Everton are keeping a close eye on Atalanta midfielder Josip Ilicic ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Calciomercato.
What’s the story?
Everton have been very busy in the past two transfer windows; under former manager Ronald Koeman the club spent in excess of £100m on several new faces.
With Sam Allardyce at the helm, the buying continued in January as Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun joined the party, while Eliaquim Mangala arrived from Manchester City on loan.
According to Calciomercato, another player has been added to Everton’s transfer wishlist, in the form of Ilicic from Atalanta.
The midfielder has made 33 appearances in all competitions for the Italian club so far this season, scoring 11 goals and creating eight assists.
Do Everton need another attacking midfielder?
That is one area where the Merseyside outfit are certainly not short!
Even though the 30-year-old’s statistics are impressive, there are more pressing matters that the Toffees should be focusing on.
During the January window, supporters demanded a left-back, but the Merseyside outfit did not deliver.
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Right-footed Cuco Martina has been taking on the role in Leighton Baines’s injury absence.
With the latter turning 34 next year, the club should priorities bringing in another man to fill his boots, rather than an attacking midfielder.
Everton came away from the Etihad Stadium yesterday evening with a massive point that owed everything to Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the tip of attack.
The youngster showed his quality earlier in the summer by netting the winning goal for England U20s in the World Cup final and appears to have taken that confidence into the new season, highlighted by a performance beyond his years against arguably the Premier League’s top side in Manchester City.
Indeed, Everton set up to spoil the party and hit the Citizens on the counter, which hinged on Calvert-Lewin’s ability to not only lead the line and bring Wayne Rooney into the game but also provide the pace to push back the likes of Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Vincent Kompany.
That’s exactly what the 6 foot 1 forward did; in addition to creating four chances, one of which supplied Rooney for Everton’s goal in the first half, Calvert-Lewin won two fouls, two aerial duels and completed two dribbles to give his side a vital foothold in the final third.
It was an exceptional performance from a youngster who appears to have an incredibly bright future at Goodison Park. But was he your Man of the Match? Let us know by voting below…
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No matter which side of the #WengerIn/#WengerOut debate you stand on, it’s hard to argue that Arsene Wenger’s players put in a real shift for him last night as Arsenal slipped to a humbling 5-1 loss at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.
The Gunners were always likely to come away with a negative scoreline for the second leg of their Champions League last 32 tie against the German giants, but the manner in which they were out-played and the fact that, barring a bizarre turnaround, they’re out of Europe once again has sent some supporters of the club into meltdown.
In an attempt to harness this energy for good (well, sort of good) we asked Gunners fans to name and shame the 14 players who took to the pitch and here are the THREE biggest offenders. Amazingly, six-passes-completed-in-77-minutes midfielder Francis Coquelin got off lightly, with his name not making the trio of shame…
3) Granit Xhaka
Quickly becoming a questionable signing, the hot-headed Swiss midfielder was expected to shine vs. Bayern Munich. After all, he knows the Bundesliga giants well having played for Borussia Monchengladbach up until his £30m+ summer switch to London and has that spiky streak that is always needed in the biggest games.
Alas, he and his midfield partner Francis Coquelin were anonymous vs. the Bavarians as the home side ran riot and exploited the space between the engine room and defensive line.
2) Alex Iwobi
A youngster thrust up against Philipp Lahm – a player whose won it all at international and club level – there was always the potential for the Gunners ace to struggle. And struggle he did, with the German veteran running the right side of the pitch for his team by producing overlapping surges that were a constant thorn for Wenger’s side. Iwobi offered very little going forward, too.
1) Mesut Ozil
In at number one we have big game bottler extraordinaire, Ozil. The midfielder attempted the same number of passes as Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, which is a damning stat given that he’s hailed as the Londoners’ main playmaking talent.
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Ozil is often slated for not showing up when it really matters, and those criticisms will surely continue off the back of this.
English football can be an unforgiving place. The past decade or two has seen a number of clubs fall on hard times, financially, structurally and even professionally. Former giants of the English game have been reduced to shadows of their old selves, their proud histories looked back on with fondness as they tumble down the league(s), battling relegation and financial ruin, chasing the dream of their past glories as they head in the ‘wrong’ direction.
You only have to look into the Championship for evidence as to the ease of which clubs’ fortunes can rise and fall in dramatic fashion. From past Premier League winners to Champions League semi-finalists, the list of sides whose fortunes have fallen on harder times is notable. Even into the third and fourth tiers we can find modern-day FA Cup winners and finalists along with sides that have competed at the highest level in recent seasons.
One of the biggest clubs to have dropped away from mainstream public consciousness in recent years is Sheffield Wednesday. One of the founding members of not only the Premier League, but the original FA in the late 19th-century, the club have a proud tradition, large fan base and an excellent stadium. Hillsborough has unfortunately become synonymous with the tragic events of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final but it nevertheless remains an impressive ground with a near 40,000 capacity, of which at least half is regularly filled by their loyal fans.
The modern era has generally headed in one direction for the Sheffield giants, however. The last 25 years have seen the Owls go from League Cup champions and multiple cup finalists to wading around in the Championship, even falling in to the third tier at one point. Since falling out of the Premier League in 2000, the club have gone through 10 different managers in an attempt to improve their fortunes, although none succeeded in raising the club to anything more than mid-table fodder – a sad sight for one of England’s most historic clubs.
As is often the case in this day and age, the club battled financial problems alongside it’s on-pitch mediocrity and narrowly avoided a winding-up order at the start of the decade. But brighter days are ahead for ‘Wednesday’, the club’s coming through its downturn and is now in a good place to attempt a push for a return to top-flight football for the first time in over 15 years.
Like many clubs across the country, the ‘Steel City’ side were bought by foreign investors in early 2015. They’ve found a new lease of life under owner Dejphon Chasniri, however, and currently occupy the last promotion spot in the ultra competitive Championship. Aiming to get the side back in the top-flight in time for it’s 150th anniversary in 2017, the Thai businessman has invested heavily since his arrival, both structurally and with personnel.
But he clearly knows his stuff both on and off the pitch. Not many would have heard of their manager before this season, the relatively unknown Carlos Carvahal bought in following unremarkable spells in Portugal and Turkey. With the help of some excellent investment in quality players, however, the Portuguese coach has made the Sheffield side one of the most impressive in the Championship, and outside candidates for promotion.
Their form on their own patch has been particularly eye-catching, with the club only losing once in front of their own fans so far this season. They are right up there amongst the leagues top-scorers, a feat aided by prolific strikers Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper, who are both in double figures for the season. Carrying on the fine work undertaken by previous caretaker and full time boss Stuart Gray, Carvalhal has taken the team on another level, mixing talented imports with some fine UK players to produce a side that’s both good to watch and able to get results with great team spirit.
If they are to really cement their place in the play-offs for this season they may need to improve their away form, but they’re headed in the right direction for sure and would actually be a year ahead of schedule if they did somehow get to the Premier League this time around. It seems more logical to suggest they can make a concerted effort for automatic promotion next season, the squad, manager and club still in development together under the new owner.
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After so many years of battling relegation, staving off financial ruin and merely just treading water in the anonymity of lower mid-table Championship football, Owls fans may have finally found something to get excited about once again. With good investment behind them, an intriguing and exciting manager at the helm and the loyal and passionate Hillsborough crowd alongside them, this tight-knit group of players have the talent and potential to re-establish the Owls as a Premier League force once again.
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.
Gylfi Sigurdsson believes Tottenham Hotspur must score early against Maribor in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Andre Villas-Boas’ team have drawn all three of their Group J games so far this season and could only manage a 1-1 draw against the Slovenian champions last time out.
But the Tottenham midfielder is hopeful that an early lead will open the game up and encourage the White Hart Lane crowd to get behind the team.
He told Tottenham’s official website: “It would be ideal if we get an early goal. That means Maribor cannot just sit there and defend and it would the game up.
“That would also get the crowd right behind us and it will be a great atmosphere. That is important for us.”
Sigurdsson, who scored the equaliser at the Ljudski vrt Stadium two weeks ago, also believes the size of the White Hart Lane pitch will work in their favour and that Spurs still have a realistic chance of progressing in to the knock out stages.
“It’s a big pitch at White Hart Lane so hopefully we will get wide, get some crosses in and break them down this time,” he added.
“It is still in our hands and we now have the advantage of playing at home. Hopefully we will use that advantage and take the three points.
“We want to progress to the knockout stage, so it is important for us.”
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Sunderland have booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
The sides had drawn 1-1 in the initial fixture at the Stadium of Light, but the Premier League team triumphed in the replay at the Riverside Stadium.
Jack Colback had given the visitors the lead in the first half, only for Lukas Jutkiewicz to equalise for Tony Mowbray’s men, and force the game into extra time.
As game looked to be heading towards penalties, Stephane Sessegnon scored the winner with seven minutes remaining.
Martin O’Neill was pleased with the determination of his team, and is glad to progress through to the next stage of the tournament.
“I thought we were the better all-round football team and I’m delighted that we won the game,” the Northern Irish coach told Sky Sports.
“It’s a fantastic effort by the players. I thought they did exceptionally well. I thought we were comfortable when we conceded the goal and in a thrilling Cup tie we’re through.”
The Bantams will now face Arsenal in the next round of the competition, and also host Arsene Wenger’s men in the Premier League this weekend.
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Loads of Tottenham fans have been having their say on the result against Newcastle, and they’re really not impressed by Serge Aurier.
While several of Tottenham’s World Cup stars rushed back to star against Newcastle, the trip to Tyneside came slightly too soon for Kieran Trippier.
Aurier started in his place, and despite picking up an assist fans are really not impressed by the Ivory Coast international.
The erratic full back signed for a fee of around £23m last summer, but has yet to really convince fans that he’s reliable.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”278420″ player=”12034″ title=”Pochettino Has Been Betrayed By Daniel Levy”]
His cross for Dele Alli’s winning goal was truly sensational, but he gave away several fouls and just generally struggled to cope with Kenedy.
The summer transfer window has come and gone, and an injury to Trippier could now be devastating, as the combination of Aurier and Moussa Sissoko down the right hand side was painful to watch.
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//fixtureinfocus.podiant.co/latest/embed/
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are cringing at the former PSG ace’s showing…
Since Torres scored the infamous goal against Germany in 2008, there haven´t been all that good performances from Fernando Torres in a España-shirt. But recent performances has seen Torres find his way back into the hearts, and mostly hopes of a nation. “The kid”, often called in Spain has seen players like Villa, Llorente and Negredo take his place in recent times. But Spain´s National Team coach, Vicente Del Bosque has said before that “Torres is one of us”, despite the fact that it was quite a while ago that Torres performed on the international stage with Spain.
I’ve seen signs that he could prove to be a joker during the European Championships next year, something we´ve all seen during the recent weeks with Chelsea, and this hasn´t gone unnoticed as Vicente Del Bosque says he´s in the troop:
“Because he has proved to be good in his club. He has had his verdicts that haven´t passed by anybody but for the European Championships nobody will receive priveleges.”
You could agree to that extent that Torres has performed for Chelsea during recent weeks, but on the other side there are many fighting for places in Spain´s starstudded side. Torres will have to prove his critics wrong and I hopefully think he will, as having a Fernando Torres in your side (which are expected to win gold again) is of benefit rather than what some pundits want to claim: A burden they say.
Del Bosque is also very keen on reiterating the same answer when questioned about Torres, something that may annoy Torres himself in more than one way:
“You got to extend the perspective far more before those in power try to judge him permanently. We have to be just, there has been much competition (for places). Torres has a precedent and a present but I am not a traitor and he´s found stability and performed good for his club, as anyone have seen.”
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El Niño, or the kid, is a major plus to any team, but he might get to have a smaller role this time around in Spain´s quest for gold.
This weekend’s trip to Brisbane Road may have looked purely academical for Arsene Wenger’s in-form Arsenal side at the time of the draw, but it now it looks as if this fixture has potential banana skin written all over it and it could be a difficult game for the Gunners to negotiate their way through.
Arsenal go into the game on the back of a truly outstanding result against Catalan giants Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek. Wenger will look to rest certain key individuals in preparation for the return leg and this may offer a glimmer of hope to Russell Slade’s Orient side.
Orient have been no slouches themselves either recently though and their form has been nothing short of exceptional of late. They are currently undefeated in eleven games (won 7, drawn 4), a run of form that has seen them climb to just outside the League One playoffs where they currently reside in 10th place, just three points off 6th.
The forgotten tribe of East London as Chairman Barry Hearn recently referred to them as, benefit from having an organised and settled side. They are strong all across midfield and are scoring goals for fun at the minute.
A potential weak spot that Arsenal may seek to exploit though is down Leyton Orient’s flanks, where full backs Charlie Daniels and Andrew Whing have a tendency to be caught to far forward and too tight to the centre half respectively. Dean Cox and Jimmy Smith remain the home sides danger men, although the physical presence of Alex Revell up front will also be worth keeping an eye on too.
Prediction: 1-2 – get odds of 15/2 with bet365!
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