Just two games into the new season and Antonio Conte has already been forced to put one of his key defenders in central midfield, such is Chelsea’s limited depth in the middle of the park.
The Blues only have three out-and-out central midfielders in their first-team squad – Cesc Fabregas, Tiemoue Bakayoko and N’Golo Kante – and with the former suspended, Conte pushed David Luiz into the engine room against Tottenham last Sunday.
Of course, the somewhat forced decision paid off as Chelsea claimed a 2-1 win at Wembley Stadium, but it could have backfired spectacularly.
And rather puzzlingly, Conte could have another central midfielder at his disposal this season in the form of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was loaned out to Crystal Palace in July.
The 6 foot 3 starlet has made a fine start to his Eagles career, producing a superb performance at Anfield last Saturday, so we asked Chelsea supporters earlier this week whether it was a mistake to send him out on loan.
And although most Blues fans who took part in our poll voted in favour of the move, it’s rather telling that 44% didn’t. Clearly, a significant section of the Stamford Bridge faithful believe Loftus-Cheek should be at Conte’s disposal this season.
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Manchester City are looking into signing young Bayer Leverkusen full-back Benjamin Henrichs, according to The Daily Mail, with the youngster impressing in Germany so far this season.
What’s the word?
City have been very good at times this season but at others, they’ve simply been woeful.
There’s a real imbalance in the side with their attacking displays some of the best around combining with defensive performances that leave a lot to be desired.
Indeed, many expect Pep Guardiola to take a sledge-hammer to the club’s back-line in the summer and it appears young Henrichs could be a part of the rebuild.
A right-back that can also play on the other side of defence, the Leverkusen man has done well this season, starring in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
He’s got 20 appearances in the German top flight to his name this year – along with one cap for the country’s national team – and so he could be seriously one to keep an eye on.
The right move?
City need a right-back and, indeed, a left-back – make no mistake.
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They are, however, risking things slightly if they go for Henrichs given his young age. We’ve seen with John Stones that all the talent in the world doesn’t necessarily mean you can handle a title race unless you have experience and so Henrichs could follow the same path.
Pep Guardiola will feel he can work with him, of course, and if he sees traits in him that allow him to operate in midfield – as the Catalan’s full-backs often do – then he’ll surely think it’s worth rolling the dice with this one.
Whilst nobody within the English game quite expected Newcastle United and the newly appointed Steve McClaren to take the Premier League by storm this season, the 2015/16 campaign has proven a far more frustrating affair than most of the St. James’ faithful ever initially predicted.
Although the Magpies could have seemingly done with all the relevant help they could get this season however, 20-year-old Rolando Aarons – a young up and coming winger who seemed to carry a fair amount of potential under his belt before the current league campaign first got underway – has hardly played on Tyneside so far this season, and possibly looks set to leave his current employers with his contract due to expire in the summer.
In light of the subsequent – and albeit slightly surprising – interest to reportedly come his way from the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan and Juventus in 2015/16, has Rolando Aarons simply witnessed his once promising long-term future with Newcastle United up and disappear over the course of the current season, or will Steve McClaren somehow manage to persuade the young winger to stick it out in the North East for a good while longer?
[ffc-gal cat=”newcastle-united” no=”5″]
Well, although the former Bristol City youngster has indeed barely featured for the Magpies so far this term on the back of a series of testing injury complaints, it seems as if Newcastle could really lose out on a star talent here.
The Jamaican born wide-man has certainly impressed in a number of pre-season fixtures and behind closed doors friendlies since first arriving on Tyneside, even if the 20-year-old is yet to make a real name for himself in the Premier League itself.
Via his dangerously quick turn of pace inside the final third, promising ability to link-up effectively with his teammates in attacking areas of the pitch, and calm composure on the ball when taking on defenders in one-on-one scenarios – this is a player who is seemingly worthy of his growing reputation in the English game.
Had the likes of Andros Townsend, Henri Saivet and Seydou Doumbia not been drafted in at St. James’ in what eventually turned out to be rather hectic January transfer window for the struggling Tyneside club, a player of Rolando Aarons’ emerging talent could have potentially served Steve McClaren’s side rather well throughout the remainder of the campaign.
Granted, Newcastle United can’t exactly afford to bed in an inexperienced young professional in the midst of a clear relegation dog-fight right in the here and now – but you never know – perhaps if Rolando Aarons had been fit and firing for an extended portion of the 2015/16 campaign, maybe the Magpies wouldn’t find themselves in such a vulnerable position at this particular stage in the season.
Yet even though the emerging 20-year-old has certainly shown glimpses of talent during his current stint at St. James’ Park thus far, it remains particularly difficult to envisage the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan or Juventus ever issuing the pacey wide-man with a chance to stake his claim away from the North East any time soon.
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Although Rolando Aarons could one day serve to impress at one of Europe’s most illustrious sides in the not too distant future, perhaps the player in question must carefully consider his options before making any knee-jerk decisions regarding his future at the end of the current league campaign.
As Newcastle United could soon find themselves operating in the Championship when the 2015/16 season finally reaches its natural conclusion however, maybe Steve McClaren’s side could be forced to part ways with their impressive young talent sooner rather than later, no matter how much potential Rolando Aarons has to offer down on Tyneside in upcoming seasons.
Jamie Carragher believes that Dejan Lovren has all of the characteristics to be a future captain at Liverpool.
The Reds recently tied up their long-awaited £20m move for the Croatian centre-back, who was impressive at Southampton last term.
Lovren was celebrated for his positive style of defending, but his leadership qualities were also praised as he controlled the Saints’ backline – which was often impressive.
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The 25-year-old is expected to slot straight into the Merseysiders’ first XI next season, with he and Mamadou Sakho – a big money arrival from 2013 – being hailed as the future of the club’s rear-guard as they look to put their 50 goals conceded record which cost them the title behind them.
Carragher – Liverpool’s former vice-captain – believes that the newbie will become a major figure at Anfield, and he even believes he could be in the running to succeed Steven Gerrard as skipper:
“Centre-backs normally make great captains.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.
“If Lovren establishes himself in the team became a top player by showing the same form he has at Southampton for Liverpool, then in the next few years when Stevie does decide to call it day he will be in contention.
“You look at him and he has the potential to make a big powerful impact at the back and that’s what Liverpool need.
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“Jordan Henderson is another who could possibly be in contention and there will be more who arrive in that time that could be up for it as well.
“But if Lovren can come in and produce that sort of form then I am sure he will be in the running for it.”
//www.youtube.com/embed/dzENWWAoIlU
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Fulham boss Martin Jol has admitted his frustration at Brede Hangeland’s red card during his side’s 3-1 Premier League loss to Sunderland.
The Norwegian centre-back was given his marching orders after 31 minutes for a two-footed lunge of Black Cats’ midfielder Lee Cattermole.
It proved to be decisive, as the North East club went on to take the lead and eventually the three points.
Jol vented his frustrations to SkySports after the game:
“I think he was probably the only one in the stadium who really thought it was a red card,” he said.
“It would have been nice if most of the referees had played football themselves, it would be nice if sometimes they could make decisions in the spirit of the game.
“I can’t remember having a red card at this club. Hangeland is a nice boy and told me it was not intentional, he slipped.
“I won’t say that it is a common thing for him because I haven’t seen him do this tackle.”
Sunderland took the lead through Steven Fletcher after 50 minutes.
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Mladen Petric equalised soon after, but defender Carlos Cuellar put the visitors back in front with a fine header.
Stephane Sessegnon completed the scoring with an excellent 25-yeard effort.
It’s been a while since Borussia Mönchengladbach were in title contention. The last time the Foals won the Bundesliga was in 1977. However, after a goalless draw against Freiburg on the weekend, their chances of winning the title have all but evaporated.
“You have to work hard to stop Gladbach playing their football and really put the hard yards in. That we did.”
These were the words of Freiburg’s coach Christian Streich after Saturday’s encounter and it acknowledges what tough opposition Gladbach have become over the last 12 months. Their rapid rise from paupers to princes in terms of league position has been well highlighted and rightly so.
Lucien Favre has hardly made any personnel changes, relying in the main on players who were already at the club. It’s a tactic which has worked effectively too. However, Saturday was a fantastic opportunity to claw back ground on Borussia Dortmund as they slipped to a 0-0 draw themselves at Augsburg. It wasn’t taken.
In this lies Gladbach’s weakness. They are the Bundesliga’s best counter-attacking team. As a result, at times when they have needed to take the initiative themselves, the Foals haven’t managed to do so. No win in their last three is hardly calamitous but opponents seemed to have worked out that if they drop deeper, Gladbach can’t work their counter-attacking wizardry to its full extent. Granted, they would have been helped on Saturday by having Patrick Hermann, who was missing due to a broken collarbone. However, the proof is in their results.
In the five games so far against fellow members of the top four, Gladbach have won three, drawn one and lost one. However, none of the four teams they’ve dropped points against in 2012 currently reside in the top eight of the Bundesliga. The latest team to stop them, Freiburg, deserve credit for their resolute display on Saturday. It meant the club above Gladbach, Bayern Munich, were able to pull away whilst the side below, Schalke, managed to gain ground.
Bayern have been bipolar of late – abysmal away, almighty at the Allianz Arena.It was certainly a case of the latter on Saturday as a very poor Hoffenheim team were swept aside ruthlessly. Winning 7-1 would be most sides highest victory of the season but this ranked as Bayern’s second biggest margin in the campaign. What’s not surprising is that Mario Gomez grabbed another hat-trick in this demolition as Munich went three points ahead of Gladbach.
Schalke weren’t as majestic in Gelsenkirchen. The Royal Blues still settled the game in quick fashion, racing into a three goal lead after just over half an hour. Teemu Pukki, deputising for Raul, grabbed the first before Christoph Metzelder and their top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar settled the encounter. Hamburg pulled a goal back at the end of the first half but Schalke held on to move within a point of Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The Foals must stay upbeat with nine games left. If they hold it together, Gladbach will be playing in the Champions League next season albeit without Marco Reus and Roman Neustadter who have agreed moves to Borussia Dortmund and Schalke respectively. Nevertheless, everyone at the club can take pride in putting Borussia Mönchengladbach into the title race for the first time in the 21st century. At this stage though, it doesn’t appear it will be anything more than title contention for the Foals.
For more on the Bundesliga, follow @arhindtutt on Twitter
Matchday 25 Results:
Stuttgart 0-0 Kaiserslautern
Bayern Munich 7-1 Hoffenheim
Cologne 1-0 Hertha Berlin
Gladbach 0-0 Freiburg
Mainz 2-1 Nuremberg
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Leeds United have long lacked a Samuel Saiz-like presence in midfield, but that could soon change.
Last month, the Sunday People reported that the Yorkshire outfit were tracking RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson ahead of a potential move this January transfer window.
It’s thought that the USMNT international fits the athletic profile required to play under Marcelo Bielsa and he has impressed throughout his breakthrough in Austria.
Since then, further fuel has been added to the fire by journalist Pete O’Rourke, who delivered a fresh update to GIVEMESPORT this very week.
“With Aaronson at RB Salzburg, I know Leeds scouts have been watching him,” he revealed.
Of course, the priority at Elland Road appears to be in finding a new central midfielder before deadline day, and there’s a lot to like about the American dynamo.
Signed by Victor Orta in 2017, Saiz soon became a hit with supporters after scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the club. His tenacity and creativity in the engine room made him a very exciting talent but things just did not pan out.
He left after ten goals and 12 assists across 58 appearances (via Transfermarkt) and has never truly been replaced.
Enter Aaronson.
The Salzburg sensation, who former USA legend DeMarcus Beasley dubbed “silky”, has proven to be a major influence for both club and country. From midfield, he’s bagged five goals in only 15 caps, whilst in 51 appearances for the Austrian champions, he has delivered ten goals and 12 assists.
Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, Aaronson has also been lauded as “young” and “exciting” by O’Rourke, and he could offer Leeds some valuable experience in the engine room, having featured in the Champions League numerous times now.
In his six appearances in the competition this season, the 21-year-old averaged two tackles, 1.3 dribbles, 1.2 shots and one key pass per game (via WhoScored), proving to be a major influence at either end of the pitch.
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Also likened to Lionel Messi, Aaronsen has been dubbed the “future” of the American game by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also touted him as “highly talented”.
On the above evidence, Orta could well discover his next Saiz with a move for the Salzburg sensation this month. It’s surely a deal that many around Elland Road would love to see happen, so he must get it done sooner rather than later.
AND in other news, Beren Cross drops positive Raphinha contract update…
A Roman Pavlyuchenko strike gave Tottenham a 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane on Thursday night, as the Premier League club move to the top of Europa League Group A.
The Russia international striker downed his countrymen with a 33rd minute free-kick, hitting back at claims made the day before by manager Harry Redknapp that he could be set for a January exit.
Spurs fielded a strong side without risking star players Luka Modric, Emmanuel Adebayor, Rafael Van der Vaart or Gareth Bale, and will be happy with the victory as it keeps the London team unbeaten in the competition.
After the game Redknapp expressed his satisfaction with the three points, and singled out his goalscorer for specific praise.
“It was a good result for us. I didn’t want to over-stretch too many of senior players and one or two of the young kids like Jake Livermore and Tom Carroll did well,” he told reporters after the victory.
“Pavlyuchenko is a great striker of the ball. He really can hit a ball. When he lined it up I had a feeling he was going to score because he is a very clean striker of the football.
“He’s got two great feet. Technically he’s a top, top player – there was never any doubt about that. It was good to see him score,” he concluded.
Spurs now face Blackburn at Ewood Park on Sunday, with Pavlyuchenko holding his hand up for selection despite the return of the team’s big names.
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Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre could be set to follow Honduran compatriots Maynor Figueroa and Wilson Palacios into Premier League football.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish watched the full-back during the Hoops’ recent Old Firm clash with Rangers, heightening speculation that Izaguirre could become the man to solve the club’s left-back woes. Aston Villa and Everton are also thought to be keeping tabs on Izaguirre. He has also attracted recent interest from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who viewed the Honduran as a potential replacement for Patrice Evra (who has since committed his long-term future to the Old Trafford side).
Izaguirre began his career with Honduras’ most successful club, C.D. Motagua, in 2004 and made his debut in the side’s 3-0 win over Universidad aged just 17. He established himself as a key part of Los Mimados squad, featuring prominently in the club’s 2007 Apertura and UNCAF-winning side.
His good form at club level prompted international recognition. Izaguirre earned his first cap for Honduras in 2007 and has gone on to appear a further 43 times for the national side. He represented Los Catrachos twice at last summer’s World Cup, appearing in the side’s defeats to Chile and eventual champions Spain.
After six years at Estadio Nacional, Izaguirre departed for Scottish side Celtic in the summer of 2010, arriving for a fee of £580,000. He has impressed greatly since his move to the SPL, racking up three assists and one goal in 21 appearances for the Hoops. The consistent Honduran is sound defensively and offers a threat going forward, as highlighted by his run and cross to assist Gary Hooper’s second goal during last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Rangers.
However, any club looking to make a move for Izaguirre has been warned off by Hoops manager Neil Lennon.
“I am not at all concerned other clubs may be looking at him,” he said last month.
“And I’m not surprised because he is a quality player. But, he is our player, and will not be going anywhere.”
If Izaguirre keeps up his good form, it appears as though Lennon will face a tough battle to keep the highly-rated Honduran at Parkhead this summer.
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Against Barnsley, Liverpool proved that their biggest threat this season comes from within.
Arne Slot’s side won 4-1 to kickstart their FA Cup campaign, setting up a fourth-round tie against fellow Premier League side Brighton at Anfield, but perhaps the Reds flattered to deceive against the spirited League One side.
Liverpool are on an 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions, and Slot has steadied the ship after a wretched run of form that has left the champions well adrift of Arsenal at the top of the league table.
But performances have left much to be desired, with a new pragmatic approaching equating the avoidance of defeat to progress.
That is progress, to be fair, but the Liverpool faithful demand more. This team must excite and inspire, bringing fans that kid-in-a-playground feeling once more. If Slot hopes to spend many years in the Anfield dugout, he needs more creativity, which is why FSG are considering a new playmaker in the centre of the park.
Liverpool have held talks to sign Champions League midfielder
After Liverpool were held to a dramatic draw at Craven Cottage, Fulham boss Marco Silva said, “We controlled Liverpool”. He spoke of his side’s aggression and how the Reds struggled to match that.
To a point, this is true. Certainly, Liverpool have lacked verve in the engine room this season, especially when compared to last year. Alexis Mac Allister has shelled up, and Ryan Gravenberch’s flaws as an anchor man have been raised, even if he’s still one of the best in the business.
They can do it, though, as the recent draw against Arsenal showed. Liverpool’s biggest threat comes from within, and with the right addition, they could turn the tide.
Well, according to TEAMtalk, Arda Guler might be the man to bring Liverpool back to the top, with FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes understood to have made ‘numerous enquiries’ about the Real Madrid prospect over the past year.
Madrid have just parted with head coach Xabi Alonso after his tumultuous months-long stewardship, throwing plenty into doubt in the Spanish capital.
Guler may see this as a clean break, having dropped down the pecking order over the past few months, but with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all prowling, Los Blancos may want to cash in, having priced the creative midfielder at an unreasonable £130m.
How Arda Guler could become a Liverpool superstar
Funny that Liverpool should struggle to create after losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. The one-of-a-kind right-back is one of the incredible passers you’ll ever see, and what he gave Jurgen Klopp and then Slot from right-back is non-replicable.
Slot and Hughes recognised this, which is why Florian Wirtz was signed for £116m. The German operates from a more ‘normal’ creative area, but he is not of the same style as Trent, whose long, surgical passing is still missed.
Perhaps Guler can help rework that element into Liverpool’s line-up? The Turkish international, after all, has a whole wealth of experience performing from right midfield, though more and more often nowadays, he plays in the middle of the pitch.
Indeed, the 20-year-old has been labelled “the best centre-midfield prospect in world football right now” by writer Neal Gardner.
Arda Guler’s Career Stats by Position
Position
Apps
Goals + Assists
Attacking midfield
76
15 + 15
Right wing
62
15 + 19
Central midfield
22
4 + 6
Centre-forward
4
4 + 3
Left wing
4
0 + 1
Data via Transfermarkt
But Guler may be even more than that, with Santos star Neymar Jr. recently calling the up-and-comer “the best midfielder in the world”.
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That might be a touch overblown, Neymar, but we see your point. Guler left Fenerbahce in his homeland and joined Real Madrid aged 18, and he has starred 89 times, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists for his teammates.
Peer closer into Guler’s underlying ability and you’ll see why he could mimic Alexander-Arnold’s long ball-playing effect on Merseyside. As per data-driven site FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 11% for passes attempted per 90.
While Guler is considered an attacking midfielder, he could easily play in a deeper berth, orchestrating and directing play. In La Liga this season, he creates 2.2 chances per game, as per Sofascore, but he’s also won 55% of his ground duels, telling of composure and willingness when against the ball.
Signing Guler would bring Liverpool’s creative direction into a new focus, restoring that passing ability of Alexander-Arnold to the team, but in a different and new way.
Slot does not want to grasp at old straws, but reinvent this squad and push them further and further forward. Guler, for sure, could lead this new charge.
Not just Chiesa: Slot must bin Liverpool flop who lost 50% duels v Barnsley
Arne Slot must consider getting rid of this Liverpool stalwart for good after this underwhelming display against Barnsley.