Alan Shearer has stated that Nemanja Vidic’s injury will cost Manchester United the Premier League title.
The Serbian centre-half is currently on the sidelines after undergoing an operation, and the Red Devils were beaten 3-2 at home by Tottenham on Saturday.
The Old Trafford skipper missed the majority of last season with a cruciate ligament injury, and as such Sir Alex Ferguson’s men relinquished their title to Manchester City.
Shearer feels Vidic’s absence will be critical in determining who will be English champions for 2012-13.
“It is early days in the title race but already Manchester United have been dealt a huge blow from which they will not recover,” Shearer stated in his column in The Sun.
“Before the season started I did not think they were strong enough to win the title despite all their new signings.
“With the loss of Nemanja Vidic now for two months I am even more convinced that the Premier League trophy will either be staying put or heading to Stamford Bridge.
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“In truth his loss last season probably cost them the title. For me they are looking a lot more vulnerable now,” he concluded.
According to Italian media outlet Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Juventus attacker Mario Mandzukic this summer, and Red Devils fans were quick to react via Twitter.
The link to the 32-year-old suggests that manager Jose Mourinho is looking for a player that can not only provide some competition and cover for Romelu Lukaku up top, but one that would also push Alexis Sanchez on the left-hand side, too.
That is where the majority of the 6ft 3in attacker’s appearances for the Serie A giants during the 2017/18 campaign came from despite him naturally being a centre-forward, including when he destroyed Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal by scoring two goals in his side’s 3-1 win at the Bernabeu in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in April.
We asked Man United supporters to vote on our poll to see whether they would want Mourinho to bring the Croatia international to Old Trafford this summer, and a slight majority of 58% said they would.
The arrival of the versatile forward in Manchester would surely seal Anthony Martial’s fate, with the out-of-favour Frenchman being heavily linked with a move away in recent weeks having lost his place in the starting XI to Sanchez.
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Celtic confirmed on Wednesday evening that 21-year-old midfielder Liam Henderson has left the club to join Serie B side Bari on a permanent deal.
The Celtic academy talent, who made his first team debut in 2013, had failed to win a place in Brendan Rodgers’ starting eleven since the manager joined the club and after loan moves to the likes of Rosenborg and Hibernian over the years, finally leaves Celtic Park for good.
Having won major national trophies with three clubs already in his career, the midfielder is well placed to have a successful career and reach his potential in Italy, with his new club pushing for promotion to Serie A.
Hoops supporters are sad to see him leave but recognise it’s a positive move for the player, who had made just one substitute appearance so far this season.
Can he be a rare example of a Scottish player doing well abroad, or will we soon see him back on these shores?
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Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his transfer…
Heading into the January window, David Moyes and Manchester United have once again been linked with a move for Leighton Baines, reigniting the interest and failed bids from the summer.
Baines, having just turned 29, is widely considered a good target for United, a player who’s Premier League ready and able to make an immediate impact. But United are not looking for a player to make an immediate impact in that part of the team; Patrice Evra is the only constant of United’s ever-changing back four and has consistently put in good performances this season. The issue for the club isn’t the now.
Another target for many of the top clubs in the Premier League is Luke Shaw, who Southampton will battle to keep a hold of until the summer. Shaw, at 18, has already displayed excellent maturity at the highest level of English football and is destined to be a regular in the England national team for the next decade.
What the Southampton youngster also represents is an overhauling of an aging squad at Old Trafford, with Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic now in their thirties. Alongside David de Gea, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Rafael, Shaw would be able to supplement a long-term base in the United back line – surely an attractive proposition for a club who have brought in a manager for the long haul. Baines simply doesn’t offer that value moving into the future.
But if Moyes found difficulty in prying Baines from Everton during the summer, the task will be of even greater difficulty in January if the club look to Shaw. Southampton are clearly not in need of selling one of their greatest assets, and even though Shaw will eventually move to one of the bigger clubs in England, the Saints are in no mood to negotiate his transfer at this stage of his career. For both Shaw and Southampton, the thinking will surely be that the left-back has a lot left to learn and offer the club.
United may find some joy in taking him in the summer, though. Chelsea are hovering and there is more than likely to be a bidding war for the youngster’s signature once the season concludes – exactly the scenario Southampton will want.
What should also be said about Shaw is that he looks to be excelling at both ends of the pitch. He has the makings of a well-rounded left-back who is capable of providing both defensively and in attack. With Baines, you don’t always get that. The Everton left-back is deadly from set pieces and offers a lot going forward. Defending, however, isn’t normally seen as his strongpoint. It’s also worth mentioning that he, despite his reputation in the Premier League, is yet to displace Ashley Cole permanently in the England setup.
United’s aim is to help Moyes build a strong squad for the future. Alex Ferguson has assembled very good defensive players to help that cause, but there will of course need to be a similar line of thinking. Baines simply does not fall in line with the building that needs to take place at the club. It won’t be too long before United find themselves in exactly the same situation of looking for a left-back to replace Baines.
For now, Baines is an attractive target and one that makes sense for the club’s immediate future. But a player like Shaw will prove to be far more beneficial to Manchester United, even with an inflated price tag.
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Liverpool have added teenage striker Samed Yesil to their European squad as extra cover in attack.
The Reds let Andy Carroll go on loan to West Ham in the summer and failed to bring in another forward as cover.
The young German attacker did join the Merseyside club as a youth player, signing from Bayer Leverkusen in a £1million, and the 17-year-old may well get a chance to shine for Brendan Rodgers’ men in the Europa League.
With only Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini to call upon to lead the line, Rodgers has confessed that the youngster may get a chance to play in Europe.
“He will certainly be fast-tracked,” The Daily Mail publish the Northern Irish manager as saying.
“I watched him play (for Germany) against England Under-19s (two weeks ago). He scored two terrific goals and set up another (as Germany won 3-1). He will be involved in the Europa League game.
“The biggest thing for young players now is that the introduction of Raheem has given them hope. All I have done is given him a chance.
“There will be that chance for Yesil and one or two other boys over this period of months now,” he concluded.
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Liverpool open their European campaign against Swiss side Young Boys on Thursday.
According to Italian media outlet Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester United are considering a summer move to bring Juventus attacker Mario Mandzukic to Old Trafford, and Red Devils supporters have been quick to have their say on the rumour.
Despite being 6ft 3in tall and having played as a centre-forward for the majority of his career, the 32-year-old has often been used as a left winger for Juve with the large majority of his 43 appearances in all competitions this season coming from there.
The Croatia international netted on 10 occasions – he has 34 in 129 games in total for the Serie A champions according to Transfermarkt – but he is far more than just a target man as he is technically sound and happy to work back defensively for his team out wide – something Jose Mourinho demands.
Man United supporters, who have also urged their club to sign a forward who dominated Chris Smalling on the pitch this year on Twitter, took to social media to give their thoughts on the link, and while one described him as “technically better than Lukaku”, another said he is “10x better than Rashford”.
According to Calciomercato, Everton are considering a January move for unsettled Barcelona midfielder Rafinha.
What’s the story?
It is expected to be a busy end to the January transfer market for Everton as head coach Sam Allardyce looks to boost his squad for the final months of the 2017-18 campaign.
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott has been strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park, but according to Calciomercato, the Toffees are also extremely interested in Rafinha.
The Brazilian, who is valued at £13.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has not yet represented Barcelona this season following his return from injury, and a number of clubs – Inter Milan included – have been credited with an interest.
Everton are now believed to be in the hunt, however, as Allardyce looks to bring in players capable of boosting creativity in the final third of the field.
Would Rafinha be a good signing?
Rafinha scored seven times in 28 appearances for Barcelona last season, but he missed the end of the campaign with a knee problem, and has not featured for the Spanish giants under the leadership of Ernesto Valverde.
The 24-year-old was declared fit towards the latter stages of 2017, but it is understood that he is not in the plans of Barcelona boss Valverde moving forward.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both previously been linked with a move, although it now seems that the strongest Premier League interest is coming from Everton.
A Brazil international of two caps, Rafinha has scored 11 times in 78 appearances for Barcelona since breaking into the first-team set-up at Camp Nou.
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An impressive loan spell at Celta Vigo during the 2013-14 campaign saw Rafinha return to Barcelona as a stronger player, and there is no question that he has the talent to thrive in the Premier League.
It would be some coup if Everton could beat the likes of Inter Milan to the midfielder’s signature this month.
West Ham striker Carlton Cole is hoping to make his first start for the club since resigning as a free agent on Tuesday as his side travel to Championship side Burnley for the Capital One Cup.
The English forward was released at the end of last season, but was offered a contract by manager Sam Allardyce after the Hammers’ slow start to the Premier League season.
With injuries to Ricardo Vaz Te and Andy Carroll, Cole is hoping to lead the line for the London club in their Capital One Cup contest. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 29-year-old expressed his desire to prove himself for the full 90 minutes:
“Everyone knows I need minutes for match fitness. Sunday was a good start on my way to recovery. I’m now hoping to get the minutes and the goals to get us through to the next round if I can.” said Cole.
“I’m chuffed to get back and to be involved in it again. Any footballer will tell you that have to work hard and the manager has noticed that I was working hard and has given me a new deal. Hopefully I can push on from here and add to the team and play a significant role.”
But the Englishman could have his work cut out if he does feature for the Upton Park side, who face Sky Bet Championship leaders Burnley. The Lancashire outfit have won 10 of their 13 league matches this season, as they look to get back into the Premier League under manager Sean Dyche.
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Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe has stressed that the club’s squad have faith in Andre Villas-Boas, and that the fans should have patience with the new manager.
Spurs have only picked up two points from the Portuguese coach’s first three games in charge, and have relinquished home leads against West Brom and Norwich in their last two fixtures.
With a media frenzy starting to brew up once more over the under-fire trainer, the England international has stated that he believes Villas-Boas will come good once he has settled in at White Hart Lane.
“As players, when you join a new club, sometimes it takes a while,” he told reporters, published in Sky Sports.
“It is not different for manager. When a new manager comes in, straight away you are going to be under pressure. It is a big club.
“But it takes time. It is still early days. It is important to give managers a chance.
“We have got a good squad at the club, a strong squad. I am sure we will be fine,” he concluded.
Defoe has recently signed a new contract with the north London club.
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Everton fans have been discussing a possible shock move for Rafael Benitez, and they’re completely split on the Spaniard.
For many Everton fans, the interest in Rafael Benitez is a non-starter, as no former Liverpool manager should ever be allowed to take the helm at Goodison.
Benitez won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, and many Blues still haven’t forgiven him for branding them a “small club” back in 2007.
Marco Silva is odds on to be the new Everton boss, but a report from the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday claims the search is not over, and new sporting director Marcel Brands is considering other options.
The report from the Echo does not mention specific names, but Benitez has been linked with both the Everton and West Ham jobs in the last week or so, and only one of those is still available.
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Former Arsenal men Arsene Wenger and Mikel Arteta have both been linked with the job, but there is no other candidate with the CV that Benitez can boast.
The current Newcastle boss has done exceptionally well with limited resources on Tyneside, and has multiple league titles to his name, as well as that famous Champions League medal.
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Fans can’t decide on the tactical mastermind though, as some are yearning for a proven winner, but others are refusing to take a former Liverpool boss at Goodison.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…