Ross Barkley is not impressed with Everton manager Ronald Koeman issuing the midfielder an ultimatum over his contract situation publicly, reports The Gambling Times.
What’s the word?
Everton are likely to be regular features in the transfer gossip columns this summer due to the futures of both Barkley and Romelu Lukaku uncertain.
In Barkley’s situation, he comes to the end of his current contract in the summer of 2018, but Koeman recently told the media that the midfielder will be sold at the end of the season if he does not agree a new deal.
The public manner in which he delivered this ultimatum has left Barkley feeling unhappy, claims The Gambling Times reporter Graeme Bailey, who previously worked for Sky Sports.
Could this cause a rift?
It was clear earlier in the season that Koeman was not impressed with Barkley’s performances on the pitch.
Once again, he used the media to deliver a message, warning the midfielder that he will not get back in the team until he improves.
It seemed to have worked as Barkley has been a regular starter, but he is still searching for consistency, despite creating eight assists and scoring four goals in the Premier League.
The relationship between the pair seems normal at the moment, but if the 23-year-old is upset by Koeman’s comments, there could be friction.
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Is Koeman using the right approach?
Considering that Barkley upped his game after receiving public criticism from Koeman suggests that perhaps that method does work.
However, the Dutchman’s comments about the contract situation has a danger of sparking debate about Barkley’s future.
The player himself has been quiet on the subject and has not given any indication that he wants to leave, but Koeman’s remarks suggest that he may be considering a change.
From a business viewpoint, it makes sense for Everton to sell Barkley this summer if he does not pen fresh terms because they risk losing him for nothing in 2018.
Perhaps the best thing, though, is to let this situation run behind the scenes.
West Ham fans must look around the Premier League and wonder what could have been, had the club kept their plethora of young, prodigious future world-beaters out of the hands of rival Premier League clubs. It’s incredible to think Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Jermain Defoe all made their breakthroughs at Upton Park before moving onto bigger things.
Earlier this week, however, there were suggestions of one prodigal son returning home in the coming transfer window in the form of Glen Johnson, whose contract with Stoke City will expire at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old isn’t exactly held in the same regard as some of the aforementioned former Hammers youngsters, but right-back has been a problem position for the east Londoners all season and Johnson boasts plenty of experience, with 54 England caps and 343 Premier League appearances under his belt already.
No transfer fee makes Johnson that little bit more appealing, but according the results of our exclusive poll, 70% of West Ham fans wouldn’t like to see their club offer the defender a contract this summer. Are you in the Irons majority? Let us know by commenting below!
Newcastle United may be on course to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but it’s been by no means the dominant Championship promotion campaign many expected back in August.
A defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend has moved the Magpies down to second place and although Rafa Benitez already has a vast and talented squad at his disposal, it appears he’ll need further recruits to guarantee Newcastle can stay in the top flight.
In recent weeks, centre-back has proved a bit of a problem position for Newcastle, with Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Grant Hanley and Ciaran Clark filling in there without particularly excelling. Perhaps as a consequence, The Independent claim Benitez is already eyeing up a potential solution in Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross.
Shawcross is easily amongst the most experienced and proven defenders in the Premier League these days, now into his ninth top flight campaign with the Potters, and has been in decent form once again this season.
As our infographic shows, he’s a real no-nonsense defender, producing a wealth of blocks and clearances and winning over 100 aerial duels. Of course, centre-backs are inevitably judged upon the mistakes they make, but just two is pretty good going after 29 appearances – especially considering Shawcross has spent some of the campaign out injured.
With just a year remaining on his current deal, the potential is certainly there to whisk the 29-year-old away from the Bet365 Stadium this summer. Would you back a deal for Shawcross? Let us know by voting below!
Facing arguably the biggest backlash of his lengthy Arsenal tenure, Arsene Wenger did what every great thinker does following a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Crystal Palace – steal a good idea from somebody else.
Indeed, with just a handful of games of the season remaining, the Gunners gaffer finally caved in and joined the 3-4-3 trend that has very much defined the 2016/17 Premier League campaign, introduced by Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and mimicked since by the rest of the top six on at least one occasion.
Initially, it provided the shock to the system Arsenal needed to arrest a worrying run of form that had previously seen the north London outfit claim just seven points from eight Premier League fixtures, leading to wins over Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Leicester.
But none were particularly convincing; Arsenal required a masterful Alexis Sanchez free kick to get past Boro, the post, the bar and a wrongful offside to steer clear of City in the FA Cup semi-final and the most fortunate of deflections to nab three points against the Foxes.
Arsenal’s luck ran out last weekend as Tottenham ironically switched to a back four to demolish their new setup in the north London derby. So, now facing a huge clash with Manchester United this weekend, which formation should Wenger keep his faith in 3-4-3 or revert back to 4-2-3-1? Let us know by voting below…
Despite featuring for just 123 minutes of the Premier League season and making no top flight starts following his £33m move from Marseille last summer, Michy Batshuayi was the unlikely Chelsea hero as his goal won them the Premier League title on Friday night.
The Blues went into their clash against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns knowing that a victory would be enough to see them lift the famous trophy for the second time in three seasons, but they looked to be heading for a goalless draw before the substiute popped up with a crucial late goal.
With the title wrapped up, Chelsea supporters are calling on manager Antonio Conte to give the 23-year-old Belgian a start in their Premier League clash against Watford at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, especially with the FA Cup final to come later in the month.
According to Jeunes Footeux, both Arsenal and Everton are looking to bring Thorgan Hazard, younger brother of Chelsea star Eden, back to the Premier League.
What’s the word?
24-year-old Hazard has impressed many scouts over the past two seasons during his time at Borussia Monchengladbach and is thought to be keen on a return to England.
The two-cap Belgian international was signed by Chelsea in 2012 but failed to make a first-team appearance during three years at the club and, after a number of loans spells, signed permanently with Gladbach in 2015.
However, it is suggested that Hazard would be interested in giving the Premier League another try and is available for as little as €18million(£15.59million). It is claimed that Arsenal and Everton are both keen on the player.
How good has Hazard been this season?
While Thorgan has been nowhere as prolific as his brother Eden this season, the 24-year-old is still one of the most promising players in the Bundesliga.
Despite a number of niggling injuries, Hazard still managed 10 goals and six assists in just 27 appearances in all competitions.
The Belgian was actually one of the most in-form players in Europe during the first two months of the season, before injuries set in. He had netted an impressive seven goals in his first 10 games and was dazzling the Bundesliga with his attacking prowess and technical skill.
According to reports in The Independent, Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker has refused to commit his future to the club with an exit looking more and more likely.
When he was questioned on whether he would be staying at Spurs by Sky Sports, the right-back replied: “No, no indication at all. No.”
It has certainly fuelled the speculation that he will be on his way out this summer having been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in recent months.
The fact that Kieran Trippier was also preferred in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and the final ever north London derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane suggests that his time is coming to an end.
Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on the comments via social media, with some calling him a ‘judas’ and telling him to go, but others want to see him stay and fight for his place.
According to @ExWHUemployee on Twitter, West Ham United have launched an offer for FC Koln striker Anthony Modeste.
Irons manager Slaven Bilic is keen to bring in two new strikers this summer with continued fitness doubts over both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, with the duo once again struggling with injuries and spending the majority of this season on the sidelines.
The Croatian has already been linked with a whole host of names, including Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi and in demand KAS Eupen star Henry Onyekuru.
However, now it appears as though there is a fourth name in the frame in Modeste, who has enjoyed his second successive impressive season for the German outfit following a move from Hoffenheim in 2015.
If he does complete a move to the London Stadium, it also won’t be the first time he has played in the Premier League following a brief spell with Blackburn Rovers in 2012. Modeste is valued at £14.45m by transfermarkt.com.
Here are three reasons West Ham must go all out to sign Modeste this summer…
Goals
Football Soccer – Borussia Moenchengladbach v FC Cologne – German Bundesliga – Borussia Park, Moenchengladbach, Germany – 19/11/16 – Cologne’s Anthony Modeste celebrates after he scored against Moenchengladbach. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE DURING MATCH TIME TO 15 PICTURES PER GAME. IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO IS NOT ALLOWED AT ANY TIME. FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
While Modeste failed to get on the scoresheet for Blackburn during nine appearances on loan in 2012, the Frenchman has been in impressive goalscoring form ever since.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed his best ever season having netted 27 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions, with 25 of those coming in the Bundesliga.
Having scored 18 last season and 23 in 62 for Hoffenheim previously, the striker has shown that he can consistently find the net and that is what Irons manager Slaven Bilic will want.
Influence
While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Robert Lewandowski may have scored 31 and 30 Bundesliga goals respectively this season to outdo Modeste, there is no doubt that the Koln striker had the biggest influence on his team.
The 29-year-old scored 25 of his side’s 51 league goals and having provided two assists as well, it means that he was involved in more than half of the German outfit’s goals.
It certainly shows that Modeste isn’t afraid to stand up and be counted and Bilic will be looking for players that can make a significant impact next term.
Physical presence
With Andy Carroll’s future at the London Stadium seemingly far from certain if Bilic is planning to bring in two new strikers, the Croatian may well be looking to bring in a more physical striker who can score on a regular basis this summer.
Standing at 6’2†tall and with a good presence – he won 143 aerial duels in the Bundesliga this term – Modeste has the ability to not only be strong in the air and to hold the ball up for his teammates, but he has shown what a prolific finisher he is as well.
According to reports in the Sunday Mirror, West Ham United are lining up a £25m summer swoop for unsettled Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.The story states that the 28-year-old could look to leave the Gunners this summer after being named on the substitutes’ bench for their final seven games of last season.The attacker knows he needs to be playing regular first team football to have any chance of breaking back into Gareth Southgate’s England squad and having a chance of going to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and a move away might be the best option.Irons manager Slaven Bilic is keen to strengthen his attacking options and is ready to pay £25m for Walcott, who scored 19 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions for Arsene Wenger’s men last term.West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on the rumour via social media, but despite his impressive goalscoring record they don’t want him, with some saying the club is “desperate†now.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
Three years on from scoring three goals in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup that earned him a £12million transfer to West Ham, Enner Valencia finds himself returning to where he was once unexpectedly acquired from – the Mexican top flight.
The Ecuador international could never quite settle in England – in fact, it was never quite clear whether he’s a winger, a striker, both or something in between – and failed to muster up more than four goals in a single Premier League campaign.
West Ham took a gamble and in this instance, it simply didn’t pay off. But Valencia’s now confirmed return to Mexico with Tigres raises an interesting question – does recruiting players off the back of World Cup performances ever actually work?
Here’s a look at some of the good, the bad and the ugly throughout the Premier League’s 25-year history.
Ugly – Stephane Guivarc’h
Brazil’s Aldair (R) and France’s Stephane Guivarc’h go up for a header during the final of the 1998 World Cup at the Stade de France in Paris July 12.ZDC/KM
The lone striker at the tip of the attack who didn’t manage to score a single goal as France claimed the 1998 World Cup on home soil, there were warning signs from the off for Newcastle even though Guivarc’h had just claimed a second consecutive Golden Boot in Ligue 1.
The change in management from Kenny Dalglish to Ruud Gullit certainly didn’t help, but the former Rennes and Auxerre striker managed only four appearances for the Magpies, scoring once, before being abruptly sold to Rangers in November.
He saw out the end of the season at Ibrox, winning the treble, before returning to Auxerre.
Good – Winston Reid
West Ham may have struck out with their swoop for Valencia but a £3.5million punt on Winston Reid following his domineering performances for New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup has proved to be a masterstroke.
His first season consisted of just seven Premier League appearances but relegation to the Championship allowed Reid time to get up to speed and upon the Hammers’ return to the top flight in 2013, he’d established himself as one of Sam Allardyce’s most important players.
A talented defender who could have left east London for a bigger Premier League club on many occasions and a real leader of the dressing room, Reid has been a huge success story for the Irons.
Bad – Daley Blind
Brought to Manchester United by Louis van Gaal after playing a key role for his Oranje side that unexpectedly made the third-place playoff in 2014, famously laying on that assist for Robin van Persie, Daley Blind was seen as one of the Dutchman’s shrewdest signings during his turbulent spell as Old Trafford boss.
Although it would be unfair to label the Netherlands utility man’s United career a complete failure, he hasn’t held down a consistent role in the first team in the way many expected and was completely left out in the cold by Jose Mourinho for large periods last season.
Like Valencia, Blind is unlikely to still be at his current club by the time the next World Cup comes around.
Good – Asamoah Gyan
Football – Serbia v Ghana FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 – Group D – Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa – 13/6/10 Asamoah Gyan scores the first goal for Ghana from the penalty spot Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason Cairnduff Livepic
One of the brightest sparks in an exciting Ghana side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where they were eventually stopped by a Luis Suarez handball, Asamoah Gyan missing a vital penalty in stoppage time wasn’t enough to deter Steve Bruce from bringing the African striker to Sunderland.
Gyan’s Black Cats career started with a bang too, netting 10 goals in 31 Premier League appearances during his first season as Sunderland finished in a respectable tenth place.
But it turned out Gyan wasn’t too fond of Wearside and forced through a move to Al Ain just twelve months into his stay, where he scored a ridiculous amount of goals and picked up an equally ridiculous salary.
Good – Javier Mascherano & Carlos Tevez
The footballing world was shocked when two of Argentina’s most exciting young players at the 2006 World Cup turned up at Upton Park immediately after the tournament in Germany.
Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez were part of the new generation breaking into the Albiceleste first team and many had tipped them to join one of Europe’s leading clubs, so landing the duo was a real swoop for the Hammers.
Whereas Mascherano found himself somewhat inexplicably left out of the starting XI for the sake of Hayden Mullins, Tevez proved to be the difference in West Ham’s survival bid, scoring against the club he’d later join, Manchester United, on the final day of the season.
The double deal, however, soon landed the Irons in hot water as third-party ownership lead to the threat of points deduction and consequently, likely relegation. But the FA let off the Hammers with a record fine of £5.5million and both players went onto establish themselves amongst Europe’s footballing elite.
Ugly – El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao
Arguably the archetype of World Cup flops, Senegal’s stunning win over reigning champions France at the 2002 World Cup and subsequent progression to the quarter-finals was enough for Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier to move for the team’s two biggest stars – winger-forward El Hadji Diouf, a member of the World Cup’s all-star team that year, and defensive midfielder Salif Diao.
It quickly became apparent, however, that neither had the quality for a club of Liverpool’s stature; Diao made 37 Premier League appearances over three seasons and spent much of his time out on loan, whereas Diouf was given two campaigns before being sent packing to Bolton Wanderers.
Diouf would go on to become one of the most disliked players in Premier League history for various antics involving spitting and racist remarks – just to add further insult to injury for Liverpool, who shelled out a combined £15million