After failing to sign a number of their priority players in the past transfer window, Arsenal is believed to be preparing to make a bid for the Schalke duo of Julian Draxler and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the Premier League club are hoping to strengthen their squad in the summer when the transfer window opens once more.
We’re less than 100 days away from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The World Cup is a momentous event; in 2010 it reached 3.2 billion people, or 46.4% of the world’s population, this year’s promises to be bigger than ever.
So can host’s Brazil cap off what will be a fantastic tournament with victory?
The Brazil side have been instilled as favourites by 32 Red Casino as well as many others bookmakers. There are numerous reasons why the bookies believe it will be Brazil lifting the trophy in July, but perhaps the most important factor is home support.
Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand, who recently completed the season long loan deal to Aston Villa, says that he wants to be part of the England squad for the World Cup 2014. Bertrand is one of the few players to make the grade from Chelsea, but he did not feature a lot of times under new manager Jose Mourinho.
The youngster was a surprise inclusion into the starting line-up for Champions league final against Bayern Munich a few years ago. Last season, he featured regularly under the management of both Roberto di Matteo and Rafa Benitez.
Keith Downing and West Bromwich Albion have a huge list of tasks left to do as the transfer window has re-opened but the Premier League club still have not found their ideal coach as Steve Clarke was sacked around 1 month ago and now Downing is the man in charge of the club until they can find someone else.
Osasuna’s Jose Luis Mendilibar is a top candidate on being the new coach of West Bromwich Albion as he is being linked strongly with the job but other names are emerging such as Pepe Mel and Malky Mackay but the club is taking the necessary time before making a conclusion.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says he has no doubts that Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen can fill the void left by skipper Steven Gerrard’s hamstring injury.
Gerrard limped off during the second half of Saturday’s 4-1 win over West Ham and is now expected to miss most of the busy festive period, while Jordan Henderson is also set for a spell on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
Arsene Wenger has admitted he has been offered a new contract by Arsenal despite not yet committing himself to signing an extension to his current deal. The long-serving Gunners manager is entering the final year of his contract and the new deal on the table is believed to offer the Frenchman the chance to extend his current contract until the end of 2016.
As the Premier League continues to import the best foreign talent football has to offer, an increasing number of home-grown players are looking to ply their trade abroad.
Michael Mancienne has rejected English football and is a regular at HSV, while Luke Moore is just one of many playing in Turkish football. Of course, Gareth Bale’s high-profile transfer to Real Madrid further highlighted how British players are searching for better things elsewhere.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas says that he had the opportunity to join French club Paris St Germain in the summer, but he chose not to in order to stay with the Premier league outfit.
Villas-Boas has been at Tottenham for only season after being appointed only last summer. He said in an interview given to the French tabloid that he did not want to change clubs after just one season.
Are the German national side the most successful international team of all time? Their ladies team have managed to win the European Championships for an unprecedented SIXTH time in a row!
There have been several rumours that Sir Alex Ferguson may step down from his role as the manager of Manchester United at the end of the season. The club has only served to fuel the rumours after refusing to comment. Ferguson recently managed to guide United to the 20th league title in their history.
He has been in charge of United for the last 26 years, but there is a feeling that the health of the 71-year-old could not allow him to carry on for much longer. Ferguson almost retired back in 2003, but decided to continue due to various reasons.
