The Number Six: A Football Blog For The True Fans

A closer look at FC Zurich’s Simon Sohm

2019-03-27T13:06:00.003+07:00

The name Simon Sohm has recently gained somewhat of a buzz, especially after appearing in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 against Napoli for the full 90.

I wouldn’t say it’s really quite an impressive performance, but at least he managed to avoid getting turned inside out and upside down by the brilliance of Napoli’s Diawara and Zielinski – despite failing to really assert his authority in the midfield.

But one thing for sure though is that he didn’t seem like just another ordinary teenage midfielder appearing in one of the biggest and the most prestigious competition in Europe. He seemed to have ‘the’ ability and ‘the’ mentality – that despite his complete lack of experience in top tier professional football, let alone in European competition – he could still see the game off and leave the field without getting red-faced.

His team ended up losing the game though, but they definitely didn’t go down without a fight.

Simon Sohm – probably won’t be the first name that’ll come to your head when you’re thinking about brilliant defensive midfielders in the recent days with much more popular names like Sandro Tonali, Weston McKennie, Declan Rice, Florentino Luis, Arne Maier, and even Matteo Guendouzi, being very much revelled and highly-touted by the media – while this young Swiss man is slowly making a name for himself in the Raiffeisen Super League.

He’s relatively new to the public eye anyway, only making his senior debut on the 28th of October 2018, coming in at the very last minute of the game in a 3-2 away loss at FC Sankt Gallen. Three days later, the 2001-born midfielder finally made his first start, playing the full 90 minutes in a Swiss Cup encounter against Red Star Zurich. He played the whole game as a defensive midfield in a 4-2-3-1 double DM formation, partnering with Hekuran Kryeziu.

The 17-year-old strong midfielder has made a total of 6 appearances for his club this season with around 317 minutes of playing time already in his pocket. As long as he keeps on giving 100% in every matches and training sessions, as well as keeping his level of fitness at the top – I have little doubt that opportunities will keep coming for him.

Simon Sohm has represented the youth selections of Switzerland from the U15 up to the U19, being a key member of the side, even captaining the U16, U17, and U18 teams on several occasions.

Standing at 1.88m (6’2) tall and with an excellent, lean but strong build, Sohm is able to outmuscle other midfielders in the field and win challenges both in the air and on the ground.

He is a great ball-winner, but what’s more impressive is his tactical intelligence – his awareness and reading of the game. He managed to make a lot of important interceptions, destroying attacks from the opposing team, and orchestrating attacks/counter attacks.

His passes are often accurate and perfectly-weighted and his creative mind as well as excellent vision, combined with excellent technical ability make him an excellent midfield playmaker.

He has quite a good control and seemed quite calm and confident with the ball.

Sohm also has a very good amount of pace. He didn’t seem very quick when starting his runs, but he looked quite fast when he’s into his stride. He also has a very good body balance and didn’t seem very bad at dribbling.

Another one out of his most impressive attributes is perhaps his stamina. He’s only 17, he’s already capable of performing his top level of football for the full 90, even in high-intensity matches such as the one that I’ve watched against Napoli.

He’s kind of a complete midfielder – not quite like Pogba – perhaps a bit similar to Axel Witsel from my perspective. I could be wrong of course, but the way both of them played is just quite similar.

Of course, he’s still very far from a finished product. He still has a long way to go, a lot more matches to play, many more experiences to collect. But from here on, I could see that this one is destined for greatness. Let’s just hope his career won’t be plagued by injuries or bad behaviour.

This article was published originally on football-wonderkids.co.uk

FC Lorient's Youth Development Philosophy

2019-03-18T11:52:00.002+07:00

Many people outside of France (or who basically don’t have much knowledge regarding French football) – get to know French outfit FC Lorient these last few years, mostly because of their big sales of Raphael Guerreiro to Borussia Dortmund and Matteo Guendouzi to Arsenal.

These two transfers, though didn’t exactly include such an outstanding amount of fee (around 10.8million Euros for Guerreiro and only around 7.2million Euros for Guendouzi) actually are still considered big sales due to the clubs they are selling to and of course, the immense amount of talents and potential these two players have – which was why the 18million Euros transfer of Didier Ndong to Sunderland in the summer of 2016/17 (the same transfer window when Guerreiro was transferred to Borussia Dortmund) didn’t really get so much attention despite literally being their biggest ever sale in terms to transfer fee.

What’s similar to these three transfers though is that none of these three players actually come directly from the youth setups of Lorient – but instead bought for a very low amount of fee, developed properly, played regularly, and then sold for a ridiculous percentage of profit.

The same kind of practice can also be seen in the transfers of Laurent Koscielny, Vincent Aboubakar, Kevin Gameiro, Lamine Kone, Denis Bouanga, Jordan Ayew, and perhaps for some of you older football fans, you might know Jean-Claude Darcheville of course, who was sold to Girondins de Bordeaux for an impressive 8.1million Euros (which remained their record sale for a decade) in the summer of 2002.

This kind of transfer practice is of course quite common now with big clubs like AS Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, and Ajax being such prominent figures of so-called selling clubs due to their prolificacy in buying cheap young starlets and selling them in the form of much-upgraded championship-winning superstars for perhaps ten folds of their original value.

This, of course, doesn’t directly translate to FC Lorient’s poor youth development setups which makes them have to buy youth talents from somewhere else.

Lorient actually has a pretty decent youth development setup. Some big names have actually come from their youth setups, namely Southampton’s tireless box-to-box midfielder Mario Lemina and former Marseille man, Andre-Pierre Gignac who’s currently plying his trade in Mexico with Tigres UANL.

I can’t actually find any other big names aside from those two who is purely a youth product of Lorient, but I’ve managed to notice that lately, their youth development game is on a rapid rise.

After struggling in the midst of the 2016/17 season with only 2 wins and a very underwhelming 9 losses under manager Sylvain Ripoll, Lorient decided to sack the French manager. Franck Haise took care of the team for a short time before handing the managerial spot to Bernard Casoni who was asked to at least bring the team out of the relegation zone. Still no success.

Lorient was relegated that season and Casoni was sacked. He was replaced by former France international Mickael Landreau.

Things were just “okay” under Mickael Landreau, but they definitely need more than just that to secure a promotion. With key players leaving the club and their lack of financial muscle leaving them no choice but trust on the youth.

Landreau started promoting and giving more and more game times to youth players and this season it seemed to have finally paid off.

After a mid-table finish last season, Lorient are now in the contention for a promotion – being third place in the Ligue 2 table with 9 more matches to go. The last thing they’d want is, of course, a slip and now they are trusting on their youth in combination with their more experienced players to keep the stability and go on to secure a promotion.

Two of the most promising youngsters currently at his disposal are goalkeeper Ilan Meslier and Julien Ponceau. Both of them are 2000-born and are incredibly talented – it would honestly be foolish to say otherwise.

Ilan Meslier, who has only made his debut in August in a Coupe de la Ligue win against Valenciennes has been truly, truly impressive so far. Keeping a superb 9 clean sheets and only conceding 17 goals out of a total 20 appearances across all competitions this season, perhaps robbing the no.1 spot from Montenegrin goalkeeper Danijel Petkovic. AS Monaco have actually enquired for his services in the summer transfer window – but he rejected them anyway, saying that though the prospects of playing in Ligue 1 are quite tempting, the most important thing for him right now to progress is to work hard, develop, and of course get some much-needed game time. He did say he might have a change of plans though. Now that Chelsea are keeping their eyes on him, he’ll have something to think about – especially if Lorient didn’t manage to secure promotion this season.

Julien Ponceau, a very versatile player who can play anywhere in the midfield as well as upfront has seen his price skyrocket after some highly impressive performances with Lorient. Being a central player, but occasionally being deployed in wider areas, Ponceau is a quick-footed, tricky, technically proficient, and intelligent player. His rather stupendous 2 goals and 1 assist tally in a total of 20 matches in all competitions for Lorient this season has attracted the eyes of several European giants, one of them is identified as Italian outfit Inter Milan.

Several players who are actually worth mentioning are Pierre-Yves Hamel, Alexis Claude-Maurice, Franklin Wadja as well as Yoane Wissa, who have contributed significantly to the club’s current impressive run in the competition.

Hamel, a 24-year-old pure striker, seemed to be a target-man – is the man with the goalscoring instinct, the clinically that was very much-needed by Lorient. He has scored an outstanding 15 goals and created one more in 28 matches this season. Topping the scoring charts of the Bretagne-based club after having done the very same for his current employers the previous season with 10 goals and an assist in 29 games. He has apparently improved a lot this season. Though originally a youth product of Stade Rennais, Hamel still had to work his way through the youth ranks of Lorient after being brought in for free when he was a 19-year-old.

Alexis Claude-Maurice was a youth product of Lorient. He was handed his debut on the 4th of August 2017, coming in as a substitute in the last three minutes of the Ligue 2 match against Gazelec Ajaccio. He was given his first start four days later, playing as an AM in the Coupe de la Ligue match against Stade Lavallois. He ended that season with 23 games to his name, scoring 3 goals in the process. He has absolutely crushed it this season, scoring 9 goals and providing 3 assists to be the second top in the club’s goalscoring charts, just behind Hamel. He has improved very much this season and seeing that he’s only 20, there will definitely be some space for improvements. I’ll expect something exciting coming to him in the coming seasons if he can keep this kind of form going.

Meanwhile, both Franklin Wadja and Yoane Wissa aren’t exactly the youth exponents of Lorient and haven’t really been that long in the squad either. Both entered the Ligue 2 side in the 2017/18 season, with the former coming from Fontenay-Foot-Vendee on a free transfer while the latter came from Angers SCO with the transfer fee of around 1.8million Euros.

Franklin Wadja has been an absolutely solid midfielder this season, winning the ball in midfield, linking up the play, helping the team progress up the field. Seemed to be played as a ball-winning midfielder sometimes and a box-to-box some other times.

Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa has been an impressive creative force for Lorient. Scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists in a total of 29 appearances across all competitions this season. His quick, clever movements, as well as a brilliant mind for creating chances, have made him an important part of Mickael Landreau’s strong squad.

This article was published originally on Football-Wonderkids.co.uk

Top 11 Hottest U21 Talents from the Norwegian Eliteserien

2019-03-09T20:55:00.001+07:00

The 2018 Eliteserien season was ended in the 24th of November 2018 and there surely were some exciting talents on display throughout the whole campaign.

Norway has always been known for being the home of hidden footballing gems, but it seems like their capability of producing such special talents are often overlooked.

Some of the wonderful talents that have risen through the ranks of Norwegian clubs have now plied their trades and made their names in various European clubs outside Norway - namely Martin Odegaard, Kristoffer Ajer, Sander Berge, and Rafik Zekhnini for example.

Some have also made moves to clubs around Europe recently - with names such as Erling Braut Haland who joined Red Bull Salzburg, Tobias Heintz joining Kasimpasa, John Kitolano signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Julian Ryerson who decided to leave Viking FK for Union Berlin.

But there are some others who remained at Eliteserien (at least for the time being) - and they are as a matter of fact pretty much as talented, if not more, than the names that I've mentioned before.

Here are the 11 hottest U21 talents from Eliteserien.

1. Tobias Christensen - Age 18 - Attacking Midfielder

The 2000-born versatile midfielder joined Norwegian side IK Start in June 2015 from FK Vigor on a free transfer.

Christensen who was 15 at the time, made an immediate impact and was quickly promoted to the senior establishment around a year later.

He finally made his senior debut with Start in a match against Fredrikstad where he started as a right midfielder. He played for 71 minutes before getting substituted.

The 2017 season proved to be his breakthrough season as he went on to make 25 appearances, creating 2 goals and 5 assists in the process as he helped his team secure a 2nd place finish in the OBOS-ligaen and of course an automatic promotion to Eliteserien.

Christensen made 30 appearances in the 2018 Eliteserien scoring and providing 2 goals and 2 assists. His team were unfortunately unsuccessful in holding their place in the Eliteserien and were relegated again to the OBOS-ligaen.

Christensen is a versatile midfielder who's shown to be able to play as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, wide midfielder, and even as a winger and a striker.

He has a very good touch and ball control. He's comfortable with the ball and good with his feet. Quite adept at creating chances and pretty intelligent tactically.

There haven't been any rumours linking him with a move to both domestic or international clubs, but scouts surely should take a closer look at him especially when the season starts this March.

2. Sigurd Gronli - Age 18 - Attacking Midfielder

The small and agile midfielder was born on October 17, 2000. He is the youth product of Tromso and was only recently promoted to the senior team.

He made his debut on the 7th of July 2018. Being only 17-year-old at the time, he came on at the 81st minute and made an immediate impact by delivering an impressive assist despite his team ending up losing the game 2-1 in an away game against league leaders Rosenborg BK.

He has gathered up 9 games and 184 minutes of playing time whilst scoring one goal and creating two others in the process.

His team ended up finishing mid-table in Eliteserien

Gronli could play anywhere from a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, and even as a striker.

He is expected to get more game time next season but of course, it won't be an easy task for him as the competition for his position is pretty tight - but as long as he can impress head coach Simo Valakari with his performances both on the training ground and on matches, he should be getting the game time he deserved.

3. Erik Tobias Sandberg - Age 19 - Centre-Back

Born on February 27 in the year of 2000 - the centre-back who only had his 19th birthday just yesterday was actually a youth player of Lillestrom who managed to impress the gaffer and earn a chance to play for the first team in 2016, but he subsequently failed to make a single appearance with the club that season.

He managed to make his first-ever senior debut in the 2017 Eliteserien match against Aalesund where he came in very late in the game but there was simply not enough time for him to make a lasting impression.

Sandberg finally made his full debut on 10th of June 2018 in a 0-0 draw against Odds BK.

This season he managed to collect a total of 8 appearances across all competitions and scored a goal.

He seemed like a very promising ball-playing defender. He's comfortable on the ball, his passes were perfectly weighted and accurate, he's strong in the air and on the ground, and he seemed to possess a decent amount of pace as well.

Definitely a player we should take a closer look this year.

4.Ola Solbakken - Age 20 - Right/Left Winger

Originally a youth player of Rosenborg, Solbakken made his move to Eliteserien side Ranheim in the winter of last year.

The left-footed winger had a pretty slow start to his career at Ranheim but eventually managed to establish himself as a starter in the second half of the 2018 Eliteserien campaign.

Solbakken made 11 appearances in total in all competitions last year, providing one assist in the process.

He's able to play on either side of the wing but he's more often deployed on the right side.

He has decent pace but seemed a bit slow in starting his runs. He has very good ball control and seemed pretty proficient at dribbling. He has a tendency to cut inside with the ball and would sometimes try to curl the ball in when he has adequate time and space.

Seemed like a pretty interesting winger to follow.

5. Tobias Svendsen - Age 19 - Central Midfielder

The 1999-born midfielder Tobias Svendsen has been highly-regarded as one of the brightest prospects by many since his appearance in the NM Cup on the 22nd of April 2015. He was still 15 years of age at that time and though it was only a brief display - many could see that he's an excellent young talent with huge potential.

The brother of Hammarby forward, Sander Svendsen, started his career in the youth establishments of Molde, climbing the ranks quickly, earning himself a place in the senior team even before he turned 17.

In 2016, Svendsen still has not managed to establish himself in the first team but managed to get some very much needed game time with the seniors. On July 9, 2016, he came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute of the game and got himself an assist despite ending the match on the losing side in an Eliteserien clash against Sogndal.

A month later, he was named on the bench again in a match against Odds BK and came on in the last 10 minutes of the game. He managed to score a goal and create another to help his team secure a highly impressive 4-2 win at home.

He's quite a versatile midfielder. He could play anywhere in the centre, from a DM to an AM spot. He could also play wide, either as a wide midfielder or a winger.

He is not really a quick player, but he has exceptional ball control. He seemed to have good vision and awareness and his passes are impressively accurate most of the time. He's pretty agile and proficient at dribbling as well.

Despite being touted as one of the most exciting Norwegian prospects at one time - now Svendsen is still struggling to find his footing in the Norwegian top-flight. He was loaned out to Haugesund last season, but it ended up being an unfruitful season anyway for the youngster. But still, he has lots of time to improve and many are hoping that he could finally gain significant game time to aid his development while on loan at Sandefjord who are playing in the OBOS-ligaen next season.

6. Joshua Kitolano - Age 17 - Central Midfielder

Joshua Kitolano is the brother of the much-revelled Norwegian talent John Kitolano who made the move to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.

The 2002-born hot prospect made his first senior appearance with his club, Odds BK in the 15th of April 2018, coming in with only 12 minutes left in a match where they lost 3-0 to Stromsgodset in an Eliteserien clash.

He was a key player of their reserve side before getting the promotion to the senior side.

Kitolano made his first full-match debut only three days after his first appearance in Eliteserien. This time he started as a defensive midfielder in an NM Cup match against Skarphedin IL where his team managed to win with an astounding 9-0 scoreline. He played brilliantly in the match, making his mark with a goal and an assist.

Kitolano became more and more involved with the first team squad as the season went on.

The Congolese-born midfielder is quite versatile and can play anywhere in the centre of the field and either flank. He's good with either foot, pretty quick and agile, and seemed to have excellent stamina for a very young player.

His lacking in strength and overall defensive prowess though makes him a bit unideal for defensive roles, but this, of course, can and shall improve as he gains experience and develops his game.

7. Birk Risa - Age 21 - Left-Back

In 2013, 15-year-old Birk Risa came to London to attend a training session with Premier League giants Arsenal on trial away from his club Sandnes Ulf. At that moment, he was already attracting interests from Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, and Bayern Munich. A deal with any of the aforementioned clubs eventually never happened - but the young Norwegian talent made his move around a year later to Bundesliga outfit FC Koln.

There he rose through the ranks of the club, playing mostly as a winger and a centre-forward. He was actually not so bad in the striker spot as he managed to notch up at least 5 goals in around 20 matches in a season. He was eventually moved aside into the winger role, playing on either side of the flank, before being moved deeper into a full-back role, where he settled in until now.

The 1998-born talent finally moved back to his homeland of Norway, to his current club Odds BK, where he has become an integral part of the team.

Standing 1.88m (6'2) tall, the left-footed wide man is capable of fulfilling his defensive task comfortably and is extremely dangerous when going forward. He is pretty much comfortable playing with either foot despite his left being his favoured side.

He seemed to have a decent amount of pace and quite strong both in the air and on the ground.

Whether or not Risa will make his comeback to one of the European top leagues again someday, we shall see, but he looks very promising right now.

8. Chidera Ejuke - Age 21 - Right/Left Winger

Chidera Ejuke burst onto the scenes of Eliteserien in 2017. He was signed by Norwegian outfit Valerenga from Nigerian club Gombe United.

The 1998-born quick-footed Nigerian winger started with the reserve side, but it really didn't take long for him to impress the gaffer as he was promoted to the first team just around 4 months after. Before that, he also regularly featured in cup games.

The Nigeria youth international ended that season with 31 matches across all competitions to his name, scoring 6 goals while creating one more.

By the next season, he was already a first-team regular. He was featured in a Eurosport special which tipped the midfielder - alongside fellow Nigerian Ifeanyi Matthew - to be one of the top 10 talents to take the Eliteserien by storm. He was ever-present in the 2018 Eliteserien season as he managed to notch up 36 games across all competitions, with a pretty good tally of 5 goals and 4 assists.

His performances - though often dazzling - perhaps still seemed to be lacking effectiveness.

He is very skilful, technically superb, and isn't afraid to showcase his tricks in matches, but the end products are usually just needing.

He is outstandingly pacey, active in offensive areas, and is very good at creating chances, although he seemed to lack strength considerably and a bit clumsy in making decisions in the final third.

9. Hakon Evjen - Age 19 - Right/Left Midfielder

Hakon Evjen started his professional career at a third tier Norwegian club FK Mjolner - who was managed by his father Andreas Evjen - along with his twin brother Henrik Evjen.

He made his first senior appearance at a tender age of 15 in an NM Cup clash against FK Bodo/Glimt which eventually became his next club.

Evjen made his move to Bodo/Glimt in August 2017. He then made his debut with the club in a First Division match against FK Jerv where they won 4-1.

The 2000-born wide man's importance at his current club became more and more prominent in the 2018 Eliteserien season. His ability to play in various positions comfortably surely helped too.

The 19-year-old midfielder appeared in a total of 17 matches in all competitions for FK Bodo/Glimt in Eliteserien, contributing with a goal and an assist.

The Norway youth international possesses a very good amount of pace and is pretty agile and proficient at dribbling. He is very versatile and could play on either flank as a full-back, midfielder, or even winger. He has also played as a central midfielder several times.

He is quite creative, but a bit vulnerable when pressed, perhaps due to his lack of strength and composure on the ball.

Hakon Evjen seemed like a bright talent. He still has a long way to go, but there are still some aspects of his game that he needs to improve.

10. Erik Botheim - Age 19 - Striker

2000-born Erik Botheim started his professional career with FK Lyn. He made his senior debut when he was only 15 in June 2015 for FK Lyn in the Norwegian First Division (OBOS-ligaen). He finished his spell at FK Lyn having made 20 appearances for the club and scoring 5 goals until the 2016 season.

He signed with Norwegian giants Rosenborg in July 2016. The talented young forward finally made his debut in the NM Cup, playing the full 90 against Strindheim where they won 2-0 on 26 April 2017.

The 19-year-old danger man managed to make a total of 10 appearances in all competitions, notching up 4 goals and an assist in the 2018 season.

Botheim isn't really impressively quick but is quite dangerous inside the box. He could play anywhere up front, either as a centre-forward or even a winger on either flank.

Erik Botheim has been linked with a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray as their scouts have been reported watching him as well as some other youngsters in Norway late in 2018.

11. Hugo Vetlesen - Age 19 - Central Midfielder

And the last but not least, Hugo Vetlesen who's currently plying his trades at Stabaek.

Another 2000-born player in this list - he was the youth product of Stabaek.

Belgian-born Vetlesen made his senior debut as a 17-year-old in an Eliteserien match against Aalesund where he played the full 90 minutes as they marched out victorious with the scoreline of 3-1 on 2 April 2017.

He immediately cemented his place in the senior squad and ended up being an integral part of his team. He was ever-present, appearing in a total of 31 games in all competitions and collecting 5 assists in the 2017 season.

He continued his impressive form in the 2018 season. This time he managed to play 30 games across all competitions with a goal and 3 assists to his name.

He's mostly played as a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder. He could also play as a DM or a wide midfielder. He has even played as a winger several times.

Hugo Vetlesen is small, agile, and balanced. He has excellent touch and control and he's quite proficient at dribbling. He has very good stamina and seemed to cover a lot of ground in every match. His passing and vision are particularly impressive though. He seems to be very good at creating chances and pretty calm when under pressure.

Vetlesen has been linked with a move to Turkish outfit Besiktas in the last summer, but a move didn't seem to materialize.

Originally published on Football-Wonderkids.co.uk

The ups and downs of one of Everton's finest, Leon Osman

2019-02-15T00:19:00.001+07:00

Leon Osman is not just known for his energy and excellent footballing skills on the pitch, but also his buoyant and kind-hearted nature off the pitch.

He is a legend and a beloved player in every Evertonians' hearts.

Born on May 17th, 1981 in Wigan - Leon Osman grew up supporting The Toffees' archnemesis, Liverpool, but instead of joining the Reds, the Englishman of Somali descent ended up entering the youth academy of Everton at the age of 10.

Seven years later, Osman was included in Everton's U-18 setup, playing alongside the likes of Richard Dunne, Tony Hibbert, and Francis Jeffers, as he and his teammates won the 1997/98 FA Youth Cup where he also scored a goal in the first leg of the final against Blackburn.

His future looked nothing but bright after the cup victory but a dreadful knee injury followed soon after, keeping him on the sidelines for about a year and perhaps putting his rapid development to an abrupt halt.

About 3 years after his knee injury recovery, Leon Osman went on loan to third-tier side Carlisle United in October 2002. 21 years of age at the time, Leon Osman only made 12 appearances for The Cumbrians, scoring a single goal - he was subsequently recalled from loan in January.

Ossie, as he is usually called - made his first team debut on 12 January 2003, coming on as a last minute substitute to Chinese midfielder Li Tie in a match against Tottenham Hotspur where his team lost 4-3.

Leon Osman signed a new one-year contract with the Toffees soon after the season ended, but was still unable to find himself fitting into Scottish manager David Moyes' plans. The 22-year-old midfielder once again was shipped out on loan, this time to a second division team Derby County.

There Osman established himself as a crucial part of the team, helping them to avoid relegation after months full of struggle, appearing in 17 games while scoring 3 goals on the run.

His parent team, on the other side, were struggling to get a footing in the Premier League, enduring a horrible season under David Moyes with The Blues sitting 17th on the table, just a place above the relegation zone.

Leon Osman went back to his club after a fruitful season with Derby County and immediately slotted himself into the first team of Everton, making a name for himself with the fans and the manager.

The 2004/05 Premier League campaign turned out to be his breakout season. After an exasperating few years back due to his knee injury, he made a majestic comeback to Premier League football and were it not for him, maybe Everton's resurgence season wouldn't be so spectacular.

Many people might say that a breakout season at the age of 23 is a bit too late but after all that he has had to endure in his young career, his late revival was actually pretty impressive.

The 23-year-old English midfielder made a total of 33 appearances for Everton that season, with 6 goals to his name by the end of the season.

David Moyes managed to guide his side to a 4th place finish thanks to the help of his lads, including Leon Osman. Leon Osman became David Moyes' favourite and rooted himself in the senior team establishment for years to come despite having to compete with the likes of Thomas Gravesen, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini, and youth products like Dan Gosling, Jack Rodwell, and Ross Barkley in his favourite position of central and attacking midfielder throughout those years.

He also played as wide midfielders occasionally. He averaged himself around 33 matches with around 5 goals and 3 assists per season. The right-footed midfielder's excellent performances with his club in the 2011/12 season have been rewarded with a national team call-up in 2012.

It was his first ever senior national call-up and he was 31 at that time. He played his first match in a friendly defeat against Sweden.

Ossie was again called up again for the World Cup qualifiers after turning up splendidly for his team in the 2012/13 season. He finally made his first competitive England debut against San Marino in 2013.

The 2013/14 season marked the end of the David Moyes era at Everton.

After 11 years at Goodison Park, the Scottish manager left Everton for Manchester United, he was replaced by Roberto Martinez.

Many people might have thought that Osman would lose his place under the Spanish coach but it turned out to be the other way for the 32-year-old loyal midfielder. That season Leon Osman managed to reach several milestones in his footballing career - making his 300th league start for Everton, 300th Premier League appearance, scoring his 50th goal for Everton and managed to break David Unsworth's Premier League appearance record for Everton with 303 appearances.

Ossie was also an ever-present figure at Everton in the 2013/14 season, turning up in every league match every week. He was the first and the only Everton player to do so under Roberto Martinez.

The Toffees were imposing that year. Their consistent form helps them finish in an awe-inspiring 5th place on the table.

Despite a high-flying season in 2013/14, the season after marks the downfall of a Leon Osman.

Already 33 years old at that time, Leon Osman's 2014/15 season was filled with a series of ankle injuries and groin strain. He did manage to get an overall of 30 appearances in all competitions with 3 goals and 2 assists that season, but he never really recovered to full fitness and get back his best form.

In November 2014, Osman signed a contract extension which would keep him at the club until 2016.

By 2015/16, Osman has already lost his place in the first team. With Martinez preferring to play younger and fitter players such as James McCarthy, Tom Cleverley, and Ross Barkley in the centre of the field and more attack-minded players in the wider areas - Leon Osman found himself in the middle of nowhere. He became only a backup player, only getting approximately 753 minutes of play on the field.

His contract expired at the end of the season and The Toffees decided to release him. He retired from professional football not long after.

Leon Osman was an energetic midfielder and a fairly skilful player. He is a decent striker of the ball, he loves to power it home, especially on the volley and from outside the box. He is a bit of a versatile player, able to play anywhere in the centre of the field and in wider areas.

Though Osman didn't win any major awards nor silverware during the span of his professional career and perhaps not known for eye-catching tricks or outstanding statistics. He was still a great player with a great personality - professional, loyal, and humble.

Borussia Dortmund linked with Crystal Palace's Zaha - but is he really the best option for BVB?

2019-01-24T21:22:00.000+07:00

Current Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund are in a scintillating run of form this season with a very impressive record of 20 wins, 4 draws, and only 2 losses in 26 matches under the management of Swiss coach Lucien Favre.

The German team have been impregnable in defence and their attack looks very dangerous - with their wingers being a constant threat every time they play.

Borussia Dortmund currently have a number of quality wingers with names like Raphael Guerreiro, Marius Wolf, Jadon Sancho, Jacob Bruun Larsen, and Christian Pulisic at their disposal.

The latter though has signed for Premier League side Chelsea for a pretty astounding fee of £57.60million and is immediately loaned back to the German club for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Dortmund are currently in search for a replacement for Chelsea-bound Pulisic, and several wingers have been linked with Der BVB.

The latest winger who has been linked recently with a move to Germany is Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha.

The Guardian reports that Die Schwarzgelben are even willing to scratch deep into their pockets and break their record transfer fee to sign the Ivorian winger.

It is said that initial talks have been held between the representatives of both clubs but Crystal Palace are likely to demand a fee of more than £50million for the forward who only recently committed his future by signing a new contract that runs until 2023.

Wilfried Zaha himself has struggled to replicate his fine form last season as he only managed to 3 goals and created 4 more in 21 occasions that he has played in across all competitions this season.

Zaha is naturally a winger who is able to play on either side of the wing - and is quite versatile as he has proven to be able to play as a centre-forward, shadow striker, or an attacking midfielder.

The 26-year-old is mainly right-footed but has a decent left-foot.

Wilfried Zaha is with no doubt a player of high quality. He is quick and agile, able to play anywhere up-front, creative, and technically proficient. He may not seem so impressive in terms of statistics, but his dribbling and trickery are always pleasing in the eye.

But is he really the best option for Dortmund?

Borussia Dortmund have been linked with other names as well since the announcement of Pulisic transfer with Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi, Manchester City's Rabbi Matondo, and even Borussia Monchengladbach's Thorgan Hazard.

Dortmund don't necessarily need to buy a replacement for Christian Pulisic as they still have more-than-capable options in the likes of Guerreiro, Bruun Larsen, Sancho, and Wolf. Marco Reus and Maximilian Philipp can also play on the wings if either of the two is not playing as a centre-forward or attacking midfielder.

But we're going to assess some options that Dortmund have at this moment.

1. Callum Hudson-Odoi

Callum Hudson-Odoi has been linked with Dortmund for quite some time. Dortmund were looking to do a Hudson-Odoi - Pulisic swap before, but that didn't work. Chelsea value the 18-year-old very highly and are looking for an offer of around at least £35million for the England youth international.

Bayern Munich are rumoured to be leading the race and are moving closer and closer to sign him though and the player himself said that he's keen on joining the Bundesliga champions.

Dortmund can still launch a bid, but the player may choose the other option.

2. Rabbi Matondo

Rabbi Matondo has been linked with German trio Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Borussia Monchengladbach and it appears that Die Roten are also leading the race to sign the Welsh prospect.

He is valued at around £10million which is not really that expensive considering his impressive current level of skill and the potential that he has.

Whether or not Dortmund will make an offer we shall see.

3. Thorgan Hazard

Thorgan Hazard has been linked with clubs like AS Roma, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, and of course, Dortmund.

The Belgium international, who is the brother of Eden Hazard is a highly-regarded player and his current club may ask for a fee around £31million or more.

The 25-year-old winger can also play as an attacking midfielder and a central midfielder. He has also been deployed as a shadow striker on several occasions.

Borussia Dortmund will be getting a much more polished player if they manage to sign Hazard and the Belgian playmaker still will command a much-lesser transfer fee than the potential transfer of Zaha.

Borussia Dortmund have surpassed their transfer records several years ago with Andre Schurrle coming in from VfL Wolfsburg for €30million (£26million). That transfer proved to be somewhat an unpopular decision with many football fans and experts questioning the move.

Dortmund taking Zaha for £50million will be a fairly dubious decision too as many questions will be asked regarding the player's potential and consistency.

Wilfried Zaha is a great player but with little doubt will not be the best deal for Dortmund. Some will say otherwise though.

Paris Saint-Germain fined €100,000 for recruitment policy

2019-01-24T12:34:00.000+07:00

Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain have been given a fine of €100,000 by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) over issues with the club's recruitment policy, as reported by Goal.

Les Parisiens were investigated after the club's confirmation last November that the club's academy recruiting department were using "forms with illegal content"

A report by French independent only investigative and opinion journal Mediapart and television programme 'Envoye Special', following the recent release of Football Leaks documents, have claimed that scouts were requested to report the ethnicity of potential academy signings.

General manager Jean-Claude Blanc and former sporting director Olivier Letang were amongst those to give evidence to the LFP's disciplinary committee.

While Paris Saint-Germain have been ordered to pay a €100,000 fine, several other members of the club's staff were also brought up.

Bertrand Reuzeau, who was PSG's training centre director circa 2013-2015, is fined €10,000.

Recruiting agents Marc Westerloppe and Pierre Reynaud were also fined €5,000 each.

Arsenal looking to tie up double loan move as Aaron Ramsey edge closer to Juventus

2019-01-23T23:20:00.001+07:00

Arsenal central midfielder Aaron Ramsey has already been negotiating personal terms with Serie A leaders Juventus and rumoured to be very close to signing, but his club are only prepared to let go of him this month providing they manage to secure two loan signings, according to the Independent.

The two loan signings will be Real Madrid's James Rodriguez and Barcelona's Denis Suarez.

Arsenal are still working towards reaching a deal for the two players and will then allow Aaron Ramsey to leave for Allianz Stadium for an amazing cut-price fee of £10million due to the midfielder's contract expiring soon.

The Wales international has already had his medical in Turin and is set to become the second-highest paid man in Juventus just behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Arsenal have made a kind of ridiculous decision as they decide against extending the Welshman's contract at the season as he still proves to be a pivotal player for the team.

Ramsey, 28, has appeared in 27 games so far for the North London club, scoring 3 goals and providing 7 assists. He has also captained the team on several occasions.

AC Milan in advanced talks with PSV Eindhoven danger man

2019-01-23T20:46:00.000+07:00

Serie A side AC Milan are currently in advanced talks with Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn who is currently plying his trade at PSV Eindhoven, according to reports in Italy.

AC Milan are expected to hijack Liverpool and Manchester United to the signing of the quick-footed wide man (via The Daily Star).

The Dutch-Surinamese winger has been impressing many European clubs and it seemed like Liverpool and Manchester United have been following him for some time now and ready to launch a bid.

The Red Devils have been reported to be set to test the Eredivisie leaders' resolve with a £25million bid, meanwhile, AC Milan are going with a six-month loan bid with a view to sign him in the summer for around £18million.

TeleRadioStereo and Antenna 3 transfer pundit, Davide Russo, said that Il Rossoneri are in 'advanced talks' with Steven Bergwijn (via Sempre Milan).

Despite that statement though, PSV Eindhoven may not be willing to sell their key player for less than £25million.

Bidding wars may come very soon and prices may go up, but the player himself has stated that he is content where he is right now and is very focused on the task at hand.

He said in an interview:

I am not concerned with big clubs or with rumours about interest,

I have remained with PSV this summer because I want to continue the line here to the end of the season.

Steven Bergwijn has been in a majestic form this season with 10 goals and 9 assists credited to his name in a total of 25 appearances across all competitions for the Rood-witten.

Exciting winger rejects contract to force a move to Bayern Munich

2019-01-23T15:32:00.000+07:00

Bayern Munich are edging closer and closer and now are just a tiny step away from finally securing the signing of exciting young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea.

The 18-year-old jet-heeled winger has been on the radar of Bayern Munich for some time and the Bavarian club are looking to bring him to strengthen an already powerful squad.

Hudson-Odoi has also been tracked by Bayern rivals, Borussia Dortmund, with the Black and Yellows looking for another hot prospect to replace Chelsea-bound Christian Pulisic. A player swap + transfer fee deal could have materialised but Chelsea only wanted to pay.

But so far, Bayern Munich seem to be the only party who are extremely interested in buying the player and have reportedly made several bids for the player but ended in vain. The latest bid is reported to be around £35m which actually met Chelsea's valuation of the player.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have offered the young starlet a ludicrous raise with an £85,000-a-week contract on the table to keep him at Stamford Bridge, but Hudson-Odoi seems to be quite persistent on moving away with the player himself reportedly very keen to join the German champions, according to Sky Sports.

Bayern Munich are also linked with a move for Manchester City's promising winger, Rabbi Matondo.

Barcelona take lead in race to sign Frenkie de Jong

2019-01-23T15:12:00.000+07:00

La Liga giants Barcelona have reportedly taken the lead and winning the race to sign one of Europe's hottest properties, AFC Ajax's Frenkie de Jong, according to Metro.

The 21-year-old Netherlands international has rejected offers from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain and decided to go with the Catalan club instead, despite conflicting reports several days ago by the Daily Mail.

De Telegraaf and Catalunya Radio reported that the Ajax playmaker has chosen the La Liga defending champions and will join the club in the summer.

Several reports say that the Dutchman's representatives have informed the Citizens and Les Parisiens that De Jong will sign for Barcelona and the club president, Josep Maria Bartomeu will fly to Amsterdam to complete the signing.

Barca will be paying a fee around €90million (£79million) for the midfield schemer. This will make him the most expensive Dutch footballer in history, surpassing Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk who transferred to the Merseyside club for around £75million around a year ago.

His arrival at Camp Nou will undoubtedly boost Barcelona with even more creativity and solidity in midfield. This could perhaps make Barcelona a team with the most exciting midfield in Europe, but the future of Catalan youth exponents Carles Alena and Riqui Puig will definitely be questioned.

Jan Siewert leaves Dortmund U23 for Huddersfield Town, Alen Terzic to take over temporarily

2019-01-22T18:38:00.000+07:00

Borussia Dortmund U23 head coach Jan Siewert has left Borussia Dortmund to manage Premier League club Huddersfield Town, as announced in the club's official website.

The 36-year-old coach follows the footsteps of former Dortmund U23 boss David Wagner who has recently had his contract mutually terminated by The Terriers.

This is the second time that club owner and chairman Dean Hoyle employed the BVB's second-string coach as the head coach of the team.

David Wagner has actually had such amazing records with Huddersfield.

The former BVB man came to John Smith's Stadium in 2015 when Huddersfield were struggling down the table in the Championship. Wagner managed to save the club from relegation and by the next season, he managed to bring the Terriers to a promotion.

They managed to stay in the Premier League last season, but this season may just not be their season. Wagner found his team at the bottom of the table after 22 matches and left the club by mutual term.

Despite that, the future still seems bright for Wagner as he has shown to be able to work with very limited resources and great adversity. We'll probably be seeing the German coach working at a big club someday.

Meanwhile, for Borussia Dortmund U23, coach Alen Terzic will take over on an interim basis.

Bayern Munich set to make £10m bid for Manchester City wonderboy

2019-01-22T14:29:00.000+07:00

Bundesliga defending champions Bayern Munich are set to launch a bid of around £10million for Manchester City's one for the future, Rabbi Matondo according to several reports.

The 18-year-old right-footed winger is a very highly-regarded talent.

Matondo has already won his first senior cap for the Wales national team under Ryan Giggs and has been linked with a move away from Manchester City with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Everton, and even Southampton claimed to be interested.

Bayern, on the other hand, are prepared to launch a £10million bid to take the lead in the race to lure the incredibly fast winger.

Die Roten are also chasing Chelsea prospect Callum Hudson-Odoi and it is rumoured that the transfer saga may finally come to an end with Bayern as the winner.

If Bayern manage to get these two youngsters, they will definitely get a new injection of incredible flair and talents to the team. They may even turn out to be just as good as (or even better than) Bayern's winger dynamic duo Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have seen their wonderkids Brahim Diaz, Jadon Sancho, and Javairo Dilrosun lured away in the last several months for quite a bargain fee and this time they may want to slap a huge price tag on the 18-year-old's head or offer a new deal to force him to stay.

Watford have £18m bid rejected for pacey winger, turn their heads towards Bordeaux forward

2019-01-22T11:01:00.000+07:00

Premier League high-flyers Watford are looking to prise away Olympique Lyonnais winger Maxwel Cornet and according to reports by The Independent (via HITC).

Cornet is one of the names in Javi Gracia's shopping lists.

The 22-year-old forward has been highly impressive this season. His top-notch performances in the UEFA Champions League have been the main reason the number of interests in him grows this January.

The Hornets have reportedly launched a bid of around £18million but was rejected by the Ligue 1 side.

L'OL are appraising the pacey winger at around £26million, but their valuations seem to differ by some margin and Watford may well be looking at other potential targets.

Another target that can be on the card is Girondins de Bordeaux forward Francois Kamano.

The Bordeaux key player has been quite amazing this season as he managed to rack up 11 goals and 2 assists in 32 games.

The Guinea international can play on either wing, and can also be deployed as a centre-forward.

AS Monaco's search for striker continues with prolific Napoli loanee linked

2019-01-22T10:28:00.000+07:00

Rio Ave striker Carlos "Careca" Vinicius is currently on loan from Serie A side Napoli and is currently enjoying huge success with the Portuguese club, but his spell could probably be cut short to allow the tall Brazilian to join Les Monegasques this January, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio.

The 2016/17 Ligue 1 champions are currently struggling at a quite surprising 19th spot on the Ligue 1 table. They are currently in the lookout for strikers as the side which are currently managed by Thierry Henry feel that they lack firepower up-front despite having prominent strikers Radamel Falcao and Stevan Jovetic and young talents such as Pietro Pellegri and Moussa Sylla.

AS Monaco are also targeting Michy Batshuayi with reports saying that talks have intensified due to the player's interest in joining the club.

The Ligue 1 team are also struggling with injuries in the attacking department with Stevan Jovetic, Jordi Mboula, Willem Geubbels, Pietro Pellegri, and Nacer Chadli sidelined for some time due to various problems.

Carlos Vinicius has been in a majestic run this season as he appeared in 20 occasions for Rio Ave across all competitions, scoring a total of 14 goals with 2 assists to his name.

The 23-year-old may well be on his way to France providing AS Monaco send a respectable offer to the Italian club.

Genoa sporting director reveals Piatek to Milan and Juventus swap deal

2019-01-22T00:22:00.000+07:00

Genoa sporting director Giorgio Perinetti has revealed in an interview regarding the future of prolific Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek whose move to AC Milan is imminent and a potential player trade with Juventus with Stefano Sturaro coming to Stadio Luigi Ferraris while talented centre-back Cristian Romero going the other way.

He spoke when asked by Sky Sports a few minutes before the kick-off of the match between Genoa and AC Milan:

Negotiations are not defined yet. There are a few details missing. We'll speak with AC Milan directors after the game, let's see if we will close the deal

We have to make a difficult choice: if we don't sell him, which motivations will he have? It's the same doubt that AC Milan have with Higuain who wants to join Chelsea

What's missing? Details are important, I can reveal everything, maybe I'll meet AC Milan after the game, let's see what happens

We are not planning to sign any replacement, we are focused on many situations. For sure we'll sign a new midfielder. We are close to Sturaro. Romero? He will play for Juve one day, but for sure he will remain with us until also in the next season

Roma and Inter's chances boosted as club finally willing to sell defensive talent

2019-01-22T00:03:00.001+07:00

Serie A team Atalanta are finally willing to sell their key defensive member Gianluca Mancini to the suitors this summer, according to reports from Calciomercato.

Serie A giants AS Roma and Inter Milan have been linked with the talented defender but are unlikely to make a transfer move this month.

Mancini, 22, is valued at around 25 million Euros by the Bergamo club but they are only looking for clubs who want to make a permanent move for him.

Monchi and Roma are unlikely to sign any player on a permanent basis this January but such manoeuvre could possibly happen in the summer.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan are still interested in the player but do not see him as a priority. I Nerazzurri are currently more focused on sorting out the contract deals of two of their most important players, Mauro Icardi and Milan Skriniar.

Gianluca Mancini has actually also attracted interests from outside Italy with Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and Everton all keeping tabs on the former Fiorentina youth player.

Gianluca Mancini has been in a strong form this season as he played 18 games this season for Atalanta, scoring an impressive 6 goals and providing a single assist. Quite outstanding for a centre-back.

West Ham continue talks to sign replacement for outgoing Marko Arnautovic

2019-01-21T22:19:00.001+07:00

West Ham star striker Marko Arnautovic is getting closer and closer to finally completing a move to China with rich club Guangzhou Evergrande set to complete the deal which is reported to be around £45million very soon.

The East London club are lining up Uruguayan striker Maxi Gomez as the potential replacement for the want-away Arnautovic, according to reports from The Daily Mail.

The deal to get Gomez to London Stadium could potentially be as much as £44million as it is his buyout clause.

Celta Vigo will be extremely reluctant to let go of their key player but if West Ham can strike his buyout clause then talks will still continue.

The Paysandu-born striker has featured for Celta Vigo in 19 occasions this season. He has scored 9 goals and created 5 more.

Manuel Pellegrini have actually been looking at other potential names too.

Callum Wilson was also considered, but Bournemouth's high valuation and his injury-stained records mean that the Hammers won't continue their pursuit.

Mario Balotelli was also on the cards. The Italy international striker has only six months left in his contract with French club OGC Nice and will be available at a cut-price fee should they want to sign him this month or for no fee at all if they want to sign him in the summer.

Despite that, Balotelli is actually much closer to striking a deal with Olympique de Marseille though so Pellegrini will want to focus on getting Maxi Gomez instead.

Manchester United join the race to sign wonderkid with £105m release clause

2019-01-21T21:47:00.000+07:00

Premier League giants Manchester United has been identified as another club to join the race to sign SC Benfica teenage wonder Joao Felix.

The side which is currently managed by club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are considering a possible move for the hot prospect according to reports in Portugal (via The Mirror).

Portuguese newspaper Record suggests that the Manchester United scouts are currently compiling scout reports on the 19-year-old before launching a formal bid.

Earlier this January, United's rivals Liverpool have reportedly made a spectacular £60million bid for the midfield sensation, but the Portuguese runners-up last season rejected the offer.

The rejection seemed to not affect the number of interests on Felix as European giants namely Barcelona and Manchester City still persist in pursuing Felix - who may well be Europe's hottest property right now.

Liverpool still seem intent to come back with a much-improved offer while the Red Devils are certainly going to prepare a big one right now.

Joao Felix have recently just signed a new five-year deal in 2018 with his current club and a £105million buyout clause is reportedly also inserted in it.

Denis Suarez set to complete move to Premier League

2019-01-21T20:50:00.000+07:00

Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez is only a tiny step away from joining Premier League side Arsenal on a loan move which could potentially turn into a permanent one, as reported by The Mirror.

It has been revealed that the Gunners are willing to pay as much as £1.7million to complete the loan deal for the midfield schemer this month.

Arsenal are also prepared to pay an additional £17.5million to make the move permanent.

Unai Emery has been looking for someone to boost up the creativity in his midfield and has identified the Spaniard as the ideal candidate for the place.

The 25-year-old creative man also wants to join Arsenal this January, but Barcelona aren't willing to let go of him that easily with the Catalan club demanding a permanent transfer instead of a loan. But it seemed like both parties have agreed on the latest term and a loan transfer may materialise very soon.

Denis Suarez rarely featured for Barca this season with only 8 games to his name where he managed to force in two goals and provide a single assist.

Suarez, 25, may well be a perfect feature for Unai Emery's side, but his arrival at Emirates Stadium will put a big question mark over Mesut Ozil's future.

Atletico Madrid set to sign Spain international striker

2019-01-21T19:36:00.002+07:00

Atletico Madrid are set to snap up Spain international striker Alvaro Morata from Chelsea on loan initially with an option to buy in the summer, as reported by The Mirror.

The Spaniard has been looking to end his disappointing spell at the London club and he's finally getting what he wanted.

Alvaro Morata actually started his footballing journey through the youth ranks of Atletico before jumping ship to arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Morata's exit imminent exit is also a big sign that AC Milan's Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain could join soon. The former Real Madrid and Napoli striker have been linked with a move to join Maurizio Sarri's side on loan and both parties are set to complete the deal.

Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Nicolo Schira has described the loan transfer as a "done deal" and says Morata will sign papers on Monday.

The deal is reported to be a loan move with an option to make the stay permanent for around €55million (£48.6million).

Alvaro Morata has been in such an uninspiring form since joining Chelsea last season and he has received very harsh criticisms for it.

Morata, 26, has appeared in 24 occasions so far for the Blues with 9 goals to his name. Surely could have been much better.

One To Watch: Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka

2019-01-20T19:20:00.002+07:00

Crystal Palace aren't always known for their prolificacy when it comes to producing quality youth players, but this one is an exception. His name is Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Wan-Bissaka only has his breakthrough campaign this season, but his heavily impressive performance has convinced European scouts that he is the right man to pursue.

Until now, several Premier League teams - namely Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton are vying for the English-Congolese right-back.

So who exactly is Aaron Wan-Bissaka?

Let us find out in the article below.

Player Profile

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was born on the 26th of November 1997 in London and grew up in the town of Croydon in the southern part of London. He is of Congolese descent.

Wan-Bissaka entered the youth academy of Crystal Palace at age 11 and has featured in every setup of the South London-based club ever since.

The pacey wide man started as a right midfielder who is able to play on the other side as well. He was also usually deployed in a more advanced position. But season 2016/17 saw him regress to a deeper position - usually starting as a wing-back or a full-back.

Young Wan-Bissaka made one appearance for the DR Congo U20 team as a 17-year-old in a friendly international match in 2015, but he remained eligible to represent England at International level and after impressing in his debut, he was called up to the England U20 squad in March 2018.

Wan-Bissaka's talents and potential were never doubted by the club's coaches but his climb towards the top is somewhat slow. But his patience, hard work, and perseverance were rewarded with a full senior debut in Crystal Palace's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on 25 February 2018 which ended in a 1-0 loss - nevertheless, it was still a solid performance by the youngster.

The 2017/18 season proved to be a breakout season for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

After ending his impressive debut match with an impressive showing, the right-footed player continued with another top-class performance against Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea despite losing both games 2-3 and 2-1 respectively.

He finished the season with 7 matches and around 628 minutes played. He didn't manage to score or create any goals though.

By the next season, Wan-Bissaka has already cemented his place in Roy Hodgson's squad and has delivered splendidly to pay the gaffer back for his trust on him.

He has been ever-present so far as he appeared in 25 games across all competitions this season, collecting 2 assists.

Despite his scintillating performances, Wan-Bissaka has set an unwanted record for himself for being sent off for a professional foul on Mohamed Salah in a PL match against Liverpool. He became the youngest Crystal Place to receive a red card. Despite this, he's still awarded Crystal Palace's player of the month for August for his fine form.

He has also seen red at another moment in his career. He was sent off in his England U20 debut against Poland. But hey, Lionel Messi was also red-carded in his Argentina debut.

Style of Play

Aaron Wan-Bissaka used to be utilised as a midfielder (or as a forward some other times) and he loves to go up regularly throughout a game. His speed, stamina, and defensive discipline are laudable as he runs up and down the pitch, providing spaces and options with his runs and tracking back quickly whenever possession is lost.

The 21-year-old defensive rock loves to dive into tackles and statistically he is excellent at it. According to WhoScored, Aaron Wan-Bissaka tops the table in terms of successful tackles among other U21s and just around top ten out of all in Europe's top five leagues.

His will and determination to get his foot on the ball and win it are quite impressive honestly, but he can get a bit reckless sometimes.

The Crystal Palace starlet also loves to run at opposition defence. Utilising his good ball control, impressive overall speed, and tricks up his sleeve - Wan-Bissaka is a proficient dribbler and can be very dangerous when on the ball.

The 183cm (6ft) tall full back tends to play short passes most of the time.

Player Strengths

Aaron Wan-Bissaka used to play in a more advanced position, but when the gaffer opted to put him in the right-back berth, he just unlocked the England youth international fullback's full potential.

Wan-Bissaka is equally adept in defence and attack, but his defensive prowess is what most people admire.

London-born Wan-Bissaka is a magnificent tackler. He understands the timing and the technique to win a ball and not just clumsily sticking his foot in or sliding towards the opposition.

He also knows where to position himself when defending and is rarely caught out of position.

He reads the game very well and has amazing stats in terms of successful interceptions.

He has a medium height and a lean build and is pretty athletic.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also an outstanding dribbler. He has the pace, the touch, and the technique to beat the opposing defender any time.

The 21-year-old fullback talent is an excellent footballer in overall.

Player Weaknesses

One of Aaron Wan-Bissaka's weakness is clearly distributing the ball. The Crystal Palace right-back is not a very accurate passer and misplaced his passes pretty often - especially long passes.

This explains why Aaron Wan-Bissaka doesn't have many assists to his name despite him being a dangerous attacking threat with his throbbing runs.

Wan-Bissaka needs to improve in holding the ball. The hot prospect lost possession a bit often when challenged by the opposing defender.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is surely a huge talent with a bright future. He seems ready for a big move soon, but staying and getting some much-needed game time can really aid his development hugely.

Barca superstar to return to Premier League?

2019-01-19T23:15:00.000+07:00

Former Liverpool Brazilian attacking midfielder has been the subject of some rumours linking him with a move to Manchester United for some time now.

The 26-year-old technician made a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona in last season’s winter transfer window, but has been criticized for his average performances and has subsequently fallen down the pecking order at the Catalan club.

While the rumours might sound a bit sensational and perhaps too good to be true, Coutinho might have no intention of leaving Barca anyway. At least not for the time being and especially not to bitter rivals Manchester United, via The Daily Mirror.

The clues could be found in his old interviews before he signed for Barcelona last year where he stated that playing for Barcelona would be a dream come true on many occasions.

Philippe Coutinho has appeared in 26 games across all competitions for Barca this season, forcing in 6 goals and creating 5 more.

We believe that at the time being the Brazil international would not give up fighting and stay put at Camp Nou to keep working hard in the bid of earning his place back at the team.

Zenit set asking price for Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain target

2019-01-19T20:09:00.000+07:00

Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg have stated that they are willing to accept offers of at least €55million, as reported by French media L'Equipe.

The 24-year-old deep-lying playmaker is tracked by two European giants this winter - Premier League club Chelsea and Ligue 1 defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea have actually been holding talks for Paredes over the last few weeks but the Blues' bid of around €35m was rejected, despite reports saying that the Argentinian midfielder has agreed on personal terms with the side who are currently led by Maurizio Sarri.

PSG have also joined the race to sign Paredes lately with the rumours of Julian Weigl moving to French starts dying in the last few weeks.

Leandro Paredes is happy to join the London club but may well be tempted to go to Parc des Princes due to the oil-rich club willing to offer massive contract to bring him in.

Chelsea striker could go to AS Monaco instead of Everton

2019-01-19T19:34:00.000+07:00

Chelsea's Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi could end up moving to AS Monaco on loan amid interest from Everton.

Everton are looking to secure the 25-year-old striker signing on loan with an option to buy from Chelsea but the move may not be possible due to Premier League's regulations.

According to Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws, Batshuayi prefers Monaco loan move instead of Everton. The Belgium international will work under former Belgium assistant manager and current AS Monaco manager Thierry Henry at Stade Louis II.

But the Toffees are still persistent to bring 'Batsman' in. They are prepared to take their pursuit to the next level.

Latest reports said that Everton have submitted a bid around €30million. But those figures are still way beyond Chelsea's asking price of €45million.

Michy Batshuayi was quite successful when he went on loan to Borussia Dortmund in the 2017/18 season, but is currently far from what is expected of him at Valencia.

Valencia are glad to terminate his loan, but Chelsea will need to find a suitable deal for the Belgium man. His future remains uncertain at this point.

David Wagner to Reunite with Klopp at Anfield?

2019-01-18T16:14:00.001+07:00

David Wagner has left Huddersfield Town by mutual consent this week and rumours have started swirling around after fans reportedly calling Jurgen Klopp to bring him to Anfield (via 90min).

Wagner found himself under scrutiny following a difficult start to the season for The Terriers. His team only won twice, drew 5, and lost 15 times in 22 games. They have now found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table with only 11 points.

Despite Wagner's genius a few years ago, as he managed to bring up Huddersfield from the depths of the Championship into the Premier League, and they were quite amazing to be able to survive in their first season there.

Huddersfield may be struggling this season but there is little doubting the German coach's talents and capabilities.

Fans have now been calling Klopp to ask Wagner to reunite with him at Liverpool.

The two German coaches have had a wonderful experience together in Germany when Klopp was still leading Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, Wagner was the head of the B team. Klopp has a close relationship with Wagner and is reportedly good friends off-field with the latter.

Adding Wagner to his already magnificent team of coaching staffs, with familiar names like Buvac and Krawietz already present, it will take no time at all for him to adapt. He would prove to be an amazing addition to the team.

There are several problems though.

David Wagner will be a highly-sought manager after his successful stint at Huddersfield. Big clubs will be seeking a man his calibre to help their struggle. Liverpool will have to come with a fabulous offer to be able to persuade him to Anfield.

Klopp will also think about where to place him. Will Wagner's excellent player management and tactical knowledge be of use to Liverpool? We shall see.