TRANSFER GOSSIP
Well, well. The conventional wisdom was that Chelsea were the only club in for Alex Teixeira, but we bring you interesting news. Interesting news via lovely man Tony Barrett.
So there you go. What does that bid say about Daniel Sturridge’s place at Liverpool, given Jurgen Klopp’s public backing of Christian Benteke?
UNITED WEIGH UP CAVANI BID
That’s the claim from ESPN, who have reliable sources within Old Trafford. They believe that Manchester United are considering making a move for the Paris Saint-Germain striker in a bid to increase their threat in front of goal.
The report also says that Edinson Cavani is keen on a move, which doesn’t surprise us one little bit. The Uruguayan has regularly been played out of position in Paris and has largely failed to impress whenever he has operated as a central striker this season.
Cavani has scored ten league goals in 17 matches this season, but it’s hard to judge his record on those numbers given PSG’s domestic domination. Laurent Blanc’s side are 21 points clear after 21 matches, having dropped six league points since March 15, 2015.
ASTON VILLA TO SIGN VIDIC
It’s a line that sounds like good business for Villa until you look at Nemanja Vidic’s recent history. The central defender hasn’t played a league minute this season, and has just left Internazionale by mutual consent.
The suspicion is that Vidic’s legs have gone, hence why Villa have been offered a chance to sign him on a free deal. The Serbian would be better off going to MLS, rather than being made to look foolish in the Premier League. Tarnished legacies and all that.
PEDRO TO LEAVE CHELSEA?
After a wonderful debut away at West Brom, Pedro’s Chelsea career has nosedived before plateauing at a fairly miserable level. He has started the club’s last few games, but only due to Eden Hazard’s injury. The Spaniard was removed at half-time against Everton.
The report comes from David Woods in the Daily Star, the paper’s chief football writer. It claims that Chelsea are not wanting to let Pedro go during the January transfer window, but are considering a summer exit for the £21m signing. It mentions Valencia and Villarreal as possible destinations.
With Kevin de Bruyne, Andre Schurrle, Juan Cuadrado and Mohamed Salah all failing to impress, Chelsea don’t mind struggling to integrate a wide player.
AND THE REST
Spurs have entered the race to sign Alvaro Morata… Chelsea flop Papy Djilobodji has undergone a medical ahead of a loan move to Werder Bremen… Fiorentina want to sign Mauro Zarate from West Ham… West Brom are demanding £30 million for Saido Berahino… Paris Saint-Germain are showing an interest in Chelsea striker Diego Costa… West Ham United are confident of completing a loan deal for Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike to ease the club’s striker crisis… Victor Valdes has has been offered an escape route from Manchester United with Standard Liege ready to take the goalkeeper on loan until the end of the season… Chelsea did not secure a sell-on clause when negotiating Romelu Lukaku’s move to Everton… Southampton are on the trail of Porto defender Bruno Martins Indi.
Liverpool emerged as potential suitors for Teixeira after reportedly submitting a bid of around £24million for the Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder.
Reports then broke that Teixeira had pulled a hamstring within hours of the bid, but Klopp had little to say on the links.
“No. I have nothing to say about this,” he said. “I could say a lot about a lot of players.”
He then joked with a reporter to “be careful with your questions,” before continuing: “If you are under pressure people want prices which you think are crazy. It’s not perfect time to buy but we have to watch the market.
“If we find a solution and a player who can help us then we’ll try.
“I think I always said if our situation changed then we would have to change.
“If there’s a good player who can help us then we think about it.”
Liverpool’s forgotten centre-back Tiago Ilori is determined to learn from the mistakes he has made but has already put his wasted loan spell at Aston Villa behind him.
The Portugal Under-21 international made his Anfield debut – just his second appearance in almost two and a half years – in the comfortable 3-0 FA Cup third-round replay win over League Two Exeter.
Due to a series of loans his first game in a red shirt came just over a week ago in the original encounter after he was recalled from Villa – where he failed to get a first-team match in three months.
Chances may be limited at Liverpool from now until the end of the season, especially as they face Premier League opposition in West Ham in the next round and also because manager Jurgen Klopp has brought in Steven Caulker, a player with proven top flight experience, on loan.
However, it appears the German will reset the youth system in the summer and Ilori, 23 next month, still believes he has a chance to prove himself after being farmed out to Granada and Bordeaux in successive seasons
“You always have to look at the positives but even the negatives you can learn from and that is something I try to work hard on every day and not make the same mistake twice; mistakes maybe like, at times, not working as hard as I needed to, just mistakes in general,” he told Press Association Sport.
“It is not easy [adjusting to loans] but that is part of being a footballer. We have to adapt and do our best.
“I came here a couple of years ago (September 2013) and I wasn’t here more than four months before going on loan.
“I never really got comfortable enough and that is definitely something I needed. Working with the same people every day is important.
“I am not trying to think too far ahead. I am just working hard every day, getting as many minutes as I can and be ready when I am needed to play as there are great players in my position.”
Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Jurgen Klopp and Cafu all welcomed Jon Flanagan’s return after a 20-month injury lay-off on Wednesday.
Full-back Flanagan made his long-awaited return to the Liverpool first team on Wednesday, coming on as a second-half substitute against Exeter in the FA Cup third round.
Flanagan entered the Anfield pitch to a rapturous applause, crowning his comeback from two knee operations.
The 23-year-old last featured in May 2014, and replaced Connor Randall on 51 minutes to mark his return after 20 months on the sidelines.
Jurgen Klopp spoke highly of the defender post-match, telling BT Sport: “When Flanno came in it was a great moment after this long time. To be honest I haven’t had him very often in training until now because we need really to be careful with him and it’s not allowed to be too intensive. It’s always training, break, recovery.
“He had a few minutes in the U21s. Connor Randall had a little muscle problem so we had the chance to bring Flanno and it was a real emotional moment.
“I think nobody deserved it more than him. It’s such a long time, an unbelievable long time. Since I’ve been here he’s always been injured but never in a bad mood.
“That’s unbelievable. He’s a really strong lad, hopefully now it goes on.
“We have to see how he is tomorrow, take it day by day but it’s some of the best news we could get him being back.”
Former captain Steven Gerrard also reserved words of praise for his old team-mate before the game, when Flanagan was named among the substitutes.
“So happy to see this fella close to returning to fitness,” Gerrard said. “He has put so much graft in to get himself back fit.
“I’m sure Anfield will erupt when he runs back onto the pitch after an 18-month lay off. Good luck mate. Great to see you back, and we have missed you. #cafu.”
Flanagan himself posted on Twitter on Wednesday evening, thanking the fans for their support.
“Buzzing to be back. What a reception I received, one I will never forget, fantastic. YNWA,” he said.
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