As reported by The Daily Echo, Southampton are set to be boosted in their fight against relegation by the return of striker Charlie Austin, who could return as early as this weekend’s match away to West Ham United.
What’s the story?
Austin has been out of action for Saints since December with a hamstring injury, a period which has seen Southampton drawn into a fierce relegation battle at the bottom of the English Premier League table.
Now though, the 28-year-old is set to return to Mark Hughes’ squad, with the Southampton manager revealing he is very close to match fitness.
As quoted by The Daily Echo, Hughes said:
We need to get him on the pitch but he’s done some good work and we are pleased with where he is. Clearly if he’s not available this weekend we would like to think he is certainly involved with the games from then on.
He’s very close, we are pleased with where he is and he is pleased and assured in his own mind in being ready to go.
He’s very keen to be involved.
Will Austin be the difference between Saints staying up and going down?
How effective can he be?
Given the length of time out, it seems more likely he’ll appear from the bench against West Ham this weekend, if at all.
However, given he is still Saints’ top scorer this season with six goals, it’s fair to say he can still play a big role in determining the result of not just this match, but what division the St Mary’s side will be playing in next season.
He’s a proven, reliable goalscorer at Premier League level and goals are something Southampton have lacked all season. Even with talented players in the final third, they’ve lack that clinical instinct that a player like Austin provides.
His return couldn’t be coming at a more perfect time and West Ham will be wary of seeing him named tomorrow either in the starting eleven or on the substitute’s bench.
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Tomorrow is a huge match for both sides and could be Saints’ best chance of finding crucial goals. The Hammers have lost by a three-goal margin in their last three matches and the last thing they need is a returning striker like Austin looking to prove himself.
Southampton attacker Dusan Tadic has said that his team ‘should be ashamed’ that they currently sit in 18th position in the Premier League table.
The Saints have only won once in the Premier League since the end of November, with that rotten run of form leaving them inside the relegation zone.
Southampton have not even scored in the top flight since February 24, and have lost each of their last two league fixtures 3-0 to Newcastle United and West Ham United.
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Tadic has claimed that his club should be embarrassed with their current situation, but the 29-year-old is still hopeful of escaping the bottom three in the final weeks of the campaign despite the negatively from the club’s supporters.
Tadic told Sky Sports News:
“We should be ashamed that we are in this kind of situation. We still have seven games to go and we need to try to get out of this situation, it doesn’t matter how, we need to do something.
“The first thing is we need to fight together and try to win matches, this is most important. It doesn’t matter how, we need to find solutions to win games.
Tadic impressed during his first three seasons with Southampton, but the Serbia international has only scored three Premier League goals during the 2017-18 campaign.
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Mark Hughes’ side will look to return to winning ways when they make the trip to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
As reported by Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Arsenal have recently sent scouts to check on the progress of Benfica midfielder Andrija Zivkovic.
What’s the story?
Arsenal are expected to have a busy summer transfer window after another disappointing season in the English Premier League, with the potential for exits and arrivals high.
One player they appear to be interested in is Benfica’s Andrija Zivkovic, with O Jogo reporting the Gunners sent scouts to take in Benfica’s 1-0 defeat to Porto at the weekend.
Rated at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, will the Serbian international emerge as a firm transfer target this summer?
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Who is he?
Zivkovic hasn’t been in Portugal for too long, making just 50 appearances for Benfica since moving from Partizan Belgrade in 2016. However, he’s certainly making quite an impression in that time.
He’s emerged as a first team regular for the club this season and overall has four goals and 16 assists for the Portuguese club, including contributions in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
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With 24 goals and 13 assists for Partizan in his homeland before his big move, it’s clear he has a potential be an elite talent, he is still just 21 years of age after all.
He may not be a household name around Europe quite yet but a move to Arsenal could be the making of him, especially if he can recreate the form he’s shown for the two clubs he’s played for so far.
Leeds United ended their four-game winless streak in the English Championship with a 2-1 victory at home to Barnsley on Saturday.
Goals from Tom Pearce and Ezgjan Alioski were enough for the victory against their relegation threatened opponents and eased the pressure on Paul Heckingbottom, whose side had won just one match in their previous nine matches.
Despite the win, it wasn’t all positivity at Elland Road, with the performance and actions of Samuel Saiz raising plenty of eyebrows.
He was well below his best in the match, exchanging words with teammates on a few occasions and showing anger when substituted by kicking a water bottle.
With nine goals and seven assists this season, he’s been one of the side’s better players this term and despite a horror day for the Spaniard, many Leeds fans have taken to social media in the wake of the match to give their backing to him, believing his talent more that justifies his stroppy behaviour…
Arsenal will welcome a new manager into their club for the first time since 1996.
That’s a sobering thought in itself, but because of the fate of post-Alex Ferguson Manchester United is so fresh in the memory, it seems like a scary prospect.
But it might be the case that the Gunners can hardly fall much further than the lowly position they’ve now reached. They are a Europa League side, these days – at least in terms of league finishes – and at the moment they are the top six’s also-rans, well off the top four pace. If Arsene Wenger manages to deliver Champions League football for next season, it will be through the back door.
The sheer length of his reign at the Emirates Stadium might well seem unique in modern times – and we may never see the like of it again – but there are plenty of examples in footballing history which show just how hard it can be for a new man to take over from a club legend, despite the rot which appears to have set in.
Matt Busby – Manchester United
Manchester United fans still chant about playing football the Matt Busby way. You wonder if Arsenal fans will still be singing about the elegance and guile with which Wenger’s teams played in his early period as manager in 50 years’ time.
Busby built a phenomenal Red Devils side in the 1950s, but after the tragedy of Munich he rebuilt and forged a side capable of winning once more and conquering Europe, too.
It helped that he initially left United when he was still winning trophies, but it’s worth noting that Busby’s 8 major titles as manager (five league titles, two FA Cups and a European Cup) means Arsene Wenger’s haul of 10 (three league titles and seven FA Cups, with the potential for a European title to come) surpasses even the great Scottish legend.
After Busby became a director, United declined sharply. They pottered around mid-table for a few years before finally succumbing to relegation.
Willy Maley – Celtic
From one Scot south of the border to another north of it. Willy Maley is a Celtic legend and a man who oversaw the club for a frankly ridiculous 43 years. His reign spanned from the Victorian era to World War Two and took in five British monarchs.
The trophy haul is just as impressive: 16 league championships and 14 Scottish Cups in the days before European football. Maley was winning titles right up until the very end.
He shows, perhaps more than anyone else, how difficult it is to restructure a club after one man has such dominance: in the 25 years after his departure, Celtic would win just one league title and a paltry three Scottish Cups until Jock Stein came along in the 1960s.
Alan Curbishley – Charlton
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The former Charlton Athletic manager is only man on this list who wasn’t the custodian of a major club who won regular silverware under his reign, Curbishley makes the list for one significant reason.
There is a vocal (if not unanimous) section of Arsenal support who have turned on Arsene Wenger over the last few years. Their team was stagnating and it was obvious that something had to happen, but whilst the phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ isn’t one anyone wants to hear, Charlton perhaps show why it’s one that needs to be uttered.
A little like Sean Dyche at Burnley, Curbishley inherited a workmanlike club in the second tier and in an area where there were traditionally much bigger teams and turned them into Premier League mainstays, recording safe midtable finishes with the occasional foray into the top half.
When he left, it was because Charlton thought they could challenge for Europe on a regular basis. Instead, they were relegated the next season.
Alex Ferguson – Manchester United
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This is the obvious comparison because it is the most recent, but perhaps it is also the biggest red herring.
Arsenal are not in the same position as Manchester United were when Ferguson left the club in 2013, and the dip experienced at Old Trafford since then has arguably already been experienced at the Emirates in the past few seasons.
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If anything, it shows that the top six clubs in England are now so rich and so protected that falling much further is almost impossible and that the even if the Gunners have a period of rebuilding to do when Wenger leaves. It is unthinkable that either club could have been relegated in the 21st century just like United were in the 1970s.
Bill Shankly – Liverpool
Under Shankly’s leadership, Liverpool were promoted in 1962 and within a decade had won the league title three times as well as two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup.
When it came to his retirement, however, Shankly’s number two Bob Paisley took over, and Liverpool just carried on winning.
Paisley’s story shows that success can happen straight away even after a big change at the helm, but perhaps it also proves that the replacement has to be someone who knows the club and what made it successful in the first place. There may only be one man who fits that bill for Arsenal – though the Gunners haven’t been particularly successful in quite some time.
As reported by The Daily Mail, there is little chance of Patrick Roberts staying at Celtic beyond his current loan deal, with Leicester City hoping to sign him as part of a deal that could see Riyad Mahrez move to Manchester City.
What’s the story?
Patrick Roberts has been at the Hoops on loan for the best part of the last two-and-a-half seasons, only returning to parent club Man City for a short period last summer.
Now it appears his time in Glasgow is at an end, with the player looking set to join another Premier League side this summer.
The Daily Mail report that Leicester City will insist he is part of a deal for £60m-rated Riyad Mahrez, who Pep Guardiola is keen to bring to the Etihad to bolster his title-winning squad.
Roberts himself has also opened up on his future plans, making it clear his ambitions involve making it as a Premier League player.
As quoted by The Daily Mail, the winger said:
I’ve enjoyed my football (with Celtic) and everyone knows that. But you also have to look at the bigger picture and I have certain ambitions in my head and places that I want to be. To get there I need to come out of my comfort zone.
The ambition is to play for a top club in the Premier League. I’m at one now with Manchester City and they’re doing well but you’ve got to look at yourself, and what’s best for you, and try to pick the best option possible.
Will Celtic miss him?
Roberts has certainly made an impact at the Hoops over the last couple of years, but in the grand scheme of things, Celtic aren’t likely to miss him too much when he returns to England this summer.
His third season at the club was blighted by a injury which kept him out of action for the best part of three months and despite one or two impressive performances, the right wing has been dominated by James Forrest this season.
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With 18 goals and 26 assists in 78 total appearances for the club, he will be remembered fondly by supporters and if things don’t quite work out for him in the English top-flight, he’s likely to be welcome back at Celtic Park in the future.
Many would have assumed that when Arsene Wenger decided to leave Arsenal, he would retire.
The Frenchman recently announced that he will call an end to his 22-year stay when the season comes to a close.
However, it seems that the 68-year-old is not ready to walk away from the game just yet.
While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Wenger revealed that he has received plenty of job offers, but has not chosen his next career path.
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According to The Guardian, Paris Saint-Germain are keeping a close eye on the departing Arsenal boss.
The report claims that they are considering offering the three-time Premier League title winner the role as general manager.
This means that Wenger would play an integral part in the club, but he will not take the place of head coach.
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It is unclear whether this offer would attract the Arsenal hero, but it would give him an opportunity to return to his homeland while also being involved with a club that is not a direct rival of the Gunners.
Arsenal fans have been posting their thoughts on social media.
Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.Comment from discussion Arsène Wenger weighs up PSG offer to become general manager.
Former Southampton manager Ronald Koeman congratulated his former club via his official Twitter account last week after they all-but secured their spot in the Premier League next season with a crucial 1-0 win against Swansea City, and Saints fans were quick to react to the post.
The south coast outfit finished seventh and sixth respectively – qualifying for the Europa League on both occasions – during the Dutchman’s two-year spell at St Mary’s, with the club playing brilliant football thanks to the likes of Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle.
However, the 5ft 11in tall boss left for Everton in controversial circumstances at the end of the 2015/16 campaign with Southampton believing they he joined the Merseyside outfit because of the better financial package on offer, rather than seeing out the year he still had left on his contract with them like he said he would previously.
The club are now set to appoint the man that rescued them from relegation this term – Mark Hughes – on a long-term deal, but we decided to ask Saints fans to vote on our poll to see whether they would consider taking Koeman back in the future.
A majority 58% said they would, and despite the acrimonious way in which he left St Mary’s the fans haven’t forgotten the decline under Claude Puel and Mauricio Pellegrino since, and it is no real surprise that they would consider taking the current Netherlands boss back considering the success they enjoyed under his tutelage.
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According to reports in the Daily Mail, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was present at the friendly between Austria and Russia on Wednesday night to watch West Ham United attacker Marko Arnautovic in action, but perhaps he was also there to see Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba, rated at £45m by Transfermarkt.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Daily Mail says that Mourinho wants more power and height in his attack to provide cover for Romelu Lukaku, and that he was watching the 29-year-old Irons forward against the hosts of the 2018 World Cup.
Arnautovic certainly may have impressed the Portuguese boss given he produced the assist for the only goal of the game, but the manager may well have also been in attendance to watch Alaba in action given he is said to want a new left-back this summer to provide competition for Ashley Young next season, given Luke Shaw and Daley Blind are both out of favour.
The versatile Bayern man, who has also played as a left winger, central midfielder and defensive midfielder for the Bundesliga giants in the past, entered the field as a 58th minute substitute against Russia and presumably didn’t start because of the back problem he has been suffering from.
How did Alaba do this season?
While he suffered from a few injury niggles, the Austrian still impressed in his 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and providing a further six assists – three of which came in the Champions League.
The 25-year-old is effective in possession of the ball and from set-pieces, while he has a great engine that allows him to get up and down the pitch that would impress the Old Trafford faithful, who have been left unimpressed on Twitter with links to a move for a 22-year-old attacking midfielder.
Would he be a good signing for United?
He certainly would be.
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Alaba would arrive at Old Trafford with huge experience of winning titles and appearing in the Champions League, while he has 12 goals in 61 caps for his country.
He is certainly the calibre of player that Mourinho will want to bring to the club if they are to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title next term as well as challenging in Europe, although they may face a big battle if they want to prise him away from Bayern given he has proven himself to be such a key player for them.
As reported by Football.london, Chelsea attacker Willian has expressed his hopes for compatriot Fred to do well at Manchester United, revealing that he spoke to the midfielder before his move to the Premier League.
What’s the story?
Willian himself has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, as recently as late May, when Sky Sports reported that the Brazilian was looking to leave Chelsea, with the Red Devils a possible destination.
Now his latest comments are set to increase speculation, after he shared his hopes for his international teammate Fred to shine at Old Trafford after United announced they had agreed a deal to buy him from Shakhtar Donetsk.
As quoted by Football.london, the Chelsea believes the midfielder can make an impact, saying:
Of course, no doubt about that. He has a lot of qualities. He can improve (them) a lot. He goes to one of the best teams in the world. I am happy for him. I hope he does well at Manchester United.
He is very happy to come to the Premier League to play. We talked a little bit about that.
Rated at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, is it now time for United to make their move for Willian?
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What would Willian offer Jose Mourinho’s side?
With close to 500 career appearances between Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk, Willian has the kind of experience at the top level that can be hugely beneficial to United’s bid for silverware next term.
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The 54-cap Brazilian international is coming off the back of a superb 2017/18 season, scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions. That’s the kind of direct goal contribution that would go down a treat in Jose Mourinho’s side.
Willian’s pace and power would complement the likes of Romelu Lukaku perfectly, adept at dribbling and retaining possession in the final third. He’s a clever, technical player at his peak and if he’s available this summer, the Red Devils should show no hesitation in signing him.