According to reports in Turkey, midfielder Jack Wilshere is closing in on a move to Super Lig giants Fenerbahce. The England international will leave Arsenal at the expiration of his contract this month and as such is on the lookout for his next career move, with Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle one side reportedly keen on luring him to St James’ Park.
And these recent reports suggest that the Magpies have one last chance to convince the 26-year-old of a move to the North East.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, injuries have decimated the vast majority of Wilshere’s career, with the 26-year-old only mustering 198 senior appearances for Arsenal during his ten-year stint in the first team.
But with 38 appearances for the Gunners last term, the most he has managed in a single campaign at the Emirates Stadium since the 2010/11 season, the Englishman may well have put his injury concerns behind him, and thus might be ready to command regular football once again.
And that is why Newcastle must act fast to try and bring the £18 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) to St James’ Park, as not only would he be a great addition to the squad, but he’d also be an upgrade on attacking midfielder Ayoze Perez.
Yes, the Spaniard deserves great credit for his efforts last term in finishing as the club’s top scorer in all competitions, but many of our resident Newcastle fans feel that he still doesn’t offer enough in terms of creativity and flair in the final third of the pitch.
And with the Magpies likely seeking to move to the next level this term, Benitez will surely be on the lookout for a next-level number ten to come in and run the show just behind the front man, creating chances for both he and indeed the other offensive players – Wilshere could be that man.
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Clearly, when fully fit and firing, the 26-year-old is one of the most influential midfielders in the Premier League given his incredible awareness and vision, alongside his ability to dissect opposition defences with his excellent eye for a pass – the likes of Joselu and Dwight Gayle would get ample opportunities if Wilshere was just behind them.
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But with Fenerbahce reportedly closing in on the England international, the time to act is now for Newcastle, who seemingly have one last chance to convince Wilshere of a move to the North East.
West Ham United are deep in the mire of a relegation fight after suffering another heavy defeat in the English Premier League on Saturday, losing 4-1 away to Swansea.
The Swans have now leapfrogged David Moyes’ side in the table, with the Hammers just three points above the bottom three, struggling for form. Just nine games remain before the end of the season and the pressure is on to pick up results.
Fans were left fuming with the result and performance, with many scratching their head at Moyes’ team selection and tactics, with veterans Patrice Evra and Pablo Zabalete deployed as wing-backs.
The duo were found lacking for pace all afternoon and supporters were particularly distressed with the performance of Evra, who failed to demonstrate why he was signed by the Irons last month.
Is the French legend completely past it at Premier League level?
One thing that most clubs’ fans usually do when a key player is due back from injury is to wait with anticipation until his return, in the hope that when he is back he will get straight back into the team and start making a difference for them again. That is of course unless that team is playing well already and the players that have covered said injured player’s position are currently in such good form that you wouldn’t want to see them dropped – not even for your record signing.
This is the case at West Ham United with the pending return from the injury table of Andy Carroll. The crocked star is making good and speedy recovery from his latest spell on the sidelines and is due to make his return around Christmas time, with some media outlets reporting as early as November.
Last season anyone associated with the club would have snapped your hand off at the chance to have him back from injury due to the fact that there was no one else able to play upfront and make any sort of impact, whether that be creating chances or actually scoring some goals. The squad there was thinly spread and very poor quality, especially in the striker department.
This season, however, is a completely different kettle of fish for the Hammers with an embarrassment of riches in the talents they boast all over the pitch, not just up front. They have acquired some exceptional players who are currently doing the business just fine thank you very much Andy Carroll.
Diafra Sakho has made the biggest impact so far, scoring in each of his Premier League starts; he has been partnered with Enner Valencia upfront who himself has shown moments of pure magic and creative play which has captivated everyone who has been lucky enough to watch him.
Some of the old boys have started to shine as well, Stewart Downing in particular in his new more central role at the top of the new diamond formation rather than on the wing has really come in to his element in recent games and has been a revelation.
With such a strong attacking force in place and a newfound ability to score goals this season, it begs a few vital questions now that there is an Andy Carroll shaped elephant in the room waiting to come back and upset the apple cart. First of all, who would he replace? Secondly, where does he fit in to the new system which involves a lot more on the floor, attractive football than last season? And lastly, should he even be given a chance considering that the squad depth and quality is so high?
It would be foolish to think that Carroll has nothing to offer. When fit and playing at the top of his game, he is unstoppable and a major threat to any defence that faces him. There is perhaps no one in the present team that deserves to lose their place based on present form, however, form does dip at times, fatigue or injury can come into play at some point and let’s not forget the African Cup of Nations which will see top scorer Sakho leave for a period of time. Carroll for now could be used as a substitute, imagine having been given the run around by Valencia and Sakho for 60 minutes only to see that the big Geordie is coming off the bench to give you an extra half hour of grief!
Should he be needed once fit, he can come in and replace or step in whenever the time will come for him to do so. Like with any player at any club at any level, there is always a chance to come back and try prove yourself one way or another.
The new system looks like it suits Andy less than the old one, being so tall, he likes the long ball pumped up high so he can feed off it to another player. Just because West Ham are now playing a different way does not mean that he cannot still have a good impact off the lofted ball from time-to-time. He has a lot more talented players to actually mop up his headers for him than he has ever had before. Rather than heading it into empty space, this time round he has so many decent players that will be there, ready for the knock down and will be pouncing on the opportunity to score – which means if anything Carroll’s return actually compliments the new style of play and the new faces in the squad and can help add even more goals to the equation than they already have.
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There is no doubt that Andy brings a lot of positives to the table and it will not be at the expense of dropping someone from the team, he will add to what they already have as a great impact sub, and assistant manager Neil McDonald has also said that the current formation and tactics will stay the same regardless, they would even consider playing two up front meaning Carroll could combine with Sakho or Valencia as a partnership-again, adding to the positives rather than taking anything away.
West Ham fans, you star is about to make a return, welcome him with open arms, the kid is hungry for goals and success and only good can come from it. Ignore the lazy journalism linking him away from the club in January because your gaffer has got the powerhouse firmly in his plans.
Two late goals from Michu earned Swansea a shock victory over a below-par Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their last two games on the road Arsene Wenger’s men were hoping to get back to winning ways on home soil, but they were left stunned by devastating late double from the Swans’ leading scorer.
The 26-year-old Spaniard was a virtual unknown when signed by Michael Laudrup from Rayo Vallecano for £2 million in the summer, but is quickly forging a fearsome reputation as one of the Premier League’s deadliest hitmen.
How the Gunners could use a goalscorer of this ilk as they once again looked blunt in attack and struggled to contain the visitors sharp passing and movement – a trait that used to be their hallmark – as a collective groan rang around the Emirates at the final whistle.
They had plenty of warnings before Michu’s double hammer blow at the death and should have been alerted when Angel Rangel nipped in behind a back four that was bailed out by a double save from Wojciech Szczesny.
Thomas Vermaelen then denied Nathan Dyer with a lunging block before Gervinho went close for the hosts, the Ivory Coast forward finding himself just inches from connecting with Carl Jenkinson’s cross.
After the break Santi Cazorla tested Gerhard Tremmel with a low drive, while Szczesny saved again from Rangel. Mark Clattenburg then waved away appeals for a penalty after substitute Olivier Giroud was brought down by Chico Flores in the penalty area.
Vermaelen then planted a header straight at Tremmel and their lack of potency up front was punished with two minutes left on the clock when Michu played a neat one-two with Luke Moore before curling the ball past Szczesny.
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And a superb afternoon for Swansea was wrapped up when the Spanish striker took advantage of Jenkinson’s poor back pass to score and leave Wenger pondering another looming crisis.
West Bromwich Albion should consider a move for Liverpool striker Danny Ings if Salomon Rondon leaves The Hawthorns.
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What’s the word?
Following the Baggies’ relegation to the Championship, a number of their first-team players were linked with moves away.
Jonny Evans has already departed for pastures new at Leicester City, while Jay Rodriguez and Craig Dawson have been attracting attention from elsewhere.
Rondon is also among the list, with the Birmingham Mail reporting that 10 clubs are interested in signing the attacker.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”257603″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch West Brom’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Championship season”]
If the 28-year-old does move on, the Baggies will need a replacement, and they should consider Liverpool forward Ings.
Does it make sense?
Ings has been plagued by injuries since his move from Burnley to Anfield in 2015.
Last season, the striker managed just 14 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, scoring once and creating a single assist.
Jurgen Klopp has so far resisted selling or even sending Ings out on loan, but the forward is in dire need of game time.
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West Brom may feel a little hesitant given the lack of minutes that the one-capped England international has racked up, but he certainly has the quality to score goals on a regular basis.
Ings would also have the hunger and something to prove if he made the move to The Hawthorns.
There is a risk from the club’s point of view as they will want a reliable goalscorer to help them win back promotion to the Premier League, but a cheap deal for a player that could thrive at optimum fitness is a risk worth taking.
As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers striker Jason Cummings is targeting victory against Celtic next week, believing his teammates can’t wait to square off against the reigning champions.
What’s the story?
Cummings was in lethal form yesterday against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup, netting his first career hat-trick and giving Graeme Murty a positive selection headache for the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ side this Sunday.
Now the striker wants to put the pressure on Celtic and let them know they’re in a title race.
As quoted by The Daily Record, the former Hibs man said:
We’re going to go and try to beat them, that’s what we’ll set out to do and push them as far as we can. Of course, we don’t want to see Celtic winning trebles and winning all the time. We’re trying to put a bit more pressure on them and I feel like we are. We can just take it week by week and win every game we can and we’ll see what happens. The boys are buzzing, these are the games you want.
Whatever happens this weekend, it’s guaranteed to be a frantic and exciting 90 minutes. It’s undoubtedly the biggest match for the Ibrox side in years and their first opportunity to get within touching distance of the Hoops in the league since promotion from the Championship.
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Will Cummings start?
Despite his excellent goalscoring turn against Falkirk, you’d still fancy Alfredo Morelos to get the nod over Jason Cummings next week, especially if Graeme Murty opts to play one up front.
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Morelos is better at combining with teammates in the final third and while not as clinical in front of goal, still has 17 goals to his name this season. Cummings is also an excellent option to bring on from the bench if needed.
Despite Murty’s side having scored 23 goals in their last six matches, their path to victory against Celtic will likely be inspired by an exceptional defensive performance first and foremost, get that right and it’s anyone’s game.
Last season marked Hull City’s most successful campaign in their 110-year history. After recording their highest league finish of 16th in their second spell in the Premier League – a position which is closer to the trapdoor of the relegation zone than the summit of the league or even mid-table safety, though in truth the Tigers were never seriously threatened by relegation – the club then went on to compete in their first ever FA Cup Final, running Arsenal close in a thrilling five-goal game in which Hull scored twice in the opening ten minutes.
The famous trophy was beckeded in the red ribbons of the North London club rather than the amber and black of the Humberside outfit as the referee called time on the game, and with it the season, though the Tigers could still reflect on a memorable and undeniably successful campaign, despite the prospect of a first piece of silverware being agonizingly snatched from their grasp in the depths of extra time.
Many Hull City fans could be forgiven for being satisfied with a slightly less memorable season this year, with Premier League survival the one modest wish. Reaching the cup final saw another milestone for the Tigers as they qualified for a European club competition for the first time, and though this was a source of pride and excitement for the club, there were worries that a demanding European campaign could have a detrimental effect on their domestic performances. As it happens, Hull exited the Europa League in its early qualifying stages to Belgian club Lokeren, which for many came as both a disappointment and a blessing, allowing the club to focus on their primary aim of consolidation in the league.
Hull City manager Steve Bruce, however, is not one to rest on his laurels. After a miserable spell in charge of Sunderland which was destined to end badly, this is a man who still feels he has a point to prove, despite having overseen two successful campaigns at the KC Stadium. Bruce knows that he possesses the tactical nous to cope with the challenges of Premier League football, with his tinkering between a back three a conventional back four impressing many last season. His astute dealings in the transfer market also caught the eye, with the excellent Tom Huddlestone – a £5million signing from Tottenham Hotspur – bringing composure to the Hull midfield, whilst January acquisitions Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long showed early signs of becoming an effective striking duo.
Long’s stay at the club ended up being short-lived following his move to Southampton in the summer, and knowing full well that strengthening would be needed to see the club develop on their promising second stint in the Premier League, Bruce wasted no time in delving regularly into the transfer market. After early deals for Robert Snodgrass, Jake Livermore, Tom Ince and Michael Dawson – useful additions no doubt, but unlikely to generate much attention outside of Humberside – Hull City became one of the stars of Deadline Day, the transfer window’s grand finale.
Their quartet of last-minute signings suddenly sees the Tigers boasting a seriously impressive squad for a recently promoted side – with the vastly underrated Mohamed Diamé, the mercurial, fleet-footed Hatem Ben Arfa and the skilful Uruguayan duo of Gaston Ramirez and Abel Hernandez, Hull now possess players who have the potential to show that an FA Cup Final appearance does not have to be the apex of the club’s achievements.
This influx gives Bruce a wealth of options with regard to his formation and his starting eleven, though with such an array of wide attacking players a 3-5-2 may no longer be best suited to the team. A provisional 4-2-3-1, however, would allow Hull’s new recruits to slip seamlessly into the side, with the experienced Dawson and club captain Curtis Davies forming a central defensive partnership, a midfield pair of Diamé and Huddlestone to protect the back four, an attacking midfield trio of Ben Arfa, Ince and Ramirez – the latter occupying the number 10 position – and a lone striker in the form of Hernandez or Jelavic.
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It must be remembered that Hull City’s impressive outlay in the transfer market – Hernandez was a club record signing at £10 million – has only been made possible due to the generosity of owner Assem Allam and his continued faith and belief in Bruce’s vision for the club. If Allam could only abandon his universally derided plans for a rebranding of the club, then Hull City fans may be able to look forward with cautious optimism and see last season’s exploits as a mere stepping stone to further success, rather than the absolute limits of the Humberside club’s capabilities.
Tottenham slumped to an embarrassing 5-2 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend, the second in as many seasons by such a scoreline, with Emmanuel Adebayor’s dismissal proving absolutely pivotal in turning the tide against the visitors, but how much can we truly glean from the two teams first meeting this season and will the balance of power ever definitively shift?
Make no bones about it, Arsene Wenger’s side so far this season have struggled at both ends of the pitch, and for a 2-minute period against ten-man Tottenham, shortly after half-time, they seemed baffled by Andre Villas-Boas’ brave and bold tactical shift, and an element of panic was clearly present. After a poor recent run of results, confidence and belief are obviously in short supply, but never has a game turned so much on one decision, with Tottenham in the ascendancy prior to Adebayor’s crazy and reckless red card challenge.
Praise must be attributed to Arsenal for the way that they went about their business after that point, though, and they were ruthless, persistent and clinical, driving home their man advantage, while Tottenham once again, and not for the first time this Premier League season, displayed a worrying tendency to capitulate under pressure.
That all three of the club’s summer signings in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla all scored, on a day when a Robin van Persie-led Manchester United side slumped to a deeply disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Carrow Road is symbolic, and all three appear to be more than finding their feet in their relatively new surroundings. Cazorla was absolutely outstanding throughout, Podolski is an intelligent, unselfish, instinctive player, while Giroud has hit a purple patch of form in front of goal at a time when it was greatly needed.
We are often told that Arsenal are a team in decline, and they may well be, but performances like this one, with the added caveat that it was against ten men, must remind observers of the frightening attacking threat that they still possess. If only they could defend with even the slightest measure of conviction, then they’d surely be assured of a top four place.
That the club have clung quite so readily to the hope that Financial Fair Play (FFP) is going to be implemented strongly speaks volumes of the steady but gradual slide from the pinnacle of the English game that the Gunners have suffered in recent times. This current squad is vulnerable in several areas and mentally fragile, but the fact that they are still just four points off fourth place in the league points to two things – that the competition throughout the league is fierce but that the spot still remains up for grabs, and that despite their struggles at both ends of the pitch and failing to find their best form, they are still within touching distance.
Look at Tottenham and it’s clear that they were missing several key players and their inability to properly replace Luka Modric in the summer with a like-for-like player capable of dictating the tempo from deep has hurt them badly, as does the continued absence of the team’s driving force from midfield, the increasingly important Moussa Dembele, through injury.
Elsewhere, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Scott Parker and Younes Kaboul were all missing, which is pretty much the spine of the side, and when you approach it from that perspective, their start which sees them lie in eighth in the table, two points behind their rivals, isn’t that bad a start.
Villas-Boas’ assertion that they were the better team during the game was patently ridiculous and can be seen as little more than an attempt to deflect attention away from Adebayor’s terrible challenge on Cazorla. They are a team in transition, more so than Arsenal, still coming to terms with life after van Persie, and the change in style and formation will take time and lead to several more frustrating performances.
When you analyse both squads, it’s pretty much a dead heat in terms of quality and the two have certainly grown closer in recent years. When everyone is fully fit, Tottenham perhaps have a slightly better, more balanced starting XI but Arsenal have more deadwood but also more strength in depth and over the course of a long campaign, as it proved last term when Harry Redknapp’s baffling refusal to rotate his squad caught up with the side down the home straight, it can certainly play a part.
The 1994-95 season was the last time that Tottenham finished above Arsenal in the league, and quite how they threw such a big lead away last term to end that run beggars belief, but signs of progress are there for all to see. Nevertheless, while Wenger’s side are a declining force in terms of silverware, they still remain competitive and on their day, capable of beating almost anyone in the league.
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It’s an extremely difficult question to come to a definitive conclusion with, as one club is at the beginning of a new cycle and another looks to be coming to the end of one. In terms of ability, there’s barely anything between the two teams, but it’s all about that crucial consistency against the other teams in the league, which both have struggled with this term.
You sense that any power shift over the next few years will be temporary and it may switch back and forth several times, but just so long as Arsenal retain bragging rights and a higher league finish, it’s hard to look anywhere else for the time being.
Craig Dawson and Ben Foster have given huge indications that they want to leave West Bromwich Albion after refusing to go on the club’s pre-season tour.
The newly-demoted Championship outfit arranged a six-day trip to Portugal to begin preparations for the new campaign.
However, Dawson and Foster opted not to be part of the travelling party, with BBC Sport reporting that the pair will be fined.
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Foster is believed to have been attracting interest from numerous Premier League clubs.
Dawson, on the other hand, is reportedly wanted by Burnley, who have also been linked to Jay Rodriguez.
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The Baggies are yet to bring in some new faces to The Hawthorns, which is concerning given that a handful of players are said to be on the way out of the club.
This news has not been warmly welcomed by the fans, with some taking to Twitter to hit out at the duo.
According to Calciomecarto, Manchester United are prepared to rival Barcelona in the race to sign Gremio’s highly-rated Arthur.
What’s the story?
Reports in Spain state that Barcelona are keen to complete the signing of Arthur from Gremio as soon as possible, while reports in Italy state that United are still hopeful of beating the La Liga leaders to his signature.
The 21-year-old has risen to prominence with Brazilian side, Gremio. In 51 appearances for the club, the midfielder has scored two goals while also lifting the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores.
It is reported that Jose Mourinho is unhappy with his current midfield options, and he’s eager to sign midfield reinforcement in the summer transfer window.
What will he bring?
Indeed, one of Arthur’s primary talents is his versatility. The Brazilian player can operate as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder or even as an attacking midfielder – such flexibility is useful for any team.
His most accomplished talent is his passing ability, which he exercises to terrific effect during games. Furthermore, he has developed a tendency to lay off the ball. Without question, he’s an exceedingly talented and promising player.
Does Mourinho need him?
Except for Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, United’s midfield options are either approaching 30 or have already reached 30 years of age. Moreover, Marouane Fellaini is widely expected to depart United at the end of the season. Thus, it is logical for United to sign another midfielder.
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At the age of 21, Arthur will provide United’s midfield with youthful exuberance and treasured squad depth. Alongside Paul Pogba, the duo could prove to be an effective long-term partnership for the Red Devils.
Arthur is unequivocally talented and is widely tipped to become a global star, a move for the Brazilian would be excellent business from United’s perspective.