According to reports emanating out of Argentina, Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo will be out for longer than expected following the ligament damage he suffered in the Europa League last month.
What’s the word?
La Nacion have revealed that the 27-year-old is not expected to play again until 2018 after suffering his injury against Anderlecht in the Europa League on April 20th.
United are said to have decided to send the former Sporting Lisbon man for an operation so as not to run the risk of any problems as the injury heals. As a result of that surgery, Rogo is thought to be facing a race against time in making the 2018 World Cup for his nation.
Having impressed Louis van Gaal enough at the 2014 edition for La Albiceleste during their run to the final, it’s touch and go as to whether he’ll make it to Russia next summer. Should Argentina qualify, of course.
How big a blow for United?
Very. While he’s not always convinced the Old Trafford faithful, Rojo was in the best form of his United career prior to his injury and had been a solid partner for both Phil Jones and Eric Bailly in central defence.
With injuries plaguing Jose Mourinho’s squad right now, Rojo’s absence could force the Red Devils into the transfer market this summer.
As reported by The Daily Record, Pedro Caixinha is busy trying to assemble a Rangers squad worthy of competing for major honours in Scottish football next season.
What’s the story?
The Portuguese has guided his team to two victories in as many weeks, a much welcome rebound from demoralising derby defeats to Celtic, but it’s the summer where the real work will be done and it appears he is edging closer to one of his targets.
The Record say that he held talks with Hearts midfielder Alex Tziolis in the wake of the Light Blues’ 2-1 win over the Jam Tarts at Ibrox on Saturday.
Available on a free transfer when his contract expires, the paper say the Gers boss wants him to star in his midfield next season. The pair are familiar with each having worked together at Panathinaikos when Caixinha was assistant manager.
The right move?
Tziolis has hardly been a rampant success at Hearts since joining January but nonetheless would offer Rangers vast experience in a midfield that has struggled defensively this season.
With 63 caps for his native Greece and over 400 professional appearances at club level, including 66 in UEFA competition, it’s the kind of CV that would certainly pique supporters’ interest.
Caixinha needs players in he’s worked with before in order to effect the change he wants at Ibrox and given the circumstances, with Tziolis available on a free, then it’s a move that on paper makes sense.
Perhaps the Greek midfielder can show more at Ibrox than he has at Tynecastle.
According to reports in the Daily Mail, Manchester City are closing in on a club-record £60m deal to sign Monaco star Bernardo Silva.
The 22-year-old helped his team win the Ligue 1 title and advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League with a string of fine performances, and he is understood to have flown into Manchester last night ahead of a medical today.
The Portugal international, who scored 11 goals and provided a further 12 assists in 58 appearances in all competitions for the French outfit this season, had previously been linked with a move to the Red Devils, although it appears as though Jose Mourinho has turned his attentions elsewhere.
United supporters were quick to have their say on the transfer news via social media, with some believing the signing is a big statement of intent from the arch-rivals, while others are confident that Mourinho and Ed Woodward know what they are doing.
Tottenham Hotspur have gone close to the title two seasons in a row now, a third and second place finish respectively is the best they have offered, which is outstanding considering their net spend over the last five years (+£1m) and average age of their squad (25).
Since his arrival, Mauricio Pochettino has revitalised Spurs by playing great football, achieving much better results than anyone of the past two decades in his position. On top of that, a brand-new stadium is now being constructed and of course, finally finishing above fierce rivals Arsenal for the first time since 1996.
It shows the huge amounts of progress being made by the North London club in such a short period of time and it is only going to get better.
However, while their new stadium is being built, Spurs will have to endure a season with Wembley as its home ground. Spurs’ record at Wembley in the Champions League last season won’t exactly fill the club with confidence that they can repeat an unbeaten season on home turf, and it could prove to be a much more testing campaign for Pochettino’s men as a result.
So with that in mind and following the announcement of the 17/18 fixture, we’ve picked out the fixtures we think will define Spurs’ season…
Newcastle away
Newcastle v Tottenham – Sat 12th Aug
The trip to Tyneside has been a tricky one for Tottenham in the past.
Spurs last went to St. James’ Park on the final day of the 2015/16 season and got trashed 5-1 by an already relegated Newcastle, which completed a bitter sweet double for the Magpies.
It is very important for Spurs to do well against the newly promoted side if they are to make sure of a solid title push. With this fixture being the season opener for both sides, it’ll be important for Pohettino’s men to hit the ground running.
Chelsea
Tottenham v Chelsea – Sat 12th Aug
Chelsea v Tottenham – Sat 31st Mar
The Blues have a stunning record against Tottenham, losing just twice in the previous 17 games in all competitions.
Despite Spurs beating Chelsea 2-0 at home last season, it wasn’t enough to stop Chelsea’s charge to the title, something the North Londoners can only dream of at this point.
Swinging this fixture in their favour could mean a lot ,especially as Chelsea are the reigning champions.
A huge 6-points up for grabs for both sides.
Arsenal (A)
Arsenal v Tottenham – Sat 18th Nov
The North London derby usually throws up a classic match but winning away at Arsenal still seems to be Pochettino’s kryptonite as he is yet to win there with Spurs; they haven’t actually beaten Arsenal on their own patch since an epic 3-2 comeback win in 2010.
This poor form on such a huge occasion shows that Spurs still aren’t quite title winning material but there is no denying that they are certainly very close.
West Ham
West Ham v Tottenham – Sat 23rd Sept
Tottenham v West Ham – Sat 30th Dec
The Hammers are a tricky opponent for anyone as you never know what type of West Ham is going to turn up.
The claret and blue side have managed to stop Spurs from winning in four of their last six meetings. The rivalry between each other is very strong, which could be a factor in why West Ham always seem to give Tottenham a tough test.
This fixture could be very important this season, much like last term as West Ham secured a shock 1-0 win at London Stadium to effectively hand the title to Chelsea in April.
According to reports in his native Algeria, Riyad Mahrez would favour a move to Arsenal this summer.
What’s the Word?
Lebuteur in Algeria have claimed that Riyad Mahrez is keen to move to Arsenal this summer for a number of varying factors.
Firstly, a source close to the 26-year-old believes that he is keen to play under Arsene Wenger and is also favouring Arsenal because of the strong French-speaking playing contingent. Mahrez also allegedly believes that he will stand more of a chance of first-team football at Arsenal compared to other Premier League clubs who are reportedly interested in the Algerian’s signature.
Earlier this summer, in an exclusive interview with Lebuteur, Mahrez, who is valued at £25.5million by Transfermarkt, confirmed that he intended to leave Leicester this summer. However, he also stated that it was his desire to play Champions League football, something that Arsenal cannot offer him this season.
How good was Mahrez last season?
While the Algerian was not as prolific as he was in Leicester’s unprecedented title-winning season in 2015/16, he still enjoyed a fruitful campaign with the East Midlands club.
Mahrez featured in 48 games in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and helping the Foxes reach the quarter finals of the Champions League.
Would Mahrez be a good fit for Arsenal?
Britain Football Soccer – Leicester City v Club Brugge – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group G – King Power Stadium, Leicester, England – 22/11/16Leicester City’s Shinji Okazaki celebrates scoring their first goal with Riyad Mahrez and Danny Simpson Reuters / Darren StaplesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
The answer to this question will likely depend on which players Arsenal allow to depart the club this summer. With Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil yet to sign new contracts with the club and a number of other players supposedly wanting away from the Emirates, Mahrez could well get his wish and become a Gunner.
According to reports in Portuguese publication A Bola, Liverpool and West Ham United are interested in signing Benfica striker Raul Jimenez.
What’s the word, then?
Well, A Bola say the Mexico international – who has been featuring for his country at the Confederations Cup this summer – has been put up for sale by the Portuguese giants and they are braced to receive some big bids for the 26-year-old.
Despite the fact that he is Benfica’s record signing having joined from Atletico Madrid in a £18.9m deal in 2015, he looks set to leave the Stadium of Light.
The Sun says that West Ham came close to getting Jimenez when he left Atletico, and they are ready to reignite their interest in the attacker as Irons boss Slaven Bilic looks to add to his attacking options.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is also in the market for a centre-forward and he is considering submitting a bid for the Mexican star, according to A Bola.
How did Jimenez do last season?
He did pretty well.
The 26-year-old scored 11 goals and provided a further three assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for Benfica, but it was a bit of a stop-start campaign as the Mexico international suffered a range of different injuries throughout.
Would he be a good signing for West Ham and Liverpool?
It’s difficult to say.
While his goalscoring record in Portugal for Benfica is decent, it isn’t really eye-catching and he also scored just one in 28 appearances for Atletico Madrid previously.
Of course, it’s always difficult to know how a player will adapt to the Premier League when he is coming to England for the first time, but Jimenez does have the physical stature to be a success.
West Ham have shown with Andy Carroll that they like to play with a tall and strong centre-forward and the 26-year-old fits the bill.
A move to Liverpool may be slightly more unlikely considering that Roberto Firmino was preferred in that position to Daniel Sturridge at times last season, and it is difficult to see Jimenez being anything more than a substitute at Anfield.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, while there is likely to be a lot of interest in Raul Jimenez this summer it would certainly be a risk for either Liverpool or West Ham to take a punt on the 26-year-old, and they may well go for alternative targets instead.
Former Manchester United player Paul Parker has claimed that it is Wayne Rooney’s own fault that he is no longer wanted at Old Trafford.
The England captain slipped down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho last season, starting just 15 Premier League games.
As a result, Rooney was allowed to leave the Red Devils this summer and he ended up returning to his boyhood club Everton.
The forward, who won 12 trophies during a 13-year spell at United, penned a two-year contract at Goodison Park last weekend.
Parker believes that there is expectation on Rooney’s shoulders, but has claimed that he would never have had to leave United had he looked after his fitness better.
Parker told talkSPORT:
“I hope more than anything that he goes there and does himself justice. He is only 31 and I think he knows in himself that he has let himself down. He shouldn’t be in the kind of shape or the situation he is at 31 given where he has been.”
Rooney has always had questions hanging over his head with regards to his conduct off the pitch, and whether he looks after himself to stay in the best shape possible.
Despite his United career coming to an end, the forward departs as the club’s leading goalscorer – a feat that he reached last season.
As reported by The Sun, Manchester United are looking to sign Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Jake Turner this summer.
What’s the story?
While the big sides in England usually hit the headlines during the transfer window by making big money first team signings, just as important is ensuring there’s investment in the brightest young talent available, with a view to the long-term future of the club.
It seems that after making mega-money moves for the likes of Romelu Lukaku this summer, Manchester United are ready to make a move for such a young player.
The Sun reckon the Red Devils want to sign Bolton Wanderers youngster Jake Turner, despite him having not yet made a senior appearance.
The paper say that while they face competition from Everton for his signature, they see him as a potential number one choice between the sticks over the next few years, perhaps replacing the established David De Gea in time.
Who is he?
Obviously without having made a professional start, not much is known about Turner but The Sun say United have been tipped off about his potential by FA coaching staff who have been impressed with the youngster.
He has U18 caps with England, suggesting he’s one of the brightest young goalkeepers in England right now.
The 18-year-old has only just recently signed a professional contract with the Trotters and spent last season on the bench waiting for his chance in the first team.
Can United secure an elite youth prospect to complement their big name signings this summer?
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have become known for exciting English Premier League matches with drama, controversy and goals at both ends almost assured every week.
In that sense, the opening day of the 2017/18 went as expected for the Reds, but for supporters it was a frustrating afternoon as they watched their side throw away two points with a 3-3 draw away to Watford on Saturday.
Marco Silva’s Hornets struck at the death to salvage a point after Mohamed Salah had looked to have scored the winning goal on his competitive debut for the Reds.
Watford had gone into the half-time break 2-1 up but goals from Roberto Firmino and Salah put Klopp’s team in a commanding position, which they held until Miguel Britos scored in injury time.
In truth Liverpool should have put the game to bed well before that, wasting plenty of second half chances before being punished.
Supporters were desperately disappointed with the performance, recognising the same old defensive frailties that plagued their season last term.
Fans took to Twitter to criticise who they perceived to be the worst performers with Joel Matip, Georginio Wijnaldum and Alberto Moreno getting the worst of it…
Having successfully brushed off the threat of the Northern Irish, Norwegian and Kazakh champions this summer, Celtic can again look forward to elite European football until Christmas at least this season.
It’s no mean feat for the Hoops to reach this stage two years in succession and competitive aspects aside, the financial windfall alone is enough to give supporters reason to celebrate wildly.
Excitement is now building ahead of Thursday’s draw for the group stages with Hoops fans compiling their dream draws and their nightmare draws. Brendan Rodgers’ side are in pot 4 of the draw meaning they’re really up against.
Whether fans are interested in the glamour ties or the more competitive ones, there’s plenty there to look forward to and regardless of who they draw, supporters are guaranteed some of those famous European nights at Celtic Park.
Away from your big teams like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, we’re taking a more pragmatic view of the group stages for your benefit and have come up with the THREE teams Celtic fans should be hoping to draw for the best chance to progress into the last 16 or finish third and drop into the UEFA Europa League…
Pot 1 – Spartak Moscow
Pot 1 is the real wildcard of the UEFA Champions League draw these days. No longer made up of the top 8 ranked clubs in Europe, pot 1 now consists of the champions of the top 8 ranked leagues in Europe. It may seem like a small distinction but for a club like Celtic it could be the difference between being competitive for a last 16 finish and finding themselves settling for bonus points.
While it’s true there is no easy game in Europe, especially in this competition, we’re sure from a competitive viewpoint Celtic would rather be facing Spartak Moscow than the likes of English champions Chelsea or Spanish champions Real Madrid. Sure, it’s less glamorous, but it provides opportunities to progress.
In fact, Spartak haven’t reached the group stages of the competition since the two teams last met in 2012/13 when the Hoops progressed to the last 16 at the Russian side’s expense.
It was a Kris Commons penalty, as shown above, that sealed the deal to progress at Celtic Park in a 2-1 victory, after Georgios Samaras was the hero in Russia to secure a famous away victory.
Since then Spartak’s European fortunes have not been especially great, failing to make it past the UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign.
Compared to other potential opponents, this is the plum draw from pot 1.
Pot 2 – FC Porto
Pot 2 is where the real danger lies for Celtic and you would expect almost every team in this grouping to provide the toughest test in the competition for Brendan Rodgers’ team. From Barcelona to Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain, the richest teams with the biggest pull lie at every turn.
However, there is one team that Celtic could be competitive with and that’s FC Porto. They might be an elite team and they would certainly be favourites for any match-up involving the Hoops, but in the past the Scottish champions have risen to the task against Portuguese opposition.
Celtic have faced Portuguese opposition six times at Celtic Park in UEFA competition since the turn of the century and are undefeated, winning five and drawing the other. Porto are one of the Hoops’ victims with Martin O’Neill’s side getting one over on them in 2001.
The one team Hoops fans don’t want to see from Pot 2 is Barcelona. Unbelievably Celtic have been drawn against the La Liga giants in their last three group stage campaigns.
Pot 3 – Anderlecht
Britain Football Soccer – Manchester United v RSC Anderlecht – UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg – Old Trafford, Manchester, England – 20/4/17 Anderlecht’s Sofiane Hanni celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic
Like pot 1, this section of the draw offers up competitive draws and very tough draws, although again it must be stressed that it’s difficult regardless.
If Celtic fans are looking for pure glamour and hype then a draw against Liverpool from pot 3 would probably be the most high profile, with Brendan Rodgers making a big return to Anfield and a ‘Battle of Britain’ occurring once again.
The prospect of a big match-up with Tottenham Hotspur appeals to the appetite too. The two sides have never met in UEFA competition and, a full, noisy Wembley with the two attacking teams going toe-to-toe would be a massive spectacle.
However, from a competitive viewpoint, the Hoops should be looking at less cash rich teams and Anderlecht would be our pick for the Hoops if they are looking for the ‘easiest’ draw.
The Belgian side haven’t been at this stage of the competition for three years and that could catch them cold under the bright lights of Celtic Park. Their success in Europe recently has been in the UEFA Europa League and you’d fancy Rodgers’ side to back themselves at that level and try and pip them into third place of the group, should they be drawn together.