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Tag: Virgil van Dijk

  • Van Dijk quells  ‘disharmony’ in Liverpool dressing room

    Van Dijk quells  ‘disharmony’ in Liverpool dressing room

    Virgil van Dijk has insisted there is no “disharmony” in the Liverpool dressing room and said that criticism on social media will be a “very big challenge” for the next generation of players.

    It has been a turbulent season so far for Liverpool, who currently sit sixth in the Premier League table. The Reds were winless in five league games before Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle United, with head coach Arne Slot having faced a lot of external scrutiny in recent weeks.

    “It’s like us players as well — if you don’t perform you get criticism and that’s part and parcel of the game,” Van Dijk said. “We have to perform. That’s what we didn’t do on a consistent basis but we speak about that every three or four days unfortunately.

    “On Saturday was a good performance and the same for midweek [against Qarabag]. Now it’s down to us to work this week on Man City and do that again.”

    Asked whether Slot deserves more respect considering he won the title last season, Van Dijk said: “Who gives him the disrespect? That’s the question. Is the disrespect being given by people that we shouldn’t value their disrespect?

    “I can also think about players being disrespected, and who disrespects the players? Is that someone you value, is it a significant show of disrespect or someone you can just let slide and instead just focus on the task ahead to be successful as a Liverpool player? That’s the responsibility we speak about every three or four days.

    “If you’re going to read all that stuff [on social media], one week you could be the hero and the next week the villain. I spoke last week about how [much] worse and difficult it’s getting every year. For the next generation it will be a very big challenge.

    Read Also: Victor Osimhen not leaving AFCON camp — NFF official

    “Every era has its own challenges and that part of outside the game will be a big challenge for the next generation, and it’s already a challenge for this generation.”

    Van Dijk added: “The matter of fact is we are Premier League champions and we have not been good enough on a consistent basis. That’s just a fact. The criticism comes and that’s something we just have to accept. We just have to keep going.

    “I don’t think there has been any question about [togetherness] internally. I don’t think there’s any disharmony. There are obviously challenges that happen and everyone is dealing with certain situations in a different way.

    “It’s also about dealing with it together and how we are going to fix it and change things around.

    “That’s something that makes you stronger as a team and if you come out of it like we should do hopefully as we have the quality then I think it can only improve you as a team and as a player as well.”

  • Van Dijk rallies Liverpool for title race

    Van Dijk rallies Liverpool for title race

    Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists the Premier League leaders can cope with the mounting pressure of the title race.

    Arne Slot’s side moved seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal after surviving a sloppy second half display to beat struggling Wolves 2-1 on Sunday.

    After conceding a stoppage-time equaliser at Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday, there was a palpable air of anxiety around Anfield as Liverpool laboured to protect their lead in the closing stages against Wolves.

    Van Dijk understood why there were nerves in the stands and the Dutch centre-back expects more drama as Liverpool edge closer to a record-equalling 20th English crown.

     “We are all human beings and I totally understand anxiety or nervousness can kick in,” he said.

     “I said it weeks ago, we just have to buckle up, enjoy the ride. There will be a lot of twists and turns.

     “If you’re not ready for it, it will be a difficult couple of months for you but I feel like we as a team are ready for it.

     “We will give it everything we’ve got and we will see in 13 games if that is enough.”

    Read Also: NFF lauds Monimichelle over renovation at Aper Aku Stadium

    Liverpool can extend their lead at the top to 10 points if they win at Aston Villa tomorrow.

    But Van Dijk has experience of having a 10-point lead, albeit at an earlier stage of the season, and blowing the chance to win the league.

    In January 2019, Liverpool had a similar-sized cushion over Manchester City when they lost at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola’s side won 18 of their last 19 matches, with the Reds finishing second by one point.

    Arsenal have only 13 games to catch Liverpool and Van Dijk believes Liverpool will be able to handle the anxiety of the tense final weeks of the season.

     “I don’t know how others would think, I can only say what I think and what I tell the boys to do because I’ve been through this whole situation and come up short as well twice,” he said.

     “We have to put all our energy in only ourselves and that is hard enough already – you saw how Wolves made it difficult for us and on Wednesday it will be very difficult again.

     “If you focus on other things or look at others it is only going to backfire so we keep going.

     “Certain players in our team might watch other teams but it is not going to help you.

     “I think that was also the mentality the season we won it (in 2020): we kept going, kept going and we found a way.”

  • Liverpool have ‘big job’ to replace Klopp, says Van Dijk

    Liverpool have ‘big job’ to replace Klopp, says Van Dijk

     Virgil van Dijk has  admitted  Liverpool have a “big job” to replace Jurgen Klopp when the German steps down at the end of the season.

    Van Dijk is coming to terms with Klopp’s shock decision to quit once the current campaign is over.

    The Reds captain does not believe uncertainty over Liverpool’s long-term future will affect their ambitions this season.

    They crushed Norwich 5-2 in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday in the first game since Klopp’s bombshell announcement.

    But he knows Liverpool must get it right when they pick Klopp’s replacement.

     “The club will have a big job on their hands, that is well known,” Van Dijk said. “To replace not only the manager but the whole staff and there are so many things that will change.

     “I’m very curious which direction that will go in but when that will be announced we will see our situation.

     “It will be the end of Jurgen Klopp’s era – I am still part of it that’s why I don’t like to talk about it – and that is my main focus.

     “Hopefully we will have the success we all dream of and by then probably there will be more clarification about what the club wants for the future and then we will see.”

    Asked whether he saw himself being part of the next era, Van Dijk added: “That’s a big question. I don’t know.”

    Read Also: Peseiro predicts tough Q-Final tie against Angola

    Bigger tests await Liverpool on Klopp’s farewell tour, with Chelsea visiting tomorrow before they head to Arsenal next weekend.

    Dutch defender Van Dijk, 32, insists nothing will be different about Liverpool’s approach as the Premier League leaders chase silverware in four competitions.

    “Nothing has really changed. Obviously things will change at the end of the season and in the new season but at the moment it doesn’t and we have to keep doing the same things,” he said.

     “It’s easier said than done but I sense the rest of the boys think like that as well and it is the job for me to ensure we keep it that way.

     “We are all human beings and we have emotions – some players feel different about the manager’s announcement than others.

     “That’s absolutely normal because everyone thinks in different ways but I didn’t notice the professionalism being dropped or the level of standard.

     “The training sessions I have seen in the last couple of days were not different than before.”

  • Van Dijk wins PFA Player of the Year award

    Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has won the PFA Player of the Year award, beating Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard to the prize.

    Netherlands international Van Dijk, who joined from Southampton for £75 million last January, has helped Jurgen Klopp’s side establish the best defensive record in the Premier League.

    They are second in the Premier League and in the Champions League semifinals, with the 27-year-old’s contribution seeing him win the honour.

    Van Dijk becomes the second consecutive Liverpool player to win the award after forward Mohamed Salah was crowned Player of the Year 12 months ago.

    He is the first defender to win the award since Chelsea centre-back John Terry in 2005.

    “I think it’s the highest honour you can get as a player to get voted Player of the year by the players you play against every week. It’s special. I’m very proud and honoured to win,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.

    Read Also: Liverpool apologises, dump Virgil van Dijk interest

    Speaking earlier this month, Klopp said he felt the defender would be a worthy winner.

    “He’s had an outstanding season. Will he have deserved it? Of course,” he said. “It was last season when Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah both played unbelievable seasons and Mo won it.

    “We were happy about that, and not because De Bruyne lost it — because he would have deserved it as well.

    “I think it is the same again in this case. It’s clear, the same again, I would be really happy for Virgil to win it.”

    Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and City’s Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva were also on the six-man shortlist, with the winner voted for by PFA members.

    Sterling did not go home empty-handed however, as the 24-year-old City standout took home the Young Player of the Year Award.

    Vivianne Miedema was voted women’s player of the year, on the day she won the Super League with Arsenal.

    Manchester City forward Georgia Stanway was voted women’s young player of the year.

    ESPN

     

  • Liverpool’s Van Dijk faces fitness test ahead of Chelsea clash

    Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk faces a fitness test ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Chelsea, although fellow defender Dejan Lovren is available, manager Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday.

    Van Dijk sustained a knock to an earlier rib injury and was substituted in the second half of Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.

    It was a result that left the early Premier League pace-setters with six wins from as many games.

    “He is much better. It’s still a bit painful, nothing else,” Klopp told reporters ahead of the League Cup third round clash at Anfield.

    “We will see how we deal with that. It’s not too serious, but it’s not anything, so that needs to settle for sure.

    “We will see how he is today and make a decision about him.”

    If Van Dijk is ruled out, the experienced Lovren could fill in, as the Croatian had shaken off a pelvic injury.

    Read Also: Van Dijk ready to spur Liverpool to silverware

    The 29-year-old has not played this season after aggravating an earlier pelvic injury during Croatia’s World Cup final march in Russia in July.

    “Dejan looks quite good. He trained completely normal now four times. He worked with the fitness guys before that for 10 days. He looks ready,”Klopp added.

    Klopp said first choice goalkeeper Alisson would be rested with Simon Mignolet taking his place.

    The German, however, said he would field a strong side against Maurizio Sarri’s team.

    “It’s a difficult draw for both teams. It’s not that you think the first two-three rounds you go through somehow, and from the semis on it starts getting exciting…

    “It’s a home game against a very strong side, so it’ll be really interesting.”

    Liverpool returns to Premier League action on Saturday, when they face Chelsea for the second time this week, away at Stamford Bridge.

  • Impressive Liverpool seek Wembley redemption

    Liverpool will not have happy memories of their last visit to Wembley Stadium and will head south with a point to prove against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

    Eleven months ago Juergen Klopp’s side were swept aside 4-1 by a rampant Tottenham leading to a bout of navel-gazing that, as it transpired, helped transform Liverpool’s season.

    The defensive lapses that undermined them that day were soon eradicated, the goals began to flow and with the addition of central defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January, Liverpool became a force to be reckoned with.

    The damage had already been done though and, just like every other contender, they never got anywhere near a Manchester City side that strolled to the English Premier League title.

    They did reach the Champions League final and have continued the momentum into the new campaign, topping the table with four wins from four, scoring nine goals and conceding one.

    Tottenham began with three wins but slipped up in their last game before the international break, losing 2-1 at Watford who are surprise joint-leaders.

    Early in the season it may be, but the lunchtime clash will offer a pointer as to which club can push on and make a credible challenge to a City side who host Fulham.

    Read Also: Milner, Mane secure victory for Liverpool at Palace

    Tottenham’s starting line-up will be similar to the one that started last year’s fixture after the London club bucked the trend by spending nothing in the transfer window.

    Liverpool, on the other hand, splashed out in the region of 160 million pounds on the likes of Naby Keita, versatile Brazilian Fabinho, Brazil keeper Alisson and Swiss playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri from relegated Stoke City.

    The Merseysiders have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League meetings against Tottenham but were also frustrated by them in a 2-2 draw at Anfield last season when Harry Kane scored a last-gasp penalty equaliser.

    There is an edge between the clubs and Klopp knows three points on Saturday would send out a message of intent.

    Defeat for Tottenham in a fixture that was supposed to be the christening of their new stadium will lead to further scrutiny of the decision to trust the same players that have achieved three successive top-three finishes but no silverware.

    Watford’s best-ever start to a top-flight season will be put to the test as they take on a Manchester United side without striker Marcus Rashford, who was sent off in their morale-boosting win against Burnley.

    Chelsea, who have quietly gone about their business under new manager Maurizio Sarri, are also 100 percent after four games and will relish a home clash against Cardiff City.

    While Liverpool’s outlay on new players has, so far, proved beneficial, the same cannot be said of West Ham United.

    The London club bolstered their squad with nearly 100 million pounds worth of new signings for incoming manager Manuel Pellegrini, but are pointless after four games.

    Things do not get any easier either with West Ham away to Everton on Sunday.

  • Van Dijk ready to spur Liverpool to silverware

    Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is confident the team can step up another level in the upcoming campaign.
    The Premier League side looks to end their trophy drought after coming close in recent seasons, especially last season when they fell to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
    The Merseyside outfit’s most recent triumph was a League Cup win in 2012.
    And despite showing improvement under Juergen Klopp, the German manager has seen them lose three finals since he joined the club in 2015.
    “We’re going to work our socks off and do everything possible to make it happen this season.
    “We were very close to silverware but obviously not close enough,” Netherlands international Dijk told Liverpool’s website.
    “I can improve in any aspect of the game. At the moment, it’s getting back to full fitness, making sure I’m getting better and stronger than I was before.

    Read Also:‘ Southampton’s initial refusal to sell Van Dijk cost Pellegrino his job’

    “I will work every day and do everything possible and no doubt it will happen,” said Dijk.
    The 27-year-old made 22 appearances for Liverpool after he joined them in January.
    He helped the club finish fourth in the league and reach the Champions League final, which they lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in May.
    Dijk missed Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly on Saturday, when Klopp’s men recorded a crushing 7-0 win over non-league Chester.
    However, he is expected to take part in several fixtures leading up to next month’s Premier League kick-off.

  • ‘Southampton’s initial refusal to sell Van Dijk cost Pellegrino his job’

    Southampton’s refusal to sell defender Virgil van Dijk in the close season disrupted their English Premier League campaign, former club captain Matt Le Tissier has said.
    The forer England player said the refusal had ultimately led to manager Mauricio Pellegrino being sacked.
    Southampton dismissed Pellegrino on Monday after just one victory in 17 league games under the manager.
    Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Newcastle United had left them a place and a point above the relegation zone and sealed the Argentine’s fate.
    Le Tissier suggested that the turmoil surrounding Dutchman Van Dijk’s future amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester City had affected the team’s performances early in the season.
    Van Dijk eventually moved to Liverpool in January for 75 million pounds ($104.24 million).
    “I think that was probably something that, looking back with hindsight, the club would probably regret, trying to keep him in the summer,” said Le Tissier, who scored 209 goals for Southampton during his 16 years at the club.

    Read Also: £75m Done Deal! Virgil van Dijk Joins Liverpool in January

    “They tried to do the right thing by the fans, in terms of not selling their best player every season, but sadly that did appear to backfire. That situation probably didn’t help the performances in the first half of the season.”
    Southampton has lost a large number of players to their domestic rivals in the past few years.
    Club chairman Ralph Krueger said earlier in the season that they were keen to end the perception that they were a selling club.
    “That’s life, that’s football, those decisions were made with the best intentions and it didn’t turn out right,” Le Tissier said.
    “It’s now time to move on, appoint a new manager, and get out of the trouble we are in at the moment.”
    Welshman Mark Hughes was firming as the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Mauricio Pellegrino as the south coast club’s manager.

    NAN

  • £75m Done Deal! Virgil van Dijk Joins Liverpool in January

    £75m Done Deal! Virgil van Dijk Joins Liverpool in January

    Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January in a world record £75m deal.

    The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he handed in a transfer request.

    But a move fell through when Liverpool apologised for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old.

    The fee is the most ever paid for a defender – Manchester City paid £52m to Monaco for Benjamin Mendy in July.

    Van Dijk said in a statement he was “delighted and honoured” to sign for the Merseyside club and accepted he had had a “difficult last few months” on the south coast.

    He was left out of Southampton’s squad for their 5-2 Premier League defeat by Tottenham on Tuesday, prompting speculation he was set to leave the club.

    The player only signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined the Saints from Celtic for £13m in September 2015.

    However, Liverpool’s interest in the summer prompted a transfer request from the player which saw him forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

    He returned to first team action in September, featuring in a win at Crystal Palace.

    Van Dijk’s former club Celtic will benefit from the record transfer fee – the Scottish champions are understood to have had a 10% sell-on agreement on any future transfer.

    Though he will join the club on 1 January, Van Dijk will not be able to register as a player until 2 January so will not be available for Liverpool’s trip to Burnley on Monday.

    ‘Proud to join one of biggest clubs in world’ – Van Dijk statement

    “Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player. Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football.

    “I can’t wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special in the years to come.

    “I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Les Reed, the board, manager, players, fans and everyone at Southampton.

    I will always be indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and despite a difficult last few months, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saints and have made friends for life at the club.”

  • 10 Transfers that could still happen before the end of the window.

    10 Transfers that could still happen before the end of the window.

    1. Fernando Javier Llorente Torres to Chelsea::

    Born 26 February 1985, nicknamed El Rey León is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Welsh club Swansea City and the Spain national team.

    Llorente started his career with Athletic Bilbao, working his way through the various youth ranks and becoming one of the most important offensive players for the club in the following decade, since making his first team debut in 2005. He scored 29 goals in all competitions in the 2011–12 season, and was described as a “Bilbao legend”.

    Antonio Conte has long had an admirer of the experienced forward, with the Chelsea boss having signed Llorente once before while he was Juventus manager. However, Swans boss and former Madrid assistant Paul Clement said on Sunday that “I’m confident of keeping Fernando and I see no reason why I shouldn’t be”. Clement has also previously stated that he’d had reassurances from the World Cup winner that he would not be leaving South Wales. With Swansea’s other big name, Gylfi Siggurdson, having departed for £45m, one would think the Swans will choose to keep Llorente even in the face of big-money offers.

    He has been a subject of a transfer to Chelsea since last season and the rumour resurfaces again and unless Swansea get a replacement for him, they are unwilling to release him.

    Likelihood of the transfer: 50/50

    9.Jamie Vardy to Everton or Chelsea: 

    Jamie Richard Vardyborn 11 January 1987 is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Leicester City and the England national team.

    Vardy began his senior career with Stockbridge Park Steels, breaking into the first team in 2007 and spending three seasons before joining Northern Premier League club FC Halifax Town in 2010. Scoring 26 goals in his debut season, he won the club’s “Player’s Player of the Year” award, and then moved to Conference Premier Club Fleetwood Town in August 2011 for an undisclosed fee. He scored 31 league goals in his first season at his new team, winning the team’s “Player of the Year” award as they won the division.. In the 2015–16 Premier League season, he scored in eleven consecutive Premier League matches, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record, and was voted the Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year as outsiders Leicester won the title. Vardy made his international debut in June 2015 and was selected for UEFA Euro 2016.

    It would not surprise anyone were Leicester to cash in on the former factory worker, especially with Chelsea and Everton prepared to pay £40m for his services. Vardy may well feel that this summer is his last chance of a big move, and with Leicester failing to repeat their wonder-season from 2015/16, a move would seem the logical step for the England international.

    Likelihood of the transfer: 50/50

    1. Jonny Evans to Manchester City: 

    Jonathan Grant “Jonny” Evans (born 3 January 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for and captains Premier League club West Bromwich Albion and plays for the Northern Ireland national team. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Green island FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United’s football Academy to play in several foreign tours in the summer of 2006. He made his Manchester United first team debut in the 2007–2008 League Cup, becoming a regular first-team squad member the following season. Evans is the second most decorated player in Northern Irish football history with 10 major trophies.

    However Evans’s recently-granted status as West Brom captain means that Tony Pulis is reluctant to sell. Evans himself has just declared loyalty to the Midlands outfit – on Sunday, he stated in West Brom’s matchday programme that “until anybody tells me different, I’m committed to the Albion and I’m only thinking about getting in this team”. As well as rebuffing Manchester City’s bid of £18m, Pulis’s side have also rebuffed a bid of more than £20m from Leicester City.

    Pep Guardiola seems to be angry with the defensive options he has at his disposal and wants to get a defender with a champion’s league experience.

    Likelihood of the transfer: Not Sure

    7.Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool: 

    Virgil van Dijk (born 8 July 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Southampton and the Netherlands national team.

    After beginning his career with Groningen, he moved to Celtic in 2013, where he won the Scottish Premiership and was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year in both of his seasons, also winning the Scottish League Cup in the latter. In September 2015, he joined Southampton.

    Van Dijk made his international debut for the Netherlands in 2015. After a successful 2016–17 season at Southampton Van Dijk was subject to interest from Liverpool who apologized to Southampton for an illegal approach on the player after having reportedly made his interest in a move to Liverpool clear. On 7 August 2017, Van Dijk handed in a transfer request to Southampton and released a statement along with it, emphasizing his wish to join a different club in the transfer window.

    Van Dijk has repeatedly made it clear he wants out from St Mary’s this summer, handing in a transfer request and even refusing to make himself available for pre-season matches. Mauricio Pellegrino’s side, however, seems utterly unwilling to let Van Dijk’s petulance win out. Their stance – that he is going nowhere – has never wavered.

    Likelihood of the transfer: Liverpool

    6.Renato Sanches to Liverpool or Swansea: 

    Renato Júnior Luz Sanches born 18 August 1997, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for German club Bayern Munich and the Portugal national team.

    He began his career at Benfica, making his professional debut for the reserves in October 2014 and for the first team in October 2015. In his only season for them, the team won the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga. He then agreed on a move to Bayern Munich for an initial €35 million, the then highest fee for a Portuguese player leaving the domestic league.

    He made his full international debut in March 2016 and was chosen for UEFA Euro 2016 in France, at the age of 18, making him the youngest Portuguese to play in an international tournament, and the youngest player to win a Euro 2016 Final. He scored one goal during the competition and won the Young Player of the Tournament as Portugal captured the title for the first time in their history. He was the recipient of the 2016 Golden Boy Award.

    Sanches has himself expressed a desire to leave Bayern. Consequently, a clutch of upper-level Premier League sides have attempted to sign him this summer. Liverpool’s overtures have been particularly strong, and Sanches is very much a Jürgen Klopp player: young, hungry and swashbuckling in possession, but Liverpool’s attentions may be elsewhere.

    Likelihood of the transfer: Swansea.

    5. Shkodran Mustafi to Inter Milan: 

    Shkodran Mustafi born 17 April 1992 is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for English club Arsenal and the Germany national team.

    He began his career in the youth ranks of Hamburger SV and English club Everton, where he made one substitute appearance in two-and-a-half-years before leaving to Sampdoria in January 2012. He signed a five-year deal at Valencia in August 2014, and moved to Arsenal for a reported £35 million two years later.

    Mustafi made his full international debut against Poland on 13 May 2014, and was part of the German teams that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Mustafi joined English club Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in excess of £35 million. He made his debut in Arsenal’s 2–1 Premier League win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on 10 September. Mustafi beat Bacary Sagna’s record unbeaten start of 17 games at the club in Arsenal’s 3–3 draw against Bournemouth with his 18th game without defeat. The former Sampdoria player is believed to be yearning for a return to Italy’s warmer climes, with Inter Milan heavily linked to the German international. Though the Nerazzurri were rumoured to be interested in signing Mustafi on loan with an option to buy him later, Arsenal would prefer a permanent transfer after paying Valencia £35m for his services only one year ago. But unless Inter suddenly decide to cough up a bucketful of cash, it looks as if Mustafi won’t be leaving the Emirates any time soon.

    Likelihood of the transfer:  Unlikely

    4.Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Chelsea or Liverpool:

    Alexander Mark David Oxlade-Chamberlain born 15 August 1993 is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team.

    After rising to prominence with Southampton during the 2010–11 season aged 17, he signed for Arsenal in August 2011. Scoring twice in his first three matches for the club, Oxlade-Chamberlain became the youngest English goal scorer in UEFA Champions League history and has also claimed a regular place in the England Under-21s team. Fans have nicknamed Oxlade-Chamberlain “The Ox”, derived from the first part of his surname, as well as his physical tenacity and powerful playing style.

    Oxlade-Chamberlain made his debut for the senior England team on 26 May 2012 in a 1–0 win against Norway in a friendly. Following this, he received a surprise call-up to the England squad for UEFA Euro 2012, becoming the second youngest player ever to represent England in the European Championships behind Wayne Rooney.

    Although the 24-year-old was offered an improved contract in early July, his rejection of it clearly signalled his desire to leave. Boss Arsene Wenger has expressed a desire to keep the England winger, but there is a sense that Oxlade-Chamberlain is replaceable, unlike a certain Chilean forward. Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp are thought to be extremely keen on signing Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the ex-Southampton man’s versatility appealing to the Italian. It remains to be seen exactly how much Chelsea are willing to pay for a player with a dubious injury record, however.

    Chelsea agreed a $35m deal to buy him from Arsenal on Tuesday but Oxlade reject the chance to play for Chelsea and chooses to prefer waiting for Liverpool to make their offer for him.

    Likelihood of the transfer. Likely Liverpool

    3. Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea:

    Daniel Noel Drinkwater born 5 March 1990 is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Leicester City and the England national team. He has previously spent time on loan at Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Watford, Barnsley, and played for Manchester United, and has played internationally for England at under-18, under-19 levels.

    Drinkwater had his most successful year as a professional, scoring seven goals and being named to the PFA Championship Team of the Year alongside teammates Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan, as Leicester were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Championship. On 17 June 2014On 25 August 2016, Drinkwater signed a long term contract to remain with the club to 2021.

    Leicester city are currently insisting on £40m for Drinkwater, having rejected a £25m bid from Chelsea earlier this month. Chelsea believes, however, that Leicester city are just waiting to sign a pre-emptive replacement for Drinkwater before cashing in. Even in this age of inflated transfer fees, £40m seems too much for a player who is struggling to make the England squad. It is difficult to believe that Foxes are standing in the way of a move should the Blues mount an offer north of £30m

    Likelihood of the transfer.50/50

    2.Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City:

    Alexis Alejandro Sánchez, also nicknamed El Niño Maravillaand “Ardilla”, was born 19 December 1988, also known as simply Alexis, is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Arsenal and the Chile national team.

    After his debut season of first-team football with Cobreloa, Sánchez was signed by Italy’s Udinese in 2006. Following successful loans at Colo-Colo and River Plate, he began playing in Serie A. In 2011, he was signed by Barcelona for £25 million, becoming the most expensive transfer in Chilean football history.Sánchez signed for Arsenal in July 2014 for a fee reported to be £31.7 million, making him the third-most expensive signing in the club’s history after Mesut Özil and Granit Xhaka.He has been a full international for Chile since 2006, and has earned 115 caps, making him the team’s joint most capped player of all-time, alongside goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. With 38 goals, he is La Roja’s highest top scorer of all-time. He also played in two FIFA World Cups (2010and 2014) and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, as well as three Copa América tournaments, winning two of the latter.

    Two major factors point towards the Chilean’s departure from North London in the next few days. First, as has been widely reported, his wage demands are astronomical. Manchester City are perhaps the only club in the world willing to lavish Sanchez with in excess of £400,000-a-week. Secondly – and this is perhaps bound up with his wage demands – Sanchez’s commitment to Arsenal has seemingly faltered as time has elapsed. In July he claimed to be ill in a less-than-convincing Instagram post after Arsenal had expressly stated he was returning to training, and on Sunday he was spotted seemingly laughing on the bench while the Gunners were being thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool.

    Likelihood of the transfer: much unlikely

    1: Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona:

    Philippe Coutinho Correia born 12 June 1992 is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger for Premier League club Liverpool and the Brazil national team.

    Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Coutinho showed prodigious talent and excelled in Vasco da Gama’s youth system. He was signed by Italian side Internazionale in 2008 for €4 million and subsequently loaned back to Vasco, where he became a key player. He made his debut for Internazionale in 2010 and was seen as the “future of Inter”, but struggled to establish himself in the first team and was loaned to Spanish club Espanyol in 2012.

    In January 2013, he was signed by English team Liverpool for £8.5 million. He flourished at Anfield; his combination of vision, passing, dribbling and long-range strikes earned him the nickname Little Magician from Liverpool fans and teammates.  After he was named in the 2015 PFA Team of the Year, Brazilian legend Pelétipped Coutinho for a “great future”.

    Coutinho made his senior debut for Brazil in 2010 at the age of 18. He has since made over 20 appearances and represented the nation at the 2015 Copa Américaand the Copa América Centenario.

    The fleet-footed playmaker has been linked with Nou Camp for the entire summer, or so it seems. Reports in Spain suggest Liverpool’s hardline stance against selling Coutinho has softened in recent days, but the Reds would still rather refuse to sell the Brazilian than leave complex transfer negotiations to the last minute. A struggling Barcelona are prepared to offer well in excess of £100m to secure the Brazilian’s services, emboldened by their £200m windfall from Neymar’s PSG move, but the sticking point remains Fenway Sports Group’s willingness – or lack thereof – to sacrifice Liverpool’s star man

    Likelihood of the transfer: Unlikely