All posts by h79snht.top

In the midst of interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid have stepped in to capture the signing of Mario Mandzukic from Bayern Munich – an outstanding piece of business on their part.

The club were in need of a major addition to replace Diego Costa and Mandzukic will add plenty of quality to Diego Simeone’s side over the coming seasons.

But it is a loss for Arsenal, who would have done well to land the Croatia international. Mandzukic is one of Europe’s best poachers and would have been an upgrade on the frustrating Olivier Giroud.

But even after the signing of Alexis Sanchez, the club will need to recruit another centre-forward, or at the very least another player able to play in one of the three forward positions.

Here’s a look at five options for Arsenal this summer.

[ffc-gallery]

Click on Loic Remy to start the gallery

[/ffc-gallery]

Loic Remy

Loic Remy appears the most likely forward to join Arsenal this summer, adding to Alexis Sanchez.

Prior to the World Cup, Remy’s transfer to Arsenal looked as good as done, though talk has gone quiet of late. It appears that the French striker is still on the market.

But he’d be a good buy for the club as means of adding quality in depth. He’s able to play wide or through the middle and has a good scoring record in the Premier League. For a fee in the region of £8 million, Arsenal can’t go wrong with an experienced full international.

Jackson Martinez

Jackson Martinez gave a good account of himself in Colombia’s win over Japan in the World Cup. Beyond that, however, the Porto striker failed to build on his two goals.

But there is a lot of quality in the 27-year-old, who has a very good scoring record in Portugal. He has regularly been linked with a move to England, with both Arsenal and Chelsea touted as destinations, and he now appears to be keen on making the switch before the end of this summer’s transfer period.

Martinez looks a natural finisher and would do well ahead the midfield options currently at Arsenal. The stumbling block, though, will be Porto’s asking price. For the right fee, Martinez would be a good signing.

Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann has been recently linked with a surprise move to Chelsea. While the French international is known as a wide forward, he is capable of playing through the middle, regularly ending up in the centre-forward position for Real Sociedad.

Arsenal were said to be in the hunt for Griezmann’s signature prior to the World Cup and they may opt to go in for him again now. He’s surprisingly good in the air and continues to improve on his scoring tally each year.

Signing the Frenchman would leave Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud battling for the centre-forward position, with Griezmann able to occupy either wide position. What is certain is that he’d fit in well at the club, with a talent to become one of Europe’s best forwards.

Ezequiel Lavezzi

Ezequiel Lavezzi had a particularly good World Cup with Argentina, and it showed just how important he was to their attack in the final when he was replaced by Sergio Aguero.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But Lavezzi doesn’t appear to have a future at PSG, with the club once again on the lookout for midfield and forward recruits. For the French champions, the time to sell Lavezzi is now.

He’d bring a lot to Arsenal’s game, able to play wide or through the middle. His tricky and pace would add to the quality already signed in Alexis Sanchez, suddenly making the team’s attack considerably stronger than it was last season.

Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani’s future remains clouded, with the striker initially saying he wants a move away from PSG, but the club then going on to suggest he won’t be made available this summer.

However, if the opportunity is there, Arsenal should look to enquire after his services. He’s struggled over the past year to hit his best form on a consistent basis, but he hasn’t been helped by playing wide for both club and country.

Cavani does have a very good scoring history, though, and last season he managed 16 goals in the league alone. There’s no doubt he’d add a lot to Arsenal’s attack, being a far more clinical finisher than Olivier Giroud.

Arsenal would be a great place for the Uruguayan to reignite his best form.

England boss Roy Hodgson wants to find a way to get former England and Manchester United star David Beckham in his Three Lions set up.

The 39-year-old made 115 appearances for England and worked under former England manager Fabio Capello as a ‘player liaison’ during the 2010 World Cup.

And after a lacklustre 2014 World Cup campaign and a dire 1-0 win over Norway, the former Liverpool manager has decided that he wants to install some Becks appeal.

Hodgson said: “Someone of David’s stature, with his qualities and personality, I’m 100 per cent certain if he can find the time to lend his presence to the FA they would be happy to find role for him.

“If he could make himself available for England in some way or another I have no doubt in my mind that Greg Dyke and Alex Horne would welcome his presence within an England capacity.”

And it seems the midfielder would be keen on getting involved with the set-up.

Beckham said: “I only retired just over a year ago and obviously I’ve been busy with stuff I’ve been doing but, if I can help in any way for the future of England and the future of English football, I will.

“That’s one of the things I’m very proud of. To actually come to the end of my career and be an ambassador for my country around the world. If there was any way in the future, when I’m not as busy, that I can help then I would be very proud of that.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ffc-quiz ]

[ad_pod id=’footballfancast’ align=’center’]

It’s easy to criticise a striker that isn’t scoring goals, especially one that comes with as many negative preconceptions as Mario Balotelli.

Not that the Italy international’s form hasn’t been disappointing since he moved to Anfield for £16million this summer, but the constant scrutiny surrounding him, whilst Liverpool’s overall performances remain equally poor, is verging upon scapegoating.

There are other, more intrinsic problems on Merseyside that deserve far more attention, and just to prove it, here’s a list of FOUR major issues that should be taking precedent over the relentless, obsessive and frankly, rather weird, Balotelli-bashing.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON BRENDAN RODGERS TO REVEAL WHAT HE SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT

[/ffc-gallery]

BALOTELLI ISNT THE ONLY SIGNING STRUGGLING TO SETTLE

There’s been a huge focus on Mario Balotelli’s failings this season – let’s face it, he’s a very easy target.

But he’s far from the only summer signing that’s struggled to transition to life at Anfield – in fact, with the exception of perhaps Alberto Moreno, all of the Reds’ acquisitions are yet to have the desired effect.

Take Lazar Markovic for example, the 20 year-old Brendan Rodgers splashed out a whopping £20million on during the summer. Granted, he’s viewed as a long-term investment, but the winger is yet to do anything noteworthy, or record any output, in nine appearances for Liverpool.

Likewise, despite joining Liverpool this summer under the pretence of representing his boyhood club and Daniel Sturridge spending the vast majority of the season on the sidelines, Rickie Lambert’s Reds career thus far has consisted of just 165 minutes (not even two full games) in the Premier League, stretched over one start and seven substitute appearances.

Resultantly, Whoscored.com rate him as the worst player in the division this season – even behind Jose Altidore and Darren Bent!

The summer signings simply haven’t settled properly – with comparisons between Liverpool’s summer 2014 transfer policy and Tottenham’s 2013 transfer policy aplenty – and some aren’t even getting the opportunities too.

It feels as if Brendan Rodgers is almost overawed by the amount of talent now at his disposal and Liverpool’s shock line-up against Real Madrid suggests he’s still uncertain over his strongest starting XI.

LOVREN AND SKRTEL’S PARTNERSHIP

Mario Balotelli certainly hasn’t delivered on the goals front since his £16million summer move, but Liverpool aren’t up to much at the other end of the pitch either.

Their 13 goals conceded is matched or bettered by seven Premier League sides, whilst the Reds have claimed just two clean sheets this season – against Spurs in August and a recent scoreless draw with Hull City.

Part of the problem can be sourced to Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel struggling as a centre-back partnership.

Despite featuring in every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign, the Croatian international is yet to replicate his commanding performances as Southampton’s flagship defender since joining the Anfield ranks for a whopping £20million in the summer:

In theory, his front-footed style should complement Skrtel perfectly. But the two just haven’t gelled this season and Lovren’s surprise exclusion from Liverpool’s visit to Real Madrid in midweek spoke volumes about Brendan Rodgers’ deteriorating faith in the 25 year-old.

With Mamadou Sakho also out of favour following his apparent walk-out ahead of the Merseyside derby, the Liverpool gaffer may be forced to bring Kolo Toure back into the starting XI permanently, having impressed at the Bernabeu.

But in truth, poor defending collectively is a long-term issue for the Anfield outfit. Since Rodgers took the helm in summer 2012, the Reds have conceded on average 1.2 goals per fixture, which isn’t good enough for a Champions League club.

Steven Gerrard’s role

Steven Gerrard looked like a player reborn in his unique quarter-back role last season, utilising his tenacity and long-range passing game to orchestrate Liverpool’s attacking play from deep positions.

He’s struggled to replicate that form this season however, as shown below:

And it appears Liverpool’s opposition have developed a formula to nullify the Reds captain:

Indeed, West Ham and Aston Villa, who have both recorded shock victories against the Anfield side this season, employed the same strategy of man-marking Gerrard in possession, reducing his capacity to influence the game, before exposing the space behind him on the counter-attack.

Last term, he was protected by the intensity of Liverpool’s attacking play, with Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen offering work-rate either side of him and Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez pressing from the front with considerable velocity.

Without that insulation, Gerrard just isn’t affecting matches in the same way, which is perhaps why Brendan Rodgers opted to bench the England centurion against Real Madrid in midweek.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The balance in the engine room clearly needs some tinkering, as does Gerrard’s role. But now 34 and his influence apparently waning, perhaps it’s time Rodgers readdressed the emphasis of Liverpool’s starting Xi to focus on younger talents like Henderson and Sterling.

TRANSFER POLICY

A rather speculative topic, considering the majority of Liverpool’s recruitment process is handled by the ambiguous and unique ‘transfer committee’.

But quite clearly, the brains trust of Brendan Rodgers, his scouting team, chief executive Ian Ayre, head of analysis Michael Edwards and head of recruitment Dave Fallows, isn’t proving effective.

Rodgers has spent a whopping £212million since taking the Anfield helm two summers ago, and as you can see below, he’s hardly found good value for money:

Not a top class signing among them, and to put that into some perspective, Chelsea’s starting XI on the Premier League’s opening weekend against Burnley – Courtiois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard and Costa – cost just £190million.

In truth, Rodgers only truly successful acquisitions as Anfield boss are Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho – and they were snapped up in the same transfer window.

Whether it’s the level of talent, the type of talent or the finance involved that’s the predominant issue – a 26 year-old Adam Lallana for example, at £25million, is hardly a proportionate fee – Liverpool’s recruitment process requires major changes.

There has been a lot of criticism aimed at Premier League clubs regarding their youth systems and implementing young players into first team squads.

Although the likes of Aston Villa, Southampton and Manchester United have injected young English talent into their teams, more Premier League clubs need to follow suit. The problem lies at the top of the table, with bigger clubs opting to search for talent overseas due to the financial power they possess.

As a result of big spending in the top flight, the implementation of youth prospects is becoming more and more difficult by the minute. Not only does this present the Premier League in a bad light, the international stage will suffer as a result, something that has been all too clear in the last decade or so.

It isn’t all doom and gloom though. There are still young, talented home-grown players looking to play Premier League football this season. Here are five young hopefuls who can burst onto the Premier League scene in 2014/15.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

The Chelsea youngster recently appeared for Jose Mourinho’s first team in their Champions League group match against Sporting Lisbon. The 18-year-old midfielder possesses good composure and acceleration with the ball. Although Loftus-Cheek only played seven minutes in the game, it looked like the academy prodigy had bags of talent.

He has already attracted interest from clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United. However, it remains to be seen how much football the young Englishman will play this year. Mourinho unveiled him to the media after the game against Sporting to remind the press that an academy does actually exist at Chelsea, with Ryan Bertrand the only academy prospect to recently feature for Chelsea prior to Loftus-Cheek’s introduction. With the January transfer window approaching, the decision to allow Loftus-Cheek to leave on loan in search for regular first-team football would allow him to develop further.

Jack Grealish

He’s been part of Aston Villa’s set-up since he was just six years old and is a Villa fan for life, if there’s any youth player the Villa Park faithful want to see break into the first eleven, it’s Jack Grealish. The winger is blessed with lightning pace and excellent dribbling skills and has featured regularly for Paul Lambert’s side this season. He is often used as a substitute to inject more pace and energy into the side.

Grealish has always carried bags of promise and his loan to League One side Notts County last season was a successful one. The 19-year-old scored five goals and set up seven in his 38 appearances for the club, earning himself an attempt at Premier League football this season.

Although it’s still early days, Grealish looks like he could be another academy success for the midlands club.

Jake Hesketh

Southampton’s current ‘Scholar of the Year’ is set to be another academy success story for the south-coast club after breaking into the first team this season. He came on against Manchester United and Koeman was so impressed that he gave Hesketh a starting spot against Burnley.

Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he had to come off in the first half after being on the end of a strong Michael Keane tackle.

Despite the young Englishman’s unfortunate start to his Premier League career, Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was quick to praise his abilities, ‘He is used to playing between the lines, he’s fast, he’s left, right-footed and a player with a future’. Usually operating in the number ten role, Hesketh is already drawing similarities to former Southampton star Adam Lallana.

If his injury is not too serious, Hesketh could be playing regularly for Southampton this season due to the Saints’ injury crisis in midfield. Whatever happens this term, it looks as if Southampton have produced yet more young talent from their excellent academy.

Jordan Rossiter

Liverpool’s wiki-page describes Rossiter as ‘an aggressive, tough-tackling but forward-thinking midfielder, notable for a good passing ability.’

Remind you of anyone? Yes, Jordan Rossiter has already been dubbed as Steven Gerrard’s long-term replacement. Although it is a huge ask for anyone, let alone a 17-year-old academy prospect, Rossiter has shown similar abilities to the legendary Steven Gerrard.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

He was scouted by Liverpool when he was just six years old, showcasing his footballing skills in a PE lesson. Now, Rossiter is looking to break into Liverpool’s first team. His senior debut came against Championship side Middlesbrough in a third round tie in the League Cup.

He scored with an excellent strike from about 30-yards, becoming Liverpool’s second youngest goalscorer ever behind Michael Owen. Even though Rossiter’s Liverpool career has started with immense promise, he is still only 17-years-old and hasn’t been playing regular football at senior level. However, if Rodgers has a bit more faith in his youth prospects this season, Liverpool fans could be seeing a lot more of Rossiter in the future.

Reece Burke

Reece Burke is a 6’2, 18-year-old centre back who is looking to break into the first team at West Ham United. After an encouraging pre-season, Burke was handed his first senior start against Sheffield United in the second round of the League Cup. The young Englishman produced an incredibly mature display and looked confident alongside first team regular Winston Reid. He provided an assist for Diafra Sakho in that game, capping off an impressive debut.

Burke has attracted the interest of clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the past but he chose to commit to West Ham after signing his first pro contract with the club in October. West Ham have experienced a bit of a drought regarding academy prospects in recent years, with James Tomkins the most recent graduate to break into the first team.

However, Burke certainly carries a lot of promise and will almost certainly get more first team opportunities in the near future.

Jamie Carragher has urged his former club Liverpool to steer clear of a shock move to bring Fernando Torres back to Anfield.

The 30-year-old striker is currently seeing out the final two years of his Chelsea contract on loan at AC Milan, yet reports have suggested that the Serie A giants are looking to offload him after just six months due to his return of one goal in ten games.

With Liverpool struggling to find the net themselves in the absence of main striker Daniel Sturridge, there have been strong links with a shock move to re-sign ‘El Nino’ should he be sent back to Chelsea, with the Blues understood to be desperate to offload him.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

Torres shone for the Reds between 2007 – 2011 – when he left to join the west London club in a record breaking £50m deal – but his career has stalled since he departed Anfield.

And Carragher – who played alongside the Spaniard – believes that any move to take him back to Merseyside would make no sense for his old club:

“I wouldn’t like to see [Fernando Torres return], if I’m being totally honest,” he told talkSPORT. “If Liverpool bring a striker in you want a young, fresh, and energetic young fellow who is looking to make a name for himself.

“Fernando Torres has had an unbelievable career with the trophies that he has won but I think we saw the best of him at Anfield and that was quite a few years ago now. It’s been unfortunate for the lad, the way his career has gone since then. He’s still picked up plenty of trophies with Chelsea and Spain.

“With that move to Milan you’re thinking a slower paced game would suit him a bit more now, because of the problems he’s had with injuries, but it looks straight away that AC Milan are keen to offload him.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“If Chelsea and Milan are thinking the same I don’t think anything would change too much at Liverpool.

“I wish him well but I think we should be looking for something else.”

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Liverpool’s failure to replicate last season’s title challenge this term has been the result of a number of bad decisions.

But there continues to be one stand out scapegoat throughout this current campaign. If it’s not Brendan Rodgers, it’s Glen Johnson. The fans are undoubtedly thankful for his previous services to the club, but they are also well aware that he’s past his best.

The 30-year-old appears to be a shadow of his former self, and doesn’t have the pace he once boasted when playing for the likes of Chelsea and Portsmouth. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Reds fans were looking forward to seeing the back of him.

But, according to the Guardian, Brendan Rodger is hoping to offer Johnson a contract extension, which has understandably got Liverpool fans absolutely livid. When the emphasis should be giving Raheem Sterling an improved contract and improving the side, Rodgers is currently trying to keep hold of his weak link.

Here’s just a handful of Liverpool fans expressing their concern at the news on Twitter…

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’betting’ align=’center’]

Rumours have been circulating for quite some time now that Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson is heading out of his club come summer 2016, when his current contract ends. The club in question to secure Henderson’s signature is Catalan giants Barcelona. With Henderson supposedly stalling on signing a new contract at Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers needs to keep the midfielder and fend off admiring glances from Spain. The ex-Sunderland man has worked hard, especially this season, to earn his place in the starting line up for his side and is an asset that it would be a shame to lose so soon.

Liverpool will already be losing one midfielder at the end of this season, so they should hold on to Henderson if they can. With Steven Gerrard leaving for LA Galaxy in the summer, Jordan Henderson can follow in his footsteps. Henderson has already been named vice captain to Gerrard’s ultimate skipper role, and could find himself promoted when Gerrard moves on to his pastures new. Gerrard is irreplaceable, but Liverpool could do a lot worse than attempting to replace him with Henderson.

Henderson has gotten his name on the scoresheet five times this season – as well as providing seven assists – with one of his goals coming in the 2-1 win over Manchester City. He can score goals, and clearly when his team need it most. By the looks of things, Liverpool will be back in Europe – Champions League or Europa League – next year, and Henderson could prove important again.

[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]

It is important for Premier League sides to have English players in their XIs, and Liverpool are no different. Losing Henderson to La Liga before he has reached his peak would be a blow to Liverpool. Henderson is still only 24-years-old, he has plenty of years of football left, and a move to Spain could still be on the cards in a few years time.

No doubt his performances this season have helped in Henderson getting called up for international duty. He is one of four Liverpool players listed in Roy Hodgson’s 24 man squad; with Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. Their team mate Rickie Lambert did not make the cut.

If Henderson were to make the big move to Barcelona, would he be guaranteed first team football? The pull of the name Barcelona could end up hindering Henderson if he were to snub a side that play him regularly for a team that have plenty of options in midfield.

For both parties, it is important that Henderson stays at Liverpool for the foreseeable future. How many players get big moves and don’t end up living up to the expectation, or worse, do not get the opportunity to start? Jordan Henderson should repay Liverpool for the faith they have put in him, and sign a long term contract.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Christian Benteke has had a mini revival under new manager Tim Sherwood, who joined Aston Villa back in February following the departure of Paul Lambert.

Christian Benteke arrived at Villa Park in August 2012 for £7million on a four year deal and made a good impression by scoring on his debut. By the end of his first campaign the forward had scored 19 times, beating Dwight Yorke’s previous record for most league goals scored in a season by an Aston Villa player.

His next season was less successful, and was predominantly marred by injuries, particularly a ruptured achilles tendon which ruled him out for six months and meant he unfortunately was unavailable for the Belgian national side at the 2014 World Cup.

This current campaign didn’t start well, with Benteke slow off the mark and scoring only twice in the first half of the season. It took Benteke until March before he scored his third goal of what had been a difficult and disappointing season for both himself and his team mates.

[ffc-gal cat=”aston-villa” no=”5″]

Villa finally fired manager Paul Lambert and ex-Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood was brought in with the task of turning the sinking club’s fortunes around. His first official match ended in defeat, but within a month he had notched up his first win against West Midland’s rivals West Bromwich Albion, a game in which Benteke scored a last minute penalty.

Now in his last six league fixtures he has scored an impressive eight goals, including a hat-trick against Queen’s Park Rangers, to help inspire his team mates to start climbing the table.

Aston Villa are still not out of trouble, sitting down in 15th and only six points above the relegation zone. Though with the bottom three or four teams having a much greater mountain to climb, Tim Sherwood’s men should be making another appearance in the Premier League next season.

Villa will need their main striker to be firing on all cylinders for their FA Cup semi-final match against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Although the Merseysiders are the hot favourites, Aston Villa can cause an upset if they play at their very best and Benteke can continue his rich vein of form.

After a difficult start to the season, Benteke has regained his form and he owes a lot of thanks to Tim Sherwood. They may only just survive the drop and go no further in the FA Cup but, Benteke should relish his time playing at Wembley in a competition that has dumped out harder to beat teams a lot quicker than his own.

With the undeniable quality he has previously shown for club and country, his poor displays earlier in the year appear to have only been a blip and if the Belgian continues to listen to his wise manager, who has rejuvenated other player’s careers, then next season he’ll be back scoring goals for fun like he was went he first arrived in the Premier League.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

//embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v7.aspx?Id=1193446&ThemeId=22054

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Leicester City managed to finish the season four places above the relegation zone after one of the most surprising comebacks in Premier League history.

The Foxes sat in the bottom three until late April but only one defeat in their final five fixtures ensured that they’ll be playing in the top-flight again next season.

Leicester were one of last year’s promoted teams and they are the only ones who were able to stay up, as both Queens Park Rangers and Burnley dropped back down. If Nigel Pearson’s men want to make next season’s campaign less uncertain then they’ll need to reinforce their current squad.

Here are five players that will keep Leicester City away from another relegation battle…

[interaction id=“none”]

Andrew Robertson

The full-back may leave Hull after just one season, despite signing a three-year contract last July following the club’s relegation into English football’s second tier.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a £12million move to Aston Villa, but Leicester City should hijack the potential transfer as they are in need of good defenders.

Robertson is a Scotland international and used to play for Dundee before his move into the Premier League just ten months ago.

Charlie Austin

Austin has had a memorable year which included receiving an England call-up following his 18 league goals for Queens Park Rangers.

The forward couldn’t save his team from the drop but it is unimaginable that he will be playing in the Championship next season.

The 25-year-old is expected to gain interest from big clubs like Liverpool but if Austin decides he wants to go to a team where he’d be guaranteed first-team football then Leicester may be a good option.

Shinji Okazaki

Nigel Pearson originally made two bids for the forward but his club Mainz, who finished 11th this season in the German Bundesliga, rejected the offers but now that survival is assured Pearson is keen to try once more.

The 29-year-old scored 12 league goals, one more than Leicester’s top scorer Leonardo Ulloa, and made three assists.

Okazaki will set Leicester back £8million, but if the Japan international settles well into the Premier League and helps keep the Foxes up then he’ll be worth it.

Tom Cleverley

Cleverley previously made 15 appearances for Leicester City back in 2009 and scored two goals for the club.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

This season the attacking midfielder was out on loan yet again but this time it was for Aston Villa, who just avoided the drop finishing in 17th.

The 25-year-old is unlikely to be retained by parent club Manchester United with Villa the most obvious destination after impressing these last nine months and particularly within the last few weeks of the season, where he scored three games in a row.

Robert Huth

The German defender spent four months at Leicester City following a loan deal that begun at the end of January, at which point the club were in dire straits.

Used in the centre of a back three and featuring 14 times for the Foxes, his move coincided with the club’s astonishing climb out of the bottom three.

The 30-year-old is valued at around £3 million with parent club Stoke City said to be willing to let Huth permanently join the midlands based club.

Last week Southampton rejected a bid believed to be around £10 million from Premier League rivals Liverpool for right back Nathaniel Clyne.

It is hardly surprising that the South coast club opted to turn the offer down. Long gone are the days when such a sum would be considered expensive for a full back. Clyne is now an England International and it seems that such status adds a considerable percentage to the market value of any Premier League regular.

Liverpool are reported to be planning to come back with an improved proposal that may prove more difficult to rebuff. Would a potential move though, make sense for the player? Would it really be a step in the right direction for him to swap St Mary’s for Anfield?

In many respects there is not too much difference between the clubs these days.

As far as the league table goes, it amounted to just two points and a solitary position last term. Southampton scored more goals than their illustrious rivals and conceded fewer at the other end. Clyne was an almost ever-present on the right-hand side of one of the best defences in the league and a constant threat going forward in a side that played eye-catching, attacking football.

[ffc-gal cat=”liverpool” no=”5″]

With the Saints last season, the 24-year-old steadily enhanced his reputation and strengthened his grip on a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.

Arsenal’s victory in the FA Cup final also means that his present employers have opportunity to compete alongside his suitors in next season’s Europa League. The gap between the two clubs, on current form at least, is marginal. That said, with all due respect to Southampton, a move to the red half of Merseyside would still be at least one rung higher on the footballing ladder.

The Anfield outfit remain a much bigger club in many ways, from the size of the crowd, to their trophy laden history, to their global popularity. There is no doubt that a switch would increase the former Crystal Palace man’s profile, not to mention his pay packet.

There is also the fact that despite the great work of Ronald Koeman, the proverbial glass ceiling at Southampton might not be too far away. He should carefully consider though, that while these factors might make Brendan Rodgers side seem attractive, agreeing to a transfer now might be somewhat curtail his future ambitions.

Liverpool are currently struggling against limitations of their own.

Superior spending power, bigger stadia and of course the allure of Champions League status at the clubs above them, are hindering the Reds’ ambitions of returning to Europe’s top table and challenging for a league title that has eluded them since 1990. As it stands, transferring to Anfield is no guarantee of silverware or football in Europe’s most elite club competition.

Before long Chelsea, Arsenal or the Manchester clubs might begin to enquire about Clyne’s services and it is at these sides that he might really have a chance of challenging himself and progressing his career to a higher level.

Leaving for Liverpool now would only hinder his chances of joining one of those four in the future. The full-back should continue his development under Koeman for now and enjoy his football, which would be more heavily scrutinised under the spotlight of the Kop.

In many ways his situation is similar to that of Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke who is also wanted by Rodgers.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Benteke’s manager Tim Sherwood has told the forward to avoid Liverpool as while they are better than Villa, they are not currently  good enough for the player himself. Clyne should decide how far his own ability might take him before rushing to his next club.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]