Tottenham Hotspur revealed on Friday that key midfielder Victor Wanyama was back in first-team training following a lengthy absence.
The 26-year-old, who was excellent for Spurs last season, has not featured since the second weekend of the 2017-18 Premier League campaign due to a knee problem.
Wanyama had been tipped to return to action in November, but it is understood that he suffered a series of mini-setbacks in his recovery from the issue.
The former Southampton midfielder is now closing a return to the first team, however, after taking part in a training session for Tottenham.
It is unlikely that Wanyama, who is rated at £22.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, will be available for Tottenham’s trip to Swansea City on January 2, but he could be involved against West Ham United two days later.
There is no question that Tottenham have missed Wanyama’s bite in the middle of the park, and the club’s fans have revealed their delight at the Kenyan’s return.
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A selection of the best Twitter reaction can be seen below:
Last season: The Claret and Blues found it hard last season as they avoided relegation by just five points, but there was one saving grace – Christian Benteke. The Villans only won 10 out of 38 games, lost an astonishing 17 and had a clean sheet ratio of just 13 per cent.
The Belgium international however managed to score 19 out of 47 goals for Villa and thanks to his fantastic performance the Birmingham based club avoided relegation. The 22-year-old finished the season as fourth higher scorer, just two goals behind Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.
Aston Villa conceded around two goals per match, scored around one, and had only five clean sheets all season and around eight shots per match.
The Villans only managed to beat Sunderland and Reading – who were relegated – and nabbed one victory from Liverpool, Norwich, QPR, Stoke, Swansea and West Ham. Paul Lambert’s team didn’t exactly get the results they wanted but they did at least avoid relegation.
Transfer Ins:
Jores Okore (Nordssjaelland)
Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan)
Antonio Luna (Sevilla)
Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg)
Leandro Bacuna (Groningen)
Jed Steer (Norwich City)
Transfer Outs:
Andy Marshall (Millwall)
Richard Dunne (Queens Park Rangers)
Jean II Makoun (Rennais)
Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest)
Derrick Williams (Bristol City)
Brett Holman (Al-Nasr)
Player to watch: There’s only one Villa player you need to look out for and it’s Christian Benteke. His talent and goal-scoring skills will be much needed at Villa Park throughout the season. He handed in a transfer request at the start of the summer but made a huge U-turn, deciding to stay with the Midlands club until 2017.
The Belgian’s skills match the Premier League’s demands perfectly as he boasts a good first touch, decent link-up play, great awareness, good positioning, a lot of power when it comes to outmuscling defenders and an incredible eye for goal.
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Young player to watch: Latest transfer Jores Okore might be able to offer a lot of help at the back even though he is very young (20 years old) he managed to make 65 appearances with Danish club Nordsjaelland. It’ll be a baptism of fire for the starlet but if he raises his game he could be one to watch.
Player needing to improve: If Darren Bent stays with the club, although it is very possible he might be moving to Fulham or Newcastle, he will be one that will have to up his game. A serious ankle injury kept the England international out for a while and slowed him down which was evident last season with a mere three goals for Villa. Next season he will have to pull his finger out and get back to the business of scoring goals and forming a dangerous partnership with Benteke.
Prediction: The team had a tough time of it last season and will need to do more than depend on Benteke again. With summer spending at £10,912,000 they’ve certainly strengthened but will it be enough?
All those singings filled in some gaps so there is a good chance we might see a different Villa this season that should surpass their last campaign. Keep in mind that goalkeeper Shay Given as well as Bent, who cost around £24 million and was a record transfer for the club, are expected to leave the club.
FFC can’t see the team anywhere near the top four spots but do think that the Villans will be able to avoid relegation yet again.
Fulham are ready to battle Tottenham for the signature of Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, The Daily Mail state.
The Netherlands international moved to the Italian capital from Ajax last summer, but is said to have failed to settle at his new club.
As such, Stekelenburg has been linked with a move elsewhere, with Tottenham eager to bring him to White Hart Lane after being priced out of a move for Hugo Lloris.
However, Andre Villas-Boas’ men are set to be rivalled by Fulham, who are also set to launch a £6 million offer for the stopper.
Martin Jol hopes to bring his Dutch countryman to Craven Cottage, who would follow in the footsteps of former fans’ favourite and compatriot Edwin van der Sar .
By Gareth McKnight
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According to Marca, West Ham are lining up a summer swoop for Miguel Layun, but do they need the Mexican full back?
It’s been a pretty long season for West Ham fans, but the Hammers secured their safety on Saturday with a 2-0 win at Leicester.
Beyond the obvious relief of avoiding the drop, fans can now look towards the summer transfer window and next season.
While the spine of the team is an obvious concern to most fans, reports suggest they are lining up a move for Layun, who can play in either full back position.
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The 29 year-old Mexican international is a Porto player, but has been on loan at Sevilla since January, making 1.8 tackles per game with the Spanish club.
The report from Marca claims the Hammers are already speaking to his agents, but while the international can certainly boast experience and versatility, it seems an odd move to make.
Aaron Cresswell has taken a lot of stick from fans in recent weeks, but despite his defensive frailties he is still a good player, and leads the team in assists this season despite spending plenty of time at centre back.
Arthur Masuaku is best when he’s attacking, but he can certainly perform at left back, and the right manager and system might just turn the Frenchman into a top full back.
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Of course there is the argument that Layun could play on the right side for the Hammers, but with the owners unlikely to splash out all over the pitch, they would be much better served spending their money on the positions in dire need of strengthening, like goalkeeper and centre midfield.
So, West Ham fans, would you back a summer move for Miguel Layun? Let us know by voting in the poll below…
In the post-Big-Sam era at West Ham there has been a fresh sense of optimism.
Slaven Bilic has arrived amongst a wave of investment from the board andthe move to the Olympic Stadium has brought about a feeling of ambition to the Claret and Blue part of London.
The arrivals of Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Alex Song last summer were just a taster of what we were to expect for the summer of 2015. Angelo Ogbonna, Dimitri Payet and Carl Jenkinson have all arrived this summer and, by all accounts, this will not be the end of a potentially seismic change in the threat of West Ham.
It is also reported that Alex Song is due to join on a permanent deal this summer.
The fans of the club were demanding a winger or striker, with Stewart Downing seemingly on his way back to the north-east. So here are five ‘star names’ West Ham could still sign this summer…
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Javier Hernandez
Fresh from a loan spell with Real Madrid, a signing of Hernandez’s stature would be massive for West Ham. The Mexican international would bring welcome competition for Diafra Sakho for the central striking berth.
His goal scoring record at both club and international level is up with some of the best finishers in the game, but limitations make a move to a top European club unlikely unless Chicarito is willing to sit on the bench once more.
For West Ham to bring in a player from the Bernabeu and Old Trafford would be yet another statement of intent going into the new season.
Adrien Rabiot
Adrien Rabiot, Paris Saint-Germain
Amazingly, Rabiot is still just 20 and the PSG man has been around the highest level of the European games for several seasons now. Unfortunately for him, the emergence of Marco Verratti and continued class of Thiago Motta have made any progress to the first team very challenging.
Rabiot boasts an exceptional pass percentage from last season and at his age will be looking for a move where he can guarantee starts throughout the season. The potential of the Frenchman is still unquestionably high and would bring an extra layer of class to the West Ham midfield.
Kevin Mirallas
One who looks to be on the move this summer, with Spurs interested, Mirallas could be the extra winger that Hammers fans are crying for. The Belgian is another from this incredible generation and brings goals from a wide position whilst offering a direct dribbling threat to his full-back.
The Everton man is comfortable moving into the channels to create space for an overlapping full-back, whether it be Aaron Cresswell or Jenkinson, and his eye for goal could see him used as a second striker.
Mirallas would not be an extortionate purchase and his Premier League experience should reduce any potential settling in time.
Paul Georges-Ntep
Paul-Georges NTEP (Auxerre)
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This tricky dribbler from Rennes has shown great promise in Ligue 1. His contribution of nine goals and five assists last season would be a welcome addition to the West Ham side and additional depth with a Europe League campaigning looming.
Ntep can play on either side of the pitch and frequently looks to cut in for a shot at goal. At the tender age of 22, there will be inconsistencies in Ntep’s game and any fan base or manager will need to be patient, but if they were to see the Frenchman reach his potential he would be one of the danger men in the Premier League.
Gervinho
Despite nearly leaving Roma this summer, Gervinho is still available as the Italians look to strengthen.
Many English fans will not have best memories of the Ivorian, but he re-found his form whilst in Italy and begun to look like the player that made Arsenal initially invest in him. The ex-Gunner found some goal scoring form with the Italian giants and his pace finally became of use to stretch games.
The 28-year-old is significantly more experienced than many of the alternatives and would bring valuable European experience for the impending Europa League campaign.
Gervinho would not offer too much in the creation of chances, but as a supporting striker could be quite an asset.
The current Premier League season will be remembered for many things; the retirement of three greats of the game in Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes and David Beckham, the rise of the Bundesliga on the European stage, the controversial appointment of ‘interim’ manager Rafa Benitez at Chelsea and Luis Suarez reaffirming his nickname of ‘the cannibal’ after biting Branislav Ivanovic on live television. But equally, the current campaign will be remembered for the coming of age of Gareth Bale, with the Tottenham winger being claimed by many as belonging to the very narrow and elite category of footballers that are considered to be ‘World Class’.
The Welsh Wonder’s stats tell their own story; 21 goals in the Premier League,73 shots on target, the most in the English top flight, and 31 goals in all competitions – a total only beaten once by Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2007/2008 season. The combination of Bale’s tender age of 23 and his ability to score goals of great beauty seemingly with comfort and ease has lead to comparisons between the two wingers, triggering speculation of a move to one of the continental superpowers, with every club from Chelsea, to PSG to Barcelona reportedly showing a keen interest, further heightened by the Lilywhites’ failure to qualify for the Champions League this season.
What is arguably more impressive however, is that the PFA Young Player of the Year and PFA Player of the Year has not done it at Manchester United or another European institution, but rather at a club that has overall been found wanting over the course of the season and finished up in fifth place. Gary Neville’s quip earlier in the year stating that Spurs wouldn’t be in the top eight without the talismanic Gareth Bale may have been excessively harsh, but his importance at White Hart Lane has transformed from that of being a key first team player into a figure where the difference between victory and defeat, success and failure, rests almost entirely upon his shoulders.
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To fend off potential suitors prowling around North London in the summer, Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy will reportedly offer his star winger a bumper contract, according to The Independent. The deal will include a salary that will be negotiated between £150k and £200k per week, adding a rather costly £5million to the club’s wage package, in addition to a transfer release clause believed to be around £50million. Although the Lilywhites appear to have succumbed to the fact Bale will leave White Hart Lane for a higher calling at some point in his career, the hope is that the new deal will turn off buyers over the course of the summer, with a clear signal from the Welshman that he is content to stay, and thus he will remain at the club for at least another season.
But are Tottenham in danger of putting all their eggs in one basket by investing heavily in a single player? Would it make more sense to let Bale leave now rather than undergo another season of the Spurs first team relying upon the Welshman’s abilities to get results? Could Levy’s ingenious plan backfire to the detriment of the North Londoners?
My initial concern is the magnitude of importance Bale has as an individual in regards to Tottenham as a football club. I’ve already outlined how integral the Wales international has been on the pitch for Spurs this season, but from a fiscal point of view, his current deal of £110k per week is already a record breaking wage package for the club, and his new contract will further surpass that barrier.
The Lilywhites have had their fair share of stars before – Ledley King, Luka Modric and Dimitar Berbatov to name a few from their recent history – yet the hysteria that surrounds Bale, his mixture of that vital end product in terms of goals and assists in addition to the aestetic nature of his style of play, arguably puts him on a pedestal way above his predecesors, perhaps not necessarily in the eyes of the fans or through any particular cult status, but rather the potential impact he could have on the world of football as we know it.
He represents the new age of athleticism and speed, but he is in danger of breaking the old adage of no player being bigger than their club. The Welshman is certainly not the arrogant type, and will unlikely take advantage of the situation for any personal gain, but it does polarise the squad not only in terms of quality but furthermore the amount he is comparatively paid.
On the other hand, Daniel Levy will be desperate not to make the same mistakes as the local rivals, Arsenal. Less than a decade ago, the Gunners were one of the mainstays of the title race, yet Arsene Wenger’s inability to hold onto key players or successfully replace them has seen the first team depreciate quickly in quality and value, resulting in the club sliding down the pecking order and reducing in stature in the Premier League as well as on the continent.
Although some have left the Emirates in the pursuit of silverware – with Arsenal currently amid an eight year trophy drought – others have departed simply due to Wenger’s stubbornness in refusing to offer his players competitive wages in comparison to other elite European clubs. The result has been that players reject offers of new contracts, and thus, as their deals wind down, they are often sold a year before their expiration at a bargain price.
If Daniel Levy has one outstanding strength it’s his ability to sell players for the right price at the right time – shown by his decision to resist selling Luka Modric for another year to keep him out of Chelsea’s grasp whilst squeezing every possible penny out of Real Madrid – and the Spurs chairman will be determined to receive Bale’s full worth in transfer funds upon his departure.
Furthermore, although Wenger has been criticised for his rather cautious approach in the transfer market, with Arsenal’s record transfer fee set at just £17million for Santi Cazorla, how do you actually replace the likes of Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Patrick Viera or Robin Van Persie? All four at their peaks were amongst the best footballers in the world, and finding an adequate alternative for Gareth Bale at Spurs will no doubt bring about a similar problem -the inevitable slump in quality between the outgoing star and the incoming replacement, unable to fill the rather large void in the first team.
Similarly, with Tottenham once again missing out on Champions League qualification this season, despite recording their highest points total to date in the Premier League era, you’d feel they’ll need Bale more than they need the money ahead of next season. Andre Villas-Boas was keen to deny that handing his winger a new deal would infringe on the club’s ability to capture key transfer targets, such as Leandro Dalmao and Joao Mountinho, in addition to at least one covering winger for Bale an Aaron Lennon.
If Spurs are ever to make it into the promised land of top-tier European football, the likelihood of them doing it is much greater with Bale remaining at the club. Even more so, should the wizard of White Hart Lane continue with his hot form throughout the course of next season, it will only raise his current price-tag, or rather, in light of his rumoured release clause set to come into effect upon signing a new contract, signify to the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Co. that his £50million fee would be well justified.
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On the other hand, we are yet to witness Bale during a dry spell or playing with dented confidence, and should the long range efforts from absurd angles start veering wide rather than finding the top corners of the net, his valuation in monetary terms could well level out, and the Lilywhites will have missed their opportunity to cash in on the Welshman for the optimum amount.
But keeping the winger-come-forward in North London for another year can only bode well for Spurs amid their ambitions to break into the Champions League. His goals have been vital this season and no doubt will be following the summer break, and should Daniel Levy bring in further reinforcements during the transfer window, the club stand a good chance of finally achieving their aims. The £50million release clause also gives the club and the player the opportunity to review their unique situation in a year’s time, at which point the circumstances surrounding Bale may be in complete contrast to the present day, as is often the way in the world of football.
But it is clear that Bale is at the club on borrowed time; there is only so long Levy can keep him within the realms of White Hart Lane before it becomes obvious that he has outgrown the club. He arguably already has, and the task for Levy and Villas-Boas will be to make sure that Spurs do not become a one-man team, on and off the pitch. The easiest way to achieve this, will be to bring in high quality players in the summer.
Liverpool’s run to the final of the Champions League has underlined just how close they are to being genuine Premier League title contenders.
An elite goalkeeper, another centre half and potentially a disciplined defensive midfielder are the three main ingredients that Jurgen Klopp needs in order to transform his side into a real threat to Manchester City.
Yet, with Virgil van Dijk’s bumper transfer fee and Naby Keita’s impending arrival, the Reds may not have a huge amount of cash to compete with the big boys – which has been the state of affairs for quite some years now.
That may require the German to get creative with his transfer targets and one man who may be available for considerably less than van Dijk was procured for is James Tarkowski of Burnley.
The one-cap England international is valued at just £5.4m by Transfermarkt and has enjoyed a mightily impressive campaign at Turf Moor.
So, we’re asking you; should Liverpool swoop for Tarkowski on the back of his performances after stepping out of Michael Keane’s shadow? Let us know by voting in the poll below and keep your eyes peeled for the results…
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After Norwich sauntered to playoff glory against Middlesbrough this week, the twenty teams who will battle it out in next year’s Premier League were decided. So joining Norwich in replacing relegated QPR, Burnley and Hull will be champions Bournemouth and runners up Watford.
After two of the three promoted teams were sent back from where they came this season, can this year’s crop fare better? Will they follow the example set by Leicester City or will all three be readying for a return to the second tier in twelve months’ time?
Bournemouth were the surprise package of the Championship this year, few expected them to challenge for the playoffs, almost no-one pre-empted them lifting the title. They played a brand of football that earned them admirers nationwide, their free flowing football will be a welcome addition to the top flight.
It will be interesting to see whether Eddie Howe and The Cherries will approach next season in the vein of Burnley; they have a solid team spirit which has born so much of their success and splitting that up could cause problems. However, for all of their dynamism and attacking prowess, next year they will still need to improve on quality. Callum Wilson notched 19 times last term and appears central to their hopes of survival, their resolve may be tested if rumours are to be believed with a number of potential suitors interested in the former Coventry man.
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If Bournemouth can add some Premier League experience and Wilson can translate his Football league form to Premier League form, then The Cherries could once again confound the critics.
Many will expect to make an instant return to the Championship but they have momentum, something which can be so vital and if Howe gets it transfer policy right, as he so often does, then they could ensure their Premier League journey is not a short one.
Watford timed their run to promotion perfectly, winning ten of their last 14 fixtures to steal an automatic spot right under the noses of Middlesbrough and Norwich. However, as is becoming a traditional custom at Vicarage Road, the managerial dugout is once again empty. Slavisa Jokanovic’s departure ensures that The Hornets are set for their fifth boss in a year. The constant upheaval and lack of longevity is surely not a set up for success.
In Troy Deeney they do have a player that has flourished in the lower leagues and deserves his crack at the top level. But past Deeney they have few standout players, they were a side that were a sum of all parts and for them to succeed next year they will surely need heavy investment.
Although they finished second, Watford at this point are arguably the weakest of the three promoted clubs and they could face a struggle next year.
The final club Norwich made an instant return to the top flight following their win at Wembley and they still have the look of a Premier League team. Nathan Redmond was undoubtedly a Premier League talent plying his trade in the Championship and in Bassong they have a defender of immense talent and experience.
Of course it is inconceivable that Norwich can expect to stay up without investment and they do need a number of players to ensure they can truly compete with the ‘big boys’ next year. Manager Alex Neil recognises that it will be an extremely tough task, whether they will be ready is yet to be seen.
At this point in time for one reason or another all three will start the season as the bookmaker’s favourites for the drop, but critics are there to be wronged and they will all fancy their chances at achieving their number one task of staying in the top flight.
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are reportedly plotting a summer move for Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
Reports in Spain suggest the Catalan giants are ready to listen to offers for the midfield playmaker, who United are believed to have tried to sign in the past.
United are in the market for a central midfielder following Paul Scholes’ decision to retire at the end of the campaign.
Alcantara is thought to be keen to depart Barcelona and the Spanish side are open to a sale, providing an acceptable offer is received.
United will face competition for the 22-year-old as incoming Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola, a former Barcelona manager, has also been linked with Alcantara.
New United boss David Moyes, who will replace Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, is expected to be busy in the transfer market and has also been linked with moves for Premier League players Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini from current club Everton as well as Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas.
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According to reports by The Mirror on April 21, West Ham United are one of six clubs interested in signing Manchester United contract rebel Marouane Fellaini this summer, and Irons fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.
The Mirror says that the Belgium international, who has been capped 80 times by his country, has told the Red Devils of his intentions to leave when his deal expires at the end of the season as he looks for one final big pay day in his career, despite the fact that Jose Mourinho wants him to stay.
Hammers boss David Moyes will already be targeting new players despite the fact that his team aren’t safe from relegation yet, and he certainly knows the 30-year-old well having signed him and managed him during his time in charge at Everton and then United.
West Ham supporters, who have also urged the club to sign the controversial Mario Balotelli this summer, took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said “surprise, surprise”, someone else labelled him as “another Moyes reject”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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