Frequent watchers of Manchester United this season will know only too well that one of their most fundamental weaknesses is a lack of creativity in the middle.

When on the attack, their front three of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Daniel James are as menacing as any other in the whole of Europe let alone the Premier League. United have also looked resolute defensively on occasions. But it’s in the midfield areas that Solskjaer’s side lack the necessary quality, considering Paul Pogba has been on the treatment table for most of the season and with McTominay also joining him, United’s need for options in the middle have never been greater.

Without Pogba, United look bereft of ideas and lacking any sort of inventiveness when trying to break down deep defensive blocks. It’s no wonder why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is heavily interested in the services of Leicester City’s James Maddison. A January move for the player is highly unlikely but United are reportedly looking to make their move come the end of the season.

The former Norwich man ticks all the boxes for United’s scouting team in terms of his age at 23, his footballing DNA, is a young British player, and a midfielder who can effortlessly create opportunities for others around him. Statistically, Maddison is the fifth most inventive player in the Premier League so far this season.

He finished the last campaign as the top creator with 100, more than ex-Chelsea man Eden Hazard. It’s no secret of Manchester United’s desire to sign the midfielder who already has six goals and three assists so far this campaign. United’s supposed creative influences in Pereira, Lingard and Juan Mata combined haven’t come close to matching James Maddison’s numbers.

What has been evidently clear of James Maddison under Brendan Rodgers since his appointment in February, is his influence in much of Leicester’s attacking play. A conductor and an orchestrator in such a well-rounded and finely balanced team. Whether playing in the most advanced position of a midfield three, or as a more deep-lying playmaker, or tucked in off the left-wing or in his more natural role directly behind Jamie Vardy, he is the man to set and maintain the tempo of their attacking moves.

Since the start of last season, Maddison has provided four assists for Jamie Vardy in the league and you can imagine the kind of relationship he could build with the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, who could profit handsomely from having a player of Maddison’s intelligence and craft behind them.

Rather than scouting for talents elsewhere around Europe who will need ample time to bed in and settle in a new league, Maddison would instantly be added to United’s starting XI and majorly impact their style of play, like Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have swiftly achieved so far.

However, with Leicester sitting admirably in second place in the Premier League table and United languishing in fifth, there is a case for Maddison to reject United’s advances and become the bedrock of what Brendan Rodgers is trying to achieve at the King Power. There is a clear personality, direction and ethos under the former Celtic coach, something United are lacking at this current point in time.

Additionally, Maddison will – if Leicester keep up their good form in the second half of the season – have the luxury of playing in the Champions League for the first time. Every young footballer dreams of playing against some of the best footballers in Europe and the Champions League will provide Maddison with the opportunity to mix it with the best. Manchester United are part of the chasing pack and there is no guarantee of European football next season, so why would Maddison sacrifice his continued development at a stable and progressive club to join a club still trying to identify their philosophy.

Though, Maddison could be the key to United unlocking their potential. The midfielder will certainly become a central figure for Solskjaer if he is to move on. The lure of playing under the Old Trafford lights is tempting for any young English footballer, especially for someone as ambitious and self-confident as James Maddison, but the lure of Champions League football will be difficult to turn down too.

Maddison would need to weigh up his options with much caution, and avoid getting distracted for the remainder of the season with the European Championships taking place in June, and Leicester’s place in the top four still not guaranteed yet. A place in Southgate’s squad is up for grabs when the announcement is made in May, and Maddison can ill-afford to become wrapped up in a decision which could shape his long-term future.

His immediate future with Leicester City and England should be his main priority.

 

 

 

Norwich City and England Under-21s full back Max Aarons is reportedly attracting the interest of as many as four Premier League clubs in the January transfer window after his stellar season so far in the top flight.

Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be leading the chase for his signature, with West Ham and Everton also expressing an interest in the player.

According to various media outlets, £30million would be enough to prize the young full back away from the Canaries clutches. Such is his importance to Daniel Farke, it would be a blow for Norwich City to lose such a prized asset at this stage of the season, considering they are locked in a battle to beat relegation.

Aarons is enjoying a sparkling first season in the Premier League, after helping the club to promotion from the Championship last campaign, becoming arguably Norwich’s most influential player.

According to Sky Sources, Tottenham remain increasingly interested in his services. Mauricio Pochettino was eager to add him to the Spurs ranks in the summer after they sold Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid but a deal never materialised. The club is continuing to monitor his development and the right-back spot is a priority for Jose Mourinho to bolster.

Max Aarons certainly fits the bill but is he ready for a big move away? 

The England Under-21 international moved to Norwich from Luton Town in 2016, and signed his three-year professional contract at the age of 18. Since then, Aarons has become the hallmark of everything good at Carrow Road. Named in the Championship team of the season last year, also picking up the Young Player of the Season award as he excelled in their rise to promotion. His statistics from last year was spectacular too, considering he played most of the season at right-back, contributing to nine goals (3 goals, 6 assists) from 43 appearances in all competitions.

Aarons may not hold the same kind of numbers in the current season, in fact, he hasn’t contributed to any Norwich City goal so far. However, his importance to the cause should never be underestimated.

He’s found it tough going at times in the top-flight particularly against Manchester United in their 3-1 defeat, often found out of position and given the runaround by an in-form Marcus Rashford but that’s understandable considering he only turned 20 years of age after the New Year, but there are some performances that have highlighted his incredible growth and maturity under Daniel Farke.

Against Crystal Palace on New Years Day, Aarons handled the responsibility of marking Wilfried Zaha resolutely further proving he has what it takes to become one of the best in his position.

Aarons’ combination of speed, trickery, pace and power taking in to account his remarkably small frame, is exemplary. The right-back is incredibly brave too, never shying away from trying to beat his marker and putting a cross into the box for the forwards. It’s those characteristics and his strong poise on the ball that makes him one of the most exciting attacking full-backs in the division.

 

 

This season has thrown up some outstanding individual performances from right-backs with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Aaron Wan Bissaka and Ricardo Pereira the most notable candidates, but Norwich City’s Max Aarons, more than deserves his fair share of praises this season.

 

 

There’s no reason why Aarons cannot take the next step in his fledgling career and become a student of Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur, a club which allows young players like Aarons to flourish. Providing he may take the next step, there is still a lot for Aarons to improve on such as his defensive positioning and reading of the game which has been susceptible on a number of occasions this season.

While that improvement all comes with age, it certainly seems as if Max Aarons will be plying his trade in the Premier League for years to come.

Christian Eriksen’s future at Tottenham has been the main topic of conversation for several months. His refusal to sign a new contract at the club, and ambition to seek another challenge elsewhere means that now, with six months left on his current deal, he is free to negotiate with other clubs, with a view to leaving for free in the summer.

With a whole host of top European clubs already vying for the Danish internationals signature including Inter Milan, which of them could Eriksen opt to join?

 

Inter Milan

 

According to Sky Sources, Inter Milan have already begun discussions with the representatives of Christian Eriksen with a view of possibly taking him on board this month. Also, there are widespread reports suggesting that the midfielder has already agreed a deal with the Serie A leaders.

Conte is in the market for at least 3 signings as they push for their first Italian triumph since Jose Mourinho’s stint in 2010.

It is believed that Conte would rather prioritise the signing of Arturo Vidal from Barcelona before moving onto other targets. What is intriguing about Conte’s squad is the amount of options he already holds in his midfield. Nicolo Barella, Stefano Sensi, Marcelo Brozovic, all of whom have become a mainstay in the Italian’s engine room have been victims of various injury problems as of late. They also have on their books Matias Vecino, Roberto Gagliardini and Borja Valero. It is difficult to see how Christian Eriksen fits in with Conte’s plans let alone Arturo Vidal, unless they free up space by selling a few of their stars.

It is unlikely that a talented player such as Eriksen will be happy warming the bench as he has done for much of this current campaign.

 

Manchester United

 

Manchester United are in desperate need of creativity and quality in the midfield, and a move for Christian Eriksen makes perfect sense. Injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba leaves Solskjaer in desperate need of reinforcements.

It is believed that Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s chairman, will have no problems negotiating the sale of Eriksen with rival clubs. Manchester United and Tottenham are both amongst a number of clubs battling it out for the Champions League places currently and Eriksen moving to Old Trafford could provide Solskjaer with the added tonic of winning the race at Tottenham’s expense.

Eriksen could seamlessly fill in the no.10 role behind Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. Not only will United increase their creative output, but goals will no longer become hard to come by. Eriksen’s technical abilities in the final third are what United are crying out for.

In so many instances this season, Solskjaer’s players have found it difficult to breach low-block defences, but Eriksen holds all the technical qualities needed to enhance United’s thrust in the final third.

While it may be ideal for United to pursue Eriksen’s services, it is reported that Solskjaer has eyes set on other attacking midfield targets such as James Maddison, Jack Grealish and Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz according to The Athletic, three options which could become a mainstay in the squad for years to come while Eriksen will only be a short-term solution.

 

Real Madrid

 

It is no secret of Zinedine Zidane’s admiration for Christian Eriksen, but with the amount of quality Real Madrid possess in their attacking midfield department, do they really require his services?

Isco, Marco Asensio and James Rodriguez all hold the necessary quality to be permanent fixtures in Zidane’s squad. However, it has become clear during the French legend’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu that he does not have similar taste as much of the fans do.

There have been various rumours suggesting Real Madrid are willing to offload Isco and Rodriguez this summer, and with Luka Modric likely to depart too, that could free up space for someone like Christian Eriksen to fill the void. Zidane prefers Manchester United’s Paul Pogba however, and a big money move for him is well on the cards.

The Dane will be looking to become a regular fixture in the starting XI, it is unlikely that Real Madrid will provide him with that opportunity seeing as Zidane views Paul Pogba as his main priority.

 

Juventus

 

Juventus are the masters of the free transfer business and have made known there interest in the Danish playmaker but like Real Madrid and Inter Milan, they are pretty well stacked in the middle and don’t really require is services.

Paulo Dybala, Rodrigo Bentacur, Aaron Ramsey and Federico Bernardeschi have all filled in perfectly when needed so there is no reason why Maurizio Sarri should be in the market for another similar type of player whether now or in January. Even if Juventus were to acquire Eriksen’s services for free in the summer, even after they offload certain players, there is no guarantees that Sarri will find him a permanent place in the starting XI.

Christian Eriksen would be wise to hold off any advances from the Serie A champions.

 

Sign a New Contract at Tottenham

 

It seems as though the only plausible option for Christian Eriksen is to carry on his career at Tottenham Hotspur. While it may be tempting to join one of the top clubs around Europe, there are no guarantees that the Danish international will become a permanent fixture in any of their squads. So why not continue your development under one of the most decorated coaches in world football in Jose Mourinho?

There is no denying that the Portuguese coach has a lot of work to do to take the club to the next level, but keeping hold of his top stars and the spine of his team such as Eriksen and co could provide the perfect platform to build from.

Despite the number of possible quality replacements for Eriksen that are currently being scouted around Europe, it’ll still be pretty difficult to replace his intelligence and creative brilliance, two components that Spurs lack when Eriksen is not involved.

A new challenge may prove very tempting for Eriksen but his own development must be the priority, maybe signing a new contract – as Mourinho has strongly suggested to him – is the best option.

Aaron Mooy’s importance to Brighton has been summed up over the past few weeks, and certainly over the Christmas period. As soon as the Brighton supporters saw his number held up, to be replaced with six minutes left on the clock, they knew it was time to sound their appreciation for the Australian international.

A rapturous applause erupted after what was another scintillating by the on-loan Huddersfield midfielder.

If Graham Potter knows what’s good for his fast evolving Brighton side, he would swiftly snap up the player on a permanent deal before the bigger clubs all come vying for his signature.

Mooy has quickly become one of the most underrated commodities in the Premier League so far this season, and is a true representation of the kind of imprint and philosophy he is embarking on at the club. This isn’t the first we’ve seen of Aaron Mooy in the Premier League, he was Huddersfield’s star performer during their top-flight journey last year, one which saw them relegated to the Championship after two seasons back. It was clear the player was too good for the second division and it was only right for Graham Potter to snap him up from Huddersfield’s clutches, even if only temporary.

With the January transfer window well and truly underway, Potter should make signing Mooy permanently a top priority. His performance against Bournemouth was the perfect reason why. Eddie Howe’s side couldn’t handle the Australian, and he only needed three minutes to show just how good he is, intercepting possession and then driving through the Bournemouth midfield, picking out Neal Maupay who set up Alireza Jahanbakhsh for Brighton’s opening goal.

Aaron Mooy may look like the play-making midfielder he has always been earmarked to be, he doesn’t sit deep and dictate play in front of the defence like the roles Davy Pröpper or Yves Bissouma have been assigned to this season. Sitting at the tip of Potter’s diamond midfield setup, he is rather an efficient attacking midfielder, one who links up play between the deep-lying players and the forwards, enhances the press, drives the whole team up the pitch becoming the focal point for a counter-attack, has the defensive nous to break up play and is also gifted with a range of passing that only few players in the Premier League can match.

Just to add to his impressive range of skill sets, he is also efficient from set-pieces situations. His all-round game is why interest in him have spiked and you certainly won’t back against him turning up for one of the big boys in the near future. An Arsenal or an Everton could become the next platform for him if Brighton don’t secure his services permanently.

The second against Bournemouth was a real peach, picking up a cross from Leandro Trossard on the chest, before swivelling from the challenge of Chris Mepham and expertly finding the far top corner to put Brighton 2-0 up. It was quite simply a touch of class. A strike even Dutch, Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp would have been proud of. On Boxing day, the Australian also put in an awe-inspiring performance in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham. Often popping up in effective pockets of space, causing much panic in between Tottenham’s midfield pivot and defence. What’s all the more impressive about Aaron Mooy is his incredible knack of operating in tight spaces. Give him a pass under pressure, and he will almost certainly find a way to wriggle his way out of the pressure.

The Australian is a true ball technician, a master of the art of ball progression and is one of the key reasons why Brighton are one of the most exciting teams to watch in the top-flight so far this season. Despite only being involved in two of Brighton’s goals in the Premier League (1 goal, 1 assist), his importance to Graham Potter is there for all to see. Much of their passing into the final third goes through the Australian, and his game intelligence and tactical understanding in weaving through the lines of play is very effective.

At 29 years of age, Mooy isn’t getting any younger, and it is unclear whether his immediate future will be at the Amex or on a grander stage at one of the big boys. However, if Graham Potter harbours any ambitions to elevate Brighton football club to new heights then securing Mooy’s future at the club should be at the top of his agenda over the next few months.

New Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti stated on the eve of Everton’s victory over Newcastle that Dominic Calvert-Lewin can become one of the best strikers in Europe.

The 22-year-old hitman scored twice as the toffees made it two wins from two under new their new boss. As big a statement as that was from Ancelotti, you’d only need to look at his CV of strikers he’s worked with and moulded to find that the Italian may not be clutching at straws with his claim.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Hernan Crespo, Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko, Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Trezeguet, Filippo Inzaghi, Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Karim Benzema, Dries Mertens. These are the household names of players who have flourished under the tutelage of Ancelotti all going on to become better players because of it.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will surely be licking his lips at the prospect.

Carlo Ancelotti has spent the best part of two decades coaching the best. The former team-mate of Paolo Rossi and Marco Van Basten also spent much of his career supplying some of the most feared forwards of their generation. So when Ancelotti says he sees good in a player, its a requirement to stand up and take notice.

The question is whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin can place his name amongst that list of legendary strikers. Cristiano Ronaldo notched an astonishing 60 goals in a single season under Ancelotti, and Calvert-Lewin has only over netted no more than six goals in a single season before now. He netted his seventh and eighth against Newcastle to provide Ancelotti with the perfect tonic to build from. It was after the game against Burnley on Boxing day that Ancelotti heaped his unexpected tribute of a player he’s only managed a few days. “He’s a fantastic striker, in my opinion,” said the triple Champions League winner.

It hasn’t always been plain-sailing for the Sheffield United academy graduate. Previous managers have tended to harbour their own opinion on the player, often deeming him not good enough to lead the line for the club. All of Everton’s attempts to replace Romelu Lukaku’s goals after he left for Manchester United in the summer of 2017 have ended in failure. The addition of Moise Kean from Juventus – a player Ancelotti wanted at Napoli – is the latest of those attempts, one that is really not bearing any fruits.

Injuries have not helped Calvert-Lewin’s cause too, its as a result of his record on the treatment table that previous managers have failed to identify his abilities. Not only has previous managers not given him the platform and time to flourish but the Everton faithful have also expressed their doubts about him becoming the man to lead the line for the club.

Everton are a club falling behind the pack currently, and have lacked the necessary direction and identity needed to be elevated to the next level. Previous manager Marco Silva was supposed to be the man to lead the club into a new era, but to no avail. The recruitment over the past few seasons have faltered, a clear personality and identity within the hierarchy has often transcended down to the field. A change was needed. Assistant manager Duncan Ferguson was given the reigns on an interim basis, and the players finally delivered.

No one needed the change of approach more so than Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Fans may hold their own opinions on the player, but they simply cannot deny the drive, determination, work-ethic and spirit the striker holds. His development may have been faltering under Marco Silva, but that didn’t stop him having a desire to impress. Goals seemed hard to come by but there was an energy and passion about Calvert-Lewin that has endeared himself to Duncan Ferguson ever since his move on Merseyside, with the Everton legend often declaring the striker a joy to work with. His double in the 3-1 win over Arsenal a few weeks back was a further indication as to the kind of qualities Calvert-Lewin offers.

Pace, power, very athletic, his ability to brilliantly hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play and an almost expert ability to pop up in the right areas in the penalty area. Both his goals against Newcastle was a perfect example of his predatory instincts. His qualities are there for all to see, its whether he can maintain this kind of form and become consistent as his English counterpart. Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy are all enjoying consistent purple patches in front of goal for their respective clubs, and there’s no reason why Calvert-Lewin can’t follow suit.

He’s under the perfect management to blossom, and there is no better man than Carlo Ancelotti to propel him. The former Napoli coach is known to take a more personal and holistic approach when it comes to his players, just take another glance at the Italian’s decorated record of harnessing masterful talents up front. It’s only a matter of time before Calvert-Lewin becomes another dot on Carlo Ancelotti’s flourishing talent pool.

 

 

*Source Via The Telegraph

After a remarkable breakthrough season last campaign, scoring and incredible 20 goals and laying on 7 assists in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen, the German talisman and attacking midfielder Kai Havertz is so far failing to match those heights in this current campaign.

 

 

The German international is currently becoming the fall guy for Bayer Leverkusen’s loss of form in recent weeks. 3 defeats on the bounce, leaving them 7th in the Bundesliga standings, 5 points behind Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League places, Peter Bosz’ young side are suffering from an inconsistent season.

Before the defeat to Hertha Berlin last week, sections of the BayArena crowd were loudly jeering the 20-year-old midfielder with a handful of the crowd shouting insults across the pitch as well as questioning why the attacking midfielder is still playing for the club. The torrid abuse lasted the whole game, and reached its crescendo when Havertz was pulled off after a disappointing showing 18 minutes before the end.

By the superlative hallmarks of Havertz’s previous campaign, in which he emerged as one of the hottest properties in European football, his output this season has been underwhelming. With only more game before the mid-season break, Havertz has only recorded three goals, laying on the one assist. Those numbers are only recorded up until September, since then the player hasn’t followed up on those numbers

Not only has his goal output dropped but some of his in-game statistics have dropped considerably too. While he has made more key passes per game this season in comparison to last – 2.2 key passes in the Bundesliga this season, and 1 per game last – he’s been dispossessed more times this season (2.5) than last year (2) {WhoScored}.* Whether that’s down to dwelling too long on the ball, or players around not providing him with the runs in to space for him to pass into, it has led to his drop in final third contributions. Also, Kai Havertz is well known for his elegant first touches and fantastic composure when in tight spaces, he has surprisingly recorded more bad controls per game this term (3.5) whereas he only recorded around 2 per game {WhoScored}.*

It’s difficult to find the reasons as to why Kai Havertz is enduring such a difficult spell. It’s also important to note that the German midfielder is still only 20 years old. Peter Bosz and Joachim Low still see him as a vital component in their respective squads. Despite his drop in form, there is no doubting Kai Havertz’ extraordinary abilities, one that allows him to expertly control games at his own tempo as he has done quite brilliantly over the past year. His versatility is very useful too. Not only can he play as the teams creative force in the No.10 position, but he can also fulfil duties as a roaming no.8, or a deep-lying no.6. No wonder he is one of the most coveted players in the Europe.

There could be many contributing factors to Havertz’ loss of form, however. In the summer, the player was told he could not leave the club. Chelsea, who were still under a transfer ban, and Manchester United had reportedly been in touch for his signature. Leverkusen, boldly pronounced that they still required his services to embark on an onslaught for their first Bundesliga trophy their first triumph. A bold statement designed to push their players out of their comfort zones.

Havertz was the man to lead that assualt against Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig, three sides who finished ahead of them in May. It’s that sort of unwanted pressure that has probably led to Havertz’ struggles so far this campaign. Or maybe, the player has resigned himself to no longer wanting to play for the club, probably feeling frustrated that the club cannot match his lofty ambitions to challenge for the top honours. It’s plausible to argue that due to their fantastic finish last season, securing a place in this seasons Champions League could have been the deciding factor in him rejecting greener pastures.

Leverkusen, during the summer valued their hitman at close to £100million. That market price could plummet if Havertz doesn’t rekindle his spark before long. The club suspect that their most prized asset has been distracted by all the transfer talk.

Havertz has appeared overburdened with the task of becoming the teams most creative linchpin, a role he effortlessly shared with close friend and fellow compatriot Julian Brandt who joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer, and is excelling there too. New arrivals Kerem Demirbay and Nadiem Amiri (both signed from TSG Hoffenheim) – wonderfully gifted players in their own right – have failed to provide the sort of impact Julian Brandt conjured up so regularly for Leverkusen. Havertz no longer holds that trusted reference point in the final third. Often looking a little lost attempting through balls and intricate one-twos that don’t come off due to a lack of understanding with his team-mates.

Part of Leverkusen’s problems aren’t all down to Havertz though, not only has he become a victim of the high expectations after last years success but Peter Bosz and the club as a whole seem to be buckling under it too. Also, their defending hasn’t been up to standard and there are increasing signs that Bosz is losing his grip on the squad, the former Ajax coach has been a popular figure since his appointment in January but his high demanding approach is evidently taking its toll on the team.

The season is shaping up to be a disappointment on many parts for Leverkusen, who as well as being 7th currently, are out of the Champions League too. The board’s increasing nervousness is only heightened by Havertz’s current plight. There is no doubt that the player will move in future, but his recent performances could halt Leverkusen economically, finding it difficult to demand a high figure when looking to move him on.

What the player will have to consider is, whether clubs who have been circling for his signature in the past will still remain in the hunt come May next year. His current form could see him lose his place in the Germany squad for the Euros next summer too.

Kai Havertz’s fledgling future could all hinge on these next six months. He certainly holds all the cards to turn his form around.

 

 

* https://www.whoscored.com/Players/326413/History/Kai-Havertz

Arsenal are reportedly in talks with Manchester City over the availability of former player and coach Mikel Arteta to take over at the club.

The Arsenal officials were photographed in the early hours of Monday morning leaving Arteta’s Manchester home with the club expecting to announce a new manager before the new year. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and club lawyer Huss Fahmy were shown leaving Arteta’s home around 1am, following a reported two-and-a-half-hour meeting with their leading candidate.

Following Arsenal’s damaging home defeat to Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday, the club feel that an appointment must be made immediately with Freddie Ljunberg struggling to inspire the Arsenal camp, following Unai Emery’s sacking last month.

With only one win since the end of October, Arsenal are suffering from a terrible decline. Not only are the results proving a damning evidence of the state of the club but there is a lack of fight, desire and character amongst the squad. The club hierarchy are reportedly searching for a candidate who knows the club, has an understanding of the Premier League and is available to take over immediately.

Mikel Arteta is the leading candidate for the job but is Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man ready to take on the Arsenal burden?

Providing the fact that the former Arsenal and Everton man has learned his trade under Pep Guardiola for the past three years, there is an increasing belief within the Arsenal camp that the Spaniard will bring some of Guardiola’s ethos and philosophy to the table. Exciting as it may be, it would be a massive gamble for Arsenal to appoint someone who has never managed at the top level, especially a club the size of Arsenal and their current turmoil.

Despite Arteta’s lack of experience, Arsenal see his coaching credentials as impeccable. As well as developing under the guidance of Guardiola, he also came through the ranks at Barcelona as a player. The former midfielder is seen as a modern coach and very influential on a one-on-one basis. He is known to improve players and for the amount of time he spends analysing performances and other finer details.

In much the same way Guardiola was able to study and learn from his mentor Johan Cruyff while a player at Barcelona, Arteta has been able to work closely with one of the greatest coaches to grace the game. He was brought in at the start of Guardiola’s time at City and has played an integral part in the clubs two record-breaking seasons in the league. The pair have developed a mutual trust and Guardiola has come to rely on Arteta’s thorough tactical analysis in particular.

Arteta was supposed to take over the reigns after Wenger departed in fact, impressing the Frenchman while given an opportunity to work with the backroom staff, but Emery was appointed instead. 18 months on, things have drastically changed. After being overlooked, Arteta is seen as the man to turn around Arsenal’s fortunes.

Arteta is seen as a low-risk appointment in comparison to someone like Max Allegri, who is unable to speak English fluently, holds no understanding of the Premier League and would demand high transfer funds in January. It is believed that Arteta would be honoured at taking the club duties head on, leaving the transfer business to the likes of head of football Raul Sanllehi and technical director Edu. Also, he would be a popular figure with the fans seeing as he was club captain before he retired at the end of his spell at the Emirates.

There is no telling whether Arteta holds the required character and managerial nous to change Arsenal’s situation around. This is a squad suffering from a lack of confidence, belief and a winning mentality. The environment Arteta has become accustomed to in Manchester is totally different to the one he may inherit at the Emirates.

How Arteta will aim to transform Arsenal’s frailties at the back and in midfield is another matter entirely. Will funds become available in Jan? With the window fast approaching, there may not be enough time for Arteta to evaluate his playing squad and identify the targets he needs. If the transfer business is left to Sanllehi and Edu, then much consideration and thorough scouting will be required in order for the club to get the right players in, especially in defence where Arsenal are leaking goals seamlessly.

There are questions that will require solutions during the rest of the season. How would Arteta line up? Will he stick or twist with Ozil and Granit Xhaka? Will Lacazette get the game time he craves? Can the Spaniard get the best out of record signing Nicolas Pepe?

Arsenal need their identity and structure back and it certainly won’t be a quick fix. The fact remains, whether the Arsenal faithful have the required patience in Arteta to find a solution. The issues at Arsenal run deep, and while there may be cause for concern regarding Arteta’s potential appointment, the risk is there for him as well as the whole club. Yet the potential reward could make this one of the most exciting appointments in recent years.

 

 

“A natural finisher.” “A killer in the box”. “A star in the making.” 

The plaudits just keep rolling in for Mason Greenwood, and rightly so, as the academy graduate became the youngest player (18 years, 72 days) to score twice in a European competition, as Manchester United blitzed to a 4-0 win over AZ Alkmaar to finish top of their group in the Europa League.

It was Greenwood’s fifth and sixth goals in what is becoming a breakout season after his rapid progression in the youth setup. Both his goals against AZ certainly warrants the plaudits coming his way, two finishes you’d rarely see in an 18 year old, but Greenwood is no ordinary 18-year-old footballer. He is indeed a very special talent.

While its appropriate to get excited around the talents of Mason Greenwood, its also just as important to note that the player is still only young and requires the room and freedom to grow, make mistakes and discover the depths of his talents at his own pace. In a age where social media is prevalent and dominating the current era of youngsters, its easy for players like Greenwood to become engrossed in their own hype.

Ex-Manchester United striker Michael Owen, a player who, while enjoying a fruitful career, arguably became a victim of the pressures placed on him for much of his career, declared Greenwood has the potential to be a top player – as long as he doesn’t let his rapid development get to his head.

“You look for the ability when they are really young but now its all about the mental attitude.

He has grown into this frame, he won’t get much quicker now so its all about what’s going on between the ears. As long as he keeps going on this path at the right club that have nurtured so many youngsters, you would think all is in place. 

There is no question he will be a top player for a long time.”

Mason Greenwood has certainly enjoyed a promising start to his Manchester United career. Becoming the clubs youngest Premier League starter just 17 years and 223 days back in May, his goal against Astana at Old Trafford at the start of the campaign made him the youngster scorer in Europe and also the first player born in the 21st century to register a goal in the famous red shirt of Manchester United.

This is a player born for the big occasion. When Solskjaer declared him one of the best finishers he’d ever seen during pre-season, certain eyebrows were raised at such a statement. The sale of both Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the summer was sure to cause a stir amongst the United faithful especially because of the lack of firepower upfront in their absence. Certainly, United have suffered at times because of it but in recent weeks, Solskjaer’s bravery has been justified.

Marcus Rashford is in the form of his career so far, Anthony Martial is revelling in his partnership with the England international and Greenwood is enjoying a breakthrough season. There is a fresh impetus at Old Trafford. 25 goals between the trio in all competitions this season is certainly a figure to celebrate at this stage. Considering the amount of injuries that’s plagued United so far, it certainly could have been more. It is something for Solskjaer to build on, especially within the qualities of young Mason Greenwood.

This is a player with incredible finesse.

The way he moves, the way he shoots and the bravery at which he performs is scary for a player who is just 18. There is no doubting the impact he has made on the squad already, his introduction in the 3-3 draw with Sheffield United last month is a fine example of the kind of impact he brings to the team. The incredible fightback to bring United into the lead at 3-2 was all down to the spark that Mason Greenwood was able to provide, scoring the second which showcased his goal-poaching instincts.

Against AZ, Greenwood was again the reason for United’s 11 minute spell of total football in the second-half, becoming the centre of just about every attack. Scoring two goals, winning a foul which led to the penalty and making a contribution in the first goal. While most young players have shirked at the responsibility of gracing themselves under the famous Old Trafford lights, Greenwood never buckled under the pressure. His assist that never was for Anthony Martial was sumptuous, taking on his marker with such skill and pzazz, bamboozling him with some fine step-overs before setting up Martial. That’s what the Old Trafford fans pay their hard-earned money to see. Greenwood certainly has it in him to lift fans off their seats.

It’s performances like against AZ, that draws comparisons to popular icons such as Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, and you can certainly see the similarities to the Dutch legend in the way Greenwood moves and shoots. While the comparisons are all well and good, it is vital to allow Greenwood the time and opportunity to become his own kind of player. There’s no shortage of former talents becoming a victim of their own hype at Old Trafford in the past. Federico Macheda is one example. However, Greenwood is a different calibre of player. We’ve all experienced the kind of pressure young English talents face in the past, it is one only Greenwood has the power to overcome.

While the hype and excitement around Mason Greenwood is warranted, it is evidently clear he requires the room to discover his incredible potential.

After his scintilating performances against Tottenham and Manchester City this past week, Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Fred is finally starting to look like a £52million player.

When Manchester United beat Manchester City to the signature of the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, many thought that the club may have finally signed a Brazillian worthy of the United badge after the failed careers of a couple Samba players of the past. Kleberson and Anderson were both sought after midfielders before they joined Manchester United but eventually failed to live up to their hype.

Fred’s arrival in June 2018 was supposed to break that trend considering his huge fee. Jose Mourinho needed a midfield enforcer, an injection of power and quality in the middle. You could argue Fred arrived at United at the worst possible time. The club was yet to settle on a long-term strategy and identity, and the continued dispute between Mourinho and Woodward triumphed over getting the signings they needed. Many journalists had remarkably reported that Mourinho never wanted the Brazilian in the first place, only signing off on the player because Woodward failed to come up with suitable alternatives.

A successful second season under Mourinho with the club finishing second on an impressive 81 points meant the club needed to make improvements but with the toxic nature, uncertainty and negativity springing from the Mourinho, Fred wasn’t provided with the right conditions to thrive. It didn’t take long for the vicious press to deem him a failure, as one of United’s worst signings in the post-Fergie era.

Fans still sang his name, however, as part of the infamous ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ chants, but there was still increasing doubts about his ability to become the player Manchester United needed. He started the first three games of last season, including the defeats to Brighton away and the incredible collapse at home to Tottenham at Old Trafford. Much of the defeats weren’t down to him, but United’s failures especially in the middle meant Fred was hung out to dry, becoming the scapegoat.

Mourinho never relied on the player after that, and even admitted before his sacking that he could no longer take a chance on the player until the team improved. The arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t provide Fred with the injection he needed, however, and was still seen as a bit-part player. His one highlight in his relatively short time at the club was the victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League knockout stage. The Brazilian showed a glimpse of his workhorse capabilities, becoming a thorn in PSG’s attacks. It was a fine display from a player struggling to fit into the club, but an indication of what he could bring to Solskjaer’s side if provided the opportunity.

United’s form since that remarkable night left a lot to be desired, going on the sort of run that even relegation threatened sides wouldn’t even be proud of. Fred was a big part of that. A delayed pre-season because of his wedding back in Brazil meant he was overlooked as the season started, making three substitute appearances. His first start against Newcastle provided his critics with the perfect ammunition.

It was a game which basically summed up his United career. The criticism on him was justified. Simple passes to teammates going astray, long shots veering wide, making unnecessary fouls and a failure to provide the telling quality in the final third. The Manchester Evening News rated him a lowly 2/10 labelling him a ‘frequent liability’.

Players like Andreas Pereira have often been bad too, but the younger Brazilian has the handy get-out-of-jail-free card of not costing £52million. For Fred, the mountain of expectation has seemed too steep, right from day one. The injury to Paul Pogba was supposed to be his chance to stake a claim, but despite the terrible performances especially in the games against West Ham, Bournemouth Sheffield United, the Brazilian was still getting picked because of a lack of alternatives in the middle. The makeshift partnership with Andreas Pereira was a catastrophic failure. The injury of Scott McTominay really didn’t help the Brazilian’s cause too.

The return of the Scottish midfielder against Tottenham and Manchester City though, provided Fred with the confidence he needed. It was two performances that has allowed the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder to embark on a redemption journey. Everything that had been bad about him 18 months prior were quickly put to the side. Against Tottenham, Fred repaid the faith Solskjaer had placed in him. United’s energy, drive, pace and fluidity all stemmed from him and Scott McTominay’s domineering presences in the middle. Fred was eating up the ground, pressuring opponents, winning tackles, forceful in the second balls, and finding teammates with some incredible passes through the lines. The Brazilian was simply excellent.

It’s incredible to think that Fred can be the complete midfielder if given the opportunity to flourish. He can pass, bypass a midfield with his effortless energy, bullish in the tackle and can make telling contributions for chance creation.

He showed just that against City too.

Guardiola’s side could not live with United’s energy, drive and determination from the first whistle. Their front four were frightening every time they came up against City’s defenders. Whenever City tried to threaten, they ran into the brilliance of Fred and McTominay who remained compact, steady and combative when needed. Not only that, but United showed a bravery in their passing that had never been imagined of this current side. Fred’s passing through the lines of play was elegant. His pass for Rashford which he put wide was outstanding, and showed a side to his game that United fans weren’t familiar with.

It’s certainly been Fred’s best week in a United shirt and you could argue the instant upturn form is not only down to McTominay’s return from injury but as a result of consistent game time that has served to build up his sharpness, confidence and understanding with his midfield partner, something he never had until now. Fred now knows his role within the team, and his understanding and togetherness with McTominay in the middle has certainly grown in recent weeks. With Paul Pogba returning before the New Year, things do look bright for the Brazilian. The two pivot midfielders will allow Pogba more freedom in an advanced role and could fully complement the partnership behind him, something Andreas Pereira could not.

There is the argument that Paul Pogba does not enjoy the role of an orthodox midfielder so Fred’s emergence in the middle could release the Frenchman of those unwanted shackles. Only time will tell on that front, consistency is certainly required from here on in for Solskjaer’s side.

Nonetheless, Fred is slowly proving himself in a Manchester United shirt. He really isn’t as bad as fans have made him out to be.