Man United, Chelsea . . . Four stars who need a move in January

Loan deals: they might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they can be valuable in giving a player the chance to gain first-team football elsewhere.

The parent club are not forced into an immediate decision over the player’s future, whilst the player involved can experience another option that may develop into something more permanent.

The Premier League is filled with players who could benefit from a loan elsewhere.

So, without further ado, here are FOUR stars who should consider leaving on loan before the Monday night’s 11pm transfer window deadline…

Stevan Jovetic

Jovetic is undoubtedly talented, having arrived at the Citizens from Fiorentina after scoring 40 goals in 134 appearances across all competitions. However, City have a track record of leaving many promising players to warm the bench, and this £22million recruit appears to be the unfortunate latest casualty of their strength in depth.

This season Jovetic has already made nearly as many Premier League appearances as he did in the entirety of the previous campaign (15 with only two starts). The striker has finally had a chance to represent City in the Champions League too, though these opportunities have only come through Alvaro Negredo being loaned to Valencia.

Similarly, new January signing Wilfred Bony will probably be accommodated at the expense of Jovetic, for whom a loan move could be a great chance to get the regular football his talent merits.

Definitely worth a look for top European clubs as there is every chance of the move becoming permanent.

Roberto Soldado

They say insanity is trying the same thing repeatedly and hoping for a different result, and this certainly appears to apply to Roberto Soldado.

The forward arrived having scored 24 in 35 for Valencia in 2012/2013, leading to a hefty £26million price tag that Soldado has not yet lived up to.

At Tottenham he has mustered an average of just one league goal in every six games, though Mauricio Pochettino still vehemently supports the striker.

This does not necessarily mean a loan move will not happen, and particularly familiar pastures in La Liga may give Soldado an ideal opportunity to rediscover his form and obvious capabilities.

Adnan Januzaj

How the mighty have fallen. Just six months ago Januzaj had enjoyed an outstanding first Premier League campaign with Manchester United. The 19-year-old appeared a rare positive to emerge from a dire season as the Red Devils struggled under David Moyes.

However, Louis Van Gaal evidently does not fancy the winger, who has still not made over two full games worth of Premier League appearances concerning minutes this season.

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The winger is evidently capable, and was one of the few players to not disgrace themselves when the Red Devils could only draw at League Two Cambridge United in the FA Cup.

Januzaj is surely too precocious a talent for United to sell, so a loan move could be ideal in showing Van Gaal what he is missing out on.

Petr Cech

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This needs little explaining – Cech is a world-class goalkeeper who deserves regular football, though Mourinho may be reluctant to lose him permanently.

The Chelsea stopper would be a number one at most, if not every, top European club. The only thing preventing a loan deal to one of them will be the willingness of the Blues to let him go, even temporarily.

Ty and Claude from ArsenalFanTV talk… Arsenal

Light and dark. Fast and Slow. Tea and coffee. Sat in a north London pub, I delved into another pair of opposites that has arguably become as famous across the last few years with the emergence of fan channels – Claude and Ty from Arsenal fan TV.

Cult figures primarily through an apparent innate to disagree about pretty much anything regarding the Gunners, we got to know the pair at the Ladbrokes #ForTheFans Transfer Deadline Day party.

Ladbrokes invited Ian Wright, Chris Kamara, Peter Reid, Jason McAteer and 50 fans to a north London pub to take part in the Ladbrokes #ForTheFans Transfer Deadline Day party, fans were treated to free bets, the latest reaction to transfer moves and news by our panel of legends, a singing Kammy and a free bar to keep the night flowing.

The consequences make for YouTube gold, meaning that whilst everyone around us was desperately seeking late deadline day transfer, we were busy dissecting the Gunners’ season over a pint…

So I start with the obvious question, what did you make of the January transfer window for Arsenal?

Ty: It’s a non-event for us really, we’ve signed Gabriel Paulista and we’ve done our job but I think it’s disappointing because all we seemed to be getting from the press and media is ‘who is he?’ We’re getting criticised for signing a defender when we needed one. We didn’t sign a defender, midfielder or striker. We signed a defender but were still getting stick, obviously we’d like to sign more but it is what it is. A lot of our players are getting back to full fitness.

Claude: I think ideally we need two or at least one big central defensive midfield player because although Coquelin is playing well at the moment I’m not sure he can do the whole season. I still think he’s got a lot to learn – though he has been playing brilliantly we still need that world class central defensive-midfielder. Maybe Wenger is right but we will see at the end of the season.

Ty: Yes there should have been (a central-midfielder signed) but we have Francis Coquelin who has been a revelation since he has come back on loan spell at Charlton. We do have Mikel Arteta and Matthieu Flamini (said with an emphasis on both that suggests a feeling they are underestimated).

Claude: I think Wenger has been lucky because I don’t think we be in this situation if Arteta was fit but luckily Coquelin has come back from Charlton and done a brilliant job. However I just think that’s fortune because I don’t think Wenger had even thought of bringing him back. I don’t think Arteta can get around the park like he used too.

Ty: We don’t know what’s happened with Abou Diaby because he’s been destroyed by injury. We have a few players in that position though obviously that would be nice, but if we’re going to sign someone big it should be at the end of season, because it’s not the managers remit to sign big players now.

Claude: I think there was possibilities of Carvalho and Schneiderlin didn’t quite get over the line, but I think we need that experienced world class midfielder. I don’t think Arteta has been a great player but he’s now coming to the end. Sometimes you’ve got to be a bit ruthless and not offer them a new contract.

Ty: I think it’s going to be at the end of the season, hopefully we’ve got enough to equal or emulate what we did last season- if we do that I’m sure everyone will be happy.

FFC to Ty, as Claude is busy re-charging his glass: What have you made of Arsenal recently having less of the ball in various fixtures, such as Manchester City and Aston Villa?

Ty: It’s nothing something he’d really do but he’s looked at us playing all the football and not getting the results. If we play less football and get the results then were happy. The funny thing is it’s the players that apparently suggested we should change our style but the thing is Claude said Wenger can’t take credit for that. But, they always say a good leader is someone who is prepared to listen, it showed he is not too arrogant and too big headed to not listen to what players say to him. That shows humblesness, co-operation and an ability to listen that only endears me to him more.

(At that moment both Ty and I inevitably turn towards Claude and laughter erupts) Naturally leading FFC to ask him: Do you think it’s fair that you are often known as ‘the negative one’ as such?

Claude: If you call negative wanting to win the league, challenging for the league that’s up for people to decide that but I want my club to do better. I think this club is big enough to be challenging for the title not settling for 4th each season.

Ty: Look at who were competing with Chelsea, Man City and Man Unitd who have all spent more money than us and he (Wenger) has still kept us competitive in the top four.

Claude: The mentality is coming, and of course players make the difference. I think the future looks good if we can just add those one or two special players it looks too late for this season but in the summer we’ve got to look at that again.

FFC: Turning to you as the ‘optimist’ Ty, recent months have seen speculation surrounding Wenger largely quell, things seem to be going well?

Ty: Absolutely because he’s doing his job and getting all the players fit. I don’t think since the invincibles that he has ever had his best 11 players fit so can you really judge him? I think you can only really judge him when he has had his whole first 11 fit for the season because if he did we would win the league. Obviously injuries happen and he has his faults which is far enough but you’ve got to look at the whole job the man has done.

Claude: At the moment he’s slightly turning me around but let’s wait to the end of season and we will see.

FFC: What would it take this season for you be convinced that Wenger is still the right man?

Claude: 3rd/2nd in the League and a really good run in CL, I mean at least the semi-finals. We’re capable but it’s early days yet.

Ty: All those things would be good obviously but, to me, even if we didn’t achieve any of those things, I would give Arsene another year, because of everything he has done for the club. It has been nothing short of incredible, to create an invincible team, it’s like a dream, if anything had told us we would go a whole season unbeaten we’d have never ever in our wildest dreams have believed them.

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FFC to Ty: So what would it take for you to say Wenger out?

Ty: I would never say that even if we got relegated, god forbid, out of Europe, and go down to the championship, because of what he has done for the club I cannot turn against him. What he has done for the club has been incredible, he is the reason why we are here because of the football we have played and seen – its been incredible, its been a dream, nothing could really turn me against him.

FFC: Finally, who has been your player of the season?

Claude: Alexis Sanchez, no doubt about it, he has been brilliant, absolutely outstanding.

Ty: Alexis Sanchez.

FFC: Nice to see I finally managed to find something you two agree on, thanks for your time guys.

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Could he be the ‘new Henry’ at Arsenal?

He’s been one of Europe’s top performers so far this season and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette will undoubtedly attract a lot of interest when the transfer window reopens. One of those suitors could be Arsenal, if reports from Sky Sports are to be believed.

Current Gunners striker Olivier Giroud has impressed for the club once again this season, showing that Arsenal are far from a crisis when it comes to the striking department. In 15 Premier League appearances, he has scored eight goals and provided two assists – a solid return considering the fact that he missed the earlier stages of the season due to injury.

The Frenchman is an excellent option up front due to his physical presence in the attacking third, as well as the fact that he possesses good finishing skills. Although Giroud is a good attacking option for Arsenal, they are still lacking real pace up front. Danny Welbeck can provide that pace but he is being used in more of a wider attacking berth now that Giroud has returned to the side. The England international does work hard for the team but he lacks that prolific instinct that Arsenal need more of up front.

This is where Alexandre Lacazette represents an excellent option for the Gunners. The Lyon striker has 21 goals in 23 Ligue 1 appearances this term and looks like he has the potential to become a world-class forward. Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals in 2014/15 and this is something that is bound to attract the attention of big clubs across Europe. Lacazette possesses something that the Gunners haven’t had since Henry left – electric pace combined with excellent movement and finishing.

It is no secret that Arsenal boast a wealth of talent in the middle of park, but they are lacking the same quality up front. Giroud and Welbeck are good Premier League players but they do not carry the same potential that Lacazette has shown over the course of this season.

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Theo Walcott is sometimes implemented in a centre-forward role to provide Arsenal with some more pace through the middle and this works to good effect. However, Walcott is not a natural goalscorer and often plays wide rather than in a centre forward’s role.

Therefore, Wenger will be looking to add more quality to his attacking options. Lacazette has been compared to Henry during his time in France due to his impressive dribbling skills and the fact that he knows where the back of the net is.

The Express reports that Lyon are looking for a fee of around £23million, which would be an excellent price for one of Europe’s hottest prospects. Arsene Wenger has not been afraid to spend big in the summer transfer window in recent times and Lacazette would certainly represent an improvement in terms of Arsenal’s attacking prospects.

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Arsenal fans have been crying out for another quality striker to provide more attacking options up front, and Lacazette could be the most affordable option for the Gunners, as well as providing undeniable quality in the final third.

It’s been a long time since Thierry Henry left the club and signing a player that boasts similar abilities to the Arsenal legend should be a no-brainer. Although nothing is set in stone, Arsene Wenger should do all he can to move for Lacazette in the summer if he becomes available.

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Five English stars Man City could sign this summer

Manuel Pellegrini is confident the UEFA’s transfer restrictions on City will be lifted this summer and he wants to make a crucial signing – preferably an Englishman.

The spending ban was imposed for breaches in their Financial Fair Play rules, but the club are still set to break even this year.

Pellegrini has already started to compile a list of potential signings and with Frank Lampard due to leave the club in the summer, and one of the main problems City has is a worryingly low number of home grown talent in their squad.

Rules require Premier League club’s to have eight homegrown players in their team, so here’s who we think could be on Pellegrini’s shopping list this summer…

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Raheem Sterling

Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling has been in the papers solidly for the past few weeks as his contract deal continues to be discussed.

After two fantastic seasons at Anfield, the youngster is looking for regular Champions League football. It will take a seriously large sum of money, but Pellegrini needs young players to help with his ageing squad. Sterling ticks all the boxes- young and home-grown – but maybe just a bit out of their price range.

Aaron Cresswell

Aaron Cresswell is one of the unsung signings of the Premier League season. The left-back has been fantastic for West Ham and has started all their Premier League fixtures.

City are on the lookout for a player who can fill that position in the long run and he would make an excellent signing for the Champions.

This is only his first season in the top-flight and he has shown some great potential. Pellegrini would be able to mould him into the player he wants.

Seamus Coleman

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Speculation about Seamus Coleman’s departure from Goodison Park has been going around for some time, with Manchester United and Chelsea interested in signing the defender.

After building his success on the back of a superb loan spell at Blackpool, it looks like he could be about to make a move again. Coleman has proved he is a superb right-back and as Pellegrini looks for stability in the back four, Coleman could be his man.

Nathanial Clyne

If Southampton miss out on a Champions League place they will struggle to keep hold of their star man Nathaniel Clyne. The right-back is another option instead of Coleman and has made 34 appearances for Southampton so far this season.

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He is turning into one of the most wanted players with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all interested.

Jack Wilshire

Jack Wilshire is the latest player to be linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium. He could join a number of stars to have made the switch from the Emirates but he might not be the right move for Pellegrini.

He is quick and has a superb touch, but he isn’t known at being completely reliable. He probably won’t be a game changer for Man City nor have a great impact on their Champions League campaign.

Three Copa America stars Arsenal should target this summer

Arsenal’s title hopes dissipated at the last minute, despite an impressive run of form since the turn of the year, with Arsene Wenger’s men having to wait another year for their chance of becoming English champions again.

The Gunners are expected to freshen things up in their squad this summer, with the North London club sure to be keeping a close eye on the Copa America.

Although the likes of Alexis Sanchez and David Ospina will be competing in the tournament, the competition in Chile will also provide an excellent scouting opportunity for the Emirates Stadium outfit.

With that in mind, here are three potential new additions for the Gunners that are set to star at the Copa America…

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Sergio Romero

Despite the solid showings of Ospina this season, there is still a train of thought that Arsenal are lacking a truly top-drawer goalkeeper and that they may be tempted to add a stopper in the upcoming transfer window.

Argentina’s Sergio Romero has become his nation’s number one and showed at last summer’s World Cup that he is an accomplished shot-stopper and a commanding presence.

With the South American out of contract this summer and looking increasingly likely to leave Sampdoria, Arsenal could well have a bargain on their hands.

Experienced and able, Romero’s addition would freshen things up for the Gunners and add an international-quality custodian to their ranks.

Charles Aranguiz

Arsenal were accredited with a tentative interest in the gifted Chilean midfielder earlier this year and the Copa America will be an excellent opportunity for the Gunners to run the rule over him once more.

Aranguiz impressed in the World Cup with his work-rate and neat passing, with his style of play certainly fitting into the mould of an Arsenal player.

With the Chilean playing his club football in Brazil, a move to Europe and the Premier League would surely appeal.

With Sanchez already at the Emirates Stadium, Aranguiz would fit in nicely at Arsenal and give them more dynamism and energy in the centre of the pitch.

Lucas Biglia

Francis Coquelin’s emergence this season as a designated defensive midfielder has allowed Arsenal’s attacking players more freedom, with the Frenchman the player that the North Londoners have been crying out for over recent campaigns.

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Despite the former Charlton loanee’s skillset, there is still an argument that the Gunners need another defensive midfielder.

With Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta all ageing and their importance to the club waning, a deep-lying midfielder in his prime would be a welcome addition.

Biglia has impressed in a Lazio team pushing for Champions League qualification and his battling qualities would see him offer a combativeness that has been missing in the Arsenal boiler room.

Playing him alongside Coquelin or offering an alternative to the Frenchman would give Wenger options in the heart of his team.

Five possible transfers to fix Arsenal’s midfield issues

Arsenal being linked with signing a defensive midfielder for an entire summer before opting for a tricky ‘No.10’ has almost become a running joke in itself.

Unfortunately for Gunners fans, Arsene Wenger has avoided the issue of recruiting an enforcer year after year, and is at risk of doing so again thanks to the emergence of Francis Coquelin. If Arsenal are to win the title, a new defensive midfielder must be the top of their priorities to avoid any risk of Mathieu Flamini wearing an Arsenal shirt within 100 miles of a football pitch again!

Here are FIVE possible options that Arsenal could pursue…

William Carvalho

Fresh from a brilliant tournament with the Portuguese Under 21s, Carvalho is one of the younger options open to Wenger.

The 6ft. 2″ defensive midfield player can also cover in central defence, which would add extra depth if Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker were to suffer with injuries once more.

Hard in the tackle and already playing like someone far beyond his 23-years-of-age, Carvalho would be the ideal base to Arsenal’s extremely talented midfield. Carvalho’s age also means he fits perfectly with Wenger’s blueprint for signings.

John Obi Mikel

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Having spent the majority of his career with London rivals Chelsea, Mikel is unlikely to be a popular option for anyone at the Emirates Stadium.

The Nigerian has developed the sort of experience in his time at Stamford Bridge that puts him far ahead of Coquelin, whilst his role in Chelsea’s run to the Champions League glory cannot be underestimated.

Still only 28, Mikel has several years left at the top and his calm approach to midfield play would work nicely to control the tempo of games and cover for potential counter attacks.

Javi Martinez

As a Spaniard working under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich it is hard to see why you would want to transfer clubs. However, the offer of more money and a greater challenge may be enough for Arsenal to lure Martinez to England.

The guarantee of minutes would be a huge attraction and Martinez could be a magnificent signing for Arsenal. 26-years-old, the ex-Athletic Bilbao ace could feasibly have a decade left at the top of his game and would be a real game-changing capture for the Gunners.

Morgan Schneiderlin

Links with Schneiderlin have been going on for over 12 months now and the Saints man is still a very popular option among Arsenal fans.

Some have displayed concerns about his ability on the ball and questioned if he is capable of playing as a controlling man in a deeper position, but his signing would still provide an elite option capable of playing as a defensive midfielder.

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The Frenchman will not leave the south coast cheaply, but he would be worth every penny.

Thiago Motta

Despite nearing his 33rd birthday, Motta continues to prove himself as a top quality defensive midfielder.

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan man is currently at PSG and, due to his age, would surely be available at a cut price if Arsenal were to make a move for the Italy international. Wenger would have to go against his usual age protocol for this signing, but the short-term impact is likely to push Arsenal onto the next level.

In Focus: Ki can add composure and class to West Ham midfield

As reported by The Daily Mail, West Ham United are interested in signing Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yueng.

What’s the story?

The Irons’ central midfield area has been a problem all season for both Slaven Bilic and David Moyes. If they’re to climb the English Premier League table then it’s an issue that Moyes must address in next month’s January transfer window.

One player said to be interesting the new West Ham boss is South Korean international Ki Sung-yueng, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

That’s according to The Daily Mail, who report that the 28-year-old is open to a move away having only made 10 Premier League appearances for Swansea this term so far.

Is he the right man to turn around West Ham’s midfield fortunes?

What does he offer?

Arguably what the Hammers have lacked in midfield this season is composure and the ability to retain possession under pressure, a problem that Ki Sung-yueng can undoubtedly solve.

Calm with the ball, he also has excellent technical and passing ability, offering a link between defence and attack that is currently absent in David Moyes’ starting eleven. He likes a tackle too and can sit in front of the Hammers defence, offering more protection than the options available right now.

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With plenty of experience for Celtic, Swansea and South Korea, he appears to be a great fit for a club like West Ham, especially if available for a budget price due to his contract expiring, although he is still rated at £6.3m by Transfermarkt.

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Wilfried Zaha faces two huge auditions ahead of the January transfer window

When a young player fails at a top club, there is often an assumption that they’re not mentally equipped to be a success at that level. But no two footballers are precisely the same and no journey of development takes exactly the same course. Sometimes players need to go down the pecking order to bounce back up again, and sometimes that failure is the motivation they need to drive them to reach their fullest potential.

Sometimes too, they simply make the move too soon or at the wrong time; that may well have been the case with Wilfried Zaha who, after firing Crystal Palace to the Premier League in 2012/13, made just four senior appearances for Manchester United as a 21-year-old before returning to his boyhood club.

In any case, there’s no better way to prove you belong at the top level than consistently performing against that bracket of football club, which is exactly what the Ivory Coast winger did last season.

His twelve performances against last season’s top six were instrumental in keeping Palace in the Premier League after a disastrous run under Alan Pardew, producing a return of one goal and five assists – that’s more than half of his setups for the entire campaign coming against the very best the English top flight has to offer.

More than just output, though, which was the biggest criticism of Zaha during the early stages of his career, the winger-forward’s all-round performances against top quality opposition have shown an aggression, intelligence and work-ethic you wouldn’t necessarily expect of a young wide-man who has already failed to take one chance at the top and tasted the often-debasing fame and fortune that comes with a club of Manchester United’s stature. Just look at Adnan Januzaj, once English football’s most coveted teenager who is now trying to rebuild his career at Real Sociedad.

In stark contrast to the young Belgian who always had a knack of reverting back into his own shell, Zaha showed incredible responsibility both with and without the ball against the Premier League’s top sides in 2016/17.

While we’ve come to expect dazzling dribbling displays on the counter-attack, Zaha also demonstrated the intelligence to bring his team up the pitch by winning fouls in dangerous areas and the tenacity to play a key role in Palace’s many rear-guard displays by averaging 2.3 tackles per match. In fact, against all opposition, Burnley’s George Boyd was the only winger to complete more tackles than Zaha in the Premier League last season.

While that’s partly a consequence of Palace’s counter-attacking style of play, and something that’s required far more of wingers outside the top six, the combination with Zaha’s deadly dribbling and impressive output makes him a unique proposition amid a Premier League era in which high pressing and energy from the front is more prevalent than ever before.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham all pride themselves on the aggression of their attacking personnel but according to the statistics, Zaha made more tackles than all of them last season.

This term, Zaha’s season has taken something of a different course. While he’s continued to impress, his best performances have come against those closest to Palace in the table; goals against Everton and West Ham who have been involved in the relegation scrap as well, alongside productive displays in the 2-1 win over Stoke City and the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

Although that’s far more conventional and expected, it should be acknowledged in similarly impressive terms nonetheless – when boiled down, Zaha is quite simply producing upon facing the teams Palace need results against to turn their abysmal start around.

But having been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City ahead of the January transfer window, this coming week represents a pivotal audition in Zaha’s career as Palace prepare to face the Gunners and the Citizens before the turn of 2018.

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Not only will the 25-year-old have the chance to flaunt his abilities against two potential future managers, should tabloid gossip be believed, but also the chance to show those managers last season’s returns against the top clubs wasn’t simply a fluke or statistical quirk. And while an attacking player who can consistently perform against the big clubs or the small clubs is one thing, one who can perform against both is something else altogether. In fact, it makes Zaha pretty much the total package.

The big question, however, is the viability of a mid-season move. He’s valued at just £16.2million by Transfermarkt but Crystal Palace will expect far more if they’re to part with their most valuable attacking outlet amid a relegation fight. At the same time, while an Alexis departure may force Arsenal to move for the eight-cap international, City’s ginormous margin at the top of the table could convince them and Chelsea that any reinforcements can wait until the summer, when they’ll have another half-season of evidence to determine Zaha’s suitability and when the deals usually feel less extortionate.

In any case, though, this week feels like perhaps the biggest yet in Zaha’s career. Consecutive impressive performances against the calibre of club once deemed beyond him won’t go unnoticed, and it might well be what convinces Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger or Antonio Conte to put some money on the table – be it in January or the summer.

Wenger denies Manchester bidding war for Arsenal star Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez has dominated the transfer gossip pages in the last few days, particularly now that Manchester United have reportedly entered the fray.

According to Sky Italy, the Red Devils are interested in making a move for the Chile international, who has been heavily linked to Manchester City for some time.

It was widely expected that the attacker, who will come to the end of his current Arsenal contract in the summer, was poised to join Pep Guardiola’s title-challenging side.

Recent reports have suggested that it may not be as straightforward as first anticipated, with United now in contention.

However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has attempted to play down the speculation by insisting that the two Manchester rivals are not fighting it out for Sanchez’s signature.

According to talkSPORT, the Frenchman told reporters:

“A bidding war is always beneficial to the club who can take advantage of it. We are not in that. I maintain what I’ve said many times. Normally, he should stay here until the end of the season but we’ll see.”

Sanchez’s contract situation means that he is eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club before the end of the month.

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If Arsenal do not sell Sanchez in this window then they will not receive a fee for the Chilean come the summer.

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Celtic fans unsure about Odsonne Edouard despite Scottish Cup goal

Celtic returned to competitive action this weekend, demolishing Scottish Championship strugglers Brechin City 5-0 in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The Hoops looked refreshed after their mid-season training camp in Dubai as Brendan Rodgers named a strong starting eleven, with seven of the players who featured in last season’s final also playing on Saturday.

It was a match that the trophy holders were always expected to win and they dominated the entire 90 minutes, finding goals through James Forrest, Scott Sinclair, Olivier Ntcham, Dedryck Boyata and Odsonne Edouard.

One talking point coming out of the match was the decision to exclude Moussa Dembele despite being fit, with Rodgers again opting to start Paris Saint-Germain loanee Edouard, with the former Fulham man spending the afternoon as an unused substitute.

Despite scoring his fifth goal of the season late on in the match, Celtic fans weren’t particular impressed by Edouard’s performance, with some hoping to see Dembele reintroduced to regular action in the green and white hoops.

Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Edouard’s display…

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