David Luiz played the role of the jester at Chelsea perfectly. So well, in fact, he earned himself cult status on the back of it.

Now a Paris Saint-Germain player, he’s become the jilted lover.

Luiz will return to Stamford Bridge this week as Chelsea and PSG do battle in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

Rather than feeling sentimental about his time in London, the Brazilian defender has been quick to stoke the flames of what was already promising to be an intense occasion on Wednesday.

“He [Mourinho] is special for you, but not for me,” Luiz told L’Equipe (per the Daily Mail).

“I had some great moments at Chelsea and won a lot of titles. I was very happy.

“They are having a great season, defend well and have great players, but above all I know my team. We will try to score there and play like we know how we can.

“We will have a good game plan and implement it the best way possible to achieve a great performance. Both can still qualify.”

If it wasn’t clear already, Luiz seems to be carrying some baggage around with him on the back of his summer move from Stamford Bridge to Ligue 1.

He’s endeavoured at times to suggest he petitioned for a transfer, saying that he refused a contract offer from Chelsea.

Now his criticism of Mourinho implies something altogether different.

We can criticise the character of the Chelsea boss all we like. There are times when he heightens the negative focus on Chelsea with talk of campaigns against the club and all the rest of it in ways that are not helpful.

It can prove rather tiresome, like that proverbial broken record spinning endlessly on repeat.

But as a manager, it’s difficult to suggest Mourinho is anything but his reputation as one of the world’s finest.

Mourinho’s track record speaks for itself, and after a two-year spell without silverware, he recently got that winning feeling back when Chelsea lifted the Capital One Cup trophy at Wembley.

That win over Tottenham Hotspur was no fluke, either. Mourinho has added yet another trophy to a long list of previous successes that span Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

In many ways, it’s his most impressive trophy, too, lifting it with a team that he has built.

When Mourinho first arrived at Chelsea in 2004, everything was ready for success. It was the same in Italy with Inter Milan and in Spain with Real Madrid.

This Chelsea side is very much Mourinho’s team, however.

When he returned to Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea boss had to trim the fat from the squad he inherited—one that was unbalanced after years of instability.

Mourinho has fixed that problem, with players such as Luiz replaced by those of more substance—namely Kurt Zouma.

Top of the league, a trophy already in the cabinet—it’s difficult to argue Mourinho’s plans are not working.

It’s what we’ve seen this term which is why the Special One moniker doesn’t grow old with Mourinho.

Luiz’s comments are on the contrary, and it’s revealing when he suggests Chelsea will not go out to win the game on Wednesday, saying how PSG “will play like we know we can.”

That said, it’s rather comical, especially given how Laurent Blanc lined his team up for the first leg at home with three central defenders to counter the threat of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.

And credit to the PSG boss as he largely got what he had wished for, despite the 1-1 draw.

Sure, it’s all jesting, but coming from Luiz, there seems to be an underlying feeling of regret—one player frustrated that he was ousted from a club where he was happy, all because he didn’t fit into the manager’s plans.

Mourinho has made this Chelsea a far stronger proposition than the team Luiz featured in.

Indeed, without Luiz at all, Chelsea are far stronger than they have ever been.

Criticise Mourinho the man, sure, David, but the coach? Now that’s just sour grapes.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report’s lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes

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Paris Saint-Germain supremo Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he wishes he had worked for Jose Mourinho longer than the season the pair spent together at Inter Milan.

Ibrahimovic led the Nerazzurri to Serie A success under Mourinho‘s tutelage before being shipped off to Barcelona in a part-exchange deal for Samuel Eto’o. He struggled at the Camp Nou (albeit while winning five trophies) before securing titles with AC Milan and current club PSG.

Zlatan makes his way to Stamford Bridge for the French side’s Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Mourinho‘s Chelsea on Wednesday, a match against the manager he wishes he had spent more time with. 

“We worked together for one year at Inter,” Ibrahimovic told Telefoot, via Rohan Banerjee of MailOnline. “The feeling was great between us and my only regret is that we were together for only one year.”

These comments, combined with quips from Ibrahimovic‘s agent, Mino Raiola, have led to speculation that he could one day sign for Chelsea, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star. Raiola expects the Swedish striker to continue playing for the better part of the next decade, although he hints it may not be with PSG:

We struck a deal. He has worked for me for 15 years. Now, he’s going to work his last eight years for me. That means his career could last another eight years. He’s in great shape. I don’t know if he’s going to stay at Paris Saint-Germain for eight years, but he can play until he’s 42-43 years old.

Ibrahimovic‘s goalscoring prowess was highlighted by Squawka:

Raiola says Ibrahimovic is “happy in Paris” but that “every summer we see what happens.” That leaves the door open to any potential suitors that fancy a powerful, technically astute finisher who is capable of winning any match.

B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently discussed the fact that Ibrahimovic needs to do more during the second-leg tie against Chelsea, however:

Rumours of a potential transfer arrive alongside another unlikely move, as Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling continues to be linked to the club, per Jack Watts of the Daily Star. Watts suggests Sterling’s failure to sign a new contract outlines Chelsea as “shock candidates” and “joint-favourites” for his signature alongside Real Madrid, with bookmakers cutting his price to 5-2, per Oddschecker.

Both Ibrahimovic and Sterling appear unlikely arrivals right now. Even so, the former is certain to cross Mourinho‘s mind in the coming days.

The Champions League score is finely balanced at 1-1, ensuring PSG must net if they’re going to escape losing on away goals. Ibrahimovic and Mourinho are two of the biggest personalities in the game, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the goalscoring output of the former or the tactical nuance of the latter define the tie.

They could achieve special things together. Ibra offers a touch of class and an ability to go about his work uniquely, the kind of quality that has seen his career littered with outrageous goals. While a future partnership with Mourinho may be possible, both men will hope they can come out on top during Wednesday’s crunch eliminator.

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Former Liverpool defender and BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has labelled Mario Balotelli a “waste of time” after watching the Italian striker fail to impact the Reds’ 0-0 FA Cup draw with Blackburn on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers threw Balotelli on with half an hour remaining in search of a goal, but his arrival didn’t help matters. He hit the target with one of his two shots, completed 66.7 percent of his passes and managed just 12 touches in a centre-forward’s role, per WhoScored.com.

This wastefulness has been typical of his season. Lawrenson expects the player to almost certainly let his team-mates down, reported by Richard Arrowsmith of the Daily Mail:

“Forget about Mario Balotelli,” said Lawrenson. “He is an absolute waste of time. He shouldn’t be anywhere near this team. I can see why Brendan Rodgers threw him on today as he might just create something, but 99 times out of 100 he will let you down.”

Although Balotelli’s reputation preceded him before he arrived at Anfield during the summer, many Liverpool supporters rightfully gave him the benefit of the doubt. At 24 years old, this could have been the move that finally kickstarted his career toward greatness. He is undoubtedly talented—many will point back to his two-goal destruction of Germany at Euro 2012—but his output remains volatile.

Balotelli’s performance against Blackburn provided a snapshot of his career with the Reds. He found space easy enough in front of the opposition’s defence, but appeared more likely to blaze over from outside the box than to pass and move into the area. He knows how to hold the ball up, yet lacks the tactical nuance to make the best of his presence closer to the goalkeeper.

B/R UK’s Alex Dimond previously suggested Liverpool could regret not strengthening their attacking options during January:

The former Manchester City man has scored four goals this season, failing to notch more than one in any competition so far. He scored the Premier League winner against Tottenham, but other than that, his most remarkable success was a penalty he stole from vice-captain Jordan Henderson in the Europa League first leg against Besiktas.

Granted, he scored the spot-kick, but this moment highlighted an individual who fails to promote the improving team-ethic of Brendan Rodgers’ side. Captain Steven Gerrard suggested Balotelli showed “disrespect” to Henderson, per BBC Sport, a comment which many would agree with.

While Rodgers has tried to fit the striker in from the bench in recent times, the Northern Irish manager previously pushed him out of the side with a switch to 3-4-2-1. Liverpool’s change of fortune has seen them roll on unbeaten inside 90 minutes since December, largely without Balotelli in the team.

Lawrenson’s comments may seem harsh, but Balotelli is an obviously talented player who has made a career out of under-performing.

Liverpool took a chance on him when many others wouldn’t have bothered. There’s always the sense he’s one goal away from turning things around, but then again, this feeling has followed him since he burst onto the scene with Inter Milan nearly eight years ago.

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Arsenal look as though they’ll face some stern competition if they’re going to land Barcelona star Pedro this summer, with reports in Catalonia claiming that Manchester United are also in the race for the winger.

According to Sport (h/t Metro) the Red Devils, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are all keeping a close eye on the situation regarding the player, meaning any move to the Gunners is not cut and dry. As noted in the piece, reports from Spanish newspaper AS had claimed Arsenal would have to shell out £22 million for Pedro’s signature.

Here’s why he will command such a substantial fee:

Rumours regarding the player’s future are natural given the decline in his squad status since the arrival of Luis Suarez last summer. The Spanish international is very much a deputy at this juncture, with the enticing triumvirate of Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi pushing Barcelona toward glory on three fronts at the moment.

But he’s the player Luis Enrique would most likely call upon should one of the aforementioned trio fall foul of injury or suspension. Given the Camp Nou club wouldn’t be able to draft in a replacement in this window should he be sold, the prospect of cashing in on the player isn’t really a sensible one from Barcelona’s perspective.

As noted by barcastuff, the Blaugrana have an impeccable record when he features too:

For Arsenal, it’s not really a move that would make much sense. The player has a dynamism and an eye for goal that’d enamour him to a host of top clubs, but the Gunners have a surfeit of attacking midfielders in their squad already. To crowd that area of the pitch further—especially if it was at the expense of other areas of the squad—would be especially rapacious on the part of Arsene Wenger.

Indeed, as noted by Bleacher Report’s Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas, it’s very tough to choose a best Gunners XI given the options they currently boast in their squad:

With so many players in situ—especially in the midfield area of this team—perhaps it’s no surprise that some stars have been linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer. But it’d be a major surprise to see Jack Wilshere leave the club, despite reports claiming the 23-year-old is a target for Manchester City.

According to Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star, the champions are looking to bolster their squad with some youthful English talent this summer and see Wilshere as an ideal player to add some class to a much maligned central midfield area.

As noted by Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo after City’s recent 2-1 loss to Liverpool, Manuel Pellegrini has a lot of issues that need resolving at the heart of his team:

But it’s tough to see this one materialising. City need a player who is going to nail down a spot in the team and be at the core of the first XI as they look to build toward a more prosperous future. Wilshere has the requisite class to potentially fill such an important role, but his perennial fitness problems would make him a peculiar acquisition on the part of Pellegrini.

The Arsenal man is a Gunner through and through anyway. You suspect it would be tough to leave his boyhood club, but if these fitness problems persist and others continue to flourish in the Emirates engine room, then Wilshere could find himself on the outside looking in regularly. That’d certainly make the prospect of a potential transfer a lot more likely.

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Manchester United are reportedly ready to mix it up with a host of other interested clubs for the services of Barcelona’s Pedro, but the Red Devils should take a cautious approach to the winger’s exit rumours.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport (h/t Metro), the 27-year-old is ready to leave the Blaugrana after falling down the pecking order since the arrival of Luis Suarez, with United, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan all reportedly interested.

Barcastuff provided more details, including his main reasoning why he is looking for a new home—his spot in the Spanish squad for Euro 2016:

Reports of a potential transfer for the winger aren’t new—just last month, he admitted during a press conference that he is focused on Barcelona for the current season but isn’t making any long-term plans, per Marca:

In a recent press conference, Pedro Rodriguez declared that he has his “mind set on the club until the end of the season”, but after that, “we’ll see what happens” as “not having continuity makes things complicated”.

To stay at Barça?: “I don’t know. For now, I’m happy at the club, but you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I’m calm, with my mind set on the club until the end of the season and then we’ll see what happens after that”.

He’d like to have more minutes: “Not having continuity makes things complicated. It’s tough, but what I try to do is help out as much as possible.

The Barcelona youth product started the season on the bench in favour of Munir El Haddadi, before regaining his starting position once the youngster started to lose his form.

But with Suarez finding his footing in La Liga and Europe, Pedro’s playing time has once again taken a steep dive. As reported by WhoScored.com, he’s started just a single match since the end of January.

Complicating the situation is the fact Pedro will be a free agent at the end of the 2015-16 season, and according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Barcastuff), the club is showing no urgency when it comes to renewal talks:

What we’re left with is a seemingly disgruntled veteran with plenty of football left in him, wasting away on the bench while one of the world’s top attacking groups is tearing up La Liga. In less than 18 months, he could walk for free, so it would make sense Barcelona could be looking to cash in right now.

In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking at all—El Haddadi will likely receive a bigger role in the squad next season, and highly touted youngster Adama Traore should join the senior squad as well.

The Red Devils don’t have the greatest need for another forward right now, but Bleacher Report UK’s Alex Dimond believes that could change heading into next season:

Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj are the two most natural wingers currently in the squad, and both have struggled at times during the 2014-15 season. Pedro would add a new dynamic and a ton of experience to the group, but United should still display caution heading into the summer transfer window.

For starters, Louis van Gaal continues to field formations without true out-and-out wingers, and while Pedro has the versatility to line up elsewhere in the attacking front, he loses much of his effectiveness when played out of position, similar to Januzaj.

There’s also the minor detail of Barcelona’s transfer ban, which prohibits them from signing any new players to potentially replace someone like Pedro. Via Spanish football expert Rafael Hernandez, it’s a question you have to ask every time one of these rumours pops up:

The transfer embargo doesn’t mean Barcelona won’t sell Pedro—as we said earlier, El Haddadi and Traore will provide depth—but there is a risk involved for the Blaugrana. There are no guarantees any of the youngsters could adequately replace Pedro immediately, something that will be translated in the club’s asking price.

Sure, United have plenty of cash, but it makes little sense to invest upwards of £20 million in a player who only has one year left on his contract and isn’t a particularly good fit for Van Gaal‘s preferred formations, anyhow.

And with the likes of Liverpool and PSG involved, £20 million might be the bare minimum.

None of this means United shouldn’t make a push to bring in Pedro, a World Cup winner who is yet to turn 28. But patience and rational thinking are in order, and if the right deal doesn’t materialise, it’s better to pass on the veteran Spaniard.

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Inter Milan signing Colombian Granada centre-back Jeison Murillo, 22, on a pre-contract agreement is peculiar considering his circumstances.

It prompts you to theorise the motives behind Inter Milan locking Murillo down as a summer transfer window signing.

State of Affairs

Despite being on the books of Granada—and in theory, Udinese—Murillo has been talking about Inter Milan with unrestrained enthusiasm.

“I thank God for this opportunity. … The plan is for me to stay at Granada until the end of the season and then make the move to Inter Milan,” Murillo said, per Radio Caracol (h/t Stefan Coerts at Goal). “Both clubs have agreed terms…this is a dream come true.”

Context: Murillo has been pushing for a major transfer since last November.

“I want to continue to grow as a person and a player to open the doors to a bigger club,” Murillo said, per AS (h/t Football Espana). “You should never settle for what you have but have the ambition for much more.”

It is not the first time a Serie A club has bet on an unfancied La Liga defender:

• Victor Ruiz | Espanyol → Napoli: €8.5/£6.1 million (21 years old; 2011).
• Jeison Murillo | Granada → Inter Milan: €8/£5.9 million (22 years old; 2015).
• Chico Flores | Almeria → Genoa: €5/£3.6 million (23 years old; 2010).

If you are to compare Inter Milan signing Murillo to Napoli’s acquisition of Ruiz and Chico going to Genoa, two words should come to mind: calculated gambles.

Ruiz, at the time a Spain youth international, averaged 3.1 interceptions per game in his final La Liga season for Espanyol (2010-11) and had been improving under the tutelage of then-Espanyol manager Mauricio Pochettino.

“When I saw [Pochettino] as a player, he was frightening,” Ruiz said, per Sid Lowe at the Guardian. “But in person he is the exact opposite.”

Lost in the shuffle behind Hugo Campagnaro, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica, Ruiz’s Serie A stint was forgettable, short and unspectacular.

Chico, a fiery, passionate and talented defender, possessed the attributes that suggested he could transition into an elite centre-back. 

“I have no personal problem with Chico, on the contrary—we swapped shirts afterward, but in a football sense I did not like it,” Xavi said, per Jesus Carrillo at FCBarcelona.cat. “It was without doubt one of the most uncomfortable [games I have] experienced in the last 10 or 12 years on the pitch.”

Gaining infamy for irrepressibly marking Xavi out of a game, Chico was expected to dominate lesser players.

Chico started seven games and averaged 45.4 minutes in his one and only Serie A season for Genoa (2010-11).

Is Murillo Value For Money?

The elephant in the room is the fee involved, which Murillo has dodged.

“I don’t wish to speak about the numbers [of the deal], as that something between the two clubs,” Murillo said, per Heath Chesters at Inside Spanish Football. “Starting from July, my playing rights will then become the property of Inter Milan.”

Granada president Quique Pina revealed Murillo’s salary will increase more than threefold.

“[Murillo] will receive €1 million/£723,883 a year for five seasons with Inter Milan,” Pina said, per Ideal (h/t Football Italia). “That’s quite a lot more than the €300,000/£217,165 he was making with us this season.”

Inter Milan have invested €8/£5.9 million in Murillo, per Alfredo Pedulla at Sportitalia (h/t Claudio Colla at Tuttomercatoweb.com), which is the same fee recorded by Transfermarkt.

€8/£5.9 million? Seriously?

It is important you understand Inter Milan’s current centre-back situation.

• Andrea Ranocchia: How can he command his defence if he is one of the worst players at Inter Milan? It is the equivalent of Per Mertesacker—a liability in Arsenal‘s defence, giving instructions to his teammates. Ranocchia epitomises the expression: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
• Hugo Campagnaro: A keep-getting-them-checks guy. Inter Milan should give a prospect from the Primavera a chance instead of wasting minutes on Campagnaro.
• Juan Jesus: A prolific ball-winner (3.2 tackles, 2.6 interceptions per game), though he is hot and cold. The “he is still young” excuse is close to its expiration date as he is now 23.
• Marco Andreolli: Not a household name. Andreolli a conservative and reactive defender.
• Nemanja Vidic: Unconvincing and has spent portions of the season on the bench. Still has time to turn around his campaign.

This is why there are 11 Serie A clubs with better defences than Inter Milan.

Murillo, a 6’0″, 165-pound defender, has excellent, Ivan Cordoba-like recovery speed.

Outstanding in the air and a low-risk tackler (0.9 fouls per game), Murillo has high upside.

But this has been his worst season in Europe. Murillo is inconsistent and his concentration levels have noticeably declined:

• Passes per game has dropped from 32.8 (2013-14) to 27.8 (2014-15).
• Pass-accuracy percentage has dipped from 85.2 (2013-14) to 79.7 (2014-15).
• Careless in possession and was stripped off the ball by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who capitalised in a 6-0 win over Granada.
• Turned over the ball to Real Madrid right-back Daniel Carvajal, whose pass to Karim Benzema enabled the Frenchman to tee up Cristiano Ronaldo for a goal in a 4-0 win over Granada.

Form aside, there are fitness concerns with Murillo, whose all-action playing style, makes him susceptible to injuries.

Murillo has only played 56 percent of this La Liga season (his last league game was December 14, 2014), and his recovery time has been a talking point for Granada manager Abel Resino.

“The problem [Murillo] has now is getting back to the peak of his fitness,” Resino said, per Heath Chesters at Inside Spanish Football. “[However], he’s recovered well from [previous injuries].”

Inter Milan signing Murillo, who has been inconsistent and injured, on a pre-contract for around €8/£5.9 million is not an economically efficient deal. 

Murillo will be a project akin to Juan Jesus—you see elite potential, but can he perform on a consistent basis?

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com. 

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Arsene Wenger knows Alvaro Morata and Morgan Schneiderlin would improve his Arsenal squad in key positions. But the Gunners boss now also knows that improvement would come at a very heavy cost.

Arsenal have been told it will take as much as £60 million to sign striker Morata. Meanwhile, the Gunners will need to find at least £25 million to pry the soon-to-be newly minted Schneiderlin away from Southampton.

First Morata, and it seems Juventus and Real Madrid have got together and agreed to drive up the price for the 22-year-old attacker. Metro reporter Jamie Sanderson provides some details:

Madrid have a buy-back option to re-sign him at the end of the season, but reports say they’re willing to pass on that.

It’s believed Juve and Real have agreed to let the striker join either Arsenal or Liverpool for £60million instead – and split the cash.

Wenger is a noted fan of Morata. He even tried to sign him before the Spaniard bolted to Serie A, per Mirror writer Ben Burrows.

Wenger can certainly justify beginning a fresh search for another striker. Lukas Podolski has flopped on loan at Inter Milan, while Yaya Sanogo is doing the same with Crystal Palace.

The former is already pushing for a move to Turkey, according to his agent, per Daily Express reporter David Wright. Frankly, the sooner Arsenal get Podolski off the books the better.

But that won’t solve Wenger‘s problem of having little alternatives to regular centre-forward Olivier Giroud. Attempts to freshen up the forward line have usually involved moving wide players such as Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott or Danny Welbeck into the middle.

Wenger needs a natural No. 9 instead. Morata certainly fits the bill, but there’s just no way Wenger could or would even try to justify spending £60 million on a player who is currently more potential than established talent.

By contrast, Schneiderlin has established a fine reputation as a smart and resourceful defensive midfield player. Considering the Gunners have lacked talent in that vital position for an age, few fans would baulk at the idea of Wenger parting with £25 million to sign his countryman.

That’s what it will take to pry the 25-year-old away from the Premier League’s fifth-placed club. Southampton will set that fee if Schneiderlin rejects the new contract he’s been offered, according to Daily Mail reporter Sami Mokbel.

He states the Saints will double the player’s wages to £60,000 per week. But fears of Arsenal interest turning his head will prompt Southampton’s board to set a fee of at least £25 million for the player who still has two years to go before his current deal expires.

That figure could push Wenger to look elsewhere. Mirror writer John Cross has listed Bundesliga trio Lars Bender, Ilkay Gundogan and Christoph Kramer as primary targets.

Wenger might even deem the solution to be closer to home. He’s recently been effusive in his praise of 23-year-old holding-midfield ace Francis Coquelin.

In particular, Wenger has emphasised Coquelin‘s defensive qualities, per Rob Kelly of the club’s official site: “I think he analysed well what he is good at, defending in midfield. He was in between the playmaking position and being a box-to-box player, but he is not that – he’s a sitting player who can win the ball.”

Ex-Gunners defensive stalwart, turned pundit, Martin Keown believes Coquelin has played so well as an anchor, Arsenal don’t need to sign a defensive midfielder. Keown gave his view on a MOTD 2 broadcast, before going into greater detail for BBC Sport.

B/R’ James McNicholas recently identified Coquelin as a key figure in his ideal starting 11:

Given the fee Schneiderlin is set to command, along with how well Coquelin‘s played, don’t be surprised if Wenger sticks with his in-house option at the base of midfield.

It will probably be a similar story up front. Giroud is more likely to become the most efficient finisher in world football before Wenger spends £60 million on Morata.

In fact, it’s safe to stay sceptical about both of these transfer rumours.

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There are intriguing fixtures for our experts to predict across the football programme this weekend.

Atletico Madrid will be looking to rejoin the Liga title race with victory over Valencia, while fallen Italian giants Inter Milan travel to Napoli in Serie A.

Bundesliga hopefuls Wolfsburg will need three points from their trip to surprise package Augsburg to keep up their hopes of catching Bayern Munich.

Turkish powerhouses Fenerbahce and Galatasaray go head to head at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, with the home side looking for an Istanbul derby win to claw their way back into the Super Lig title race.

English heavyweights Manchester United and Arsenal will clash in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Jerrad Peters has decided to bow out of the competition, leaving six to battle it out in the run-in to the end of the season.

Do you agree with our remaining experts’ predictions for this weekend? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Former Stoke City and Tottenham forward Garth Crooks suggests the return of Steven Gerrard may have a negative impact on Philippe Coutinho‘s form at Liverpool.

Gerrard could return from injury to take part in the Reds’ Premier League tie against Burnley on Wednesday, per Mike Whalley of ESPN FC. Coutinho has shot to prominence in Gerrard’s absence—scoring terrific goals against Southampton and Manchester City—but Crooks indicates the captain’s reappearance could knock Coutinho’s confidence.

Crooks named Coutinho in his Team of the Week and wrote the following for BBC Sport:

I’m not surprised that he is growing with every game in the absence of club captain Steven Gerrard. I’ve been in enough dressing rooms over the years to note that senior players, however exceptional, have the ability to intimidate younger professionals.

It will be fascinating to observe how Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers handles the situation between now and the end of the season.

Liverpool rarely enjoy the same creative spark when Coutinho isn’t in the team—whether or not Gerrard plays—due to the Brazilian’s natural willingness to move forward with possession. He loves to turn quickly, spot a runner and take up smart positions around the box. As we’ve witnessed with both of his recent strikes, it’s a bad idea to give the little wizard room to crack a shot at goal.

Interestingly, Coutinho has scored twice in four appearances since Gerrard limped off during the win over Tottenham on Feb. 10, per WhoScored.com. He netted this total in 12 matches prior to the Englishman’s spell on the sidelines, so Crooks may be on to something.

Coutinho was conspicuous in his absence during the second-leg Europa League defeat to Besiktas, with Brendan Rodgers underlining his importance by resting him ahead of the City match. The gamble paid off in one respect, but Sky Sports recently highlighted how massively the playmaker influences his side’s fortunes:

The former Inter Milan starlet appeared to drop slightly deeper at times during the City match. He was eager to collect the ball, feeding off short passes from Joe Allen, who has also enjoyed improved form without Gerrard. It’s possible Gerrard’s positioning in the centre—he doesn’t bomb forward like he used to—has stopped Coutinho from taking greater responsibility across the pitch.

Rodgers recently highlighted the player’s natural confidence when on the ball, per Liverpool’s official Twitter account:

This is something that positively influences the rest of the team. Coutinho is able to simultaneously keep possession ticking while searching for cracks in the opposition’s defence, a style that ensures Liverpool enjoy an ever-probing attacking threat.

Gerrard’s Anfield timeline is rapidly coming to an end—he will join MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season—but he has the quality to play a key role in Liverpool’s quest for Champions League football.

Coutinho‘s heroics thrust the side to within two points of Manchester United in fourth, and with Allen gaining in confidence, there’s no doubt Rodgers has a dilemma on his hands.

The Northern Irishman rarely bows to reputation—as highlighted when he benched Gerrard during the side’s European tie against Real Madrid earlier in the season—so he will do what’s best for the club. Liverpool fans are sure to be pleased to see that, despite a historic run in the first team, new stars are beginning to show there is life after Gerrard.

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Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane are two of the brightest emerging talents in European football, and there have been apparent developments in the future of each player as Chelsea continue to pursue their respective signatures.

Icardi has shone at the sharp end of the Inter attack this season, and according to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), he’s agreed a new four-year deal with the Milan giants worth €3 million per year.

Here’s a look at why Icardi is one of Serie A’s most feared forwards:

Indeed, while it’s been a season of peaks and troughs for Inter, for Icardi, it’s been a breakthrough campaign, prompting links to the likes of the Blues and Manchester United, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express. So far, he’s netted 14 goals in Serie A, per WhoScored.com, and will be a key man as Inter push for a Champions League spot.

Despite interest from illustrious names, Amoyal thinks that it’s imperative Inter do their utmost to keep hold of the forward:

Icardi’s physical presence, clinical finishing and refined hold-up play would make him a fine stylistic replacement for Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge.

But it’s imperative he continues to get playing time, and with Diego Costa currently tearing it up in a system that typically accommodates one forward, the 22-year-old has made the right decision to extend his stay with the Nerazzurri.

The Blues have also reportedly suffered a blow in their pursuit of centre-back Varane, but he could apparently still be on his way to the Premier League. According to Chapman of the Daily Express, the French defender will snub Chelsea and Arsenal in order to sign for Manchester United.

Here’s a look at why Varane is rated as one of the best young defenders on the planet:

According to the piece, Louis van Gaal will set aside £30 million to bring the defender to Old Trafford as he looks to bolster his defensive options for next season. But for a player of Varane’s stature and eventual potential, that’s surely not enough to prise him out of Los Blancos’ grasp.

Indeed, you have to wonder why Real would even consider selling a young man who will surely go on to become one of the world’s very best defenders. As noted here by M.A.J, Los Blancos typically thrive when the 21-year-old is in the starting XI too:

Varane would obviously be a superb acquisition for Chelsea, but  a Madrid sale at this juncture would make little sense. The Frenchman will surely take the eventual spot in the team left by the ageing Pepe once Carlo Ancelotti sees fit, and although the Premier League commands a certain degree of gravitas, it doesn’t top the allure of the Santiago Bernabeu.

With apparent disappointment on two potential targets, there is good news regarding one of Chelsea’s current stars. According to The Sun (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star), the Blues will offer the imperious Nemanja Matic a new £100,000-a-week deal after some magnificent displays this season.

WhoScored.com recently illustrated just how important he is for Mourinho’s men:

Despite only rejoining the club in January 2014, there are few who would disagree with the notion that Matic is a player who deserves a new deal. The Serbian’s indomitable presence at the base of the Blues midfield is incomparable anywhere in the league, and his defensive skill set allows the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Willian to flourish.

Since his return to the club, the Serbian has settled seamlessly into the heart of this midfield. For a manager like Jose Mourinho who places a high value on defensive traits, Matic is arguably the first name on the Chelsea teamsheet.

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