Arsenal are in the race to sign the new Cristiano Ronaldo. His name: Goncalo Guedes.
But
the Gunners will have to fight off interest from Paris Saint-Germain,
Bayern Munich and possibly even Real Madrid … and take a £40million
gamble on the teenager should they make a move for him next summer.
Guedes, 17, is in the process of signing a lucrative new deal at Benfica.
Although it
is a five-year deal, part of Benfica’s rationale to get him to sign a
long-term contract is to get a substantial fee for the winger who
inevitably they will sell on, possibly as soon as next summer. A £40m
release clause is set to be inserted into the player's contract.
The projected fee seems huge for a player yet to proven at the top level and it’s not in Wenger’s nature to take such a gamble.
But
he recently admitted that his biggest regret was losing out on Ronaldo
when he joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
While Wenger dithered over the £12m Sporting demanded for the then 18-year-old, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson acted decisively.
That
memory may well see Wenger pursue Guedes, who some observers in
Portugal say can be become as good as the Real Madrid megastar.
Toure de France? PSG eye move for Yaya
Paris Saint-Germain will test Manchester City’s resolve not to sell Yaya Toure.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini has insisted Toure will remain at the club.
But
even if City resist a move for PSG in January Toure - who seems to have
lost his urgency this season - could well be on his way to Paris in the
summer.
It
is why City could challenge Arsenal for Real Madrid midfielder Sami
Khedira in January and are also considering offering Steven Gerrard a
deal at the end of the season.
Pique could join Chelsea in January
Sources in Spain say that if Gerard Pique leaves Barcelona then it will be to Chelsea, possibly as early as January.
Pique is suddenly out of favour at Barcelona and may force a move if differences with coach Luis Enrique are not resolved.
Manchester
United would love to have Pique back but Chelsea are set to move in
with Jose Mourinho seeing the central defender as John Terry’s long-term
replacement.
Hammers going for A Song
West Ham are trying to sign Alex Song on a long-term deal but the player is keeping his options open at the moment.
The
midfielder is on a one-year loan deal from Barcelona and there is NO
break clause for him to be allowed to move on to a 'Champions League
club' in January.
But
such has been Song’s form that he could be in demand next summer from
the two Manchester clubs, Liverpool or even former side Arsenal.
I am hearing
Jackson
Martinez is the latest South American striker to be offered around to
Premier League clubs. Portuguese club Porto could even sell the
Colombian in Janaury.
Liverpool,
Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked with the player but the £30m fee
being asked by Porto may be excessive for all three. AC Milan are also
in the running.
I am also hearing
Aston
Villa insist they will not sell centre half Ron Vlaar in the January
transfer window, but Manchester United will test their resolve.
Libero
iSay
Mon:
Liverpool hint they are ready to offer Steven Gerrard a new deal but on
vastly reduced terms. You can understand Liverpool’s stance but it
could yet see them losing their long-serving skipper, a potential future
coach.
Tue:
Brendan Rodgers’ decision to play a Capital One Cup side in Madrid is
an insult to the proud history of the club, both sets of fans and the
status of the Champions League. Liverpool only lost 1-0 largely because
Real ended up treating the game like a friendly. It could be a decision
that comes back to haunt Rodgers.
Wed:
Lionel Messi equals Raul’s record of 71 Champions League goal,
Cristiano Ronaldo remains on 70 after failing to notch against
Liverpool. Messi is now favourite to pip Ronaldo to breaking the record.
In the next wave of games at the end of the month, Barca play first at
Apoel Nicosia while Madrid’s match is the following day in Basle.
Thur: Theo
Walcott is only just back in action after 10 months out with injury but
walks straight back into the England squad. It’s an insult to several
players who have been on form and deserve the chance of a breakthrough
or recall - which at least was given to Stewart Downing.
Fri:
What a turn about in fortunes for Sam Allardyce at West Ham as he wins
the manager of the month award… but the club still won’t be rushed into a
new deal with Big Sam, whose contract expires in the summer.
It was great to have a long catch up chat with former Manchester City, West Ham and QPR winger Trevor Sinclair last week.
Sinclair
is back in England after a stint in the Middle East as a TV pundit and
while he is still doing some media work he is also working as a coach at
non-League Lancaster City, managed by former QPR and Newcastle centre
back Darren Peacock.
Given
what he had to say on various football issues Sinclair could go a long
way in coaching. He has some sound and no-nonsense views.
The
former England winger certainly has no doubt that the FA should be
strong and pick the best possible Under 21 side for next summer’s
European Championship. I totally agree. The experience of tournament
football will be of huge benefit to England’s young players, even those
who have been regular members of the senior squad for some time.
The
following day the draw was made for the finals in the Czech Republic
next summer and England were put into a tough group of five-time winners
Italy, Portugal and Sweden.
That
seemed to make the argument even stronger. Those teams could all offer
tougher tests than some of the countries like San Marino and even
Slovenia the senior side have in their qualifying group for Euro 2016.
Certainly
players like Jack Wilshere - who still qualifies - Raheem Sterling,
Luke Shaw, Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, all of who have been
on the senior scene for some time, should not see it as a step down.
Instead they should see it as chance for glory and senior success down
the line.
After the draw I texted Sinclair this team to see what he thought:
Butland; Chambers, Stones, Moore, Shaw; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Barkley Sterling; Berahino, Kane.
I
got a swift response from Sinclair: 'That wouldn’t make a bad first
team. Let’s hope England go for it with the Under 21 finals next summer…
with that side they have a chance of winning. Despite what people say
there is young talent in this country. Let’s prove it.'
Roy
Hodgson has talked up the significance of the Under 21 team. Now he has
to make that point to the players and their clubs and give manager
Gareth Southgate the chance he deserves by giving him the best players -
something predecessor Stuart Pearce bitterly feels he was always
denied.
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