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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to end his 12-year stay at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and begin a new chapter in what has been a glittering career so far, but with murmurs of interest from Manchester United, is it the sort of move that could benefit both parties?

The 34-year-old still seems a relatively key squad member in Rafa Benitez’s side and with a contribution of seven Premier League goals in 13 outings so far this term, while he may be in decline, he still clearly has his uses. A goalscoring midfielder is a difficult quality to perfect; Paul Scholes had to adjust to his age and gradually began to drop deeper and deeper, while Steven Gerrard looks to be doing the same thing at Liverpool, but Lampard has remained consistent in that regard, grabbing at least 10 league goals in the last nine consecutive seasons and he looks well on course to do the same this term.

If it were up to Benitez, you sense that both Lampard and Cole, for their experience more than anything, would be kept around, but we are not privy to contractual negotiations and their demands; whether they expect to be assured of a starting slot, the length of the deal and the monetary value of it are all private at the moment, so Chelsea, understandably, are copping plenty of flak for letting two ageing but still valuable players slowly but surely slip out of their grasp without a fight.

Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner stated last week: “Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup, then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory [both in December], that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season.

“Nothing since has changed in any respect. Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves.”

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It seems a strange position for Chelsea’s hierarchy to take, for while the need for the club to move on from the old guard is an important job that needs carrying out, completely ditching players while they can still contribute rather than fading them out seems the wrong approach to take, particularly with the club in a clear state of transition. This has led to Lampard reportedly consigned to his baffling fate, with PSG and LA Galaxy the favourites for his signature, but a rumour doing the rounds last week linking him with a switch to Old Trafford, while on the face of it would seem out of character from both sides, is certainly worthy of discussion.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins and general fountain of niceness set the ball rolling over the matter last week, telling BBC Radio Manchester: “He’ll want to continue to win and play at a high level – and there’s no higher level than Old Trafford. You have the master of utilising the older player in Sir Alex Ferguson, so I think it would be a tremendous move for Frank and a good one for Manchester United as well.

“You only have to see the performances Giggs and Scholes have put in over the last few years – and they are four years older than Frank! He’ll win them over because of his footballing ability.”

First and foremost, this is not another Robin van Persie deal; the Dutchman left Arsenal in the summer to win silverware, which with the club currently seven points clear of rivals Manchester City in the league, it looks like he’ll do, thus vindicating the controversial switch. However, Lampard has been at Chelsea for 12 years and is seen as a major part of the club’s history now, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and last season’s scarcely believable Champions League triumph. There is no reason for him to put his legacy on the line for what would be a relatively short-term switch to one of the club’s nearest title challengers. Can anyone honestly imagine him returning to Stamford Bridge in another club’s colours?

At the same time, though, Lampard still has something to contribute at the very highest level, which is why a switch to PSG looks the best bet for me, but it’s not like he would suddenly be out of his depth were he to move to United, but given their obvious need for a defensive midfielder, does the England international fit the bill?

United have a sustainable and clearly defined policy with older players of granting them one-year extensions, with 39-year-old Ryan Giggs and 38-year-old Scholes the recipients of this approach. Ferguson doesn’t see age as a barrier as much as other managers do, but would Lampard really settle for judging his career on a season-by-season basis? He will be 35 at the start of next season but he may still seek more long-term assurances over his future and role in the side. Both Scholes and Giggs are afforded a status in the squad due to their past achievements at the club and relationship with Ferguson, so it’s wrong to suggest Lampard will get the same treatment.

Moreover, the argument that because Scholes and Giggs are both ageing players entering the twilight of their respective careers that replacing an old squad player with a slightly less old one is somehow a logical explanation is complete and utter folly and that appears to be the only basis of this rumour, the sort of 2+2=5 journalism that helps churn out easy copy.

Could Lampard contribute to United? Yes, of course he could. Is he what they need? No. They need long-term replacements for both Scholes and Giggs, not another stop-gap measure. Ferguson’s legacy will be judged just as much by what comes after him as it is on his last few years in charge and a smooth handover is crucial, so replacing the duo is of paramount importance. It’s the sort of move that Harry Redknapp, with his short-term thinking, would feel comfortable doing but you suspect Ferguson has eyes on a more solid solution.

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The United midfield is in dire need of someone who can win the ball back quickly, with Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick very good with it but lacking that bite in the tackle that every top side needs without it. They’ve missed it since Roy Keane and Owen Hargreaves, with Darren Fletcher’s return to injury only showing slow progress.

They need someone like Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Strootman or whatever the flavour of the month is on the continent – that every midfielder in Europe over the past five years has been labelled as the ‘perfect solution’ to the club’s midfield problems points to two things – a frustration with Ferguson from the fans that he keeps ignoring recruiting in that area and second that nobody really knows what the answer is. Nevertheless, what is clear is that while Lampard would be a useful squad option, he’s not the future of the team and it’s doubtful whether he would join United, putting his reputation at risk, then be content to play second fiddle.

Whenever you hear the Lampard to United rumour, part of you will think that it could just work, because who would say no to such a decorated, experienced and talented individual, but when you dig a little deeper, neither party would be content at the nature of the move or the length of the deal, while competition for places would be fierce. To answer the title of the article, is he worth a transfer punt? Definitely. Will it realistically happen? No.

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Should Tottenham Hotspur eventually go on to lift the Europa League trophy in Amsterdam this May, you can place your bets now as to who might take the honour of being the first to raise it with both hands.

Following the loss of both a club legend and inspirational captain in Ledley King during the summer, the school of thought was that the armband already had a natural successor in fan’s favourite Michael Dawson. And in due time following Andre Villas-Boas’ appointment, that was eventually the case.

Although while injury has so often been a lingering shadow over the former Nottingham Forest man’s career in North London, his modest total of 16 league starts has had little to do with time on the treatment table and a lot more to do with Villas-Boas’ personal preference. For the first half of Spurs’ campaign, their newly crowned skipper found himself relegated to the substitutes bench.

In recent weeks, the 29-year-old has of course made a stellar return to proceedings and won back the trust of his previously doubting manager. But even so, Dawson still remains part of a rotating set-up at centre back. With the return of arguably the club’s outstanding defender in Younes Kaboul on the horizon, there’s every chance that he might find himself once again fighting for a starting berth.

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In spite of his obvious natural leadership qualities, every club has a chain of prospective command, but when you go down the line of those you’d expect to take the armband should Dawson not be playing, you find yourself with a slightly disconcerting lack of regular candidates.

When Dawson found himself on the bench earlier on in the season, Villas-Boas opted for the wealth of experience that was William Gallas, to take on leadership duties. Although at 35 and with his powers on the wane, the Frenchman hardly offers much in the way of security for the skipper’s role.

Likewise, as the veteran of many a Premier League campaign and as Spurs’ most experienced player, Brad Friedel was an obvious choice for the armband when Villas-Boas’ central defenders looked set to yo-yo in and out of the team. Yet since the emergence of Hugo Lloris, the American no longer offers a viable option as captain. In fact, had it not been for the injury picked up to Sandro that’s allowed Scott Parker in the team, you’d be hard pressed to pick one at all within this Tottenham side.

The role of the captain is notoriously overplayed within these shores and the definition of what we often perceive to be a good captain, has become caricature-like in its make-up. Contrary to popular belief, clubs don’t necessarily need a captain whose veins throb out the side of his head after berating his side in regular 30-second intervals. Following through on every tackle is no longer a requisite skill of the role in question.

Although what cannot be overstated is the effect a good captain can have within a side and although the armband is only a title, the quality of leadership most certainly isn’t. And past Michael Dawson – who’s rumoured to be in talks over a new deal at the club – that trait isn’t particularly in plentiful supply at White Hart Lane and at the end of the season, it could potentially get even sparser.

With Villas-Boas publicly stating his desire to trim his centre halves from five to four, the smart money must be on William Gallas – whose contract expires at the end of the season – departing the club. That’s one further leader that will most probably be on his way.

Furthermore, although Scott Parker has been racking up the appearances since his return from an Achilles problem, there is a feeling that the England man could well be on his way to pastures new this summer as Villas-Boas looks to raise both space and added funds for another midfield recruit. Should he depart the club, then Spurs could be left with a shortage of natural leaders.

Take away the ages of both Brad Friedel and William Gallas from this Spurs team, and the average age of the squad is around only 25-years-old. Within the likes of Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Clint Dempsey amongst others, the club boasts plenty of players with a good 180 plus Premier League games to their name, but experience doesn’t naturally transcend into leadership. And it’s here that Andre Villas-Boas may well be given some interesting food for thought come the summer transfer window.

Does this mean that the Portuguese should go out and buy an ageing midfield enforcer just because he’s at the wrong end of his 20’s and looks to be good leadership material? No, absolutely not and given the club’s policy of buying younger talent with a high potential sell-on fee, the odds are that chairman Daniel Levy wouldn’t sanction it, either.

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But if/when the club decide to try and bolster their side during the summer, they could do a lot worse than bringing in a slightly more experienced campaigner in addition to the wealth of younger, gifted talent that they currently bestow. As well as adding another leader to the ranks, given the relative lack of sustained Champions League experience in the squad, some further experience in the competition wouldn’t hurt the team, either.

It’s difficult to quantify whether Tottenham are in dire need of an added shot of leadership come the end of the season and with team spirit seemingly looking extremely positive from the outside, it’s a delicate balancing act in looking to add another big personality.

But with the right addition, a spot of extra experience could be the perfect compliment to a squad that looked perfectly balanced to push on even further next season.

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini’s future continues to hog the headlines simply because it remains so up in the air, but is he already a lame duck or does he still have some authority in the corridors of power at the club, at least enough to guarantee him one more campaign at the Etihad?

It’s getting to that stage in the season where everyone takes stock and looks back on what has been achieved, or for most, what hasn’t been achieved at various clubs up and down the country; when it comes to silverware, every cup competition is nearing its inevitable conclusion and promotion tilts are either in the bag or down and out, and the same could certainly be said of City’s desire to retain their Premier League crown this season, with Mancini declaring the race all but over on Thursday with an unassailable 15-point deficit to try and claw back in the nine remaining games a thankless task. When it comes to judging the team’s overall performance, they’ve been deeply disappointing and have failed to live up to expectations and then some, but is all of that the Italian’s fault? And will he be given a chance to redeem himself?

Under the guidance of the 48-year-old former Inter Milan boss, the club have been on an upward curve ever since he took over and this season remains their first tangible setback – the failure in the Champions League, where they exited without even a win to their win saw them finish bottom of their group and fail to even drop into the Europa League and for the second season running, they left a lot to be desired, seemingly unable to stamp their authority on any game of importance against continental opposition and that presents a major concern.

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Right through his recent managerial career, Mancini has shown an inability to make an impact in Europe, with his Inter side torn apart every season at the quarter-final stage or earlier despite being the runaway leaders in Serie A. In all honesty, do the club’s fans expect him to improve upon that ropey record next term? Probably not, and he’s managed to consign himself to being something of a domestic specialist incapable of truly breaching the top tier, which is where City’s ambitions dictate they must end up eventually.

In that respect, City’s owners may see the end of this season as the ideal opportunity to get rid of Mancini, particularly with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho thought to be looking for a return to the Premier League, with Chelsea in the running. Is there really much point in keeping faith with a manager when there are such large doubts about how far he can take the club in the future? The league is often seen as the bread and butter, but that’s not why countless millions were invested in the playing squad and star names such as David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero were purchased, the owners will want to make a splash of sorts in Europe and the jury is well and truly out over whether Mancini is the man to deliver that progress, with the evidence that he can in short supply.

Mancini has presented an inconsistent stance to the media with regards to the constant questioning over his future, sometimes going on the attack and other simply laughing everything off, but last month in a press conference saw him reveal his true feelings on the matter: “We started our project here three years ago. In that time we’re always at the top fighting for the title. We won three trophies, we’ve the chance to win more this year. All the people who talk about this do not understand football. Because if City should sack me, the other 19 teams in the league should be without a boss. I speak with Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) every week. He is like me. When we lose, he’s upset. We have a good relationship.”

He clearly feels he is safe because by and large, his relationship with the owners has remained strong even despite recent setbacks. Nevertheless, with Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano moving in upstairs, there is the danger that a power-sharing duo could push him out if they see fit, especially with Mancini’s position weak at the moment and their recent arrivals meaning they possess as much power as they will ever do.

When you compare the club to the side that Mancini inherited from Mark Hughes, the difference is huge – he’s professionalised the ranks, made the squad a lot more balanced and got them into that winning routine while also attracting better quality players than the Welshman ever could. However, there’s still a sense that the system the team uses is heavily reliant on a few key individuals to play well, with six defensive players simply hoping the creative quartet manage to do some damage at the top end of the pitch and in terms of a plan B, they’ve looked clueless at times this year, with the experimental 3-5-2 formation doing more harm than good.

For all of the money that the club have spent too, they simply don’t look good enough to become a force in Europe and there’s a real lack of depth and quality in several positions, which points to a flawed policy of which Mancini is responsible of and he is a difficult man to control, liable to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation, which is not always conducive to a healthy long-term dressing room atmosphere when everything isn’t going according to plan.

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There are plenty of positives about Mancini’s reign on the whole, but when it comes to evaluating job performance, the most important factor in deciding any manager’s future is the one just gone and without an FA Cup triumph, he could be ushered out via the back door with a handsome pay-off.

His future is intertwined largely with that of Mourinho, given City will be faced with a paucity of viable alternatives should the Portuguese boss move elsewhere. You suspect he’ll be given one more year before the club moves for someone like Jurgen Klopp, Joachim Loew or Diego Simeone, but he simply cannot afford another campaign like the potentially trophyless one this year or even his influence with the owners won’t be able to save him.

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It perhaps speaks volumes about the nature of the hyperbole that’s managed to sweep around the Luis Suarez incident in recent days, that it’s taken Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher of all people, to emerge as the voice of reason.

Following the Uruguayan’s recent bite to the arm of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during the two sides’ 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday, the footballing world has quite rightly shown its collective disdain for an act that was as brutishly impromptu as it was freakishly bizarre.

For a 26-year-old man to clasp his jaw around another professional’s arm like that absolutely beggars belief and the fact that Suarez has in fact got previous for the same incident, many have been left wondering with the former Ajax-man truly has a future in the Premier League given his past resume of incidents.

But while it’s important that Liverpool’s number seven is criticized, condemned and dealt with appropriately with retrospective action by the FA, it’s seemed that for some, that’s not quite enough. Far from making him serve his time on the sidelines, the feeling within some quarters is that it’s time for Suarez to pack his bags and leave the Premier League for good.

In recent days, we’ve heard everyone from David Cameron to Mike Tyson weighing in on the Suarez debate, with one rather notorious Fleet Street hack even having the gall to dub the Liverpool striker’s act as one worse than the infamous bite that the latter took out of Evander Holyfield in 1997.

But far from the distant musings outside of English football, it’s been the hypocrisy and damn right lack of judgment that we’ve witnessed from inside the footballing domain that’s been the really disheartening element.

As Carragher elaborated upon in his Mail Online column, while Suarez’s history leaves him in quite some unfavourable stead, he’s not the first person in Premier League history to loose control physically. In fact, when you measure him up against past incidents, his attempted ‘bite’ on Ivanovic doesn’t even see him draw close to the worst offenders we’ve seen.

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Taking the spotlight away from Liverpool for the moment, and in terms of physical incidents that might bring the game into disrepute, Suarez’s nibble on Ivanovic’s arm cannot even hold a candle to the assault that Eric Cantona dished out to Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons back in 1995.

There is a tendency to let bleary-eyed nostalgia and the Frenchman’s cult-status to underplay his now infamous ‘Kung-Fu’ kick, but let’s not forget that Cantona was arrested and charged with assault – one that brought with it a two-week prison sentence before appeal.

But far from being hounded out the country and sold out of disgust, Sir Alex Ferguson did everything in his power to retain his services, following his eight-month ban.

For as uncouth as the sight of Suarez’s bite may have been, it didn’t amount to assault and it most certainly didn’t put the career of another professional in danger, as Roy Keane’s pre-mediated shocker on Alf-Inge Haaland did in 2001.The Ulsterman later admitted he had intentions on going out and ‘hurting’ the Norwegian and he certainly had his desired effect, with his tackle during a Manchester derby playing it’s part in the former Leeds man’s retirement. But of course, that’s nothing compared to Suarez’s peck on the cheek, is it?

But it was listening to one their own – as Carragher so prominently pointed out – that really left you stumbling for words when it came to evaluating the Suarez incident.

There was almost something macabre about Graeme Souness’ public chastising of the Uruguayan during his work as a pundit for Sky Sports on the weekend, as the man who once broke another professional’s jaw during his time at the club, called out Suarez for putting the club in a ‘very very bad light indeed.’

Three European cups or not, a hypocrite is still a hypocrite and regardless of what era you’re in or how football has evolved since 1984, it seems somewhat astounding that Souness can pass opinion on Suarez’s misdemeanor. But far from simply offer conjecture, the damage inflicted by his and others’ take on Suarez has already cast its shadow over Fleet Street.

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Let’s make no mistake here – although Suarez hasn’t broke anyone’s jaw or leg, what we witnessed at Anfield was a truly shocking piece of behavior and it feels really quite hard to comprehend that this is something the 26-year-old has already been found guilty of once before. He will take his ban – one would assume a lot longer than just the three games – and rightfully serve it.

But when he returns, let that be the end of it. Suarez’s bite had no place in the game, but it wasn’t a sin that he should have to pay the ultimate price for. Putting Suarez the man to one side, Suarez the footballer is one of the best there is plying his trade in Europe today.

We’ve welcomed back footballers after witnessing far worse crimes than Luiz Suarez’s bite. It’s worth remembering that before the campaign to hound him out of English football sets into full swing.

Former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is thought to be on Manchester United’s radar after becoming a key member of Benfica’s team, according to Sport 360.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to be in the market for reinforcements in the middle of the park for next season, with Paul Scholes tipped to retire for a second time in the summer and question marks existing over the long-term future of illness stricken Darren Fletcher.

The Serbian enforcer is one of the names being looked at by Ferguson and his scouting network and another standout performance against Newcastle in the Europa League won’t have gone unnoticed.

Magpies manager Alan Pardew was extremely impressed with Matic’s display for the Portuguese league leaders on Thursday and made a point of commenting about it in his post-match interviews.

He said: “The way they kept the ball was fantastic, but Matic in particular. The way he has grown since he has gone away from Chelsea, he’s a terrific player for them.”

Matic’s opportunities were restricted to just three first-team outings during his two-year stay at Stamford Bridge, before moving to Portugal in January 2011 as part of the deal that saw David Luiz head in the opposite direction.

However, he has clearly developed with a regular run in Benfica’s starting eleven after finally getting his chance for them following Javi Garcia and Axel Witsel’s transfers to Manchester City and Zenit St Petersburg respectively.

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Excluding teenager Nick Powell and the return of Paul Scholes, Sir Alex hasn’t signed a central midfielder since Owen Hargreaves in 2007.

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The controversies surrounding Carlos Tevez’s initial move to England with West Ham have been replaced by other equally infamous stories. The transfer from the red half of Manchester to the blue; the retreat to Argentina following the episode at the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich; the persistent stories linking him with a move away.

Is it so bad that no other English club – a fourth English club – has found use for the 29-year-old? Almost as if to say, collectively, the Premier League is sorry to let go of such a headline-producing figure.

£10 million rising to £12 million may seem like peanuts in today’s market – because it is. Tevez may be at that stage of his career where it’s his ‘last big contract,’ but he’s still a 20 goal-a-season striker, more than capable of leading the charge for any of the top teams in Europe. Yet it isn’t such a bad thing that Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham have failed to capitalise on his move out of the Etihad Stadium.

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The unwavering power in his game, the desire shown on the pitch and the capacity to match the very best he’s thrown in against would indicate that Juventus have indeed landed a star striker, the club now fully able to launch potentially devastating tandem with Fernando Llorente also in the fold as they seek their third Serie A title in as many years. But Italy is new to Tevez, it’s a different adventure and one where the poorly taken steps of his career in England won’t be so pronounced.

Juventus don’t need a star to legitimise their efforts for this season. The Italian champions have Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, a monster three-man backline headed by Giorgio Chiellini; Tevez is joining a proven group of winners and adding to their bid to transfer domestic success onto the European stage. It would be completely different at any of the three suggested teams in England.

It shouldn’t be misinterpreted: for his abilities and contributions on the pitch, Tottenham and Arsenal would both see value in Tevez, combined with the minimal fee Manchester City have reduced themselves to. It’s the off-pitch personality that neither team need.

Spurs are already dealing with the persistent nuisance from abroad with regards to Gareth Bale and Andre Villas-Boas is trying to reshape a squad in his own image – one that saw him to such success while managing in Portugal. Like their north London rivals, Tottenham also need a marquee name in attack, someone who can finally take them over the line and help to secure Champions League football on a regular basis. Tevez, however, isn’t the long-term fix they need. On the pitch he’ll do what they need and probably more. Off it, you never know what you’re going to get. Coupled with his wage demands that were unlikely to deviate too far from his previous contract at Manchester City, it just rounds out to a deal that Spurs could have afforded to miss.

The lack of interest from within the Premier League for Tevez – his most notable suitors ahead of Juventus were Monaco and PSG – should also say a lot about the value English clubs have found abroad. Tevez isn’t the only 20 goal-a-season striker who could be had for a financial package that amounts to a good investment. Can anyone really argue that Arsenal haven’t picked up a better deal in Gonzalo Higuain if the mooted £22 million deal goes ahead? What about Tottenham and the links they have with Leandro Damiao and Roberto Soldado? One is a proven goal scorer in Europe, while the former is a Brazilian international with the potential to further enhance his reputation in the Premier League.

For Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool, it makes absolutely no sense. The club are targeting bargain buys in the most literal sense of the phrase, all the while ensuring that they remain smart in their building and receive the best return for their meagre outlay. Should Luis Suarez depart Anfield this summer, a replacement like Tevez might not do a lot to totally appease supporters. The Argentine isn’t a player who you can invest a lengthy project in. Adding his age into the mix, it doesn’t fit the bill for what the club are looking for on the transfer front.

An interesting (or damning) stat is that Tevez hasn’t scored in the Champions League since his final season at Old Trafford. Of course, there was the fallout from the incident at the Allianz Arena, but then City could have done with someone of his experience in the competition last season when they failed to advance out of the group stage yet again. The player himself doesn’t need a project; he needs to go where the pressure is lessened significantly.

Manchester City may have an immediate feeling that they didn’t quite get value for money in the sale of Tevez – Robin van Persie and Andriy Shevchenko are comparable transfers. But Premier League clubs haven’t missed a beat by any means. There are far better options suited to the needs of Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal. At 29, the Argentine isn’t quite at the age anymore to be considered a signing of great intent.

Have Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool missed out on Carlos Tevez?

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It appears almost certain at this point that Wayne Rooney will not be a Manchester United player by the end of the summer. The England international has burned too many bridges with the fans, Sir Alex Ferguson and apparently David Moyes, whilst the Premier League champions themselves have done worryingly little to appease Rooney, or quash his concerns of playing second fiddle to Robin Van Persie in the preluding campaign to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The only viable suitors on the horizon are Chelsea, capable of coughing up the cash in terms of transfer fees and wage demands, and also the only English club that can offer Rooney  a similar level of success to what he’s become accustomed to at Old Trafford, barring a shock move to Manchester City. Jose Mourinho has made no qualms about his pursuit of the striker, admitting openly and honestly during a press conference on the Blues’ pre-season tour that Chelsea’s transfer policy this summer can be described in a nutshell as “Rooney or bust”.

So the Red Devils are in the market to sell as long as the price is right, despite David Moyes insisting otherwise at every opportunity, and Jose Mourinho is keen to buy, but could the potential Rooney deal leave the new United boss blue in the face?

The fall-out from Rooney’s transfer will affect David Moyes’ reputation for better or worse, yet  there is little doubt that the current summer scenario is straight out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial hand-book. The Premier League champions have a knack of selling their best players in their prime, with a host of examples throughout Ferguson’s long reign at Old Trafford.

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Jaap Stam was sold to Lazio in 2001, despite being regarded as one of the best central defenders in Europe at the time, David Beckham was allowed to leave for Real Madrid in 2003, aged just 28 and with another ten years of his career yet to go, Carlos Tevez was surrendered to Manchester City in 2009, regardless of the fact he’d played in and won a Champions League final for the Red Devils a year previous, and went on to net 73 times in 138 appearances for the noisy neighbours, before moving to Juventus this summer. Cristiano Ronaldo was sold on for immense profit in 2009, whilst Ruud Van Nistelrooy was surprisingly usurped from the first team in 2006, despite netting 21 goals in 35 appearances during his final season in Manchester.

With the exception of Ronaldo, none were sold on the basis that offers received from potential suitors were too good to turn down. Rather, the practice of deconstructing the United first team and shifting the club’s best players is part of what Steve McLaren describes as Ferguson’s ‘helicopter view’ of the Red Devils, noticing Premier League trends before they happen, and making sure no individual becomes too well acquainted with their surroundings at Carrington. The old adage that no player becomes bigger than the club itself is constantly maintained, whilst room is made for the next generation of stars to burst through, and it’s hard to argue against a method of longevity that has brought United unprecedented success over the last twenty years.

The hole Rooney leaves behind will most likely be filled by Shinji Kagawa. The 24 year old is by no means a Rooney replica, and regular inclusion in the first team in a more central role than last season will require some tactical modification on David Moyes’ part, but with few viable alternatives on the horizon, and the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Mario Gotze and Christian Eriksen already passing United by this summer, it appears the mantle will be passed to Kagawa, with full confidence from the Red Devils management.

The Japan international struggled to adapt at times last term, but finished up with six goals and three assists from 20 domestic appearances, despite spending two months out with a knee injury picked up in a Champions League tie against Braga, and also confronting the language barrier. At former club Borussia Dortmund, Kagawa was utilised in a supporting role to Robert Lewandowski and recorded 21 goals in 48 domestic appearances in the space of two years, picking up two Bundesliga titles along the way. The Red Devils invested £17million in the attacking midfielder last summer, and to suggest Kagawa was touted as Rooney’s successor from the point of his signing would hardly be a wild theory.

The process has worked time and time again for the 13-time Premier League champions, but I have my doubts regarding the current situation with Wayne Rooney. The England man finished last campaign with 10 goals and 12 assists in 27 domestic appearances, fielded only twice in his preferred capacity as an out-and-out striker. At the same time, Rooney’s United record stands at 197 goals in 400 appearances, and the forward has claimed five Premier League titles, two League Cups and a Champions League title during his nine years at Old Trafford.

It seems the 27 year old’s main crime is a distain to playing second-fiddle to Robin Van Persie, whilst others have complained over Rooney’s apparent lack of fitness, despite playing in 37 fixtures last season, and averaging over forty appearances per term throughout his United career. On a business front, this summer represents the best opportunity to sell the striker, a campaign before his contract enters its final year and his value begins to plummet as a result.

But making selection and transfer policy based upon business decisions is dangerous territory, and it appears from the outside at least that the Red Devils are essentially surrendering one of the English top flight’s most proven goal-scorers and creators in the final third to a divisional rival who present the biggest threat to United’s title defence next season, simply for the sake of it. Instead, the club will be reliant upon Robin Van Persie for goals, a striker who was 30 less career goals than Rooney, 19 less Premier League goals than Rooney, and in two weeks time, will be three years older than Rooney.

At the same time, the Red Devils are losing the vital element to their strikeforce. Currently, they have the best attack in the Premier League, with Van Persie, Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck  providing great contrast and diversity in style, physicality, strengths and weakness, whilst also representing variation in age and proven track record. But United will suddenly find themselves eclipsed in attack should Rooney jump ship to Stamford Bridge and join up with Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Romelu Lukaku, whilst recent acquisitions at City have added Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic alongside Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero.

Options up-front was undoubtedly United’s biggest strength amid their successful 2012/2013 campaign, but a large chunk of their unrivalled depth laid in Rooney’s versatility. Van Persie and Hernandez are both capable of twenty goals a-piece, and the Mexican international deserves a fairer share of game time, but Danny Welbeck’s inability to find the net is well-known, whilst none on the Red Devils roster, excluding Kagawa, appear capable of taking over the Rooney’s dual role at the tip of United’s midfield.

The fact is, all that Manchester United are gaining from the Rooney deal is a sum between £25million and £35million, money which the club simply doesn’t need, and considering the England international’s availability is well known, I’d predict that his price tag will be closer to the former figure rather than the latter.

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Without a viable replacement on the horizon, with every established European attacking midfielder and striker already accounted for this summer barring a few exceptions, Rooney’s departure looks set to leave integral holes in the United squad, whilst his unique characteristics, with creativity and composure in the final third, the ability to score from a variety of ranges and chances, a raw energy, robustness and hard-working attitude, and one of the most proven track-records in terms of end product in the top flight, will be willing handed to United’s biggest foes in Chelsea and Jose Mourinho.

The Red Devils have little to gain and a lot to lose from selling a player that is currently the heart-beat of the first team, and David Moyes is taking a huge risk in axeing one of his most established players simply for the sake of change. Should Rooney’s form pick up upon his arrival in West London, the critics will come calling, but even before the incoming Premier League season gets underway, United will have to source a new recruit of similar quality and reputation. At the moment that man appears to be Cesc Fabregas, but should the Spaniard wish to stay put, there aren’t too many transfer alternatives for David Moyes that can claim to be a similar caliber to the England international. Rooney’s transfer has huge scope to backfire, and leave the new Red Devils boss blue in the face amid his first season in charge at Old Trafford.

Do United stand little to gain from selling Wayne Rooney?

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There’s a growing contingent of German internationals at the Emirates which seem to enjoy mucking around together on Twitter.

Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil are no strangers to broadcasting their traditional Deutschland mischief via social media, but their shared nationality has also positively contributed to Arsenal’s recent rise in form, which has seen them lead the pack at the top of the Premier League table this season.

The Bundesliga is a competition fast growing in reputation, quality and stature, and many English clubs are now viewing the German top flight as an exciting recruitment pool with cheap cost – including Arsene Wenger, who is reportedly planning on adding to his small collection of Germans in the coming transfer window.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a list of FIVE of the German top flight’s rising stars that the Gunners gaffer should look to snap up in January.

CLICK ON JULIAN DRAXLER TO REVEAL THE FIVE BUNDESLIGA BOYS TO FOLLOW OZIL TO ARSENAL

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For all Tottenham’s transfer activity in recent seasons, it is the acquisition of a certain French stopper that is for me their stand out bit of business. Signed in the summer of 2012 for an initial fee of just £8m from French giants Lyon, Lloris represented genuine world-class pedigree for a side looking to step up from being the great underachievers.

After a slow settling in period to Premier League life, Lloris has finally established himself as one of the best performers in the whole league. Many would place him in the top bracket amongst the likes of Petr Cech and David de Gea, and I would argue that such praise is wholly justified.

Four clean sheets from his opening five games in the league this season really started to highlight how far the defensive unit had come under AVB. A continued belief in a high line with the talented sweeper keeper Lloris in behind to mop up any unnecessary danger. As many know the football wasn’t the best, but for Spurs defensive solidity had been achieved for one of the first times in last decade or so.

Fast forward to 2014 and the Spurs back line is in a state of disarray. Sherwood’s gung-ho attitude has exacerbated the problems left by the ruin of the AVB tenure. Whether it is coincidental or not, Lloris just hasn’t looked like the same keeper ever since his clash with Romelu Lukaku at Goodison Park in November; less the assured sweeper, now a calamitous kamikaze style stopper that leaves fans wincing at the sight of him charging out.

It is easy to sensationalise and clearly Lloris is far from entering the Gomes or Robinson categories for Spurs yet, but his drop in form has been both notable and worrying at the same time. At the start of the season Lloris’ decision making was almost faultless, and when he did make a move he was as composed as he was decisive. Watching the recent win over United and you noticed a sense of nervousness amongst the whole defence, unconvincing from crosses and looking incredibly open when balls were played in behind them.

Should Lloris be taking the brunt of the blame here?

I don’t think the defenders and goalkeeper should be treated as stand alone, clearly one impacts upon the other and at Spurs this is no different. Possibly the result of transition from one manager to another, the organisation of the back line has been close to non-existent. Ravaged by injury, the current Chiriches/ Dawson partnership has seen Spurs consistently beaten by balls in behind with poor communication and an inability to hold a line the underlying problems. To make matters worse, rather than having the assurance and pace of a Vertonghen at the back you now have two rather haphazard centre halves that seem unable to react to any piercing of the back line. In the past Vertonghen and at times Walker have worked in tandem with Lloris to track back and cover any break in the line, the feeling during both the Arsenal and united games was that Lloris is very much on his own out there and paying the price for it.

Lloris has always been on the rash side, its what makes him one of the best sweeper keepers in the world and something that should be nurtured rather than changed. Yes he will naturally come under fire for blunders and periods where he looks reckless at the back, but if Spurs want to rectify things they need to look at their centre halves above all else.

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Sherwood has made no secret of the current injury crisis, and I don’t think it has helped Spurs at all given the fact they have played what has been at times a 3rd or 4th choice backline during the winter. For me the return of Vertonghen is crucial, an assured defender that is comfortable playing the offside trap but also capable of working in tandem with Lloris in goal.

A full week of training under Sherwood may help to patch things up in the mean time, but until the return of Vertonghen many fear that the chaos at the back will only continue.

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Arsene Wenger insists Mesut Ozil will return from his break a better player, whilst also claiming Arsenal’s record signing may be putting too much pressure on himself, reports the Guardian.

Ozil has come under fire of late for a string of below par performances, which culminated in a tame penalty miss in the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich last week and leaving Arsenal as huge outsiders to progress in Sportsbook Review.

The former Real Madrid man has since been allowed to return to Germany for some time to recharge his batteries, and missed last weekend’s 4-1 win over Sunderland.

But Wenger insists the German looked fresh in training upon his return, and is ready to help Arsenal try and claim their first league title since 2004.

The Gunners sit just a single point behind Chelsea going into the weekend’s fixtures, and Ozil is set to be recalled to the first team.

“I never tell Mesut: ‘You have to win us the game,'” Wenger said when discussing the pressure placed on the club’s record £42.5million signing.

“He shouldn’t do that. It’s down to the performance of the team. But maybe he feels that a bit in a different way than I do. I just want him to enjoy it and play well.

“It is difficult for him mentally to be confronted with that pressure every three days and in every single competition. But he will adapt. He had a difficult game [against Bayern] because he missed that penalty and it was on his mind. Sometimes, when you are under this kind of pressure, it’s good to refresh.”

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“Many clubs have two days off,” he added.

“We played since the beginning of December, we don’t have to justify why we have two days off. I don’t see why that suddenly is a problem. It’s unbelievable. We are in a society where everybody wants to control everything. It is unusual? We are entitled to do unusual things.”