Liverpool appear set to start their forensic rebuilding of their front line with the news they could be about to bid for Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette—with Mario Balotelli shown the Anfield door.

David Maddock of the Mirror says Brendan Rodgers is considering the French attacker who has been in prolific form during the current campaign.

Maddock writes the 23-year-old is valued at £15 million by his club, and Liverpool could push Balotelli and Fabio Borini out of the club to make way for new goalscorers in their crumbling squad.

The Anfield team believe they can still sell Borini for around the £14 million mark to Sunderland, per Maddock, and will replace him like-for-like with Lacazette.

The striker has been on fire in Ligue 1 in recent months, hitting 15 goals in just 18 appearances, per WhoScored.com.

If he continues this form after a move to Liverpool, Rodgers may finally have a player to supplement the goals of Daniel Sturridge—who has missed most of the campaign with repeated injuries. 

Balotelli has been a huge flop on Merseyside in his second attempt at life in the Premier League. The Italian had been linked with a move back to Inter Milan, but the San Siro club’s vice president Javier Zanetti has played down the claims in a comment to Sky Italia, per The Herald: “A Balotelli return? We all know Mario is a great player but I think it’s difficult because he only just arrived at Liverpool. In any case, after our game against Lazio (Dec. 21) we will hold meetings to see what we can do and what is needed in terms of the (transfer) market.”

However, Rodgers has not given up on his summer capture and appears to want the Italy international to stay with his club, at least for now.

Rodgers was quoted by Liverpool Echo reporter Phil Kirkbride—saying he will work hard to get the best out of Balotelli in the immediate future:

But Liverpool legend John Aldridge disagrees with Rodgers and says Balotelli should be sold at the first possible opportunity.

The former striker has heavily criticised Balotelli‘s contribution since arriving at Anfield and believes both he and Borini should be sold to fund the purchase of two additional forwards, speaking in his column for the Sunday World:

Get rid of Mario Balotelli (if anyone will have him) and get rid of Fabio Borini. It is pretty clear neither are going to give Liverpool what they want in terms of goals, so get penalty box operators in who can save this season for Liverpool.

What none of us doubt is something has to change to halt the slide at Liverpool and Rodgers knows more than ever before that he has to find a solution very quickly.

Aldridge’s words are very strong but fully represent the feelings of most Reds on Merseyside. Last season was a happy time for the fanbase as the club finally put together a credible title challenge—exploding Rodgers’ stock across Europe as one of the continent’s top young coaches.

But a team devoid of Luis Suarez appears to be a team short on heart and soul, and the identity of Rodgers’ team has been compromised by the arrivals of the likes of Balotelli.

The Italian can be a brilliant operator when on top form, but as was witnessed at Manchester City, he is all too often caught strolling around the pitch in a world of his own.

Liverpool do need to offload Balotelli and Borini, but after some depressing performances, the club may find it is harder to sell than they hoped.

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Carlo Ancelotti has hopped from Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid; from Roman Abramovich to Nasser Al-Khelaifi to Florentino Perez.

Three men who like their clubs to have the world’s best players and three men who are prepared to spend to get them.

Ancelotti was also previously at AC Milan, another one of Europe’s super clubs, but their owner, Silvio Berlusconi, has different vices to those of Abramovich, Al-Khelaifi and Perez.

Despite the funds he’s had available to him over the last five years, though, you get the feeling that Madrid’s boss isn’t one to go all guns blazing to pay over the odds for a football player.

That may seem crazy, considering James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale have arrived since he’s been at the Bernabeu, but there is a line of thought that he wasn’t necessarily behind those deals.

He works well with what he’s given; it just happens that he’s given a lot of expensive footballers.

He’s not often given them in January, mind—but he will always be linked to one of the winter transfer window’s most memorable splurges of money.

People had just celebrated the turning of the year from 2010 to 2011; football was a slightly different place back then, although not entirely.

Spain were the World Cup holders, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona could not be beaten, Manchester City had never won the Premier League and Chelsea, who were bossed by Ancelotti, were the holders of it.

Still, spend while you’re on top is the motto of some and Abramovich certainly thought that was the case that January.

Not only did Stamford Bridge welcome David Luiz for £25 million—which can now be considered good business considering they doubled their money selling him to PSG—but they also handed over £50 million to Liverpool for Fernando Torres.

The Spanish striker’s arrival rocked the boat, though. He scored just one goal in 18 appearances under Ancelotti, who would leave at the end of a trophy-less season.

Torres, as has been well documented over the last two years, and constantly too, never did recover the Liverpool form that made him the best No. 9 in the world.

That January aside, Ancelotti has never been lavish in the winter.

He notably signed David Beckham twice—once at AC Milan (2009) and then again at PSG (2013) —but on neither occasion was a fee involved.

In 2007 he did shell out around £6 million to take Ronaldo from Real Madrid to AC Milan at a time when the Italian club were getting themselves a reputation for hoovering up talented players from years gone by.

He signed a goalkeeper, Marco Storari, that same window and the year before had signed the Brazilian Marcio Amoroso.

Ancelotti‘s first January window at PSG, with Al-Khelaifi’s Christmas money, was fairly active, although that may have been because the Italian only took the job in December and activity was necessary.

However, he was unable to land any big targets, possibly because of reluctance from the very best, at that point at least, to go and play in France’s Ligue 1.

Alex followed him from Chelsea, Maxwell came from Barcelona and Thiago Motta was pinched from Inter Milan, all for a total spending of less than £20 million.

Goalkeeper Ronan le Crom also arrived to boost numbers.

The following January, before he swapped the French capital for the Spanish one, Beckham, as mentioned, arrived on a free and Lucas Moura joined for close to £30 million—the deal had been agreed the previous summer, though.

At Madrid, business tends to be done in the summer.

Last season there was no need for reinforcements in January and Ancelotti hinted that would again be the case this time round.

“I’m happy with the squad that I have, so we have no need for anyone in January,” he said earlier in December, per Goal.

However injuries to Luka Modric, Sami Khedira and James Rodriguez have forced a rethink and Ancelotti is no longer so certain that there will be no need for signings.

“We have to wait for the Christmas period, when things will be much clearer; then we’ll make a decision,” he was quoted as saying to Real Madrid’s official website, per Sky Sports.

“We are interested in the Lucas Silva, but also in other players.

“After the Club World Cup we will make a decision by evaluating the situations of the midfielders who are injured at the moment.”

History suggests Ancelotti, personally at least, is not one to make waves in the January window.

But if it’s necessary, he may take the chance to add to Madrid’s ranks in the New Year.

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Tottenham Hotspur and the Europa League have had a turbulent relationship in recent times.

The selection of Fiorentina as their round-of-32 opponents will reinforce the mixed feelings towards playing in it that have their roots in the north London club’s recent history.

The initial return to what was still known as the UEFA Cup back in 2006 was a mostly pleasant experience for Tottenham. After only one brief run in Europe in the previous 13 years (following the 1999 League Cup success), a new generation of supporters and players at last had a chance to enjoy meetings with exotic/glamorous/strange opposition like those before them.

Martin Jol’s Spurs did not replicate the continental success of Bill Nicholson’s teams of 1963 and 1972, nor Keith Burkinshaw’s in 1984. Still, resplendent in the traditional all-white kit generally reserved for European competition, the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane lit up White Hart Lane again. The sense of ambition extended to memorable away wins over teams like Besiktas and Braga were also enjoyed.

The quarter-final exit to Sevilla was a disappointment, but the Lane rocked even in defeat. Champions League football was still longed for after successive fifth-place Premier League finishes, but European football of any kind was not to be sniffed at.

Gradually, though, things changed. As Spurs’ league form dropped off in the following two seasons, the UEFA Cup provided scant relief, and more argued, a distraction.

Harry Redknapp viewed it as much when a second-round meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk had to be negotiated in the run-up to the 2009 League Cup final. He fielded a weakened team and Spurs were knocked out.

With a cup final ahead and given they were still struggling in the league at that point, the prioritising was understandable. Yet, it established an idea of the UEFA Cup/Europa League as more work than something to enjoy, one that has only intermittently been deviated from since then.

After the memorable Champions League run of 2010-11, Redknapp‘s focus in the following campaign was getting back there. Subsequently, Spurs attacked the competition with less than their full might and fell out of the group stage.

The next two managers Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood treated it more seriously. There were memorable wins over Olympique Lyonnais, Inter Milan and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. But these two-legged knockout rounds also proved gruelling affairs.

Spurs’ spring struggles in the league were not directly because of their extra-curricular adventures. But the effort put into extra-time games with Inter and Basel in 2013 did not help either as Villas-Boas’ side narrowly missed out on fourth place and Champions League football. Spurs did not reach the quarter-finals last season, but the run to the last 16 stretched the squad’s resources again for sure.

All this informs the present because the prospect of playing Fiorentina is ideal, or perhaps suitable, in a couple of respects.

Tottenham’s difficulties against Besiktas in the Europa League group suggested Mauricio Pochettino’s young side might not be quite equipped for a deep run in the competition (or at least that they have plenty to improve). One which, starting with la Viola, would necessitate them beating some strong sides.

Even with a Champions League place at stake for the winners, if Spurs are not going to be good enough to win the whole thing, it would be better for them to find out sooner rather than later. It would avoid their domestic affairs suffering on account of ultimately unnecessary fatigue.

While only eighth in Serie A, Vincenzo Montella’s side possesses considerable talent which will test Pochettino’s men. Spurs would do well to overcome an experienced side that includes the firepower of Mario Gomez, the skill of Juan Cuadrado and the creativity of midfield men Alberto Aquilani and David Pizarro.

Indeed, the opposite, more positive outlook to this draw is Fiorentina might just be the opponents to spark Spurs into life in the Europa League this season.

Bar the 5-1 home win over Asteras Tripolis which saw Harry Kane score a hat-trick and Erik Lamela net a couple of stunning goals, little has seemed to excite the players. The Besiktas defeat which sent them into second place in Group C might inadvertently have sent them on a route of opponents who will provide the kind of challenges which bring the best out of this side.

Tiredness moving into 2015 could still prove problematic, of course. But should Tottenham embrace the Europa League, a good run could galvanise the side as they continue to realise their identity under Pochettino’s management. At least to the extent they might overlook a few knocks and niggles.

February is a couple of months away, and Tottenham have a lot of football to play before then. We will see what shape they are in by that point, and how that too will inform their approach to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

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With Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal reportedly willing to sanction a January loan move for young midfield prodigy Adnan Januzaj, this switch could see the 19-year-old reignite the blossoming development which saw him become such an important player last season.

David Wright, of the Express, claims that “Van Gaal is keen to loan out [the] winger.”

Wrights continues that “[Januzaj] has failed to nail down a regular position at Old Trafford this term despite a number of injuries to key players,” and “Van Gaal is ready to let the 19-year-old go out on loan to earn some valuable first-team minutes.”

Surprisingly, former manager David Moyes‘ new side Real Sociedad are linked with a move.

These may be speculative reports, but with just 409 Premier League minutes to his name so far this season, it would be fair to suggest that a switch could be on the cards for the talented teenager.

Interest in Januzaj would surely be high, with Wright suggesting that Serie A sides Napoli and Inter Milan are also keen on a loan, and, chosen carefully, such a move would benefit both player and club.

Obvious Talent

The clear benefit for a side prepared to offer Januzaj the requisite game time would be the acquisition of a high-potential, sporadically brilliant midfielder.

Last season’s performances perfectly outlined his burgeoning powers.

Sir Alex Ferguson, before giving the ultimate recognition to Januzaj by naming the midfielder on the team-sheet for his final game in charge of the club before retirement—a remarkable 5-5 draw with West Bromwich Albion—described him as “a beautifully balanced player.”

Ferguson continued to tell club magazine Inside United (h/t ManUtd.com) that: “He’s only 18 and still to grow into his frame. But he has good balance, good acceleration and he’s a very good technical player.”

Moyes continued to show the club’s faith in Januzaj by giving him 27 appearances in the league, which saw the midfielder score four goals and make three assists.

Arguably his finest performance came in last October’s 2-1 away victory over Sunderland, which saw him score both of United’s goals and Moyes describe him as “a special player,” per The Independent.

Any potential loan club would be receiving a player capable of, at such an young age, turning a game on its head, and in particular the comparatively languid styles of La Liga and Serie A would see Januzaj‘s raw flair excel.

However, the form that made him so invaluable last season has been hampered by Van Gaal‘s fevered summer transfer business.

A Cluttered Midfield

For all of their continued defensive deficiencies, United’s pre-season spending saw them considerably strengthen their midfield and attacking ranks.

Ander Herrera, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao joined to bolster the ranks from the base of the midfield to the tip of the attack, and United now stand well stocked when it comes to offensive options.

Perhaps Januzaj‘s most direct competition came in the form of British record signing Angel Di Maria, who, joining from Real Madrid, demands a place in Van Gaal‘s starting line-up by virtue of his sheer footballing prowess; in his 11 league appearances so far, Di Maria has scored three and assisted six.

Furthermore, Di Maria is by far United’s most all-round creative player, with 2.8 key passes on average per game so far in the Premier League—this is double second-placed Juan Mata‘s output.

Mata, however, stands as another player blocking Januzaj‘s path to the first team, and in particular his contribution to United’s recent 3-0 victory over Liverpool underlines his importance.

Under Van Gaal, Mata is a revitalised figure, and the manager has shown this quality, too, in sparking a revival in the formerly maligned Marouane Fellaini.

With even previously marginalised figures standing in the way, how much chance does Januzaj have?

While consistent substitute appearances—Januzaj has featured six times from the bench this season—will aid the player’s development, this will do little to prepare him for the rigours of regular football.

With the likes of Di Maria, Herrera and the resurgent Fellaini and Mata vying for roles in Van Gaal‘s midfield, Januzaj‘s role has been understandably minimised, and a spell away could see the player continue his development uninhibited by such myriad talent.

Gain for Player and Club

As obvious as the profits for the potential loan club are, Januzaj joining the likes of Real Sociedad or Napoli would vastly benefit United and their young midfielder, too.

United would see their player likely develop in a half season which could offer 20 to 30 full appearances, depending on the club’s European and domestic fortunes.

This would offer Van Gaal the chance to monitor his future prospect, while continuing his charge for the Premier League title—in what can be described as a transition season, the manager is wise to focus purely on results despite his insistence, per Sky Sports, that the side need to “improve our playing style.”

With United not competing in Europe this season, there is less opportunity for fringe players such as Januzaj.

Therefore, the move would benefit the player by, naturally, gifting him regular, invaluable game time.

Januzaj can experience the demands of consistent first-team football in a competitive league—alongside Sociedad, Napoli and Inter, the likes of Ajax would be an ideal destination for the midfielder.

The result would likely see Januzaj return to United next season a significantly improved player.

With so little game time so far this season at Old Trafford, Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj leaving the club on a temporary loan in January would likely see him return for the following season a stronger, more suitable option for Louis Van Gaal‘s first team.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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