Arsenal and Tottenham have been put on red alert after prime striking target Moussa Sow admitted he is unsure of his future at Lille after contract negotiations came to a standstill talkSPORT understands.
The 25-year-old was linked with a number of leading European clubs during the summer transfer window after a superb season in Ligue 1 saw him top the scoring charts with 25 goals.
Despite strong interest from the Premier League duo the French club managed to hold onto the Senegalese international but now his future is up in the air after admitting he doesn’t know whether he will be at the Stade Lille-Metropole beyond the current campaign.
He said: “Now in my head I do not know what will happen at the end of the season.
“I honestly can not tell if I am going to go or stay. “[On contract negotiations] this worries me. As things stand I am the type of player who wants to talk on the pitch.”
Lille boss Rudi Garcia keen to tie him down to a new deal with his current contract ending in 2013 but Sow is mulling over a move elsewhere and switch to England looks increasingly possible.
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It’s unknown whether Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger are considering up January bids or are prepared to wait until the summer is but news of the strikers uncertainty over his future is positive as both are desperate to add a consistent goalscorer to their ranks.
Lyon and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has hinted he would be interested in moving to Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to be drawing up a list of transfer targets after current number one gloveman Edwin van der Sar announced that he would retire at the end of the season.
Lloris is reportedly on Sir Alex Ferguson’s wish list, but while admitting he was flattered by the interest, the 24-year-old insisted he is happy at Lyon.
“Manchester United is a great football club,” Lloris told radio station RMC. “They are one of the most successful clubs in the world, so, of course, Manchester is one of the clubs that make me dream.”
“Moreover, it is unfortunate to lose a keeper like Van der Sar because even at 40 he is still able to do exceptional things. I also think he could keep playing.”
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“But for me, there is no question of leaving Lyon for the moment.”
The introduction of new squad rules concerning home-grown players and the well-documented state of Liverpool’s finances means that Rafael Benitez (or whoever is manning the Anfield hot-seat next season) will probably have to utilise some of the vast wealth of youth talent currently available at Anfield next season. A once-fertile youth system has undergone something resembling a drought over the last ten years, but the current crop of youngsters emerging at Liverpool have managed to invoke the excitement that was last seen around the time of the first-team graduations of the likes of Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Steven Gerrard.
Amongst this crop, I believe that the following five starlets are most likely to make a first-team breakthrough next season.
Daniel Ayala – Defender – 19 years
Strong and tall, the Sevilla-born defender Daniel Ayala was thrown into the deep end a few times for Liverpool last season and excelled on each occasion. Deployed as a substitute against both Tottenham and Chelsea, Ayala admirably managed to quell the attacking threats posed by the likes of Jermain Defoe and Didier Drogba. The young Spaniard also started during 4-0 romps against both Burnley and Stoke City, impressively marking his first competitive starts for the club with clean sheets.
The decline of Jamie Carragher and injury proneness of both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel means that Ayala is likely to feature more prominently next season. With his contract recently extended until 2012, Ayala is assumed to be highly-rated by the Anfield management. Carragher himself has praised the 19-year-old, informing the club’s official magazine that, “He’s only played two games but we’ve had two clean sheets. It was a lot more difficult at Burnley because we were under pressure in the first half but for a young lad to come in, in what was again a makeshift defence in only his second senior start, he did very, very well. Although the result makes it look easy, it certainly wasn’t.”
Lauri Dalla Valle – Forward – 18 years
Compared to a young Fernando Torres, it is safe to say that the young Finn is one of the most exciting prospects at Liverpool. Being likened to the darling of the Kop is high praise indeed, but Dalla Valle’s pace, work-rate and finishing ability all bear testament to this sentiment.
Upon arrival from Finnish side JIPPO in 2008, Dalla Valle fired in 20 goals in 28 outings for the club’s U18 side. Having been subsequently promoted to the reserve side, the Finn took to reserve team football like a duck to water, most notably firing in a 32 minute hat-trick in the 5-1 FA Youth Cup drubbing of Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium. The dearth of striking options in the absence of Torres means that Dalla Valle may get the chance to showcase his talents for the first-team next season.
Martin Kelly – Defender – 20 years
A key member of Gary Ablett’s title-winning reserve side of 2007/08, local lad Martin Kelly certainly possesses the quality to establish himself within Rafael Benitez’s first team next season. Having made his senior debut as a substitute in a Champions League clash with PSV during 2008, Kelly made his first start against Lyon last year, deputising for the injured Glen Johnson. Kelly’s confident and assured display on the right-hand side of Liverpool’s defence saw the defender named as man of the match on the club’s official website.
Following a return from injury, Kelly made his Premier League debut, coming on as a substitute during the 4-1 demolition of relegated Portsmouth. The elegant defender is capable of playing in a range of positions across the back four, and is highly-rated by Rafael Benitez and his team. Expect to see more of the 20-year-old next season.
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Dani Pacheco – Forward – 19 years
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Cheekily poached from Barcelona in the summer of 2007, Dani Pacheco looks destined to forge a stellar career at Anfield. The 19-year-old made a series of cameos for the first team last season, notably coming close to scoring with his first touch upon his Liverpool against Fiorentina last year.
The creative forward, who operates just behind the main striker, is equally gifted with his goalscoring and chance-creating abilities. Whilst bereft of height, Pacheco possesses great vision and technique, as well as an eye for goal. The undisputed star of the reserve side, Pacheco has drawn admiration from Rafael Benitez, with the former Valencia manager stating that, “He is a player with talent and if he can keep working hard, he will use it more effectively. Sometimes players with talent are a little bit inconsistent, so if he works hard, like he is doing now, he can be very, very important. Everybody can see him playing really well with the reserves, scoring fantastic goals and getting a lot of assists. He is a player who can make a difference in the final third, which is what the fans like.”
Jack Robinson – Defender – 16 years
At the tender age of 16 years and 250 days, Jack Robinson is the youngest player to have ever played for Liverpool’s first-team. Having made Anfield history during the side’s 0-0 draw with Hull City, great things are expected from the Warrington-born defender.
Yet to feature for the club’s reserve side, Robinson has become a key member of Rodolfo Borrell’s U18 team. The left-back is noted for his sweet left foot and quality in the final third, as well as assuredness in defence. The departure of Fabio Aurelio means that Emiliano Insua is now the only recognised left-back within Liverpool’s first-team squad; in the instance that Aurelio isn’t replaced, it is likely that Robinson will feature more frequently for the first team next season.
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Kyle Walkers stunning 25-yard strike settled a terrific North London derby as Tottenham ran out 2-1 winners against Arsenal at White Hart Lane.
The young right back struck with 17 minutes remaining to hand Spurs a well earned victory after Aaron Ramsey had cancelled out Rafael van der Vaarts opener. It was the seventh game without defeat in league and dup for Harry Redknapp’s side and the boss will be relieved his players emerged with all three points this afternoon. The 167th meeting between the two North London clubs was played at a frantic pace and the Gunners will feel they deserved at least a point after working hard to draw level. After three wins on the trot in all competitions Arsene Wenger’s side looked like they had finally shaken off their dreadful early season form only but were unable to cope with the hosts as they controlled the opening exchanges. It took the visitors a good 15 minutes to find their rhythm and they should have taken the lead through Gervinho on the half hour mark. Captain Robert Van Persie did brilliantly to beat Younes Kaboul down the left only to see his teammate shoot tamely wide of Brad Friedel’s goal.
It proved to be costly as Van Der Vaart struck five minutes before half time to give the hosts the lead. Former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor played a key role chipping a delicate pass into the Dutchman who brought the ball under control before firing past Wojciech Szczesny. The Polish keeper had to be at his best to deny Adebayor for getting on the scoresheet after the restart brilliantly turning the Togolese international’s placed strike behind after he broke the offside trap and found himself one on one. That save allowed Arsenal to get themselves back into the game and Ramsey did just that turning in Alex Songs low cross from close range after a bulldozing run down the left. Redknapp identified the need for a combative presence alongside Scott Parker and duly brought Sandro on in place of Van Der Vaart allowing Spurs to establish a foothold on the game. Attention then turned to Bacary Sagna on 70 minutes after the French fullback was stretchered off with a serious looking ankle injury after Benoit Assou Ekotto’s challenge caused him to land awkwardly on the turf.
That seemed to unsettle the Gunners and they were made to pay for their drop in concentration as Walker lashed home the winner. Szczesny will feel he could have done better as the ball dipped and swerved all over the place making it difficult to judge. He did redeem himself with seven minutes remaining palming Defoe’s fierce strike away from goal as Arsenal chased their second equaliser of the game. But it was Tottenham who looked the more likely to score and Luka Modric almost did just that in the final minutes only to see his shot find the side netting. It didn’t matter though as Spurs held on to secure a third straight win in this fixture and leave Wenger back at square one.
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Brisbane Roar have shown no mercy to wooden spoon certainties North Queensland, beating the Fury 2-1 at Skilled Park on Tuesday.
Rescheduled and moved to the Gold Coast after Cyclone Yasi rendered North Queensland’s Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville unusable, the match was effectively a dead rubber between the newly-crowned champions of the A-League and a side anchored to the bottom of the table and battling to avoid a seventh-straight defeat.
But both teams played with heart and intent, and goals to Brisbane’s Mitch Nichols and Henrique and a freak strike from Fury fullback Andre Killian ensured the 1003 fans on hand to watch a game on neutral territory went home entertained.
It took just 14 minutes for the Roar to open proceedings through Mitch Nichols, set up by in-form youngster James Meyer at the top of the box.
The midfielder’s first shot was blocked but the scraps fell to him again and he followed up with a fierce volley that flew into the back of the net.
Despite their uncertain future and a guaranteed wooden spoon, the Fury made a fist of things and took the game to Brisbane by engineering their fair share of chances.
In the 27th minute, defender Simon Storey danced past two orange shirts before launching a powerful shot from distance, though Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos had it covered.
Nichols should have had his brace 10 minutes later when Matt McKay fed him the perfect ball for a shot, but he elected to play a pass across the goal and it was easily dealt with by the Fury defence.
Kosta Barbarouses went close in the opening stages of the second half after running half the field on the counter attack to go one-on-one with Fury goalkeeper Justin Pasfield, but defender Mark Hughes saved the day and chased him down with an inch-perfect tackle that robbed the Roar of a certain goal.
But the Roar’s second goal did come in the 58th minute through some terrific one-touch trickery from Ange Postecoglou’s men, with Thomas Broich, Barbarouses and Henrique all linking together to toy with the North Queensland rearguard.
From the edge of the box, Broich played in Barbarouses with a lob that was expertly flicked onto Henrique, and the Brazilian laid on a deft touch to chip the ball over Pasfield to double his side’s advantage.
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That 2-0 lead did not last long, with North Queensland finally getting on the end of some good fortune as Andre Killian’s cross from the left was driven straight into Milan Susak and deflected over a helpless Theoklitos in the 65th minute for a spectacular albeit unintentional goal.
Franz Straka’s men continued to press forward in search of an unlikely equaliser but the Roar held on for a win that stretches their undefeated streak to 24 games, with Saturday night’s M1 derby against Gold Coast United set for a night of celebration with the return to Suncorp Stadium and the presentation of the Premier’s Plate.
North Queensland will fly across the Tasman for their final match of the season against Wellington on Sunday, and with rumours about their precarious financial situation continuing to mount it may well be their last in the A-League.
Everton and West Ham could be set to battle it out for Inter Milan striker Luc Castaignos, reports Talk Sport this morning.
The 19 year old has been allowed to leave by the Nerazzurri, and FC Twente’s recent announcement that they have not completed their deal for his services could result in a dog fight between Everton and newly promoted West Ham.
‘This transfer could take a while, because Inter are clearly not in a rush either’ announced Twente Chairman Joop Musterman.
A move back to the Eredivisie could suit Castaignos, who joined Inter last year from Feyenoord, where he came through the youth setup. However, a lack of urgency from Dutch outfit Twente leaves the door open for two Premier League clubs who could both do with a new striker ahead of the new season.
Sam Allardyce’s side are eager to strengthen attacking options as Ricardo Vaz Te remains unsettled in East London, and David Moyes’ Everton side must begin the new campaign without the ever present Tim Cahill, who is set to complete a move to the MLS this week.
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QPR are also said to be interested in the promising Dutch youngster, and are set to re-evaluate a £3 million bid that had earlier been rejected by the San Siro outfit.
Arsenal fans have warned to be careful for what they wish for in light of the criticism directed towards Arsene Wenger. Sir Alex believes that the Frenchman deserves a huge amount of respect, given the giant strides he has made at the football club during his tenure. Wenger has done his level best to redress the balance with a deadline day splurge, which has gone some way in pacifying some of his critics.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Gunners blogs that include the penny finally drops for Arsenal; Sol worth a gamble? Time for Wenger to utilise his £15m Plan B.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week
Caption Competition: And the award for the biggest ego at Arsenal goes to…
Sol worth the gamble at Arsenal?
Can Wenger recreate the Bergkamp and Henry axis within?
Arsenal and Chelsea looking to activate £3m clause
Arsene Wenger should consider his exit strategy
The penny finally drops for Arsene Wenger
How do you ever follow a footballing legend?
A shrewd £10m move by Arsene Wenger?
Time for Wenger to utilise his £15m Plan B?
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Best of WEB
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Wenger being lined up by the FA? Leave Our Man Alone!…… – Highbury House
Some pretty amazing Arsenal Data on injuries… – Le Grove
Arsenal’s Forgotten Man? – Online Gooner
One Of Us Speaks: This Time It’s For Real – A Cultured Left Foot
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Can Arsenal’s new centre-back emulate club legend Tony Adams? – Gunnersphere
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Sunderland have been left be reeling this week from the loss of top marksman, Darren Bent, who completed an 18 million pound move to struggling Aston Villa. Steve Bruce’s options have been further reduced by an injury to Danny Welbeck, the Manchester United loanee could be out for up to two months.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway must be tired of the platitudes directed at his side after every performance. It is clear that the Tangerines have become a Premier League side both in terms of the quality of their play and the way in which they have been able to see out results. However, there will inevitably be a feeling, as there was with Hull and Bradford before them, that a lack of top-flight experience may cost them further down the line. In terms of this season, however, they should be fine.
If Sunderland have lost their best asset, Blackpool look set to be keeping theirs – Charlie Adam appears happy to remain with the Seasiders until at least the summer.
The Black Cats have struggled recently, even without a major dent in their striking capabilities, and whilst Blackpool will allow their Wearside rivals opportunities, I would expect the home side to prevail.
Prediction: 2-1
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Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has urged the club’s board not to cash in on some of their star players this summer.
The Tyneside club exceeded expectations last season by finishing fifth in the Premier League, and as such a raft of Alan Pardew’s first team have been linked with big-money moves elsewhere.
The France international has stressed the importance of the club keeping players such as Demba Ba, Cheik Tiote and Papiss Cisse if the team are to push for a top-four finish again next term.
“Demba scored so many goals for us so it’s going to be important to keep him – and keep all the big players,” Sky Sports report Cabaye as saying.
“I hope the board are going to do the right things to keep them.
“I don’t know if we can go higher than last season, but we have to keep doing the right thing,” he concluded.
Cabaye himself has one of the team’s most impressive players last season, and also featured in all of France’s Euro 2012 games.
Despite reports that Manchester United were keeping tabs on the box-to-box midfielder, his comments also suggest that he is happy in the north east.
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Manchester City and Arsenal have all but agreed a fee regarding the sale of Samir Nasri – an even this is not too far away.
This news will not be welcomed by Adam Johnson who will now seek a move away from Eastlands.
This year is a big one for the former Middlesborough man. If Johnson can perform to his ability, he can establish himself amongst Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott as one of the starters for England on the flanks.
Despite a promising start to both his Manchester City and England career, Johnson has struggled to get into City’s starting line-up, and will certainly play second-fiddle to fellow left-sided midfielder Samir Nasri.
This will have a whole host of Premiership clubs fighting for Johnson’s signature. Reports last month suggested that Johnson was in line for a move on loan to Everton or Sunderland, and the interest from both these sides remains.
However, having sold two wide men this summer, Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is also observing with interest.
Newcastle would also be keen on a move for Johnson to bulk up their depleted and yet more depleting squad. Though it would be tough at first for fans to welcome the signing of a Sunderland-born, former Middlesborough player.
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