Arsenal are close to completing a deal to sign Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, but a fee for the centre-back is yet to be agreed by the two clubs. The Premier League outfit are keen to sign Mustafi as soon as possible as they lack defenders due to injuries suffered by Gabriel and Per Mertesacker in the build-up to the new campaign. But Valencia are determined to fight for the best possible fee for the Germany international, who featured for his side at Euro 2016 this summer. Mustafi has experience of the Premier League as he was previously on the books of Everton, but he left … [Read more...]
Stoke City Striker Target To Join La Liga Club
Stoke City's search for a new striker has been dealt a blow with one of their targets reportedly set to sign for a La Liga club. The Potters are looking for a new striker to lead the line in the Premier League this season, with Mark Hughes having been linked with a move for Independiente del Valle forward Jose Angulo, whose goals recently fired the club to the Copa Libertadores final. Angulo's agent Matias Lipman told the Guardian last month: "So far Stoke and Monaco have shown an interest but I’m sure when the Copa Libertadores final game is played there will be other Premier League … [Read more...]
Spurs Linked With Bid For La Liga Defender
Tottenham had the joint-best defence in the Premier League last season, but Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly planning to add to his defensive options for the new campaign. According to Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli, who contributes FourFourTwo and La Gazzetta dello Sport among other publications, Pochettino is planning to reignite a proposed move for Valencia centre-back Mateo Musacchio. The Belgian pair of Toby Alderweireld and the fit-again Jan Vertonghen are set to be Pochettino's first choice defensive pairing again this year, but with Federico Fazio joining Roma on loan … [Read more...]
Barcelona To Hijack West Ham’s Calleri Move?
Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri was expected to join West Ham United on loan after the Olympic Games, but La Liga champions Barcelona are reportedly planning to hijack the move. Calleri, who scored Argentina's winner against Algeria at the Games at the weekend, is a Boca Juniors player but spent last season on loan at Sao Paulo. According to a report by Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Calleri is one of a number of attackers Barcelona are considering bringing to Camp Nou to boost their forward line. While the fabled MSN strikeforce of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez is … [Read more...]
Five things the Premier League can learn from La Liga
For once let us not get into this subjective and yet a futile debate on whether La Liga is better than the Premier League and vice-versa. Why can’t we be happy with the notion that both are great leagues in their own right and have enriched the beautiful game in various manners. … [Read more...]
La Liga losing out? How Di Maria and Fabregas have made their mark on the Premier League
It is always something of a pointless discussion trying to debate which league is the best. ‘Best’ is such a subjective term and it is impossible to come to a sensible conclusion that pleases everyone, with some arguing that La Liga’s big two of Real Madrid and Barcelona mean their league is clearly the best while others will suggest that the competition for places at the top of the table ensures the Premier League should be top of the pile. You’ll probably even find some people that will fight the Bundesliga’s corner. … [Read more...]
Pepe Mel Takes Charge At West Bromwich Albion
Former Real Betis manager Pepe Mel has today become the new head coach of Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion. Steve Clarke had performed wonders with Albion on a limited budget before being sacked on December 14th following a barren start to the season. This is remarkably similar to Mel's record who was himself sacked by Betis in December after eight games without a win despite performing miracles to win them promotion and then gaining them Europa League football. Mel was tipped for the job from the very start but in a strange twist WBA had announced in late December that they … [Read more...]
Mourinho exit rumours put Chelsea’s Roman on red alert
José Mourinho could well have reached the end of his tenure at Real Madrid, considered by many as the world’s biggest club, with his third exit at the semi-final stage of the Champions League against Borussia Dotmund on Tuesday. The dream of winning la Décima, the tenth, European Cup will have to wait another year, but the weight of expectation would appear to have buckled the back of the self proclaimed "special one". … [Read more...]
Xabi Alonso Linked With Premiership Return
With his contract due to expire in June of 2014, Xabi Alonso could be one of the highest profile players to exit the Bernabeu should coach José Mourinho seek a new challenge elsewhere this summer. … [Read more...]
English Euro Crisis Boosts Spanish and German Fortunes
With no representatives in Friday's quarter final draw of the UEFA Champions League, can the English Premier League still seriously lay claims to being the best league in World football, or is it time to acknowledge that they have slipped behind La Liga and the Bundesliga (with 3 and 2 clubs representing each respective domestic league). … [Read more...]