The January transfer window is nearly upon us, and according to the latest rumours, Liverpool are ready to add a number of targets to boost their chances of ending the 2014-15 Premier League season in the European slots.

The first half of the current campaign hasn’t gone all that well for the Reds, who added several young players during the summer and predictably failed to build on the momentum of last season.

The future of the club still looks bright, however, and one or two key signings in January could push the squad back among Britain’s elite. Here are the latest rumours coming out of Anfield.

Conflicting Reports on Xherdan Shaqiri

Most of the rumours concerning Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri appear to be coming from Italy, but not all of the reports are pointed in the same direction. Sky Italy (h/t Metro‘s Will Giles) believe the Reds have made an offer for a permanent transfer to Bayern Munich, pushing the team into pole position for his services:

Although Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the upcoming transfer window will be a quiet one for Liverpool, according to Sky Italy the Reds have made a concrete offer for the Swiss international.

Shaqiri, who joined Bayern for £8m from FC Basel back in 2012, has struggled to establish himself under Pep Guardiola and has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield since the summer, as well as Inter and Juventus.

According to respected Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla (h/t Adam Digby), however, the forward’s agent has meetings planned with Juventus and Inter Milan—but not with Liverpool:

The two Italian sides are believed to have offered the Bavarians loan deals with options to buy the player outright, with Bayern preferring to sell the youngster immediately.

The 23-year-old looks almost certain to leave the German champions, as he has been unable to lock up a regular starting position under manager Pep Guardiola. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe likes his potential and believes he could present interested teams with a massive bargain in January:

Judging by the latest reports, there are a number of possibilities. Given Shaqiri‘s agent is meeting with Juventus and Inter, rumours Liverpool have made a bid to Bayern may be false, or the bid could have arrived after both meetings had already been scheduled.

It’s also possible Shaqiri favours a move to Italy and isn’t interested in joining Liverpool, given their recent struggles in the Premier League. It would be hard to believe the Switzerland international wouldn’t even listen to the Reds, but former Swiss star Kubilay Turkyilmaz told the Daily Express‘ Jamie Anderson he can see why: “England would suit Shaq more. They are less obsessed with tactics there, but a move to Liverpool right now could not be more unsuitable. They are in a crisis and cannot really have any ambitions this year. Joining them from Bayern, who expect to win titles every season, would be a culture shock.”

That said, Shaqiri will still likely take at least a couple of days to ponder his options. If Juventus and Inter are unwilling to offer Bayern a permanent deal, the player runs the risk of having to return to Germany in six months if he fails to convince in Serie A.

As of right now, there appears to be no clear favourite among these three teams for Shaqiri‘s services.

Neto and Fiorentina to Hold Crunch Talks

Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto will be a free agent at the end of this season, and according to GianlucaDiMarzio.com’s David Amoyal, his future will be decided in the coming days: “Fiorentina is focused on the future, and the Tuscan’s club top priority is resolving the Neto situation. The Brazilian goalkeeper’s contract expires next June. Tomorrow Fiorentina will meet with his agent to understand if there are the conditions for a renewal, it will be a decisive conversation.”

La Viola want to keep the 25-year-old around for the foreseeable future, but amid interest from Juventus, Liverpool and AS Roma, the stopper’s agent is not so sure whether that would be the best move for his career, as he told Italian outlet Il Corriere dello Sport (via ESPN FC’s Ben Gladwell):

Neto is preparing to take a very important decision for his future and he needs to reflect a bit more, but certainly he’s not running away. He’s 25 years old and in a situation where he has to decide on his personal future and where his career will go, and he needs to make a considered choice. He’s going to return to his home country for the holidays in order to be able to reflect carefully on his future.

While most pundits believe he’ll eventually re-sign with Fiorentina, Liverpool hold a distinct advantage if he doesn’t. Due to UEFA regulations, Neto cannot sign a pre-contract with a Serie A team, meaning Liverpool are free to negotiate in January, unlike Juventus or Roma.

Neto would add some much-needed competition for current starter Simon Mignolet, who was benched in December after a series of unconvincing performances for the Reds.

The current Fiorentina stopper may not be a well-known player among Serie A fans, but he’s quietly had a great career with La Viola—although he did make international headlines for this horrible blunder:

He’s a solid stopper with age on his side, but he’ll likely never be mistaken for one of the Premier League’s top goalkeepers. Still, as a potential free agent, the Reds could do far worse in terms of value.

Liverpool will follow up how contract negotiations go between the Brazilian and Fiorentina, while making their pitch for a pre-contract and a summer move. A January transfer is unlikely.

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Arsenal are edging closer to ridding the club of Lukas Podolski, prompting fresh links between manager Arsene Wenger and PSG striker Edinson Cavani.

Paris Saint-Germain’s high-priced striker has been told that he can leave the Ligue 1 club, per Daily Express reporter Anthony Chapman. He suggests that Cavani was left out of PSG’s winter training camp and is set for £62 million summer move to the Premier League, with Arsenal among the suitors.

The idea of Wenger spending £62 million in January and on yet another attacker may seem more than fanciful. However, the Gunners chief does seem set to ditch at least one forward option this winter.

Podolski’s exit appears increasingly likely to be the first bit of business the Gunners do during the January transfer window. Inter Milan remain determined to sign the Germany international.

The Serie A outfit is planning a second, improved loan offer. The Italian club hopes to eventually turn the loan into a permanent deal, worth £5 million, per Daily Mirror reporter John Cross.

Any improved offer is likely to have been prompted by Wenger referring to Inter’s initial interest as a “joke,” per Daily Telegraph reporter Matt Law. Now Wenger has indicated that Inter are getting “serious,” per Sky Sports.

What does appear serious is Arsenal’s intention to move Podolski on. That’s long overdue, considering how disappointing the German has been since signing in 2012.

Podolski has never lost his knack for finishing. His thunderous left foot is still a threat to any defence. But his general effort, defensive awareness and movement have been consistently poor.

Wenger obviously doesn’t trust the 29-year-old. He’s given him just two starts in all competitions this season, none in the Premier League, per Arsenal.com.

The lack of playing time has left Podolski frustrated. He apparently left training in a huff on the eve of Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton, according to another report from Cross.

However, the player did move quickly to deny the tantrum took place, via his official Twitter account (h/t 101 Great Goals).

Yet Podolski’s now seemingly inevitable exit shouldn’t necessarily be taken as a precursor to Cavani’s arrival. Wenger has already played down any Cavani talk.

The French boss sounds satisfied with his options in attack, even if Podolski leaves, per Arsenal.com writer Chris Harris: “Offensively we have many options [when everyone is fit], too many to keep everyone involved with the right number of games, that is for sure.”

In this context, spending a fortune to add Cavani to an already crowded field would make little sense.

There’s also the context of Arsenal’s money being better spent fixing problems at the back. That’s certainly the view of B/R’s Janusz Michallik:

The Gunners’ season-long defensive woes were on display at Southampton. In particular, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny endured a nightmare day. His blunders were chiefly responsible for both Saints goals.

Szczesny’s calamitous streak could be prompting Arsenal’s sudden interest in Mainz stopper Loris Karius. The Gunners have joined Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04 and Valencia as interested parties in the 21-year-old, according to Daily Mirror reporter James Nursey.

But it’s not just between the sticks where Arsenal have problems. Wenger needs another quality centre-back to cover and challenge established pair Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Finding help at that position will be the club’s priority during this month’s window, per Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph:

Reinforcing at the back has to be the focus for Wenger. He has enough resources in attack to cope.

But Arsenal’s season will continue to stutter until the defence improves.

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When Paris Saint-Germain resume training on Friday, one of the first orders of business for coach Laurent Blanc and the capital club’s hierarchy is to decide the futures of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.

Both players missed the French champions’ recent Qatar Winter Tour in Marrakech, Morocco, as reported by Goal.com’s Joe Wright. The same article claims that Blanc admitted after the 1-0 friendly win over Inter Milan that he is expecting “explanations” from both players before that decision is taken.

Lavezzi and Cavani were included in PSG’s original squad for their North African sojourn, per PSG.fr, with both players listed as due to arrive one day after the majority of their teammates because of the fact that they would have been travelling from their native South America.

While the seven other South American-based players successfully arrived for the training camp, Lavezzi and Cavani did not join the group.

Little light has been shed on why El Matador was not present, but reports from his home country suggest that it was weather related and that the player also had authorisation from the French champions to extend his stay in Uruguay.

That would make Blanc’s comments after the Inter Milan match confusing, but Lavezzi’s situation is not as complex.

El Pocho was photographed by numerous publications on holiday in Uruguay’s Punta del Este, per Metronews.fr (in French), with the French club under the impression that he was taking care of family issues.

Barcelona pushed to profit from the breakdown in the Argentinian international’s relationship with PSG according to gianlucadimarzio.com. However, the Spanish giants’ transfer ban now prohibits them from making any move for Les Parisiens’ No. 22.

Inter are still keen on him after gianlucadimarzio.com also reported an opening enquiry from the Italians, but the same report claims that the defending French titleholders now want to repair their damaged relationship with the 29-year-old and keep him until the end of the season.

This would be a big mistake from PSG.

Lavezzi is an immensely popular figure in Paris, as he is wherever he has played it seems, but the time has come for the Qatari-owned club to cut the player loose. Although his behaviour may well have been greeted with amusement by many fans, it is a serious affront to his employers and a clear sign that he no longer intends to give everything for the cause under coach Blanc.

There appears to be a problem with the attitude within the PSG squad at present, with Lavezzi seemingly one of the main offenders. However, the reasons for selling the South American go deeper than that for Les Parisiens.

Lavezzi is an average player. As far as value for money goes, the former SSC Napoli man has delivered among the smallest of returns out of all of the French capital outfit’s major transfer deals since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over in 2011.

Now in his third season at Parc des Princes, 21 goals and nine assists in 74 appearances across all competitions is not good enough for an attacking player who cost an estimated €30 million in 2012 per ESPN FC.

Those familiar with PSG might question this based on his form in the second half of the 2013-14 season, when he scored 10 times in all competitions, but that rich vein of form and a decent FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil papered over the cracks.

Without that glut of goals, Lavezzi would be a contender for being the club’s biggest waste of money in the Qatari era.

The Argentine is fast and works hard, but that is about it. He is far from clinical in front of goal and provides less assists than the likes of Lucas Moura, who he was previously in competition with for a place in the team until the start of this campaign.

His speed alone has never been enough for Blanc’s three-pronged attack and the player was thought to be on his way out before that impressive turnaround in form at the start of 2014. However, the reality is that Lavezzi is still one of PSG’s five best-paid players and represents a serious misallocation of resources.

What he gives the club on the pitch is simply not worth the money the club pay him off it.

That there are clubs still keen to take Lavezzi off their hands is a massive boost for the Ligue 1 side and one that they must take advantage of this month. With UEFA’s Financial Fair Play sanctions still hanging over their heads until at least the summer, allowing the Argentine to depart would be the first step towards an end-of-season reshuffle in the capital.

Any fee received for Lavezzi may well not be enough to bring in an immediate replacement, but the major concern is that this current interest in the South American does not last until the summer. PSG also have a more than adequate alternative to the player in Jean-Christophe Bahebeck who has earned the right to play ahead of El Pocho.

If it gets to the end of the season and nobody wants Lavezzi anymore, then PSG will be lumbered with an expensive, limited player who clearly does not want to play for the team any longer. His contract will also still have 12 months to run.

Now that Lavezzi has publicly embarrassed the club with his recent behaviour, there should be no way back for him. Trying to mend bridges after such actions would be a massive sign of weakness in the Parisien leadership.

If PSG do receive a firm bid for him this month, one that would allow them to get his sizeable wages off the books, then it is a no-brainer.

*Lavezzi‘s PSG career statistics are via whoscored.com.

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New Year’s Day means the January transfer window is nearly upon us, and with just two days left to go, the rumours concerning Liverpool and their plans are coming in fast and furious.

Brendan Rodgers’ squad saw a lot of turnover in the summer, but after a first half of the 2014-15 campaign filled with ups and downs, most fans are hoping for even more key signings this month.

The Reds’ collection of young talent is impressive, and at least one player could be terminating his loan deal early to strengthen the squad heading into 2015. Here are the latest rumours coming out of Anfield on New Year’s Day.

Liverpool Confident of Re-Signing Steven Gerrard

As reported by the Daily Mail‘s Steven Wheeler, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is free to enter talks with interested clubs as of today, but the Reds are confident the star midfielder won’t be leaving any time soon:

Liverpool are confident Steven Gerrard will sign a new deal at Anfield even though their captain is free to talk to other clubs from New Year’s Day.

Gerrard entered the final six months of his contract at midnight, and the 34-year-old can now negotiate with foreign teams over a move in the summer.

Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls have both expressed a strong interest in taking Gerrard to the MLS. He has also been linked with Inter Milan.

Clubs can offer Gerrard a pre-contract in January, which would see the veteran midfielder complete his current deal with the Reds before joining his new club during the summer.

The 34-year-old has been at Anfield since 1987, however, emerging from the youth academy to become one of the club’s most celebrated icons. With such a storied history at the club, it’s hard to imagine him defending different colours.

Rodgers told reporters he’s fine with the current situation, even if that means Gerrard will be talking to other clubs:

I think he’s earned that respect if he does (talk to other clubs).

I’ve got a great relationship and communication with Steven. He’s a wonderful player, a wonderful servant to this football club, and in my time here he’s been brilliant for me.

When I came in here two-and-a-half years ago, everyone asked if he could play my type of football or if his legs had gone. You’ve seen him over the last couple of years. He could have been player of the year last season.

Gerrard is still a regular starter under Rodgers, leading the charge for the Reds in the centre of the pitch, and while he hasn’t consistently been at his best in the 2014-15 season, he’s still playing at a level required to be a very good Premier League player.

Sportswriter Paul Tomkins described the Reds captain as follows, while wondering whether he should get the start against Leicester City:

Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls make the most sense as potential transfer destinations, but perhaps in one or two years’ time. As of right now, Gerrard is still very much a Premier League calibre player, and it’s difficult to see him swapping the Reds for another club within England.

Saido Berahino Pushing for Move?

West Bromwich Albion may be publicly stating Liverpool haven’t made a  £23 million move for star striker Saido Berahino, but according to talkSPORT’s Warren Haughton, the 21-year-old may not even cost the Reds as much should they push for a transfer.

Haughton has learned Berahino is desperate to leave the Hawthorns, and an offer of £14 million could do the trick:

Liverpool and Tottenham have been handed a boost in their pursuit of West Brom starlet Saido Berahino – despite the Baggies rubbishing rumours of a £23million move. […]

But talkSPORT understands a fee could be vastly reduced, to around £14m, because of the player’s insistence to leave the Hawthorns.It’s believed the England Under-21 star is keen on a move to Merseyside, while Tottenham have also expressed an interest in the youngster.

The England international has been one of the biggest breakout players of the 2014-15 season, scoring seven goals in 19 total Premier League appearances for the Baggies, per WhoScored.com.

His hot form led to plenty of transfer speculation, to the point the club’s official Twitter feed felt the need to intervene.

“Form” may be the best way to describe Berahino’s first half of the season—after a scorching start, the youngster hasn’t found the net in 11 consecutive matches. Berahino is a tantalising prospect, but his lack of scoring touch throughout the holiday period indicates he’s far from a finished product.

West Brom are still preparing for plenty of interest, however, per sports writer Kristian Sturt:

Berahino has a similar profile to current Liverpool star Raheem Sterling, and looking at the club’s biggest needs, Bleacher Report’s Ryan Bailey and Janusz Michallik were looking at bigger, more physical strikers to play up top:

That said, a £14 million transfer for one of England’s better attacking talents could be a steal. The patient approach might be the safest bet here, giving Berahino time to prove his current scoring slump is nothing but a fluke.

Jordon Ibe Could Cut Loan Short

Young winger Jordon Ibe has impressed while on loan at Derby County, and as reported by the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce, Brendan Rodgers recently admitted he is tempted to bring the 19-year-old back to Anfield in January:

It is a loan to the end of season but we could bring him back if we need to because there is a review in January.

We need to decide whether it is the right thing to bring him back or continue with the great development he’s getting at Derby at the moment. If we do bring him back it will be to contribute.

I’ve seen Jordan in a lot of the games and he’s been outstanding. That’s the reason why we sent him out – we felt that getting that game experience would help him.

Ibe has left a big impression during his time with Derby, and while there’s still much room for improvement, he already looks like he could be ready to contribute on the Premier League level.

The youngster isn’t a natural scorer, arguably the Reds’ biggest need, but he has the athletic ability and vision to create plenty of running lanes for others. Paired with the equally mobile Sterling, he would present more static defences with a nightmare matchup.

Of course, the fact Ibe is developing so well with Derby presents Rodgers with a difficult decision. The youngster might be able to help the Reds in the near future, but as a winger, he plays in a position that is already well filled in the current senior squad.

Allowing him to continue developing with Derby may be the safer bet, ensuring he’s fully prepared to play a big role in the 2015-16 season.

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A new year means a fresh start, and with the opening of the January transfer window upon us, the rumour mill is quickly heating up, linking Arsenal with a host of players.

Not all news coming from the Emirates is good, however, as it looks like a long-time contributor is drawing ever closer to a January exit. Here are the transfer rumours surrounding Arsenal on New Year’s Day.

Lukas Podolski Storms Out of Training Ground, Goes AWOL

Lukas Podolski’s relationship with the club may have reached a breaking point on Wednesday, as the Germany international reportedly left Arsenal’s London Colney base before training commenced and didn’t join his team-mates for the trip to Southampton, per the Daily Mirror‘s John Cross:

Lukas Podolski stormed out of Arsenal’s training ground on Wednesday after becoming increasingly frustrated with life at the Emirates.

Podolski did not train at the Gunners’ Hertfordshire HQ after complaining of a groin injury and he has not travelled with his team-mates for the New Year’s Day game at Southampton.

But it is understood that the 29-year-old forward was furious because his future is uncertain. He fears Arsenal are blocking a potential move to Inter Milan.

The 29-year-old has hardly featured for the Gunners during the 2014-15 campaign and has been linked with a loan move away from the club in January, with Inter Milan’s Roberto Mancini openly stating he was interested in bringing him to Italy.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger didn’t take kindly to that message, via Sky Sports: “That is a joke. Inter Milan is not serious. It is nothing serious. They talk, there is only talk.”

Podolski is one of the club’s most experienced contributors, and with Olivier Giroud currently suspended and Danny Welbeck struggling for form and fitness, one would understand Wenger’s reluctance to allow the World Cup winner to leave the club at this particular time.

If these latest reports are to be believed, however, he might not have much of a choice.

Podolski is yet to start a single Premier League match this season, per WhoScored.com.

Stephan El Shaarawy Pledges Allegiance to AC Milan

The Daily Express‘ David Wright recently linked AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy with a move to the Emirates, but following a recent 4-2 friendly win over Real Madrid, the young star told reporters he has no intention of leaving his current club.

As reported by Goal’s Joe Wright, he said:

I’ve already said: I’m staying at Milan and I want to do well. In terms of the game, we did well. It was a great day for me.

A game like this gives me a lot of confidence. Goals are important mentally for a striker, so I’m happy to have got two against Real Madrid.

It was also very satisfying for the team—we’ve underlined that we’re doing well after the Roma and Napoli games.

Injuries and loss of form have seen the 22-year-old’s stock drop tremendously after his phenomenal 2012-13 season, in which he scored 16 Serie A goals, via WhoScored.com, and established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in football.

While the talent is still there, confidence has been an issue for the Italy international. He never appeared comfortable playing with Mario Balotelli and hasn’t been able to re-establish himself in Filippo Inzaghi’s squad in 2014-15.

His pace, excellent finishing ability and sheer confidence made him a dangerous weapon during his breakout season, and in the friendly against Madrid, he looked very much like the vintage El Shaarawy. He scored twice, and his first goal was an absolute beauty, per BetVictor:

The youngster’s value is at an all-time low right now, and if his form returns and he can remain healthy, he could present interested clubs with a real coup. But as detailed by Bleacher Report’s Ryan Bailey and Janusz Michallik, the Gunners’ main priority for January isn’t a forward:

El Shaarawy is a luxury—one the club perhaps can’t afford right now. Add to that his desire to stay in Milan, and it seems unlikely any transfer will come to pass.

Aston Villa Lead Queue for Yaya Sanogo Loan?

Back to the Daily Mirror‘s John Cross, who knows that Aston Villa have moved ahead of French sides Bordeaux and Lorient in the battle for loan target Yaya Sanogo, with Wenger preferring a Premier League side for his budding star.

Wenger refused to rule out a possible loan move for the 21-year-old in a recent interview, as shared by the club’s official Twitter feed:

The forward has all of the natural tools one desires at the position but has struggled adapting to the Premier League, and he has yet to score a league goal since moving to the club in the summer of 2013.

Sanogo needs more playing time, and a loan seems like the perfect opportunity for him to achieve just that. Adding Premier League experience is key, however, giving Villa a leg up over their Ligue 1 rivals. Bleacher Report’s James McNicholas agrees:

There’s just one problem: Villa already have a designated striker—a very good one at that. If Sanogo needs regular minutes, he likely won’t be finding them with Christian Benteke standing in his way.

Villa could opt to push him out wide or use him as the primary backup, but either way, he won’t be starting every single match. Wenger may be better off looking elsewhere.

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The outrageously talented Argentine centre-forward Mauro Zarate, 27, is on the move again, this time transferring from West Ham United to Queens Park Rangers on loan pending the completion of a medical.

Instead of having a career comparable to ex-Argentine U20 teammate Sergio Aguero, Zarate has wasted innumerable chances by refusing to compromise. 

Leave West Ham United amicably? No chance. 

Zarate feuded with West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce while sucking up to Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp.

“I believe my record entitles me to respect and I have not had that from [Allardyce],” Zarate said, per Darren Lewis at the Daily Mirror. “I now have the chance to play for [Redknapp], a coach who has faith in me and will not allow his personal feelings to get in the way.”

Obviously, Zarate has not kept up with the Redknapp-Adel Taarabt soap opera.

Allardyce rebutted Zarate‘s version of events.

“What [Zarate is] saying is not true,” Allardyce said, per Jacob Steinberg at The Guardian. “He wasn’t good enough.”

Despite having excellent balance on the ball, possessing world-class technique and being an entertaining footballer to watch, Zarate lacked Sakho‘s scoring touch and was not a creative outlet when compared to Downing.

You cannot fault Allardyce for cutting down Zarate‘s playing time because he was neither a productive scorer nor facilitator.

Did Zarate get enough chances? Yes.

In 415 minutes, Zarate scored twice, whereas Manchester City‘s 35-year-old loanee Frank Lampard scored four times in 344 minutes without having any breakaway speed, or recording a single dribble.

What probably irked Zarate was a lack of security in the West Ham United starting XI which may have affected his confidence.

He deflected blame to Allardyce for not providing enough moral support, rather than accept culpability for not putting up Aguero-like numbers.

This is the same “not my fault” mentality which led to Zarate‘s impasse at Al-Sadd.

“The Arabs arrived in Argentina … the first time they asked me to sign, I said ‘no’. But they kept on asking and because of the financial side, it was impossible not to take up their offer in the end,” Zarate said, per Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail. “I went [to Al-Sadd] and I thought it would be different.”

You can accept Zarate taking the quick money to improve the quality of life for his family. 

Though, what is inexplicable is he wanted out as soon as he got to Qatar, which explains his detour to then-Premier League club Birmingham City.

Then-Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish conceded Zarate was too good for them.

“I am sure performances like that will make it very difficult for us to hang on to [Zarate],” McLeish said, per Martin Smith at The Telegraph. “I hope he has a future in the Premier League because he loves his football and he’s a great kid.”

Lazio president Claudio Lotito went all in on Zarate, but denied claims of a monumental transfer fee.

“The figures that have been reported by the press don’t represent the reality,” Lotito said, per the Daily Mail. “The terms of the agreement foresee a valuation of the player which will rise to around €25 million because Zarate will turn out better than Lionel Messi.”

For about one season, you saw Zarate‘s two-footed play, his audacious vision, panache style and him being a difference-maker for Lazio.

Even if Zarate did not reach his ceiling of Messi, Lazio had a world-class player on their books.

Lotito presumptuously told Liverpool to quit their pursuit of Zarate, who had a tentative agreement to extend his loan at Lazio into a permanent deal.

“There is zero chance [for Liverpool to sign Zarate],” Lotito said, per Reuters (h/t ESPN FC). “Lazio will exercise their option to buy Zarate and [Al-Sadd] will not sell Zarate to Liverpool, full stop.”

Zarate scored 13 goals during his first Serie A season at Lazio.

Lotito invested upwards of €25 million, so he expected excellence going forward and was overly harsh on Zarate when he underperformed.

Zarate revealed he could not cope with the pressure. 

“I watched a game and then I went to the bathroom to cry … Why have I come home? I needed to feel important, to feel liked,” Zarate said, per Andres Garavaglia at Sky Sports. “The blame is on Lotito and a few players, in addition to the coach, it is them who make the decisions.”

Again, the “not my fault” mentality rearing its ugly head.

Zarate was a one-season wonder.

Post the 2008-09 season, Zarate scored 12 goals and registered 11 assists in his next 68 Serie A games.

What did not compute in Zarate‘s mind was Lotito and the Lazio suits who invested eight figures only to see a frustratingly inconsistent footballer.

When Zarate had the chance to prove his critics wrong on loan at Inter Milan, he scored two goals and created another two in 951 Serie A minutes.

Spot the odd one out, per FIFA.com: 

[Sergio] Aguero (10) and [Mauro] Zarate (9) or [Angel] Di Maria (18) … always worked excellently together.

They all had good dribbling skills, linked well in passing moves and had the knack of doing the right thing at the right time.

Zarate expects clubs to treat him as if he was born with a silver spoon, even though he is not a world-class player. 

It is as if Zarate is still living in the past thinking it is the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup when he was on par with Aguero and Di Maria.

Once Zarate humbles himself, he may finally realise his potential.

Until then, Queens Park Rangers is the latest club to take a punt on Zarate, a player that is seeking career satisfaction, yet happiness seems to be wherever he isn’t. 

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com. 

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Chelsea are said to be running the rule over Swansea City’s prolific striker Wilfried Bony, although he might not be the only striker on the radar of the Premier League leaders.

The Blues are also reportedly keen on Inter Milan’s young star, Mauro Icardi. Landing the 21-year-old would offset the club’s potential failure in their attempts to land Borussia Dortmund’s lethal attacker Marco Reus.

Meanwhile, the best news for Chelsea this winter could be the proposed availability of Atletico Madrid centre-back Miranda. He’s the exact style of defender Blues boss Jose Mourinho usually covets.

But it’s Bony who rates as the most surprising name on the list of Chelsea’s latest targets. Rory Smith and Tony Barrett of The Times (subscription required), state that chief Chelsea scout Mick Doherty was recently an interested observer when Bony and Swansea were beaten 4-1 by Liverpool.

But Chelsea face stern competition from Premier League title rivals Manchester City. That’s according to Matt Law of The Telegraph.

However, Law states the Swans have made moves to ensure they can demand maximum value for their prolific target man:

City face having to spend around £50 million in transfer fee and wages if they decide to follow up their interest in Bony after Swansea took the release clause out of the Ivory Coast international’s contract. There was a £19 million release clause in Bony’s initial Swansea contract, but that was removed when his new deal, which runs to 2018, was signed in November, allowing the Welsh club to name their price for the 26-year-old.

That could deter Chelsea, who hardly have an immediate need for a striker. Mourinho‘s squad can currently rely on Diego Costa. Although his durability and temperament are questionable, the former Atletico Madrid man is in fine form.

Veteran Didier Drogba can also still offer a lot coming off the bench. So can Loic Remy, who, when healthy, has the pace to complement Costa and Drogba‘s power.

However, Mourinho might decide Bony offers a more all-round game. He combines pace, technical guile and awesome physical strength, qualities that recently convinced B/R’s Sam Tighe to dub him a “complete forward:”

But if Mourinho decides Bony is too expensive at the current rate, he could try to lower the fee for Icardi. Mohamed Salah would be the key to that type of deal.

The out-of-favour winger is tipped to be offered as a makeweight, according to Daily Star reporter Alex Harris:

The Nerazzurri are exploring the potential of a loan deal for the 22-year-old but reports suggest Chelsea could use him as bait in a bid to sign Icardi.

Speculation earlier this month suggested Inter are willing to offload the £32m-rated striker in a bid to free up funds for Roberto Mancini to spend.

Icardi is certainly a different type of striker to the ones Chelsea already possess. He is less a natural centre-forward and more a roaming attacker, one who can thrive wide or through the middle.

Icardi is at his best when he has the freedom to roam from the flanks and ghost into central positions. In that sense, he fits with the growing fluidity in Chelsea’s attack.

Those qualities make Icardi a good alternative to Reus. The Germany international is another forward who defies positional definitions.

Reus was set to be one of the most coveted targets in the January window. But it appears as though reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid may have beaten Premier League suitors to the punch.

That’s according to Daily Star reporter Chisanga Malata. He’s cited sources in Spain: “Well respected Spanish journalist Juan Gato, who works for Punto Pelota, yesterday sensationally claimed that Atletico boss Diego Simeone had agreed a deal in principle to sign the coveted German.”

If Atletico have wrapped up a deal for Reus, it could free Miranda to be sold during the winter window. The rock-solid central defender has now been made available for “£19.5 million,” per Daily Star writer Rhys Turrell.

During the past two seasons, the 30-year-old Brazilian has formed a fearsome partnership with Uruguayan bruiser Diego Godin. This stingy pairing has been broken up at times this season, thanks to the form of youngster Jose Gimenez.

That could provide Mourinho with the cue to add Miranda as a quality third option behind John Terry and Gary Cahill. Youthful Frenchman Kurt Zouma hasn’t really made his mark, and the Blues are still very reliant on 33-year-old Terry.

The Bony rumour is definitely the most intriguing. He fits the mould of the quick and bullish striker Mourinho loves to count on to lead the line.

However, any deal in January seems unlikely. So does a proposed bid for Icardi. Even Miranda seems destined to avoid Stamford Bridge, despite Mourinho‘s fondness for uncompromising defenders.

Instead, it’s safer to assume Chelsea will stick with what they have for the remainder of the season. After all, Mourinho‘s squad is well stocked in every area.

Spending big now would only disrupt the balance.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2315414-chelsea-transfer-news-wilfried-bony-rumours-emerge-latest-on-marco-reus-more
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Brendan Rodgers has finally decided Mario Balotelli doesn’t fit at Liverpool and wants “the new Sergio Aguero” to replace him. That’s according to Daily Mirror reporter Bill Cooper, who explains what the “new Aguero” will cost Liverpool:

“The Kop boss will have to fork out £12 million and fight off interest from Euro giants Real Madrid and Inter Milan to land Villarreal hitman Luciano Vietto.”

Cooper also states Rodgers’ belief that 21-year-old Vietto can add the goals that would return Liverpool to a top-four place and participation in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

That remains the priority for the Reds this season and Rodgers is now ready to firm up his interest in a long-term target to make it happen. Liverpool’s interest in Vietto goes back at least two years.

In September 2012, Talk Sport reporter Lee Roden detailed that interest. Roden also described the role current Atletico Madrid gaffer Diego Simeone played in Vietto‘s rise to prominence: “Simeone, who was Racing’s coach in 2011, was stunned by the youngster’s abilities in training and immediately went to inform his technical staff of his decision to promote him to the first team.”

This season Vietto has been in inspired form for Villarreal. He’s netted 10 goals in La Liga and UEFA Europa League action, along with providing four assists, per WhoScored.com.

That’s evidence of the kind of versatility and creativity Rodgers values in his strikers. It’s the dual-threat Luis Suarez provided so often last season, a threat Liverpool have sorely missed this term.

Since selling Suarez to Barcelona in the summer and then losing Daniel Sturridge to injury, Rodgers has found solutions to his team’s woes in front of goal hard to come by.

New signings Balotelli and Rickie Lambert have both floundered. The former has been particularly disappointing.

There have been the customary question marks over Balotelli‘s temperament. But perhaps just as important, there have also been nagging doubts about his suitability for the type of game Rodgers wants to play.

Prior to Christmas, Mail Online reporter Ian Ladyman detailed Rodgers’ belief that Balotelli‘s lack of technical guile didn’t suit Liverpool. That makes sense considering the Italy international is a very individualist striker, often preferring to rely on his awesome physical strength to bully a defence into submission.

Balotelli also rarely varies his movement or engages in the type of combination passing Rodgers preaches. That disparity recently encouraged B/R’s Ryan Bailey and Janusz Michallik to speculate that Balotelli could be headed for the exit during the January window:

It’s that type of combination game that has encouraged the Anfield chief to move winger Raheem Sterling through the middle as the focal point of his attack. Rodgers has surrounded the lightning-fast Sterling with creative-minded advanced playmakers such as Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho.

Their mercurial flair and Sterling’s pace have brought the verve back to Liverpool’s attacking play. The Reds are unbeaten in their last three league games, scoring seven goals in the process.

As a quick-witted and fleet-footed roaming forward, Vietto is certainly a better fit for the game Rodgers wants his team to play than the bullish Balotelli.

The search for alternatives to the latter had seen Liverpool strongly linked with West Bromwich Albion’s prolific forward Saido Berahino. However, the Baggies recently took the unusual step of firmly denying any proposed deal with the Reds, via the club’s official Twitter feed:

Snaring Vietto would earn the Merseyside club an exciting young talent who would form a potent combination with Sterling and eventually Sturridge. That trio would give Liverpool the pace and fluidity in attack that made them so dangerous last season.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2315351-liverpool-transfer-news-new-sergio-aguero-luciano-vietto-eyed-in-new-rumours
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Paris Saint-Germain ended 2014 on a positive note with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan at Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday to end the Qatar Winter Tour of Morocco successfully. It has been a testing couple of days for the French champions, with coach Laurent Blanc’s hopes for a concentrated environment dashed by some unforeseen circumstances.

Les Parisiens’ match-winner on the night came courtesy of forgotten man Yohan Cabaye. The French international midfielder ghosted in unmarked after 57 minutes to slot home after Gregory van der Wiel’s cross from the right deflected into his path, which was all the Ligue 1 side needed in the end.

Although the game was a largely futile exercise, with little in the way of quality football played, Cabaye arguably gained the most from the clash because it will serve as a reminder that the 28-year-old is still there in the squad and capable of doing a job.

In poor form since the start of the season, Blanc was understandably reluctant to give the former Lille OSC and Newcastle United man a chance to replace the ageing Thiago Motta as PSG’s deep-lying defensive midfielder. However, Cabaye’s goal has suggested that the Frenchman might be ready to put the Italian under greater pressure from the start of 2015.

With Blanc now accepting and even publicly acknowledging Motta’s decline in form, Le President may need to turn to the man whom he made the creative hub of his France team when in charge of Les Bleus between 2010 and 2012.

Although PSG’s defensive struggles and wastefulness in front of goal remain concerning, Motta’s loss of form and mobility is arguably the most pressing issue for Blanc to solve at this time.

David Luiz stepping into midfield from the heart of the defence would create a space in the back line for the impressive Marquinhos to fill, while the former’s move forward would make the midfield more dynamic. However, Cabaye is a more natural fit in Motta’s deep-lying role and would be a reliable enough option in place of the Italian.

If Blanc were to decide to go with this idea, then it would present Cabaye with an unlikely shot at redemption.

Up until now, it has been difficult for the PSG No. 4 to break into Blanc’s plans. No matter how well the Frenchman could have played, he knew that Motta was pretty much untouchable in Les Parisiens’ midfield three.

However, now Blanc is under pressure to make changes, and it appears that even the Frenchman sees that his No. 8 is well below the levels of performance he was reaching last season. Cabaye, if given a few consecutive games, could become a genuine alternative to Motta in the PSG midfield.

The French international will need more than just a goal in an ultimately meaningless friendly against Inter in Morocco. Cabaye will need to build up some momentum with this and take the first chance he gets in early 2015, which could be away at Montpellier HSC in the Coupe de France next week.

If Cabaye can put in an encouraging display on the back of the Inter success, then maybe he does have a future at Parc des Princes after all. There is a long way to go, though.

Should the France star find himself turning his PSG career around, he will have to work extremely hard to remain consistent enough to keep that place in the starting XI once he takes it over. One thing is for certain—Cabaye will never have a better chance to oust Motta than he does at present.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2315065-could-2015-see-yohan-cabaye-salvage-psg-career-after-inter-milan-friendly-goal
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The picture of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the giallorossi strip of AS Roma is one that has been imagined before.

In 2003, while still at Ajax, the then-22-year-old remarked that he would “like to play for Roma” and was only awaiting a formal approach before sealing a move to the Stadio Olimpico, according to Sky Sports.

“I know that [Roma] president [Franco] Sensi’s club were interested in buying me,” he said. “But I don’t know if they still are.”

Fabio Capello was in charge of the Serie A heavyweights at the time, and less than two years prior, they had won the Scudetto with a squad including the likes of Cafu, Walter Samuel, Emerson, Vincenzo Montella and Gabriel Batistuta.

And, of course, Francesco Totti, who became an eternal legend in the Eternal City in 2001 and remains in the team to this day.

But Totti is all the current Roma side has in common with its famous forebears. When Ibrahimovic was first pursued, Italian football was awash in cash, popularity and high-profile players, and while the heyday lasted a bit longer, it reached its symbolic end with the Sweden international’s transfer from AC Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012.

By then Ibrahimovic had left his mark on the peninsula—just not with Roma.

In 2004 he joined Juventus for €16 million, and in 294 matches with the Bianconeri, Inter Milan and AC Milan he scored 148 goals, won six titles (two of them revoked after the Calciopoli investigation) and was named Serie A Footballer of the Year on three occasions.

Italy saw the best of the striker, and even when he left for France, there was the sense he might have preferred to stay put.

On Tuesday, he was, for a second time, linked to a Roma switch, with Swedish outlet Aftonbladet hinting at unhappiness in the French capital and a “stormy relationship” with PSG boss Laurent Blanc, as relayed by Football Italia.

Given team-mate Edinson Cavani’s absence from warm-weather training in Morocco and fellow forward Ezequiel Lavezzi’s apparent desire to quit the Ligue 1 champions, according to Get French Football News, the notion of widespread discontent at Parc des Princes isn’t all that hard to buy into.

But would PSG entertain offers for Ibrahimovic with Cavani and Lavezzi supposedly on the way out? Hardly. And although he could force a move, it’s highly unlikely Roma would come in for him. They’re simply in no position to do so.

The striker’s contract lasts until the end of next season and, as reported by Football Italia, pays the now-33-year-old €12 million annually. He’s not only out of Roma’s pay range but that of Italian football generally, and at this point his age makes a big-money commitment a luxury few clubs can afford.

That picture of Ibrahimovic in the Roma shirt didn’t become reality in 2003, and it’s certainly not going to now.

Follow @jerradpeters

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2314994-ibrahimovic-may-leave-psg-but-not-now-and-not-for-roma
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