Manchester United and Manchester City are both understood to be in pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fernandinho in January, the Mirror reports.
It is believed the two Manchester rivals are poised to do battle for the signature of Shakhtar’s £16.5million rated Brazilian, with the player also stating earlier this month that he was set to leave the Russian champions in the winter window.
It had been suggested that City had become favourites to sign the 27-year-old however Sir Alex Ferguson is now ready to rival Roberto Mancini in a bid to bring him to Old Trafford instead.
The Ukranian champions have had an impressive Champions League campaign this season, qualifying in second place in group E ahead of current cup holders Chelsea.
Brazilian Fernandinho has been instrumental in this success, scoring in the 2-1 win over Chelsea last month and his performances in Europe have attracted interest from a host of top clubs, but it seems Manchester will be his destination.
He joined Shakhtar in 2005 and during his time has scored 51 goals in 273 appearances in all competitions while also earning his first international cap for Brazil in 2011.
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Manchester United currently sit six points clear of City at the top of the Premier League. If they could snatch Fernandinho out of the grasp of their neighbours as well, then it would leave the Red Devils in an even stronger position to claim their title back.
David Ginola recently tipped Gareth Bale to be one of the very best in the world. The former Tottenham winger also said that Spurs would struggle to keep the Welshman at the club in the future. Both may be true, but with Barcelona reportedly interested in the player, it’s extremely difficult to see a successful partnership between the player and La Liga club in the future.
That’s not to suggest that Bale isn’t good enough for Barcelona, yet that also shouldn’t force the assumption that he is; plenty of the world’s best are not necessarily right fits for Barcelona. And that’s the main point: you can’t always pair a good team and a good player and expect it to stick.
Gareth Bale has terrorised defences both domestically and in Europe, with his elevation to stardom starting in that game against Inter Milan and specifically Douglas Maicon. Not a far shout to suggest the Brazilian right-back has not been the same since. Tottenham were said to have been playing the best football in England last season. It was quick, it was rampaging and it excited plenty of people. But it was very traditional of the English game; it was two wide players using their pace to their advantage with a target man in the centre. Obviously there was more to it, but that was where Gareth Bale shone.
He was used from a central position as well, and there may have been some reason to belief that he could make the successful transition from a wide player to a central player. But his natural game is suited to having plenty of room to run into on the flanks and using his pace and strength to beat his opponents.
Again, not to suggest that Bale is not quite good enough, but where do Barcelona fit in?
Bale is not a left-back, and using him there is a waste of his talents. But even if that was a fair suggestion, Barcelona have already spent a decent amount of cash on Jordi Alba, a player whose age suggests he’ll be the team’s left-back for many years. Dani Alves is certainly not looking his old self, and there are plenty of suggestions that he’ll be out the door at some stage in the near future. But suggesting that Bale could take up a right-sided position seems pointless.
I’ve already touched on the idea that Alexis Sanchez is not a great fit for Barcelona. Another very good player, of course, but his game doesn’t seem to work well or even consistently enough for him to be seen as a great addition to their starting XI. He brings with him plenty of attacking qualities, notably his pace and ability to get behind the defensive line, but he seems to be a precursor to what we may see if Bale moves to the Nou Camp.
Barcelona don’t play a counter attacking game, quite plainly because they don’t need to. They see so much of the ball that their game is based around patient build-up play (or boring football to some). When there is so much passing around the edge of the penalty area and the opposition defence are defending deep, where is the space for Bale to showcase his talents and play to his best?
Imaginings of a parallel world where Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Barcelona would raise equal concerns. Ronaldo is the perfect fit for Real Madrid and their game, but putting him into the Barcelona team would certainly change all that. You’ve got to wonder if the world’s best players should be able to adapt, but there are obvious and reasonable lines of thinking that would suggest Ronaldo and Barcelona’s qualities would clash.
Coincidently, Gareth Bale would be an ideal fit for Real Madrid. But you’ve got to believe that a move to the Bernabeu is a no-go: nothing would allow him to replace Ronaldo on Real’s left flank.
With Barcelona, however, it’s also worth looking at the pace they do have in the side besides Sanchez. Pedro and Cristian Tello both move incredibly quickly, but they are often players who move in and out of the side, changing things when the game needs stretching. They’re also a set of players who do not compromise Barcelona’s natural passing game and the focus that is placed on Lionel Messi.
Tito Vilanova may look to significantly alter the way Barcelona play, and there is certainly some notable changes from the team under Pep Guardiola. Perhaps Gareth Bale would be seen as a natural fit for them, but at this stage that’s just guess work.
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Despite his age, It’s also important to refer to David Villa and his role in the Barcelona team. A striker who was moved out onto the left yet remains one of the deadliest finishers in European football. He was a huge miss last season, and there could be a decent argument that Barcelona would have retained their league title had Villa been fit.
But then even if Barcelona do acquire Bale and he adapts his own style, how would he fare in their passing game? His natural game would suggest he’s one of Europe’s best wide players, but does that mean he’s equally able to perform to Barcelona’s current system and be a success?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic didn’t fail at the Nou Camp, but it certainly didn’t work out for one reason or another. Alexis Sanchez has been mentioned and there were even suggestions that Cesc Fabregas was struggling. It just rounds out nicely to the fact that not every player can fit into every system, and that is the overriding reason why Gareth Bale to Barcelona makes such little sense.
Alan Pardew believes there is no issue between himself and Demba Ba, despite his decision to drop the striker against Everton seemingly sparked a public fall-out.
Newcastle boss, Pardew claims Ba’a agent was misquoted in the row and all is fine on Tyneside as the Senegalese frontman scored in the Geordies’ 1-0 win over Norwich.
Stories broke last week that Ba’s agent Alex Gontran had claimed his client would leave Newcastle if not regularly starting, but the ex West Ham boss claims this is untrue. The 51 year old said to The Journal, “Demba lead from start to finish, not just his goal, in the dressing room.
“Everything about him was top drawer. There has been so much nonsense written about it. I spoke to his agent, who sent me an email saying he got misquoted and I actually believe him. I’m not usually one to believe agents that much, but I do on this occasion.
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“I think Demba’s anger has been generated in the right way to improve for Newcastle United and there’s no way Demba can play every game for Newcastle United this season.”
Newcastle will be boosted by the return of keeper Tim Krul for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg trip to face Benfica.
The Dutch custodian has missed the last seven games because of an ankle injury picked up in the last-32 tie at Metalist Kharkiv, but he will oust Rob Elliot from the number one spot at the Estadio da Luz, in Lisbon.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew said: “He has trained very well and I personally think he is one of the top goalkeepers in the world.
“This is a great opportunity for him to come back as the number one ahead of Sunday [against Fulham].
“I don’t mind putting that pressure on him – he accepts at this level that if he wants to play in the Dutch national side, that is the pressure he is under.
“I have no doubt he will respond to that.”
Meanwhile, Chieck Tiote will miss out because of a muscle strain while Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran are ineligible.
Central defender Mike Williamson could feature after not playing since mid-January, while striker Shola Ameobi, midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Argentine international Jonas Gutierrez are in the squad.
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Teenagers such as 18-year-old Adam Campbell and midfielder Gael Bigirimana are in the 19-man squad which flew out to Portugal earlier this week.
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio is closing in on the signing of Vito Mannone from Arsenal, according to Sky Sports.
The Black Cats sold their number one Simon Mignolet to Liverpool earlier this week and Mannone has been eyed as the ready-made replacement.
The 25 year old has failed to break into the first team at Arsenal since his move from Atalanta eight years ago but impressed on loan at both Hull and Barnsley in the Championship.
Di Canio wants his compatriot to be the man between the stick at the Stadium of Light in a deal that will see Sunderland save a sizeable fee in that department.
The North East club are also in talks with Argentinean right back Gino Peruzzi over a switch to England from South America.
Peruzzi was the man that kept Brazilian hot-shot Neymar quiet over two legs of the Copa Libertadores semi-finals earlier this year and was expected to make a move to big European club this summer.
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Celtic boss Neil Lennon admitted the UEFA Champions League win over Barcelona was one of the proudest nights of his career.
Lennon’s side wrote their names into the history books with their momentous 2-1 win over the Spanish giants at a buoyant Celtic Park.
“It is right up there, one of the proudest nights of my career,” Lennon told Sky Sports. “It’s just a monumental effort from those players tonight on the anniversary of the club. It is a very special occasion to do themselves justice tonight and they’ve just beaten the best team in the world. It is two of the stiffest examinations they will ever get in their careers and they’ve come through it with flying colours.”
Lennon admitted they pinpointed Barcelona’s weakness at set-pieces with their first goal coming from a corner as Victor Wanyama netted from Charlie Mulgrew’s cross.
“Charlie Mulgrew is one of the best dead ball players around and his delivery was magnificent and Wanyama, who just keeps getting better and better, scores a great goal for us and then you try and weather the storm and you know it’s coming and there is not a lot you can do about it but we saw it through. Young Tony Watt comes on and a few of them are dying on their feet as they’ve given everything and Watt gives us a new lease of life and scores a brilliant second goal and it is going to go down in the history books of the club.
Lennon believes the win gives them a real opportunity of reaching the knockout stages with Celtic in second place behind Barca and three points clear of Benfica.
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“It gives us a great chance,” added Lennon. “Benfica beat Spartak Moscow so they are still on our tails so we’ve got to go to Benfica and try to raise our game again and we will cross that bridge when we come to it and we will enjoy the evening and the moment.”
Everton defender Phil Jagielka is adamant that uncertainty surrounding manager David Moyes’ future will not derail their season.
The Toffees have made a flying start to the Premier League campaign, and are still in with a chance of Champions League qualification with 12 games to go.
But, as the club enter the vital period of the season, Moyes’ future is far from clear, with the Scot delaying contract talks with chairman Bill Kenwright.
He is thought to be considering his future, and is keen to see whether Everton secure European football for next season.
Moyes has been linked with a number of jobs in recent times, with some suggesting he may be the long-term successor to Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is also believed that he could be keen on moving abroad to further his abilities and reputation within European football.
Despite this, Jagielka is adamant that the squad are just focused on performing week in, week out:
“The manager has pretty much brought every single player in, so we are his players.” He is quoted by the Daily Mail.
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“He has made decisions that he wants to make. He has come out in the press and said he will not sign anything until the end of the season, which is fine with us.
Doom and gloom seems to very much be the order of the day when talking about England’s World Cup hopes recently. Injury to Theo Walcott in the recent North London derby was for some the final straw, and has left many with little hope going into a pivotal year on the international stage.
I don’t contest that the injury to the Arsenal winger was anything but a major blow, but given the plethora of young talent looking to break through isn’t this a huge opportunity?
The name on everyone’s lips following a series of sensational recent performances is that of Raheem Sterling. The talented 19 year old has been on the cusp of breaking through with just the sole full international cap to date, but if recent form is anything to go by this could all be about to change.
Sterling has been an integral part of the Liverpool title charge, and it is his pace and cutting edge that have seen the ‘Reds’ tear apart opposition in the blink of an eye. At 19 he is clearly a player that needs nurturing, but on merit his inclusion on the plane to Rio is a must.
His club captain Steven Gerrard echoed this sentiment in a recent Telegraph interview:
“He’s in top form at a fantastic time,” Gerrard said. “I’m obviously disappointed for Theo with his injury but I’m sure Roy Hodgson is looking out for who is going to replace him and Raheem’s performances of late have been sensational.
“There are many candidates. Aaron Lennon’s playing well. There is Andros Townsend and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s back, but if you are looking at like-for-like – pace down the wing and someone who can make, score and create – then Raheem has got a fantastic chance.”
If there were a squad announcement next week, it would be hard for Hodgson not to select the precocious Sterling. With his near rivals only just returning form injury, it has been the Liverpool based winger who has shone and staked him claim. But the problem for Sterling in what has so far been a short career has always been consistency. Dogged by off-field dramas throughout, it is unsurprising that Rodgers has treated his development with caution. Yet ever since his dropping back down to the U21’s we have seen a totally different side to Sterling, especially in domestic football.
His 16 Premier League appearances this term have returned 3 goals with a remarkable 24 clear-cut chances created. Rather than the volatility of old, we are starting to see the young Englishman turn in performances week in and week out. With the likes of Lennon and Townsend still struggling for regular game time as well as failing to produce on weekly basis this could be the time for Sterling to nail down a place.
Gerrard was again quick to underline the way in which Sterling is beginning to deal with his meteoric rise to stardom a little better:
“You’ve got to understand his age. He’s learning the game. He’s got a fantastic manager to help him through that,” he said.
“He’s only 19 and you are going to suffer a dip in form. Who doesn’t have a dip at 19 years of age? But the mark of a good player and how good any player is going to be is how they come back from that. Can he react? To come back the way he has, he’s been one of our most consistent players in the last couple of months. He’s been brilliant.
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“I think he knows what the situation is. I said to him after the Stoke game ‘if you keep your performance at that level and you are going to make it very difficult for Roy Hodgson not to take you’.”
Sterling clear has the talent to be a star for club and country, but as he finally starts to knuckle down under the excellent tutelage at Liverpool is it finally time he gets that regular call from England?
On the back of an impressive season, this summer looks to be one of the biggest in Everton’s recent history. Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez – who during a different season may well have been manager of the year – the Toffees narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification while playing a brand of football that was made even sweeter for their fans by David Moyes’ failings at Manchester United.
Since 2013/14 closed, a number of names have been linked with switches to Goodison Park, with released Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o a somewhat surprise inclusion. The Cameroonian – once the highest paid player on the planet – is thought to be keen to stay in English football after one season with the Blues, and Martinez is rumoured to be ready to bow to his demands with a short-term contract.
Eto’o would certainly add goals and experience to Everton’s ranks, but it’s fair to say that more bodies will be needed in the blue half of Merseyside to cope with continental action. Here are six more players we think may follow Eto’o to Everton…
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON JACK RODWELL TO REVEAL THE SIX
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Romelu Lukaku
Half man, half force of nature. Lukaku was an absolute colossus for Everton last season during his loan spell from Chelsea, netting an impressive 15 goals in the Premier League.
//www.youtube.com/embed/MCtlZe6mbt8
But since the season close he has returned to west London, and hinted that Champions League football is what he’s after as the Blues plot his sale. But despite his reputation, offers have not been forthcoming, which leaves the door ajar for another season – or even a permanent transfer – at Everton. Martinez certainly has a good relationship with Lukaku, which may allow him to get the youngster back to Goodison Park.
Jack Rodwell
After breaking through at Everton, Rodwell left for Manchester City in 2012 in what has proven to be an unsuccessful switch. The 23-year-old made just one Premier League start for the champions last season, and looks likely to have even less of a role next term with Fernando having already arrived to compliment Yaya Toure and Fernandinho.
Everton are understood to have had a loan offer rejected for Rodwell in January, but a permanent bid this time around is likely to be more fruitful, with the youngster ready to get his career back on track after an injury ravaged few years.
//www.youtube.com/embed/BqQO3Pbah8c
Alessio Cerci
Fiery, temperamental and spiky. Cerci has had a turbulent career, but boy is he talented. The 26-year-old was a member of Italy’s World Cup squad on the back of a fine season with Torino, but don’t let the Azzurri’s woes fool you, he’s a fine player.
Most comfortable in the hole behind the main striker, Cerci uses his vision and eye for goal to help his fellow attackers, which was evident with his 13 strikes and 10 assists in Serie A last term. Torino are understood to be willing to sell for around £15m, which could make the silky forward a tempting risk for Martinez.
//www.youtube.com/embed/Usujl5C76No
Yannick Bolasie
With just a year left on his contract at Crystal Palace, Bolasie is attracting plenty of attention. Everton are among the pack of chasing teams, with Martinez keen to add to his attacking ranks to boost his side’s chances of coping with Europa League and domestic action next season.
//www.youtube.com/embed/Fw79-8nOqLg
A little on the raw side, the DR Congo international has bags of pace and potential, and may well be a diamond in the rough for the Toffees. Palace are desperate to keep the 25-year-old, but a cut-price sale may make more sense than the possibility of losing him for free in a year’s time.
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Enner Valencia
Three goals in three group games for Ecuador at the World Cup were not enough to haul his nation into the last 16, but Valencia could well benefit from the showings he produced in Brazil. The burly striker has shot onto the radars of clubs across Europe, with Everton being mentioned as a potential Premier League destination.
Currently plying his trade in Mexico with Pachuca, Valencia is likely to be available for a reasonable price and will be tempted by a switch to football’s dominant continent. If Everton needed any more encouragement, Jackson Martinez also starred in Mexican football before joining Porto…
Lacina Traore
Traore arrived on loan in January with a burgeoning reputation, but the Toffees’ battle to prise him from West Ham’s grasp ended in disappointment. The giant Ivorian only made one outing for the Merseysiders, but he did manage to find the back of the net, as a hamstring injury plagued his season.
Traore has since returned to Monaco – whom he only signed for from Anzhi Makhachkala earlier this year – but the French side are said to be considering letting him head away on loan again. Everton are discussing a deal with them, and could get the 23-year-old back to Goodison Park.
When Liverpool take on Udinese in the Europa League tonight at Anfield, one Italian desperate to impress will be Liverpool’s new striker Fabio Borini.
The 21-year-old became Brendan Rodgers first signing in the summer, but goals have been hard to come by thus far, netting just once in a Europa League qualifier against Belursian side FC Gomel in August.
Liverpool fans are not quite sure what to make of their new number 29, unsure whether he has been bought as a wide man or a central striker.
It seems Brendan Rodgers and perhaps even Borini himself also remain unsure.
He has been in and out of the side since his summer move, most often featuring on the right of a front three. During Liverpool’s recent draw with Sunderland he started as the central striker, and gave arguably his best performance since his summer move, looking a constant threat and only being denied his first Premier League goal by some fine goalkeeping.
During Liverpool’s recent 5-3 victory over Young Boys, he tipped the balance of play in Liverpool’s favour. With his side trailing 3-2, he came off the bench to play in that central striker role, and his hard work and movement caused all sorts of problems. Liverpool ran out 5-3 winners.
But when featuring in the wide positions Borini has struggled. In the home matches against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United he was virtually anonymous, and was let down by his final ball or finish when in decent positions.
What you can say for the Italian is that he does not lack passion or confidence. He has been seeing geeing up the crowd at every available opportunity, and celebrates each goal his side score as if its the winner in a World Cup final.
He has come out this week and said he is confident his goal drought will end sooner rather than later, saying : “it is just a matter of time”.
Brendan Rodgers is convinced Liverpool have got themselves a top player who is only going to improve.
“He is a young player I know very well and over time he will only get better and better,” Rodgers said.
“He is a good kid who wants to work and there is no doubt over the coming years he will prove to be a very good player for the club.”
It will be interesting to see if Borini features in his favourite position as a central striker tonight, as Rodgers will look to shuffle his pack once more.
The pressure is on for Liverpool’s strikers to fire following the departure of Andy Carroll, with Luis Suarez currently thriving in his role as Liverpool’s main man.
However Borini needs to start chipping in sooner rather than later. Let us not forget he is only 21 years of age, and started slowly at Roma last season, before firing ten league goals in the second half of the campaign.
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Rodgers needs to do all he can to help his young forward and give him a run in the side playing as a central striker. A first Premier League goal could open the floodgates, but it is unlikely to come soon if he is continues to be shafted out wide.
The Europa League campaign could be seen as a chance to really show what he can do, playing in his favoured position.
Playing against European teams without the physicality of a Premier League side could be the opportunity he needs to score some goals and gain further confidence.
There have been some encouraging signs to suggest Liverpool have got themselves a decent player for the future, which is what he should be seen as at present. Goals are what’s missing to prove they have a decent player for the present.
What do you think of Fabio Borini? Follow me on Twitter @LukeGreenwood89 and let me know your thoughts.