Lucas Perez’s Arsenal career failed to reach the heights that the striker would have wanted it to.
The Spaniard moved to the Emirates from Deportivo La Coruna in 2016, but he struggled to hold down a regular spot in Arsene Wenger’s team.
In fact, the forward started just two Premier League games and came off the bench in a further nine.
In that time, Perez found the back of the net on just one occasion, which ultimately led to Arsenal sending him back to Deportivo on loan this season.
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While back in Spain, the striker has scored eight goals and created as many assists in 35 outings in all competitions.
Technically, Perez is still an Arsenal player, and even though Wenger has left as manager, it seems that the 29-year-old is ready to cut ties with the North London outfit.
While speaking to lalaziosiamonoi.it, the forward’s agent Rodrigo Fernandez revealed that his client “likes the idea” of signing for Italian outfit Lazio.
Arsenal fans have had their say on the situation, with many posting very frank opinions on Reddit.
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Manchester City’s campaign for glory continued on Tuesday night when they edged closer to a place in the final of the Carabao Cup.
There is no doubt that the team have been in scintillating form throughout the season and a cut above the rest in terms of quality.
Recently, though, luck has also been on Pep Guardiola’s side, and that was evident in their semi-final first-leg clash against Bristol City.
Fresh from beating Manchester United in the quarter-finals, the Robins headed into the contest at the Etihad Stadium with plenty of confidence.
The Championship outfit struck first when Bobby Reid netted from the penalty spot.
Early in the second half, Kevin De Bruyne found an equaliser for City, but the killer blow for Bristol City was when Sergio Aguero scored the winner in the 92nd minute to claim a 2-1 advantage.
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For City’s local rivals United, the result would not have caused much joy, but they did take delight in the fact that there were plenty of empty seats at the Etihad.
Celtic are on the verge of signing Iceland under-21 forward Holmbert Fridjonsson, after his club chairman revealed a transfer fee of £100,000 has been agreed, reports the Scotsman.
The 20-year-old has recently spent time on trial with Celtic, and Fram Reykjavik chairman Sverrir Einarsson has revealed the youngster is set to complete a January move to Celtic park, after the Scottish champions agreed a transfer fee.
“I can confirm that we have accepted a bid from Celtic for Holmbert,” Einarsson said.
“I think this is a very good piece of business for Celtic and it is very good business for us. The player is discussing the move with his agent this evening.”
Fridjonsson is a different type of striker to what manager Neil Lennon currently has on his books. The youngster stands at 6ft 3 inches tall, and has an excellent goal scoring record in his homeland for someone so young.
Celtic are struggling to extend their involvement in European competition beyond Christmas, with last weeks defeat to Ajax proving particularly damaging.
Manager Neil Lennon has claimed he has been promised funds to improve his squad, particularly in the attacking department, and it seems the capture of Fridjonsson could be the first of several January signings.
“I do not know how much money we will have in January, but Peter has given us assurances that there will be money to spend,” Lennon said.
“Whether we can spend it and get the right player in is another thing. I have four strikers and they are strikers I want to persevere with — and I will. I want to work to try to improve the goal ratio.
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“Up front is where players cost money and we will try to be inventive. You might get a finished article for £2million or £3million, you never know. We will shop around, but it is not just centre-forwards – there are other areas we want to improve.”
With Steve Kean’s future at Blackburn Rovers looking unlikely to reach the weekend, speculation has already begun as to who will be taking over Ewood Park as the Venkys-owned outfit look to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Former player Tim Sherwood has been installed as the early favourite for the role, and the captain of the 1995 Premier League winning team would certainly be a popular selection with the supporters.
Almost every available manager would be more popular than the much maligned Kean, but with Sherwood’s history with Rovers the fans would be happy to see the ex-midfielder in the dugout and attempting to lead them back to where they feel they belong.
Sherwood is currently on the coaching staff at another of his former clubs, Tottenham Hotspur, and has regularly been seen on scouting missions for the White Hart Lane side when they are looking to sign a new player or keep an eye on an upcoming opponent.
The trust that has been shown in him by Harry Redknapp and now Andre Villas-Boas despite having no previous coaching experience shows how highly thought of he was by those successful managers, and if he does move back to Lancashire then that will please the Blackburn fans.
He obviously has an eye for a good player, something Kean couldn’t claim to have after admitting he hadn’t seen some of the new signings that he brought to the club in the summer, and that will help, especially if they do get promoted and need to bolster their squad ahead of a fight for survival.
Sherwood also knows the supporters and may well understand their worries after a turbulent few years instead of being in the apparent conflict that Kean has been in ever since he replaced Sam Allardyce.
The question of whether Kean remains as manager has yet to be answered, but if Sherwood is brought in as his replacement, it may help Venkys get the fans off their backs and in turn help the on-field fortunes of a team that has been in free-fall in recent years.
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West Ham United earned a creditable draw at home to Manchester United on Thursday night, playing out a 0-0 stalemate.
Jose Mourinho’s side confirmed their status the second best outfit in the country so David Moyes and his squad will see it as a point gained rather than two dropped, even if it means little in the context of their season.
With Moyes’ future as manager of the club uncertain, it was at least a reminder that he has stabilised the situation at the club and has key members of team playing with passion and conviction.
Mark Noble certainly displayed that throughout the 90 minutes, facing up well to the Red Devils’ expensive midfield and going toe-to-toe in a clash with Paul Pogba.
Fans loved his contribution and feel his attitude is a massive positive to the Irons, even when the team isn’t firing on all cylinders.
They took to Twitter to pay tribute to their captain…
According to reports in The Mirror, Everton are one of three Premier League clubs chasing a January deal for £20m-rated Sheffield United attacking midfielder David Brooks.
What’s the word, then?
Soccer Football – Championship – Leeds United vs Sheffield United – Elland Road, Leeds, Britain – October 27, 2017 Sheffield United’s David Brooks celebrates after scoring their second goal Action Images/Craig Brough
Well, The Mirror says that Blades boss Chris Wilder is bracing himself for top flight bids for the 20-year-old, with the Toffees, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all said to be keen on the Welshman.
While the United manager doesn’t want to sell the twice-capped Wales international, The Mirror says that it may be up to the board rather than him if the club get an offer they can’t refuse, and if that was the case he would likely leave even though he only recently signed a new four-year contract.
How has Brooks done this season?
He has been very impressive for the Championship high-flyers.
The 20-year-old has scored two goals and provided a further four assists in 21 appearances in all competitions, although he has missed their last two league games through illness.
According to WhoScored.com, the attacking midfielder has made 19 key passes in 19 Championship outings this term, while he has successfully completed 24 of the 56 dribbles he has attempted.
The same website also lists Brooks’ strengths as his through balls and his set-piece taking ability.
Would he be a good signing for Everton?
It’s difficult to say.
While he is clearly a player with plenty of potential and quality, the fact that he usually plays in a central attacking midfield role suggests that the Toffees don’t really need him.
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They already have Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen that can play in the No 10 role, while Ross Barkley may still be with the club in the second-half of the campaign.
Everton will be looking to compete for the best young attacking talent in the Football League – as they did when they signed Ademola Lookman during the previous January transfer window – but he probably isn’t what they need right now.
Romelu Lukaku believes that he has made the right choice in joining Everton on loan from Chelsea.
The Burly Belgian was linked with a return to West Brom shortly before the transfer deadline, but instead opted for a move to Goodison Park.
Lukaku spent last season with the Baggies, netting 17 Premier League goals and gaining a reputation as one of the division’s top young players.
Despite having the opportunity to make a return to the Hawthorns, the 20-year-old believes that Everton was the right choice for him:
“It was a crazy evening. I was sitting in my hotel room in Brussels when the phone went to tell me I was going out on loan again. It was 7pm, and that was the first I knew of it,” he told the Daily Mail.
“There had not been a mention of it before then, but after speaking to my parents, I decided to take the plunge.
“Different clubs called me and I had to take the right decision. Roberto Martinez called me for 30 minutes and explained me what he expects from me.
“I decided that Everton was the best choice. They are a more prominent club than West Brom where I had a good time. The important thing, at 20, is to be playing, and while West Brom was an option, Everton was a better one.”
Lukaku will be forced to sit out of Everton’s first game since his arrival due to the conditions of his loan move, as the Merseysiders face Chelsea.
Although he is still a Blues player, the youngster is hoping that his new team-mates can get a positive result.
“Yes, I have to be honest,” he added, when asked if he wants Everton to win this weekend.
Lukaku was expected to stay in London, but Chelsea’s signing of Samuel Eto’o convinced Jose Mourinho to send him out on loan.
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Following on from the ‘Most Hated XI’ is another team but this time made up of some of our favourite cult heroes.
The first question is ‘what is a cult hero?’ Well for starters, here’s what it isn’t- a truly great player that’s admired by everyone both inside and outside his club. Someone like Eric Cantona could never be a ‘cult hero’ because all United fans love him while fans from other clubs may at least have a grudging respect- I stress the word ‘may’ and obviously Crystal Palace fans are not among them.
No, a cult hero is the sort of player that not all fans love but the ones who do, adore with a passion. They’re the players that many of the opposition fans hate, or the strikers who’ve turned out for you team and scored one goal in twenty games which happens to be a winner against your arch-rivals. They’re sometimes the comical figures that we love to hate, the panto villain types that a core of us actually admire.
Then there’s that other type of cult hero, the genuine, decent talented player that for some reason never gets the respect of admiration of the mainstream media, so its left up to us fans to let the world know just how great they are. Cult heroes more often than not play the game we imagine the way we would for our club- what they lack in skill they make up for in effort, never giving up and always leaving the pitch having given 100%.
Most of these players may only play a handful of games for your club, others may be there for their for slightly longer, but they will always be admired for making supporting our team that little bit better. All of the players have played in the Premier League but some made their ‘cult hero’ status assured in Division One.
Click on the late Les Sealey to see the Premier League’s ‘Cult XI’
Liverpool’s players and fans are all on a high at the moment as they are just one win away from securing a sixth European title for the club.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final on May 26 in Kiev.
Not many would have backed the Merseyside outfit to go all the way, but their place in the showpiece is deserved.
On top of reaching the final, the Reds managed to finish inside the top four of the Premier League, guaranteeing European football for next season.
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While everything seems to be rosy in the garden at the moment, there are still some problem areas that may need to be addressed this summer.
Liverpool’s defence has improved since the arrival of Virgil van Dijk in the summer, but questions still hang over the goalkeeping position.
Loris Karius replaced Simon Mignolet as number one at the start of 2018, but there are rumblings that Klopp is looking for a new shot-stopper.
Earlier this month, The Express reported that Liverpool were interested in signing Stoke City keeper Jack Butland, who was relegated to the Championship with the Potters this season.
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However, Liverpool Echo journalist James Pearce has labelled rumoured interest in the seven-capped England international as “nonsense”.
It is safe to say that a number of Liverpool fans are relieved.
Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.Comment from discussion James Pearce is doing a Q&A. He has said we have NO INTEREST IN BUTLAND?.
It is often said that when Man Utd are playing at their best, they are moving the ball back to front quickly, constantly in the attack and pouncing on mistakes. The best United teams have the ability to counter attack at lightening speed, score goals at will and get the ball to their attacking wingers who cross and create chances for their team mates as well as score goals themselves.
Certainly for too long last season United were often slow, laborious and frankly boring. The Red Devils weren’t playing anything like the team of old. The transition to Louis van Gaal’s style wasn’t ever going to be quick, but it felt like it would never happen.
However, as the season went on the improvement was evident in their style of play and the Red Devils were looking more like their old selves again.
But still something was missing and that was top wingers who can put the fear into the opposition with their pace, power and attacking threat. Now with the signing of Memphis Depay surely they will come good next season – it looks as though United have an attacking winger in place to allow them to get on the front foot again and back to their formidable best.
Depay will be the signing to do just that, the Netherlands international has all the qualities needed to succeed at the top level. He is just 21-years-old, already has 17 caps for the Dutch national team and has scored an impressive 39 goals in 80 games for PSV Eindhoven, including a league high of 22 goals last season. All very impressive for a man who is played out on the wing.
He may not achieve those type of figures in the Premier League in his first season, but ten goals is a total Depay will be capable of getting for the North West giants from out wide. Ten goals may not seem like a great deal, but it will make a real difference if your midfielders can contribute, too.
He is also a fantastic free-kick specialist, has lightening speed across the turf and along with his incredibly quick feet combined with his immense skill it is clear that Depay will be a handful for any defence.
The former PSV man has an abundance of quality and is the sort of player that United need in their team – he will add a dynamism to the United attack that was missing last season.
Van Gaal’s attack was a bit one-paced at times, and they struggled in the final third in a number of matches. Home defeats at the hands of Swansea and Southampton come to mind, but with Depay in the team there is little chance of a dimensional attack. He will be the difference in such matches, and he will make a huge difference to Van Gaal’s team and push the team towards that next level.
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The next level will be challenging for the league and winning trophies, something the Dutchman will help the Red Devils achieve. He will contribute along with the other United signings to get back to their best and give them the injection of quality in the final third to create chances, score goals, win games and win trophies.