Inter have a different tactician.”
“We will go to Milan in order to play our game and play for the win, as we always do. If we play the way we know how, then we can get a result against Inter.”
“I am not interested in the standings and we must forget about the table. After all, I’m used to not checking it until March.”
Newcastle have approached Liverpool to enquire about the possibility of taking Andy Carroll back on loan, Sky Sports report.
The England international striker has had an inconsistent time at Anfield since a £35 million move to Merseyside back in January 2011.
With Brendan Rodgers taking over from Kenny Dalglish Carroll’s future is unclear, with new signing Fabio Borini thought to be the Geordie attacker’s replacement.
The Northern Irish manager has previously admitted that he may well send the targetman out on loan for 2012-13, and Newcastle are now said to have made a bid.
Initially Carroll would re-join the Tyneside outfit on a season-long loan deal, with a permanent move in the offing next summer.
AC Milan and West Ham have both also been linked with a move for Carroll in the off-season, but as yet there has been no news over where the striker will play his football next term.
Newcastle have Senegalese attacking pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse at their disposal, but did sell Leon Best to Blackburn this summer.
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During the 80’s and a period in the 90’s English football’s top tier had a glut of forward players who were characterised by one thing – goals. Goals were their currency – and they amassed a fortune! Scoring, was what they lived and breathed for out on the pitch and, for most, their ability to sniff out a chance and put the ball in the back of the net was the sole reason for selection in the team. These goalscorers or ‘poachers’ often had two distinct skill sets, with some even excelling at both: they sat on the shoulder of the last defender and timed runs to perfection, using their pace to get onto through balls and finish one-on-one situations, or, they had an uncanny knack for finding space in the penalty box, anticipating play and getting onto the end of crosses or pouncing on mistakes. Names like Kerry Dixon, Tony Cottee, Ian Rush, Gary Lineker, John Aldridge and Clive Allen all fell into this category and were later joined by the likes of Robbie Fowler, Andy Cole and Michael Owen in the Premiership era.
Back then, English teams played generally played a 4-4-2 formation. It’s what every schoolboy knows and what we were brought up on. Of the two selected to play upfront, one would mainly comprise of the poacher (as detailed above). In order for him to work best, he would need a partner on whose presence he could thrive on. Famous ‘poachers’ usually operated best in partnerships, and his striking partner would come from two distinctly different groups. The first being the physical ‘big man’ or target-man – who’s play would involve holding up the ball, being a ‘battering-ram’, winning aerial duels and flicking on balls to his partner. Think partnerships like Heskey and Owen, Sharp and Lineker/Cottee/Heath or north of the boarder, Hateley and McCoist.
The second group from which successful partnerships were forged came from the deep-lying forward, or player in the ‘hole’ – a creator, whose quick thinking and skills would engineer chances for the poacher often by feeding him through balls with their sublime vision. Think Dalglish and Rush, Beardsley and Aldridge, Bergkamp and Anelka, or Cantona and Cole.
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However these diminutive types of goalscorers started to fade as the Premier League era took hold and have all but vanished from the game. The likes of Fowler, Owen, Cole and Anelka the last of a dying breed. Some might say they haven’t vanished as such, but merely evolved. The demands of today’s game along with all the tactical and physical changes, have saw any player unwilling or unable to get involved in team ethics and build-up play, cast aside. In other words, JUST bringing goals is deemed not enough. This has led to current strikers having to amalgamate two roles into one; they have become hybrids of the partnership era. We only have to look at the likes of Thierry Henry, Leo Messi and Wayne Rooney to see they are both the deep-lying forward AND the goalscorer, mixing the ability to both score and create for others. From the other group which consisted of the target-man came the likes of Shearer, van Nistelrooy, Drogba and Adebayor – all physically imposing, integral to build-up play but mobile and sharp goalscorers. With these types of player at their disposal, managers are able to field ‘two-types-of-player-in-one’, thus freeing up another space for an ‘additional’ player in today’s quest to control the midfield areas, be it another creator or holding player. We only need look at the various formations for the majority of today’s teams to see the evidence. Gone (for the most part) is 4-4-2, and in has come 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1, 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3. This modern phenomena is not just set to the Premier League of course, it has been going on all over the continent for years.
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Last season in the Premier League we were treated to what appeared to be a throwback player. A ‘poacher’ had returned to our league – but he wasn’t English. Step forward Javier Hernandez. The Mexican bagged a very impressive 20-goals in his debut season for Manchester United, but it was his style of play that intrigued. Not since the 80’s and early 90’s had we seen a striker of this sort. He wasn’t particularly tricky, he wasn’t physically imposing and didn’t seem to concern himself too much with build-up play. However, he was razor-sharp – and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to score goals. That instinct of knowing where to be in the penalty box, of which many often said ‘couldn’t be taught’ appeared with to be with him. In light of his success, one wonders if the rise of Javier Hernandez has signalled the start of the return for the old style ‘poacher’, to our game?
Arsenal produced a stirring comeback at the Emirates, surviving a controversial opener from Louis Saha to beat Everton 2-1.
Saha handed Everton the lead after 24 minutes in north London even though he looked well offside, but second half goals from substitute Andrey Arshavin and defender Laurent Koscielny handed Arsenal a hard-fought and deserved victory.
The result keeps Arsene Wenger’s side second in the Premier League table, five points adrift of Manchester United but still very much in the title race.
The Gunners started the game in lively fashion with Cesc Fabregas shooting wide from a Robin van Persie back-heel when perhaps he should have done better.
Saha was offside when Seamus Coleman tried to find him when a through-ball but, perhaps unaware of that fact, Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny attempted to clear it anyway.
That proved a big mistake because his miss-hit effort deflected straight to Saha who fired home left-footed with Arsenal’s defence nowhere to be seen.
Referee Lee Mason struggled to control proceedings as the game grew tetchier, making a string of questionable decisions to draw the ire of the home crowd.
He booked six players in all as tackles flew in from both sides, especially when Arsenal poured forward in the second half in search of an equaliser.
Theo Walcott and van Persie had both gone close when it eventually came in the 70th minute, Arshavin latching onto a fine Fabregas through-ball and firing home sweetly.
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Van Persie then forced Tim Howard into a fine save from a free-kick before the Dutchman sent over a corner for Koscielny to head home in the 76th minute.
The goal was greeted with delirium by the home crowd and it was hard to say Arsenal did not earn it given their pulsating second-half display.
For a number of years top European clubs have looked to the Americas in search of the next big thing. Many players have successfully made the trip between the continents, producing fine displays and winning top honours in, arguably, the greatest club football continent on the planet.
Although many stars from Central and South America settle in Spain, Premier League clubs have always scoured the leagues of the region in search of fresh talent.
Chelsea recently snapped up the promising Lucas Piazon, who has been likened to Real Madrid superstar Kaka, showing that English clubs are increasingly looking at the South American market in search of young, affordable talent for the future.
Although Argentinian and Brazilian clubs attract much of the attention, sides from all across the continent are consistently producing top quality talent with a view to exporting them for high levels of profit.
This list looks at 10 players currently performing in the Americas, who could be set for a move to the Premier League in the not too distant future…
Click on Neymar below to see the TEN South American Stars
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What are your thoughts? Find me @Alex_Hams to have your say