Thursday, 16 January 2014

Moyes accepts FA misconduct charge

15:31

By: TBMU Admin On: 15:31   In:   No comments

Moyes accepts FA misconduct charge

Moyes accepts FA misconduct charge

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:58 AM PST

Manchester United manager Moyes was charged in relation to post-match media comments he made following his side's 2-1 League Cup semi-final first leg defeat at Sunderland on January 7. That game saw referee Andre Marriner award Sunderland a second-half penalty - which was scored by Fabio Borini - for a foul on Adam Johnson by Tom Cleverley, even though replays appeared to show contact had been made outside the box. This followed on from a free-kick being given against United defender Jonny Evans in the first half, which led to Sunderland's opening goal. Afterwards, Moyes claimed his team are "having to play officials as well as the opposition", adding: "It's terrible, it really is, we're actually beginning to laugh at them." The FA ruled these comments to be in contravention of Rule E3(1), as they brought the game into disrepute and suggested match officials are "motivated by bias". And an FA spokesperson confirmed to Perform on Wednesday that Moyes has accepted the charge and requested a "non-personal hearing".

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Marchisio focused on Juventus Scudetto quest

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:42 AM PST

The 27-year-old, who has been at the club for the duration of his career, is a reported transfer target for Manchester United after manager David Moyes watched the midfielder score in Juve's 4-1 victory at Cagliari on Sunday. However, the Italy international has reiterated his desire to help his current club to the Serie A title. "After winning the Scudetto two years in a row it's never easy," he told Sky Sport Italia. "This group have always given their all - even those who aren't necessarily regular starters - and the results are clear to see. "My goal against Cagliari was an important one, not because some have been saying I'm unhappy on the bench and the like, but rather because we were in a bit of difficultly in that first half. "Like I've always said, whether I'm on the bench or not I'll always have a great desire to help out the team and the manager, not just in the games but also in training, so I'm completely calm about it." Juve's victory over Cagliari gave them a half-season total of 52 points, but Marchisio remains focused on winning the league. "One hundred points is something to aim for, but our main objective is the Scudetto, regardless of the number of points we pick up," he continued. "If we manage the third league title in a row then I think we can talk about the best Juve ever. "We need to concentrate on what we're doing – on our path and the games we've got coming up – as opposed to the first year, when we were in pursuit of Milan for almost the whole of the second half of the season. "If we keep working as hard as we are and maintain our desire to win, we can definitely achieve our Scudetto objective."

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Weve changed our mind... The players clubs brought back after theyd got rid

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:15 AM PST

Chelsea fans who keep a close eye on other leagues around Europe can be forgiven for finding it somewhat excruciating: in January 2011, the Blues sold Nemanja Matic for £5 million and a part-ex on David Luiz – and have since watched him blossom into a top-class midfielder at Benfica. Now they're grabbing him back for around £22m – which looks like a song for an individual of his calibre, but can be mathematically confirmed as a lot more than zero. It's hardly a unique error, mind: FourFourTwo revisits the other rejects that their original clubs went back to pay a pretty penny for… Alan Shearer Newcastle-born, Newcastle-bred and Newcastle-mad, the young imp who would become the Premier League's highest ever scorer was rejected at his Toon trial – insanely, they played him in goal as they were after a net-minder at the time – and instead was spotted by a grateful Southampton scout with a large petrol budget playing for Wallsend Boys Club. After an avalanche of net-busters for Saints and title-winning Blackburn Rovers, his hometown finally came knocking again, with a world-record breaking £15m deal led by fellow Geordie Messiah Kevin Keegan in 1996. Cesc Fabregas Even La Masia's ruthless genius factory makes bad judgement calls: after bringing Barca-barmy Cesc through the ranks from the age of 10 – during which time he racked up Sombrero-fuls of goals – the Catalans didn't rate Fabregas highly enough to think that he'd be for the first team fodder, instead allowing him to sneak off to the Arsenal academy, where the rest would be history. The 2011 buyback of the midfield maestro would punish the Spaniards' candle-lit abacus meddlers to the tune of £35m. Cafu The most-capped player in Brazil history and the only man ever to have appeared in three World Cup finals wasn't fancied much by his local side Palmeiras as a favela teen, and had to wait until the age of 18 before getting snapped up by Sao Paulo instead. But the Alviverde eventually saw the error of their ways and shelled out for the right-back in 1996. Cafu spent a season there before moving to Roma, where he was nicknamed "The Train" for his relentless consistency (clearly oblivious of the existence of South West Trains). Alvaro Arbeloa The lofty full-back represented Real Madrid C (yes, there is such a thing) and Real Madrid B in the early-to-mid 2000s, but found breaking into the A Team a bigger ask. "There were eight defenders in the squad, something had to give," he sighed, after playing just twice for the seniors and moving to Deportivo La Coruna. But after a term there and two with Liverpool, Los Blancos realised that they had misjudged him, and bought back their versatile stopper for £3.5m. He's now virtually ever-present. Peter Crouch Crouchy took the long way round in playing for Spurs, the side he signed professional forms with as a youth in 1998. Without a senior appearance to his name, he left and turned out for Dulwich Hamlet, IFK Hasseleholm, QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Norwich, Southampton, Liverpool and Portsmouth again, before finally pulling on a first team Tottenham shirt in 2009, having being purchased for £10m by Harry Redknapp. Sebastian Giovinco Currently being "monitored" by Arsenal (whatever that means) tiny Turin-born schemer Giovinco, who is marvellously-monikered Atomic Ant (Formica Atomica), has been engaged in a curious tug-of-love with Juventus for his whole career. After coming through their youth system he was loaned to Empoli and then Parma after only playing sporadically for the Old Lady. Parma soon exercised their right to own 50 per cent of the player (€3m), where he played like a trequartista possessed, leading President Tommasso Ghirardi to bluster that he was worth 10 times the amount. Juve then stumped up €11m to buy the 50 per cent back – enough to bring him home. Half mad. Marco Reus Another one who snuck through his birthplace's youth system and had to go elsewhere to prove himself: Reus, now arguably Borussia Dortmund's finest player, wasn't fancied as a youngster and instead went to kick around in the 3. Liga with Rot Weiss Ahlen. Winning a transfer to Borussia Monchengladbach as a result of his neat wing play and neater haircut, he eventually ended up heading back to his BVB roots with a €17m deal in 2012. Leighton Baines The diminutive Scouse left-back was released twice by Everton – at 12 he was let go from the club along with Joey Barton and Phil Jagielka. "It was a massive blow," said Baines, who has admitted that he struggled with confidence later in his career as a result. Rejected, he dabbled in Sunday league football instead until the age of 15 –before Wolves and Wigan both offered him lifelines. The mistake would eventually cost Everton's calculator-crunchers £6m in July 2007.

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Barkley, Zaha and Januzaj show jury still out on Moyes’s use of youth

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 06:30 AM PST

Poor form. A jittery team playing with the brakes on. Reported dressing room unrest. An impending struggle to even qualify for the Champions League. A torrid time in the transfer market. David Moyes has a lot on his plate right now. Analyses of where Manchester United are currently going wrong are abundant. It's never nice to kick a man when he's down, but this is what happens when a team drops from runaway champions to alarmingly unimpressive also-rans inside seven months. People ask questions. At times such as these, the very foundations of what built a manager's reputation are thrown into question. Real Madrid hired Jose Mourinho because he was a win-at-all-costs manager, exactly the kind of intensely driven character who could bring Barcelona down. By the end, Mourinho had been hoist by his own petard: he wanted to win too badly, it was said. It was unbecoming for a club of Madrid's stature and, importantly, class. Not the way we do things around here, thank you very much. With Moyes under pressure, the very virtues that led to him being appointed at Old Trafford are now being examined and reassessed. One stone as yet unturned, however, is Moyes' track record of successful youth development. Accepted wisdom states that Moyes is a guru when it comes to blooding young players, with Wayne Rooney often held as the shining example. But is this really the case? Ross Barkley has exploded into a reinvigorated post-Moyes Everton, while in Manchester, accusations of an increasing over-reliance on 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj are balanced with sheer confusion at the manager's near-complete reluctance to field Wilfried Zaha. After 2-1 defeats to Spurs and Swansea within a matter of days, BT Sport pundit David Ginola was particularly critical, questioning why the Red Devils are now apparently almost entirely reliant on someone as young as Januzaj for attacking impetus and invention. The cases of Barkley, Januzaj and Zaha all serve to highlight that while Moyes is often lauded for putting faith in youth, the reality is somewhat mixed. Ross Barkley: a case study The rise of Ross Barkley, for example, seems to show a fundamental discrepancy between David Moyes' outlook on young players and Roberto Martinez's – one that also speaks to their more general managerial philosophies and playing styles. A brilliantly gifted footballer who has emerged as one of the country's most talented youngsters, Barkley has impressed in his 16 games for Everton this season, and made his England debut against Moldova last September. But it is almost impossible to imagine that Barkley would have had a similarly successful season had Moyes renewed his contract at Everton. Take Moyes' words after giving Barkley a rare start last season, against Arsenal - one of only two starts he afforded the youngster in the entire campaign. "There's been a lot of stuff said because he came in, done OK and done better than against Tottenham [his other Everton start during 2012/13], so I hope he is better again next time," said Moyes. "He has a lot of maturing to do to make sure he does not lose the ball in the wrong areas of the pitch. I can see he has got confidence from it, hopefully that will help. We have to bring him along and hope we get him better over the next year or two. "If you're dropping your shoulder and losing it at the edge of their box, it's not a problem – but if you're doing it at the edge of your box then it is a problem. They are the sort of things he has to come to terms with. [Fans] would want to see a lot of him but I can tell you he's not ready to be someone who's starting every game and every week, that's for sure." In fact, Barkley would not start another game under Moyes. Martinez took a different view. Four months later, ahead of the Spaniard's first league game as Everton boss against Norwich, his comments marked a stark contrast: "This is football, you play with your feet so you are going to make mistakes," said Martinez. "It is a game of errors. But what I look for from players is how you react to a mistake; does it stop you getting on the ball again? Do you become a bit more cagey? "What I have seen from Ross is that it doesn't matter whether he makes a mistake, he is ready to get on the ball again. He just carries on playing in the same manner. When a player does that, I have no problems whatsoever. "Mistakes are going to happen. The biggest strength Ross has is that he doesn't get affected. He has got such an incredible talent that we need to help him, so he knows how to control that. I have never seen Ross make a mistake and then be affected in the next action. "Sometimes you will see someone start a game really well but then they will make a mistake and, all of a sudden, he doesn't want to participate. Ross is not like that at all. I really admire that. You know that somewhere down the line, he is going to get rid of those mistakes." The next day Barkley spanked in a brilliant strike at Carrow Road to truly announce himself in the Premier League. There is a marked difference in language and tone between the two managers that is quite revealing. One speaks of "problems" and "maturing", of Barkley being "OK" and "not ready"; the other is full of admiration and encouragement, concentrating less on caution and more on Barkley's "incredible talent". This willingness to put genuine faith in an untested youngster was not lost on Barkley, who before fracturing a toe in the FA Cup win over QPR had appeared in every matchday squad under Martinez, albeit regularly rested to the bench. "I'd say Roberto trusts me more," Barkley said in September. He quickly remembered to add "but David Moyes helped me a lot because he helped me come through a lot of injuries," but what the youngster said next reveals very different managerial methods. "With David Moyes, he could have spoken to me a bit more. Roberto speaks to everyone a lot. He gave me a lot of confidence by telling me he feels I can be a big player for Everton, not just this season, but for many seasons." Goodison supporters were often frustrated that Moyes was being too cautious with Barkley, holding him back unnecessarily. Twice sent out on loan last season, Barkley made just two league starts (and five substitute appearances) for the Toffees; 36-year-old Phil Neville made 14. The disappearing youngsters At this point, United supporters may note a certain parallel with Moyes' suspicion of Zaha. No matter how ineffectual the performances of wide players like Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, the silky speedster signed from Crystal Palace for £15 million is yet to play any real part under the new manager, his Premier League experience restricted to two brief cameos. "I want Wilf to get used to what happens here," the United gaffer has said. "The competition is hard. It is important Wilf gets to see the level of the training here, the level of the players and the quality they have got. He is getting better which we are pleased about." Zaha's rare outings in the red shirt to date have looked restrained, like a caged gazelle, timid and lacking adventure. Moyes' track record of bringing through young players at Everton is generally admirable, but there was gristle to go with the bacon. Success stories like Jack Rodwell, Tony Hibbert, Leon Osman and Wayne Rooney are balanced with players touted for big things who never quite made it, sometimes in strange circumstances. In August 2008 Jose Baxter became Everton's youngest ever senior player, the Bootle-born 16-year-old replacing team-mate James Vaughan in the Goodison record books. A week later Baxter made his first start – but he only made the first XI one more time in the next four seasons. Eventually, frustrated at his lack of opportunities, he turned down a two-year contract offer and left for Oldham, where he scored 15 goals in his first season. He now plays for Sheffield United. Baxter and Vaughan aren't the only youngsters who broke through under Moyes but left to pursue careers elsewhere. Others include Adam Forshaw, Dan Gosling - whose departure for Newcastle caused such an internal stir at Goodison - and Jake Bidwell, now at Brentford having in 2009 become the Toffees' youngest-ever European debutant. Bidwell also made his first Everton appearance at 16, a bright-eyed boy getting his chance on the big stage in Europe. "It was a bit of a shock to be honest," Bidwell tells FourFourTwo. "I wasn't expecting it, but I was only 16 at the time so I was made up. I thought I played OK." From there, you would think the youngster might get further chances to prove himself, in cup competitions at least. But it wasn't to be: he never appeared in the first team again, even from the bench. "The one regret is that I didn't make an appearance after that, which was a bit of a disappointment for me," says Bidwell – now a regular at Brentford, having moved permanently last summer after two successful loan spells. "I thought I might have got a bit more of a shout but I was also realistic – I had one of the country's top left-backs, if not the top left-back, in front of me: Leighton Baines. It was always going to be difficult." Callum McManaman was another. Released by Everton, he came back to haunt his former club when he scored a goal in Wigan's 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win, a cruel twist of fate that ended Moyes' final chance to lift a trophy at Goodison Park. But what about Januzaj? The clear counterpoint to the idea that Moyes is hesitant with youth is the example currently dictating Manchester United's play. No, not Wayne Rooney: Adnan Januzaj. The Belgium-born boy with more passports than Howard Marks has had Moyes salivating since the summer, the easy riposte to suggestions the Scot is as cautious with youth as he is with team tactics. Januzaj has made 21 first-team appearances this season, an oasis of class and self-confidence in a desert of uncertainty. He certainly enjoys the manager's confidence, to the point that there's a danger United are beginning to look reliant on the 18-year-old. Nine of the Belgian's appearances have been from the bench, and four of those have been when United weren't winning. There is the sense that all too often Januzaj is Moyes' trump card, a teenager carrying the burden of expectation for an entire club. By comparison, Barkley, who has been rested to the bench five times, has only been brought on once in a losing position – in a half-time switch against Sunderland. True, Everton have only lost three this season - although it's hardly to Moyes's credit that United have lost eight - but in one of those other losses (in the League Cup at Fulham), Martinez declined to bring on the youngster once the Toffees went behind, instead introducing the experience of Phil Jagielka and Gareth Barry. That Moyes has his favourites is historically proven; few managers have shown such a tendency to re-sign players for second stints – Steven Pienaar, Landon Donovan, Thomas Gravesen and James McFadden to name but a few. Moyes likes players he trusts and Januzaj is starting to look like one of them. Barkley, it appears, wasn't. Wilfried Zaha, for the moment, isn't. Ensuring that Manchester United don't rely too heavily on Januzaj will be one of Moyes' big challenges this season, particularly bearing in mind Robin van Persie's persistent injury problems and the club's difficulties in the transfer market. Barkley's blossoming at Everton under Martinez suggests that the United manager has tended to err on the side of caution when it comes to dealing with young players. Where Januzaj and Zaha go from here will tell us much about Moyes' moulding methods.

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Calderon: Ronaldo will return to England

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 05:31 AM PST

The Portugal international was crowned FIFA Ballon dOr winner on Monday, having scored 69 goals for club and country in 2013. The 28-year-old has already found the net 20 times in the La Liga this season and, despite agreeing a five-year deal in September, Calderon does not feel Ronaldo will remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for the remainder of his career. Ronaldos new deal came after links with a return to Manchester United in the close-season and Calderon believes his reportedly strained relationship with president Florentino Perez could see him move back to England. I do not think he will finish his career at Real, Calderon told The Sun. I feel that one day he will return to England. In Madrid, he is pleased with the city and the fans. But I think his relationship with Florentino Perez is not as good as it was with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Ronaldo loves father figures. With Florentino, he does not have that rapport. The relationship is bad or actually non-existent. He stays at Real despite the chairman.

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Dalman expects Solskjaer to utilise United contacts

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:08 AM PST

The Norwegian was announced as the successor to Malky Mackay on January 2, after guiding Molde to two Tippeligaen titles in his home country. Solskjaer enjoyed an 11-year spell as a player at United, where he won six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Rumours have already circulated that the 40-year-old could return to his former club to bolster Cardiff's squad, with loan deals for full-back Fabio and winger Wilfried Zahatouted as possibilities. And Dalman believes it would make sense for Solskjaer to make the most of his connections. Speaking toThe Sun,he said: "Why wouldn't anyone want to tap into that influence? "Intellectual capital is rare. Technical talent is rare. These guys work at the top of their game." Solskjaer's appointment came on the back of a turbulent end to Mackay's reign but, despite only signing a one-year rolling contract, Dalmanis confidentSolksjaerwill be at the helm for a long time. He added: "I hope to build with him a long-term future here. "Over the next five years, I think you will see a lot of Solskjaer and this is a great place for him to build his credibility."

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Five Bundesliga youngsters fit for Premier League stardom

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:05 AM PST

Germany's embarrassment of riches in the youth department is plain to see - just imagine FFT's plight as we attempted to whittle down a huge shortlist to pick out five of the Bundesliga's most prized assets. We eventually did, though, without the likes of Mario Götze, Julian Draxler, David Alaba, Ilkay Gündogan, Kevin Volland, Heung Min-Son (well, duh). The list goes on. So read on and find out more about the ones who did make the cut. You'll be hearing much more about them soon enough... Timo Werner Who is he? Stuttgart's 17-year-old forward has been nothing short of a revelation in the first half of his debut Bundesliga campaign. With four goals and as many assists in his cluster of appearances for the southern side (14 in the league), so far there's been much to admire about the local boy come good. Although having learned his trade centrally, Werner's impact from the left wing this season has made him an integral part of Thomas Schneider's plans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Effective trickery and pace helps too, of course. Without being built like a proverbial brick structure he's also surprisingly strong, as he demonstrated in his brace-netting display against Freiburg. Why you need to know him The lad born just a mile-and-a-half away from Stuttgart's home is the most exciting attacking prospect to emerge from the club since Mario Gomez. He's been at the club since he was six, soared through the various age groups with ease and last season left behind youth football with 24 goals in 23 appearances in the Under-19 Bundesliga. No surprise, then, that Chelsea have already come sniffing if you're to believe reports. Most worrying for Stuttgart is that youngsters don't turn professional in Germany until 18, meaning the prospect of a worrying premature exit. Thankfully for the Bundesliga side, though, Werner isn't concerned about the riches of Roman Co. just yet. "I cannot envisage playing anywhere else, ever," he revealed, echoing the declarations of sporting director and former Germany hitman Fredi Bobic: "We've had some good talks and we're already at quite an advanced stage." There'll be no exit clause either, meaning potential suitors will have to cough up or sit back down if they're to get anywhere near this prodigious prize. Who does he remind you of? At 5ft 11in he's somewhat taller than your conventional winger – not surprising given his upbringing as a striker – and in time it wouldn't be too surprising to see him move centrally for good. Looks-wise, you can't help but scream "Andrey Arshavin!" but for now, though, think a slightly quicker Thomas Müller. Would be perfect for Chelsea, Arsenal. Roberto Firmino Who is he? The flamboyant Brazilian with an ever-changing appearance has shone in a free-scoring Hoffenheim side this season. With eight goals and six assists from attacking midfield, the 22-year-old has run defences ragged and proved himself as one of the Bundesliga's brightest talents. Indeed, he is one of the main reasons why his team are the league's third-highest scorers. Don't be surprised to see his dodgy celebrations, bad hair – bleach-blonde at the moment – tattoos and utterly horrendous fashion choices ("I like to try something new," he admitted) transferred from German to English screens soon. We want it to happen. Why you need to know him Firmino still harbours hopes of making Brazil's World Cup squad, such are the quality of his performances this season. "I hope that I can still slide into the squad," he told Bild. "It would be a dream if I could play with Luiz Gustavo (a former team-mate who owns the house Firmino currently rents) at the World Cup. That's extra motivation for the second half." Although he doesn't appear to have any immediate plans to leave Sinsheim ("I feel at ease here"), it seems only a matter of time before his talents force him elsewhere. But beware – clubs looking to snap up the young Samba star would have to part with around £9m to prise him away from the contract that still has a year-and-a-half left to run. Who does he remind you of? Being given something of a free role in the hole makes him something of a Philippe Coutinho – and potentially perfect competition for his even younger Liverpool compatriot. Firmino has proved effective drifting from wide areas to central ones, as shown by his ever-increasing heap of goals and assists. Would be perfect for Liverpool, Tottenham. Max Meyer Who is he? He missed out on Arnold's newcomer award by half a per cent, but in truth the Schalke star looks an even more intriguing prospect. A central attacking midfielder with an exquisite touch and confidence to dribble at will, Meyer has taken advantage of injuries to become an established member of Jens Keller's first team set-up this season. Already linked with Chelsea after an eye-catching Champions League display against the Blues (what you buy can't hurt you, right?), Meyer's breakthrough displays are helping Schalke deal with the uncertain future of boy wonder Draxler. The player with "God-given abilities," according to sporting director Horst Heldt, is one of the few positives in an otherwise dreary season for the Gelsenkirchen club. Why you need to know him Thrown in at the deep end but unfazed by it all. Meyer, dubbed "Mini-Max" by his team-mates, featured in five of Schalke's six Champions League group stage matches as they reached the knockout stage and should be rewarded with the opportunity to pit himself against Real Madrid in the last 16. The 2012 Under-17 European Championship's top goalscorer and best player is living up to his early promise. He's currently tied down to a contract until 2018, and while Schalke are still a force to be reckoned with off the pitch it seems inevitable that the big clubs will come calling later down the line. Who does he remind you of? "In addition to the three training sessions I had, there was an extra futsal session," he once revealed. It's evident. With the boldness to run at opponents and a handy knack of executing eye-of-the-needle passes, it's not too surprising to hear about the second coming of Götze in German youth ranks. Whether he eventually ups sticks like his three-year senior remains to be seen. Would be perfect for Arsenal, Manchester City. Jonathan Tah Who is he? A glimmer of hope in the Bundesliga's leakiest defence. At just 17 years old the Hamburg teenager is already a regular for Bert van Marwijk's side, who have endured the third-worst first half of a season in the club's history. That Tah has emerged from the rubble with immense credit, despite being part of a defence that has shipped a joint league-high 38 goals in the league so far this season, is a great testament. Mind you, he does have former Arsenal stopper Johan Djourou for company. The Hamburg local has been capped 13 times at U17 level for Germany, but is also eligible for the Ivory Coast. Why you need to know him Scan through Europe's top five leagues and you won't find too many 17-year-old's holding their own at the heart of defence on a weekly basis. When the Hamburger Morgenpost ran an online poll to determine the team's player of the season so far, it wasn't 10-goal Pierre-Michel Lasogga who came out trumps. Nor was it Arsenal-linked 19-year-old Hakan Calhanoglu, or the in-form Raphael van der Vaart. Instead Tah took the fans' plaudits with 34% of the votes. Unsurprisingly Hamburg have moved quickly to secure the services of their youngest-ever player. Although he doesn't turn 18 until mid-February, Tah has agreed a new deal which will keep him at the Imtech Arena for another five years. The exact numbers aren't known, but his release clause will be in the "double-digit millions," according to reports. But when has that ever stopped the big boys from dipping into those deep pockets? Who does he remind you of? At 6ft 3in and as stocky as the grown men he plays against, Tah isn't your average 17-year-old. Comparisons will naturally be drawn with Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng, who became a Hertha Berlin first-team regular at a slightly older age before moving to Hamburg for a bargain €1m in August 2007. Tah wouldn't be going too far wrong by following his lead. Would be perfect for Manchester City, Manchester United. Maxi Arnold Who is he? Only the player named the Bundesliga's best newcomer by his peers this season. The 19-year-old scooped the league's prize on the back of a super first half of the campaign in which he nailed down a regular first-team place in Dieter Hecking's exciting Wolfsburg side. It takes a talented individual to play behind the lone striker, but Arnold's five goals in just 11 appearances in that position have made him impossible to oust. Just ask former Brazil international Diego, shoved out wide to accommodate his young team-mate and who could yet leave this month despite declaring he'll stay put until the end of the season. It's been going this way since the back end of last season, in fact, when the goal-getting midfielder penned a four-year contract shortly after his 18th birthday. Wolfsburg's youngest-ever player and goalscorer has plenty more to offer. Why you need to know him There's a good reason Wolfsburg aren't too fussed about tying down Diego to a new deal. A gigantic ego doesn't help, but it's Arnold's emergence that is really helping the club deal with the talented Brazilian's contract situation (his deal expires at the season's end). Hecking is building a youthful team in Lower Saxony, and Arnold is an integral part of it. The capture of Kevin De Bruyne from Chelsea only adds more quality, and if they play their cards right they could yet end up in next season's Champions League with a strong run after the winter break. Who does he remind you of? He's already been painfully dubbed The New Özil, but in an interview with German magazine Kicker, Arnold revealed that a move to Manchester United would fulfil his boyhood dreams. It's not like David Moyes couldn't find a place for him now, is it? He's not like Özil, though, instead providing more of a goal threat than a creative one. If he can start asserting himself more in the Bundesliga, most notably chipping in with a few assists, Wolfsburg will find it difficult to hang on to their highly rated hotshot. Would be perfect for Manchester United, Arsenal. SEE ALSOEverything you need to know about... Kevin Volland SEE ALSOFive Eredivisie stars who could light up the Premier League

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Gundogan focused on return amid exit talk

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 02:18 AM PST

Gundogan has not featured for Jurgen Klopp's side since the opening day of the season, having suffered the problem while on international duty in August. Despite reported interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid, Gundogan remains focused on his recovery, though he conceded that a decision would soon be made on his future, with his contract due to expire in 2015. "I will soon make a decision that will be carefully considered," he told Sport Bild. "As I said, it's still really open. "My priority is my quick recovery. Nothing is decided yet. Borussia is my first point of contact. "I'm trying to be healthy and bring my performance on the pitch. This is important and a top priority for Borussia and for me." Dortmund slipped to fourth before the winter break, having won just once in their last six Bundesliga matches. Gundogan's return would represent a significant boost for them, and the former Nuremberg man, who is still confident of featuring for Joachim Low's side at the FIFA World Cup, feels his spell on the sidelines could prove beneficial. "I believe that this phase has made me better," he continued. "I'll come back stronger. It is still difficult to make a prediction about when I make a league game again but it can happen quickly. "I am confident enough to say that I will fight for a World Cup starting place."

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RvP: Winning Champions League would mean world

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 02:03 AM PST

The Netherlands international played an integral role in bringing the Premier League title to Old Trafford in his first season at the club after signing from top-flight rivals Arsenal, topping the league's scoring charts with 26 goals. But United were eliminated from Europe's elite competition last year in a controversial 3-2 aggregate defeat to La Liga giants Real Madrid in the round of 16. David Moyes' men topped their group this season and face Olympiacos for the right to reach the quarter-finals. Van Persie admits any player would be "lucky" to win the Champions League and believes it is becoming harder to lift the iconic trophy. Speaking to UEFA's official website, he said: "It would mean the world to me (to win the Champions League). "Of course it's a trophy many players don't win. (If you win it) once, you're very lucky. You have a couple of players who've won it more than once but it's a very special trophy everyone wants to win every year. "Only one team can win it, and it's very hard. It seems to get harder every year to win it, because the teams are getting better and better. So it's always hard if you want something everyone wants." United have endured a difficult campaign in Moyes' first season in charge, and sit seventh in the Premier League table, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal. And centre-back Nemanja Vidic believes the next month could define their season. "We have to win regularly and in the next month we will know exactly where we are," he toldThe Manchester Evening News. "By the end of January and start of February we will show what our position is and what our capability is in the Premier League. "Then, of course, the Champions League starts up again. This is an important time for us and we all want to do well."

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Defour to ask for Porto exit, says agent

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 01:27 AM PST

The Belgium international moved to the Portuguese champions in 2011 from Standard Liege but has made just 13 starts in all competitions this season. With the 25-year-old eager to secure a place in Marc Wilmots' Belgium squad for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, his agent Paul Stefani has revealed Defour will seek a move. "Steven will tell his club he wants to leave because he wants to play in the World Cup," Stefani told DH.be. Stefani also confirmed that Belgian champions Anderlect are leading the race to sign him. However, Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Tottenham are also interested in acquiring Defour, who was linked with Premier League champions Manchester United prior to his Liege exit. "Aston Villa? It can become real. There was interest from a few other clubs in England but to say that he may sign there tomorrow? No," Stefani added. "Anderlecht has been the most concrete from the beginning. They always said they wanted to have Steven. "Of course Anderlecht has a chance but Steven receives phone calls from other agents who promise him a transfer to Tottenham. "It is normal that when you hear the name of Tottenham, we want to think."

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