Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has revealed that the club are yet to open talks with striker Christian Benteke over an improved contract.
Benteke still has three years left on his Villa deal after the £7million move from Genk on transfer deadline day last summer.
The Belgian striker has been in phenomenal form for the Premier League strugglers and a number of big clubs from around Europe are said to been keen on snapping him up in the summer.
Lambert has admitted that he will struggle to hold on to his prized asset if the Midlands club are playing Championship football next season but the Scot is hoping it won’t come to that.
Villa won away at Stoke last weekend and have a winnable game at home to Fulham today to pull further clear of the relegation fight and Lambert is not willing to discuss contracts until they’re safe.
“I think the most important thing is the league until the end of the season, I heard somebody say he’s been promised a new contract but I can’t have been a part of those conversations,” Lambert told Sky Sports.
“I speak to him all the time, not about contracts, I just tell him to keep it going really. And he’s never once mentioned anything to me about contracts.
“He’s got a contract here anyway as it stands, but I think it’s important we stay in this league and do as well as we’ve been doing.
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“As I said before I’ve never had one conversation with him regarding contracts or anything like that, he’s not that type of lad. I’m sure come the end of the season we’ll sit down and it’ll be just Chris and a few others.”
Who first dreamed up the notion of the release clause? Perhaps it was a ploy adopted from the business sector, perhaps it was invented by Mr. R. Clause himself.Either way, the release clause adds an interesting dynamic to the transfer market – a simple-yet-effective method of saying ‘If you want him that badly, this is how much you’ll have to pay. Don’t bother negotiating’Indeed, many release clauses are extortionate, especially in regards to younger players, but that’s precisely the point. Nether the less, the Premier League has never shied away from activating them throughout the years Âand just to prove it, here’s FIVE Arsenal are reportedly prepared to meet when the transfer market reopens in January.
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AYMERIC LAPORTE – £34m
Laporte from Athletic to Arsenal
Rumours of Arsenal activating Aymeric Laporte’s seismic £34millon release clause in January have already hit the tabloids:
That’s certainly an audacious sum for a 20 year-old who has only broken his 100 league appearances milestone this season. But the Athletic Bilbao prodigy is considered to be one of the most exciting defensive prospects in European football, whilst Arsenal desperately require added bodies at the back after obliging 5 foot 10 full-back Nacho Monreal to fill in at centre-half against Hull City last weekend. Indeed, the centre-back’s performances over the last few seasons, as detailed below, have shown great promise and progression:
And he’s currently leading La Liga’s charts for interceptions:
Once again, the France U21’s release clause is certainly excessive – the Gunners paid just £1million more for Alexis Sanchez this summer. But it seems like a wise enough investment, and just in case you need further convincing, here’s a look at Laporte in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/vXqN7EieWVs?rel=0
PACO ALCACER – £14.5m
Football – Sevilla v Valencia – UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg – Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla, Spain – 24/4/14Sevilla’s Diogo Figueiras and Paco Alcacer of Valencia in actionMandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Arsenal may have snapped up former Manchester United star Danny Welbeck on deadline day, but their strikeforce is hardly exemplary when compared to the quality and depth at Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. One solution comes in the form of Valencia trailblazer Paco Alcacer, whose £14.5million release clause is viewed as so cheap in his native Spain that one publication have dubbed him ‘the bargain of Europe.’ Indeed, in the current climate, that figure is remarkably cheap considering how potent the 21 year-old has been over the last twelve months, as shown below:
And that impressive form in front of goal has seen Alcacer muscle his way to the forefront of Vincente del Bosque’s plans for the national team – the Spaniard has claimed four caps since his debut in August, netting thrice along the way. Here’s a look at the 5 foot 11 forward in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/RCKK3deKD2w?rel=0
Fernando Torres-esque dare I say, demonstrating no particular defining attribute but a strong, varied all-round game. Arsenal have already been linked with Alcacer in the tabloids, along with Chelsea, but rumour has it Valencia are about to increase their starlet’s release clause to a whopping £40million:
JULIAN DRAXLER – £37million
Football – Chelsea v FC Schalke 04 – UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday Four Group E – Stamford Bridge, London, England – 13/14 – 6/11/13Julian Draxler – FC Schalke Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason CairnduffEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
The last thing Arsenal need right now is yet another attacking midfielder, but Arsene Wenger remains persistent in his pursuit of Bundesliga prodigy Julian Draxler.
The Schalke starlet was reportedly subject to a Gunners bid last January, and he’s been linked with an Emirates switch once again ahead of the coming transfer window:
£37million would constitute the second-largest transfer spend in Arsenal history, but the 21 year-old already appears worth the punt – take this incredible assist to Raul for example:
A creative forward with exceptional dribbling skills, a lethal eye for goal and an unusual 6 foot 2 frame, the German international is reminiscent of a young Zinedine Zidane. Here’s a look at his top five strikes in the Bundesliga:
//www.youtube.com/embed/wnImymrd_60?rel=0
He’s started the current campaign strongly too, netting twice in six league outings – including this goal against Hertha Berlin:
But whether the fans and the board could condone Arsene Wenger investing yet another incredible sum in an attacking midfielder remains to be seen.
WILLIAM CARVALHO – £37million
Arsenal’s midfield is in intrinsic need of some added balance and physicality – even Arsene Wenger has called for a signing “like Vieira or Petit” -and it appears the man to provide it could be Sporting Lisbon star William Carvalho. According to Portuguese publication A Bola, the Gunners failed in a deadline day bid for the 22 year-old, whilst other sources claim Wenger’s long-term interest will be revived in January:
The Portugal international is an absolute beast, measuring in at 6 foot 2 and weighing about 14 stone. That gives him an incredibly imposing physique which, combined with a simple-yet-effective play-breaking style, is quickly drawing the attention of the European elite. Here’s a look at Carvalho in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/A8jRQbn1LzE?rel=0
And his stats from the World Cup:
£37million is a huge investment, but it would at least be in a department of the Arsenal first team that desperately requires it. There are suggestions the Gunners could eventually sign Carvalho for significantly cheaper however, after rejecting a new contract at Estadio Jose Alvalade last month.
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Munir El-Haddadi – £9.4m
Football – Celtic v FC Barcelona – UEFA Youth League – Cappielow, Greenock, Scotland – 1/10/13Barcelona’s Munir El Haddadi (L) in actionMandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee SmithLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Representing the significantly cheaper end of the release clause spectrum is Barcelona youngster Munir El-Haddadi, linked with an Arsenal move back in September:
The 19 year-old has already demonstrated great promise in finding one goal and one assist in seven appearances for Barcelona’s senior side – including this goal against Elche:
This strike for the B team wasn’t too bad either:
Indeed, the 5 foot 9 forward is already looking like the next La Masia product who could make the grade at top level; Vincente del Bosque wasted no time in rewarding El-Haddadi with his first cap for Spain back in September.
The £9.4million release clause appears well worth the punt, but Barcelona are already planning to offer their latest prodigy a new deal, being currently on a youth team contract, that will see his buy-out fee rise to around €55million.
Despite admittedly never managing one of the Premier League’s top-four teams throughout his managerial career, Alan Pardew’s name still commands a certain reputation within the English footballing community.
He either comes across as a purposeful kind of coach with a clear emphasis on winning games in style – or perhaps more cynically – as just another average English manager who seemingly acts as if he’s above his own station with his various touch-line spats.
Either way, no one can really discredit the job the former West Ham, Southampton and Newcastle manager has achieved so far with Crystal Palace. The Eagles simply look like a completely transformed outfit under the refreshed guidance of the 53-year-old.
Although it’s definitely still early days for the passionate boss and his new role at Selhurst Park, with the distinct lack of other successful English managers plying their trade in the Premier League at the moment, would it be right to suggest that Alan Pardew is already in contention to be named the next England manager after Roy Hodgson departs?
The response to such a claim may shine Pards in a more deserving light than most would expect…
Under the somewhat stagnant management of Neil Warnock, and to some extent Tony Pulis before him for that matter, Crystal Palace weren’t exactly a team who were easy on the eye. Rightly or wrongly, the South London based outfit went about their business in a largely physical manner, with not a great deal of priority placed on technical flair or free-flowing moves across the pitch.
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However, now under the much more revitalized supervision of Alan Pardew, the spirit in and around Selhust Park couldn’t be much higher. The team have become a far better side to watch in general, their ability to break down the opposition’s moves and convert them into fast moving counter-attacks has certainly been impressive – and with the side recording four wins in their last four matches – the Premier League seems to have found itself a new threat for the top sides to contend with.
Even if this amounts to no more than an enjoyable honeymoon period for the new man in the dug-out, this is just the kind of management the English national team is in desperate need of at the moment. Nevertheless, there are still those who really won’t be signing themselves up in the pro-Pardew camp anytime soon – just ask the majority of Newcastle United fans who paid witness to the man in question throughout the beginning of the season.
Despite his recent turnaround in fortunes with the Eagles, St. James’ Park simply wasn’t a happy home for Alan Pardew. The supporters didn’t initially take to him after the shock sacking of Chris Hughton, he has faced constant criticism for being far too negative in his approach with the Magpies – and although he managed to take Newcastle to the brink of Champions League football at the end of the 2011/12 campaign – a great deal of the St. James’ faithful are more than happy that they don’t have to deal with their former boss anymore.
Having said that tough, working under the testing conditions set by Newcastle chairman, Mike Ashley, would be a tough task for anyone. The controversial club owner not only sold off the best talent Pardew had available whenever he had the chance, but he also completely failed to reinvest that money back in the team and often left his manager to hang out to dry when it came to explaining away such a situation.
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Alan Pardew’s ill-fated reign in the North East therefore deserves some consideration before any truly damning statements are made – but as this is the man who famously went head-to-head with Hull City’s David Meyler, gave a fourth official a clear push when things didn’t go his way, and also reportedly called Manuel Pellegrini a ‘f****** old c*** for his troubles – it remains hard to see the FA being brave enough to ever select such a character for national duties.
No, Roy Hodgson certainly remains their man for now. He is the calm, safe bet after all, regardless of the potential on offer from someone such as Pards. If things continue to go well down at Selhusrt Park next season however, then you never know what could soon be on the cards for the somewhat opinion splitting manager in the not too distant future…
Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has revealed that a January switch to the Premier League could tempt him.
The Spaniard has been heavily linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham recently, with the trio keen to bolster their attacking options.
Llorente looks set to leave his current club in the New Year, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
His refusal to sign a new agreement with the Basque outfit has led to criticism supporters, which hints that his spell with the club is coming to an end.
Athletic will be aware that a January move would benefit them, as he could potentially depart the Estadio San Mames for free during the summer.
Juventus were thought to be in pole position to secure his signature, but the 27-year-old revealed that he would be open to a move to England:
“Relax Athletic, I have not signed for any other team. January 1st could change things, we will see,” Llorente told restless fans according to talkSPORT.
“There is no agreement with Juventus.
“The Premier League? I like it.”
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At 6ft. 5”, the frontman would appear to be ideally suited to the Premier League’s physical nature, and has the technical ability to be a genuine star.
English teams will be free to discuss a pre-contract deal with Llorente in the New Year, but could attempt to draft him in a discounted rate instead of waiting.
Arsenal full-back Andre Santos is excited about the prospect of joining Gremio.
The 29-year-old has slipped down the pecking order with the Gunners in recent times, following a series of underwhelming Premier League performances.
This, coupled with the signing of Nacho Monreal, has led to speculation that he may be allowed to leave the London club, with a return to his homeland mooted as a possible solution.
Gremio are thought to be in pole position for his signature and are keen to tie up a deal before the registration deadline for the Copa Libertadores passes on Tuesday.
Santos, who cost Arsenal £6.8m from Fenerbahce back in 2011, revealed that he is close to a move and is eager to switch clubs:
“I have the best expectations,” he is quoted by Sky Sports via Lancenet.
“They are one of the biggest clubs in the country.
“I’ve come to Gremio to be a champion. I am very excited about this project.
“I have dreamed of working with Luxemburgo. He is a top manager in our football.”
Santos signed for Arsenal on a long-term contract on the deadline day of 2011’s summer transfer window, as Wenger set about addressing immediate concerns regarding his squad.
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After forcing his way into the Brazilian national team, much was expected of the defender, but he failed to adapt to Premier League football.
He had been linked with a return to Turkey with Galatasaray, but a move would be unable to be sealed until the summer.
Liverpool’s first seven away games are horrendous, probably the worst run of fixtures anyone could ever face. With pressure mounting on Brendan Rodgers towards the end of last season, a poor run at the start of this season could be the end of his tenure at Anfield.
That’s not sensationalism, that’s the state of modern football. Rodgers still deserves a chance, sure, but can the owners afford to give it to him if Liverpool are midtable after ten games?
It would be a repeat of last season in many ways. If Liverpool start slowly, they can blame the fixtures – last season they could point to the Suarez sale – and then put a run together from Christmas onwards. But that might not be enough to get them Champions League football. With United and Arsenal spending money, City will surely strengthen too and Chelsea will also feel they have enough firepower by the end of the summer to fend off the chasing pack. Liverpool will have to move forward quickly, not stand still.
And to his credit, Rodgers has recognised this. He’s made some very good signings indeed and all before the window has really even opened in earnest. There’s only a month left before the season opener – a second consecutive game away to Stoke, the scene of the crime as far as Liverpool are concerned – and Liverpool have a better squad than they did going into the last game of last season.
But the problem for Rodgers this summer was always going to be the lack of Champions League football, and whether the club could attract the calibre of players needed in order to bring his team on. The Europa League just isn’t catnip enough to Europe’s biggest stars.
So given that Rodgers has done alright so far, he’ll have some goodwill before the start of the season. But that could disappear suddenly if they start to lose games. It doesn’t matter how excusable those defeats might be, football is fickle. Logically, defeats away to Stoke, Arsenal, Man United, Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Man City shouldn’t really have a bearing on a manager’s position. But with Rodgers already under pressure Liverpool need to win some of those games.
He knows that Jurgen Klopp is just a phone call away from taking his job and that a poor run could really seal his fate.
And in fact, Klopp is in a wonderful position if indeed he does want to manage Liverpool. The German can take a few months off and watch from afar as Rodgers toils under the pressure of such a tough start. Then if Rodgers does get the sack, Klopp can come in mid-season, the tough fixtures already out of the way, and bring the team to a decent finish. Rodgers could do all the dirty work and Klopp can come in and finish the job, looking like the saviour all the while.
But that will only happen if Liverpool stutter in their tough few games and are unable to rectify the situation. If Rodgers is under pressure then the players will need to step up and do it when the chips are down. That’s what’s going to save Rodgers through this tough period, the players. If his young team can handle the pressure, after a poor end to last season and a tough start to the next one, then there’ll be no need for Klopp or another saviour come November time.
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The players Rodgers has brought into the club so far this summer must be players that he can rely on. That’s why Milner is perfect, he and Firmino are players who will help out the team defensively too. Milner epitomises the ‘honest, hardworking’ stereotype, which is exactly what you need when the pressure is on.
With Klopp waiting in the wings, the pressure really is on Rodgers and he needs the players to help him out during the opening weeks. But he’s bought well so far and maybe Klopp will have to wait a little longer to take over at Anfield.
Manchester United announced their second major transfer coup in Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, although the move has been coming for a while.
Linked since the end of last season, Man United fans can now officially call Shaw one of their own after completing a massive £30million move from the Saint Mary’s.
The 18-year-old starlet joins Ander Herrera, who arrived from Athletic Bilbao only last week.
But what does Manchester United see in such a young player to justify his hefty pricetag?
Here are FIVE REASONS to be excited about new Man United signing Luke Shaw.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON LUKE SHAW TO SEE THE FULL LIST!
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5. Shaw is still extremely young
Imagine what you were doing when you were 18. Well Shaw became the youngest Southampton player to start in the Premier League, is now the most expensive defender in British history, and has featured for England in the World Cup.
If Shaw can continue his amazing rise to stardom at Manchester United, then the Red Devils will have a world-class left back that can occupy the position for a generation.
Some critics and former players have even praised him as to being better than Gareth Bale, and if so, would mean that £30million would be just 1/3 of his value in the future.
4. He likes to bomb forward
//www.youtube.com/embed/0RReG8O5cnI
Luke Shaw, although considered a left-back, sometimes plays more like a left winger than he does a defender. The Englishman likes to bomb forward, doing all he can to help his team-mates score a goal.
Although he only managed one assist last season, Shaw made a total of 142 – around four per game – crosses last season. If your side-backs are able to get that many crosses, it means he has the ability to beat his marker to do so.
Which leads to…
3. Shaw is an exceptional dribbler
Out of all the top left-backs in the Premier League, Luke Shaw has beaten more players in one-on-one situations than any other.
Defenders trying to keep a Man United side at bay will already be having a hard-time marking the usual threats of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. With Shaw also an option marauding down the left, the task of keeping the Red Devils from scoring would almost be impossible.
2. If United didn’t buy him, he’ll be joining a rival
£30million may sound like a lot for a defender, but if the Red Devils didn’t make an early move, he could very well be announced as Ashley Cole’s Chelsea replacement.
Luke Shaw is a known Chelsea fan, publically expressing his desire to one day pay for the Blues. Shaw signing for Chelsea would be nothing less of disastrous, as seen when Cole signed for Chelsea which led to consistent years of glory.
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And with Shaw could follow several other youngsters, who are already looking to emulate his fame.
1. Luke Shaw is English
When was the last time you heard that an English player is set to become one of the world’s best? With England’s recent failings in international competitions, the massive transfer for Shaw represents the Three Lions now following in the path of their national rivals in developing grassroots football.
We are seeing a rise of young English players that now look to take over the so called ‘Golden Generation’, players that show excitement and hunger we haven’t witnessed in quite a while. If Manchester United – the Premier League’s most successful club – are willing to spend £30million for an 18-year-old Englishman, it means the future is looking bright for English football.
Here is finally potential proof that possibly sometime soon, EPL clubs do not have to pay massive amounts for a foreign player, but instead scout them from within England.
Arsene Wenger has always prioritised the Premier League. Through talking up the team’s ability to finish first (even if he didn’t really believe it himself) to ensuring that come the second half of the season when Arsenal were usually well and truly out of the title race, the objective was on finishing in the top four.
Yet it is extremely backwards to place so much importance in the Champions League. The club need UEFA’s top competition for the revenue it brings in; anything in the way of a deep run in the competition is simply a bonus. But since the move to the Emirates, Wenger has always been handicapped in his ability to field a strong team in Europe and continue to force the club over the line for a top four finish.
It’s baffling when you think about it. The club have been in a seemingly endless cycle of never really pushing on in their hunt for silverware, all the while talking up one of the factors that have handicapped them along the way.
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I don’t think Wenger’s tactical ability in Europe needs to be questioned – at least to any great degree. Two semi-final appearances, one which lead to the final in 2006, isn’t really something you’d expect from a club of Arsenal’s experience in the Champions League, but the manager has never had the resources to go all out.
When the team did make the final in Paris, it came off the back of a real struggle to overtake Tottenham for fourth. The same was true in 2009 when the club were eliminated by Manchester United over two legs. Arsenal had done surprisingly well to get as far as they did that year, but had it not been for the injection of life offered by Andrey Arshavin in the January window, Arsenal would almost certainly have failed to make the following year’s competition.
Sometimes it’s worth comparing Wenger to his managerial contemporaries. Manuel Pellegrini has done a lot with the little he’s had in the past in Spain. Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund, right across the board, were hardly a match for Bayern’s endless supply of resources but made it to the final alongside their domestic rivals. And yet Real Madrid have been failures in Europe up until Jose Mourinho arrived and put matters straight, to a degree. The Portuguese led the club to three consecutive semi-finals when the best they could muster previously was a trip to the last 16.
Arsenal’s failure to really deliver on the European stage is a result of the move to the Emirates. Bar 2006, the only season that Arsenal perhaps should have done more with what they had was 2004. Wenger had been building to a team of that ability and ferocity in domestic competition, yet when they failed to get past Chelsea at the quarterfinal stage, Wenger dismantled that squad with near-frightening pace. The importance should have been in building on that team and transferring their Premier League dominance onto the European stage. By 2006, the spirit of the Invincibles was completely absent. Many of the key figures remained, but as a collective the squad was far from an equal.
A lot of this is the reason why I’ve raised the question about the club missing out on the Champions League for a season at least. The problem is fans are too quick to concern themselves with matters on the financial front. They also want to throw in comparisons relating to Liverpool and their struggles to get back into the mix for the Champions League, all the while completely ignoring clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Lyon, and Bayern, among others, who have missed out on the Champions League but have quickly, in most of their cases, returned.
But then you’d have to question whether Wenger and the Arsenal backroom staff would have the same ingenuity to turn the ship around off the back of a season out of Europe. The scouting department comes into play, resulting, often, in poor acquisitions. Wenger has been rightly criticised for his lack of tactical expertise in the domestic game, let alone in Europe, so that adds to the overall problem too.
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The problem with Arsenal is that you can’t pick one fault and isolate it from the rest. It’s a domino effect that allows one poor decision to fall back on everything else. The club’s lack of incentive to change, or even their inability, has resulted in a vicious cycle and stagnation. This summer is billed as the end to all that and the beginning of something new. But for whatever failures the club have had in the Champions League, they do not solely lie with Wenger’s tactical approach.
Should Arsene Wenger be questioned for his results in Europe?
According to reports in The Telegraph, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw could be a target for former club Southampton during the January transfer window, but only if they were able to afford his wages.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Telegraph suggests that Saints are ready to act in the market next month following the £75m sale of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool, and the fact that they are just two points above the Premier League relegation zone as things stand.
The Telegraph reports that the south coast outfit would be keen on bringing former player Shaw, who has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle, back to St Mary’s and would be interested if they could meet his wage demands.
The 22-year-old has found life generally difficult since Jose Mourinho took charge of the Red Devils in 2016, but he did make a rare start in their 2-2 draw against Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday.
How has Shaw done this season?
It has been a largely frustrating campaign for the England international, who has found first-team opportunities hard to come by despite United not having an out-and-out left-back or left wing-back.
The likes of Ashley Young, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian have often been ahead of him in the pecking order this term, and Shaw has only made six appearances in all competitions.
Being involved in the side that lost to Bristol City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals and the one that drew with Burnley certainly won’t have helped his cause to play regularly, although he was named as the man of the match in the 1-0 win against Bournemouth earlier this month.
Would Mourinho sell him in January?
It depends on whether he brings in a replacement or not.
United have been linked with the likes of Juventus’ Alex Sandro, Tottenham’s Danny Rose and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon in recent weeks, and if one of those arrives at Old Trafford it could pave the way for Shaw to go.
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While he has been slightly more involved in recent weeks, the 22-year-old is still out of contract at the end of the season and with no signs that he will be offered a new deal, Mourinho may choose to cash in on him in the New Year rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer.
Leeds United suffered a last-gasp 4-3 defeat in a thrilling Championship encounter against Millwall at Elland Road on Saturday, slipping down to 10th in the standings as a result.
The Whites fell behind to an Aiden O’Brien goal before captain Liam Cooper saw red eight minutes before the break for a high challenge on Lions midfielder George Saville.
The hosts found themselves 2-0 down at the break after Lee Gregory’s goal, but the 10 men then produced an unlikely comeback with three goals in 17 minutes seeing them lead.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga scored the first and the third, but he was taken off in the 83rd minute with Thomas Christiansen’s men still in the lead.
However, late goals from Tom Elliott and Jed Wallace snatched the points for the visitors, and Christiansen was questioned on the decision to take the Hamburg loanee off following the final whistle.
According to Leeds Live, the 44-year-old summed it up in three words when he said: “He was finished”.
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