Liverpool Football Club are set to ease their lack of attacking depth by moving for South Korean forward Son Heung-Min in January, according to The Daily Mail.
The 20-year-old forward, who can play as a direct striker or out wide, has impressed this season for Bundesliga side Hamburg, and has caught the gaze of the Merseyside club.
The Asian starlet signed for Hamburg back in 2010, and has since grown in stature in Germany; he has started this season with four goals in seven appearances.
The Reds are short up front, with Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini the only recognised forwards in Brendan Rodgers’ squad after Andy Carroll’s loan move to fellow Premier League side West Ham.
The Italy international is yet to hit the back of the net in the Premier League this season, leaving added pressure on Suarez to get the goals.
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Heung-Min would provide competition for places in the Anfield club’s attack, and allow Rodgers to rotate his forwards.
When you’re an academy prospect at one of the biggest clubs in the country, like Tom Ince once was at Liverpool, you would have thought the only way that the son of ex-England captain Paul, should be looking, was up. But instead, Ince had eyes firmly fixed downwards, or more specifically, at the notion of dropping down a league. But don’t let that befit his talents, or ambitions, for that matter.
Indeed, more than a few eyebrows were raised when Ince decided to depart Anfield to join Ian Holloway’s Blackpool, in the August of last year. Ince, although not being quite ready for the first team, was considered a highly talented asset by the Liverpool coaching staff. Such was their valuation of Ince, that Liverpool had laid down a three-year contract offer, in an effort to persuade him to stay in the red half of Merseyside.
Although Ince subsequently shunned the contract offer, and made a beeline for Bloomfield Road, after making just the one appearance for Liverpool in the League Cup against Northampton Town. But Ince didn’t leave Anfield in the manner that many would associate with a fledging academy prospect in today’s age. Ince didn’t leave under the same financial cloud as Manchester United’s Ezekiel Fryers or with the stinking attitude of Ravel Morrison. For Ince, simply wanted to go and play football.
And from what we’ve seen over the past twelve months, there can be absolutely no doubt that he has been vindicated in making such a tough decision. Because however much the England Under-21 star is now reaping the rewards of his move, make no mistake; it took real courage to turn away from the overtures of such a massive club.
A spell on loan to Notts County during his time with Liverpool ensured that Ince was hardly in any doubt as to what he could expect at Bloomfield Road and although the Seasiders are hardly a third-world club, it’s a whole world away from a young player who’d known nothing else but life up at Anfield. From the amount of coaching staff to the size of the facilities, it must be hard for a young player to turn away from that. But in his own words, the time was simply right.
Speaking earlier on this summer, Ince said:
“I was at Liverpool for eight years and that was a very long time as a kid. I could have stayed at Liverpool for three more years, but I felt the time was right to play in the real world,” he explained to The Independent.
“Fortunately a club like Blackpool have given me that opportunity. They have made me feel welcome and given me the opportunity.”
And oh how he’s taken that opportunity. Under the tutorship of Ian Hollyway and his penchant for playing football the way it should be played, Ince has gone from strength to strength at Blackpool. After making his one aforementioned appearance for Liverpool and a handful on loan at Notts County, Ince turned out 41 times in all competitions last season; a statistic that any young player in his position should be standing up and taking notice off.
And it’s been in that game time, that Ince has really been able to exhibit his stunning, if not still a little raw, set of talents. A left-winger by trade, after finding his feet in Holloway’s side last season, he became a consistent and potent attacking outlet on Blackpool’s left side but he also showed versatility, too. Out of the mould of a modern day winger, Ince – who can also play just off the frontman – has a lot more in his locker than just a half-decent delivery.
Tricky, pacy, technically assured with a real eye for goal, Ince has carried on from where he left off last term and really kicked on. With six goals in six appearances, Holloway has been happy to let him off the leash and it’s paid Blackpool massive dividends so far. So much so, a mooted switch to Manchester United in January is said to be more than simply paper talk.
Ince owes Holloway a great deal for the faith shown in him and his willingness to push him forward, but the youngster has his own attitude to thank, as much as anyone else. Time and time again we see youngsters spend an eternity in the youth and reserve ranks, seemingly happy to play a bit part role for a big Premier League club, without actually acquiring any game time. Nothing can ever substitute for long, hard, minutes on the pitch and in moving to Blackpool, Ince put his destiny into his own hands.
No one will know how long Ince would have had to wait before getting his shot in the Liverpool first team. Given Brendan Rodgers’ penchant for youth, if Ince had waited a year, who knows what opportunity he might have had. But time is short in football and memories shorter. He wanted to play consistent, regular football and in showing no fear by dropping down to The Championship, he should have debunked any urban myths surrounding young players’ prospects in that league.
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The cream will always rise to the top; if young players are finding a route to the first team near on impossible at a Premier League club, they should follow Ince’s lead and seek out a matching club in English football’s second tier. Because no matter how talented you may be, if you’re not playing enough regular first-team football, the necessary development and subsequent success, might not ever come.
Tom Ince is a special talent and the chances are his abilities may have eventually shone through at whichever club he chose to ply his trade. But if does go on to one day make a profound impact in the Premier League, it will be perhaps his bravery to leave Liverpool, as much as his quicksilver feet, that will deserve the credit.
What do you think about Tom Ince’s decision to leave Liverpool? Has he set an example to players of his age in a similar position? Let me know on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tell me what you think.
Spanish football journalist Axel Torres claims that the recent rumours regarding Gareth Bale’s potential move to Real Madrid are just “paper talk.”
The Tottenham midfielder has been increasingly linked with a move away from White Hart Lane and his former team mate Luka Modric recently revealed that he would love to see Bale join him at the Bernabeu.
But Torres thinks that it is only speculation and that Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid are unlikely to make a move for the Welshman.
Torres said to TalkSport: “In the Spanish press everybody sees Gareth Bale as a defender, as a left-back. The commentators see Bale as a possible replacement for Fabio Coentrao who the fans of Real Madrid don’t like.
“I think it is just paper talk. He [Luka Modric] was asked about it, Real Madrid are not thinking about it. They [the Spanish press] see him as a replacement for Coentrao and then a second choice behind Marcelo, or even third choice.”
The Spanish journalist also claimed that because Bale is not seen as an attacking player in Spain, a move for Bale would mean people would see Jose Mourinho’s signing of Fabio Coentrao as a mistake.
“In Spain people don’t see Bale as an attacking player and Jose Mourinho is always seen to be protecting Fabio Coentrao, so if he is seen to be signing another player in his position it would be like Mourinho was assuming it was the wrong move to bring in Coentrao.
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Man United striker Wayne Rooney has once again been linked with a move away from Old Trafford to pretty much the only club that can afford him. Anzhi Makhachkala. And yes, I’m only typing that once.
However, a move to Russia would be one of the most disastrous things that Wayne could do, and here’s three reasons why.
Career
We all saw what happened to David Beckham’s England career once he moved to a significantly less competitive league. Admittedly he was nearing the end of his useful time anyway, but the facts are still there to see. The lower the quality of your opposition, the less attractive you are to your international manager.
Rooney is in absolutely no danger of being left out of the England squad, far from it. If he had both his legs in plaster Hodgson would still be on the phone asking him if he could play on his hands but the less competitive opposition would put a severe dampener on his progression. Yes, even Wayne Rooney is still progressing, still improving and still learning. Playing in the Russian Premier League would halt his development faster than Felix Baumgartner in go-faster stripes.
In terms of his international and domestic career, few things would prove more suicidal than a move to Anzhi.
Money
‘Money?’ I hear you cry. ‘This man is a fool, he knows not of what he speaks. Doesn’t he know that Anzhi pay Samuel Eto’o £250,000 per week? I’m going to speed straight to the comments box and complain.’ But hold your horses, eager punters and listen a while.
Whilst it may be the case that Rooney will earn a fair bit more in wages per week in Russia, think of all the sponsorship deals he will lose or see drastically reduced. Don’t believe me? How much have you heard or seen of poor Samuel since he departed the sunny Catalan scene? Barely a dicky bird, and that’s what will happen to Our Wayne. With dramatically fewer eyes watching him week in, week out, the likes of Nike and Pepsi will drop him faster than Felix Baum… um… they’ll drop him quickly. He will lose millions upon millions and Colleen will not be best pleased.
Language
Let’s face it, the boy can barely speak English. How’s he going to get on in Russia where their alphabet is akin to a child trying to write their own name in a mirror? Plus, as with the money, I can’t see Colleen being too happy having to entertain oligarch’s wives every other week via a translator.
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Come on Wayne, think things through and stay at United where everyone knows what’s best for you. There’s nothing for you at Anzhi Makhachkala. Ok, I’ve typed it twice. But this is the last time.
Like many people I was kind of shocked when I heard of the departure of Roberto Di Matteo, but then again not suprised as the Italian became the latest victim of Abramovich’s chopping-board. As Rafa Benitez lines up to replace him, should he be wary? Should Chelsea be wary? Does Benitez even merit the job?
Now if we’ve have come to expect one thing about Roman Abramovich, it’s that you don’t come between him and what he wants. He is a ruthless business man who doesn’t care how he gets it only that he does. Roberto Di Matteo knew what he was letting himself in for in taking the job. I can expect when he won the Champion League last year the conversation went something like this. ‘ Well done here’s your extension… but there is a catch. You’ve done it once, now It’s an expectation’.
Abramovich’s ambition undoubtedly lies with the champions league, so I can understand why he sacked him. However by setting unrealistic targets for the club, is he making it harder for managers to succeed. I don’t know, in one aspect he has made the Chelsea job the most competitive job in the world and with the Riches that are to be had at Chelsea, it is one of the most lucrative. However as a business man more than a football fan, Abramovich comes across as knowing the price of everything yet the value of nothing.
So here we are again, back to square one and you would have thought he’d learnt his lesson by now. Benitez has been brought in as a last ditch attempt to claw the team back into the Champions League, which will take a miracle, however if Benitez has shown anything through his managerial career, it’s that miracles can happen.
After being beating Chelsea on a number occasions, quite notably in the Champions League, i’m not surprised that Chelsea have gone in for him, for now. As Benitez’s says “Facts are facts”, and I think that Abramovich never quite got over the grueling defeats his team suffered on their conquest for European Glory. So who better to resurrect their hope’s in this seasons competition than by appointing a man that denied them it, albeit years ago.
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Chelsea fans should know what to expect from this manager and as a Liverpool fan I can admit that this manager verges from the good, the bad and the ugly. There is no doubt that Rafa is a tactical genius. However sometimes he can come across as too logical, as he delves into statistics, losing connection with reality and subsequently making decision that verge on the insane. That’s if you can’t see a priest on a mountain of sugar.
All in all I think he will be a good stop gab for any manager waiting to take his place. If I was a Chelsea fan I wouldn’t want him staying for too long, he may well do good in the Champions League, but let him anywhere near money and he will find you the next Dossena. I can’t expect him staying to long if things don’t quite go to plan, the same scenario will happen again were Benitez throws his dummy out the pram, complain that he hasn’t been backed by the owner and get sacked. History tends to repeat itself.
Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Willian has opened the door for a move to the Premier League, by declaring he is happy to leave Ukraine.
The Brazilian is a long-term target of Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas, who sees him as the ideal candidate to inject some creativity into his midfield.
It’s expected that the Portuguese coach will make a move once the January transfer window opens, and Willian has declared that he is willing to leave his current employers:
“I’m very happy with my moment at the club and I intend to keep living this moment,” Willian told Globo Esporte.
“As for a possible transfer, there will be offers for sure and I work so that it happens.
“My club and my representatives will decide my future. I’m focused on helping Shakhtar to keep making history in the Champions League.”
Chelsea are also thought to be interested, but the plans of interim manager Rafa Benitez are unknown.
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The 24-year-old has become one of the most sought after players in Europe following a string of impressive displays in Ukrainian domestic competition and the Champions League.
His eye for the killer pass and ability to take on his man has seen him break into the Brazilian senior set-up, where he has won two caps.
Aston Villa’s Shay Given will return to action against Norwich tonight as Paul Lambert makes his return to Carrow Road following an acrimonious summer departure.
While Lambert will no doubt be subjected to a frosty reception in Aston Villa’s Capital One Cup quarter final clash, Given will be hoping to impress his manager with a rare start for the Villans.
The former Republic of Ireland incumbent between the sticks will be handed a chance to challenge Brad Guzan for the Claret and Blue number one shirt, as Lambert maintains his cup rotation policy.
Guzan hasn’t had much luck when it comes to the League Cup. He previously missed out on potential cup glory when omitted from the starting line-up against Manchester United in the 2010 League Cup final, to be replaced by fellow American Brad Friedel.
Speaking of his Wembley hurt, Guzan said: “It was one of the biggest disappointments of my career.
“It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it has made me stronger.”
Meanwhile, Lambert returns to his former team following three successful years as manager at Carrow Road. His arbitration hearing – relating to his departure from Norwich – will be conducted in January.
The Scotsman harbours some uncertainty as to the nature of anger from Canaries fans, but when asked about supporter reaction he simply stated that, “other people will make more of it than I will.”
“I’d like to think sensible supporters might think, ‘He’s done all right.’ The sad thing is people don’t know what’s been going on,” he continued.
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As for Norwich, coming off the back of an impressive and gritty performance against Swansea at the weekend, and combined with the fiery atmosphere and occasion, we could see a swing in motivation toward Chris Hughton’s men.
Footballers’ wages cause much controversy in the modern game.
Many believe that footballers nowadays are paid too much. It was revealed last week that Manchester City have an annual wage bill of over £200 million a year, costing £550,000 each day.
Players including Ashley Cole and Cristiano Ronaldo have caused debate over rumoured wage demands. So, are modern footballers overly obsessed with how much money they get?
A few stories have come out recently with players apparently causing problems at their clubs by demanding higher wages.
One example is the contract dispute that is still continuing between Theo Walcott and Arsenal. It was rumoured that Theo Walcott turned down an offer to extend his contract with an offer of being paid £75,000 a week, because he apparently wants £100,000 a week. However, while it seems having a role as a leading striker is important to him, is it right to base contract talks on wage demands and is it greedy of him to think he should be paid so much, no matter how many Arsenal fans think he should be kept by the club?
Is this one of many incidents that show footballers have the wrong priorities these days? It seems that loyalty seems to not be as important as it should be in football anymore. It seems like many players leave as soon as a club offers them an expensive transfer or as soon as their club becomes less successful. How many players nowadays show true loyalty to their clubs like Tony Adams or Alan Shearer did? Yes, Steven Gerrard is one player who turns down offers from other big clubs to remain at Liverpool, and has stayed despite their lack of trophies recently. However, it does not seem that many players are willing to stay at clubs during the bad times as well as when things are going well. What about Ashley Cole, who infamously wrote in his autobiography how he “almost crashed (his) car” following Arsenal’s revelation that he would be paid £55,000 a week. Not exactly a measly sum. He managed to double his money by leaving for Chelsea back in 2006.
It seems many players are overly motivated by money. Controversy surrounded Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this year when he seemed to fall out with the Real Madrid owners, perhaps over his salary. He said how he felt “sad because of a professional issue and the club know why”, with some claiming it was a ruse to get a contract of a more lucrative value. It did not go down well with some Spaniards, with the country suffering from recession.
Should players even be earning so much money anyway? It is unlikely that many of the fans who come to watch them play earn as much as them. They are also paid much more than many of the Olympians that inspired so many people in the summer.
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It seems that money and power have become too significant in football. Could it be said that fans would like to see footballers put more importance on achieving for the club they love than on what wages they receive? Is it time for footballers to appreciate how much more they have than some others?
Not every move to the Premier League ends in joy and there are plenty of players who shall we say just weren’t cut out for the top division in England. For many it proved the beginning of the end in their footballing careers, given the majority were left tarnished from their stint in English football.
Looking back at the 20 odd years of the Premier League it is amazing the amount of dross that have featured over the years, some shockingly expensive, others brought to these shores on fake recommendations, or football managers who simply looked to YouTube to be tempted to spend the club’s millions.
It is no wonder so many clubs are financially insecure, given the amount of money that has been wasted on second-rate footballers.
With Rafael Benitez’s tenure at Chelsea looking increasingly unlikely to last beyond the end of the season, there has already been plenty of speculation about who his successor might be. There is a shortage of candidates as Roman Abramovich has already hired and fired the majority of a select group of qualified and attainable managers. While others, such as Pep Guardiola, appear to have been put off by Abramovich’s ruthlessness and alleged interference in footballing affairs.
A return to West London for Jose Mourinho appears to be a growing possibility. The ‘Special One’ is at the centre of our attention a fortnight ago as his Real Madrid side hosted Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League super-tie.
Mourinho’s popularity in the Spanish capital is at an all time low and few can see him staying at Real beyond the end of this season, or even beyond a Champions League exit. The the La Liga title is already out of reach due to the relentless form of Barcelona and uncharacteristic mid-season lethargy from a Mourinho team, emphasised by the fact that Real sit third in the table, an unthinkable four points behind their city-rivals Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho’s status as one of, if not the world’s best manager is safe. However, due to his failure to secure a Champions League title at Real to this point and more often than not coming off second best to Barcelona, his stock is perhaps not as high as it was when he arrived in Madrid off the back of a stunning treble with Inter. His options are not as plentiful as they may have been in the past.
Most Chelsea fans have dreamt of a day when a return for the Special One may become possible again. In the immediate aftermath of his departure the idea of a return while Roman Abramovich remained at the helm would have been dismissed as ludicrous. However, with only one title in what will have been five full seasons without Mourinho, and more worryingly what is looking like becoming a second successive season outside the top two, Abramovich might be thinking that the grass isn’t always greener.
Despite the fact Abramovich got the elusive Champions League title he craved, ultimately it was the weakest Chelsea team since Mourinho’s arrival in 2004 that managed to win it. In past Champions League campaigns you would rarely see Chelsea on the back foot for 90 minutes, let alone the majority of the group and knockout stages.
If Chelsea had gone on to win the Champions League, in the early Mourinho seasons or under Avram Grant or Guus Hiddink, few could have argued that Chelsea were the best team in Europe at that time. But last season’s victory was more akin to the victory of Mourinho’s Porto in 2004, backs often against the wall, and a little bit of luck here, there and everywhere. While finally conquering Europe was a great relief, it didn’t change the fact Chelsea were the weakest they had been for a long time.
The first steps to solving the problem were taken in the summer, with the signings of young and talented players such as Hazard, Oscar, and Azpilicueta. However, as was demonstrated by his sacking, Roberto Di Matteo was never seen as the man to revitalise Chelsea, while Rafael Benitez’s pantomime villain status at Stamford Bridge meant was doomed from day one and with Chelsea are far from guaranteed to finish in the top four his position is becoming increasingly vulnerable.
With realistic options very limited, one might go as far as saying the job would appear to be Mourinho’s if he wants it. David Moyes stands as the bookies’ favourite for the job, but it is hard to believe that Roman Abramovich would go for Moyes over Mourinho, which leaves us to ponder whether Mourinho would actually want to return to Chelsea.
Since his 2007 departure Mourinho has often spoken of his love for English football and in recent times dropped hints that he will be returning sooner rather than later. There has long been speculation that Mourinho would like to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, however, if his return to England is to be imminent, it is too soon for that possibility. Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger may be facing more criticism than ever before, but it is still hard to see him and Arsenal parting ways in the near future, ruling out that prospect.
This leaves Manchester City and Chelsea as the only potential destinations for the Special One. Roberto Mancini’s future cannot be completely secure following successive group stage exits from the Champions League and a feeble title defence to this point. If City were to decide it is time for a change they would be a good fit for Mourinho. He would be provided with the funds to improve what is already a strong squad, while Mancini’s failings in the Champions League would provide him the opportunity to significantly exceed his predecessor’s achievements, a Mourinho hallmark.
However there remains one rather large problem. The men in charge of deciding who manages Manchester City are chief executive, Ferran Soriano and sporting director, Txiki Begiristain. While in charge of Barcelona in 2008, the duo chose not to hire Mourinho having supposedly interviewed him for the vacant managerial role. Their decision was thought to be based around Mourinho’s personality rather than any doubts he could bring trophies to the Nou Camp.
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While Mourinho has further proved his pedigree since 2008 adding Serie A and La Liga titles to his resume, along with a second Champions League title at Inter, his controversial style has remained and for this reason it is hard to see why Soriano and Begiristain would view him any differently now to how they did then.
This leaves Mourinho’s beloved Chelsea as the only English club that would desire his services and meet his demands. It seems to make perfect sense for Mourinho to return to Chelsea; the fans would love it, it appears his ‘friend’ Roman Abramovich wouldn’t be opposed to it, with his number one target Guardiola tied to Bayern Munich for the foreseeable future.
Mourinho’s return would see the resumption of his enthralling rivalries with Ferguson and Wenger, and the birth of an equally interesting rivalry with one time employee Andre Villas-Boas. With every passing day and every new quote from Mourinho, a return to Stamford Bridge appears more and more likely. With titles and perhaps more significantly Chelsea title challenges lacking in recent times, it is hard to imagine any Chelsea fan or any genuine fans of the Premier League opposing the return of the Special One – life is quite simply more exciting with Jose around.