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The transfer window may have closed but there’s still opportunities for clubs to recruit before it reopens in January.

Namely, the free agent market, which although lacking the glitz and glamour of the lucrative multi-million deals we’ve become acclimatised to throughout the Premier League and yonder, still has a knack of churning out a few transfer gems.

In fact, with no fee involved, free transfers often represent fantastic value for money provided you’re not investing mega wages in a 36 year old – a mistake I’m sure we’ve all made on Football Manager before.

This article,  takes a look at Celtic and the FIVE players, currently without a club, they should be targeting to boost their squad until the January window.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON CHRIS EAGLES TO REVEAL ALL

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DARREN O’DEA

There’s already a plethora of speculation suggesting a contract offer for former Celtic defender Darren O’Dea.

The Republic of Ireland international joined Ukrainian side Metalurg Donetsk on a three-year deal last summer, but decided to terminate his contract in August as political and military unrest took over the country.

He’s been spotted at the Lennoxtown, training with his former club for whom he made 49 league appearances between 2006 and 2010. The 27 year-old then enjoyed productive loan spells with Ipswich and Leeds United. The 6 foot 1 centre-back may not be the most talented defender to ever grace Parkhead, but he knows the club and the challenges of the Scottish Premiership well. He also once netted this impressive strike during a one-season spell in the MLS with FC Toronto: //www.youtube.com/embed/ZUUrHsibfho?rel=0 O’Dea would be a decent addition to Ronny Deila’s squad but currently recovering from injury, he’s still a long way off signing a deal with the Bhoys:

Oguchi Onyewu

Another, more coveted centre-back option for the Bhoys to consider is USA international Oguchi Onyewu, famed for once coming to fisticuffs with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and breaking the enigmatic Swede’s rib during their time together at the San Siro.

The 32 year-old may be no spring chicken but he comes with great experience and proven pedigree, having represented the likes of Standard Liege, AC Milan, Sporting Lisbon and Malaga throughout his career.

That regular exposure to European football – racking up 24 continental outings to date – would be a huge boost to Celtic’s planned Europa League exploits this season. He also boasts an impressive 69 caps for the United States.

Onyewu had spells with QPR and Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship last season after his contract with Sporting was terminated by mutual consent. For the latter club he made 18 appearances, and Whoscored.com ranked him as one of the best defenders in the division:

Here’s a closer look at his defensive stats:

The beastly defender, who measures in at 6 foot 4, would be a fantastic capture for the Bhoys, although he has been linked with a move to Arsenal amid the Premier League side’s injury crisis:

Check out Onyewu in action: //www.youtube.com/embed/K3D5cJPiijI?rel=0

CHRIS EAGLES

Attacking midfielder Chris Eagles is currently searching for a new club after leaving Bolton Wanderers under a bit of a dark cloud at the end of last season. The 28 year-old never quite hit the heights expected of him as he rose through Manchester United’s academy, once netting this stunning curler for the Red Devils against Everton: //www.youtube.com/embed/XyhBI7rnP-E?rel=0 Eagles can score and create as he did to great proficiency in the 2011/12 campaign, finding twelve goals and twelve assists to lead Bolton’s charts in both departments. The midfielder has been training at a boxing gym to stay fit:

And after alleged moves to Sheffield United and Cardiff City failed to materialise, he could easily be tempted into a Glasgow switch.

NIKOLA ZIGIC

Measuring in at an outrageous 6 foot 8, making him one of the tallest players in world football, one can already envisage Nikola Zigic wreaking havoc in the Scottish Premiership.

After 148 appearances and 36 goals for Birmingham City, the St. Andrews outfit elected not to extend his contract this summer.

The 33 year-old may be goal-shy and infamously static but the Scottish Premiership was ranked as the 27th shortest of 31 European top flights back in 2011, so Zigic’s monolithic stature should give the Bhoys a huge advantage. No pun intended.

He’s scored some important goals over the years too – he’s a look at his top five strikes for the Blues:

//www.youtube.com/embed/7PYAH8YuJzQ?rel=0

The retired Serbian international’s alleged move to Arsenal failed to materialise:

And although he’s apparently already rejected a contract offer from an unnamed Scottish side, the allure of European football could convince him to join the ranks at Parkhead.

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Sotiris Ninis

Once dubbed the future of Greek football after becoming the youngest player to ever score for the national side and winning the Greek Young Footballer of the Year award twice (in 2007 and 2010), Sotiris Ninis has suffered a spectacular fall from grace since leaving Panathinaikos in 2012.

The playmaking midfielder made just 14 appearances in two years for former club Parma, leading to him miss out on the 2014 World Cup and have his contract cancelled by mutual consent in August.

But by far the youngest player on this list at just 24 years of age, the 30-cap international still boats enormous potential, providing he can find a manager capable of unlocking it. Take this wonder-goal for example:

//www.youtube.com/embed/mqxAOKEGSPg?rel=0

He was also once scouted by Manchester United as Paul Scholes’ successor at Old Trafford.

The midfielder was expected to return to his homeland this summer but he’s yet to find a new club. It could be time to look further afield and Celtic would be an interesting destination – Ninis featured regularly in Europe throughout his time with Panathinakos and will be keen to return to the continental stage.

Here’s another look at Ninis in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/AxYuoYHxclw?rel=0

Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood believes that youngster Ryan Mason is not dissimilar to Liverpool and former England captain Steven Gerrard.

The 23-year-old impressed in the north London derby last weekend after winning his spot in Mauricio Pochettino’s XI thanks to a goalscoring display in the Capital One Cup victory over Nottingham Forest.

There has been much talk behind the scenes in north London regarding Mason, who has endured a difficult career with injuries so far, with many senior figures big fans of the midfielder.

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And Sherwood – who managed Spurs during the back end of last season – believes that if he can stay fit, Mason has an outside shout of making England’s EURO 2016 squad thanks to having similarities with Gerrard:

“If he stays fit, keep your eye on Ryan Mason at Tottenham as a late contender for the England Euro 2016 squad,” he wrote in the Independent.

“It is telling that he is still at Spurs at the age of 23. We always knew he was a talent who was too good to discard. His problem has been with injuries.”

“His game is not dissimilar to that of a young Steven Gerrard, who I trained with when he was brought into England senior squads for experience,

“There is not a lot Ryan cannot do. Steven always had such great desire and heart. It’s up to Ryan now to show that he has similar qualities to match his undoubted ability.

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“In recent weeks Mauricio Pochettino has selected Ryan ahead of the likes of big-money signings Mousa Dembele and Paulinho, so he must think a lot of him. The club sold Sandro too, who plays in Ryan’s position.”

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Alexis Sanchez’s signing at Arsenal is an indicator of a permanent move away from the club’s comfort zone in the market. If Mesut Ozil’s arrival a year ago was to act as the overture, Sanchez’s purchase from Barcelona this summer is the opening riff of a sweeping epic; the culmination of a decade’s worth of hard work that finally takes Arsenal to the summit of European football.

The excitement is tangible, infectious and absolutely fitting for the club at this juncture in their history.  How many times have we used the words ‘statement of intent’ to describe a signing? It’s right out of football’s catalogue of clichés. But what a statement this is from Arsenal. Alexis Sanchez was one of the players to light up the World Cup in Brazil, helping Chile to become a favourite among the neutrals for their industrious yet exhilarating brand of football. There is unlikely to be a fan of any team in Europe who wasn’t charmed by the efforts of Arsenal’s latest signing this summer.

And that’s off the back of his best season with Barcelona, a season that really paved the way for what is sure to be looked back on as another groundbreaking signing for Arsenal.

A year ago and Alexis was out of sorts and in need of a fresh start. It came via a manager with a differing philosophy to that of what we’re used to seeing from Barcelona. Tata Martino’s focus on a direct game worked wonderfully in Alexis’ favour, even if the media and supporters weren’t exactly taking to the Argentine coach’s methods.

The Chilean forward finished the domestic campaign on 19 goals and 10 assists, with the pick of the bunch coming in the season finale against Atletico Madrid, a thunderous volley into Thibaut Courtois’ net.

Last season was the best of Alexis, the real Alexis and the player Barcelona thought they had purchased from Udinese back in 2011. Prior to the 2013/14 campaign, the Chilean had only been able to showcase his best form in short bursts, a consequence of Barcelona’s possession game, which naturally didn’t suit him, and the subsequent onset of shattered confidence, as well as multiple injuries.

But Arsenal are getting a player on the brink of his peak years. Make no mistake, Arsene Wenger has long wished to emulate the brand of football regularly seen at the Camp Nou, though obviously with his own spin. But Alexis is unlikely to suffer from the same problems that plagued him while in Spain.

The Chilean looks set to take on something of a free role, which will liberate him from the strict positional importance of Barcelona’s game. He’ll be looked to as the final piece of an attacking phase, with the club housing some of the best creators in the Premier League in Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey. Olivier Giroud, too, will benefit from what can be described as the best part of a centre-forward partner in Alexis.

But well before the season gets underway, there can be no disguising or misinterpreting of just how vital this signing is for Arsenal. It’s another colossal move across the European chessboard that does place the club closer to the targets they initially laid out with the stadium and new sponsorship deals: to match the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United in terms of revenue and spending power.

Alexis is justification that this standard of player – coupled with the excitement generated from his signing – can be achieved through organic means. It’s hard to believe Arsenal aren’t the envy of most clubs in Europe, even if it’s only for a short period. They’re no longer reliant on Wenger’s contacts in his homeland and the bargaining for something that falls within the club’s previously limited spending capabilities. There is still room for a Laurent Koscielny or modern-day Robert Pires, but the club are so much more than that now.

Arsenal have no guarantees for silverware next season. They’re closer than they were a week ago, of course. Though there is still plenty left to do in order to ensure this a squad capable of delivering.

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The signing of Mesut Ozil last summer gave Arsenal supporters a taste of what was to come, but it didn’t completely make up for the disastrous summer the club had endured up until that point. It was a mix of the old Arsenal and a sample of the future.

Alexis’ signing a year on is bold, confident and completely in tune with what fans were hoping and expecting from the club. It’s not just the acquisition of a player who is on the cusp of joining Europe’s elite band of world-class forwards, it’s also the turning of a page for the club, an assurance of a permanent step forward and a promise that signings of this calibre are now the norm.

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The World Cup 2014 is suddenly upon us. Whilst the Champions League has seemingly overshadowed every other football competition on the planet, the sheer heritage and pomp of the Jules Rimet trophy has allowed it to maintain pole position amongst the tournaments.

And so the ceremony begins, the pouring over the groups, the fixture list and the potential squads, in an effort to try and map out just how the festival might pan out in reality. Permutations, permutations, permutations.

England find themselves in Group D, alongside Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica. An obvious initial conclusion is that of the four combatants, it is England that will be most likely to suffer from the heat.

Geographical advantage is not to be overlooked. Once you look beyond the caricature of the dehydrated, pale skinned Brits, sunburnt by the time they reach the foot of the aeroplane stairs, there exists a grim reality that the English will not benefit from the heat in South America.

What fans of all sides want of course is “that” game, that epic match of the year that they will remember forever. This will of course, be final itself. No other tournament in the world produces finals like the World Cup. No other tournament in the world guarantees that final will be immense.

The ultimate game of the biggest tournament will be played in the ridiculously beautiful Rio De Janeiro, on the 7th of July.

The World Cup is so big, so all consuming, that every game is on the scale of a domestic final. There is little to no room for error, few second chances. To make the closing stages, sides must hit the ground running, there is no latitude for “growing into the competition.”

Roy Hodgson will be mindful of all of these matters (one hopes) when constructing his squad. His first game in will take place in Manaus on the 14th of June. The opponent will be Italy. This alone tells you all you need to know about the seriousness of Cup. There is no shallow end in which to become acclimatised.

So who to pick? Looking at the choice of goalkeepers doesn’t make for the most inspiring reading. Joe Hart is undoubtedly the stand-out man, despite his personal battle to retain the number one spot at Manchester City this season.

But beyond Hart, the alternatives are much of a muchness. Jack Butland made the squad for the 2012 Olympics, but the Stoke player has been on loan at Leeds, the very epitome of confusion in modern football. He has hardly excelled at Elland Road.

Fraser Forster is another contender. Whilst athletically intimidating, he unproven at the highest level. This may sound harsh, but having “Celtic’s goalie” listed as your occupation on your passport doesn’t quite set the world on fire, these days.

Looking at the back four, suddenly the options are broader, and more convincing. Leighton Baines, Tim Cahill, Kyle Walker, Ashley Cole, Luke Shaw and Phil Jagielka are all names synonymous with quality defending. Here, Hodgson is almost spoiled for choice.

The Everton pair in particular are in tremendous form and Everton, reinvigorated under Roberto Martinez look all set for at least a UEFA League qualifying spot this season.

England’s midfield is more of a conundrum. Some of the names that Roy would have had firmly underlined in his notebook last season no longer look like viable choices. Stewart Downing and Aaron Lennon are no longer of an international standard.

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However there have been positives to be found. Andrew Johnson has drastically improved since moving to Sunderland and despite being 26 years old, it might just be the right time for him to hit the big stage. Elsewhere, Gerrard and Lallana to name but just two look like “must haves” when it comes to contrasting experience and youth.

Hodgson’s striker headache appears to have somewhat dissipated as the current season unfolded. After staring at a names such as Agbonlahor and Carroll, wondering how on earth it might all come together, there was the little matter of Liverpool’s extraordinary season.

Sterling and Sturridge have netted 29 goals between them, so far and have to be the first two players on the plane. If you also factor in that team mate Steven Gerrard has also contributed 13 goals to Brendan Rodgers’ haul, England are looking remarkably blessed offensively.

England may feel the heat, but this could be a competition where they may just cause others to sweat.

As hard as it may be for Manchester United fans to accept, especially in the predicament they currently find themselves, but English football should appreciate a strong Liverpool. The club is a footballing institution, a global brand with a history matched by few. But finally, after years of obscurity and misdirection, Brendan Rodgers is guiding them back into the light.

Liverpool’s expulsion into the footballing wilderness following the shambolic last season of Rafa Benitez and a short tenure under Roy Hodgson left them stranded, lacking identity. A brief spell of promise under Kenny Dalglish came to little as they relinquished their sustained dominance over city rivals Everton.

From Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano came Paul Konchesky, Christian Poulsen and Joe Cole. Next was the summer of Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing, with a bit of Andy Carroll thrown in between and Liverpool fans must have been holding their heads wondering where it all went wrong.

But from a team that has gone from relying, in part, on the industry and pluckiness of Downing, Adam, Carroll and the lovable yet hopelessly limited Dirk Kuyt has emerged a team with vim and vigour, spearheaded by a world-beating Luis Suarez and a rather handy bunch of disciples.

The Reds’ energetic style of football is marked by the fact that they broke the Premier League record for first-half goals in a season with 11 games remaining. A high tempo from the first whistle has become a trademark this season and had Premier League leaders Arsenal down 4-0 inside 20 minutes. Arsenal found themselves hounded tenaciously by Henderson, Coutinho and Sterling, allowing Liverpool to regain possession and make the transition quickly into dangerous areas of the field. By forcing Arsenal into errors Liverpool could exploit the space in front of Arsenal’s high back four, with two of these mistakes leading directly to goals.

Rodgers has also proven through the season that Liverpool can be flexible tactically. When Suarez returned from his early-season suspension Rodgers immediately adopted a 3-4-1-2 formation to accommodate both Suarez and Sturridge in central attacking roles. Over time, he has preferred to opt for a 4-3-3 with one or other of the two players adopting a wider role, especially against stronger opposition. But most recently away at Southampton, Rodgers opted for a diamond shape in midfield, presumably to keep tabs on the Lallana-Lambert-Rodriguez axis which has flourished throughout the season.

The players retain the confidence of a manager who knows exactly what he wants and expects from them. Following Liverpool’s first home game of the 2012-13 season, Rodgers refused to blame Martin Skrtel for what was quite simply his, and only his, mistake which led to Carlos Tevez’s late equaliser. He has provided the platform for youth team players to come in and perform. The increasingly impressive performances of Henderson and Sterling, the growing maturity of John Flanagan and the tactical improvements in Daniel Sturridge’s game are all tributes to the effect Rodgers has had on the club.

But what Rodgers, and the club’s owners, deserve most credit for is the way in which they stood firm over Luis Suarez. Following a season littered with controversy and a summer of open rebellion against the club both Rodgers and John W. Henry maintained Suarez would not be sold. And the whole team is reaping the benefits of this decision.

Suarez has just overtaken his goal tally from last season by notching his 24th of the season in just his 23rd appearance. Couple this with his league-leading 10 assists and he’s averaging an involvement in a goal every 61 minutes. With a further 18 clear-cut chances created so far this season Suarez leads the way in pretty much all attacking statistics. His increasing awareness of his role in the team and an improved level of selflessness have greatly contributed to this improvement. Percentage-wise Suarez now creates a clear-cut opportunity just over a quarter of the time he creates a chance.

Furthermore, Suarez’s shot conversion stats have increased from 17 to 22 per cent from last season. Take it back to the 2011-12 season and Suarez was only converting one in 11 chances. In a season where the Premier League has had a number of stand-out performers Luis Suarez stands head and shoulders above everybody else.

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Liverpool is no longer a team that relies on the unplanned heroics Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres. Developed in a way to get the very most from one of the world’s foremost footballers, Brendan Rodgers is currently enjoying the fruits of the meticulous work  put in on the training pitch. And English football should be thankful for it.

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The winter transfer window is suddenly looming in the near future, and considering the make-up of the Premier League’s summit at the moment, it could prove to be a vital one for all clubs involved in the English title race.

One of the leading stories in the tabloids preceding the market’s reopening in January has been Arsenal and Tottenham’s hunt for a new centre-forward.

Both North London outfits are lacking in quality in depth in the final third, with the Gunners needing an adequate deputy for the in-form Olivier Giroud (that isn’t Nicolas Bentdner) and Spurs desperate to sign any striker who can find them a Premier League goal in open play.

Various names, ranging from Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema  to Burnley’s Danny Ings, have been floating around in the backpages, but there’s a simple solution for both clubs right under their Premier League noses – Aston Villa star Christian Benteke.

Arsenal and Tottenham were both linked to the beastly Belgian in the summer, following reports that he’d handed in a transfer request at Villa Park, but eventually abstained from the opportunity to snap up one of the Premier League’s rising stars for a reported £20million.

With glaring flaws in their strikeforces in the first half of the season however, both clubs should look to revive their interest in January.

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Benteke burst onto the Premier League scene last season after Paul Lambert signed him for just £7million from Belgian side FC Genk. The nominal fee for the forward powerhouse has proved to be a real coup, with Benteke netting 19 times in his inaugural Premier League campaign and emerging as a talismanic force in the Birmingham outfit’s top flight survival last season, all at the tender age of 22.

Amid Arsenal and Tottenham’s brief interest in the summer, many fans rejected notions that the Belgian hitman was ready for the step up to a Champions League club, claiming Benteke was simply the ‘flavour of the month’ and landing him with the rather unenviable ‘one-season wonder’ tag.

But yet again, Benteke’s quality has shone through; despite battling with injury, he’s found four goals in nine starts this term. Before his brief stint on the sidelines, the Villa star’s early season four-goal haul made him the Premier League’s top scorer since the turn of the year, coinciding with his club’s continual rise in form.

Not that he’s  all about goals. Benteke measures in at 6 foot 3 and bares pace, power and mobility. As well as being a lethal threat in the air, he’s comfortable with his back to goal and bringing others into play. A strong understanding with strike partner Andreas Weimann last term also showed the Villia talisman’s more cultured side, perhaps best portrayed by the duo’s fine combination play against Liverpool last December, with Benteke’s back heel flick leading to the Austrian’s cool finish in a 3-1 win, the other two goals from the Belgian himself.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means declaring the 22 year-old is the finished product. A 57% pass completion ratio this season suggests obvious weaknesses to the technical side of his game, and a red card at the end of last term showed the Villa forward requires maturity; had it not been for Wigan’s defeat to Arsenal a week later, Benteke’s self-created absence could have well cost his club their Premier League status.

But if we extrapolate his efforts in the English top flight thus far over the next ten years, it’s glaringly obvious Benteke has all the raw ingredients to become one of the division’s flagship stars.

He’s already a regular fixture for the Belgium national team, and the 2014 World Cup could well prove to be the tournament in which the Aston Villa man truly comes of age, although the monumental rise of the almost identical in style Romelu Lukaku could stand in his way.

Furthermore, the kind of service Benteke provides is what both North London clubs should be searching for in January.

For Arsenal, he’d bring a similar skills set to the final third as current front man Olivier Giroud, albeit rather rougher round the edges. Using his powerful frame, the Villa Park star would act as a pillar to instigate attacks and bring the Gunners’ incredibly talented midfield into play, a method in which, through the hard graft and guile of Olivier Giroud, has spawned 15 of the Emirates outfit’s 24 Premier League goals this season. He may be yet to claim an assist, in comparison to the Frenchman’s four, but it’s worth noting Benteke is currently averaging 2.1 key passes per game, according to Whoscored.

And for Spurs, Benteke would provide a much-needed variation in style from Jermain Defoe and Roberto Soldado, who both decisively belong to the ‘poacher’ category of striker. With neither Tottenham forward measuring in at above 5 foot 10 or donning any physical prowess, the Lilywhites’ need for something different up top has become glaringly obvious by the fact they’ve averaged just 0.75 goals per game this season.

That’s what the 22 year-old can bring to the table – he’s a natural target man, an individualist type of striker, capable of leading the line on his own with enough athleticism to physically dominate two opposing centre-backs. He’s also a useful tool outside of the box – unlike Soldado – often instigating Villa counter-attacks by beating defenders to the ball on the break, be it on the ground or in the air.

Perhaps most importantly however, Benteke has developed an astute knack of scoring against the Premier League’s bigger sides – something which will be vital for both Spurs and Arsenal this season if they’re to achieve their ultimate aims, and an issue that’s continually haunted them in the past. He’s already bagged a brace at the Emirates this year and got on the score sheet against Chelsea, whilst last season he netted twice against Liverpool and Everton.

Benteke is a player for the future capable of have an immediate effect. Furthermore, he’s already established himself at Premier League level, and clearly has all the characteristics to remain an effective target man in the English game, regardless of the recent slump in his goal-scoring form since picking up a knock in late  September.

In my opinion at least, the risk for Arsenal and Tottenham is slim, but as a result, Benteke’s price-tag could be a monolithic stumbling block. Having snubbed the chance to snap him up in the summer, Villa can now hold potential suitors to ransom after tying down their star striker to a long-term deal at the start of the season, especially if they’re to let him join another English club mid-campaign.

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Considering he was valued at £20million six months ago, before he signed a new contract and carried his goal-scoring form into the current term,  Benteke’s price-tag could well have risen to the £30million mark.

But that doesn’t take away from the fact the 22 year-old is obviously a safe investment, that will not only contribute Tottenham and Arsenal’s aims this season but also help them build for the campaigns to come.

I strongly urge both clubs to make a move for the Aston Villa ace in January whilst the iron’s still hot, and before his price further escalates at the 2014 World Cup.

Should Spurs or Arsenal snap up Benteke in January?

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Chelsea’s move for Benfica’s Nemanja Matic this month makes the most sense. Though that’s strictly from a footballing point of view.

The club are heading back to Portugal to negotiate the purchase of a player, rumoured to be around £20 million, who only three years ago they exchanged in a deal which saw David Luiz go the other way to Stamford Bridge. This is exactly what UEFA had in mind with Financial Fair Play.

But it’s the best move Jose Mourinho can make to improve his squad. From the offset, it appears strengthening the at times lifeless attack is the priority. Samuel Eto’o now looks to be a pointless signing, while Demba Ba is largely forgotten. Add the inconsistent Fernando Torres to the mix and the easiest conclusion to arrive at is that Chelsea need a genuine world-class centre-forward, one who is currently in or at least approaching his prime.

Scoring goals, though, hasn’t been a problem for Mourinho’s side. It’s stopping them going in at the other which has limited them to a role among the chasing pack rather than a constant at the top of the Premier League table.

Chelsea simply don’t have a influential figure in the centre of midfield, and the term influential is purposely ambiguous.

The game is catching up to Frank Lampard. There’s good reason to believe that this should be his final season at the top of the game. As a figure in the dressing room and a mentor to younger players, he can be invaluable. But as a player trying to keep up with the swashbuckling style of the front three, he’s simply out of place.

Ironically, Rafa Benitez tried to use David Luiz in the midfield last season. The Brazilian’s kamikaze style would never see him at centre-back for a prolonged spell in a Mourinho team, and even in midfield, the Portuguese coach doesn’t fancy the former Benfica player.

Matic, however, who has blossomed into one of Europe’s best holding midfielders, is the answer, albeit an expensive one. It’s further evidence of Chelsea’s profligacy in the market that they could so easily dispose of the Serbian a few years ago, only to turn to him when in need of strengthening. Not only is he an excellent shield in front of the back line, he’s also capable of springing attacks, a player who can be hugely influential at both ends of the pitch.

It’s something that was present at Real Madrid, with so much importance owed to Xabi Alonso. Chelsea, for all the good that they have just in front of that central midfield pairing, don’t have a player who can command the centre of the pitch.

Mourinho should have no trouble extracting goals from this side. Even if you look past the fleeting threat of Torres; Eden Hazard, Oscar, Andre Schurrle, Willian, and, provided he stays, Juan Mata can be regular sources if goals. Perhaps the best for the forward line isn’t to invest in a new striker now, but to offer the best option, Torres, a consistent run in the team. At the very least he should be allowed to build up some fluidity, rather than being rotated in and out of the side.

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Matic will give Chelsea a strong base to work with. The players are in place in other parts of the pitch, but it’s that central midfield area that needs to be addressed.

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Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey insists that he has nothing to prove as he prepares to meet former club Liverpool this evening.

The one-time England international completed his move from Anfield to the Liberty Stadium over the summer after emerging as a top talent on Merseyside.

Just months into his time in South Wales he is set to take on his former club – who have made a perfect start to the Premier League season.

With rumours suggesting that he was forced to leave Liverpool rife, some have suggested that Shelvey will be out to make a point against his ex-employers.

But, the 21-year-old says that the game is not about him and that he made the choice to join Swansea.

“I wasn’t pushed out. Brendan said that I could stay at Liverpool and fight for my place and people say I should have done that,” he told BBC Sport.

“But it’s not in my character to sit around and wait for an opportunity, I want to play now and make a name for myself and get that consistency that young players need.

“I don’t think I’ve got a point to prove to Brendan Rogers, I’m not going to go out there and try these Hollywood passes.

“I’m just going to go out there and just play my normal game and get myself settled into the game and not let the occasion get to me.

“This game’s not about me anyway. It’s about Swansea versus Liverpool – and Swansea getting three points.”

Shelvey netted seven goals in 69 appearances for Liverpool after joining the club as a teenager from Charlton.

He showed signs of promise with the Reds, but struggled for game time due to the presence of a number of experienced midfielders in the squad.

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Will Jonjo Shelvey come back to haunt Liverpool?

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Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny is set to stay at the Emirates this season, according to The Sun.

The French defender has been linked with a move away from the Premier League, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich interested in Arsenal’s number six.

But Koscielny will reject the interest from the two giants to stay with Arsene Wenger, who signed him from Lorient in 2010.

The 27-year-old was key during the Gunners’ pursuit of a top-four finish this season, as he scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, that ensured they would be playing in the Champions League next season.

And the £15million-rated defender has no plans to leave the Emirates, despite interest from Champions League winners Bayern Munich.

Gunners fans will be delighted with the news, after they have seen some of their star players leave the club over the last few summers. Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Alex Song have all left the club in the last two summer transfer windows.

But Koscielny won’t be joining that list of players, as the Frenchman intends to stay with the Gunners.

There is no news on fellow centre-back and club captain Thomas Vermaelen, whose future at Arsenal is in doubt. The Belgian has been reportedly told he can leave the club.

Are you happy that Koscielny wants to stay? Should he really ignore Bayern and Barca?

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Richard Dunne will be looking for a new club this summer after Aston Villa reportedly opted against offering him a new contract.

The 33-year-old Republic of Ireland defender has not kicked a ball in anger for Villa this past season after suffering with a long-term problem while representing his country at last summer’s Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

Last month boss Paul Lambert insisted that the door was still open for Dunne to prove his fitness and earn a contract at Villa Park.

However, fresh reports emanating from the club are suggesting that Dunne will be allowed to leave on a Bosman free transfer this summer.

Record signing Darren Bent is also poised to leave having slipped out of the first-team reckoning under Lambert this past Premier League season, while the 2011-12 Player of the Year Stephen Ireland could also be offloaded despite having 12 months remaining on his current deal.

The midfielder has not featured in the team since the club’s humiliating 2-1 defeat in the Capital One Cup to Bradford City earlier this year.

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