Liverpool have made their a £52.5m (60m euros) bid for Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir, 24, according to French outlet Le Parisien.
What’s the story, then?
Links between Fekir and Liverpool have been swirling for weeks now but Le Parisien report that the Reds have only just made their first concrete bid for the French international.
The report also claims that Fekir wants to have his future resolved by the time the World Cup starts but that the bid still doesn’t fully match Lyon’s valuation of the playmaker.
It also goes on to say that the ‘deadline’ of June 16, when France play their first match of the tournament against Australia may well not be met due to complications to be ironed out with the deal.
Liverpool must act fast again
The capture of Monaco man Fabinho was as impressive as it was sudden. Liverpool’s interest in Fekir has rumbled on for a while already and it would be in everybody’s interests for a deal to be concluded snappily once more.
Transfer sagas that run into World Cups are not a great idea for anyone; the club cannot adequately plan for next season, and the player is distracted through what should be a hugely enjoyable experience.
If Liverpool could snare another of Ligue 1’s top talents before the Russian showpiece begins, it would also lay down a major marker that they mean business next season.
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Reported Totteham Hotspur target James Maddison played for Norwich City in their FA Cup third round replay tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, and Spurs fans have given the club the green light to sign the attacking midfielder.
The Evening Standard reported earlier this week that Spurs are considering a move to bring the highly-rated 21-year-old to Wembley before the transfer window slams shut, although they face competition from Liverpool and Manchester City and will have to pay £20m to do so with the Canaries already selling Alex Pritchard to Huddersfield Town for £11m this month.
The No 10 took his fine form this season – he has scored eight goals and provided a further eight assists in 30 appearances this term – into the clash against the Premier League holders, impressing before he scored his penalty in the shoot-out as the Championship club were beaten on spot-kicks.
Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on his display via social media, and while one said the north London outfit “should definitely sign him”, another said he is “100% perfect for Spurs”.
Can you remember the Norwegian invasion on English football in the 90’s? Back in the days when premiership footballers had fathomable salaries and 40-yard back track followed by a studded tackle to the knee-region was applauded as much as a cup winning 30-yard strike in injury time? Norwegians left their mark on the premiership back then, playing important roles for the biggest club’s in the country. In the early days of the Premier League, Norwegian footballers were held in high stature. Their Norse bravery and fierce professionalism prompted an army – perhaps not as brutal as the Viking invasion in the 10th century, but equally purposeful – of Norwegians to cross the pond to fulfil their dream in the spiritual home of football. Now, there are two Vikings – Fulham’s Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise – left with realistic starting credentials in the Premier League.
What happened? How come one of England’s prime markets for foreign talent has so completely seized to be exploited?
As a Norwegian myself, I know how prestigious the English Premier League is for young footballers and aspiring talents in our country. It is only one- and a half hours flight away, and it is by our estimates the strongest, biggest and most spectacular league in the world. Most Norwegian kids who play football will grow up supporting an English team above any Norwegian side. Either it be Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United (or the poor sod whose dad forced him to wear Leeds kit), Premier League teams are the biggest influence on Norwegian footballers. We are Anglophile, and in football terms there is nothing better than the magnificent grandness of the English Premier League. Our Promised Land.
This became self-enforcing in the 90’s. When our best footballers started succeeding here, there was suddenly an inclining to support a team from Merseyside rather than the unglamorous local club, however sharp their performance in Tippeligaen – the Norwegian top tier – might be. I can remember myself having kick-abouts wearing a tiny replica of the Man United kit with ‘SOLSKJAER 20’ written across the back. I think the shirt was too small for any print, but a nice man in the local supporter shop sorted it out. The back looked crammed, but I had the name of my idol written on the back of the kit of my favourite team.
And players like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Henning Berg and Tore Andre Flo made dominating figures in the premiership. They rarely made a fuzz off the pitch, won titles, and – most importantly – became crowd icons. At Old Trafford’s Stretford End you can still find the ‘2OLEgend’ banner, as a tribute to the man who won the 1999 Champions League final. There was never any awkward questions asked with Norwegian players. I believe this is one of the few factors that made them so appealing. In terms of professionalism, Norway was actually ahead of England. A Norwegian player would gladly sit on the bench, work his socks off for 45 minutes in whatever position necessary, and go home to get in bed at an appropriate time. This is all part of the professional attitude expected from the modern footballer, but the reality in England in the two decades ago involved a tad more beer, and possibly showing up for training with a hangover.
However, the biggest reason for the decline of Norwegians in the Premier League is directly connected with the decline of Norwegian football. It’s simply not on the level it used to be. When the internationals made it to our two only World Cups ever in 94 and 98, with coach Egil ‘Drillo’ Olsen at the helm, Norway was a considerable force internationally. With a rigid defensive style, and a rapid counter attack, Norway created history, most memorably when they beat Brazil 2-1 in Marseille in the final group game in 98. This is still one of Norway’s greatest sports moments of all time. It took us to a sensational (and questionable) second place on the newly initiated FIFA-ranking. We played a type of football that stifled even the toughest opponents on the planet. But since then, Norway only made an abysmal appearance in the Euro 2000’s – the last championship we have played in to date.
Part of the problem with our football is that we are struggling to find an identity. Other teams found us out eventually, and the long ball towards a big target man with a runner rushing onto the through pass is too predictable for the modern game, and most countries are more than capable of securing themselves from getting caught on the brake. Likewise, we have failed to create players that are technically adept to play modern football. The standard of the national team has been in steady decline, and never really made a transition to an adamant way of playing football. Drillo made a comeback as national coach in 2009, but failed to make it through the World Cup qualifiers in a group containing Switzerland, Island, Cyprus, Albania and Slovenia. His pragmatic approach never agreed with the young players’ desire to move the ball along the floor. There was no plan-B, and Norway missed a phenomenal chance to play in Brazil.
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So the golden generation of Solskjaer, Flo, Berg and Ronny Johnsen has passed, and no one has really managed to form an effective side since. However, better times could be approaching for Norwegian football. Some of you might remember this summer’s Under-21 European Championship where Norway hammered an English side that fielded players like Wilfred Zaha and Thomas Ince 3-1. There is an interesting new generation coming through in Norway. Former Manchester United academy player of the year, and current Molde midfielder Mads Daehlie, has been described by coach Solskjaer as a Scholes-esque player maker, and Juventus are expressing major hopes for their 17-year old prospect Vajebah Sakor.
In a few years, with a little push in the right direction, the Norwegian might launch yet another crusade to the British isles.
Having tattoos is a fashion that many football players have adopted, with likes of Tim Cahill and Lukas Podolski having a teams crest tattooed.
But with news that Podolski is planning to get an Arsenal tattoo done on his left arm, to go with his Cologne tattoo on his right, lets look back at some of the terrible tattoos in football.
10 – Torsten Frings
At number 10 is Toronto FC’s Torsten Frings, formerly of Bayern Munich. Frings sports not so fashionable tribal tattoos on both arms, reminiscent of the days when tattoos were an uncommon in society.
9 – Wayne Rooney
Man Uniteds Rooney somehow thought it was a good idea to get a tattoo of skin ripping away, revealing words from his favourite band Stereophonics, lyrics that remind Rooney how he left education without any GCSE’s.
8 – Clint Dempsey
Having recently signed for Spurs, Tottenham fans can look forward to seeing Dempsey’s tattoo of a Roman, Jesus, Angel person on his left shoulder. A tattoo which also has someone lying on floor. I wonder what the meaning is?
7 – Christian Vieri
Vieri had no idea what the Chinese symbols he now has tattooed on his right arm meant. Luckily enough they mean strength, thunder and intelligence, a quality I think Vieri was lacking when also decided to have a quite unmissable arrow tattooed above.
6 – Djibril Cisse
Cisse is a man with many tattoos and a player you seems to love using his body as a canvas, a canvas which has leopard prints on it. Not just a few though, alot, apparently a new spot every time he scores, considering he has scored over 200 goals in his career.
5 – Marco Materazzi
Materazzi is another player with numerous tattoos, some good and bad. Most notably the diamonds tattooed on his left arm, diamonds that you could relate to a computer game.
4 – Fernando Torres
Chelsea’s star man clearly has a thing for Lord of the Rings as he decided to have his first name inked on his left forearm in Elvish. The language of the elves. As in hobbits and trolls, as in fictional characters. I am not sure what the translation for ridiculous in Elvish is, but I hope some one will tell Torres.
3 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
To the top 3, and we start off with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Yet another man with numerous tattoos, again some good and some bad. But the one that stands out are the out of place playing cards on his side. Supposedly for luck, I’ll let you decide whether it has worked or not.
2 – Stephen Ireland
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The Villa midfielder has one major tattoo, on his back. Now, it is not the most conventional tattoo and all that needs to be said about it is that, well… Stephen Ireland has a pair of angel wings tattooed on his whole back.
1 – Artur Boruc
In first place is former Celtic shot stopper Artur Boruc. Boruc has a monkey tattooed on his belly, the monkey being upside down by the looks of it. To myself, one of the most ridiculous tattoos I have seen and one that makes me laugh at Boruc and his monkey.
Wojciech Szczesny became surplus to requirements at Arsenal before he permanently left the club in 2017.
Petr Cech and David Ospina were first and second choice respectively under manger Arsene Wenger, who ended his 22-year spell in charge of the Gunners last week.
Szczesny began dropping out of the team in 2015 when he was sent on loan to Roma, where he spent two years before sealing a permanent switch away from Arsenal.
The 28-year-old moved from Rome to Turin in a transfer to Juventus, but he had to settle for a drop in the pecking order due to Gianluigi Buffon standing in his way.
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Szczesny would have known that he had little chance of breaking through due to the legendary status of his teammate.
However, this week it was announced that Buffon will leave Juve following a 17-year stint with the Italian giants.
The nine-time title winner’s departure frees up the number one spot, and club chairman Andrea Agnelli has confirmed that Szczesny will be promoted to the top spot.
Arsenal fans reacted to the news on Reddit.
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Chelsea are reportedly keen to sign West Ham United striker and former Liverpool flop Andy Carroll during the January transfer window, and Reds fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.
According to reports in the Daily Mail, the Blues have made enquiries to bring the 28-year-old to Stamford Bridge on loan this month to provide cover and competition for Alvaro Morata over the course of the rest of the season, with Michy Batshuayi failing to impress Antonio Conte.
The centre-forward’s time with the Irons has been plagued by injury, and Liverpool certainly don’t have too many fond memories of the player they bought for £35m in 2011 either, as he went on to score just 11 goals in 58 appearances in all competitions across one-and-a-half seasons before joining the east London outfit.
Liverpool supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the latest story, and while one said “please let this happen”, another said it was “surely some twisted joke”.
Arsene Wenger has said the Premier League is a marathon not a sprint, ahead of the crucial Champions League tie away to Napoli. Despite approaching fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea in the league, Wenger is placing far more importance in the Champions League, where Arsenal can qualify first from their group with a draw in Naples.
There is far too much importance placed in the points gained from the big league matches, especially this season. But such has been the inconsistency of those who are considered title challengers – Chelsea conceding three in back-to-back games against Sunderland and Stoke; Manchester City still shaky away from home; and Manchester United fighting for a top four place as of now – that it is simply doesn’t matter how the title winner finishes first.
Arsenal have been criticised in the past for their inability to get maximum points from the “lesser” teams in the league, often failing to turn up mentally and with the idea that a win was already in the bag. But this season, Wenger has added urgency to his team. They’re no longer careless in their approach, for the most part going for the win from the off.
It’s the kind of results that do separate title winners from the chasing pack. Arsenal have taken points and even won at grounds where others have failed, and notably those with greater resources. If Arsenal fail to pick up maximum points against Manchester City and Chelsea over the next two games, it shouldn’t matter too much. Neither side is void of problems, while Arsenal have a cushion of five points on second and third placed Liverpool and Chelsea.
But does it really matter how the title is won? Is a champion any less a champion because they haven’t won all of the big games? Why should it matter as long as they do eventually finish higher than the rest due to a consistency that others failed to establish in low-key games?
Manchester United won the title in 2011 and yet lost away games against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, while also drawing away to both Spurs and Manchester City. United didn’t have to win the individual sprints; over the course of the marathon, they were better than everyone else.
On paper, Arsenal are better than the teams they have beaten in the league this season. It was important, though, to take points from that position of superiority, where in the past they likely would have conceded late or simply failed to get out of the starting gate.
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Arsenal don’t have to win each of the heavyweight match-ups this season. At the midway point of the season, Wenger’s side are showing a consistency that is lost on others.
Manchester City have been given a boost with news that Mario Balotelli will not be sidelined for as long as expected.
The Italy international has to undergo laser surgery on his eye to correct his vision, with concerns that the forward could be out of action for as long as six weeks.
However, surgeon Emanuele Scuri has stressed that Balotelli could well be back in action for City’s next games.
“I think in around 10 days he should be ready to play again. Already this morning he asked if he could drive and I suggested he should get a lift until Thursday,” the medical man told The Daily Mail.
City have already been without Sergio Aguero through injury, but Roberto Mancini could well be able to call upon Balotelli for the upcoming Premier League game against Stoke next Saturday.
City will also have their thoughts on their glamour Champions League tie against Real Madrid a week on Tuesday.
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Tottenham Hotspur could end up being one of the busier clubs in the transfer window this summer as they could lose players in both the midfield and defence.
Toby Alderweireld has been heavily linked with a move elsewhere, while Mousa Dembele could also be heading towards the exit door.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be determined to gather together a good enough squad that can challenge for top honours next season.
Expectations will be high given that the North London outfit will be competing in their brand new stadium, which has been built adjacent to White Hart Lane.
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According to Foot Mercato, Spurs, who finished third in the Premier League table this season, are keeping tabs on Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina.
The 24-year-old moved to St Mary’s from Juventus last summer for a club-record fee of £15.4m, and went on to make 25 Premier League appearances, 20 of which were starts.
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Lemina – valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt – predominantly plays as a defensive midfielder, but he also featured a handful of times for the Saints this season more centrally.
After the reports emerged, Tottenham fans tweeted their reactions, and they were fairly mixed.
West Ham United picked up a much-needed point as they drew 1-1 with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Thursday night, but Irons were left unhappy with Javier Hernandez’s performance.
David Moyes’ men only had a 48-hour break between their win against West Bromwich Albion at the London Stadium on Tuesday and this clash against Spurs, and the Scot decided to start Hernandez on his own up top in order to try and take at least a point.
However, the Mexico international was often left isolated in attack and was eventually replaced in the 65th minute by Andre Ayew with his team failing to have a single shot at goal.
That changed five minutes later though when Ayew held the ball up well – something Hernandez had failed to do – and Pedro Obiang eventually received the ball before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on Chicharito’s display via social media, and while one said “I’d be happy if I never saw Hernandez wear a West Ham shirt again”, another said the team is “so much better without Hernandez on the pitch”.