EPL Gossip
Alexandre Lacazette falls out with Lyon’s president,
Manchester United target Hakan Calhanoglu, Arsenal and Liverpool could
move for Ezequiel Lavezzi (but absolutely no evidence to back that up)…LACAZETTE FALLS OUT WITH LYON
It’s understandably sold by most media outlets as a ‘BOOST’ for Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, but it certainly looks like Alexandre Lacazette has fallen out with Lyon.
The striker signed a one-year contract extension in the summer, ending widespread speculation that he would be moving to the Premier League. However, Lacazette is annoyed then Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas made the terms of the contract public.
“Yes, it is his [Aulas’] attitude,” he told L’Equipe. “When he talks, a lot of fans listen. And when he retells things, seen from his point of view, it makes you think that the player is in the wrong. Yes his behaviour hurt and disappointed me.
“It hurt. I think that is a justified word to use. When you are a youngster at the club, in the town, and you have never really behaved in a nasty way to anyone, to be treated like that, yes, it hurts. I had had my best ever season, I really helped the team to reach the Champions League again.”
UNITED TARGET CALHANOGLU
With Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin and Maroune Fellaini already at the club, what Manchester United need now is another central midfielder. That’s the claim, though, with reports suggesting that Louis van Gaal is eyeing up a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Hakan Calhanoglu.
The claims seem to be sourced from a Dutch website called Soccer News, which is just about the most generic website name I’ve ever heard. Are we sure it’s all legit?
Calhanoglu is a lovely little player (said in our best Harry Redknapp voice) with a reputation as one of Europe’s best free-kick takers. But still, United don’t need him.
LAVEZZI TO ARSENAL
Well it’s certainly nice to see this old friend again. At least every month we catch up with the rumour that Ezequiel Lavezzi is to come to the Premier League in the near future. Every time we are left disappointed.
To be honest, it’s all typical Daily Express bluster. They say that Arsenal and Liverpool could look to sign Lavezzi, but the only new information is that the Argentina international is getting less playing time after the arrival of Angel di Maria.
However, if this is the sort of thing we can expect from our man, we’re getting behind the ‘Lavezzi to England’ campaign.
The Belgian moved to the Premier League outfit at the end of the summer transfer window, despite still having four years to run on his contract with the Wolves.
His sale – for a Bundesliga record fee of 75 million euros – was unavoidable, according to sporting director Allofs, with the money put on the table by City too much for the player to turn down.
“When a player comes to you with an offer from a club willing to pay him four times as much [as he is already earning], then you’ve got to consider what’s going through his head,” Allofs told Die Welt newspaper.
“We had looked for a solution which would have allowed us to keep hold of him for at least another year, but when that was not possible, it was clear that we would sell him.”
Wolfsburg tried to convince De Bruyne, who was voted the Bundesliga’s player of the year last season, to sign a new deal with them on improved terms, but it became evident in their first few games of the season that his mind was already elsewhere.
It was therefore decided to accept City’s offer, which was “maybe a unique opportunity,” according to Allofs.
“Nobody could guarantee him that he would receive the same offer again,” he added.
Mourinho and Wenger have a storied history on the touchline, with the Portuguese calling the Frenchman a “voyeur” during his first spell at Chelsea, while Wenger pushed Mourinho in the technical area during a match in 2014.
Diego Costa’s controversial three-match ban for his actions during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over the Gunners earlier this month has reignited the feud once more, with Mourinho questioning both the decision and Wenger’s perceived preferential treatment.
Wright, who played for Arsenal for seven years from 1991 to 1998, believes Mourinho is ‘obsessed’ with his rival, and he “can’t understand” Mourinho’s behaviour.
“His obsession with Wenger is mystifying. I just can’t understand it,” Wright told The Sun.
“There’s something that happens with him whenever he talks or thinks about Arsene. He gets antagonised all the time.
“I think the big problem is that Jose looks at Arsene and his treatment from the media.
“Jose rightly feels Arsene hasn’t achieved as much as he has. I think his issue is that Arsene has not won as much or achieved as much as he has – yet still gets as many plaudits. It just irks him that Arsene doesn’t get more criticism.
“What I can’t understand is why it irks him so much when he’s got the medals to show everybody what he’s about. He just can’t be happy with himself, for some reason, even though what he does is brilliant.”
Mourinho was linked with the vacant managerial role at Liverpool when Gerard Houllier left in 2004, but the job eventually went to Rafael Benitez – one of five managers who Gerrard played under at Liverpool.
The Reds won the Champions League and FA Cup during Benitez’s tenure at Anfield, while Gerrard actually rejected the chance to join Mourinho and Chelsea on numerous occasions.
“I never, ever regretted representing Liverpool,” Gerrard told the BBC. “I was the captain. I had huge responsibilities to try and make Liverpool successful, not Chelsea.
“Chelsea were in a much more powerful position with the owner that they had (Roman Abramovich).
“The dream for me would have been if Mourinho would have come and maybe sampled Liverpool for a few years.
“I’m sure he could’ve added a couple of trophies to my collection.”
Asked if he could ever envisage Mourinho usurping current manager Brendan Rodgers at Anfield, Gerrard responded: “Who knows? Who knows?
“Why wouldn’t he [be a good fit]? He’s one of the best managers in the world, so of course he would be a good fit.”
Gerrard continued his eulogy by hinting that he would be keen to work with the Portuguese when he completes his coaching badges.
He added: “Further down the line I am going to be available for coaching roles and I do want to learn from the best, so who knows?”
Sigurdsson hopes Swansea rediscover scoring touch
Date published: Tuesday 29th September 2015 3:40
Sigurdsson scored a consolation penalty in Swansea’s 3-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday, with the goal representing the midfielder’s first in all competitions this season.
The Iceland international scored nine goals in 35 appearances for Swansea last season, and admitted that though he was relieved to end this particular drought, it was soured by the club’s overall performance against Saints.
“Of course it’s nice to be off the mark, and hopefully I can kick on now and score a bit more,” he said.
“The pressure is off me a little bit now so I think more goals will come, but we’re in this business to win games and get points.
“Whether I score or not, I want to get the three points.
“The happiness of the goal kind of fades away because of the performance against Southampton.”
Swansea are now without a victory since beating Manchester United in late August, and face a test against one of Sigurdsson’s former club next in Spurs, who are unbeaten since a defeat on the opening day.
Sigurdsson hopes Garry Monk’s men can rekindle their early-season form at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
“I think we’ve just come away from what we want,” he added.
“We started the season working very hard and we scored a few goals in those early games.
“At the moment the goals are proving a bit hard to come by for us. It’s something we’ll work on and hopefully we can get a good result against Tottenham before the international break.
“We just need to start the game better than we did at Southampton.
“We were on the back foot and they scored from a set-piece, which we’re very disappointed about. I think deservedly they got the points.”
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